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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Reviving World War II Airfield in America's Backyard
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A groundbreaking ceremony held on a remote Pacific island marked the start of a project—spearheaded by a Chinese state-owned company—to revive a World War II-era airfield. The project, launched on the atoll of Woleai in the Federated States of Micronesia, is approximately 400 miles south of Guam, a U.S. territory and military hub considered key to Washington's ability to project power in the Asia-Pacific. Why It Matters Micronesia is one of the South Pacific's Freely Associated States—along with Palau and the Marshall Islands—whose defense and broader stability is guaranteed by Washington. But with the U.S. prioritizing funding elsewhere, China has made inroads in this region through infrastructure projects. The islands lie along the so-called Second Island Chain, a string of islands Washington has long viewed as strategically important to containing a rising China in the event of a wartime scenario. Western analysts have raised concerns that this activity could eke away at the U.S. military's position in the Pacific, given Beijing's policy of military-civil fusion that enables the People's Liberation Army to co-opt these dual-use facilities. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and Chinese Embassy in Micronesia with written requests for comment. Satellite imagery captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on January 26, 2025, shows Micronesia's Woleai atoll and its disused airfield in the northeast. Satellite imagery captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on January 26, 2025, shows Micronesia's Woleai atoll and its disused airfield in the northeast. Copernicus What To Know The Woleai runway was built by Imperial Japanese forces during World War II, but has long fallen into disrepair due to lack of funding. The project was launched with fanfare Monday in a joint effort by China's Shandong Hengyue Municipal Engineering and Micronesia's Department of Transportation. Micronesian President Wesley Simina traveled in person to attend the ceremony. The airfield will be a major boon to locals, who currently rely on dayslong boat trips to reach the nearest airstrip. It's also expected to support health care, business development, and education in the region. Satellite imagery captured by a commercial airplane on July 9, 2023, and provided by Google Earth shows Micronesia's disused Woleai airfield, which was built by Imperial Japanese forces in World War II and bombed by... Satellite imagery captured by a commercial airplane on July 9, 2023, and provided by Google Earth shows Micronesia's disused Woleai airfield, which was built by Imperial Japanese forces in World War II and bombed by U.S. forces. More Airbus/Google Earth Cleo Paskal, a non-resident senior fellow at the neoconservative think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that while $2 billion has been invested in Micronesia's Yap State, outer islands like Woleai have been neglected. "Getting to the groundbreaking of the Woleai runway reconstruction was only possible by traveling for four days on a transport ship from Yap—a ship provided by China aid. The president arrived on a patrol boat provided by Australia. The U.S. was nowhere to be seen," Paskal wrote in a social media post. "Tomorrow is Woleai's high school graduation. Don't expect to see any U.S. government representatives there either," she wrote. "The Chinese will be there though. Showing up is (more than) half the battle." Groundbreaking ceremony today on Woleai, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia for (re)construction of Japanese World War II-era runway by Chinese company. FSM President Simina in attendance. Without a runway locals must travel days by infrequent boat to reach another runway. — Cleo Paskal (@CleoPaskal) May 26, 2025 What People Are Saying Domingo I-Kwei Yang, assistant research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, wrote in a recent report: "China aims to establish a Southern Link, connecting Asia and South America via Pacific strategic infrastructure hubs. Control over Pacific ports, airstrips, and ICT systems could serve dual-use purposes, enabling transit, logistics, and expanded influence in the U.S. backyard." The Pentagon said in its 2024 report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China [PRC]: "Since 2015, the PRC has probably viewed engagement and deliberate corruption in the Pacific Island countries as an opportunity to expand its regional influence, press countries to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, increase influence with regional security forces, and advance the PRC's responsible great power narrative." What's Next Elsewhere in the Pacific, the U.S. military is reclaiming another World War II-era airfield on the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, part of efforts to bolster the Second Island Chain as its Chinese rival closes the power gap.
France 24
16-05-2025
- France 24
India-Pakistan conflict: AI-generated or edited fake satellite images flood social media
The weapons have fallen silent but the image war rages on. From May 6 to 10, India and Pakistan engaged in military clashes following a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan claims to have destroyed several pieces of equipment at Indian military bases, but India denounces disinformation and says it successfully hit Pakistani military installations. On X, Pakistani and Indian internet users have been sharing alleged satellite images to illustrate the damage purportedly inflicted by their respective armies. But several of these images are fake. An AI-enhanced hangar photo On May 12, an Indian account posted a satellite image on X supposedly showing the aftermath of an Indian strike. The remarkably clear image prompted admiration. 'The picture is so sharp that it looks like it was taken with a drone. Indian satellites are very powerful,' a Facebook account commented. According to another commenter, the photo allegedly shows a hangar at Pakistan's Bholari airbase destroyed by the Indian military. But this photo is partly fake: it has been altered by artificial intelligence. Thanks to a reverse image search (click here to find out how), we were able to find the origin of this image on a Reddit forum. The user who shared the image confirms that AI was used to enhance a satellite image of the strike. A hangar at Pakistan's Bholari airbase was indeed partially damaged. Our team obtained a satellite image showing the base on May 11 from Maxar. This image shows damage to the hangar's roof. However, this satellite image has notable differences compared to the photograph shared on X, which confirms that the latter was generated by AI. Compared to the original photograph, the image shared on X shows several inconsistencies. A low wall located on the left side of the hangar has disappeared, and the roof patterns do not match. The roof strips are arranged horizontally on the left side, while they are positioned vertically on the right side. In the image provided by Maxar, the hangar is visible from a distance. The AI-generated image, on the other hand, is a close-up of the hangar, likely in an attempt to show the damage caused by the Indian strike in a more dramatic way. Fake craters at Jammu base in India On May 11, a pro-Pakistan online user posted a satellite image purportedly showing damage caused by Pakistani forces on India's Jammu airbase, in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir. This image was supposedly taken after Pakistani strikes. It depicts a series of six craters on the airport's runway and adjacent buildings. However, the open-source intelligence analyst Aurora Intel showed how this satellite image has been graphically altered to add damage. An image taken on May 11 by the Sentinel-2 satellite shows that the Indian airbase is actually intact. None of the six craters visible in the image shared on X appear on the Sentinel-2 image, which was taken the day after the alleged Pakistani strikes. Destruction of Indian S-400 missile battery? Image is doctored Following the alleged loss of one or several Rafale fighter jets, India has allegedly lost another piece of advanced military equipment: a battery of the S-400 missile, the Indian army's most sophisticated air defence system. This claim comes from pro-Pakistan internet users who posted a satellite image of India's Adampur airbase in Punjab. Two craters can be seen in this image, which garnered over a million views on X. These craters are being presented as proof of the battery's destruction. As open-source intelligence Damien Symon points out, the satellite image has been doctored. No sign of a crater is visible on an image of the Adampur base taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite on May 11, after the ceasefire. The Pakistani army has officially claimed the destruction of an S-400 missile battery in Adampur. However, satellite images presented during a briefing on May 12 show no visible signs of damage. For his part, the Indian government press service stated that Pakistan's claim was 'fake' and 'baseless'. On May 13, the Indian government released a video of a speech held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Adampur base. In the background, the intact tubes of an S-400 missile launcher can be seen. A number of Indian media outlets have presented this video as sufficient proof to invalidate Pakistani claims. However, accounts supporting the Pakistani army have countered that this presentation of the facts was misleading. They argue that the Pakistani forces never claimed to have destroyed the S-400 missiles themselves, but only their radars. So far, however, the Pakistani government has provided no visual and independently verifiable evidence of any such destruction.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'River of fire' unleashes toxic gases as eruption destroys town in La Palma
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK FACTS Where is it? La Palma, Canary Islands [28.62120467, -17.89960469] What's in the photo? A highly destructive lava flow winding into the sea Which satellite took the photo? European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 mission When was it taken? Oct. 1, 2021 This striking satellite photo shows red-hot lava winding into the sea during a volcanic eruption on La Palma in the Canary Islands. The "river of fire" completely wiped out a small town and unleashed plumes of toxic gases, which have plagued the Spanish island for years, locals and experts told Live Science. On Sept. 19, 2021, after a swarm of more than 22,000 earthquakes in less than a week, a large fissure suddenly opened up above the town of Todoque on the western flank of Cumbre Vieja — a volcanic ridge that runs through the southern half of La Palma — shooting lava fountains hundreds of feet in the air. The effusive eruption, which was the first volcanic outburst on the island since 1971, persisted for 85 days until Dec. 13, according to the Global Volcanism Program at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. During this time, around 7.1 billion cubic feet (200 million cubic meters) of molten rock poured out from a 660-feet-tall (200 meters) cone-shaped vent, named Tajogaite, which grew around the fissure. The fiery rock, which reached temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 degrees Celsius), flowed down toward the coast and into the Atlantic Ocean, creating around 4.6 million square feet (430,000 square meters) of new land in the process. The lava flows, which stretched up to 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) long, were clearly visible from space and ended up covering a total area of around over 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares), including Todoque, which was essentially wiped off the map. Around 3,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, along with large swathes of surrounding banana farms. The estimated damage exceeded 700 million euros (US$ 780 million), according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. One person was killed by the eruption: an elderly man who is believed to have died from inhaling toxic volcanic gases while ignoring official advice and prematurely returning to his home in the exclusion zone, according to AFP. Thousands of wild and agricultural animals are also believed to have been killed by the lava flow and resulting gases. Related: See all the best images of Earth from space The damage was "truly terrible," Marie Edmonds, a volcanologist at the University of Cambridge, told Live Science at the recent STARMUS Festival, an annual science festival that was held in the neighboring town of Puerto Naos from April 25 to April 29. "Most shocking to me is the closeness of the vent to the communities," she added when describing what it was like to visit the area during the festival. "It must have been absolutely terrifying to see the eruption so close." Local resident David, who used to live in Todoque and now resides in the neighboring town of Los Llanos de Aridane, was one of 7,000 people evacuated from their homes during the eruption. The shopkeeper told Live Science that he watched the lava flows burn across the landscape like a "river of fire," as his house was destroyed by the molten rock. The eruption was particularly noteworthy due to high levels of volcanic gases that were released into the air. This was the result of unusually high levels of sodium and potassium in the lava, which made it highly alkaline and increased the amount of gases, such as sulfur dioxide, that were emitted, Edmonds told Live Science. Where lava reached the coastline — and dripped into the ocean via giant lava falls — other gases, such as hydrogen chloride, were also released, she added. Throughout the eruption, an exclusion zone was put in place around lava flows to protect people from the gases. However, some locals ignored official advice and snuck back into the area to visit their properties. Taxi driver Ramón was one of those who went home after the eruption had ceased, but before people were given the green light to return. After just a few minutes, he began to get lightheaded and started struggling to breathe before passing out. He later awoke in the hospital and spent several days being treated for toxic gas inhalation. "I thought that I was going to die," Ramón told Live Science as he drove past Tajogaite. More than three years later, he still struggles with shortness of breath. While the worst volcanic gases have now dissipated, the problem is not totally gone. Large pockets of carbon dioxide still lie in lava tubes and other natural depressions in the area and could be harmful to people if they unknowingly walk through them, Edmonds said. "It is unknown how long this hazard will persist," she added. Locals also claim that they can still smell the eggy fumes of sulfur dioxide whenever it rains. The initial explosive phase of the eruption triggered large plumes of ash and smoke into the atmosphere that could be clearly seen from Tenerife, around 90 miles (145 km) away, and caused several brief airport closures throughout the Canary Islands. The plumes also caused a temporary disruption to the astronomical work being done by researchers at the various telescopes located at Las Palmas' Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), which is situated at an altitude of around 7,900 feet (2,400 m). "The disruption only lasted for around a week," Alba Fernandez-Barral, an astronomer and chief communications officer at the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory at ORM, told Live Science. "But for several telescopes, this was the first time they had stopped collecting data for decades." The atmospheric disturbances soon dissipated, but the continuing lava flows put a halt to most day-to-day activities in the area surrounding Tajogaite. Locals became so concerned that one Canarian politician even suggested detonating bombs within the erupting cone to stem the flow of lava, although this idea was never seriously considered. However, for locals, the issues persisted long after the lava eventually ceased flowing. The biggest problem was that the only road between Los Llanos de Aridane and Puerto Naos was destroyed, meaning that the only way to get from one to the other was to drive all the way around Cumbre Vieja, which means driving half of the island's coastline. Ramon told Live Science that the journey that once took 10 minutes could now take up to an hour and a half. Construction on a new road began almost as soon as the eruption ceased, while some of the lava was still at several hundred degrees F. The road was fully constructed within two years and can be seen from space winding through the lava flats, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. Although the area is now fully accessible, tourists and some islanders have continued to avoid the area due to fears over the toxic gases. One local official at STARMUS, who did not want to be named, told Live Science that attending the festival marked the first time they have been back to the area since the eruption. The eruption of Tajogaite has left long-lasting scars — both on the landscape and within the local community. But there are signs that these wounds are beginning to heal. "The loss of entire neighbourhoods affected the society here very badly," Edmonds told Live Science. "But I think that the people have bounced back incredibly well. Resilience is clearly very strong here." MORE EARTH FROM SPACE —'Smoking terror' volcano that destroyed city 400 years ago burps toxic cloud —Pair of 'glowing' lava lakes spotted on Africa's most active volcanoes as they erupt simultaneously —'Shining anus' volcano in Tonga coughs up cloud of smoke during recent eruption For many locals, the recent STARMUS Festival marked something of a return to normality as tourists flocked to La Palma in significant numbers for the first time since early 2021. Eruptions like this only happen on La Palma once every 50 years, Edmonds added, so it should be a while before anything like this happens again.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Show US B-52 Bombers Deployed Near Iran
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New satellite imagery showed two B-52 bombers at the U.S. Naval Support Facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing Washington's long-range strike capabilities near Iran at a time that talks with the U.S. on its nuclear program have so far fallen short of a deal to avert threatened military action. Newsweek contacted U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment. Why It Matters The United States is significantly bolstering its military presence at Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean, as it escalates pressure on Iran amid tensions over its nuclear program. President Donald Trump has said he would prefer a peaceful resolution of the nuclear dispute, but has threatened military action if it proves impossible to reach an agreement. This photograph captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on May 7 shows two B-52 bombers at the Diego Garcia base. This photograph captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on May 7 shows two B-52 bombers at the Diego Garcia base. Copernicus/Sentinel Hub What To Know B-52 bombers have arrived at the remote Indian Ocean outpost of Diego Garcia, joining a contingent of six B-2 stealth bombers already deployed there for weeks, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, a military-specialized publication, and open-source intelligence analysts. The measurements of the aircraft shown by the satellite image captured Wednesday and first spotted by open-source intelligence researcher MT Anderson on X, are consistent with the dimensions of the B-52 bomber. B-2 stealth bombers and C-17 transport aircraft were deployed to the remote Indian Ocean base in March, following the launch of a U.S. air campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen that was halted on Tuesday. The increased U.S. military buildup signals heightened readiness for potential large-scale air operations in the region after multiple threats to Iran by the Trump administration over its nuclear ambitions. Nuclear talks are ongoing, but Trump has warned of "great danger" to the Islamic Republic if talks fail. Tehran says that its nuclear program is for commercial purposes only and that it does not want to build nuclear weapons, but an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran "will have no choice" but to seek nuclear weapons if attacked. Diego Garcia, a U.S. military outpost on British territory located over 2,000 miles from Iran, has drawn renewed strategic focus as tensions with Tehran escalate. Iranian media have also previously highlighted the remote base as a potential target in the event of conflict. What People Are Saying Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence Lt. General Andrew J. Gebara in congressional hearing, Wednesday, as quoted by Air & Space Forces Magazine: "There's a Bomber Task Force of B-52s going on as we speak." Iranian official told The Telegraph in March: "The response to Trump's threats should be action, not words - every base in the region is within range of our missiles. The missiles are locked and loaded, ready to target any area from which Iran could be threatened, whether from Diego Garcia or Bahrain." What Happens Next As the date for the next U.S.-Iran nuclear talks is yet to be determined, Washington is stepping up its strategic posture to reinforce its readiness for whatever action might be needed.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Is Building Something Huge-And Satellite Images Give Us a Clue
World China Is Building Something Huge-And Satellite Images Give Us a Clue Satellite Photo Shows China's New Military Complex. This photograph captured on May 11, 2024, by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites shows the site of China's new military complex in western Beijing. Copernicus New satellite imagery offers a glimpse of progress China is quietly making on a sprawling construction site outside Beijing, believed to be the future home of a major military command complex. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment. Why It Matters Construction of the facility began in mid-2024, according to expert analysis of images included in a January report by the U.K. newspaper Financial Times. Nicknamed "Beijing Military City" by some intelligence experts, the site-located about 20 miles southwest of the capital in the Qinglonghu area-covers approximately 1,500 acres. If completed as expected, it could be nearly 10 times the size of the Pentagon. Among its standout features are deep pits that analysts believe could house hardened bunkers to shelter China's leadership in the event of a major conflict-including a nuclear one-with the United States. What To Know The new imagery shows further progress since the earlier images that made headlines in January. In the original FT report, analysts pointed to the sheer scale of the underground infrastructure, with at least 100 cranes operating across the site. "China's main secure command center is in the Western Hills, northeast of the new facility, and was built decades ago at the height of the Cold War," a former U.S. intelligence official told the newspaper. "The size, scale, and partially buried characteristics of the new facility suggest it will replace the Western Hills complex as the primary wartime command facility." Analysts say such a facility would align with Chinese leader Xi Jinping's broader ambition to surpass the United States as the preeminent global military power. "This fortress only serves one purpose, which is to act as a doomsday bunker for China's increasingly sophisticated and capable military," the Financial Times quoted one China researcher as saying on condition of anonymity. Xi is pushing for the People's Liberation Army to become a world-class military by 2049. Long-running tensions with Washington, and Xi's belief that the U.S. seeks to constrain Beijing's rise, have fueled a rapid military expansion. This has included an estimated threefold increase of China's nuclear warhead stockpile from around 200 to 600 since 2020. Still, this arsenal remains far smaller than that of the United States and Russia. Another key milestone is 2027, the year by which U.S. officials believe Xi has instructed his forces to be capable of taking Taiwan-though Beijing will not necessarily attempt the invasion during this or any other year. An attack on the self-ruled island and tech hub remains the most likely trigger for a great power conflict between the U.S. and China. Washington maintains a long-standing policy of "strategic ambiguity" to keep Beijing guessing about whether U.S. forces would intervene in Taiwan's defense. What People Have Said Michael Beckley, assistant professor of Political Science at Tufts University, Massachusetts, said in an interview with German public, state-owned international broadcaster Deutsche Welle: "Xi Jinping has said in his speeches that he's facing all-around encirclement by the West. "And so this seems to be his way of trying to get ready to build a fortress, both around China but also around himself, because a big part of this bunker is basically to be resistant to nuclear strikes that might hit Beijing. So it shows just the potential fear that's going on within Beijing." What Happens Next Chinese officials have not publicly commented on the project, and its expected completion date remains unknown. Related Articles 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM.
