While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Dec 14, 2024
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A GCAP fighter jet concept design, bathed in the colours of the British flag, seen in Britain in 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
Britain, Italy and Japan launch joint stealth jet company GCAP
Britain, Italy and Japan will set up a joint company to develop, design and build an advanced stealth jet, they said on Dec 13, moving forward with a major defence project at a time of political turmoil and regional conflict across the world.
The deal comes as European nations are scrambling to build up their militaries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calls from US President-elect Donald Trump for higher defence spending, while Japan also wants to bolster its forces given what it sees as a growing threat from China.
The announcement is a major step forward from an initial agreement in 2022 to develop a common fighter jet, named Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and aims to bring to life a successor to the Eurofighter jet, scheduled to go out of service in 2040, and Japan’s F-2 fighter.
The new company, in which Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo and Japan’s Aircraft Industrial Enhancement will each hold a 33.3 per cent share, will be headquartered in Britain, while its first chief executive officer will be from Italy.
US flies freed American Travis Timmerman out of Syria
American citizen Travis Timmerman has been flown out of Syria, where he was imprisoned before being released by rebels this week, US officials said on Dec 13.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Mr Timmerman had been transferred to Jordan and was currently with State Department officials.
A second official said that Mr Timmerman had been handed to US troops at Tanf garrison, which is near the intersection of the borders of Syria, Iraq and Jordan, and was flown out from there.
Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi injured in Europe
Getty Images via AFP
Former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi was injured on a trip to Luxembourg and has been admitted to a hospital for evaluation, her office said in a statement on Dec 13.
“While traveling with a bipartisan Congressional delegation in Luxembourg to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation,” Pelosi spokesman Ian Krager said in a statement.
“Speaker Emerita Pelosi is currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals. She continues to work,” he added, but did not say what caused Mrs Pelosi’s injury.
Staff at UK luxury store Harrods to stage Christmas strike
REUTERS
Hundreds of staff at London’s luxury department store Harrods will walk out just days before Christmas, a union said Dec 13, in a row over pay and working conditions.
The strike at the store - whose late former owner Mohamed Al-Fayed is now accused of being a serial sex offender - will target some of its busiest retail days on Dec 21 and 22, as well as Dec 26 or Boxing Day - traditionally the launch day for busy end-of-year sales in the UK.
Workers including shop, restaurant, kitchen and cleaning staff had “no option” but to vote to strike “as Harrods’ management refuses to recognise or engage with their union for negotiations,” the United Voices of the World UVW union said in a statement.
Indian actor Allu Arjun held after stampede death
AFP
An Indian actor was arrested on Dec 13 after his appearance at a movie screening allegedly prompted a stampede by fans that crushed a woman to death, police and local media said.
Huge crowds had gathered at a theatre in the southern city of Hyderabad on Dec 4 to catch a glimpse of actor Allu Arjun as he arrived for the screening of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule.
The 42-year-old actor was arrested on suspicion of three offences, including voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, a police officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media.
