This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

The Northern Territory provides a “huge amount of airspace” to boost capabilities from dog fighting to using radar and missile systems to engage adversaries beyond visual range, he added.

Four Philippine FA-50 fighter jets and 162 personnel are taking part in the Pitch Black war games over Australia’s largely unpopulated Northern Territory, involving 20 countries and 140 aircraft.

A no-confidence vote triggered in part by refusals to release costs associated with the F-35 program led to the minority Harper government’s collapse 11 years ago this week, sending Canadians to polls and returning the Conservatives to power with a majority government.

“A new fleet of state-of-the-art fighter jets is essential for Canada’s security, sovereignty and ability to defend itself,” she said.

According to a foreign media report, China will deliver a total of 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan, significantly increasing the country’s military capability to defend airspace.

Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the induction ceremony of the single-engine fighter jet at the invitation of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, along with other federal ministers and the Chinese ambassador.

This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

Title:

Content: Philippines air force joins multi-nation war games in Australia

July 11, 2024 - 10:09 AM
161

 The Philippines Air Force arrived in northern Australia on Wednesday on its first overseas deployment in six decades for combat practice alongside U.S. and Australian fighter jets, amid a rise in tensions with China in the South China Sea.

Four Philippine FA-50 fighter jets and 162 personnel are taking part in the Pitch Black war games over Australia’s largely unpopulated Northern Territory, involving 20 countries and 140 aircraft.

“This is the first time they have taken their combat aircraft abroad since 1963 so it is a huge honor for Australia to be chosen as the first location for the deployment,” Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Air Commodore Pete Robinson told Reuters.

The Northern Territory provides a “huge amount of airspace” to boost capabilities from dog fighting to using radar and missile systems to engage adversaries beyond visual range, he added.

The Philippines fighter jets would work with other air forces “to solve some complex problems against a simulated adversary and ground threats”, he said. The U.S. F-22 stealth fighter and Australia’s F-35A and F-18 are among the combat aircraft taking part.

“Bringing that package together will provide an impressive outcome that is stronger than its parts,” Robinson said.

“It’s all about enhancing our operational readiness and capabilities,” Philippines Air Force Colonel Randy Pascua said in Darwin.

China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the disputed South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to shoals in waters that Manila says are well within its exclusive economic zone.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said although the Philippines has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, it would look to its own air force and navy as the first line of defense.

“Within the context of the South China Sea and the Philippines feeling an external sense of threat very strongly now from China, Manila has been trying to improve its own defense capability,” Graham said.

“The big change is they lost a lot of their capability and now they are regaining it,” he added.

The Philippines is seeking to modernize its military’s outdated hardware. Philippine Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner said last week the Philippines wants to buy longer-range, multi-role fighters although it has not made a decision on which aircraft it will buy for its modernization program.

Recent deals with Australia and Japan to allow militaries to visit and move through each other’s territory show the Philippines is seeking more regional defense relationships, said Graham.

In April, Australia, Japan, the United States and the Philippines held a navy cooperation exercise in the South China Sea.

“Building interoperability with our regional partners… allows us to maximize the strengths of each of the respective air forces, to bring together a group that has a shared value for sustaining peace and stability across the region,” said Air Commodore Robinson.

“To make sure if the worst happens, we are ready to respond.”

— Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Darwin; additional reporting by Mikhail Flores in Manila; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Title:

Content: Advertisement 1

Seven years after vowing not to purchase F-35 jets, the Liberals are now buying them

'The Conservative government never actually justified or explained why they felt Canada needed a fifth-generation fighter,' Trudeau said in 2015. 'They just talked ... like it was obvious'

Article content

Seven years after vowing never to replace Canada’s aging fighter jet fleet with F-35s, the Trudeau Liberals are now planning to purchase 88 of them.

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Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the news early Monday afternoon, confirming the government’s intentions to sign final purchase contracts with manufacturer Lockheed-Martin later this year.

“A new fleet of state-of-the-art fighter jets is essential for Canada’s security, sovereignty and ability to defend itself,” she said.

Canada’s road to replacing its fighter jets has been a 25-year odyssey, fraught with political machinations. In 1997, Jean Chrétien first signed onto the Joint Strike Fighter program.

In 2010, then-defence minister Peter MacKay announced Canada was entering into an untendered agreement to purchase 65 F-35s, with delivery expected in 2016 and at a cost of $9-billion.

A no-confidence vote triggered in part by refusals to release costs associated with the F-35 program led to the minority Harper government’s collapse 11 years ago this week, sending Canadians to polls and returning the Conservatives to power with a majority government.

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More On This Topic

  1. Competition for Canada's new fighter jets down to two after Boeing ejected

  2. Amid concerns process favours F-35s, Ottawa requests bids for new fighter jets

In 2015, opposition leader Justin Trudeau made the issue into a prominent plank in the Liberals’ election platform. “We will not buy the F-35 fighter jet,” he said, adding that if elected there would be a cheaper alternative.

“The Conservative government never actually justified or explained why they felt Canada needed a fifth-generation fighter,” Trudeau said in 2015. “They just talked about it like it was obvious. It was obvious, as we saw through the entire process, that they were particularly, and some might say unreasonably or unhealthily, attached to the F-35 aircraft.”

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While the fighter replacement program stretches back across decades and several governments, Gen. Tom Lawson, retired Canadian Chief of Defence Staff and former RCAF aviator, credits concerns over Canada’s sovereignty in light of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine with putting defence spending front-and-centre in the government’s priorities.

“It was Winston Churchill who said never to waste a good crisis,” Lawson said.

“That brings about ideal conditions for an announcement that might otherwise have been slightly embarrassing for the Liberals.”

On Monday, citing the precarious nature of current world affairs, Anand said it was important to ensure Canada’s military had the equipment it needed to maintain domestic security.

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Story continues below

Article content

The F-35, she said, had proven itself to be both a mature and interoperable aircraft.

“This new fleet will ensure our continued ability to protect every inch of Canadian airspace, to meet our commitments to NORAD and NATO, and deal with unforeseen threats.”

Monday’s announcement came after officials with national defence, procurement and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) unanimously recommended proceeding with finalizing the contract with Lockheed-Martin, said Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi.

Contracts were awarded two years ago to outfit 3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake with infrastructure needed to support the F-35.

Late last year, the government pared down the list of fighter jet contenders to the F-35 and Saab’s Gripen line of multi-role fighters after excluding a bid from Boeing, whose predecessor McDonnell Douglas manufactured Canada’s current fleet of CF-18 Hornets.

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While final costing has yet to be determined, the deal’s expected to be worth about $19-billion.

Final contracts should be signed later this year, Tassi said, with delivery expected by 2025.

A product of research by Lockheed’s famed Skunk Works — the company’s legendary advanced development unit responsible for the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird and F-117 Nighthawk — the F-35 is already in active service by a number of air forces, including the United States, Israel, Japan, the UK and Australia.

The F-35 comes in three variants — the standard A-model Canada has its eye on, the short-takeoff/vertical-landing capable F-35B, and the tailhook-equipped F-35C designed for use on aircraft carriers.

Lorraine Ben, Lockheed-Martin Canada chief executive, said the company looked forward to continuing its relationship with CAF.

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Article content

“As a cornerstone for interoperability with NORAD and NATO, the F-35 will strengthen Canada’s operational capability with our allies,” she said in a statement sent to the National Post.

“The F-35 gives pilots the critical advantage against any adversary, enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.”

The F-35 will be Canada’s first Lockheed-built jet since the CF-104 Starfighter was retired from service in 1986.

Other Lockheed-Martin aircraft in CAF inventory include the C-130 Hercules/C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and CP-140 Aurora marine patrol plane.

Lawson said the decision was a good one for Canada’s armed forces.

“When (in 2010) the Conservative government made the very decision that we’re seeing the Liberal government make 12 years later, it was pure joy,” said Lawson, who was the air force’s deputy commander at the time.

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Story continues below

Article content

“Today it brings some joy, but mostly relief.”

Lawson, who also served as deputy commander of NORAD, said a fleet of Canadian F-35s was the ideal platform to continue Canada’s mission of protecting the north.

“The F-35 purchase just plain simplifies NORAD operations,” he said.

Erika Simpson, international politics professor at Western University in London, Ont., disagreed with that sentiment.

“Faced with the choice of what equipment to buy, I think the Liberals are printing money to buy more defence equipment that future generations will have to pay for,” she said, adding she believed Canada should instead return to examining unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to patrol the arctic.

Germany’s decision earlier this month to buy F-35s to replace its aging Panavia Tornados could also have played a role in Canada’s decision to buy the jets, she said.

Canada, she said, was spending far too much money on an aircraft unsuited for our needs, and said this could mark the beginning of a defence spending spree by the Trudeau Liberals

“But that’s maybe not the way go, too,” Simpson said.

• Email: bpassifiume@postmedia.com | Twitter:

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PAF formally inducts Rafale rival China-made J-10C fighter jets

Web Desk BOL News

11th Mar, 2022. 02:25 pm
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KAMRA: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) formally inducted a modern Chinese-made J-10C multi-role combat aircraft also known as “vigorous dragon” during a ceremony held at Kamra Airbase on Friday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the induction ceremony of the single-engine fighter jet at the invitation of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, along with other federal ministers and the Chinese ambassador.

During the ceremony, The Prime Minister has witnessed a thrilling flypast of various aircraft formations, including the newly inducted J10C, F-16s, JF-17s, and Mirages, which displayed a sophisticated array of avionics and weaponry.

Read more: PAF’s acquisition of J10-C

Following the flypast, the Prime Minister witnessed the landing of five J-10C aircraft, which have been inducted into the 15 Squadron.

The J-10C is larger and can be outfitted with a bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar than the JF-17 Block 3 uses.

The aircraft can carry fourth-generation air-to-air missiles such as the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15.

According to a foreign media report, China will deliver a total of 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan, significantly increasing the country’s military capability to defend airspace.

Read more: J-10C induction ceremony: Pakistan knows how to protect its boundaries, says Imran

After being tested in Chengdu, the first batch of combat aircraft arrived in Pakistan a few days ago.

Images of a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) J-10C fighter jet with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) markings recently surfaced on social media and were widely circulated by media outlets.

Chinese analysts have praised the latest defence cooperation between China and Pakistan, saying that the move is significant for both countries because it strengthens the Pakistani military’s combat capabilities, promotes China’s aviation equipment, and serves regional security interests.

“The J-10C will significantly improve the Pakistan Air Force’s combat capabilities,” Chinese analysts predicted.

“The J-10C is a 4.5-generation medium-sized fighter jet that is more powerful than the China-Pakistan jointly developed lightweight fighter jet, the JF-17, which is currently in service with the Pakistan Air Force,” Shi Hong, Executive Chief Editor of Shipborne Weapons, told the Global Times.

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Which countries' airforces are the purchasers of China's J-10 FIghter?

Which countries' airforces are the purchasers of China's J-10 FIghter?


This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

The Northern Territory provides a “huge amount of airspace” to boost capabilities from dog fighting to using radar and missile systems to engage adversaries beyond visual range, he added.

Four Philippine FA-50 fighter jets and 162 personnel are taking part in the Pitch Black war games over Australia’s largely unpopulated Northern Territory, involving 20 countries and 140 aircraft.

A no-confidence vote triggered in part by refusals to release costs associated with the F-35 program led to the minority Harper government’s collapse 11 years ago this week, sending Canadians to polls and returning the Conservatives to power with a majority government.

“A new fleet of state-of-the-art fighter jets is essential for Canada’s security, sovereignty and ability to defend itself,” she said.

According to a foreign media report, China will deliver a total of 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan, significantly increasing the country’s military capability to defend airspace.

Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the induction ceremony of the single-engine fighter jet at the invitation of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, along with other federal ministers and the Chinese ambassador.

This report addresses: China's J-10 fighter jets

Title:

Content: Philippines air force joins multi-nation war games in Australia

July 11, 2024 - 10:09 AM
161

 The Philippines Air Force arrived in northern Australia on Wednesday on its first overseas deployment in six decades for combat practice alongside U.S. and Australian fighter jets, amid a rise in tensions with China in the South China Sea.

Four Philippine FA-50 fighter jets and 162 personnel are taking part in the Pitch Black war games over Australia’s largely unpopulated Northern Territory, involving 20 countries and 140 aircraft.

“This is the first time they have taken their combat aircraft abroad since 1963 so it is a huge honor for Australia to be chosen as the first location for the deployment,” Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Air Commodore Pete Robinson told Reuters.

The Northern Territory provides a “huge amount of airspace” to boost capabilities from dog fighting to using radar and missile systems to engage adversaries beyond visual range, he added.

The Philippines fighter jets would work with other air forces “to solve some complex problems against a simulated adversary and ground threats”, he said. The U.S. F-22 stealth fighter and Australia’s F-35A and F-18 are among the combat aircraft taking part.

“Bringing that package together will provide an impressive outcome that is stronger than its parts,” Robinson said.

“It’s all about enhancing our operational readiness and capabilities,” Philippines Air Force Colonel Randy Pascua said in Darwin.

China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the disputed South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to shoals in waters that Manila says are well within its exclusive economic zone.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said although the Philippines has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, it would look to its own air force and navy as the first line of defense.

“Within the context of the South China Sea and the Philippines feeling an external sense of threat very strongly now from China, Manila has been trying to improve its own defense capability,” Graham said.

“The big change is they lost a lot of their capability and now they are regaining it,” he added.

The Philippines is seeking to modernize its military’s outdated hardware. Philippine Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner said last week the Philippines wants to buy longer-range, multi-role fighters although it has not made a decision on which aircraft it will buy for its modernization program.

Recent deals with Australia and Japan to allow militaries to visit and move through each other’s territory show the Philippines is seeking more regional defense relationships, said Graham.

In April, Australia, Japan, the United States and the Philippines held a navy cooperation exercise in the South China Sea.

“Building interoperability with our regional partners… allows us to maximize the strengths of each of the respective air forces, to bring together a group that has a shared value for sustaining peace and stability across the region,” said Air Commodore Robinson.

“To make sure if the worst happens, we are ready to respond.”

— Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Darwin; additional reporting by Mikhail Flores in Manila; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Title:

Content: Advertisement 1

Seven years after vowing not to purchase F-35 jets, the Liberals are now buying them

'The Conservative government never actually justified or explained why they felt Canada needed a fifth-generation fighter,' Trudeau said in 2015. 'They just talked ... like it was obvious'

Article content

Seven years after vowing never to replace Canada’s aging fighter jet fleet with F-35s, the Trudeau Liberals are now planning to purchase 88 of them.

Advertisement 2

Story continues below

Article content

Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the news early Monday afternoon, confirming the government’s intentions to sign final purchase contracts with manufacturer Lockheed-Martin later this year.

“A new fleet of state-of-the-art fighter jets is essential for Canada’s security, sovereignty and ability to defend itself,” she said.

Canada’s road to replacing its fighter jets has been a 25-year odyssey, fraught with political machinations. In 1997, Jean Chrétien first signed onto the Joint Strike Fighter program.

In 2010, then-defence minister Peter MacKay announced Canada was entering into an untendered agreement to purchase 65 F-35s, with delivery expected in 2016 and at a cost of $9-billion.

A no-confidence vote triggered in part by refusals to release costs associated with the F-35 program led to the minority Harper government’s collapse 11 years ago this week, sending Canadians to polls and returning the Conservatives to power with a majority government.

Advertisement 3

Story continues below

Article content

More On This Topic

  1. Competition for Canada's new fighter jets down to two after Boeing ejected

  2. Amid concerns process favours F-35s, Ottawa requests bids for new fighter jets

In 2015, opposition leader Justin Trudeau made the issue into a prominent plank in the Liberals’ election platform. “We will not buy the F-35 fighter jet,” he said, adding that if elected there would be a cheaper alternative.

“The Conservative government never actually justified or explained why they felt Canada needed a fifth-generation fighter,” Trudeau said in 2015. “They just talked about it like it was obvious. It was obvious, as we saw through the entire process, that they were particularly, and some might say unreasonably or unhealthily, attached to the F-35 aircraft.”

Advertisement 4

Story continues below

Article content

While the fighter replacement program stretches back across decades and several governments, Gen. Tom Lawson, retired Canadian Chief of Defence Staff and former RCAF aviator, credits concerns over Canada’s sovereignty in light of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine with putting defence spending front-and-centre in the government’s priorities.

“It was Winston Churchill who said never to waste a good crisis,” Lawson said.

“That brings about ideal conditions for an announcement that might otherwise have been slightly embarrassing for the Liberals.”

On Monday, citing the precarious nature of current world affairs, Anand said it was important to ensure Canada’s military had the equipment it needed to maintain domestic security.

Advertisement 5

Story continues below

Article content

The F-35, she said, had proven itself to be both a mature and interoperable aircraft.

“This new fleet will ensure our continued ability to protect every inch of Canadian airspace, to meet our commitments to NORAD and NATO, and deal with unforeseen threats.”

Monday’s announcement came after officials with national defence, procurement and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) unanimously recommended proceeding with finalizing the contract with Lockheed-Martin, said Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi.

Contracts were awarded two years ago to outfit 3 Wing Bagotville and 4 Wing Cold Lake with infrastructure needed to support the F-35.

Late last year, the government pared down the list of fighter jet contenders to the F-35 and Saab’s Gripen line of multi-role fighters after excluding a bid from Boeing, whose predecessor McDonnell Douglas manufactured Canada’s current fleet of CF-18 Hornets.

Advertisement 6

Story continues below

Article content

While final costing has yet to be determined, the deal’s expected to be worth about $19-billion.

Final contracts should be signed later this year, Tassi said, with delivery expected by 2025.

A product of research by Lockheed’s famed Skunk Works — the company’s legendary advanced development unit responsible for the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird and F-117 Nighthawk — the F-35 is already in active service by a number of air forces, including the United States, Israel, Japan, the UK and Australia.

The F-35 comes in three variants — the standard A-model Canada has its eye on, the short-takeoff/vertical-landing capable F-35B, and the tailhook-equipped F-35C designed for use on aircraft carriers.

Lorraine Ben, Lockheed-Martin Canada chief executive, said the company looked forward to continuing its relationship with CAF.

Advertisement 7

Story continues below

Article content

“As a cornerstone for interoperability with NORAD and NATO, the F-35 will strengthen Canada’s operational capability with our allies,” she said in a statement sent to the National Post.

“The F-35 gives pilots the critical advantage against any adversary, enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.”

The F-35 will be Canada’s first Lockheed-built jet since the CF-104 Starfighter was retired from service in 1986.

Other Lockheed-Martin aircraft in CAF inventory include the C-130 Hercules/C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and CP-140 Aurora marine patrol plane.

Lawson said the decision was a good one for Canada’s armed forces.

“When (in 2010) the Conservative government made the very decision that we’re seeing the Liberal government make 12 years later, it was pure joy,” said Lawson, who was the air force’s deputy commander at the time.

Advertisement 8

Story continues below

Article content

“Today it brings some joy, but mostly relief.”

Lawson, who also served as deputy commander of NORAD, said a fleet of Canadian F-35s was the ideal platform to continue Canada’s mission of protecting the north.

“The F-35 purchase just plain simplifies NORAD operations,” he said.

Erika Simpson, international politics professor at Western University in London, Ont., disagreed with that sentiment.

“Faced with the choice of what equipment to buy, I think the Liberals are printing money to buy more defence equipment that future generations will have to pay for,” she said, adding she believed Canada should instead return to examining unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to patrol the arctic.

Germany’s decision earlier this month to buy F-35s to replace its aging Panavia Tornados could also have played a role in Canada’s decision to buy the jets, she said.

Canada, she said, was spending far too much money on an aircraft unsuited for our needs, and said this could mark the beginning of a defence spending spree by the Trudeau Liberals

“But that’s maybe not the way go, too,” Simpson said.

• Email: bpassifiume@postmedia.com | Twitter:

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PAF formally inducts Rafale rival China-made J-10C fighter jets

Web Desk BOL News

11th Mar, 2022. 02:25 pm
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KAMRA: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) formally inducted a modern Chinese-made J-10C multi-role combat aircraft also known as “vigorous dragon” during a ceremony held at Kamra Airbase on Friday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the induction ceremony of the single-engine fighter jet at the invitation of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, along with other federal ministers and the Chinese ambassador.

During the ceremony, The Prime Minister has witnessed a thrilling flypast of various aircraft formations, including the newly inducted J10C, F-16s, JF-17s, and Mirages, which displayed a sophisticated array of avionics and weaponry.

Read more: PAF’s acquisition of J10-C

Following the flypast, the Prime Minister witnessed the landing of five J-10C aircraft, which have been inducted into the 15 Squadron.

The J-10C is larger and can be outfitted with a bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar than the JF-17 Block 3 uses.

The aircraft can carry fourth-generation air-to-air missiles such as the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15.

According to a foreign media report, China will deliver a total of 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan, significantly increasing the country’s military capability to defend airspace.

Read more: J-10C induction ceremony: Pakistan knows how to protect its boundaries, says Imran

After being tested in Chengdu, the first batch of combat aircraft arrived in Pakistan a few days ago.

Images of a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) J-10C fighter jet with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) markings recently surfaced on social media and were widely circulated by media outlets.

Chinese analysts have praised the latest defence cooperation between China and Pakistan, saying that the move is significant for both countries because it strengthens the Pakistani military’s combat capabilities, promotes China’s aviation equipment, and serves regional security interests.

“The J-10C will significantly improve the Pakistan Air Force’s combat capabilities,” Chinese analysts predicted.

“The J-10C is a 4.5-generation medium-sized fighter jet that is more powerful than the China-Pakistan jointly developed lightweight fighter jet, the JF-17, which is currently in service with the Pakistan Air Force,” Shi Hong, Executive Chief Editor of Shipborne Weapons, told the Global Times.

Download BOL News App for latest news

Which countries' airforces are the purchasers of China's J-10 FIghter?

Which countries' airforces are the purchasers of China's J-10 FIghter?


This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Millions of tons of dust are transported across the Atlantic every year
  • Nutrient-rich Saharan dust plays a crucial role in the global ecosystem
  • Dust suppresses hurricane development

WHOLE LOTTA DUST!

Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust

Dust from Africa moves across the Atlantic every year from late spring to early fall

It’s a common visitor in the summer months: dust from the Saharan Desert.

Timing of Saharan dust:

Monday - Little changes will be in the forecast as heavier amounts of dust remain over the gulf coast.

The dust is a combination of sand and dust traveling from North Africa across the Atlantic that peaking in late June through mid-August.

Sunrises and sunsets have been enhanced across the Sunshine State as the particles scatter typical colors, allowing hues of orange, yellow and red to dominate the sky.

The Atlantic appears to have now taken the lead, with dust levels not seen in years across parts of the basin.

This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

Title:

Content: Hurricane Killer? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust

Dust from Africa moves across the Atlantic every year from late spring to early fall

It’s a common visitor in the summer months: dust from the Saharan Desert. Hazy skies and occasional allergies are common issues caused by the dust. But did you know that this layer of dust is more interesting than it appears? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Millions of tons of dust are transported across the Atlantic every year
  • Nutrient-rich Saharan dust plays a crucial role in the global ecosystem
  • Dust suppresses hurricane development

WHOLE LOTTA DUST!

Every year, from late spring to early fall, trade winds transport 180 million tons of dust from the Saharan Desert across the Atlantic Ocean. Impressively, that’s as much as 4.5 million 18-wheelers full of dust!

NATURE’S BEST FRIEND

Saharan dust is often rich in nutrients like iron and phosphorus. As the dust settles over the ocean, it fertilizes algae and plankton, allowing them to grow and flourish in an otherwise barren environment. These organisms are vital sources of food for ocean life.

Similarly, as the dust settles over land, areas like the Amazon rainforest benefit from the extra nutrients.

HURRICANE EXTINGUISHER

The African dust that moves across the Atlantic Ocean is also called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). The SAL occurs in waves at the same time as Atlantic hurricane season, from June through November.

It’s known that the SAL limits hurricane development and strength. This is because tropical storms like hurricanes need deep, rich moisture from the surface to the top of the atmosphere to survive. Since the air carrying Saharan dust is usually dry, it can prevent storms from forming and suppress existing storms from growing and strengthening.

DUST’S IMPACT ON TEXAS

While a dense plume of dust sometimes causes minor allergy-like symptoms for some, the most noticeable impact is on Texas skies. A haze often forms on the horizon, giving an ordinarily clear, blue sky a milky hue during the day.

At sunrise and sunset, the horizon can appear brilliantly orange because, with dust in the air, sunlight has more particles to bounce off.

About the Author

Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017. Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News. When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.

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Content: Breaking News
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San Antonians may want to stay indoors next week. Here's why.

A noticeable change in the air will arrive to the Alamo City next week.

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio skies could look quite different next week but not in the way we're hoping for.

As San Antonians eagerly wait for rain to break our triple-digit temperatures another common occurrence will pick-up next week known as Saharan dust.

The dust is a combination of sand and dust traveling from North Africa across the Atlantic that peaking in late June through mid-August.

Light amounts of Saharan dust have arrived to the Alamo City this past week but will become more noticeable. Therefore, if you have asthma, COPD or any other type of respiratory illness you will want to stay indoors as much as possible during this time.

Timing of Saharan dust:

Monday - Little changes will be in the forecast as heavier amounts of dust remain over the gulf coast.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Tuesday - A large moderate level of Saharan dust will move into South Texas and San Antonio by late afternoon. San Antonians may notice hazy skies and trouble breathing if you're more sensitive to dusty air. But the dust doesn't stop here.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Wednesday - By mid-week Saharan dust ramps up continuing to build and push farther north stretching to the Dallas area. The continuing flow of the dust is partly due to a high pressure bringing a southeasterly flow to help pump the dust toward South Texas.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Thursday - As the week progresses dust levels continue to rise and could affect air quality levels. For those with any respiratory illnesses they should avoid outdoor activity including vigorous exercise. Also try to keep windows and doors closed. We will continue to monitor this development next week.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

As dust increases across the area, San Antonians will notice more vibrant sunrises and sunsets. However, during the afternoons the sky appears a more milky white color.

Before You Leave, Check This Out

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

Title:

Content: Saharan dust reaches stunning levels in Atlantic. Here's what that means for hurricane season

Significant Saharan dust plumes are common in the Atlantic during the start of hurricane season. If levels of SAL maintain a steadiness after about Aug. 20, then there would be significant ramifications to both the amount of cyclones and their overall strength.

First, Europe that was socked in by record levels of dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa. The Atlantic appears to have now taken the lead, with dust levels not seen in years across parts of the basin.

Satellite measurements indicate intensive plumes of dust, called the Saharan Air Layer, across much of the eastern Atlantic. Traces of dust have even made the more than 4,000-mile journey to Florida and the Gulf Coast.

Sunrises and sunsets have been enhanced across the Sunshine State as the particles scatter typical colors, allowing hues of orange, yellow and red to dominate the sky.

Aside from the vibrant colors, something not falling from the sky is precipitation.

According to NOAA, the air surrounding the SAL has about 50% less moisture than the typical atmosphere. This means the presence of the SAL can be detrimental to cloud formation and thunderstorm activity.

Significant plumes of dust and dry air are common during the first months of the hurricane season and usually persist through mid-August.

A LOOK AT A PHENOMENON THAT COULD DERAIL AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON

How Saharan dust impacts hurricane season

NOAA estimates that more than 180 million tons of dust leave the African continent every year, reducing thunderstorm activity and tropical cyclone formation.

Dry air and Saharan dust are perennial wild cards in tropical weather outlooks, as meteorology has yet to develop sufficient methods to forecast plumes weeks and months in advance.

Years with significant dust often experience reduced cyclone activity. Seasons with minimal dust typically rank at the top echelons of activity, thanks to increased moisture availability for tropical systems and warmer water temperatures.

The current season is a bit unusual as water temperatures started on the warm side across much of the basin, negating any minor effects from a dust storm.

Warm waters and limited exposure to dry air helped with the formations of AlbertoBeryl and Chris during late June and early July.

Since Beryl’s historic trek through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico, the basin has been relatively quiet, a likely product of the increase in dry air.

The trend for limited activity in the Atlantic basin is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, meaning that the next cyclone formation may be weeks away.

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAHARAN DUST PLUME

During an average year, the fourth-named storm usually doesn’t form until about Aug. 15, meaning any formation during the next month will keep the season ahead of a typical schedule.

Despite the hostile conditions in the Atlantic, hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University maintain that 2024 will be a busy season in the Atlantic.

CSU released its updated outlook Tuesday, which calls for an additional 22 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

"This forecast is of above-normal confidence. We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean," CSU forecasters stated during their most recent tropical update. "As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season."

The season runs through Nov. 30, but nearly 60% of cyclone formation occurs in August and September.

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How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?


This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Millions of tons of dust are transported across the Atlantic every year
  • Nutrient-rich Saharan dust plays a crucial role in the global ecosystem
  • Dust suppresses hurricane development

WHOLE LOTTA DUST!

Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust

Dust from Africa moves across the Atlantic every year from late spring to early fall

It’s a common visitor in the summer months: dust from the Saharan Desert.

Timing of Saharan dust:

Monday - Little changes will be in the forecast as heavier amounts of dust remain over the gulf coast.

The dust is a combination of sand and dust traveling from North Africa across the Atlantic that peaking in late June through mid-August.

Sunrises and sunsets have been enhanced across the Sunshine State as the particles scatter typical colors, allowing hues of orange, yellow and red to dominate the sky.

The Atlantic appears to have now taken the lead, with dust levels not seen in years across parts of the basin.

This report addresses: Saharan Dust Storm Impact

Title:

Content: Hurricane Killer? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust

Dust from Africa moves across the Atlantic every year from late spring to early fall

It’s a common visitor in the summer months: dust from the Saharan Desert. Hazy skies and occasional allergies are common issues caused by the dust. But did you know that this layer of dust is more interesting than it appears? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Millions of tons of dust are transported across the Atlantic every year
  • Nutrient-rich Saharan dust plays a crucial role in the global ecosystem
  • Dust suppresses hurricane development

WHOLE LOTTA DUST!

Every year, from late spring to early fall, trade winds transport 180 million tons of dust from the Saharan Desert across the Atlantic Ocean. Impressively, that’s as much as 4.5 million 18-wheelers full of dust!

NATURE’S BEST FRIEND

Saharan dust is often rich in nutrients like iron and phosphorus. As the dust settles over the ocean, it fertilizes algae and plankton, allowing them to grow and flourish in an otherwise barren environment. These organisms are vital sources of food for ocean life.

Similarly, as the dust settles over land, areas like the Amazon rainforest benefit from the extra nutrients.

HURRICANE EXTINGUISHER

The African dust that moves across the Atlantic Ocean is also called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). The SAL occurs in waves at the same time as Atlantic hurricane season, from June through November.

It’s known that the SAL limits hurricane development and strength. This is because tropical storms like hurricanes need deep, rich moisture from the surface to the top of the atmosphere to survive. Since the air carrying Saharan dust is usually dry, it can prevent storms from forming and suppress existing storms from growing and strengthening.

DUST’S IMPACT ON TEXAS

While a dense plume of dust sometimes causes minor allergy-like symptoms for some, the most noticeable impact is on Texas skies. A haze often forms on the horizon, giving an ordinarily clear, blue sky a milky hue during the day.

At sunrise and sunset, the horizon can appear brilliantly orange because, with dust in the air, sunlight has more particles to bounce off.

About the Author

Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017. Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News. When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.

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Content: Breaking News
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San Antonians may want to stay indoors next week. Here's why.

A noticeable change in the air will arrive to the Alamo City next week.

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio skies could look quite different next week but not in the way we're hoping for.

As San Antonians eagerly wait for rain to break our triple-digit temperatures another common occurrence will pick-up next week known as Saharan dust.

The dust is a combination of sand and dust traveling from North Africa across the Atlantic that peaking in late June through mid-August.

Light amounts of Saharan dust have arrived to the Alamo City this past week but will become more noticeable. Therefore, if you have asthma, COPD or any other type of respiratory illness you will want to stay indoors as much as possible during this time.

Timing of Saharan dust:

Monday - Little changes will be in the forecast as heavier amounts of dust remain over the gulf coast.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Tuesday - A large moderate level of Saharan dust will move into South Texas and San Antonio by late afternoon. San Antonians may notice hazy skies and trouble breathing if you're more sensitive to dusty air. But the dust doesn't stop here.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Wednesday - By mid-week Saharan dust ramps up continuing to build and push farther north stretching to the Dallas area. The continuing flow of the dust is partly due to a high pressure bringing a southeasterly flow to help pump the dust toward South Texas.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Thursday - As the week progresses dust levels continue to rise and could affect air quality levels. For those with any respiratory illnesses they should avoid outdoor activity including vigorous exercise. Also try to keep windows and doors closed. We will continue to monitor this development next week.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

As dust increases across the area, San Antonians will notice more vibrant sunrises and sunsets. However, during the afternoons the sky appears a more milky white color.

Before You Leave, Check This Out

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

Title:

Content: Saharan dust reaches stunning levels in Atlantic. Here's what that means for hurricane season

Significant Saharan dust plumes are common in the Atlantic during the start of hurricane season. If levels of SAL maintain a steadiness after about Aug. 20, then there would be significant ramifications to both the amount of cyclones and their overall strength.

First, Europe that was socked in by record levels of dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa. The Atlantic appears to have now taken the lead, with dust levels not seen in years across parts of the basin.

Satellite measurements indicate intensive plumes of dust, called the Saharan Air Layer, across much of the eastern Atlantic. Traces of dust have even made the more than 4,000-mile journey to Florida and the Gulf Coast.

Sunrises and sunsets have been enhanced across the Sunshine State as the particles scatter typical colors, allowing hues of orange, yellow and red to dominate the sky.

Aside from the vibrant colors, something not falling from the sky is precipitation.

According to NOAA, the air surrounding the SAL has about 50% less moisture than the typical atmosphere. This means the presence of the SAL can be detrimental to cloud formation and thunderstorm activity.

Significant plumes of dust and dry air are common during the first months of the hurricane season and usually persist through mid-August.

A LOOK AT A PHENOMENON THAT COULD DERAIL AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON

How Saharan dust impacts hurricane season

NOAA estimates that more than 180 million tons of dust leave the African continent every year, reducing thunderstorm activity and tropical cyclone formation.

Dry air and Saharan dust are perennial wild cards in tropical weather outlooks, as meteorology has yet to develop sufficient methods to forecast plumes weeks and months in advance.

Years with significant dust often experience reduced cyclone activity. Seasons with minimal dust typically rank at the top echelons of activity, thanks to increased moisture availability for tropical systems and warmer water temperatures.

The current season is a bit unusual as water temperatures started on the warm side across much of the basin, negating any minor effects from a dust storm.

Warm waters and limited exposure to dry air helped with the formations of AlbertoBeryl and Chris during late June and early July.

Since Beryl’s historic trek through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico, the basin has been relatively quiet, a likely product of the increase in dry air.

The trend for limited activity in the Atlantic basin is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, meaning that the next cyclone formation may be weeks away.

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAHARAN DUST PLUME

During an average year, the fourth-named storm usually doesn’t form until about Aug. 15, meaning any formation during the next month will keep the season ahead of a typical schedule.

Despite the hostile conditions in the Atlantic, hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University maintain that 2024 will be a busy season in the Atlantic.

CSU released its updated outlook Tuesday, which calls for an additional 22 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

"This forecast is of above-normal confidence. We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean," CSU forecasters stated during their most recent tropical update. "As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season."

The season runs through Nov. 30, but nearly 60% of cyclone formation occurs in August and September.

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How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?


This report addresses: MBS and Saudi Arabia's vision of 2030

Tech
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Google investors warn Saudi Arabia data project could be used by ‘top hitmen’

Google investors are poised to raise hackles over a controversial Saudi Arabia project at the search giant’s shareholder meeting, warning that the company risks serving up “sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

The investors’ concerns center around a major cloud computing center that Google is developing in partnership with Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s state oil company.

“A Google cloud center under Saudi’s jurisdiction would basically serve our sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

When Google parent company Alphabet convenes its annual shareholder meeting in June, shareholders will vote on a proposal from SumOfUs members that would require the company to release a report on human rights risks related to its Saudi project, as well as detail any steps it’s taking to mitigate those risks.

The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and the Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, Minister of State, Member of Cabinet, and National Security Advisor Dr.

Musaad Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

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Saudi Arabia, US sign MoU for corridor linking Asia, Gulf, Europe: Everything to know

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It will also include a railway that “will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes – enabling goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe,” according to the MoU

This report addresses: MBS and Saudi Arabia's vision of 2030

Title:

Content: Tech
exclusive

Google investors warn Saudi Arabia data project could be used by ‘top hitmen’

Google investors are poised to raise hackles over a controversial Saudi Arabia project at the search giant’s shareholder meeting, warning that the company risks serving up “sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

The investors’ concerns center around a major cloud computing center that Google is developing in partnership with Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s state oil company. The project was first announced in 2020, with Google saying it would help Saudi “customers to confidently grow and scale their offerings in this market.”

But the shareholders say that Google — whose corporate code of conduct tells employees “Don’t be evil” — could enable the Saudi government to spy on activists, journalists and other perceived enemies of the state.

As evidence that the Saudi government is looking to infiltrate western tech firms, they point to two ex-Twitter employees who were accused in 2019 of funneling private data about Saudi critics to an ally of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They also see the brutal 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which US intelligence says was approved by bin Salman, as evidence the Saudi government shouldn’t be trusted.

“The Saudi Arabian government will stop at no end to snuff out anyone who dares challenge their autocratic rule and human rights abuses,” Rewan Al-Haddad, campaign director for a shareholder group called SumOfUs that’s working with the disgruntled investors, exclusively told The Post.

“Google is sidestepping its own human rights standards in favor of growth and profits, and while that’s not necessarily shocking, it puts the lives of activists and dissidents in the region at serious risk,” Al-Haddad added. “A Google cloud center under Saudi’s jurisdiction would basically serve our sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

When Google parent company Alphabet convenes its annual shareholder meeting in June, shareholders will vote on a proposal from SumOfUs members that would require the company to release a report on human rights risks related to its Saudi project, as well as detail any steps it’s taking to mitigate those risks.

Google tried to block the resolution from being presented at the shareholder meeting, arguing that the company already has strong human rights protections and that the joint project with Aramco is part of “day-to-day business operations” not subject to shareholder resolutions. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission rejected that argument and ruled that the resolution must go forward, according to SEC filings.

The California-based tech giant has said that it already commissioned an “independent human rights assessment” of its Saudi project, but has refused to give any details of the report or say who conducted it, according to SumOfUs.

“Alphabet has really tried to keep this quiet,” the group’s shareholder engagement advisor Christina O’Connell told The Post. “They’re not willing to show anyone any actual report or show us who did the report.”

Google spokesperson Brittany Stagnaro did not provide any additional information about the report when reached by The Post. She referred The Post to Google’s annual proxy statement, which was published on Friday.

“When making business decisions about where to locate data centers, we consider a number of important factors, including human rights and security, as well as how to optimize our overall data infrastructure so as to provide a high level of performance, reliability, and sustainability, and we undertake human rights due diligence when expanding data center operations into new locations,” Google said in the filing, urging shareholders to vote against the resolution.

Other activist groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have also warned that the deal could help Saudi authorities spy on dissidents, writing in a joint letter last year that Google must “immediately halt its plan” for the data center until the company can “publicly demonstrate how it will mitigate adverse human rights impacts.”

“Google’s plan could give the Saudi authorities even greater powers to infiltrate networks and gain access to data on peaceful activists and any individual expressing a dissenting opinion in the Kingdom,” Amnesty International’s tech director Rasha Abdul Rahim said at the time.

SumOfUs’ shareholder push is complicated by the fact that Google’s co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page can effectively veto any shareholder resolution through the company’s dual-class share structure — similar to the one that allows Mark Zuckerberg to exert nearly complete control over Meta.

Nonetheless, O’Connell said the resolution will serve to draw attention of lawmakers and the public to Google’s controversial projects regardless of whether it’s nixed by Brin, Page and other company leaders.

The lead filer on the resolution is a SumOfUs member named Mari Mennel-Bell. Five other shareholders also co-filed the resolution.

Along with Saudi Arabia, the investors also want Google to publish human rights reports on separate products in Indonesia, Qatar and India — warning that all four countries have records of using the internet to crack down on political dissent.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

Title:

Content: JEDDAH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received on Thursday US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Jeddah.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the Saudi-US strategic relations and ways to enhance them in different fields.

Crown Prince and Sullivan have also reviewed new developments at the regional and international level as well as issues of common interest.

The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and the Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, Minister of State, Member of Cabinet, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaad Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

From the US side, it was attended by US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, the US National Security Council's (NSC) Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Brett McGurk, and the US Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos J. Hochstein, as well as Legal Adviser to the National Security Council Jake Phillips, in addition to Senior Advisor for National Security Ariana Berengaut.

© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

What leadership roles have Saudi women achieved under Vision 2030?

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Content: What's new

Saudi Arabia, US sign MoU for corridor linking Asia, Gulf, Europe: Everything to know

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Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)

September 9, 2023

Saudi Arabia and the US signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the announcement on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in New Delhi.

Here’s everything you need to know:

The MoU was signed by Saudi Arabia, the US, the EU, India, UAE, France, Germany, and Italy. It states that the IMEC is expected to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Gulf, and Europe.

The IMEC will be comprised of two separate corridors, the east one connecting India to the Gulf and the northern one connecting the Gulf to Europe.

It will also include a railway that “will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes – enabling goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe,” according to the MoU.

“Along the railway route, Participants intend to enable the laying of cable for electricity and digital connectivity, as well as pipe for clean hydrogen export. This corridor will secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, improve trade facilitation, and support an increased emphasis on environmental social, and government impacts,” the MoU stated.

The participating countries expect the corridor to “increase efficiencies, reduce costs, enhance economic unity, generate jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions – – resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.”

Saudi Arabia’s state news agency SPA reported: “This project aims to facilitate the transit of renewable electricity and clean hydrogen via transmission cables and pipelines as well as constructing rail linkages. It is also intended to enhance energy security, support efforts for the development of clean energy, promote digital economy through digital connectivity and transmission of data via fiber cables, and promote trade and transport of goods by rail and through ports.”

Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi said on platform X: “This fits in with Saudi plans to develop the Kingdom into a logistical hub serving West Asia, Europe, ME and East Africa.”

The White House said in a statement: “The transformative partnership has the potential to usher in a new era of connectivity from Europe to Asia with a railway, linked through ports, connected by the Middle East. This will create novel interconnections to facilitate global trade, expand reliable access to electricity, facilitate clean energy distribution, and strengthen telecommunications links.”

According to the White House fact sheet, the founding partners of the project intend to work with international partners and the private sector to: “Connect India to Europe—linked by a railway line and existing ports through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel—that will generate economic growth while incentivizing new investments and the creation of quality jobs.”

Additionally, the founding countries will aim to: “Connect two continents to commercial hubs and facilitate the development and export of clean energy. Support existing trade and manufacturing synergies and strengthen food security and supply chains. And Link energy grids and telecommunication lines through undersea cables to expand reliable access to electricity, enabling innovation of advanced clean energy technology and connect communities to secure and stable Internet.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the announcement of the corridor as a “major development”, according to the Times of Israel. He described the initiative as “a cooperation project that is the greatest in our history” and one that “takes us to a new era of regional and global integration and cooperation, unprecedented and unique in its scope.”

He added that the new corridor “will bring to fruition a years-long vision that will change the face of the Middle East and of Israel.”

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...r-linking-Asia-Gulf-Europe-Everything-to-know

Read more:

MBS announces MoU for economic corridor linking Saudi, India, Middle East and Europe

Saudi Arabia and US sign MoU for intercontinental green corridors

G20: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives Saudi Crown Prince MBS with warm embrace

Wouldn’t Jordan be needed also to be part of this agreement?

The Daily Star website, citing officials: The economic corridor project announced by the Saudi Crown Prince at the G20 summit will reduce shipping times, costs, and diesel use and make trade faster and cheaper..

Wouldn’t Jordan be needed also to be part of this agreement?
It is in too..read the article again..

And also Turkey in an indirect role..

Sea land and then sea. Goodluck saving money on this. This is just a vanity project of MBS and Modi.

Wouldn’t Jordan be needed also to be part of this agreement?
Indeed. The infrastructure in Israel and Saudi as well as the UAE are already there. A rail section needs to be built in Jordan to link it all together as well as work out how to run the ports at either end quickly.

This would actually help China’s BRI efforts; especially the port modernization) because China can steal the thunder of this announcement by signing a deal to modernize the Iraqi and Syrian railways and linking them to Turkey. A faster ALTERNATIVE route to the Riyadh/Jordan/Israel if you take into account the sea leg to Europe.

A route from Kuwait to Baghdad then across to Raqaa then Aleppo and up to Turkey and directing into the heart of Europe (bypassing Greece) via the Balkans would reach the markets of Europe, faster than bypassing Turkey by sea, especially if the end goal is Germany as in the picture.

This is something the Turks and Chinese should discuss with the Iraqis and Syrians as a counter to this new IMEC corridor.

P.S. If the GCC wants to not participate the Chinese can help build up the port in Basra to be the starting point, independently of the GCC.

2nd P.S. For Turkey, this would also make them more independent of Iran for Eastern rail based trade.

Last edited:
Its a BS project that likely will never come to fruition, several other paths are already present that are more developed, and there a bunch of geopolitical obstacles to this path.

Its a BS project that likely will never come to fruition, several other paths are already present that are more developed, and there a bunch of geopolitical obstacles to this path.
Other than the Jordanian section, all the other railways are already there. this is a new label on existing infrastructure under a new political agreement.

Basically it seems this indicating SA will recognize Israel soon.

Other than the Jordanian section, all the other railways are already there. this is a new label on existing infrastructure under a new political agreement.

Basically it seems this indicating SA will recognize Israel soon.

Yes and that jordanian section is the most important section, It requires a rail link from Jordan, through the West Bank and through Israel, which just ain't happening under the current circumstances.

Of Course the zionists are promoting this project and you can see Biden supporting it, but its far from reality.

Whereas the Saudi section to the Egyptian connection is far more viable. hell a connection from Saudi to Turkey via Iraq(shia areas in the south east through the KRG, following the same route as the Iraq Turkey pipeline) is more viable than anything crossing the west bank.

India and failed projects haha. Money invested in Afghanistan...failure. Money spent in Chahbahar, Iran... failure. This India-Middle East corridor is defined to be a failure just like the planned corridor from India to Russia was a failure.

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What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?


This report addresses: MBS and Saudi Arabia's vision of 2030

Tech
exclusive

Google investors warn Saudi Arabia data project could be used by ‘top hitmen’

Google investors are poised to raise hackles over a controversial Saudi Arabia project at the search giant’s shareholder meeting, warning that the company risks serving up “sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

The investors’ concerns center around a major cloud computing center that Google is developing in partnership with Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s state oil company.

“A Google cloud center under Saudi’s jurisdiction would basically serve our sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

When Google parent company Alphabet convenes its annual shareholder meeting in June, shareholders will vote on a proposal from SumOfUs members that would require the company to release a report on human rights risks related to its Saudi project, as well as detail any steps it’s taking to mitigate those risks.

The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and the Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, Minister of State, Member of Cabinet, and National Security Advisor Dr.

Musaad Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

What's new

Saudi Arabia, US sign MoU for corridor linking Asia, Gulf, Europe: Everything to know

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It will also include a railway that “will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes – enabling goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe,” according to the MoU.

This report addresses: MBS and Saudi Arabia's vision of 2030

Title:

Content: Tech
exclusive

Google investors warn Saudi Arabia data project could be used by ‘top hitmen’

Google investors are poised to raise hackles over a controversial Saudi Arabia project at the search giant’s shareholder meeting, warning that the company risks serving up “sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

The investors’ concerns center around a major cloud computing center that Google is developing in partnership with Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s state oil company. The project was first announced in 2020, with Google saying it would help Saudi “customers to confidently grow and scale their offerings in this market.”

But the shareholders say that Google — whose corporate code of conduct tells employees “Don’t be evil” — could enable the Saudi government to spy on activists, journalists and other perceived enemies of the state.

As evidence that the Saudi government is looking to infiltrate western tech firms, they point to two ex-Twitter employees who were accused in 2019 of funneling private data about Saudi critics to an ally of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They also see the brutal 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which US intelligence says was approved by bin Salman, as evidence the Saudi government shouldn’t be trusted.

“The Saudi Arabian government will stop at no end to snuff out anyone who dares challenge their autocratic rule and human rights abuses,” Rewan Al-Haddad, campaign director for a shareholder group called SumOfUs that’s working with the disgruntled investors, exclusively told The Post.

“Google is sidestepping its own human rights standards in favor of growth and profits, and while that’s not necessarily shocking, it puts the lives of activists and dissidents in the region at serious risk,” Al-Haddad added. “A Google cloud center under Saudi’s jurisdiction would basically serve our sensitive data on a silver platter to Saudi’s top hitmen.”

When Google parent company Alphabet convenes its annual shareholder meeting in June, shareholders will vote on a proposal from SumOfUs members that would require the company to release a report on human rights risks related to its Saudi project, as well as detail any steps it’s taking to mitigate those risks.

Google tried to block the resolution from being presented at the shareholder meeting, arguing that the company already has strong human rights protections and that the joint project with Aramco is part of “day-to-day business operations” not subject to shareholder resolutions. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission rejected that argument and ruled that the resolution must go forward, according to SEC filings.

The California-based tech giant has said that it already commissioned an “independent human rights assessment” of its Saudi project, but has refused to give any details of the report or say who conducted it, according to SumOfUs.

“Alphabet has really tried to keep this quiet,” the group’s shareholder engagement advisor Christina O’Connell told The Post. “They’re not willing to show anyone any actual report or show us who did the report.”

Google spokesperson Brittany Stagnaro did not provide any additional information about the report when reached by The Post. She referred The Post to Google’s annual proxy statement, which was published on Friday.

“When making business decisions about where to locate data centers, we consider a number of important factors, including human rights and security, as well as how to optimize our overall data infrastructure so as to provide a high level of performance, reliability, and sustainability, and we undertake human rights due diligence when expanding data center operations into new locations,” Google said in the filing, urging shareholders to vote against the resolution.

Other activist groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have also warned that the deal could help Saudi authorities spy on dissidents, writing in a joint letter last year that Google must “immediately halt its plan” for the data center until the company can “publicly demonstrate how it will mitigate adverse human rights impacts.”

“Google’s plan could give the Saudi authorities even greater powers to infiltrate networks and gain access to data on peaceful activists and any individual expressing a dissenting opinion in the Kingdom,” Amnesty International’s tech director Rasha Abdul Rahim said at the time.

SumOfUs’ shareholder push is complicated by the fact that Google’s co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page can effectively veto any shareholder resolution through the company’s dual-class share structure — similar to the one that allows Mark Zuckerberg to exert nearly complete control over Meta.

Nonetheless, O’Connell said the resolution will serve to draw attention of lawmakers and the public to Google’s controversial projects regardless of whether it’s nixed by Brin, Page and other company leaders.

The lead filer on the resolution is a SumOfUs member named Mari Mennel-Bell. Five other shareholders also co-filed the resolution.

Along with Saudi Arabia, the investors also want Google to publish human rights reports on separate products in Indonesia, Qatar and India — warning that all four countries have records of using the internet to crack down on political dissent.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

Title:

Content: JEDDAH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received on Thursday US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Jeddah.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the Saudi-US strategic relations and ways to enhance them in different fields.

Crown Prince and Sullivan have also reviewed new developments at the regional and international level as well as issues of common interest.

The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and the Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, Minister of State, Member of Cabinet, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaad Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

From the US side, it was attended by US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, the US National Security Council's (NSC) Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Brett McGurk, and the US Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos J. Hochstein, as well as Legal Adviser to the National Security Council Jake Phillips, in addition to Senior Advisor for National Security Ariana Berengaut.

© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

What leadership roles have Saudi women achieved under Vision 2030?

Title:

Content: What's new

Saudi Arabia, US sign MoU for corridor linking Asia, Gulf, Europe: Everything to know

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Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)

September 9, 2023

Saudi Arabia and the US signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the announcement on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in New Delhi.

Here’s everything you need to know:

The MoU was signed by Saudi Arabia, the US, the EU, India, UAE, France, Germany, and Italy. It states that the IMEC is expected to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Gulf, and Europe.

The IMEC will be comprised of two separate corridors, the east one connecting India to the Gulf and the northern one connecting the Gulf to Europe.

It will also include a railway that “will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes – enabling goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe,” according to the MoU.

“Along the railway route, Participants intend to enable the laying of cable for electricity and digital connectivity, as well as pipe for clean hydrogen export. This corridor will secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, improve trade facilitation, and support an increased emphasis on environmental social, and government impacts,” the MoU stated.

The participating countries expect the corridor to “increase efficiencies, reduce costs, enhance economic unity, generate jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions – – resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.”

Saudi Arabia’s state news agency SPA reported: “This project aims to facilitate the transit of renewable electricity and clean hydrogen via transmission cables and pipelines as well as constructing rail linkages. It is also intended to enhance energy security, support efforts for the development of clean energy, promote digital economy through digital connectivity and transmission of data via fiber cables, and promote trade and transport of goods by rail and through ports.”

Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi said on platform X: “This fits in with Saudi plans to develop the Kingdom into a logistical hub serving West Asia, Europe, ME and East Africa.”

The White House said in a statement: “The transformative partnership has the potential to usher in a new era of connectivity from Europe to Asia with a railway, linked through ports, connected by the Middle East. This will create novel interconnections to facilitate global trade, expand reliable access to electricity, facilitate clean energy distribution, and strengthen telecommunications links.”

According to the White House fact sheet, the founding partners of the project intend to work with international partners and the private sector to: “Connect India to Europe—linked by a railway line and existing ports through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel—that will generate economic growth while incentivizing new investments and the creation of quality jobs.”

Additionally, the founding countries will aim to: “Connect two continents to commercial hubs and facilitate the development and export of clean energy. Support existing trade and manufacturing synergies and strengthen food security and supply chains. And Link energy grids and telecommunication lines through undersea cables to expand reliable access to electricity, enabling innovation of advanced clean energy technology and connect communities to secure and stable Internet.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the announcement of the corridor as a “major development”, according to the Times of Israel. He described the initiative as “a cooperation project that is the greatest in our history” and one that “takes us to a new era of regional and global integration and cooperation, unprecedented and unique in its scope.”

He added that the new corridor “will bring to fruition a years-long vision that will change the face of the Middle East and of Israel.”

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...r-linking-Asia-Gulf-Europe-Everything-to-know

Read more:

MBS announces MoU for economic corridor linking Saudi, India, Middle East and Europe

Saudi Arabia and US sign MoU for intercontinental green corridors

G20: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives Saudi Crown Prince MBS with warm embrace

Wouldn’t Jordan be needed also to be part of this agreement?

The Daily Star website, citing officials: The economic corridor project announced by the Saudi Crown Prince at the G20 summit will reduce shipping times, costs, and diesel use and make trade faster and cheaper..

Wouldn’t Jordan be needed also to be part of this agreement?
It is in too..read the article again..

And also Turkey in an indirect role..

Sea land and then sea. Goodluck saving money on this. This is just a vanity project of MBS and Modi.

Wouldn’t Jordan be needed also to be part of this agreement?
Indeed. The infrastructure in Israel and Saudi as well as the UAE are already there. A rail section needs to be built in Jordan to link it all together as well as work out how to run the ports at either end quickly.

This would actually help China’s BRI efforts; especially the port modernization) because China can steal the thunder of this announcement by signing a deal to modernize the Iraqi and Syrian railways and linking them to Turkey. A faster ALTERNATIVE route to the Riyadh/Jordan/Israel if you take into account the sea leg to Europe.

A route from Kuwait to Baghdad then across to Raqaa then Aleppo and up to Turkey and directing into the heart of Europe (bypassing Greece) via the Balkans would reach the markets of Europe, faster than bypassing Turkey by sea, especially if the end goal is Germany as in the picture.

This is something the Turks and Chinese should discuss with the Iraqis and Syrians as a counter to this new IMEC corridor.

P.S. If the GCC wants to not participate the Chinese can help build up the port in Basra to be the starting point, independently of the GCC.

2nd P.S. For Turkey, this would also make them more independent of Iran for Eastern rail based trade.

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Its a BS project that likely will never come to fruition, several other paths are already present that are more developed, and there a bunch of geopolitical obstacles to this path.

Its a BS project that likely will never come to fruition, several other paths are already present that are more developed, and there a bunch of geopolitical obstacles to this path.
Other than the Jordanian section, all the other railways are already there. this is a new label on existing infrastructure under a new political agreement.

Basically it seems this indicating SA will recognize Israel soon.

Other than the Jordanian section, all the other railways are already there. this is a new label on existing infrastructure under a new political agreement.

Basically it seems this indicating SA will recognize Israel soon.

Yes and that jordanian section is the most important section, It requires a rail link from Jordan, through the West Bank and through Israel, which just ain't happening under the current circumstances.

Of Course the zionists are promoting this project and you can see Biden supporting it, but its far from reality.

Whereas the Saudi section to the Egyptian connection is far more viable. hell a connection from Saudi to Turkey via Iraq(shia areas in the south east through the KRG, following the same route as the Iraq Turkey pipeline) is more viable than anything crossing the west bank.

India and failed projects haha. Money invested in Afghanistan...failure. Money spent in Chahbahar, Iran... failure. This India-Middle East corridor is defined to be a failure just like the planned corridor from India to Russia was a failure.

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What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?


This report addresses: Slow Food Movement

Whenever I go to town to visit my family, I generally stop at these two spots if I am undecided where to dine at.

When I want something fresh and easy on the stomach, I generally go for vegetarian cuisine.

Many dishes share ingredients to make it easier to order food and cut down on food waste.

From smaller, more specialised menus to farm-to-table dishes, restaurant menus are promising to show some substantial changes.

Slow Table goes beyond the food, mindfully considering the key ingredients to creating a joyful gathering ambiance and pairing the dining experience in each box with sommelier selected wines, chic table decor, and music playlists -- all available at Slow-Table.com.

Slow Table Simplifies the Hosting Experience this Holiday Season with its All-New Approach to Gourmet Meal Kits

From hosting to gift-giving, Slow Table's affordable-luxury food boxes are always appropriate.

This report addresses: Slow Food Movement

Title:

Content: Sacramento, CA

Who Has The Tastiest Vegetarian Food In Sacramento, California?

Cameron Eittreim

Vegetarian cuisine has been moving more into the mainstream over the past few decades. When it comes to fresh flavors and healthy ingredients, you cannot go wrong with vegetarian dishes. Sacramento, California has a popular farm to fork movement, with many local farmers contributing to it. The restaurants in Sacramento have also been willing to adapt the farm to fork movement to their menu options.

When I want something fresh and easy on the stomach, I generally go for vegetarian cuisine. There are quite a few vegetarian restaurants in Sacramento worth visiting. Whenever I go to town to visit my family, I generally stop at these two spots if I am undecided where to dine at. The cuisine is delicious, and the customer service is always exceptional when I go to these two vegetarian spots.

Veg Café

2431 J St, Floor 2, Sacramento, CA 95816

When I first visited the Veg Café on J St in Sacramento, I was impressed by the ambiance of the restaurant. The interior was designed to exclude a sense of light and aura, and it welcomes patrons well. The menu is divided into two sections, a brunch section and a lunch & dinner section. I did not have a chance to have brunch here, but I often enjoyed the lunch section of the menu.

The Impossible Quesadilla is made with impossible chorizo, black beans, and locally sourced sharp cheddar cheese. The combination of the flavors is great and works together to make one of the best tasting quesadillas I've ever had. I like that the menu puts a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients, and there is also a great cocktail menu to choose from.

Zocalo

1801 Capitol Ave, Sacramento, CA 95811, United States

Zocalo is an upscale Mexican restaurant that takes a fresh spin on the classic dishes that we enjoy. The centrally located restaurant is close to the new Golden One sports arena and downtown tourism areas. You are within close proximity to Old Sacramento, which has plenty of tourist shops and historic places to see and visit. The menu at Zocalo is fairly simplistic, but the food is great and the flavors are abundant.

The empanadas made with steak are incredibly fresh tasting. There is some spice in the flavoring, but it is not overwhelming. The cheese is also melted to perfection, and the food is always hot when you order it. The service is also very fast and friendly, which is important when you are trying to get back out and explore the wonderful sights that Sacramento has to offer.

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More from Cameron Eittreim

Title:

Content: The menu trends that define dining right now

Smaller, more specialised menus. Picture: Pexels/Roman Odintsov

Published 2h ago

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The restaurant industry has shown some fascinating trends in menus. From smaller, more specialised menus to farm-to-table dishes, restaurant menus are promising to show some substantial changes.

What’s more? We did our research and below we will let you in on the menu trends that define dining right now.

Smaller, more specialised menus

A few years ago, as customers we could walk into a restaurant and receive a multi-page menu with a variety of offerings. Since the pandemic, restaurants have taken time to cut down those menus into smaller ones that are easier to navigate.

These smaller menus are often focused on a central theme. Many dishes share ingredients to make it easier to order food and cut down on food waste.

Flavour contrast

Contrasting flavours and mixing culinary traditions both at the table and in the kitchen is becoming increasingly popular amongst diners.

For many people, being able to go out to eat was a significant milestone in the return to normality after the Covid-19 lockdowns. After months of repetitive home cooking, diners were hungry for unique taste combinations and exciting textures and presentations.

Despite lockdown being largely a thing of the past for most people, this appetite for exciting visual and taste combinations has continued.

@_tshegofatso_precious Hi, Welcome to my "giiiirl dinner." Today we are making macncheese with hot chicken tenders. I've been living on American #foodtiktok , I know it is that obvious, haha 😄. Anyway, I enjoyed this and the process as well, but I'm not happy with how my kitchen is looking right now🥹 Otherwise happy Friday fam. . . . . . . #fridaynight #cooking #macncheese #chickentenders ♬ original sound - The preppy three🌸

Social media influence

Social media continues to influence fine-dining experiences, particularly platforms like TikTok. Dishes that go viral are quickly becoming menu staples, showcasing how digital trends can shape real-world dining experiences.

Voice-activated menus

Voice-activated menus are another exciting trend in the restaurant industry. With the rise of virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa, voice-activated menus are becoming more common in restaurants.

This technology allows customers to order their food using voice commands, making the ordering process even more efficient.

Serving the sober curious

The year will bring a continuation of the trend that celebrates a demand for non-alcoholic beverages. This trend has been dominating Instagram for the past years and it all goes back to the idea of Dry January and taking responsibility for our consumption.

While drinking is typically okay in moderation, many young people understand that excessive drinking can cause long-term harm and unnecessary weight gain. So these sober curious people are looking for a healthy balance.

That is why mocktails, non-alcoholic beer and alcohol-free wines continue to be so popular.

Farm-to-table dishes

The supply chain disruptions have been hard on restaurants. This has led some to turn to local sources for ingredients.

The farm-to-table menu has become more popular recently. In 2024, this is expected to grow considerably because restaurants know that many patrons appreciate being able to support local farms and businesses while still enjoying their favourite dishes.

Many of the farm-to-table menu items are comfort foods that have a unique or interesting spin on them. Chefs are crafting menu items based on what is available to them at that time instead of trying to hunt down specific ingredients.

Digital menu boards are being adapted

The use of digital menu boards is becoming increasingly popular in restaurants.

They help streamline ordering processes and reduce contact between customers and staff by allowing customers to make their orders directly from touchscreens or smartphones.

It shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Restaurants can adjust their offerings in near real-time and promote specials or discounts to attract more customers.

This technology has already revolutionised how restaurants manage their menus, allowing for customisation, quick updates and even advertising depending on the time of day or customer group.

Allergy-free menus

Restaurant patrons are showing a growing desire to find allergy-friendly menu options.

Health and wellness at the forefront

Menus are now being designed with health and wellness in mind. Superfoods, dishes with specific health benefits and even post-meal wellness activities are becoming more common.

Title:

Content: Slow Table Simplifies the Hosting Experience this Holiday Season with its All-New Approach to Gourmet Meal Kits

From hosting to gift-giving, Slow Table's affordable-luxury food boxes are always appropriate. Shipping across the U.S. via Slow-Table.com
Published: Nov. 4, 2021 at 11:00 AM EDT|Updated: 26 minutes ago

SEATTLE, Nov. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- All-new food and lifestyle brand Slow Table has simplified impressive, traditional entertaining just in time for the holiday season. Curating a selection of gourmet food boxes and filling them with unique items sourced from around the world, Slow Table is leveling up the standard meal kit experience. From the highest quality foods and inventive pairings, to its commitment to arming hosts with useful tools that make for a no-fuss entertaining experience, Slow Table meal kits and accessories are truly a host's secret weapon.

Slow Table goes beyond the food, mindfully considering the key ingredients to creating a joyful gathering ambiance and pairing the dining experience in each box with sommelier selected wines, chic table decor, and music playlists -- all available at Slow-Table.com. Unique in the marketplace, Slow Table brings its community an education component as well. Within each box, hosts find an easy-to-follow blueprint for assembly and serving instructions as well as the story on each product, in an effort to simplify the prep process and make anyone's hosting efforts truly impressive.

Slow Table's meal kit catalog includes:

  • The Mini Crew (feeds 2-4): dinner for two or aperitif for up to four, featuring two cheeses, two meats, three accoutrements, and a dessert. Each Mini Crew has an original theme that inspires its product pairings.
  • The Premier Crew (feeds 4-6): a mindfully curated selection of three gourmet cheeses, three cured meats, and six accoutrements. Taste mouth-watering prosciutto from Emilia-Romagna, Italy; Epoisses from Burgundy, France; and Cambozola Black Label from Bavaria, Germany to name a few. Vegetarian option available.
  • The Grand Crew (feeds 12-15+): a go-to for larger gatherings, featuring five cheeses, four meats, six accoutrements, bread, three cracker types, three gourmet chocolate bars, and luxurious eco-friendly bamboo napkins. Packed with products difficult to acquire at the local grocer, hosts will find such rarities as a 500 gram wheel of Brillat Savarin Affiné, from Burgundy, France; the Good Food Award-winning Calabrese Salami by Elevation Meats in Denver, CO; chocolates infused with rare teas from Singapore; and more.

Learn more, order, and schedule a gift at Slow-Table.com.

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SOURCE Slow Table

The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Enjoyment of good food
Conscious consumption

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?