Russian Invasion Ukraine: ussia could target UK diplomats in Ukraine capital after British minister backs of bombing Russia | Daily Mail Online

he Kremlin has warned it could target military sites in the UK because of British support for Ukraine, while adding that it could also hit British diplomats returning to Kyiv after a defence minister's 'provocative' talk of bombing Russia.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, suggested that strikes could be authorised against NATO states who provide arms to Ukraine.

She warned: 'Do we understand correctly that for the sake of disrupting the logistics of military supplies, Russia can strike military targets on the territory of those Nato countries that supply arms to the Kyiv regime? 'After all, this directly leads to deaths and bloodshed on Ukrainian territory. As far as I understand, Britain is one of those countries.'

Her words came after Britain's Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said that the UK backed Ukrainian air strikes on Russian infrastructure.

He added that it would be 'completely legitimate' for British weapons to be used in such attacks, even though none are currently thought to be.

Heappey also said that Britain would re-start the training of Ukrainian troops inside Ukraine if the conflict became 'frozen' in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Read more at: Russia could target UK diplomats in Ukraine capital after British minister backs of bombing Russia  | Daily Mail Online

Libya: Hands-On Training for Aspiring Libyan Journalists - by IWPR

“In Libya we are in need of young well-trained journalists,” Culture Minister Habib al-Amin said. “We know journalism is not an easy job, but we want to use it as a weapon that brings hope to us.”

The minister was speaking last week at the launch of a new Media Lab which will provide hands-on training for hundreds of Libyan journalism students who are about to take up careers in the country’s fast-growing media industry.

The Media Lab, the first “skills incubator” of its kind, was set up by IWPR in partnership with the University of Tripoli. It provides a modern learning environment with up-to-date television and radio broadcasting equipment, training studios and individual workstations where students will be able to create content under the tutelage of dedicated teaching staff.

“I’m very impressed by how it turned out. A few months ago it was completely empty, but now it is full of life and the hope of building a new media in Libya that starts from universities,” said Dr. Al-Madani Dakheel, head of the University of Tripoli.

A lab curriculum providing 100 hours of instruction for each student per year will supplement the existing four-year course of media studies at the universities, and give graduates a solid foundation in basic TV, audio and print/online production. In addition, up to 50 students will be selected for internships with IWPR’s media partners around Libya, giving them real-time newsroom experience. The trainees will go on to
join the first post-Gaddafi generation of professional journalists, operating in a difficult environment.

“The media in Libya was part of the revolution,” British ambassador Michael Aron said at the launch event. “We see that there were many incidents where journalists were threatened, kidnapped or even assassinated, and TV stations being attacked. Despite this, I encourage students to learn journalism and practice it, because Libya needs it.”
Read more: Hands-On Training for Aspiring Libyan Journalists - Institute for War and Peace Reporting - P57060

The Netherlands: Can Dutch police trainers "supported by F-!6's" make any difference in Afghanistan? - by Christa Meindersma

In February 2010, the Dutch government collapsed because it could not agree to stay on in Afghanistan. Now, a Dutch minority government seeks opposition support for deploying a new mission to the country. Formally the approval of Parliament is not required. Yet, in practice, any government seeks a substantial parliamentary majority before deploying a military mission abroad. However, it is questionable whether even a narrow majority exists.

Why would the Dutch Parliament support a new mission to Afghanistan including a total of 545 Dutch troops? US President Barack Obama’s new strategy of sending 30.000 additional troops, announced in December 2009, has not yielded concrete results: the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, the insurgency is spreading north and civilian casualties - particularly from insurgent attacks - are on the rise. Afghan President Hamid Karzai makes it no secret that he wants American troops “off the roads and out of Afghan homes” and is insisting on an end to the nightly kill and capture raids. These form the core of the counterinsurgency campaign. Europen Union President Herman van Rompuy does not believe in success in Afghanistan either. He told the American Ambassador that European troops are only there “out of respect for the United States.” And, by the time the Dutch police trainers arrive, the Americans will almost be starting to withdraw.

Note EU-Digest: the Dutch government plan for this so-called "training" mission also includes the deployment of 4 F-16 and some additional 12o plus air force ground personnel and about 125 regular military troops, which the government is trying to sell as "self defense support". About 60% of the Dutch population is against this or any other missions by the Netherlands in Afghanistan.


For more: Can Dutch police trainers make any difference in Afghanistan? | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Hungary officially opens counterterrorism center

Hungary officially opened a counterterrorism center in Budapest on Wednesday when Interior Minister Sandor Pinter presented the founding document to Police Brigadier General Janos Hajdu, head of the new facility.

The new center is charged with investigating acts of terrorism, kidnappings, and the hijacking or skyjacking of trains, buses, aircraft and other vehicles used in public or cargo transport as well as with protecting the prime minister and president. It is also responsible for analyzing and evaluating the terrorism risk level in Hungary.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the first official meeting of personnel at the new center where he emphasized that a well organized, well equipped counterterrorism center with highly qualified personnel was essential to a developed and strong country. He pointed out that with its first independent counterterrorism center, "Hungary had taken another major step towards becoming a strong and modern country able to protect its citizens and gain respect for its interests."

For more: Hungary officially opens counterterrorism center