Latest news with #Indo-pacific
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Rutte dismisses concerns over US troop withdrawal from Europe
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday denied any indication that the United States was reviewing its military presence on the continent, saying instead Washington would maintain "a very strong conventional" deployment in Europe. "What we know is that the US, next to Europe, of course also has to take care of the Middle East, has to take care of the Indo-pacific and it is only logical that over time as we are building up that the US will pivot so much more towards Asia," Rutte told journalists at a press conference in Vilnius on Monday. "But I am convinced there will be a very strong conventional US presence in Europe, next to the nuclear presence," the NATO chief added, speaking on the margins of a summit in Vilnius with the Bucharest Nine (B9) format and Nordic countries. Rutte's comments come amid long-standing allegations – spurred by US-Russia talks to end Moscow's war in Ukraine – that Washington would reduce or withdraw its troops in Europe. Last February, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Europeans during a visit to Poland that US troops on the continent were "important," and that "you can't make an assumption that America's presence will last forever." The US had nearly 84,000 service members in Europe in early 2025, according to a report from the Council on Foreign Relations, which also specifies that over the course of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, the total number of troops has ranged between approximately 75,000 and 105,000 military personnel. In Vilnius, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda echoed Rutte's remarks, saying he had not received any indication of a US troop withdrawal or reduction in Europe. Nausėda said there were so far 1,000 US soldiers "standing shoulder to should with the soldiers of Germany, Norway, and NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence," which includes battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. "We are ready to increase this number if there is political will from the US administration," Nausėda added. Candy manufacturer Haribo has recalled its 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz in Belgium after traces of cannabis were found in some bags in the Netherlands, the Belgian food agency FAVV-AFSCA confirmed on Monday. In a joint press release with the agency, Haribo noted that consumption of these sweets can lead to health complaints such as dizziness. The withdrawal concerns large bags of fizzy colas with production code L341-4002307906 — the same batch that was recalled earlier in the Netherlands. "Haribo has carried out this recall in Belgium as a precautionary measure," Belgian food agency spokesperson Liesbeth Van de Voorde told Euronews. She noted that, so far, no reports have been received in Belgium of people becoming unwell after eating the sweets. "We have set up a consumer hotline for this purpose, and we have not received any news of issues in Belgium." People are strongly advised not to eat the recalled sweets. In case of consumption, it is recommended to contact a GP immediately. The one-kilogram bags of sour candies were already withdrawn from sale in the Netherlands following reports that several people in the country, including adults and children, reported feeling unwell after eating these sweets. A sample testing revealed that the product was laced with cannabis after police were notified of the issue. Dutch authorities are now investigating how the candy became contaminated with these drugs. In the Netherlands, only three bags are involved so far. Still, Haribo is recalling the entire stock in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. "The authorities' investigation concerns a limited number of reports and one specific product in the east of the Netherlands," Patrick Tax, marketing head for Haribo Netherlands and Belgium, told domestic media in Belgium. The withdrawal only concerns Haribo's 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz with an expiry date until January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906. It is not clear which Belgian shops were selling these large packs. Van de Voorde added that this is the only product for which the agency has received information, meaning no other products are currently deemed a risk. Instead of returning it to the store where they purchased it, consumers are asked to send the product to the Belgian head office. Affected consumers should provide their details and bank account number to receive a refund.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
China accuses Hegseth of espousing 'Cold War mentality' for labeling country as a threat: 'Vilified'
China criticized U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday for his "vilified" remarks "filled with provocations" in which he said the Asian country poses a legitimate threat in the Indo-Pacific. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Hegseth touted a "Cold War mentality" when he delivered his speech on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore. "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat,'" a spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement. "The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord," the statement continued. "China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S. No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the US itself, which is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific." Hegseth Says Us Will Bolster Defenses Overseas To Support Indo-pacific Allies Against China On Saturday, Hegseth said the U.S. will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon views as rapidly developing threats by China, particularly toward Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. Read On The Fox News App The Chinese army "is rehearsing for the real deal," Hegseth said. "We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent." The Pentagon chief said China is no longer building up its military forces to take Taiwan, but it is "actively training for it, every day." Addressing the dispute over Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement that the matter is China's internal affair and that the U.S. should "never play with fire." "No country is in a position to interfere," the statement said. "The US should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China. The US must never play with fire on this question. China urges the US to fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and stop supporting and emboldening the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces." Hegseth Denies Claim That Golden Dome Is 'Offensive': 'Protecting The Homeland' The statement also accused the U.S. of deploying offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and "stoking flames and creating tensions" in the Asia-Pacific, which it said was "turning the region into a powder keg and making countries in the region deeply concerned." In the South China Sea, the statement said there "has never been any problem with regard to freedom of navigation and overflight there." "China has always been committed to working with countries concerned to properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, while safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations," the spokesperson said. "It is the U.S. that is the primary factor hurting the peace and stability in the South China Sea." The statement concluded: "China urges the U.S. to fully respect the efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability, stop deliberately destroying the peaceful and stable environment cherished by the region, and stop inciting conflict and confrontation and escalating tensions in the region." Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang also called Hegseth's comments a provocation that distorted China's policy positions. While Hegseth vowed to boost U.S. defenses overseas to counter any possible threat from China, the defense secretary insisted that allies in the Indo-Pacific also contribute more to their own defense. "We ask, and indeed we insist, that our allies and partners do their part on defense," he said on Saturday. "Sometimes that means having uncomfortable and tough conversations." The U.S. and China reached a deal last month to cut tariffs on each down to 115% for 90 days to allow time for negotiators from both sides to come to a more substantive agreement — U.S. tariffs on China were reduced from 145% to 30% and China's taxes on the U.S. were slashed from 125% to 10%. But Trump said in a social media post on Friday that he would no longer be "nice" with China when it comes to trade and accused Beijing of breaking an unspecified agreement with the article source: China accuses Hegseth of espousing 'Cold War mentality' for labeling country as a threat: 'Vilified'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump, Hegseth announce 'Golden Dome,' a ‘game changer' to protect American homeland
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the U.S. will soon begin construction of a "Golden Dome" missile defense system they say will be a next-generation "game changer" protecting the American homeland from outside adversaries. A similar system, the Iron Dome, has already been developed in Israel with U.S. assistance and has proven effective in repelling missile attacks. Now. Trump says a bigger, more technologically advanced, multi-layered dome system will soon be installed in America. The president announced the "one big beautiful" budget bill being discussed in Congress will include $25 billion in initial funding for the project, which he expects will cost $175 billion overall. He said he expects a major phase of the dome will be complete in under three years and that it will be "fully operational before the end of my term." He noted there is significant support for the project in Congress, quipping, "It's amazing how easy this one is to fund." Hegseth Reveals Plans To Counter China, Stay Ahead In Arms Race As Pentagon Pivots To Indo-pacific "In the campaign, I promised the American people that I would build a cutting-edge missile defense shield to protect our homeland from the threat of foreign missile attack. And that's what we're doing today," he said, adding that the Golden Dome "will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from the other side of the world and even if they are launched from space." Read On The Fox News App Trump also announced he is placing Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein in charge of the project, saying, "No one is more qualified for this job." Hegseth called the Golden Dome a "bold initiative" and another addition to Trump's "long and growing list of promises made and promises kept." He said investing in the new system is essential to respond to growing threats from countries like Russia and China. "Ultimately, this right here, the Golden Dome for America, is a game changer," said Hegseth. "It's a generational investment in the security of America and Americans." Trump's Tough Policies Push Uk, Eu To Significantly Expand Trade And Defense Addressing Trump, Hegseth said, "Mr. President, you said we're going to secure our southern border and get 100% operational control after the previous administration allowed an invasion of people into our country. President Reagan 40 years ago cast the vision for it. The technology wasn't there. Now it is, and you're following through to say we will protect the homeland from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they're conventional or nuclear." Guetlein indicated the Golden Dome is necessary to preserve the safety, security and the quality of life Americans are used to. "We owe it to our children and our children's children to protect them and afford them a quality of life that we have all grown up enjoying. Golden dome will afford that," said Guetlein. Marco Rubio: We Should Be Happy We Have A President Who Seeks Peace The general said "our adversaries have become very capable and very intent on holding the homeland at risk." "While we have been focused on keeping the peace overseas, our adversaries have been quickly modernizing their nuclear forces, building up ballistic missiles capable of hosting multiple warheads, building out hypersonic missiles capable of attacking the United States within an hour and traveling at 6,000 miles an hour, building cruise missiles that can navigate around our radar and our defenses, building submarines that can sneak up on our shores and, worse yet, building space weapons," Guetlein said. "It is time that we change that equation and start doubling down on the protection of the homeland."Original article source: Trump, Hegseth announce 'Golden Dome,' a 'game changer' to protect American homeland
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
10 animals with food-inspired names from the fried egg jellyfish to the pineapple fish
Over the years, evolution has created some truly amazing and strange creatures that look totally amazing! Some of which look so remarkable that they have got food-inspired names. Yet, this hasn't stopped the scientists from giving quirky-looking animals from giving witty names. As some animals got the name from our favourite celebrities, some of them have given food-inspired names too. Here are 10 animals which are universal favourites, from the fried egg jellyfish to the pineapple fish. List of animals inspired by food Animal Name Scientific Name / Class Why It's Named That Key Traits / Facts Chocolate Chip Sea Star Protoreaster nodosus Brown bumps resemble chocolate chips; body looks like a cookie. Lives in sandy, muddy habitats; collected for shell trade. Fried Egg Jellyfish Phacellophora camtschatica Looks like a fried egg. Found in cool oceans; larval crabs ride on them and eat parasites. Pineapple Fish Cleidopus gloriamaris Scales resemble a pineapple or armor; has bioluminescent organs. Also called coat-of-mail fish, knightfish, port-and-starboard light fish. Honey Badger Mellivora capensis Named for its habit of raiding beehives. Known for fearlessness; attacks venomous snakes and larger predators; prefers to avoid direct conflict. Banana Slug Ariolimax genus Yellow body resembles a ripe banana. Second-largest land slug; can reach 25 cm; has dark spots like an overripe banana. Tomato Frog Dyscophus antongilii Bright red coloration resembles a tomato. Inflates body and releases toxins when threatened; faces threats from habitat loss and pet trade. Lemon Shark Negaprion brevirostris Yellow-brown coloration helps camouflage with sandy sea floor. Social species; well-studied due to success in captivity; may form lasting social bonds. Strawberry Finch Amandava amandava Red feathers with white spots look like strawberries. Males are vibrantly colored; common in South/Southeast Asia; popular in bird trade. Coconut Crab Birgus latro Cracks coconuts open by dropping them from trees. Largest land-dwelling arthropod; prefers fleshy fruits, nuts, and seeds. Sea Cucumber Holothuroidea clas Body resembles a cucumber. Part of echinoderm family; feeds on plankton and detritus; includes 1,700+ species. Animals with food-inspired names Chocolate chip sea star [Protoreaster nodosus] It can be clearly seen why this name was given to this species of Indo-pacific sea star-as it has brown bumps like chocolate and tan colour sometimes that looks like a cookie. This species lives in a sandy and muddy environment. But the surprising part is that despite having these qualities, they are still collected for sea-shell trades. Fried egg jellyfish [Phacellophora camtschatica] Just like the previous one, this one too, needs no explanation for its name. It looks same as a fried egg with a jelly-like tail as well. This creature can be found in many parts of the world's ocean , but these species prefer to live in cool surroundings. They have a strong engaging relationship with larval crabs, but the tiny crabs ride on the bell of this creature and consume the parasites that trouble it. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Flexible Phone Plans for Small Biz Undo Pineapple fish [Cleidopus gloriamaris] This fish has got four fun and descriptive names rather than just one! This fish is also called as the coat-of-mail fish or the knightfish, because of its unique and layered scales that resembles armor and for the port-and-starboard light fish that it carries near the corner of its mouth. Thus,the name is derived from- gloria and maris that means 'glory of the sea' as it clearly signifies too! Honey badger [Mellivora capensis] This species hasn't got its name because of its appearance, but because of their diet. Yes! The name of this creature is honey badger, which breaks into beehives to feed on both the honey as well as has even got the title of 'the world's most fearless animal because of its tendency and quality to secretly attack other dangerous species, such as poisonous snakes and even the lions. But in reality, it usually prefers to hide and avoid facing the complications where possible and attacks suddenly. Banana slug [Ariolimax genus] This creature will confuse you just by its appearance as it looks like a squishy banana lying on the floor. These bright-yellow coloured gastropods are found in five different species. The most famous among these is Pacific banana slug, which is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world, measuring 25 cm, almost equal to approx 1.5 bananas. Also, they look like an overripe fruit due to its irregular black spots on them. Tomato frog [Dyscophus antongilii] The brightness of this creature clearly signifies the colour red,which is a symbol of warning as well as danger. When threatened by a predator, a tomato frog inflates Its body and releases a toxic substance that can numb the predator's eyes and mouth, prompting it to the release the frog. It's certainly an encounter best avoided but they are deeply threatened by habitat degradation and pollution as well as from pet trades. Lemon shark [Negaprion brevirostris] This animal has also got its name because of its concealing coloration. This creature's yellow-brown colour helps it to blend seamlessly with sandy sea floors, allowing it to ambush prey undetected. Due to their success in captivity, these sharks are among the most extensively studied. Remarkably, they are a social species, often forming groups with individuals of similar size, Some researchers even suggest that they may establish dominance and form long lasting social connections, much like birds. Strawberry finch [Amandava amandava] With its vivid red feathers speckled with white, seed-like spots, it's clear how this bird earned its food-inspired name. Commonly known as the 'red avadavat', it inhabits tropical regions across South and Southeast Asia. Unsurprisingly, its striking appearance has made it a favourite among bird collectors. As is typical in many bird species, only the males display such vibrant coloring, while the females have a more subdued yellow- brown hue. Coconut crab [Birgus latro] This remarkable and admittedly formidable-crab holds the title of the world's largest land-dwelling crustacean and terrestrial arthropod. Its name comes from its impressive skill of cracking open coconuts, which includes lifting them from the ground, climbing a tree, and dropping them to break them open and reach the edible flesh. However, despite what the name suggests, coconuts aren't their primary food source; they maily feed on other fleshy fruits, along with various nuts and seeds. Sea cucumber [Holothuroidea class] Although not a single species but a whole class of animals, sea cucumbers include around 1,717 known species. Like starfish and sea urchins, they are part of the echinoderm family. Commonly resembling lifeless vegetables resting on the ocean floor, they feed on plankton and decomposing organic material. Their name clearly comes from their striking similarity to edible cucumbers. Their appearance attracts the individuals because of its cucumber-like shape and surface. Also read: Understanding the surprising truth behind toilet failures on long flights and what it means for passengers
