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BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
F-35B in Kerala: UK fighter jet stuck in India ready to fly
A state-of-the-art British fighter jet that has been stuck at an Indian airport for more than five weeks is set to fly out on F-35B is due to be "pulled back from the hangar today and the departure is scheduled for Tuesday", an airport spokesman told the BBC. "We do not have any technical details," he F-35B landed on 14 June at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the southern state of Kerala where it was diverted after it ran into bad weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean. It then developed a technical prolonged presence on Indian soil sparked curiosity and raised questions about how such a modern aircraft could remain stranded in a foreign country for so long. After the plane, which was part of the fleet of the HMS Prince of Wales, was unable to return, engineers from the Royal Navy's flagship carrier visited it to fix they were unable to repair it, and a fortnight back, the UK ministry of defence said they had deployed a team of 14 engineers "to Thiruvananthapuram airport to assess and repair the F-35B aircraft".The team came with specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process, a statement said. Videos from the time showed the F-35B being towed away to a hangar. The curious case of the British jet stuck in IndiaThere had been speculation that if the technicians failed to repair the aircraft, it would have to be dismantled and carried out in a bigger cargo plane such as a C-17 Globemaster transport the past two weeks, the UK high commission in India and the defence authorities have responded to the BBC's messages saying they would not share details of on Monday, an airport official told the BBC that "the aircraft is confirmed to be airworthy". It is scheduled to be pulled out of the hangar on Monday morning, he said, adding that the exact time of its departure is "yet to be communicated, which airport will be used for refuelling on the way to London or when the backup aircraft will arrive to transport the technicians and equipment back".F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing of the "lonely F-35B", parked on the tarmac and soaked by the Kerala monsoon rains, made it a subject of jokes and memes with many suggesting that it did not want to leave the scenic state of Kerala, described as "God's own country" in tourism case of the stranded $110m (£80m) jet was also raised in the House of BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook
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First Post
16-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How data leak compromised nearly 19,000 Afghans leading to their relocation by the UK
A massive 2022 data breach exposed personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans linked to British forces, prompting a covert UK scheme to relocate thousands under Taliban threat. Hidden behind a superinjunction for nearly two years, the secret evacuation cost billions read more British Forces from 16 Air Assault Brigade arrive in Kabul, Afghanistan, to provide support to British nationals leaving the country, as part of Operation PITTING after Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul, August 15, 2021. File Image/UK Ministry of Defence via Reuters A serious data leak by a British defence official in 2022 triggered one of the most secretive and expensive relocation efforts in recent UK history. The breach exposed the personal information of nearly 19,000 Afghan nationals and their families who had applied for protection under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), a programme created to support those who had worked with British forces during the UK's military presence in Afghanistan. The error ultimately led to the covert resettlement of thousands of Afghans, cost London billions of pounds, and resulted in an unprecedented legal battle to suppress details from the public for nearly two years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The breach, which occurred in February 2022, involved a defence official working outside authorised government systems. The individual mistakenly sent a full list of ARAP applicants to an unintended recipient while attempting to contact just 150 people. That list, which included names, phone numbers, addresses, and even some UK government email contacts, ultimately reached individuals in Afghanistan. One recipient later threatened in a Facebook group to post the entire database online. It was only in August 2023 that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) became aware of the leak's scale, after part of the data surfaced on Facebook. The breach raised alarm in Whitehall, given the real possibility that the Taliban — who had returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 — could gain access to the list and target those named on it for reprisals. How did the UK govt respond? The severity of the incident prompted then-UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to seek extraordinary legal protections. On September 1, 2023, the High Court granted what is believed to be the first superinjunction ever requested by a UK government. The order prohibited not only the reporting of the data breach but also any mention of the injunction's existence. It was issued 'against the world,' meaning it applied to all individuals, not just specific parties. This move was criticised by several media organisations, but the courts repeatedly upheld the injunction. One High Court judge, while extending the order in February 2024, acknowledged the lack of parliamentary or media scrutiny but accepted the government's argument that disclosure could endanger lives if the Taliban learned of the list. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wallace later defended the government's handling of the situation. Writing in The Telegraph, he stated, 'Some may disagree but imagine if the Taliban had been alerted to the existence of this list. I would dread to think what would have happened.' He insisted that the decision to suppress the story was not a cover-up but an effort to prioritise the safety of those exposed. What is Operation Rubific? Immediately after learning of the leak's extent in August 2023, the MoD launched an urgent internal investigation and began tracing the spread of the data. At the same time, UK officials contacted around 1,800 ARAP applicants who were in Pakistan at the time, warning them of the potential threat to their safety. Facebook was also contacted and asked to remove the relevant post due to the 'risk of physical harm' to those named. In response to the escalating threat, the UK quietly initiated Operation Rubific, a classified effort aimed at extracting Afghans judged to be at highest risk. In December 2023, this was formalised into a secret scheme known as the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR). It was designed specifically to assist individuals affected by the breach who were not eligible under ARAP but whose exposure made them vulnerable to Taliban retaliation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the ARR initially aimed to help approximately 200 principal applicants and their families, the numbers quickly grew. By July 2024, the scheme had relocated 900 individuals and 3,600 family members. An additional 600 people who had been issued relocation invitations would also be accommodated, UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed in Parliament. What did it cost? Including those relocated through the ARR and other existing schemes, the number of Afghans brought to the UK due to the breach reached more than 16,000 by mid-2025. Overall, the government has resettled more than 56,000 people across various Afghan evacuation and relocation programmes since 2021. The financial implications were equally significant. The ARR alone is projected to cost £850 million, while the broader cost of relocation efforts across all schemes — including existing ARAP applicants — has been estimated between £5.5 billion and £6 billion. According to an unnamed official cited in early reports, the data breach itself may have cost around £2 billion. Healey, speaking in Parliament confirmed that the official responsible for the data leak was 'no longer doing the same job.' He offered a 'sincere apology on behalf of the British government,' a sentiment echoed by other political leaders including Conservative ministers Kemi Badenoch and James Cartlidge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Were the Afghans at risk from Taliban? In January, the UK Ministry of Defence commissioned Paul Rimmer, a former senior civil servant, to conduct an independent review of the situation. The assessment concluded that while killings and detentions still occur in Afghanistan, there was no clear evidence that the Taliban had obtained the dataset. The report found 'little evidence of intent by the Taliban to conduct a campaign of retribution' based on the breach and noted that the leaked data 'may not have spread nearly as widely as initially feared.' It also questioned the proportionality of the continued ARR scheme, suggesting that the threat may no longer justify its operation. 'The ARR scheme may now be disproportionate to the actual impact of the data loss,' the report noted. Based on these findings, the MoD petitioned the High Court to lift the superinjunction on Tuesday. The ARR scheme was officially closed shortly thereafter. However, the 600 relocation offers previously extended to individuals and their families will still be honoured. Healey reiterated in Parliament, 'When this nation makes a promise, we should keep it.' Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Saudi Gazette
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Kremlin now allows foreigners to serve in Russian army
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Monday allowing foreigners to serve in the Russian army not only during a state of emergency or martial law, but also during the period of mobilization. In an effort to expand Moscow's military recruitment efforts, the Kremlin will also now allow qualified specialists who have reached the age limit to sign contracts with Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Federal Security Service (FSB), or other state security agencies. Until Monday, foreigners were allowed to serve in the Russian army only during states of emergency or under martial law, which Moscow has not declared despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago. Putin's partial mobilisation decree from September 2022, which triggered the exodus of over 261,000 Russians, remains in force. As Moscow has recently intensified its summer offensive against Ukraine, allowing foreigners to serve in the army would strengthen the recruitment process in Russia while avoiding formal conscription. At the end of March, the Kremlin announced its traditional spring conscription of 160,000 men — the largest call-up in 14 years. In April the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has recruited more than 1,500 foreign nationals to fight against Ukraine between April 2023 and May 2024. According to the British intelligence update, the majority of foreign recruits came from South and East Asia, accounting for 771 individuals. They were followed by citizens from former Soviet republics (523) and African countries (72). The UK Ministry of Defence suggested that the main factors motivating foreigners to sign military contracts are financial incentives and the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship. 'Many foreign citizens are almost certainly recruited specifically through Moscow due to higher signing bonuses and the city's relative international accessibility,' it said. The intelligence update in April further indicated that Moscow was likely to continue enlisting foreign citizens over the medium term. This strategy is intended to offset battlefield losses without triggering a second wave of mobilisation. According to the latest update from Ukraine's General Staff, Russia has lost 1,028,610 troops in Ukraine — either killed or wounded — since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Kyiv's daily updates indicate an average daily rate of around 1,000 casualties among Russian troops. UK Defence Ministry analysts noted that while foreign recruitment by Moscow will persist, it is unlikely to significantly alter the composition of Russia's military forces, given the scale of domestic enlistment efforts. — Euronews
Euronews
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Russia expands recruitment, allowing foreigners to serve in army
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Monday allowing foreigners to serve in the Russian army not only during a state of emergency or martial law, but also during the period of mobilisation. In an effort to expand Moscow's military recruitment efforts, the Kremlin will also now allow qualified specialists who have reached the age limit to sign contracts with Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Federal Security Service (FSB), or other state security agencies. Until Monday, foreigners were allowed to serve in the Russian army only during states of emergency or under martial law, which Moscow has not declared despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago. Putin's partial mobilisation decree from September 2022, which triggered the exodus of over 261,000 Russians, remains in force. As Moscow has recently intensified its summer offensive against Ukraine, allowing foreigners to serve in the army would strengthen the recruitment process in Russia while avoiding formal conscription. At the end of March, the Kremlin announced its traditional spring conscription of 160,000 men — the largest call-up in 14 years. Foreigners in Russian army In April the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has recruited more than 1,500 foreign nationals to fight against Ukraine between April 2023 and May 2024. According to the British intelligence update, the majority of foreign recruits came from South and East Asia, accounting for 771 individuals. They were followed by citizens from former Soviet republics (523) and African countries (72). The UK Ministry of Defence suggested that the main factors motivating foreigners to sign military contracts are financial incentives and the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship. 'Many foreign citizens are almost certainly recruited specifically through Moscow due to higher signing bonuses and the city's relative international accessibility,' it said. The intelligence update in April further indicated that Moscow was likely to continue enlisting foreign citizens over the medium term. This strategy is intended to offset battlefield losses without triggering a second wave of mobilisation. According to the latest update from Ukraine's General Staff, Russia has lost 1,028,610 troops in Ukraine — either killed or wounded — since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Kyiv's daily updates indicate an average daily rate of around 1,000 casualties among Russian troops. UK Defence Ministry analysts noted that while foreign recruitment by Moscow will persist, it is unlikely to significantly alter the composition of Russia's military forces, given the scale of domestic enlistment efforts.
Business Insider
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Western trainers use amputee actors to prep Ukrainian recruits for the 'shock' of blown-off limbs and other war wounds
To prepare Ukrainian soldiers who come through the UK for training for the horrors of war with Russia, trainers have been employing amputees as wounded soldiers to make it feel real and introduce a bit of "shock." Col. Boardman, the commanding officer of the UK-led training program Operation Interflex, told Business Insider that the training for Ukrainian recruits includes a first aid course using actors. "Quite a lot of them are amputees," he said. "That adds a real sense of realism to the exercises: When you come across the casualty and it's someone with a leg missing at the knee and lots of theater makeup all over them." "And the idea is to bring a bit of shock and a little bit of reality to really get the recruit into the moment to make them really think it's a genuine casualty they're having to deal with." "Actually putting a tourniquet on a stump is different to putting a tourniquet on a healthy leg," he said. For the training, fake blood and burn makeup create the perception of a severe war injury. The UK and partner nations have trained more than 56,000 Ukrainians to fight against Russia's invasion as part of Operation Interflex. Ukrainians have come to the UK to learn from the militaries of the UK and 13 other allied nations, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, and Lithuania. The training is provided to new recruits, as well as ones with combat experience. A dangerous, brutal war Drones that scream as they dive into vehicles and dismounted troops and explode, close-quarters combat in trenches, artillery raining down along the front, the war in Ukraine has been a grinding, horrific fight with tremendous losses. The UK Ministry of Defence said last month that Russia is estimated to have suffered around 1 million combat losses in Ukraine. Ukraine and its partners do not share figures for Ukrainian losses, but a recent study put its casualties at almost 400,000. Between combatants, the total war dead is in the hundreds of thousands. This war has been catastrophic. Warnings from Western generals in recent years have come true in Ukraine. They had warned that soldiers in modern warfare may no longer have the lifesaving " golden hour," the first 60 minutes after getting injured, the window when higher-level care and treatment can drastically increase chances of survival. Soldiers and combat medics in Ukraine previously told BI that the ability to receive trauma care during the so-called "golden hour" that Western militaries enjoyed in conflicts in recent decades simply doesn't exist in this war. Control of the air in Iraq and Afghanistan, for instance, meant warfighters could be medevaced to field hospitals and other facilities rather than, as it is in Ukraine, leaving troops dependent solely on first aid in the field, with proper care hours or even days away. An American veteran of the conflicts in the Middle East who also served in Ukraine said injuries that could be easily treated if soldiers could get proper medical care quickly often instead result in amputations and deaths. That puts pressure on combat medics, and fellow soldiers, to provide the best possible care they can in the field, making rigorous training crucial. Boardman said instructors try to integrate medical training throughout the training. The Ukrainians consistently say that "they'd like more of it because they're very conscious that it is literally lifesaving treatment." He said combat medicine is taught to Ukrainians from the very beginning, even in the course for new recruits. He explained that "it gives them enormous confidence in the event of themselves becoming a casualty or one of their colleagues." Training Ukraine's soldiers Boardman said that the course is structured around what any military recruit would need to survive and be effective, with some specifics for this war added, like drone warfare basics. "We probably teach them more than we would teach our British Army recruits because our British Army recruits don't go straight to war off the back of their basic training," Boardman said. He explained that "we're trying to make the soldiers not only able to survive in the environment but also be as lethal, as effective, as they can be." Much of the course is driven by what the Ukrainian soldiers say they need. For the Western trainers, the war that Ukraine is facing is unlike their own experiences. Ukraine is facing a major land war featuring trench warfare and artillery battles reminiscent of the World Wars mixed together with drone warfare unlike anything the world has seen before. The Ukrainians are battling a much larger adversary with key advantages in manpower, equipment, and industry. Boardman said that the dynamic is something instructors are aware of and act accordingly. He shared that Ukrainian commanders and sergeants often come from front-line units and "know very well how to clear a trench because they were doing it a few weeks ago. " Sometimes, the Ukrainians will push back on certain theories of war, noting that they didn't work when employed in combat. He said that the militaries doing the training hold institutional credibility from decades of experience, so "whatever the potential skepticism of experienced Ukrainian soldiers on arrival here, their chain of command, their senior headquarters have decided that it's worth their while to come here and be trained." But that doesn't mean it's rigid. The training is flexible and subject to changes based on feedback received even from the lower-ranking Ukrainian soldiers. "That wouldn't need to come as a letter from Kyiv to tell us to change that" Boardman shared. He said there is a "really rich mutual understanding going on" where the UK and partner countries carefully listen to the Ukrainians' experiences and share NATO doctrine in return, and "it ends up with the sum being much greater than the parts, which is really valuable for us." Boardman said the UK is approaching training "with a humility" and that the trainers are "learning a lot from the Ukrainians." Western nations, especially those in Europe, are increasingly concerned about the Russian threat, and their militaries are rapidly absorbing lessons from the war. "We are also feeding all that knowledge into the British Army," the colonel said.
