Latest news with #UnitedStatesAirForce
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Honoring service with warmth: Austin veterans presented with Quilts of Valor
May 31—By Jed Nelson Memorial Day is a day of remembering and honoring those who have passed away serving our country. It is a day where communities come together to remember those men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It is also a day where we show respect, where respect is due. A few weeks ago, a group of quilters from First Congregational Church of Austin made and presented four Quilts of Valor to the Donovan family. The group saw this as a perfect opportunity to honor a local military family as Memorial Day approached. Tim Donovan, of Austin, served in the United States Air Force, while all three of his sons followed suit in serving our country. Tim Donovan Jr served in both the United States Navy and National Guard, while twin sons Phil and Dan Donovan both served in the United States Marine Corps. The Quilts of Valor are made by those with a passion for quilting and a heart for those who have served our country. "We give quilts to veterans to honor them for their service," group member Marlene Hannam said. "Wrapping the veterans in their quilt, it is a hug from us." The group at First Congregational is a part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which works to honor any person who has served in a branch of the United States military. The group in Austin has been active for 15 years and in that time has presented numerous quilts to service members. "Our group in Austin started 15 years ago when I retired," member Mari Jo Stanek said. "We've gone on to make at least five hundred quilts for Veterans." The lady's group at First Congregational consists of 12 to 15 members. Each member works to craft a quilt made with love, care, and gratitude that flows from their hearts, into their hands, then finds home within the quilt. "It's really a great thing," Hannam said. "Some vets came home to very little, so awarding them with these quilts is such an honor." Hannam, Stanek, and other group members look to local Legions and high schools holding class reunions when finding groups of veterans to present quilts to. Once the quilt members are made aware of veterans to honor, the quilters get to work, then make the trip to present the Quilts of Valor to the veterans, often in front of their family, friends, or community members that get to witness this presentation of respect and honor. "The happiness on their faces as we wrap the quilts around them is just amazing to see," Hannam added. Regarding the Donovan's, the quilters did not have to worry about presenting in front of an audience. The presentation was done at home in the Donovan's backyard, where they were presented with their very own red, white, and blue Quilts of Valor. Seeing as the Donovan presentation was in their backyard, that did not mean it was any less special to them or the quilters of First Congregational. The presentation did not forgo any of its standard rituals — that being a speech on the importance and history of the Quilts of Valor and a few words on what it means to be a veteran. "It's really neat when a family has a father and three sons that have all served," Hannam said. "They were quite happy with the quilts." The group also makes it a priority to branch out into neighboring communities to honor their veterans. Each year members of the group travel to LeRoy for Pheasants Forever, a nonprofit conservation organization that hosts a DAV (Disabled American Veterans) hunt which started in 2019. "These veterans go out there and hunt pheasants," Hannam said. "Then we present them with their quilts, and they are simply honored." The quilters of First Congregational meet every Wednesday to talk about patterns, family, and friends. "Everybody has their own material," Hannam said. "Usually, we sew at home, but some ladies sew at the church." But no matter where the members sew, the act of creating a quilt that will bring happiness to a veteran will always bring them together. During the creation process, the ladies can't help but discuss how grateful they are that they get to honor local veterans through their quilts. Once the quilts are presented, the group makes it known that each veteran is welcomed as a member to their quilting family. "It's just beautiful that we get to do this," Hannam added. "We all find it to be such an honor."
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Funeral Set For Ava Moore, Teen Killed In Grapevine Lake Jet Ski Crash
Funeral services for 18-year-old Ava Moore, killed in a hit-and-run jet ski crash while kayaking on Grapevine Lake during Memorial Day weekend, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at The Met Church in Fort Worth, with full military honors from the United States Air Force to follow outside the church. Moore, a 2024 Timber Creek High School graduate, was visiting her parents in North Texas when the crash occurred on Sunday. A recent graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School on May 19, she was set to join the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2029 and begin basic training in weeks. The family has requested privacy as they grieve, stating, 'We are so thankful for the countless messages and demonstrations of love and support but most grateful for the many prayers we have received. This is a difficult time for all involved but also an opportunity for our beautiful girl to continue to impact our community. Out of this tragedy, God will make good and that only can be accomplished through forgiveness. We respectfully ask for our time and privacy to grieve, and thank you for all of your kindness and support. God bless.' Known for her leadership, Moore played basketball at the preparatory school and aspired to become a four-star general, according to her coach, Ke'sha Blanton. 'She talked all year about becoming a four-star general one day because she loved it,' Blanton said, per Fox 4 KDFW. 'She made those around her better.' U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind added, 'We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met. Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team.' The service at 11301 N. Riverside Drive will honor Moore's legacy, with the Air Force ceremony underscoring her commitment to military service. Authorities continue to investigate the crash, with two illegal aliens in custody, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Air Force One deal with Qatar not finalized, being reviewed by legal teams: Sources
Despite previous claims from the Department of Defense that the United States has officially accepted the luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar, the United States and Qatar have not yet finalized the details of the agreement, which are still being reviewed by their respective legal teams, according to a White House official and sources familiar with the discussions. A White House official stated that the White House's legal team is currently finalizing the details of the gift, working on a memorandum of understanding -- or MOU -- between the United States and Qatar. The Washington Post first reported the news. The plane from Qatar is currently in the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter as well as President Donald Trump, who confirmed the plane was here. However, Qatar wants to clarify the details surrounding the transfer, specifically emphasizing that the Trump administration was responsible for initiating the discussions about the donation of the luxury jet to the U.S. government, sources familiar with the negotiations said. MORE: Pentagon accepts luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One "As the President has said, this will be a sovereign-to-sovereign gift to the US Air Force," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. Asked about the details of the plane and its transfer on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt repeated that it is a "government-to-government gift." "This is a government-to-government gift transfer from the Qataris to the Department of Defense to the United States Air Force. It is now in their hands. And for further details on where that stands, I would defer you to the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force," Leavitt said during the White House press briefing. As ABC News first reported earlier this month, the aircraft is expected to be available for use by Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time the ownership of the plane is expected to be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. Last week, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that the Pentagon had officially accepted the luxury jet from Qatar. "The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," said Parnell, adding that the Department of Defense would "work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the president of the United States." MORE: Legality of Trump potentially accepting gift of Qatari plane questionable: Experts The Trump administration's plan to accept the luxury jet donated by the Qatari government to use as Air Force One has raised significant security concerns, according to intelligence experts and government officials. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns that the plane could pose significant security risks and potentially grant a foreign nation access to sensitive systems and communications, raising counterintelligence issues. Conversely, Republican lawmakers have questioned the president's decision to accept a gift from a foreign nation, also raising intelligence concerns. "Any building or vehicle or airplane that the president is located is a high-value target for foreign intelligence services who want to gather as much information about the president," said John Cohen, an ABC News contributor and former acting Homeland Security official. For his part, Trump said "it would be stupid" not to accept the free plane and has called the gift from Qatar a "very nice gesture." "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer," Trump said earlier this month. "I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane.' But it was, I thought it was a great gesture." Trump's Air Force One deal with Qatar not finalized, being reviewed by legal teams: Sources originally appeared on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump points to $5.1 trillion in investments from the Middle East that aren't exactly real
At an Oval Office event on Wednesday, a reporter asked Donald Trump why he never followed through on his threats to impose economic sanctions on Russia. The president never quite got around to answering the question, but he did seem eager to emphasize a completely unrelated point. 'I went to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and [the United Arab Emirates], and we brought back $5.1 trillion,' Trump claimed. 'So, I made that money in about two hours, the money that we're talking about.' After briefly suggesting — without a shred of evidence — that Ukraine has misused U.S. security aid, the Republican went on say, 'I'm more interested because I picked up $5.1 trillion and, by the way, got a beautiful big, magnificent free airplane for the United States Air Force, OK? Very proud of that, too.' For now, let's not dwell on the fact that the plane from Qatar wasn't free, and it's proving to be far more controversial than the White House cares to admit. Let's instead consider that statistic the president is apparently quite excited about. If the '$5.1 trillion' figure sounds at all familiar, that's because Trump can't seem to stop talking about it. He referenced it a week ago when unveiling the 'Make America Healthy Again' report, which came two days after he pushed the same line during a visit to Capitol Hill, which came one day after he repeated the talking point at the White House. For reasons unknown, the president went on to say last week that the figure might even be '$7 trillion' at some undetermined point in the future. To be sure, the boast certainly sounds impressive. Americans are apparently supposed to believe that Trump went to the Middle East, met with some officials for 'about two hours' and left with investments so enormous, they represent roughly a sixth of the United States' GDP. But that's not what happened. For one thing, as The Washington Post reported, Trump has started referring to Biden-era foreign investments as his own, pretending that they're new and that he deserves credit for them. The Post's report added: The math behind the White House's claim that Trump secured 'trillions' on this trip is fuzzy even including the contracts that predate his presidency. The sum of the deals is under $1 trillion, but the White House is also counting announcements it made months before the trip, including a vague plan that the UAE said would result in $1.4 trillion in investment in the United States over the next decade. The UAE and White House previously announced that deal in March. The White House did not explain why its announcements included deals that predate Trump's presidency. Around the same time, The New York Times took a closer look at the data and reported, 'The list of some of the agreements published by the White House left many details vague. The value of the agreements appeared to total about $283 billion.' If those investments happen, terrific. But they might not happen, and $283 billion is a small fraction of $5.1 trillion. What's more, as MSNBC's Paul Waldman wrote in a piece for Public Notice, some of the money Trump referenced might materialize in future decades. It led Waldman to conclude that the presidential claims amounted to little more than 'smoke and mirrors.' The problem, however, is not just that Trump keeps talking up an investment figure that isn't real. The problem is made worse by the way that the president appears to be making plans to spend some of the money that doesn't exist. At an Oval Office event last week, Trump was asked whether his wildly unrealistic 'Golden Dome' idea might be prohibitively expensive. He responded, 'We can afford to do it. You know, we took in $5.1 trillion in the last four days in the Middle East, and when you think about it, this is a tiny fraction of that.' But therein lies the point: Trump didn't take in $5.1 trillion, so making plans to devote those imaginary resources to a missile shield project that won't work is an enormous problem. This article was originally published on
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
World's largest air forces, India ranks at..., country at number 6 will shock you, name is...
The Indian Air Force is the fourth-largest in the world. (File) Largest Air Forces 2025: The recent India-Pakistan military confrontation, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have proven that aerial superiority will decide the outcome of any and all future wars across the globe, and even a smaller nation, such as Israel, can keep a host of enemy countries at bay, primarily due to its superior air force. On that note, let us a take a look at the top 10 largest air forces in the world today, according to rankings based on data compiled through 2024 and released in 2025 by World Population Review. Countries are ranked based on their number of military aircraft which are currently in service: United States (United States Air Force): Unsurprisingly, the United States Air Force (USAF) is the world's largest air force, boasting a fleet of 14,000 warplanes, coupled with some of the most cutting-edge technology in avionics, weaponry, stealth, and radar tech. This number includes aircraft in fleets of all branches of the US Armed Forces, including the Air Force, Navy, Marines, and the US Army. Russia: The Russian Air Force (RAF) stands a distant second in the list of largest air forces, with a fleet estimated at around 4,292 military planes, which includes a combination of lethal bombers such as the Tupolev Tu-160 'White Swan', as well as advanced fighter jets like the Su-35, and the 5th-gen Sukhoi Su-57. China: The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aka the Chinese Air Force, ranks third with a fleet of 3,304 military planes, including the 5th-generation J-20 and J-35 stealth fighter jet, and a recently unveiled 6th-gen fighter jet (the world's first), unofficially dubbed the J-36. India: The India Air Force (IAF) is one of the most formidable air forces on the planet, boasting the world's fourth-largest military aircraft fleet which current stands at 2,296 fighters, including 4.5-gen French Rafale fighters which decimated Pakistan in the recent conflict. Japan: The Japanese air force, officially known as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), is one of the well-equipped globally, boasting a fleet of US-made 5th-generation fighter jets such as the F-35 Lightning II, and the F-15J– an upgraded version of the F-35 specifically designed for Japan. The JASDF has a fleet of 1,459 military planes, according to latest estimates. Pakistan: Despite its failing economy, Pakistan has managed to remain a formidable military force in South Asia, periodically making enhancements to its Armed forces, especially the Pakistan Air Force. At present, the PAF has a fleet of 1,434 fighter planes, which include a mix of US-made F-16s, Chinese JF-17 Thunder and J10C fighters, and French Mirage jets. South Korea: Owing to its strategic alliance with the US, South Korea has built a formidable air force to counter regional threats, especially from its nuclear-armed North Korean cousins. The South Korean Air Force, officially called the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), boasts a fleet of 1,171 fighter jets, including US-made F-35A Lightning II, KF-16 fighters, and indigenous KAI T-50 trainers. Egypt: Egypt maintains one of the largest air forces in the Middle East, with the Egyptian Air Force currently having an operational fleet of 1,093 fighter planes, which includes a unique mix of US F16s, French Rafales, and Russian MiGs. Turkey: A key NATO ally that has emerged as a global force in defense manufacturing, especially advanced military drones, also boasts a formidable air force, which is one of the largest in West Asia. The Turkish Air Force has a fleet of 1,069 fighter jets, including F-16 Fighting Falcons, but its primary strength remains unmanned aerial systems such as the globally-recognized Bayraktar military drones. France: A key defence manufacturer in the European Union (EU) and NATO, France maintains a formidable air force that is backed by an advanced fleet of indigenously built Rafale fighter jets, and bleeding-edge military technology capable of dusting an even larger military force. The French Air and Space Force (FASF) currently has fleet of 972 advanced fighter jets, along with transport and reconnaissance aircraft.
