Swapping..

 

In just over 24 hours, Ukraine experienced significant losses in its air force, with two Su-27 fighters and one MiG-29 shot down.

 According to a press release from the Russian Ministry of Defense, these incidents occurred during dogfights and were overwhelmed by air defense systems between late September 14 and throughout September 15. 

Losing Su-27s is a tough blow for Ukraine since these fighters offer unique air defense and interception capabilities that are hard to replace, even with modern Western jets like the F-16.  

While the F-16 comes with modern avionics, it’s fundamentally doesn’t directly replace the specialized air superiority role of Su-27. 

Swapping Su-27s for F-16s would mean Ukraine sacrifices some strategic advantages of the Su-27’s longer range and heavy payload, even though the F-16 brings cutting-edge technology and interoperability.

The Allure..

 

CNN and the man suing the network for defamation were unable to reach a financial settlement as mediation talks between the parties fell apart last week. 

The plaintiff, Zachary Young, alleges that CNN smeared his security consulting company, Nemex Enterprises Inc., by implying it illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. 

Young, a U.S. Navy veteran, believes CNN "destroyed his reputation and business by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans" during a Nov. 11, 2021, segment on CNN’s "The Lead with Jake Tapper." 

NewsBusters associate editor Nicholas Fondacaro wrote that the "amount offered to make the lawsuit go away was not disclosed," but "it would have needed to be fairly substantial to negate the allure of a possible $1 billion (possibly more) between compensatory, emotional, and punitive damages."

Categorically..

 

Venezuela says it has arrested six foreigners, including a US Navy SEAL, for an alleged plot to “destabilize” the country that has been in crisis since disputed elections earlier this year.

Interior minister Diosdado Cabello claimed that the alleged plot was led by the CIA, and aimed at assassinating the country’s leader Nicolás Maduro. The US State Department rejected the claim as “categorically false.”

In a news conference, Cabello identified the purported Navy SEAL .....and claimed he was the leader of the operation. 

Venezuelan authorities have also seized 400 US rifles linked to the alleged plot, he said.          [Mauricio Torres, CNN]

Better..

 

NaG..

 

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw is out effective immediately after the board determined he engaged in a consensual relationship with legal chief Nabanita Nag, the company announced Wednesday. He will be replaced by finance chief Mark George.

In a news release, Norfolk Southern said Mr. Shaw, who became chief executive in May 2022, had a consensual relationship with its top lawyer, Nabanita C. Nag, who was also fired. [both are married to someone else]

"Norfolk Southern also announced that Nabanita C Nag has been terminated from her roles as Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, effective immediately, in connection with the preliminary findings of the Board's ongoing investigation. Jason M. Morris will serve as acting Corporate Secretary," the statement reads.

Suspension..

 

Canada Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced on Tuesday the suspension of 30 permits for arms sales to Israel and the unprecedented blocking of a contract with the US Government to send Quebec-made ammunition to the Israeli Defence Forces, according to local, media.

The latest halt on arms exports comes after the UK foreign secretary announced last week the immediate suspension of 30 arms exports to Israel. 

Israel is currently facing genocide accusations from South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a separate case, the ICJ ruled that Israel had violated international humanitarian law by occupying Palestinian territory unlawfully, violating the Hague Convention, the Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Just a thought.

Ruled..

 

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Friday that mail ballots that are improperly dated won't be counted in November.

The decision reverses a lower court ruling from last month that found it was unconstitutional to reject mail ballots that had a missing or incorrect date.

The requirements of ballots in Pennsylvania have long been the subject of litigation, with opponents of the date requirements arguing that they unnecessarily disenfranchise eligible voters. 

A group of voting rights advocates went to court in May seeking to block the provision, which required election officials to reject ballots that were incorrectly dated.

High Probability..

 Israel’s military has admitted there was “a high probability” that three hostages died as a result of an airstrike in Gaza, 10 months after they were killed.

The families of soldiers Ron Sherman and Nik Beizer, both 19, and civilian Elia Toledano, 28, were informed that IDF fire was responsible for their deaths.

A joint investigation was conducted by officers of the Israeli Defense Forces’ intelligence directorate, as well as operational commanders from the Israeli air force, and officers from the Headquarters of the Hostages and Missing Persons.

All three hostages were abducted on October 7, when more than 250 were taken captive and about 1,100 mostly civilians murdered by Hamas terrorists.

The IDF report stated there was “a high probability that the three were killed as a result of a byproduct of an IDF airstrike during the elimination of the Hamas northern brigade commander, Ahmed Ghandour, on November 10 2023”.

Defense..

 

Mutant..

 

A MAN known as the world’s “most monstrous bodybuilder” has died at the age of 36.
Belarusian Illia Golem reportedly suffered a heart attack at home on September 6 and his wife Anna performed CPR.

Yefimchyk was dubbed “The Mutant” by the bodybuilding world for his staggering 6-foot, 340-pound frame, Muscle and Fitness reported.

The disciplined athlete claimed that he maintained 25-inch biceps through a “mass monster” diet of up to 16,500 calories per day.