Latest news with #Oryx
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Iconic horned species from Ethiopia may not survive this ‘time of lawlessness'
The walia ibex, with its distinctive large curved horns, is regarded as a national symbol in Ethiopia. It is also 'one of the most threatened mammals' on the brink of extinction, experts said. The species came close to extinction in 1966. Officials established the Simien Mountains National Park to protect the last 200 walia ibexes on Earth, where for decades, their population grew. Now, recent surveys show their numbers are approaching critical levels again, according to a study published July 21 in the journal Oryx. 'The war opened the door for poaching during this time of lawlessness,' a local resident told researchers. In 2015, researchers counted 865 walia ibexes in Simien Mountains National Park. In 2024, just 306 were documented, 194 of which were adults, the study said. One of the criterion for a species to qualify as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List is a 'mature' population below the threshold of 250 individuals, according to the study. 'Clear evidence of poaching, including snares and animal carcasses,' have been discovered in Simien Mountains National Park, the study said. Locals identify 'fundamental' drivers of poaching Researchers interviewed 'park personnel, village elders, farmers, local authority staff and militia' in the communities surrounding the ibex's habitat to investigate possible causes for the uptick in poaching. According to the study, more than 70% of people 'attributed the drop in walia ibex numbers to poaching, both for food and medicinal purposes,' citing COVID-19 and the 2021–2022 Tigray war just north of the park as 'fundamental' causes. 'COVID-19 has obstructed tourist flows, decreased revenues and halted patrolling activities and awareness,' an interviewee told researchers. Ibexes have historically been a major tourist attraction in Ethiopia, providing income for the region in addition to their ecological importance, the study said. Any instances of poaching, which have been rare over the last several decades, were reported to park rangers. Researchers theorize that as the number of annual visitors dropped from 32,000 to 4,300 between 2019 and 2023, the 'decrease in income from tourism may have eroded the previously positive relationship between communities and Park authorities, leading to an increase in poaching,' according to the study. Experts are creating an action plan to save the species, which involves mobilizing 'community ambassadors' with the goal of trust-building and improved communication, annual population censuses including the use of camera traps, and recategorizing the walia ibex as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, according to the study. The Simien Mountains are in the northwestern corner of Ethiopia near the border with Eritrea and Sudan.
The Print
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
Paradox of India's S-400 deal—key asset delayed when country needs it most
However, this optimism belies the long and complicated journey of the S-400 deal. Signed in 2018 at a value of $5.43 billion, the agreement was initially hailed as a bold assertion of India's strategic autonomy, especially during the Trump administration. In 2020, NATO ally Turkey faced sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) for pursuing the same system. India had escaped US sanctions, a testament to its rising importance in the evolving Indo-Pacific calculus. The S-400 systems, which form the outermost layer of India's integrated air defence shield, have proven particularly effective during Operation Sindoor. They successfully integrated with domestically developed platforms like the Akash surface-to-air missiles, L-70 anti-aircraft guns, and indigenous drones. Unsurprisingly, there is a growing consensus within India's strategic community that New Delhi must not only complete the current S-400 procurement but also explore future acquisitions, possibly including the more advanced S-500 systems. On the sidelines of the otherwise contentious Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Qingdao, a quiet yet significant development unfolded. India was once again assured by Russia of the timely delivery of the remaining two S-400 Triumf air defence systems. Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov himself communicated this to his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, offering some comfort to New Delhi's strategic planners. Indian media outlets covered the commitment with cautious relief. Yet, what was once a symbol of defiance and diplomatic balance has now become a victim of President Putin's protracted war in Ukraine. Originally scheduled for delivery between 2021 and 2023, the first three S-400 systems did arrive by late 2021. The remaining two, however, remain undelivered as Russia's war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, with no clear end in sight. The timeline has repeatedly slipped. There are at least four critical factors behind these delays, which highlight both vulnerabilities and priorities of the Russian defence sector, as well as the geopolitical complexities surrounding Moscow's partnerships. 1. Russia's battlefield losses Russia has suffered significant material losses in Ukraine. While propaganda from both sides makes verification difficult, independent monitoring groups like Oryx have documented that at least 12 S-400 systems have been partially or completely destroyed. This is significant, given the S-400's role as the backbone of Russia's long-range air defence, with more than 30 regiments reportedly in service. The S-400 is vital for safeguarding Russia's expansive territory—particularly as its military posture faces new threats from NATO's rejuvenated eastern flank. If Russia is short on operational systems, it is far more likely to divert new production toward replenishing its own arsenals than fulfilling export obligations. To understand how important the S-400 programme is for Russia, we must look back at its roots. Revitalised around 2000 under President Putin, the programme was part of a broader effort to restore Russia's defence industrial base and resuscitate its economy. A state-backed investment drive led to the expansion of three major production hubs: Obukhov Plant in St Petersburg, the Avitek Plant in Kirov, and the NMP Plant in Nizhny Novgorod. These efforts bore fruit by 2016, enabling large-scale production of the S-400 as well as newer systems like the S-300V4 and S-500. In January 2023, Putin even visited the Obukhovsky Plant, publicly claiming that Russia's surface-to-air missile production exceeded the combined output of the rest of the world. Yet, India hasn't received its remaining systems over the last two years—a telling contradiction. Also read: Tejas must not meet the fate of India's first indigenous fighter jet 2. Collapse of Russian weapon exports Data supports this broader trend. According to SIPRI, Russian arms exports declined by 64 per cent between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five-year period. Even starker, Kazakhstan-based outlet Arbat Media reported that Russian weapon exports shrank by 92 per cent between 2021 and the end of 2024, falling to below $1 billion annually—a staggering fourteenfold drop. While the SIPRI figures span a longer horizon, Arbat's data focuses specifically on the war years, offering a more immediate sense of Russia's commercial collapse. Therefore, the correlation is not ill-founded. Russia's declining military export prowess is even more evident considering its inability to protect key allies. Despite Syria being central to Russia's Middle East strategy, Moscow failed to defend Bashar al-Assad's regime or secure its own military bases, even though supply lines like the Syrian Express link its Tartus naval base to the Black Sea war efforts. Similarly, during the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Russia offered Iran only verbal support, despite Tehran's vital role in the Ukraine war through its Shahed drones. Iran's request for air defence systems like the S-300 and S-400 was ignored, prompting rare public criticism from Iranian officials. This reflects Russia's retreat in the Caucasus and its inability to assert its military posture anymore. The loss of access to Western markets, materials, and customers—combined with battlefield attrition—has dramatically curtailed Moscow's ability to act as a reliable defence supplier. Also read: IAF needs a transformation. Bring in 5G fighters, fast-track Tejas Mk2, upgrade AMCA to 6G 3. Sanctions and supply chains Due to prolonged Western sanctions, Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for microchips and other sensitive technological components. While the Indian Ministry of Defence has periodically issued advisories urging the armed forces to remove Chinese-origin technology from military hardware—particularly in imported systems—the matter has assumed greater urgency following the developments during Operation Sindoor. It becomes pertinent to consider what this means for the production and delivery of new S-400 systems. One likely inference from the ongoing delays is that Russia may be supplying India with newly manufactured units rather than from existing stock. To navigate Western restrictions—primarily imposed by the US and European Union—Russia has been sourcing microelectronic components via regional partners such as Kazakhstan and China. While this workaround has helped keep some production lines active, it has significantly inflated the cost of crucial parts and further deepened Russia's dependency on China for sustaining its defence manufacturing capabilities. Indeed, weapons analysts examining destroyed Russian equipment in Ukraine have repeatedly found Western-made components—often from the US, Japan, and Europe—despite sanctions. Whether these parts were smuggled in after 2022 or are merely leftover stockpiles remains unclear. What's evident, however, is that Russia's production chain is neither sorted nor independent. And when faced with scarcity, Russia will always prioritise its domestic requirements over foreign contracts—even longstanding ones like India's. Reports suggest that Almaz-Antey, the Russian conglomerate that makes S-400 , has recently set up a drone manufacturing facility in China, likely using this as a channel to access chips and other sensitive technologies. While this allows Russia to keep its production lines running, it further entrenches its reliance on Chinese goodwill—a development that is uncomfortable for India. Also read: UPI to Ayurveda, PM Modi's Ghana visit will unlock new trade frontiers for India 4. China's strategic pressure A more troubling possibility is that China may be pressuring Russia—either directly or subtly—not to prioritise India's defence deliveries. This wouldn't be unprecedented. After the Galwan clash, Chinese officials made their displeasure with the Russia-India defence cooperation quite explicit. Since then, Beijing's growing technical and strategic support to Pakistan—especially during events like Operation Swift Retort—has made the regional dynamics clearer to Indian observers. Indian Air Force officials have acknowledged that China provided real-time intelligence to Pakistan during that episode, revealing that Pakistan was merely the front while China orchestrated key moves from behind. In this broader context, China may actually have incentives to keep Russian weapon exports subdued. With Russia increasingly bogged down in Ukraine and facing sanctions, China has quietly filled the void in regions traditionally influenced by Moscow. In the Caucasus, for example, Azerbaijan has begun purchasing China-Pakistan co-produced fighter jets. Even in Iran, Russia was unable to offer any military aid—leaving space for China to expand its influence. Although no official foreign policy statement would admit such motives, these strategic shifts suggest a calculated Chinese effort to limit Russia's defence outreach—especially toward India—while positioning itself as the emerging arms supplier in contested theatres. The long arc of India's acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf now embodies a paradox—an extraordinary asset delayed at a time when the country's outer defensive architecture demands urgent consolidation. While definitive explanations for the four factors discussed remain elusive, it is strategically prudent for India to invest in building its own air defence capabilities through initiatives like Project Kusha—even if the development timelines appear extended. Swasti Rao is a Consulting Editor (International and Strategic Affairs) at ThePrint. She tweets @swasrao. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
MINISTER MOTSHEKGA, SANDF OWE SOUTH AFRICANS AN APOLOGY
Angie Motshekga's track record suggests that she was not the right person to turn the fortunes of our defence force around, says the writer. Image: GCIS WHEN President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Angie Motshekga the Defence Minister, there was little hope that things would change for the better for this crucial department. That skepticism was informed by her track record as Basic Education Minister. It was during her long stint in that ministry that some of the worst stories were exposed. We are referring to incidents where children drowned in pit toilets while that department was among those allocated a huge chunk of the budget. Many will not forget about the time children were on the verge of not receiving their daily meals at school because contractors were not paid in time. A drive to some rural schools in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape confirmed the existence of mud schools, with children not having the basics such as desks and chairs. Then there were scandals involving the delivery or the lack thereof of stationery including textbooks before schools opened. We will not talk about the quality of education our children received and continue to receive in public schools because that should be blamed on her party's failure, the ANC. Nonetheless, Motshekga's track record suggests that she was not the right person to turn the fortunes of our defence force around. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading For a moment, forget the saga involving the killing of our troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year and focus on the events here at home. The SANDF's response to the deadly Eastern Cape deserves much scrutiny and Motshekga must tell the families of the victims why it only responded to the disaster seven days after having been called to assist. The country equally deserves to know why the Oryx helicopter, a medium utility aircraft essential for rescue missions, was not immediately available to be deployed during the flooding. Of course the Eastern Cape government owes South Africans an explanation for only requesting assistance from the SANDF on the day the tragedy struck, when it had enough warnings about what was to come. Above everything else, Motshekga and the SANDF top brass owe the country an apology. An apology for not helping minimise the impact of one of the worst tragedies in recent history. Our SANDF can't be the first to respond to other countries' problems then be spectators when tragedy strikes at home. CAPE TIMES
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Holomisa slams Cabinet and Treasury for crippling SANDF funding
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa says the SANDF is underfunded and underprepared for foreign deployments and disaster response. A former defence minister once revealed that 85% of the SA Air Force's aircraft are out of action due to age, a lack of spares or budget constraints. Picture: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo Chronic underfunding or defunding of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the impact of state capture on defence and problematic SANDF deployments on foreign peacekeeping missions are a concern. This is the view of United Democratic Movement leader and Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa, who was reporting back to his party this week. Cabinet and Treasury accused of ignoring urgent funding needs Holomisa criticised the lack of parliament, Cabinet and National Treasury support to ensure adequate protection of the country. He said even President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive in 2023 to increase defence funding from 0.57% to 1.5% of the gross domestic product was not adhered to and the Cabinet 'reduced these urgent calls to mere rhetoric, and National Treasury failed to allocate the necessary funds'. 'Parliament and the government of national unity must establish a structured, accountable process to implement resolutions, especially those related to defence and oversight bodies such as Scopa [standing committee on public accounts],' he said. ALSO READ: 'We're bleeding but not finished': Motshekga defends struggling air force DRC deployment exposes faults in 'adequacy of planning processes' Holomisa said the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) debacle involving SANDF members, some of whom were killed in a battle with M23 rebels, was an incident that haunted the department. The problem raised concerns about the overall capacity, preparedness and logistical readiness of the force to effectively carry out its continental peacekeeping and combat obligations. 'It brought into question the adequacy of our planning processes, resource allocation and strategic command structures in high-risk deployments,' he said. 'The DRC episode served as a stark reminder of the urgent need to review and strengthen our defence capabilities.' Climate disasters highlight emergency response limitations Holomisa raised climate change as a hindrance to the SANDF's work as it tested its capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to disaster relief operations. ALSO READ: SANDF budget constraints: SAAF needs R414 million to refurbish Ramaphosa's presidential jet A case in point was the recent devastating floods in the Eastern Cape which claimed more than 100 lives. He said despite the scale of the disaster, only one Oryx helicopter was deployed to conduct rescue and relief efforts and that happened days after the disaster had occurred. This highlighted the severe limitations in the force's aerial response capabilities during emergencies. 'Urgent need to improve' 'This highlights the urgent need to improve SANDF's disaster response readiness in alignment with the growing frequency and intensity of climate-related events,' Holomisa said. He said the department also held strategic meetings with defence state-owned enterprises such as Armscor and Denel, the defence secretariat and compliance briefings by the auditor-general and oversight meetings with the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans. NOW READ: Dire state of SANDF 'old hat' – Holomisa
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rainbow Six Siege X Showdown Event Twitch Drop rewards and how to get them
Image via Ubisoft. The Rainbow Six Siege X Showdown Event is now live with some exciting Twitch Drops. This event is going to introduce a new limited time western-themed 3v3 game mode featuring, along with exclusive maps, cosmetics, and many more. However, it is the Twitch Drops, about which fans are most excited about. And that's where this guide comes in to help you with all the available rewards. Rainbow Six Siege X Showdown Event Twitch Drops Rainbox Six Siege X Showdown Event is live now. | Image via Ubisoft. The Twitch Drops for Rainbow Six Siege X Showdown Event have been launched on June 25, which will be available to redeem until 6 PM CEST July 9, 2025. Just like any other Twitch Drops in other games, the redeeming process is pretty simple. Players just need to watch any eligible streamer playing Rainbow Six Siege X on Twitch, that's it. The more time the players dedicate on these streams, the greater rewards await them. Here are all the Rainbow Six Siege X Showdown Twitch Drop rewards and required watch times to redeem each of them: Reward Required watch time to redeem it SALOON VEST '25 Operator Card 30 minutes HARDEE MONOCLE '25 Headgear 1 hour SALOON VEST '25 Uniform 3 hour BARTER INTEREST '25 Weapon Skin 5 hour However, before starting to watch the streams to redeem these rewards, make sure to link your Twitch account to your Ubisoft account. After watching the streams for a specific period, that particular reward will be added to your Twitch Inventory. From there, you need to claim it and then it will finally be added to your in-game profile. Apart from the Twitch Drops, there will be more treats for the fans in the Rainbow Six Siege X Showdown Event. As earlier mentioned, there will be a brand new 3v3 game mode where The Law (ATK) and the Gravletop Gang (DEF) will be settling the score on a new exclusive map called Forth Truth, using only the BOSG and LFP586 revolver. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Vietnam (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo The game mode will be Secure the Area where Defenders need to protect a object against Attackers who will need to secure that until time runs out. Along with this new game mode, new Operators are also available in the game, thanks to this event. These playable Operators are Flores, Oryx, and Gridlock. There are a bunch of new bundles as well, like the Rugged Frontier Bundle, which features he Death Valley Keepsake charm, the Sneaky Bronco drone skin, the Wall of Shame background card, as well as the Filigree Blaster weapon and attachment skins for all the currently available weapons. Read More: All Veteran Rewards in Rainbow Six Siege X and how to claim them Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
