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Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ukraine signs deal with American firm for joint drone production, says Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Kyiv has signed an agreement with an American company, Swift Beat, to jointly produce drones. He termed this as "a crystal clear priority". Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said he is also in talks with Denmark, Norway, Germany, Canada, Lithuania, and the UK to start joint production.(X/@ZelenskyyUa) In a post on X, Zelensky said that the Ukrainian-American cooperation has been signed for the production of thousands of drones this year alone. The Ukrainian President said that the production is expected to increase significantly in the coming year. "The visit to Denmark begins with an important step for our defense. An agreement has been reached on Ukrainian-American cooperation in drone production, including interceptor drones — a crystal clear priority," Zelensky said. ALSO READ | Ukraine seeks US help after biggest Russian airstrike of 537 weapons; F16 pilot killed He further added, "Interceptors to destroy enemy drones and missiles, quadcopters for reconnaissance and fire adjustment, and long-range strike drones — all of these will be produced in much greater numbers to help us achieve our defense goals and protect the lives of Ukrainians." Zelensky said he is also in talks with Denmark, Norway, Germany, Canada, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom to start joint production. He said that Ukraine plans to sign agreements in the Summer to start exporting weapon production technologies. This comes just two days after the US reportedly stopped the delivery of air-defense interceptors and other weapons intended for Ukraine and other weapons meant for Ukraine, instead using those to beef up Pentagon stocks. ALSO READ | Trump's Big Beautiful Bill failing because of Ukraine weapons freeze? Here's the key link The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a Trump administration official and two congressional aides, that Washington's decision to withhold the arms deliveries to Ukraine reflects the Trump administration's loosening commitment to aiding Kyiv in its fight against Russia. Following a Pentagon review of US military assistance, 'this decision was made to put America's interests first', said Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman. The shipments, which included Patriot air-defense interceptors, air-to-air missiles, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and surface-to-surface rockets, artillery rounds, and Stinger surface-to-air missiles, were in Poland when they were halted. Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon, said that Defense Department would provide President Donald Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine that are "consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end".


NDTV
41 minutes ago
- NDTV
Iran's Long History Of Failed US Plots Using Low-Level Criminals
In the years following the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassim Suleimani, the country's retaliation strategy has largely avoided dramatic, direct confrontations. According to US prosecutors, the Islamic Republic recruited non-state actors, including American ex-convicts, organised crime members, and gang affiliates, to carry out targeted violence inside the United States. A Justice Department complaint revealed that Iranian officials plotted to assassinate US President Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign. The plan was led by Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national living in Tehran. Instead of deploying an Iranian operative, Shakeri recruited two men - Carlisle "Pop" Rivera, a Brooklyn pipe fitter, and his friend Jonathon Loadholt of Staten Island - he met in a US prison over a decade earlier. Both were arrested by federal agents before the plan advanced. This was not an isolated case. US law enforcement has identified similar plots in recent years. In 2022, Iranian officials allegedly tried to hire Russian mafia hitmen to kill Masih Alinejad, a journalist and critic of the regime. Another operation involved a Canadian member of the Hells Angels, allegedly tasked with killing an Iranian defector in Maryland. In 2011, US officials thwarted an attempt to bomb a Washington, DC, restaurant in a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador, a plan that relied on someone with supposed ties to the Mexican drug cartels. Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism scholar at Georgetown University, said that while Hezbollah (Iran's proxy) has had some success embedding operatives in the US, recent plots have not featured trained agents. "The incidents we've seen in recent years have probably been from the C-team," Hoffman told The New York Times. "C-team" refers to a shorthand, somewhat informal way of describing less skilled, less trained, or lower-tier operatives, unlike an "A-team," which would be composed of elite, professional agents or operatives with specialised training. Despite public warnings about Iranian sleeper cells, the US has not seen evidence of major coordinated activity by trained Iranian or Hezbollah operatives on American soil in recent years. In 2017, two men in New York and Michigan were arrested for conducting surveillance on potential targets for Hezbollah. In 2019, a New Jersey man was sentenced for scouting major landmarks in new York like Times Square and the Statue of Liberty after receiving military-style training from the group. Following last month's US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection issued warnings about possible retaliation, including from sleeper cells. Internal data shows that about 1,700 Iranian nationals were arrested at the southern US border from October 2021 to November 2024. The records do not specify whether those individuals were fleeing the regime or aligned with it. Soon after the strikes, ICE detained nearly a dozen Iranians on immigration violations. Among them was a man labelled as a known or suspected terrorist and another who admitted ties to Hezbollah. One, Ribvar Karimi, served in the Iranian army.


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
July 4th anti-Trump protests: Full list of cities, march routes, maps, and road closures to know
Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets this Independence Day, but not to celebrate. People in the U.S. are holding rallies, parades, and vigils under the name " Free America ." Women's March is the main group behind the events, which are meant to fight against US President Donald Trump 's policies and power abuse. What are protesters demanding this July 4th? On July 4th, there will be protests in all 50 states called " Free America Weekend ." The Women's March and other grassroots groups are leading the protests to oppose former President Trump's policies and protect civil liberties through unified protests across the country. Throughout the July 4th weekend, "Free America" protests against President Donald Trump's administration will take place all over the nation. The events come after other nationwide demonstrations against the Trump administration and its policies since he took office again in January, which were coordinated by the 50501 Movement (50 protests, 50 states, one movement) and other organizations, as per a report by Newsweek. The group behind "Free America Weekend," the Women's March, is encouraging people to participate in or organize activities over the upcoming holiday weekend. Live Events "We invite communities to create their own Free America events—rallies, marches, block parties, banner drops, street parades, art builds, backyard BBQs, dance protests, and more,' according to the Women's March's website. "They want us to feel alone, scared, and divided. They want us to have no dreams of freedom. However, that is precisely what we must do," it went on. "This Fourth of July, we will be in the streets with songs of freedom and joy. The dream of American freedom belongs to all of us, and we will not stop in our pursuit of its promise, now or ever,' as quoted in a report by Newsweek. Which cities are hosting Free America events? Here's the full list of cities, march routes, and road closures to know for Free America weekend , as per a report by Newsweek. Check out the Women's March website for a map and a list of all the events happening. Over the holiday weekend, Free America is hosting the following events: Montgomery, Alabama Event: Free America Weekend Food and School Supply Drive Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: NewSouth Bookstore, 105 South Court Street Soldotna, Alaska Event: Interfaith Picnic and Free America Music Jam Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Date: July 5 Location: Soldotna Creek Park, 251 States Avenue Little Rock, Arkansas Event: Candlelight Vigil Time: 8:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Junction Bridge Los Angeles, California Event: Los Feliz Free America Weekend Time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Vermont and Prospect Traffic Triangle, 4757 Prospect Avenue Arvada, Colorado Event: Free America Weekend Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: 7305 Grandview Avenue Hartford, Connecticut Event: West Hartford's Free America Weekend Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Date: July 5 Location: Connecticut Veteran's Memorial Park Miami, Florida Event: Reclaim Freedom Rally Time: From 11 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: Torch of Friendship, 301 Biscayne Boulevard Chicago, Illinois Event: People's Independence Day Chicago Time: From 11 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: Federal Plaza, 230 South Dearborn Indianapolis, Indiana Event: Indiana 50501 Community Cookout Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: 2432 Conservatory Drive Cedar Rapids, Iowa Event: Free America Weekend Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Cedar Rapids U.S. Courthouse, 111 7th Avenue Southeast Lafayette, Louisiana Event: 337 Free America Weekend Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Prejean Point, 735 Jefferson Street Freeport, Maine Event: Free America Event Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: 2 Merrill Road North East, Maryland Event: Let Freedom Ring! Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: North East Community Park, 200 West Walnut Street Riverview, Michigan Event: Freedom vs. Fascism Time: 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Date: July 5 Location: Riverview Veterans Memorial Library, 14300 Sibley Road St. Cloud, Minnesota Event: St. Cloud Area Free America Weekend Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Great River Regional Library, 1300 West Saint Germain Street Saint Joseph, Missouri Event: Let Freedom Ring in St. Joseph! Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: 3702 Frederick Avenue Forsyth, Montana Event: Free America BBQ & Protest Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Marcyes Park, 400 Front Street Suncook, New Hampshire Event: N.H. Statewide Bridge Occupation Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Date: July 6 Location: Location to be announced Trenton, New Jersey Event: Free America Protest Time: From 6 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: The Plaza, 145 West State Street Alamogordo, New Mexico Event: Otero County Free America Weekend Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: 1001 North White Sands Boulevard Mamaroneck, New York Event: Free America July 4th Weekend Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Date: July 5 Location: Harbor Island, Boston Post Road Morrisville, North Carolina Event: Triangle Bridges to Freedom Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Date: July 6 Location: Raleigh-Durham International Airport, 2400 John Brantley Boulevard Columbus, Ohio Event: Free America Weekend Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square Portland, Oregon Event: Free America Weekend—Sellwood Bridge Protest Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Southwest Sellwood Bridge Lancaster, Pennsylvania Event: Lancaster Free America Weekend Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Date: July 5 Location: 1 Penn Square Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Event: Myrtle Beach Free America Weekend Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: Location to be announced Sioux Falls, South Dakota Event: Sioux Falls Independence Day Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial, 2705 West 12th Street Houston, Texas Event: Houston Free America Weekend Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby Street Salt Lake City, Utah Event: Free America Weekend Time: From 10 a.m. Date: July 4 Location: Utah State Capitol, 350 State Street Shelburne, Vermont Event: Shelburne—Take Back Your County Time: 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: 5300 Shelburne Road Roanoke, Virginia Event: No Kings 2.0 Time: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: Elmwood Park, 505 Williamson Road Southeast Seattle, Washington Event: Seattle: Queen Anne Resist Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: West Dravus Street Overpass, 1800 West Dravus Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin Event: Green Bay—Free America Weekend Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: 100 East Walnut Street Jackson, Wyoming Event: Teton County Free America March Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Date: July 4 Location: 447 West Snow King Avenue On July 4th, the Women's March will mobilize nationwide to support true freedom and create a vision of a free America. Indivisible local chapters have scheduled "No Kings 2.0" demonstrations for July 4. "Good Trouble Lives On," a nationwide protest, is planned for July 17. The incidents are a reaction to the assaults on civil and human rights by the Trump administration. FAQs What exactly are the July 4th Free America protests about? July 4th Free America protests are anti-Trump demonstrations across the United States that demand unity, freedom, and civil rights through marches, rallies, and community events. Where exactly are the protests taking place? Events are planned in cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Miami, Trenton, and Seattle. Each location has its own format, such as marches, vigils, and barbecues.