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International Monetary Fund Financial Counsellor and Director Jose Vinals answers a question during the joint press conference on the Global Financial Stability Report April 9, 2014 at the IMF Headquarters in Washington, DC. IMF Staff Photograph/Stephen Jaffe
SASEBO, Japan (Aug. 8, 2020) Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice Myajeanette Abreu, right, from Lawrence, Mass., and Quartermaster Seaman Sage Sanchez, from Missoula, Mont., take navigation readings from the bridge wing of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). New Orleans, part of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serves as a ready response force to defend security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelby Sanders)
DAVOS/SWITZERLAND, 24JAN14 - Philipp M. Hildebrand, Vice-Chairman, BlackRock, United Kingdom makes a point during the session 'The Path from Crisis to Stability' at the Annual Meeting 2014 of the World Economic Forum at the congress centre in Davos, January 24, 2014.
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM/swiss-image.ch/Photo Remy Steinegger
Jamila, a Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) gender officer, listens to a question from a female teacher from Bala Boluk during a key leader engagement with the Director of Women's Affairs in Farah City, Jan. 29. PRT Farah attended a gender strategy working group meeting with the Director of Women's Affairs to discuss literacy program initiatives for women in the districts of Bala Boluk and Pusht-e Rod. PRT Farah's mission is to train, advise and assist Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district and provincial levels in Farah province, Afghanistan. Their civil military team is comprised of members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of State and the Agency for International Development (USAID). (U.S. Navy photo by HMC Josh Ives/released)
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Sept. 6, 2020) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Alexandra Graham, from Jamaica, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), secures an AH-1Z Viper helicopter assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced) to the ship’s flight deck during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise. America, flagship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, assigned to Amphibious Squadron Eleven, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vincent E. Zline)
Labour Party Deputy Leader and Director of Elections, Joan Burton today launched “Vote YES for Stability”, the party’s animated video on the Stability Treaty.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Burton said: “This animated video is a short and simple guide to the main issues that arise from the Stability Treaty and it outlines some of the reasons why we believe that a YES vote is crucial for Ireland.
“We hope that the use of simple visualisations and key messages in the video will make the YES arguments accessible to an online audience who may be more accustomed to using online platforms to inform themselves on various issues.
“This Treaty is about ensuring a stable currency which will increase investor confidence in Ireland which will in turn bring about economic recovery. This is why it is vital that we vote YES on May 31st.”
Technical specifications
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT
Overall length.................................................... 4512 mm (177.6 in)
Overall width.................................................... 1923 mm (75.7 in)
Height................................................................ 1234 mm (48.6 in)
Wheelbase..........................................................2600 mm (102.4 in)
Front track......................................................... 1669 mm (65.7 in)
Rear track.......................................................... 1616 mm (63.6 in)
Front overhang................................................... 1100 mm (43.3 in)
Rear overhang.................................................. 812 mm (32.0 in)
Kerb weight........................................................ 1520 kg (3,351 lbs)*
Dry weight ....................................................... 1420 kg (3,130 lbs)*
Boot (Trunk) capacity......................................... 8.829 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity............................................. 95 litres (25.1 US gal, 20.9 Imp. gal)
Weight distribution .......................................... front 43% / rear 57%
ENGINE
Type ................................................................ 90° V8
Bore & stroke................................................... 92 x 81 mm (3.62 x 3.19 in)
Unit displacement............................................ 538.5 cc (32.87 cu in)
Total displacement............................................. 4,308 cc (263 cu in)
Compression ratio.............................................. 11.3:1
Maximum power................................................ 360.3 kW (490 hp)** at 8,500 rpm
Maximum torque............................................... 465 Nm (47.4 kgm/343 lbs/ft)
at 5,250 rpm
Specific output................................................. 114 hp/l**
Dry weight/power............................................. 6.4 lbs/hp**
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox .......................................................... Manual or F1 paddle shift
Electronic Differential (E-DIFF)
Stability and Traction Control (CST)
TYRES
Front ............................................................... 225/35 ZR 19
Rear ................................................................ 285/35 ZR 19
BRAKES (CCM)
Front ............................................................... 360 x 34 mm (14.2 x 1.34’’)
Rear ................................................................ 350 x 34 mm (13.8 x 1.34’’)
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed............................................... over 310 km/h (193 mph)
0 - 62 mph ...................................................... 4.1 sec.
Manual gearbox F1 gearbox
0 - 400 m ........................................................ 12.10 sec. ........... 12.05 sec.
0 - 1000 m ........................................................ 21.85 sec. ........... 21.80 sec.
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Combined ......................................................... 18.3 l/100 km*
CO2 EMISSIONS
Combined ......................................................... 420 g/km*
Pierre Gramegna(left), Minister of Finance for Luxembourg, speaks along with Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia at the seminar Islamic Finance: Unlocking its Potential and Supporting Stability as part of the 2015 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings on Thursday, April 16 in Washington, D.C. IMF Photo/Ryan Rayburn
DAVOS/SWITZERLAND, 24JAN14 - Philipp M. Hildebrand (L), Vice-Chairman, BlackRock, United Kingdom listens to Mario Draghi (R), President, European Central Bank, Frankfurt during the session 'The Path from Crisis to Stability' at the Annual Meeting 2014 of the World Economic Forum at the congress centre in Davos, January 24, 2014.
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM/swiss-image.ch/Photo Remy Steinegger
Mrs. Robin Smith (right), political advisor to the U.S. Army Africa Commanding General and U.S. Army Col. Darius S. Gallegos (left), Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) deputy director attend the Graduation Ceremony of the 14th Protection of Civilians Course at the CoESPU in Vicenza, Italy, Feb. 21, 2017. (U.S. Army Photo by Visual Information Specialist Paolo Bovo/released)
An Afghan National Army commando dismounts a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a mission in Chawkai district, Kunar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2012. The commando-led mission was to conduct reconnaissance for a future village stability platform where Afghan forces and coalition special operations forces can live and work with villagers. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Clayton Weis/Released)
DAVOS/SWITZERLAND, 24AN15 - Han Duck-Soo captured during the session Davos Insights on Growth and Stability in the congress centre at the Annual Meeting 2015 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 24, 2015.
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM/Benedikt von Loebell
Vertrauen in Standfestigkeit ist alles.
Trust in stability is everything.
So kommen Heidschnucken an Pflaumen aus dem Baum
Thus Heidschnucken come in plums from the tree.
International Monetary Fund's Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department Olivier Blanchard (R) and Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Market Directory Jose Vinals (L) hold a press briefing on the release of the IMF's World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report updates at the IMF Headquarters July 8, 2009 in Washington, DC. The global economy is beginning to pull out of a recession unprecedented in the post-World War II era, but stabilzation is uneven and the recovery is expected to be sluggish. International Monetary Fund Photograph/Stephen Jaffe
At the end of World War II, the victorious Allies captured both German scientists and research papers in aerodynamics which had given the Germans a slight edge in technology during the war. Among this was research into swept wings, which promised better handling at high speeds, a feature used successfully in the Messerschmitt Me 262. All the combatant nations had been developing jet fighters at the end of the war, and the Soviet Union was no different: like the Western Allies, it found the swept wing concept to be a perfect solution to add speed without sacrificing stability; unlike the West, the Soviets could not take advantage of it due to a lack of adequate jet engines. Soviet metallurgy was simply not up to the task, and experimental jet fighters were severely underpowered. Engine designer Vladimir Klimov, however, came up with a novel idea: he asked the British in 1946 if they could provide a few examples of their latest engine. To the stunned surprise of Klimov, the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau, and Josef Stalin, the British complied, providing Klimov with the plans for the Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet, one of the most successful jet engines in history. Klimov quickly reverse engineered it as the VK-1, and just like that, the Soviets had the perfect engine for their planned jet interceptors.
MiG OKB already had a jet fighter in service, the MiG-9, but it was a poor performer. By modifying a MiG-9 into the I-310 prototype, with VK-1 propulsion and swept wings and tail surfaces, the resultant aircraft was superb: it was very manueverable and fast. It was placed into production as the MiG-15. This in turn was superseded by the more advanced and reliable MiG-15bis, which added airbrakes and a few minor avionics changes. Though pilots hated the cramped cockpit, which forced them to fly without heated or pressurized flight suits—a real concern in frigid Russian winters—they loved its responsiveness and speed. Though the MiG-15 was designed to intercept the B-29 Superfortress, hence its heavy cannon armament, it could quite easily hold its own in a dogfight. It rapidly replaced most propeller-driven fighters in the Soviet inventory, and was quickly supplied to Soviet client states.
The MiG-15 would get its first taste of action during the Chinese Civil War, when Russian-flown MiG-15s flew on behalf of the Communist Chinese against the Nationalists; a P-38L was shot down on 28 April 1950 for the type’s first victory. By far, however, it would be Korea where the MiG-15 would see the most action.
After starting out well, the North Korean armies were, by fall 1950, in full rout from South Korea, pursued by United Nations forces. The World War II-era North Korean People’s Air Force had been annihilated by UN aircraft, and though China intended to intervene on behalf of North Korea, it lacked trained pilots. Stalin agreed to secretly provide both MiG-15s and the pilots to fly them, operating from bases in China across the Yalu River from North Korea. The pilots, under command of Soviet top ace Ivan Kozhedub, were instructed to speak in what little Korean they knew, and never fly over territory where they might be captured. The former was rarely heeded in the heat of combat, while the short range of the MiG-15 limited pilots to flying in and around the Yalu valley in any case. This rapidly became known as “MiG Alley.” By November 1950, Russian-flown MiG-15s were in combat against American and British aircraft, both sides fielding pilots who had already flown combat in World War II. Both sides were to find they were close to evenly matched as well: the Russians claimed the first jet-to-jet victory on 1 November, when a MiG-15 shot down a USAF F-80C; four days later, they suffered their first loss, to a US Navy F9F Panther. Most engagements were to occur between the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15.
Once more, the two were closely matched. The MiG-15 had a better rate of climb, was superior above 33,000 feet, and had harder hitting cannon armament. The F-86’s six machine guns were often ineffective against the rugged MiG, but it was more manueverable, especially at low level, and if the machine guns did not cause as much damage, they fired at three times the rate of the MiG-15’s cannons, and usually hit what they aimed at, due to a superior radar-ranging gunsight. Both sides had to deal with instability at high speeds: if the MiG pilot got into trouble, he would climb out of danger, whereas the Sabre pilot would dive. The pilots were evenly matched, though the Russians would later admit that the Americans were better trained. Both sides overclaimed during the war, with both Soviet and American pilots claiming 12 to 1 kill ratios: the truth may never be known, though 40 Russians were awarded the title of ace during the war. The MiGs did succeed in one task, driving the B-29s into night attacks, after six were shot down or badly damaged on a single mission in October 1951.
Interestingly enough, the F-86 was as much a surprise to the Soviets as the MiG-15 was to the West, and both sides attempted to procure an example of the other. The United States’ Operation Moolah, offering $100,000 to any Eastern Bloc pilot who defected with a MiG-15, resulted in three MiG-15s arriving in the West, two flown by Polish pilots to Denmark and the third by North Korean pilot No Kum-Sok.
After the end of the Korean War, the MiG-15 remained in service, though it slowly began to be replaced by the MiG-17 and MiG-19. Nonetheless, MiG-15s were involved in eleven separate incidents during the Cold War, shooting down several US and British reconnaissance aircraft and an Israeli airliner. By the mid-1950s, however, the MiG-15 was beginning to show its age, and in combat with Sidewinder-equipped F-86s of Taiwan and Israeli Super Mysteres, it came off second best. Gradually, single-seat MiG-15s were retired from active service, though hundreds of two-seat MiG-15UTI “Midget” trainers remained in service; the MiG-15UTI is still flown by several air forces to this day. About 16,000 MiG-15s were produced in the Soviet Union, Poland, and Czechslovakia, and a good number remain in existence today in museums and numerous flyable examples, including 43 in the United States.
Like most MiG-15s on display in the United States, this is a Lim-2, built in Poland in 1955 as 1B 010-16. It flew with the Polish Air Force until the 1970s. As the Cold War began to thaw, it was sold in flyable condition in 1986 to a private American warbird collector. After 1997, it was based at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas during the airshow off-season, but since 2014 it seems to be permanently grounded.
Though it's an impressive sight, it's not likely any Soviet or Warsaw Pact MiG-15s were ever painted overall black (though maybe they should've been!). This was more to make it stand out during airshows. In theory, 1016 is still flyable, and it is maintained in excellent condition.
The UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost in Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory, has an interesting history that spans several decades. Here is a summary of its story in 1000 words:
The origins of the UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost can be traced back to the establishment of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in 1964. UNFICYP was created to maintain peace and stability on the island following intercommunal violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. As part of its mission, UNFICYP established various military outposts, including UN 139, to monitor the ceasefire line and prevent further hostilities.
Dhekelia, located in the southeastern part of Cyprus, became a significant area of operations for UNFICYP due to its strategic location. In 1974, following a coup d'état in Cyprus and subsequent Turkish military intervention, the island was divided into two parts: the Republic of Cyprus in the south, predominantly inhabited by Greek Cypriots, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north, inhabited mainly by Turkish Cypriots. The area around Dhekelia fell under the control of the British military.
With the new political landscape, the UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost gained importance as it played a crucial role in monitoring the ceasefire line between the two sides. The outpost served as a base for peacekeepers from Slovakia, who were part of the UNFICYP contingent. Their main tasks included patrolling the buffer zone, conducting observation and reporting activities, and providing support to local communities affected by the conflict.
Over the years, the UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost witnessed several developments and challenges. In the late 1970s, tensions between the two communities remained high, leading to occasional outbreaks of violence. UNFICYP, including the soldiers stationed at the outpost, worked tirelessly to defuse tensions and maintain a peaceful environment. They also facilitated dialogue between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in an effort to promote reconciliation and find a lasting solution to the conflict.
In the 1990s, UNFICYP's role expanded to include humanitarian and development activities. The UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost played a crucial role in supporting these efforts. Peacekeepers engaged in various community-based projects, such as renovating schools and medical facilities, providing assistance to refugees, and promoting intercultural dialogue. These initiatives aimed to foster trust and understanding between the communities and contribute to the overall peacebuilding process.
The early 2000s marked a turning point in the Cyprus peace process. The UNFICYP mandate was extended, and efforts intensified to reach a comprehensive settlement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost remained an integral part of these endeavors, with peacekeepers actively participating in confidence-building measures and supporting the implementation of peace agreements.
In recent years, the situation in Cyprus has seen some positive developments. The resumption of talks between the leaders of the two communities has raised hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost continues to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire line and supporting peacebuilding efforts. Peacekeepers from Slovakia work alongside troops from other contributing countries, demonstrating the international community's commitment to maintaining stability in the region.
The UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost has not been without its challenges. The buffer zone it monitors is an area of tension and occasional incidents. There have been instances of unauthorized crossings and violations of the ceasefire agreement. However, the presence of UNFICYP and its outposts, including UN 139, acts as a deterrent and helps to mitigate potential conflicts.
As of today, the UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost remains operational, with peacekeepers from Slovakia continuing their mission in Cyprus. They work in collaboration with other UNFICYP units, local authorities, and international partners to create an environment conducive to peace and stability. Their commitment and dedication contribute to the ongoing efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.
In conclusion, the UN 139 Slovakia Military Outpost in Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory, has played a vital role in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Throughout its history, it has served as a base for peacekeepers from Slovakia who have worked tirelessly to monitor the ceasefire line, support peacebuilding initiatives, and promote dialogue between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. As the Cyprus peace process continues, the outpost remains an important component in the pursuit of a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Akrotiri and Dhekelia, officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBA), is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus. The areas, which include British military bases and installations formerly part of the Crown colony of Cyprus, were retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence signed by the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey and representatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. The territory serves an important role as a station for signals intelligence and provides a vital strategic part of the United Kingdom surveillance-gathering network in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
History
The Sovereign Base Areas were created in 1960 by the London and Zürich Agreements, when Cyprus achieved independence from the British Empire, as recorded by the United Nations in 1960 as treaty 5476. The United Kingdom desired to retain sovereignty over these areas, as this guaranteed the use of UK military bases on Cyprus, including RAF Akrotiri, and a garrison of the British Army. The importance of the bases to the British is based on the strategic location of the island, at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean, close to the Suez Canal and the Middle East; the ability to use the RAF base as staging post for military aircraft; and for training.
Garrison officers' mess Dhekelia, 1969
In July and August 1961, there were a series of bomb attacks against the pipeline carrying fresh water to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area. The pipeline was breached by explosions twelve times.
In the early 1970s the U.S. built an over-the-horizon radar named Cobra Shoe, which could observe aeroplane operations and missile tests in southern Russia. This was operated by the RAF on behalf of the USAF. This augmented an earlier British system built in the early 1960s named Project Sandra. The U.S. use of the base was hidden from the Cypriot government due to their sensitivities.
In 1974, following a military coup by the Cypriot National Guard, Turkey invaded the north of Cyprus, leading to the establishment of the internationally unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This did not affect the status of the bases. Greek Cypriots fleeing from the Turkish forces were permitted to travel through the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area and were given humanitarian aid, with those from Achna setting up a new village (Dasaki Achnas or Achna Forest) which is still in the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area. The Turkish advance halted when it reached the edge of the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area to avoid military conflict with the United Kingdom. In the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area a tented refugee camp was set up at "Happy Valley" (part of the Episkopi Cantonment) to house Turkish Cypriots fleeing from Limassol and the villages surrounding the Area, until in 1975 they were flown out of RAF Akrotiri via Turkey to northern Cyprus. Some Greek Cypriot refugees remain housed on land in the parts of Trachoni and Kolossi villages that fall within the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area.
In 1974, the British government decided that British forces would be entirely withdrawn from Cyprus, because the sprawling bases had become undefendable in the light of increasing troop demands in Northern Ireland, and because of pressure on the defence budget.[citation needed] The U.S. very strongly objected to any British withdrawal that would result in the United States losing access to GCHQ signals intelligence from Cyprus, since it had lost access to its many signals intelligence bases in Turkey due to its political dispute with Turkey following the invasion of Cyprus. The U.S. agreed to contribute to base costs, and the British cancelled the closure plan. U.S. use of the base increased, such as Lockheed U-2 spy flights on Syria, though flights were generally at night "to avoid local curiosity".
Politics
Current status
The territory is composed of two base areas. One is Akrotiri (Greek: Ακρωτήρι pronounced [akroˈtiri]; Turkish: Ağrotur Turkish pronunciation: [ˈaːɾotuɾ]), or the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA), which includes two main bases at RAF Akrotiri and Episkopi Cantonment, plus all of Akrotiri Village's district (including Limassol Salt Lake) and parts of eleven other village districts. The other area is Dhekelia Cantonment (Δεκέλεια Greek pronunciation: [ðeˈceʎa]; Dikelya), or the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA), which includes a base at Ayios Nikolaos plus parts of twelve village districts.
As of late 2023, based units include:
RAF Akrotiri and Episkopi Cantonment:
No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF
No. 84 Squadron RAF
1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
Cyprus Operations Support Unit
Cyprus Military Working Dog Troop
Cyprus Joint Police Unit (CJPU)
Dhekelia Cantonment:
1st Battalion, The Rifles
Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus)
Ayios Nikolaos Station, in the ESBA, is an ELINT (electronic intelligence) listening station of the UKUSA Agreement intelligence network. The UKUSA signals intelligence system is sometimes known as "ECHELON".
Governance
The SBAs were retained in 1960 to keep military bases in areas under British sovereignty, along with the rights retained to use other sites in what became the territory of the Republic. That makes them different from the other remaining British Overseas Territories.
The basic philosophy of their administration was declared by the British government in Appendix O to the 1960 treaty with Cyprus, which provided that the British government intended:
Not to develop the Sovereign Base Areas for other than military purposes.
Not to set up and administer "colonies".
Not to create customs posts or other frontier barriers between the Sovereign Base Areas and the Republic.
Not to set up or permit the establishment of civilian commercial or industrial enterprises except insofar as these are connected with military requirements, and not otherwise to impair the economic, commercial or industrial unity and life of the Island.
Not to establish commercial or civilian seaports or airports.
Not to allow new settlement of people in the Sovereign Base Areas other than for temporary purposes.
Not to expropriate private property within the Sovereign Base Areas except for military purposes on payment of fair compensation.
Appendix O also provides that various ancient monuments in the SBAs (in particular the site and remains of Kourion, the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates near Kourion, the Stadium of Curium and the Church and remains of the Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats) should be administered by the Republic of Cyprus. The Cypriot government issues licences for antiquity excavation in the SBAs subject to British consent, and any movable antiquities found in excavations or otherwise discovered become Cypriot state property.
According to the British Ministry of Defence:
Because the SBAs are primarily required as military bases and not ordinary dependent territories, the Administration reports to the Ministry of Defence in London. It has no formal connection with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the British High Commission in Nicosia, although there are close informal links with both offices on policy matters.
The territory is administered by an Administrator, who is also the Commander of British Forces Cyprus, which as of September 2022 is Air Vice-marshal Peter J. M. Squires. The Administrator is officially appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defence. The Administrator has all the executive and legislative authority of a governor of an overseas territory. A Chief Officer is appointed, and is responsible to the Administrator for the day-to-day running of the civil government, with subordinate Area Officers responsible for the civil administration of the two areas. No elections are held in the territory, although British citizens are normally entitled to vote in United Kingdom elections (as British Forces or overseas electors).
The areas have their own legal system, distinct from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus. This consists of the laws of the Colony of Cyprus as of August 1960, amended as necessary. The laws of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are closely aligned with, and in some cases identical to, the laws operating within the Republic of Cyprus. The Court of the Sovereign Base Areas is concerned with non-military offences committed by any person within Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and law and order is maintained by the Sovereign Base Areas Police, while offences involving British Forces Cyprus and military law are dealt with by the Cyprus Joint Police Unit. Fire and rescue services are provided by the Defence Fire and Risk Management Organisation through stations at Episkopi, Akrotiri, Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolayos. The Defence Medical Services provide emergency ambulance cover based from medical centres in the main bases. All emergency services are accessible from any telephone using the Europe-wide emergency number 112.
Reviews
In January 2010, a newspaper article appeared in the British press claiming that as a result of budgetary constraints arising from the Great Recession, the British Ministry of Defence drew up controversial plans to withdraw the United Kingdom's 3,000 strong garrison and end the use of Cyprus as a staging point for ground forces. The Labour government, under whom the proposal appeared, was replaced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition whose defence review did not mention the issue.
On 15 December 2012 in a written statement to the House of Commons, the UK's Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, revealed the findings of a report on the SBA military bases following the completion of a review of their operations by Lord Ashcroft:
The Sovereign Base areas are in a region of geo-political importance and high priority for the United Kingdom's long term national security interests ... Our military personnel, United Kingdom civilians and locally employed personnel in the Sovereign Base Areas make a major contribution to the national security of the United Kingdom and will continue to do so in the future.
Dispute and controversies
The Republic of Cyprus claims that the Sovereign Base Areas are a "remnant of colonialism". On 30 June 2005 the House of Representatives of Cyprus unanimously adopted a resolution on the legal status of the base areas originally proposed by Vassos Lyssarides. The resolution refers to "relevant UN decisions on the abolition of colonialism, as well as the fundamental principles of international law, which forbid the occupation of territory within the domain of any other country." It claims that "the United Kingdom does not have substantial sovereignty over the British bases, but it has as much sovereignty as is necessary for military reasons and not for administrative, financial and / or any other reasons." The resolution urged the UK government "to fulfil its financial obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus, which derive from the Treaty of Establishment." It also argued that the UK does not have territorial waters in the areas.
The UK government does not recognise Cypriot claims that the UK's sovereignty in the areas is limited.
In July 2001, protests were held at the bases by local Cypriots, unhappy with British plans to construct radio masts at the bases as part of an upgrade of British military communication posts around the world. Locals claimed the masts would endanger local lives and cause cancer, as well as have a negative effect on wildlife in the area. The British and Cypriot governments jointly commissioned health research from the University of Bristol and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, and that research project reported in 2005 that there was no evidence of health problems being caused by electromagnetic fields from the antennas. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration has carried out assessments and surveys into the effects on wildlife, which have fed into an "Akrotiri Peninsula Environmental Management Plan", published in September 2012.
In 2004, the UK offered to cede 117 square kilometres (45 sq mi) of farmland as part of the rejected Annan Plan for Cyprus.
On 29 August 2013, during the Syrian civil war, some Cypriot and British media sources speculated that long-range ballistic missiles, fired from Syria in retaliation for proposed British involvement in military intervention against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, could hit Cyprus, and could potentially deliver chemical weapons. In some Cypriot media it was stated that the proposed interdiction of the Syrian civil war, utilising Akrotiri and Dhekelia, could recklessly endanger the Cypriot populations near to those bases. Two days earlier, on 27 August 2013, Cypriot foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides had moved to calm Cypriot concerns, saying that the British bases were unlikely to play a major part in any intervention.
Travel documents
There is normally no passport check at the border from Akrotiri or Dhekelia to Cyprus. Possession of a passport, or an EU-compliant national identity card is generally needed in Cyprus. A passport is required to travel between Cyprus/SBAs and Northern Cyprus. Issues concerning the validity of car insurance and customs are specified by SBAs' administration.
Brexit implications
Under Article 2(1) of the Protocol, the SBAs are partially part of the European Union Customs Union in three domains: VAT, agriculture and fisheries. However, the SBAs are already outside the EU. Therefore, concerns have been raised about the future status of about 15,000 Cypriots (EU citizens) working in the SBA following the UK's 2020 departure from the EU. Cyprus, Republic of Ireland and Spain are the only three EU states that conducted bilateral talks with the UK on the Brexit issue. The talks between the UK and the Republic of Cyprus started in October 2017.
The Brexit withdrawal agreement has a protocol on the SBAs, with provisions essentially maintaining their previous status.
Geography
Akrotiri and Dhekelia cover 3% of the land area of Cyprus, a total of 254 km2 (98 sq mi) (split 123 km2 (47 sq mi) (48.5%) at Akrotiri and 131 km2 (51 sq mi) (51.5%) at Dhekelia). 60% of the land is privately owned as freeholds by Cypriot citizens; the other 40% is controlled by the Ministry of Defence as Crown leasehold land. In January 2014, an agreement between the Cypriot and UK governments was signed, ensuring that residents and property owners in the British Bases will enjoy equal rights for the development of property. In addition to Akrotiri and Dhekelia, the Treaty of Establishment also provided for the continued use by the British Ministry of Defence and the British Armed Forces of certain facilities within the Republic of Cyprus, known as Retained Sites.
Akrotiri is located in the south of the island, near the city of Limassol (or Lemesos). Dhekelia is in the southeast, near Larnaca. Both areas include military bases, as well as farmland and some residential land. Akrotiri is surrounded by territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, but Dhekelia also borders on the United Nations (UN) buffer zone and the area controlled by the Turkish forces.
Ayia Napa lies to the east of Dhekelia. The villages of Xylotympou and Ormideia, also in the Republic of Cyprus, are enclaves surrounded by Dhekelia. The Dhekelia Power Station, divided by a British road into two parts, also belongs to the Republic of Cyprus. The northern part is an enclave, like the two villages, whereas the southern part is located by the sea, and therefore not an enclave, though it has no territorial waters of its own.
Territorial waters of 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) are claimed, and the right according to the laws of the UN to extend the claim of up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) is reserved.
Cyprus is an important migration flyway for birds between Africa and Europe and millions of birds are killed yearly as they migrate over the island. To protect resident and migratory birds, BirdLife Cyprus and the RSPB survey areas of illegal trapping. More than 150 species of birds, over half of conservation concern, have been trapped in nets, or on limesticks, and it is estimated that organised crime gangs earn over 15 million Euros yearly. The dead birds are sold to provide the main ingredient for ambelopoulia — an illegal delicacy — in the Republic of Cyprus. The 2015 survey estimated a maximum 19 km (12 mi) of mist nets across both the Republic and the British Territories, and more than 5,300 limesticks removed, mainly in the Republic. It is estimated that over 2 million birds were killed in 2015 including over 800,00—0 on British Territories.[49][50] Employing measures such as covert camera surveillance (including a drone), exclusion zones and impounding vehicles, trapping activity at Dhekelia fell by 77.5%. In 2016 an estimated 800,000 birds were killed at Dhekelia and in the following year trapping activity fell by 77.5% and bird deaths to an estimated 180,000.
The Episkopi Cliffs Important Bird Area lies mostly within the western base area, and covers much of the peninsula. It was identified as an IBA in 1989, and became recognised under the Ramsar Convention in 2003. 60% was designated as a Special Protection Area in 2010. Over 300 bird species have been recorded in this area. The wetlands, including the large salt lake, are an important habitat and bird hotspot. These wetlands are an important breeding spot for the ferruginous duck, which has nested there since 2005. Other species that nest in the wetlands include the black-winged stilt, the Kentish plover, the spur-winged lapwing, and the stone-curlew. Black francolins, Cyprus wheatears, Cyprus warblers, Eleonora's falcons, peregrine falcons, griffon vultures, European shags, European rollers, blue rock thrushs, and wallcreepers breed elsewhere in the area, especially around the cliffs.
The beaches in the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are important nesting sites for the endangered green Chelonia mydas and loggerhead Caretta caretta turtles. The SBA Environment Department, assisted by a large volunteer effort, has monitored turtle nesting success on SBA beaches since 1990. Disturbance to nesting turtles is an issue in some areas due to activities such as camping, driving on beaches and illegal fishing. Sea turtles in Cyprus are protected as priority species under the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance (implementing the provisions of the Habitats Directive), enacted in 2007.
In December 2015, five Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) were designated in the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas. The five SACs designated are Akrotiri, Episkopi, Cape Pyla, Dhekelia and Agios Nikolaos. The designations were made under the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance and will support the existing network (NATURA 2000) of SACs in Cyprus and across Europe.
Demographics
When the areas were being established, the boundaries were deliberately drawn to avoid centres of population. Approximately 18,195 people live in the areas. About 11,000 native Cypriots work in the areas themselves, or on farmland within the boundaries of the areas. The British military and their families make up the rest of the population.
Persons related to the territory may in theory be eligible to claim the British Overseas Territories citizenship (BOTC status) through a personal connection to the areas (i.e., birth on the territory before 1983, or born after 1983 to a parent who was born on the territory before 1983). But unlike most other British Overseas Territories, there is no provision in the 2002 amendment of the British Nationality Act 1981 by which British citizenship (with the right of abode in the United Kingdom) can either be claimed through automatic entitlement or be applied for by means of registration, from or through a sole personal connection to the Base Areas (in comparison, the 2002 Act bestowed British citizenship on all other BOTCs). Hence, non-British and non-military personnel with the connection to the territory cannot live and work in the UK and must use their Cypriot passports to apply for visas to the UK.
Under the terms of the 1960 agreement with Cyprus establishing the Sovereign Base Areas, the United Kingdom is committed not to use the areas for civilian purposes. This was stated in 2002 as the primary reason for the exclusion of the areas from the scope of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002.[citation needed] As of 2010, around 7,195 service personnel of British Forces Cyprus are based at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
Education
Service Children's Education oversees education for children of personnel and MoD employees. The Eastern Sovereign Base Area is served by Dhekelia Primary School and Ayios Nikolaos Primary School, which are feeders for King Richard School. The Western Sovereign Base Area is served by Episkopi Primary School and Akrotiri Primary School, which are feeders for St. John's School.
Economy
No economic statistics are gathered for Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The main economic activities are the provision of services to the military, as well as limited agriculture. When the territory under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus switched currencies from the Cypriot pound to the euro on 1 January 2008, Akrotiri and Dhekelia followed suit making the Sovereign Base Areas the only territory under British sovereignty to officially use the euro.
Transport
Cypriot motorways pass through both areas. There is no public airport within the areas, but the RAF Akrotiri airbase is located there, which has a runway suitable for long-distance flights, but is not used for public flights.
Communications
The Base Areas form part of the Republic of Cyprus telephone numbering plan, using the international prefix +357. Landline numbers are in the same eight-digit format, with the last four digits being the line number. Numbers in Dhekelia begin with the digits 2474, while those in Akrotiri begin with the digits 2527.
Postal services are provided by the British Forces Post Office, with mail to Akrotiri being addressed to BFPO 57 and mail to Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos being addressed to BFPO 58.[60] Cyprus Postal Services provides postal service for civilian homes and businesses within the Base Areas, then using Cypriot postal codes and "Cyprus" as country on letters from abroad.
The bases are issued different amateur radio call signs from the Republic of Cyprus. Amateur radio stations on the bases use the International Telecommunication Union prefix of "ZC4", which is assigned to Great Britain. There are about 52 amateurs licensed in this manner. Amateur radio direction finding identified RAF Akrotiri as the location of the powerful but now defunct shortwave numbers station "Lincolnshire Poacher". Several curtain antennas there have been identified as being used for these transmissions.
Culture
BBC World Service transmitter masts in Akrotiri
Media
BFBS Radio 1 and 2 are broadcast on FM and can be widely received across Cyprus. BFBS Television is now only available to viewers via satellite, having been confined to the SBAs or encrypted in 1997 for copyright reasons, before BFBS switched off its analogue transmitters in 2009. The British East Mediterranean Relay Station was situated locally.
Financial Counsellor and Monetary and Capital Markets Department Director Tobias Adrian, Deputy Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department Fabio Natalucci, and Deputy Division Chief in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department Antonio Garcia Pascual participate in the Global Financial Stability Report press briefing during the 2022 Annual Meetings at the International Monetary Fund.
IMF Photo/Cory Hancock
11 October 2022
Washington, DC, United States
Photo ref: CH221011051.jpg
PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 16, 2020) Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Peter Munoz, from El Paso, Texas, left, photographs the crew of a simulated suspect vessel during a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise from the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). New Orleans, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group assigned to Amphibious Squadron 11, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelby Sanders)
September 7, 2011 -- Bringing together voices from Afghanistan, the Netherlands and the United States, “Empowering Women in Afghanistan: Stability Through Rural Development,” highlighted the state of Afghan women in rural areas, the promotion of stability through rural assistance to women, and ways in which America and Europe can work together to empower them.
The conference -- organized by the U.S. Embassy in The Hague and The Atlantic Commission -- highlighted the advantages of directing aid to programs for rural women.
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An unidentified Apollo Command Module boilerplate during flotation stability tests conducted circa 1961/62(?). Photo (possibly a frame from motion picture documentation) appears to be shortly after water impact.
"My people need more STABILITY and SECURITY" - Elisabeth Bouaba lives alone in a village near Nana Outta, CAR. Her older sons and their new families live in the bush – hiding in fear of their lives. She considers people need more stability and security. Commissioner Georgieva stressed the importance of regaining security and the rule of law across the country stating both civilians and humanitarian organisations alike needed to safely receive and deliver much needed life-saving assistance.
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«Mon pays a besoin de plus DE STABILITÉ ET DE SÉCURITÉ» - Elisabeth Bouaba vit seule dans un village situé près de Nana Outta, à environ 250 km de Bangui. Ses fils aînés et leur nouvelle famille, qui craignent pour leur vie, vivent dans la brousse. Selon elle, la République centrafricaine (RCA) a besoin de plus de stabilité et de sécurité. Lors d'une récente visite, la commissaire Georgieva a souligné l'importance pour le pays de retrouver la sécurité et d'appliquer l'État de droit. Elle a déclaré que l'aide dont la RCA a tant besoin devait parvenir en toute sécurité aux organisations humanitaires et aux civils.
©EC/ECHO Malini Morzaria
EXPLORE: June 24, 2009
Stability in a very unstable world. It is good that we have nature to fall back on for our security blanket. This rose photo was taken after the rain and the title seemed to fit. The water droplets really caught my eye.
Best viewed in large.
160222-N-ZZ786-033 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 22, 2016) Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Darron Thomas, from Akron, Ohio, left, and Sonar Technician (Surface) Seaman Shadie Brooks, from Owatonna, Minn., right, assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), stand watch in the ship’s sonar control center. Antietam is currently underway in the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Flewellyn/Released)
Between 2005 and 2008, the world's staple food prices soared to their highest levels in 30 years. During the last18 months of that period, maize price increased by 74 percent while that of rice almost tripled, climbing a whole 166 percent.
Food riots broke out in more than 20 countries. Editorialists decreed the end of cheap food. Economists believed that the kind of price roller-coasters experienced since 2006 are likely to recur in the coming years. In other words food price volatility – the technical term for the phenomenon – has probably come to stay.
"Food prices – from crisis to stability" has been chosen as this year's World Food Day theme to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable.
Price swings, upswings in particular, represent a major threat to food security in developing countries. Hardesthit are the poor. According to the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty.
At the level of net food importing countries, price spikes can hurt poor countries by making it much more expensive for them to import food for their people. At the level of individuals, people living on less than US$1.25 a day may need to skip a meal when food prices rise. Farmers are hurt too because they badly need to know the price their crops are going to fetch at harvest time, months away. If high prices are likely they plant more. If low prices are forecast they plant less and cut costs.
Rapid price swings make that calculation much more difficult. Farmers can easily end up producing too much or too little. In stable markets they can make a living. Volatile ones can ruin them while also generally discouraging much-needed investment in agriculture.
Recognizing the major threat that food price swings pose to the world's poorest countries and people, the international community, led by the G20, moved in 2011 to find ways of managing volatility on international food commodity markets.
In order to decide how, and how far, we can manage volatile food prices we need to be clear about why, in the space of a few years, a world food market offering stability and low prices became a turbulent marketplace battered by sudden price spikes and troughs.
The seeds of today's volatility were sown last century when decision-makers failed to grasp that the production boom then enjoyed by many countries might not last forever and that continuing investment was needed in research, technology, equipment and infrastructure.
In the 30 years from 1980 to date the share of official development assistance which OECD countries earmarked for agriculture dropped 43 percent. Continued under-funding of agriculture by rich and poor countries alike is probably the main single cause of the problems we face today.
Contributing to today's tight markets is rapid economic growth in emerging economies, which means more people are eating more meat and dairy produce with the need for feedgrains increasing rapidly as a result. Population growth, with almost 80 million new mouths to feed every year, is another important element.
Population pressure is compounded by the erratic and often extreme meteorological phenomena produced by global warming and climate change.
A further contributing factor may be the recent entry of institutional investors with very large sums of money into food commodity futures markets. Lastly, distortive agricultural and protectionist trade policies bear a significant part of the blame.
Responding to food price volatility therefore involves two different kinds of measures. The first group addresses volatility itself, aiming to reduce price swings through specific interventions while the other seeks to mitigate the negative effects of price swings on countries and individuals.
Greater policy coordination in international food trade can reduce volatility by helping maintain an assured flow of goods. FAO supports the multilateral negotiations under the World Trade Organization and the elimination of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in rich countries.
On speculation, FAO's research suggests that while this might not trigger price movements, it could exaggerate their size and duration.
More and better information is needed to allow greater transparency in trade on futures markets. This would help ensure that governments and traders make informed decisions and avoid panic or irrational reactions.
As to mitigating the effects of volatility, national or regional safety nets, possibly featuring emergency food reserves, can help assure food supplies to needy and vulnerable population groups during crises. Poor consumers can also be assisted with cash or food vouchers and producers helped with inputs such as fertilizer and seeds.
Market-based mechanisms can help low-income developing countries to meet higher food import bills. At country level, governments can protect themselves from food price increases through a variety of financial arrangements such as call options, which would give them the right to buy food at a set price even months ahead, regardless of how the market has moved in the meantime. At international level, compensatory facilities can help low income developing countries meet escalating food import bills. Concessional financing facilities such as those provided by the IMF helped countries contend with the balance of payments problems that soaring food prices provoked in 2007-2008.
Ultimately though, stability in the food market depends on increased investment in agriculture, particularly in developing countries, where 98 percent of the hungry live and where food production needs to double by 2050 to feed growing populations.
Investment in infrastructure, marketing systems, extension and communication services, education, as well as in research and development, can increase food supply and improve the functioning of local agricultural markets, resulting in less volatile prices. In this way, markets can work for the poor people who bear the burden of food price volatility. The level of net investments required is around US$83 billion a year which would help millions of people around the world escape poverty and help restore long-term stability to agricultural markets.
On World Food Day 2011, let us look seriously at what causes swings in food prices, and do what needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest members of global society.
Gaston Gelos (C) Division Chief, Global Financial Stability Analysis Division of the International Monetary Fund delivers his opening remarks with Jan Brockmeijer (2nd L) Deputy Director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF Nico Valckx (2nd R)
Senior Economist, Global Financial Stability Analysis Division, IMF; Luis Brandao Marques(R)
Senior Economist, Global Financial Stability Analysis Division, IMF and Keiko Utsunomiya (L)
Senior Communications Officer, Communications Department, IMF during the press conference for the Global Stability Report Analytical Chapters October 1, 2014 at the IMF Headquarters 2 in Washington, DC. IMF Staff Photograph/Stephen Jaffe
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Somewhere I’ve read that banks employed Classical detailing in the façade to impart the sense of stability and permanence. The Bank of LaCrosse (Mecklenburg County, Virginia) is no exception, a small town bank exhibiting the Classical features that seemed standard for early banks. I have no date for the structure but guess before 1925; I also don’t know the building material. The façade is framed by four pilasters instead of columns, one at each corner and the remaining two on either side of the entrance. The stylized capitals are elongated and grooved. Above the overhang are recessed panels, functioning as extensions of the pilasters. The overhang has prominent rectangular brackets which resemble large dentil. Below that at each corner is a circular floral design and the name of the bank. A broken pediment is above the entrance with an urn (in funerary sculpture it symbolized immortality, hence permanence of the institution). There's an ornamental swag pattern in the panel between the two large brackets, which support the pediment, and below each bracket are long narrow vertical panels. The doorway itself consists of narrow grooves. The windows are fixed and are enclosed within a large panel between the pilasters in a set pattern (except for the window above the entrance): the second-story windows are arched and have recessed areas, simulating a surround with a bracket form as the keystone; the first story windows are to either side of the entrance; between the stories is a recessed ornamented rectangular panel and below the first-story windows the panel is raised instead of recessed.
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Headgear test fitting with rubber cap for stability and hygiene - full headgear strap with silicone/ rubber cap design and presentation for fitting Various: Headgear and facemask / reverse pull headgear, rubber stability caps, strapping- design and presentation for fitting.
Ángel Estrada, exdirector general de Estabilidad Financiera, Regulación y Resolución / Former Director General Financial Stability, Regulation and Resolution.
APRA HARBOR, Guam (Mar. 3, 2017) Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) pass MK45 5-inch rounds during an ammunition on load on the ship’s fo’c’sle. Mustin is on patrol in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Elijah G. Leinaar/Released)
I'm 6'5" so when I decided to buy a tripod to last me the rest of my life I went with a tall Gitzo. I love it but it's too big to take when traveling on vacation. I missed so many shots last year because I didn't bring it along(didn't feel cool about checking it in luggage). I ended up getting a deal on a Benro Travel Angel and at 1/2 the size and weight it's perfect. I've used it for the last month or 2 and I liked it so much I picked up a cheap Benro monopod as well. This picture shows how ridiculously small the Benro tripod is(about 15").
PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 24, 2020) Seaman Angelyn Hernandez, from Los Angeles, stands by a fueling station as a signalman aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) as the ship conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194). Germantown, part of Expeditionary Strike Group Seven (ESG 7), along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)
4 Anti Rotation Movement exercises for Core Stability
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Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment arrive at Lithuanian Land Forces Rukla Base in the early hours September 29 and turn in their weapons to the arms room and carry their gear to their rooms. From October – December, the Texas-based Soldiers of the 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Reg., will participate in the U.S. Army Europe-led Atlantic Resolve, a multinational combined arms exercise involving the 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div., and host nations. The exercise takes place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, to strengthen relationships among allied militaries, to contribute to regional stability and to demonstrate US commitment to NATO. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Keith Anderson, 1st BCT, 1st CD Public Affairs)
Nobody knows about my man.
They think hes lost on some horizon.
And suddenly I find myself
Listening to a man Ive never known before,
Telling me about the sea,
All his love, til eternity.
Ooh, hes here again,
The man with the child in his eyes.
Ooh, hes here again,
The man with the child in his eyes.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 5, 2019) - The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transits the South China Sea. The John C. Stennis is deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Crouch) 190305-N-IO414-1039
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An adequate religious culture must transcend the stabilities, securities, schievements of any given civilization. If faith is bound up with these too completely, life becomes meaningless when they break down. It must give people the resource to rebuild a civilization without illusions and yet without despair.
We must, for instance, achieve a higher level of international organization after the war or our civilization will sink even lower. If we engage in the task of world reconstruction without a disavowal of the utopian illusion, which has informed our culture particularly since the eighteenth century, we shall ask for the impossible by way of world federation or some world superstate; we shall not get it, and then we shall be tempted again to despair and disillusionment.
Furthermore, the utopians will always tempt the realists among us to become cynical in their reaction to utopianism. These cynics will be inclined to asset that history contains no new possibilities for good. They will seek to reconstruct the world on the basis of the old precarious balance of power, and they will not find a new level of international community compatible with our new economic interdependence.
~ Reinhold Niebuhr, A Faith for History's Greatest Crisis, 1942
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/11/a-man-for-al...
In his lifetime, Niebuhr was a restless and paradoxical figure: an evangelical preacher and the author of the Serenity Prayer, a foe of U.S. isolationism in the 1930s and of U.S. intervention in Vietnam in the 1960s. After his death, Niebuhrian became a synonym for American political realism—the school of thought that places national self-interest above idealistic schemes for social reform. But the war on terror has brought Niebuhr’s broader vision into focus: not only the struggle between realism and idealism in our foreign affairs, but the ongoing debate over the place of religion in America’s sense of itself. The fresh interest in his work, then, ought to be invigorating—a source of clarity and perspective.
It hasn’t been. On the contrary, the Niebuhr revival has been perplexing, even bizarre, as people with profoundly divergent views of the war have all claimed Niebuhr as their precursor: bellicose neoconservatives, chastened “liberal hawks,” and the stalwarts of the antiwar left. Inevitably, politicians have taken note, and by now a well-turned Niebuhr reference is the speechwriter’s equivalent of a photo op with Bono. In recent months alone, John McCain (in a book) celebrated Niebuhr as a paragon of clarity about the costs of a good war; New York Governor Eliot Spitzer (at the Chautauqua Institution) invoked Niebuhr as a model of the humility lacking in the White House; and Barack Obama (leaving the Senate floor) called Niebuhr “one of [his] favorite philosophers” for his account of “the compelling idea that there’s serious evil in the world.”
. . . Niebuhr, better than any contemporary thinker, got to the roots of the conflict between American ideals and their unintended consequences, like those the United States now faces in Iraq. The story of the uses and misuses of his work during the war so far is the story of how the war went wrong; and yet a look at the partial, partisan Niebuhrs that have emerged produces something like a rounded portrait, a view of a man who really does have something essential to tell us about the world and our place in it.
. . . The irony of American history, as Niebuhr explained it, is that our virtues and our vices are inextricably joined. From the beginning, our national purpose has been “to make a new beginning in a corrupt world.” Our prosperity leads us to believe “that our society is so essentially virtuous that only malice could prompt criticism of any of our actions.” Yet our counterparts abroad see us as at once naive and crudely imperialistic, and our power, ironically, has undermined our virtue, for “the same technical efficiency which provided our comforts has also placed us at the center of the tragic developments in world events,” bringing about a “historic situation in which the paradise of our domestic security is suspended in a hell of global insecurity.”
Walnut Hills Cemetery is one of Cincinnati's oldest, operating establishments. It opened in 1843 under the name of "The Second German Protestant Cemetery". On Sept. 25, 1941, the name was officially changed to Walnut Hills Cemetery.
At the end of World War II, the victorious Allies captured both German scientists and research papers in aerodynamics which had given the Germans a slight edge in technology during the war. Among this was research into swept wings, which promised better handling at high speeds, a feature used successfully in the Messerschmitt Me 262. All the combatant nations had been developing jet fighters at the end of the war, and the Soviet Union was no different: like the Western Allies, it found the swept wing concept to be a perfect solution to add speed without sacrificing stability; unlike the West, the Soviets could not take advantage of it due to a lack of adequate jet engines. Soviet metallurgy was simply not up to the task, and experimental jet fighters were severely underpowered.
Engine designer Vladimir Klimov, however, came up with a novel idea: he asked the British in 1946 if they could provide a few examples of their latest engine. To the stunned surprise of Klimov, the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau, and Josef Stalin, the British complied, providing Klimov with the plans for the Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet, one of the most successful jet engines in history. Klimov quickly reverse engineered it as the VK-1, and just like that, the Soviets had the perfect engine for their planned jet interceptors.
MiG OKB already had a jet fighter in service, the MiG-9, but it was a poor performer. By modifying a MiG-9 into the I-310 prototype, with VK-1 propulsion and swept wings and tail surfaces, the resultant aircraft was superb: it was very manueverable and fast. It was placed into production as the MiG-15. This in turn was superseded by the more advanced and reliable MiG-15bis, which added airbrakes and a few minor avionics changes. Though pilots hated the cramped cockpit, which forced them to fly without heated or pressurized flight suits—a real concern in frigid Russian winters—they loved its responsiveness and speed. Though the MiG-15 was designed to intercept the B-29 Superfortress, hence its heavy cannon armament, it could hold its own in a dogfight. It rapidly replaced most propeller-driven fighters in the Soviet inventory, and was quickly supplied to Soviet client states.
The MiG-15 would get its first taste of action during the Chinese Civil War, when Russian-flown MiG-15s flew on behalf of the Communist Chinese against the Nationalists; a P-38L was shot down on 28 April 1950 for the type’s first victory. By far, however, it would be Korea where the MiG-15 would see the most action.
After starting out well, the North Korean armies were, by fall 1950, in full rout from South Korea, pursued by United Nations forces. The World War II-era North Korean People’s Air Force had been annihilated by UN aircraft, and though China intended to intervene on behalf of North Korea, it lacked trained pilots. Stalin agreed to secretly provide both MiG-15s and the pilots to fly them, operating from bases in China across the Yalu River from North Korea. The pilots, under command of Soviet top ace Ivan Kozhedub, were instructed to speak in what little Korean they knew, and never fly over territory where they might be captured. The former was rarely heeded in the heat of combat, while the short range of the MiG-15 limited pilots to flying in and around the Yalu valley in any case. This rapidly became known as “MiG Alley.” By November 1950, Russian-flown MiG-15s were in combat against American and British aircraft, and both sides fielded pilots who had already flown combat in World War II. Both sides were to find they were close to evenly matched as well: the Russians claimed the first jet-to-jet victory on 1 November, when a MiG-15 shot down a USAF F-80C; four days later, they suffered their first loss, to a US Navy F9F Panther. Most engagements were to occur between the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15.
Once more, the two were closely matched. The MiG-15 had a better rate of climb, was superior above 33,000 feet, and had harder hitting cannon armament. The F-86’s six machine guns were often ineffective against the rugged MiG, but it was more manueverable, especially at low level, and if the machine guns did not cause as much damage, they fired at three times the rate of the MiG-15’s cannons, and usually hit what they aimed at, due to a superior radar-ranging gunsight. Both sides had to deal with instability at high speeds: if the MiG pilot got into trouble, he would climb out of danger, whereas the Sabre pilot would dive. The pilots were evenly matched, though the Russians would later admit that the Americans were better trained. Both sides overclaimed during the war, with both Soviet and American pilots claiming 12 to 1 kill ratios: the truth may never be known, though 40 Russians were awarded the title of ace during the war.
After the end of the Korean War, the MiG-15 remained in service, though it slowly began to be replaced by the MiG-17 and MiG-19. Nonetheless, MiG-15s were involved in eleven separate incidents during the Cold War, shooting down several US and British reconnaissance aircraft and an Israeli airliner. By the mid-1950s, however, the MiG-15 was beginning to show its age, and in combat with Sidewinder-equipped F-86s of Taiwan and Israeli Super Mysteres, it came off second best. Gradually, single-seat MiG-15s were retired from active service, though hundreds of two-seat MiG-15UTI “Midget” trainers remained in service; the MiG-15UTI is still flown by several air forces to this day. About 16,000 MiG-15s were produced in the Soviet Union, Poland, and Czechslovakia, and a good number remain in existence today in museums and numerous flyable examples, including 43 in the United States.
This is a MiG-15UTI Midget, on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum. With the knowledge that the MiG-15 would be a handful to fly for pilots used to propeller aircraft, the MiG-15 was modified with a cramped but serviceable rear cockpit; the student either used a periscope from the rear cockpit, or flew up front with the instructor behind him. The Midget was so successful that the Soviets did not build two-seat versions of the MiG-17 and MiG-19.
Technically this is a Lim-2B, a MiG-15UTI built under license by WSK of Poland. 1A-06038 started off as a standard single-seat MiG-15 (Lim-1), but was rebuilt as a Lim-2B in the late 1950s. When Poland retired their Midgets in favor of the indigenous TS-11 Iskra, several Lim-2Bs ended up on the open market, and a few made their way to the United States in the 1980s--a situation unthinkable only 30 years before! 060308 flew as a test, familiarization and aggressor aircraft with the Defense Test and Evaluation Support Agency at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico and was retired in 1990. It was donated to Pima in 1992.
060308 was displayed for several years inside, but recently Pima moved it outside to join other aircraft in "MiG Row." It retains its Polish Air Force markings, though it is painted anticorrosion gray rather than the bare metal of operational MiG-15UTIs of the time. In the background is a TV-2 Seastar, the naval version of the Midget's American counterpart, the T-33 Shooting Star.
In 2012 alone, nighty eight (98) income-generation activities were supported by DCPSF that included different groups, such as women, youth and various tribes. A total of 92 percent of sampled community members responded that trust and confidence was restored in the communities where the DCPSF projects were operating. Over 80 percent of sampled Darfuris responded that they are satisfied with reconciliation mechanisms, experiencing increased levels of peace and stability. Despite of the increasing overall intensity of conflicts and security incidents in 2012, sample survey and reports from 21 ongoing projects, 2012 indicates that the communities with the DCPSF strengthened their resilience to conflicts and enjoyed peace and stability where activities promoting early recovery could take place. More than 146,500 people have used the community-based conflict resolution mechanisms benefited directly and some 2,425,620 people benefitted indirectly in which the efforts spread to some 160 communities in 2012. DCPSF has supported 61 educational and 7 health initiatives. Forty-five (45) civil society organizations (CSOs) improved planning, conflict sensitivity and peace building activities. Through DCPSF, 25,302 children were newly enrolled in schools in Darfur and 109 water sources including boreholes, hand pumps, wells, and hafirs through consultative processes.
Despite of tough security situation and access, DCPSF has gone beyond the defined milestones by achieving 14 out of 17 milestones defined for 2012. It requires a continuation of funds for the period of time to brought back the communities to pre-conflict situation as a significant amount of anchoring are still in an intensive care. UNDP through DCPSF and its implementing partners backed by the donors, assures to set new goals, standards and achievements in the year 2014 and will ensure accountability of each penny spend from contribution of the donating countries.
For more information:
www.sd.undp.org/content/sudan/en/home/operations/FundMana...
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160812-N-PD309-162 QINGDAO, China (August 12, 2016) A Sailor from the People's Liberation Army (Navy) North Sea Fleet assists the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) during a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea exercise. Benfold is currently underway in the Western Pacific in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deven Leigh Ellis/Released)
Tobias Adrian, IMF Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, Fabio Natalucci, Deputy Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, and Evan Papageorgiou, Deputy Division Chief of the Monetary and Capital Markets department, provide the Global Financial Stability Report during the 2021 Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund.
IMF Photo/Cliff Owen
6 April 2021
Washington, DC, United States
Photo ref: CO100824.ARW
DARWIN, Australia (July 26, 2015) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) take in lines as the ship prepares to get underway from Darwin. Preble is deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alonzo M. Archer/Released)
Brig. Gen. Giovanni Pietro Barbano (right), Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) director and U.S. Army Col. Darius S. Gallegos (left), CoESPU deputy director, stand at attention during the graduation ceremony of 14th Protection of Civilians Course at the CoESPU in Vicenza, Italy, February 21, 2017. (U.S. Army Photo by Visual Information Specialist Paolo Bovo/released)
During the Capacity Development - Financial Sector Stability session at the 2019 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings at IMF Headquarters April 10, 2019 in Washington, DC, Nico Valckx, Naoto Osawa, and Tumubweine Twinemanzi answe the questions : How can policymakers implement a strong reform agenda? Join us to learn how countries such as Uganda are using targeted tools like the Financial Sector Stability Review, so they can prioritize reforms and build a more resilient financial sector. IMF Photograph/Joshua Roberts