A United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force as part of an ongoing foreign military sales agreement between the two countries.
The development was announced on Thursday by the official X handle of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which described the delivery as a demonstration of the growing security partnership between the United States and Nigeria.
AFRICOM said the equipment was delivered over the weekend and would support Nigeria’s efforts to counter terrorism and other security threats in the region.
“Partnership in action,” AFRICOM said, noting that the equipment formed part of a foreign military sales agreement designed to further the U.S.-Nigeria defence partnership.
The command said the delivery would aid Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, particularly as the country continues to confront persistent threats from terrorist and insurgent groups.
The latest delivery comes amid increasing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, with both countries strengthening collaboration in intelligence, training, equipment and other areas aimed at improving Nigeria’s capacity to tackle terrorism.
[BB] British Police Deploy Extra Patrols, Including Undercover and Armed Officers, to Protect Jewish Holiday
Armed Metropolitan Police on duty in Westminster on 5th May 2025 in London, United KingdomGetty Images
Oliver JJ Lane11 Sep 20266
2:18
Police forces across England are launching special patrols, including armed and plain-clothes officers, to protect Jewish communities through Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days in September.
Special patrols of “high-visibility” officers, armed police, and undercover groups are being deployed by several British police forces in the coming days to protect the Jewish community, synagogues, and other “key Jewish locations”, they have said.
The West Midlands Police was one force to announce what the Jerusalem Post identified as Operation Tishrei patrols, and stated “Antisemitic incidents have been rising internationally since 2023 and have included a number of fatal attacks in the UK and globally”, but fell short of explaining why this might be the case.
They said there would be a “increased police presence in key areas across the force to provide reassurance.”
Thames Valley Police also said they would be deploying extra patrols, including armed police — until recently a comparative rarity in once-peaceful Britain — in the coming weeks of Jewish holidays from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, states the BBC. Their spokesman said: “We have a dedicated operation to protect our Jewish communities, alongside the Community Security Trust, throughout the period so people can expect to see an increased police presence near synagogues and the local areas during this period.
“There will be armed and unarmed officers on patrol, support from specialist units, and engagement staff speaking with our communities, alongside our partners, as well as security measures people will not see.”
London’s Metropolitan Police said it was partnering with Jewish community safety organisations such as the Commujnity Safety Trust and the Shomrim, and said: “The operation will continue across all High Holy Days, starting with Rosh Hashanah, but also including Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah.”
Jewish holidays have already proven a particular target for terrorists. Last year, the Heaton Park Synagogue was attacked by Syrian migrant Jihad al-Shamie, which lead to three deaths.
PARIS, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Iran has used a barter-like arrangement to bypass sanctions on its oil sales and buy billions of dollars’ worth of goods from China, including military gear, two senior Iranian sources and three other people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The secretive trade mechanism, in which Iranian oil is exchanged for credits for Chinese imports, has provided a financial lifeline for Tehran in recent years as the United States stepped up economic and military pressure over its nuclear program, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It has also helped China, the world’s biggest crude importer, retain access to discounted Iranian oil while shielding banks and companies that export to the Islamic Republic from international scrutiny or penalties, they said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on some smaller Chinese entities that buy or facilitate shipments of Iranian oil but has stopped short of the most punishing measures that could have repercussions on the global economy.
Washington has intensified the pressure as it tries to resolve its war with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In August, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned countries to cut business ties with Iran or risk being forced out of the dollar-based financial system.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
09/11/2026 00:00 ||
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Sanctions busting is big business. I'll suggest the majority of people who vote for sanctions, have relations with people/entities that make these sanctions financially beneficial.
Moscow, September 10, 2026, 12:59 PM — Regnum News Agency. The price of Brent crude oil futures for November delivery exceeded $102 per barrel for the first time since May 22, 2026, according to trading data on the London ICE Exchange on September 10.
As of 11:32 AM Moscow time, the price of Brent crude rose 0.84% to $102.06 per barrel. By 11:40 AM Moscow time, the rise had accelerated to 0.87%, reaching $102.09 per barrel.
At the same time, the price of WTI crude oil futures for October delivery rose by 0.96% to $96.97 per barrel.
Earlier, analysts at the American investment bank Goldman Sachs warned of a possible spike in oil prices to $120 per barrel if attacks on ships in the Middle East escalate. According to Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research, recent events point to significant risks of disruption to shipping.
It was previously reported that oil and gas prices rose sharply in several countries after Iran blocked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in response to a large-scale military operation launched by the US and Israel on February 28. On March 19, Brent crude rose to $111 per barrel, reached $115 per barrel on March 30, and then fell below $90 in mid-April.
Analysts attribute the rise in oil prices to both tensions in the Middle East and the risk of supply disruptions due to attacks on energy infrastructure and logistics in the Black Sea region.
by Viktor Lavrinenko
Denmark, which until recently had the image of a country of bourgeois happiness, is rapidly changing. Waves of migrants from the Third World are pouring in. The Danish kingdom, for centuries a white Protestant country, is gradually becoming a Muslim state.
The aliens, realizing their power, are increasingly making their voices heard—they are no longer shy about showing the natives that they are no longer the rightful masters of the country.
Reason for conflict
On September 5, two major demonstrations of opposing ideological persuasions took place in Copenhagen. The right-wing organization "The Danish People" staged a march in the Østerbro district to mark the traditional Flag Day.
Participants demanded a stricter immigration policy, opposed Islamization, and advocated for the return of at least some immigrants to their historical homeland. They also spoke of the need to protect Danish culture and values.
Meanwhile, left-liberals from the Joint Initiative Against Racism and Discrimination and other similar organizations staged their own march, also in Østerbro. Demonstrators waved banners with slogans like "Migrants Welcome!" and demanded that all migrants remain in Denmark.
It was practically impossible for two events with conflicting slogans to pass each other in the same area—and so they collided. A fight broke out. The opposing sides punched each other and shoved lit firecrackers and fireworks into each other's faces.
Police intervened, wielding batons. Three people were detained. They are charged with violence against police officers, as well as illegal possession of fireworks and drugs.
The incident underscores the unrest that has gripped Danish society over the immigration issue, perhaps the most pressing one in the country. It's difficult to estimate the exact number of Muslims in Denmark, as official statistics on religious affiliation are not kept.
According to various estimates, their number ranges from 270,000 to 295,000, equivalent to approximately 4–5% of the country's population. At first glance, this doesn't seem like a lot, but two factors must be taken into account.
Firstly, migrants are very vocal – they constantly make their presence known. Recently, a video taken during a migrant rally in Copenhagen went viral.
A dark-skinned woman, standing beneath an extremist banner, declared, addressing Western leaders: "Your time is up! Your borders are disappearing, and the unity of the Islamic brotherhood is growing stronger. The sons of Islam have already vowed that this battle is one of either victory or martyrdom. We reject your flags! The call to jihad has already sounded, and it won't be long before you are devoured."
Muslims make up a significant part of the Danish criminal underworld: ethnic gangs fight for influence, and native Danes often become collateral victims.
The second significant point is that Denmark's Muslim community is growing steadily and rapidly: 45 years ago, it did not exceed 30,000 people. For decades, the country has welcomed immigrants and refugees from Turkey, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Syria—and the results are clear.
Today, Denmark's Muslim communities tend to have a younger population and a higher birth rate than the national average—so their numbers are set to increase even further. There are already about a hundred mosques operating across the country. This is significantly changing the public space.
The grounds for concern are growing. In March 2026, Copenhagen police arrested two individuals who supplied drones to the terrorist group Islamic State*. Both suspects, 29-year-old residents of the capital, were known within the radical Islamist community.
The rising level of anti-Semitism is also alarming. According to a 2025 study, approximately 83% of Danish Jews are especially cautious in public places, and 62% try to hide their ethnicity altogether.
The ghetto declared war
The Danish authorities are particularly concerned about the activities of the international Islamist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir*, which is active among young people.
In August 2026, the organization released a video message addressed to Muslim high school students: "Stand by your Islamic identity and wear it with pride." The authors write: "Many of you will encounter youth environments where behavior, norms, and lifestyles that are not in line with Islam are presented as a natural or desirable choice." They continue: "You are a Muslim, and that is something you should be proud of. It should never be a reason for apologies or compromise."
Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov called the video "disguised Islamic extremism." He declared loudly, "Hizb ut-Tahrir is a hate movement. Their dark values have no place in Denmark."
He addressed the Islamists directly on social media: "Why don't you just leave Denmark?" They responded by accusing the government of creating "divisions in society." The Danish parliament is considering banning the organization entirely; a bill to this effect was introduced in November 2025.
Inger Støjberg, leader of the Danish Democrats, proposed banning organizations that promote Islamic values in educational institutions.
The government is increasing pressure on the Muslim community. "The call of the muezzin should not ring over Danish rooftops. You should not have to wonder, while walking down Danish streets, whether you're in a suburb of Islamabad," Bødskov declared in June 2026.
The authorities are considering a nationwide ban on the loud broadcasting of the Islamic call to prayer (adhan). This is the third attempt—the proposal was put forward in 2020 and 2025, but did not reach the parliamentary stage.
The current initiative appears more serious: it fits into the overall policy framework of Mette Frederiksen's government. Bans on the loud broadcasting of the adhan have already been introduced in many municipalities, including Copenhagen.
Fredriksen is the ideological successor to the previous prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen (now the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), who began trying to make life more difficult for migrants.
However, it remains elusive to effectively stem the flow of migrants. Immigrants currently make up 16.3% of the population—nearly a million people. Of these, more than 620,000 are from non-Western countries. Muslims, while the most active, are far from the only group: there are also Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and followers of other religions.
The government is pursuing a policy of preventing the formation of “parallel societies” – areas that become isolated immigrant enclaves where Danish laws and regulations give way to different rules.
Back during Rasmussen's premiership, the so-called "ghetto package" was adopted—a set of measures aimed at breaking up migrant enclaves. Any Danish region can be considered a "parallel society" if more than 50% of its residents are non-Western immigrants or their descendants, and poverty, unemployment, and crime are rampant.
In such areas, authorities are required to reduce the share of social housing to 40% by 2030 and implement an active policy of linguistic and cultural integration.
The liquidation of migrant ghettos is being carried out by demolishing buildings and transferring the vacated land to private developers. In practice, this has already led to the forced eviction of thousands of residents. While in 2018 there were 15 large migrant ghettos across Denmark, there are now five.
However, the migrants themselves are extremely dissatisfied with this and are heaping curses on the authorities. They complain that the move has destroyed their "established social ties." Some point out that they didn't receive the promised new jobs on time and are forced to live on the streets.
Unexpected criticism from the left
Migrants have flooded the courts with class action and individual lawsuits, even reaching the ECHR. In December 2025, it ruled that the Danish ghetto abolition law could be a "direct or indirect violation of EU anti-discrimination rules."
They pointed out that classification based on "non-Western" origins creates an increased risk of eviction for residents of these areas. The final decision on whether the law is discriminatory was referred to the Danish courts.
Local authorities, however, have no intention of abandoning their current policies, although they acknowledge the possibility of adjusting them. The Copenhagen City Hall's Department for Employment and Integration states that they see no reason to scrap the "ghetto package" as it is working.
Denmark has a law passed in 2016 that gives police the right to confiscate cash and valuables worth more than 10,000 Danish kroner (approximately €1,300) from arriving migrants and asylum seekers. The money is confiscated to cover the guests' expenses for their stay in Denmark.
However, migrants generally arrive empty-handed: over a nearly ten-year period, there were only 29 confiscations, with the total proceeds amounting to just 383,651 Danish kroner (approximately 5 million rubles). Between 2018 and 2021, this law was not enforced once, indicating its symbolic rather than practical significance.
But it has been heavily criticised by liberals, often described as "demeaning" and "ineffective", and seen as part of a strategy to portray Denmark as an undesirable country for migrants.
It's telling that Bødskov is a member of the Social Democratic Party. Yet, his statements regarding Islam are little different from the rhetoric of right-wing populists. This testifies to the profound transformation of the Danish political landscape. Even the left is now speaking out on issues they preferred to remain silent about ten years ago.
Another issue is that the measures being taken are clearly insufficient and partial. The number of immigrants continues to grow—Frederiksen's cabinet has been in power for seven years, and during this time, the number of immigrants in Denmark has increased by 2.6%.
by Kamran Gasanov
Türkiye announced an unprecedented 229% increase in its defense budget under its 2027–2029 medium-term program. Ankara is preparing for potential wars.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz announced a record increase in defense spending. Defense spending is the largest of the seven key areas of the new economic program he presented.
According to the vice president, the goal of such measures is independence in the military-industrial complex, the development of domestic technologies, and the production of high-value-added weapons. In practical terms, this means accelerating programs to develop domestic fighter jets (including the much-hyped KAAN), air defense systems, UAVs, and armored vehicles.
There's no doubt that Türkiye is capable of churning out new aircraft and tanks, even if there are occasional problems with Western engines and technology. But where will the money come from?
Funding will likely come not only from the treasury, but also from large-scale foreign investment. High hopes lie with the Persian Gulf countries, which a couple of years ago allocated significant funds to save the sinking lira.
The Meccan Alliance and Arab Money
Unlike three years ago, when Turkey was just making peace with Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, overcoming disagreements with them in Libya and Qatar, Ankara and the Arab world are now building full-fledged alliances.
On August 7, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Defense Agreement, a pact providing for a collective response to aggression against any of the parties.
At the end of the month, the first meeting of the strategic political and defense committee of the three countries was held in Istanbul, where the parties confirmed their intention to actively cooperate in the military-industrial complex, including joint development and production.
In other words, Saudi Arabia is ready to invest in the Turkish military. The kingdom is currently negotiating participation in the production of KAAN fighter jets. It is interested in purchasing a batch of 20-100 aircraft. Three years ago, the Saudis purchased Bayraktars (TB2 and Bayraktar Akıncı) from Turkey.
Qatar, a more traditional regional ally, is also investing in Turkey, purchasing unmanned boats and frigates. The Turks, in turn, are purchasing Eurofighter fighter jets from Qatar.
Bahrain and Kuwait plan to join the "Mecca Union." Why are Arab monarchies so interested in military cooperation with Turkey? The answer is simple: they need weapons of their own.
All of the listed Arab countries continue to face retaliatory attacks from Iran and its allies. On September 8, the Houthis carried out perhaps their most extensive attack on Saudi Arabia, using drones and missiles.
America is provoking Iran and doing nothing to shield its regional "allies." The only country the Americans will actually save with munitions is Israel.
When the US is perceived as an unreliable partner, Russia is preoccupied with Ukraine, China is uninvolved, Europe is spineless and hypocritical, and Iran is forced to become a threat, the only option is to rely on Sunni Turkey. The Turkish military-industrial complex becomes an alternative for the Arabs—affordable, technologically advanced, and politically acceptable.
Greece, Israel and the Shield of Achilles
Regional affairs are also a concern for Turkey itself. The Turks, of course, aren't thrilled with Iran, and regardless of their criticism of the US war against Iran, the centuries-old rivalry with the Persians will persist.
But the more real threat is Israel. In the middle of last month, the Israeli Air Force bombed the Syrian base of Abu Duhur, where the IDF believed Turkish troops and equipment were to be stationed. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against drawing Turkey into "dangerous adventures in Syria."
The second threat is increasingly intertwined with Israel's. At the end of 2025, Israel signed an agreement on joint military exercises and defense with Greece and Cyprus, and after the August shelling of Syria, Israel and Greece signed a $3.5 billion agreement to build the Achilles Shield air defense system.
This is the largest defense deal in the history of bilateral relations. The joint system, which will be operational in three years, will link Israeli SPYDER radars and air defense systems with Greek Patriot air defense systems, Belharra frigates, Rafale fighters, and F-16 Vipers.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense said it is monitoring Israeli-Greek cooperation and preparing scenarios ranging from crisis to war.
At the same time, Greece is militarizing islands in the Aegean Sea, which the Turks claim violates the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Peace of Paris, which require the demilitarization of several islands (Limnos, Karpathos, and others). Athens rejects these claims, citing the right to self-defense and regional instability.
Distrust of the West
Benjamin Netanyahu is becoming increasingly toxic to the European Union. EU member states are imposing sanctions on Israel, recognizing Palestine, and, amid distrust of Trump, are seeking rapprochement with Erdoğan. However, Ankara remains wary of the West.
At the "right hour," Brussels will choose the side of the Greeks and Israelis rather than Turkish Muslims. It was not for nothing that Ursula von der Leyen called Turkey a threat this summer. Carefully concealed pro-Israeli sentiments in Europe are being exposed by attempts to pressure Iran through sanctions.
Therefore, along with the creation of an independent military-industrial complex and an alliance with Sunni countries, Erdogan is trying to strengthen the bonds of partnership with the “global majority” on another chessboard.
This was confirmed by the Turkish leader's visit to Bishkek, where he took part in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
He once again made it clear that Turkey wants to become a full member of the SCO. The same plans exist for BRICS. Erdogan is using the SCO and BRICS summits to demonstrate that he has alternatives.
Following the NATO summit in Ankara, the Republic of Turkey once again tilted toward the West. But after the first Ukrainian air strikes against its ships in the Black Sea and the escalating crisis in Hormuz, it once again recalled Russia's importance.
Erdoğan discussed his mediation in Ukraine with Vladimir Putin in Kyrgyzstan, which has become even more urgent following the visits of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Russia. Meanwhile, Ankara reached an agreement with Moscow on the supply of mineral fertilizers, which have led to a global shortage due to the Hormuz blockade.
Ultimately, militarization will allow Turkey to earn money from exports to increasingly arms-hungry Middle Eastern countries, increase its independence from NATO countries, and have the ability to conduct military operations or flex its muscles in the most tense parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Posted by: badanov ||
09/11/2026 00:00 ||
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[163 views]
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[TWZ] Work at a specialized underground weapons test site in New Mexico, contracted earlier this year, was linked to planning for a potential new operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, according to a report from CNN. The U.S. military has notably left Iran’s hardest-to-reach site under Pickaxe Mountain untouched so far, but President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials have been openly talking about striking it.
On February 27, the day before U.S. and Israeli forces launched their initial wave of strikes on Iran, the Pentagon’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) quietly announced it had awarded a sole-source deal to Pate Construction Co., Inc., for new construction at the so-called Alternate Seismic Hardrock in Situ Test (ALT-SHIST) site. The work was needed to support an upcoming classified live-fire test. ALT-SHIST is situated within the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), a sprawling U.S. Army-managed complex in New Mexico’s Jornada del Muerto desert basin. DTRA is a relatively small and obscure organization that plays a leading role in U.S. military efforts to develop new and improved ways to respond to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) threats.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
09/11/2026 00:00 ||
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Reading between the lines it means we’re developing a new deep penetrating guided weapon to hit Pick Axe mountain.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.