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Trump's dream of a F-55 twin-engine fighter jet is thrown into doubt
According to two sources familiar with the issue, President Donald Trump may have to scale back his vision for a new twin-engine Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter plane due to engineering and cost realities. In Doha, Trump stated that the "F-55" will have "two engines" and "a super upgrade over the F-35." Trump did add a condition, saying "if we can get the best price." The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue was sensitive, said that Trump had not been shown a twin-engine redesign. The sources claimed that developing such a jet required a massive overhaul costing billions of dollar and taking many years. Lockheed Martin briefed Trump about a possible upgrade for the F-35 in multiple meetings prior to the Doha event. The proposal consisted of just one "advanced engine", a redesigned fuselage and nose, as well as a new sensor system. Trump's mention of the "F-55" designation of the jet caught officials and insiders by surprise, especially the mention of its twin engines. Trump has stated that he prefers this feature for safety, in the event of an engine failure. According to two industry sources and two experts, Lockheed is exploring two new variants of fighter jets. The F-55 proposal is a response to the intensifying competition in global military aviation. China continues to develop its J-36 stealth fighters and J-50 stealth bombers at a rapid pace, while Russia is advancing its Su-57 program in spite of economic constraints. Lockheed's response to Trump's remarks in Doha was measured. "We thank President Trump, for his support for the F-35, and F-22, and we will continue to work with the Administration, to realize their vision of air dominance." According to TD Cowen, a Wall Street analyst who is tracking what could replace Lockheed Martin’s F-35 said, "it sounds as though Trump has asked DoD for a twin-engine version of the F-35 if we can get the best price." Two engines? The F-55 would need to be redesigned with two engines, which would cost a lot of money and take a long time. While it would speed up the jet, it would also delay its production for years. Lockheed CEO James Taiclet had told investors in an April call that the company was exploring a "fifth-generation-plus" fighter concept that would apply technologies developed for its unsuccessful F-47 bid to enhance the F-35 platform. The people who spoke to me said that the F-55 would be much more difficult to export with the new technologies, and they still remain highly controlled. Taiclet, an analyst in April, said that he would "basically take the chassis and make it into a Ferrari". He claimed this approach could provide 80% of the next-generation capabilities at a half price. Boeing won the contract to build the Next Generation Air Dominance, now called the F-47. This will be America's sixth-generation fighter aircraft and is intended to replace Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. PRODUCTION Lockheed is able leverage its production plans to produce new jets because it lost the NGAD competition. The people claimed that Lockheed already had production space lined up and informed the president of the readiness to move forward. One person said that Lockheed was much farther along than the president realized. The F-55's announcement is a timely one, and raises some questions as to how it fits in with existing budgets and plans for defense procurement. The Pentagon already manages multiple high-cost aircraft programs, such as the F-35, F-47, and possibly the Navy's F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter plane. Lockheed Martin's F-55 concept is a crucial opportunity to remain relevant in the high-end market for fighter aircraft after suffering significant setbacks during the next-generation competitions. The F-55 and Boeing's NGAD are expected to surpass the F-22 in terms of capabilities. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft in Washington, and Chizu Nomiyama.)
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Canada - June 9
These are some of the most important stories in selected Canadian newspapers. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these stories. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will announce the biggest increase in defence expenditures since the Second World War. This would allow Canada to reach NATO's target of 2% military spending this fiscal year. The Canadian clothing retailer Oak and Fort was granted court protection against its creditors. It blames its financial crisis on an ill-conceived expansion of its store and U.S. Tariffs. ** The union representing DHL Express Canada workers says that the company has locked out their members amid a simmering conflict which adds uncertainty nationwide parcel delivery and could test the new federal laws regarding the use of replacement employees. (Compiled Bengaluru Newsroom)
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Explosions and fires on cargo ships off India's Kerala Coast
Officials said that on Monday multiple explosions and fires occurred on a cargo vessel bound for India's financial center Mumbai, causing forty containers to fall in the Arabian Sea. Shekhar Kuriakose is the secretary of Kerala's disaster management authority. The WAN HAI 503, a Singapore-flagged vessel, met with an incident about 144 km off the coast. According to preliminary information, there were 22 employees on the ship. 18 of them jumped in the water and are now in rescue boats. He said that efforts were underway to save them, and added that the ship was not "currently sunk". The Indian Coast Guard shared pictures and videos on X showing a plume of smoke rising from the vessel, with some containers lying in disarray and open near the point at which the smoke was escaping. A public relations officer for the defence ministry said that a vessel was currently on fire and drifting. The explosions and the contents of the containers were not disclosed by the officials. Another container ship sank last month in an accident near Kerala, releasing 100 containers of cargo into the Arabian Sea. According to the directorate general for shipping, there was no oil pollution reported as a result of this incident. Reporting by Jose Devasia. Sakshi Dayal is the writer. Mark Potter (editing)
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Argentina's Milei insults Spanish PM Sanchez again
Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, insulted Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez during an event in Madrid. This comes a year after another similar incident escalated into a diplomatic spat. Milei, at the Madrid Economic Forum on Sunday night, called for the "clobbering of the local bandit" without directly naming Sanchez. Sanchez's office refused to comment on the incident. Milei was elected in late 2023. A libertarian, Milei is a former TV pundit who has taken many maverick positions. She also made dramatic gestures such as smashing the pinata on live television. Milei called Begona Gómez, Sanchez's spouse at a Madrid event in May 2024 "corrupt". Milei's comment caused a diplomatic dispute, and the Spanish government recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires after Milei refused an apology. Milei then doubled down, calling Sanchez "arrogant", a "totalitarian", and a "coward", despite Argentina keeping its ambassador in Madrid. Gomez faces a preliminary investigation into possible corruption and influence peddling. Both she and her husband deny any wrongdoing. Reporting by Inti Infantes and Isabel Landauro; Editing by Sharon Singleton
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Boeing plane returns to China as tariff war eases
Flight tracking data revealed that a new Boeing 737 MAX landed in China again on Monday. This was a sign that the U.S. aircraft manufacturer would resume deliveries to Chinese clients as Beijing and Washington eased their tariff war. Boeing announced at the end May that deliveries will resume in June, after tariffs are temporarily reduced for 90 days. After leaving Seattle, the plane was painted in the livery for Xiamen Airlines. It refueled in Hawaii and Guam on its way across the Pacific. Flightradar24, a tracking app, shows that Boeing originally sent the aircraft to Zhoushan, China, in March. It then returned to the United States by mid-April when Chinese airlines ceased to accept new Boeing aircraft. Boeing, Xiamen Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority of China did not respond immediately to requests for comments. China is a growing and important aviation market, representing about 10% of Boeing’s commercial backlog. On Monday, representatives of China and the United States are meeting in London to discuss a possible trade agreement. Boeing brought back at least three 737 MAX jets to the United States from Zhoushan in April, where they would receive final touches prior to delivery to Chinese airlines. The first jet to return is the same plane that landed Monday. Boeing had previously stated that customers in China wouldn't take delivery of new aircraft due to tariffs. It was also looking to resell dozens of planes. The planemaker did not send the planes to another location, even though they wanted to reduce inventory. Beijing has not stated why Boeing deliveries have stopped but claimed that Chinese airlines and Boeing were severely affected by U.S. tariffs. Boeing announced in April that it planned to deliver 50 jets to Chinese carriers throughout the year. Of these, 41 were already built or under construction. (Reporting and additional reporting by Sohie Yo; editing by Clarence Fernandez).
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Kazakhstan President replaces Ministers of Defence and Transport
Kassym Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, replaced two ministers from his government on Sunday, including that of transport, whom he had previously criticised for delays in modernising infrastructure. According to the decrees posted on his website, he fired Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov. He replaced him with Zhaksylykov’s deputy and Air Defence Forces Chief Dauren Kosanov. Tokayev, who met Kosanov Sunday, gave him several orders, including enhancing the army's readiness for combat, increasing the capabilities of Special Operations Forces and modernising its infrastructure. Zhaksylykov was previously the deputy interior minister and the head of the National Guard. He was appointed Defence Minister after civil unrest in 2022, which had been triggered by the removal a fuel price cap. The authorities were forced to call troops from an alliance led by Russia of former Soviet countries to quell a protest that grew into a widespread protest against economic hardship and corruption. Tokayev has also dismissed Transport Minister Marat Karabayev, whom he had reprimanded for transport and logistical problems in May. Karabayev's successor is still unknown. The reasons for the reshuffle were not revealed by the president. (Reporting and writing by Tamara Vaal, editing by Alexandra Hudson).
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After the presidential election, Poles march to demand equality for LGBTQ+ after fears are raised
On Saturday, thousands of Poles marched in Gdansk's northern port to show their support for the LGBTQ+ Community amid concerns for its future following the election of nationalist candidate Karol Nawarocki. Participants waved the rainbow flags as well as the blue, white, and pink banners that represent the transgender communities. Many participants carried placards with messages like "Love is Love" and "12 Years Together - When Civil Partnership?" Wroclaw, a western city, also hosted a parallel Pride event. Nawrocki's support by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), has caused alarm among LGBTQ+ activists. While in power between 2015 and 2023, PiS made opposition against what it called "LGBTQ+ ideologies" a key part of its program, framing them as a danger to traditional values in a predominantly Catholic country. Agata, a 23-year old student, said: "I was devastated. "I'm scared. "I don't know how our future will look." While LGBTQ+ issues were not as prominent in Nawrocki’s campaign as they were in the one of his PiS-backed successor Andrzej duda's in 2020, Nawrocki’s platform included promises to resist “ideology in school" and to oppose adopting same-sex couples. He stated that marriage is between a man a woman, and while rejecting civil partnership, he expressed his willingness to discuss the legal recognition of a "close" person, regardless of their sexual orientation. A pro-European coalition, which came to power in the year 2023, introduced a bill that would legalise civil partnership. The bill's fate is uncertain, however, as the presidency has veto powers. Agata expressed her hope that a civil partnership law could be implemented, but said it was unlikely to happen during Nawrocki’s presidency. She said, "I want to see more equality in society and in our country."
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Horse racing-Lambourn wins Epsom Derby for O'Brien
The front-running Lambourn won the Epsom Derby in its 246th edition on Saturday. It was Aidan O'Brien's 11th victory in this race, which is a new record. Lambourn was 13-2 when he entered the race. He set off at a blazing gallop, and under Wayne Lordan he broke away from the rest of the field to stay unchallenged until the finish line. The Epsom Derby, which is run over a horseshoe-shaped course, is the ultimate test of speed and stamina for thoroughbreds. The Lion in Winter and Delacroix were not the favourites of O'Brien. Delacroix was ridden by Ryan Moore. O'Brien dismissed claims that the colt had been overlooked during the preparation for the race. He said: "Wayne was aggressive right out of the gate, he gained a good position." "I knew that Wayne was not going to give back any of the inches he had gained, and it would be difficult to beat him." O'Brien, the Derby's most-successful trainer, won the Oaks and Derby double after Minnie Hauk, the fillies' Classic winner on Friday, beat the previously unbeaten favorite Desert Flower to third place. Lambourn’s win was also the first British Classic victory for jockey Wayne Lordan, who has been working at Ballydoyle since around eight years. He said, "I knew that he'd had a good run, and his ears were pricked, but he still had plenty of energy left. I knew anyone who got to me had to be in great shape, or it would be a tough time for them." It is the best race for a jockey who wants to get started. All you want to do in life is win the Derby." Lazy Griff (50-1), who had been tracking the leaders along the inside rail of the track, finished second. Charlie Johnston, the trainer of the colt, said before the race that he hoped more rain would fall on the colt. He said, "We were delighted to see him in Chester. His preparation was interrupted and we knew that he would be ready for anything he did on that day. And he also had a smoother transition into this." Tennessee Stud, the 28-1 long shot for trainer Joseph O'Brien's son Aidan, came in third. Ruling Court, 2,000 Guineas champion, withdrew from the race because of the predicted rain. However, the rain held off until the Derby.
Russia's September western port oil loadings to rise 1.5% m/m, sources state
Russia will increase oil exports via its western ports to 1.98 million barrels each day ( bpd) in September, up by just 30,000 bpd from August, in spite of anticipated start of seasonal maintenance on Russian refineries, two trade sources stated on Friday.
Russia needs to supply its own market with sufficient petroleum to produce motor fuels important to meet demand, however usually local refineries begin big seasonal maintenance and cut runs, which leads to greater accessibility of crude oil for exports.
Russia's August oil shipments from Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiisk will rise just 1.5% every day from August plan, Reuters calculations show.
For September, Russia's offline main oil refining capability is seen increasing to 3.38 million tons from 1.71 million heaps in August, according to Reuters calculations based upon data from industry sources.
Meanwhile, Russia's oil loadings are capped by the state's. promise to the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries to cut. output.
Also as Russia attempts to protect sufficient fuel supplies for its. domestic market, those refineries that run raise throughput. leaving less oil for exports, among the traders stated.
Unexpected refinery failures and modification of upkeep strategies. on Russian refineries might cause change in monthly export strategy.
(source: Reuters)