September 9, 2020

French pensioners left 'homeless' by squatters who changed locks to Riviera villa

https://www.yahoo.com/news/french-pensioners-left-homeless-squatters-132657312.html

The case of a retired French couple who sold their house to settle into a Riviera villa only to find that it was occupied by a family, leaving them “homeless”, has triggered public outrage and calls to change the country’s squatting laws.

Henri and Marie-Thérèse Kaloustian, both 75, were looking forward to a peaceful retirement by the sea after selling their home in Lyon, southeastern France.

Their intention was to decamp to the holiday home, a pink villa they have owned for the past 36 years in the picturesque village of Théooule-sur-Mer.

But when they arrived late August, they were shocked to discover that an unknown couple with two small children had “moved in” and refused to budge.

(Excerpt)

September 3, 2020

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov rusted beyond repair

https://www.uawire.org/russian-aircraft-carrier-admiral-kuznetsov-rusted-beyond-repair



Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which is currently the only Russian aircraft carrier in service, contrary to the intended repair, "broke" even more in a year. Judging by satellite images published by the Chinese publication Sohu, there has been no repairs done on the warship yet. However, in one a year, its deck has rusted significantly so that it became noticeable even from outer space.

Satellite images show that there is no real progress in repairing the admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, but part of the deck closer to the stern has rusted significantly in less than a year.

"We were surprised to see how quickly the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov rusted. This repair of the Russian ship seems to have ended with a serious corrosion of the upper deck. If this continues, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov may very soon just disappear," Sohu reports, noting that now it is easier to write off the aircraft carrier than to continue its repair.

Earlier, the Russian news agency TASS reported, that Zvezdochka shipyard, where the ship is being repaired, opened a tender for the painting of the aircraft carrier’s external surface which is expected to be completed by September 1, 2022. More than 250 million rubles ($3.4 million) will be allocated for this work. The bidding closed on May 20. According to the shipyard’s press service, the ship is expected to re-join the Russian Navy in 2022.

(excerpt)

September 3, 2020

The UK Invented The First Tanks. Now It May Retire Them For Good.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/09/01/the-uk-invented-the-first-tanks-now-it-may-retire-them-for-good/#6e228ef23633

Over a century ago, as trench warfare imposed a seemingly perpetual blood-soaked stalemate in World War I, a commission in the United Kingdom made military history. It adapted technology from ‘Creeping Grip” treaded tractors imported from Chicago into armored war machines that could negotiate mud-soaked battlefields and trenches, seemingly impervious to bullets and shrapnel, and blast enemies with their own sponson-mounted cannons and machine guns.

These breakdown-prone, rhombus-shaped “land ships” are considered to be the world’s first tanks.

Today, the UK may make history again as an integrated review of defense and foreign policy mulls retiring the British Army’s fleet of Challenger 2 main battle tanks in favor of more funding for satellites and cyber-warfare. That could make the UK potentially the first major military power to give up on the main battle tank entirely.

The fate of the British Army’s armored fighting vehicles is linked to fundamental questions as to what role the UK should play in NATO and future military coalitions.

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September 2, 2020

First Richmond gun show since new gun control laws took effect sees 'record demand'

https://www.wric.com/business/first-gun-show-in-richmond-since-new-gun-control-laws/

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Thousands turned out this weekend for the first gun show in Richmond since a new universal background checks laws took effect earlier this summer. It was also the first event of its kind since the coronavirus pandemic began back in March, according to the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

Some have speculated that anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, months of civil unrest and a slew of new gun control laws in Virginia are contributing to above average sales for the gun industry. According to data collected by Virginia State Police, 64,350 background checks were requested by federally licensed gun dealers in July 2020. That’s more than double the amount requested in July 2019.

The increase follows a record-setting month for estimated sales. June 2020 saw the highest total since VSP started recording this data in 1990 with 81,204 transactions. Before the event started Saturday, the Showmaster’s website advised customers to come later in the day to avoid wait times and accommodate occupancy limits amid the pandemic.

Showmasters President Annette Elliott said it has been difficult to keep up with high demand and slowed production. “The dealers are running out of guns. They’re running out of ammo. Even the manufacturers are backed up,” Elliott said.

Firearms Vendor Higinio Jimenez said he sold out before the first day of the show wrapped up. “That’s way above average,” Jimenez said Asked why he thinks sales are up, Jimenez said, “Easy answer–just turn on your TV. Just look around and see what’s going on.”

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