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Biden agrees to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines

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US President Joe Biden has agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel land mines, a US defence official told the BBC.

The official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, said such mines would be delivered soon and Washington expected that they would be used on Ukraine’s territory.

Kyiv was also committed to not using such mines in densely-populated areas, the official said.

The move is seen as an attempt to slow Russian troops who have been steadily advancing in Ukraine’s east in recent months.

The provision of anti-personnel land mines is the latest move by the outgoing US administration to bolster Ukraine’s war effort before Donald Trump returns to the White House on 20 January.

Russia has deployed landmines liberally since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 but international objections to the use of such weapons on the grounds that they pose a risk to civilians had prevented the Biden administration from signing off on them.

The US defence official confirmed to the BBC that Ukraine had pledged to use only mines that remained active for a limited period of time.

The US “non-persistent” mines differ from Russia’s as they become inert after a pre-set period of time – anywhere from four hours to two weeks. They are electrically fused and require battery power to detonate. Once the battery runs out, they will not detonate.

Washington has already been providing anti-tank mines to Ukraine, but the anti-personnel land mines – which can be rapidly deployed – are designed to blunt the advances of ground forces.

Earlier, it was confirmed that US-made longer-range Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms) missiles had struck targets inside Russia only days after reports emerged that the White House had granted permission for their use.  Russia’s defence ministry said the strike had targeted the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine to the north on Tuesday morning.

It said five missiles had been shot down and one had caused damage – with its fragments starting a fire at a military facility.

But two US officials said initial indications suggested Russia had intercepted just two missiles out of around eight fired by Ukraine.

The BBC has not been able to verify independently the contradicting figures.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of trying to escalate the conflict. The Kremlin has vowed to retaliate.

Map showing Russian military control in Ukraine and maximum range of US-made Atacms missiles provided to Ukraine

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, setting out new conditions under which the country would consider using its arsenal.

It now says an attack from a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power, will be treated as a joint assault on Russia.

Commenting on the changes, US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “Since the beginning of its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has sought to coerce and intimidate both Ukraine and other countries around the world through irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behaviour.”

[BBC]



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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, state media says

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[pic BBC]

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in his office on Saturday morning during US-Israeli air strikes, state media confirms.

President Trump said Khamenei was “one of the most evil people in History” and urged Iranians “take back their Country”

In Iran, there are celebrations in several cities, while others are mourning on the streets – one local tells BBC Persian that Khameni’s death is “such a good news”

More than 200 people have been killed across Iran,  the Red Crescent says. At least 108 were killed when US and Israeli strikes hit a girls’ school, Iran says

Sources have told the BBC’s US partner CBS that around 40 Iranian officials are dead. Israel said it killed several top officials,  including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has vowed  to unleash “the most devastating offensive operation” against US bases and Israel

This is a defining moment in Iran’s turbulent history – but its most powerful clerics and commanders have been preparing for it, writes the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent.

Iranian retaliatory strikes were earlier reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait – places with US military bases, or that are allied to the US.

[BBC]

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Can West Indies make up for bowling gulf in virtual quarter-final against India?

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Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma prepare for India's match against West Indies [Cricinfo]

This fixture was, of course, known in advance, but the stakes are somewhat surprising. Neither was it expected that India could be knocked out of their own party if they lose to West Indies nor was it expected that West Indies could go to the semi-finals if they win this match.

The expected result still is for India to overcome that one blip against South Africa and make it to the semi-finals. Then again, jeopardy and unpredictability are at the heart of this format.

The path to get here has been similar for both teams: a thumping loss to South Africa and a resounding win over Zimbabwe. Even their scores against Zimbabwe were nearly identical.

West Indies are one team India haven’t faced in their dominant run starting with the 2024 T20 World Cup. They are, in fact, the last team to have beaten India in a series way back in August 2023.

Both sides have improved since then. India are a well-oiled domination machine, West Indies have put together scary six-hitters who have happened to hit form. They have hit more sixes than any side at any T20 World Cup, and India are three behind them with 63 so far.

It is with the ball that India hold an advantage. India’s bowlers are match-winners. They have pace and mystery. It gives them room for error. West Indies are a strictly defensive bowling unit. They’ll need everything to go their way to get the better of India.

He might have taken just 26 balls to get there against Zimbabwe, but it was Abhishek Sharma’s  second-slowest fifty in T20Is. That’s because he had scored just 15 runs in the first four matches, which made him take his time against offspin, scoring just 13 off 17 balls against that style of bowling. That makes Roston Chase an important player even though he went for 46 against South Africa. He is the only spinner in the West Indies squad who takes his stock ball away from left-hand batters; India have five of them in their top eight.

Rinku Singh lost his father after the match against Zimbabwe, which he missed with India bringing in Sanju Samson to break up the left-hand batters in the top order. He is expected to join the squad on Saturday night but isn’t expected to play.

India (probable):  Abhishek Sharma,  Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma,  Suryakumar Yadav (capt),  Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube,  Axar Patel,  Arshdeep Singh,  Jasprit Bumrah,  Varun Chakravarthy.

Brandon King, who had sustained an injury against South Africa, is fit and available, which should suggest no changes for West Indies.

West Indies (probable):  Brandon King, Shai Hope (capt & wk),  Shimron Hetmyer,  Rovman Powell,  Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford,  Romario Shepherd,  Jason Holder, Matthew Forde,  Gudakesh Motie,  Shamar Joseph.

[Cricinfo]

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Flights cancelled as travel warnings issued after strikes on Iran

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Airlines serving the Middle East cancelled and diverted flights on Saturday after the US and Israel launched deadly strikes against on Iran, including its capital Tehran.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air were among carriers to pare back their schedules to destinations in the Middle East, citing safety concerns.

Iran responded by launching a series of attacks, with Israel and four Gulf Arab countries that host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE – targeted by strikes.

The UK Foreign Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately shelter in place following explosions.

US President Donald Trump cited a failure to reach an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear programme and regime change as among the reasons for launching the attack.

Iranian and Israeli airspace were both closed on Saturday, with flight tracking showed international air traffic avoiding the region.

All flights in and out of Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airport in Dubai were suspended on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday evening, the media office for Dubai International said the airport had sustained “minor damage in an incident” and that four members of staff had been injured.

Qatar Airways confirmed the temporary suspension of flights to and from its capital Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace, later saying operations would resume 19:00 Doha time on Sunday (16:00 GMT).

British Airways cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday.

Virgin Atlantic cancelled a Heathrow to Dubai flight and warned its flights to India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives may take longer due to being rerouted.

Wizz Air suspended all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman up until and including next Saturday.

Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, urged travellers to check with their airline for updates.

Passengers on the 20:00 flight to Doha on Friday returned to Heathrow after it turned back part way through the journey, but this was due to a technical issue with the aircraft and unrelated to the military action.

[BBC]

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