The administration of US President Donald Trump has approved a US$825 million arms sale to Ukraine that would include extended-range missiles and related equipment to boost its defensive capabilities as US efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia appear stalled.
The US Department of State on Thursday announced that it had notified the US Congress of the sale of extended-range attack munition missiles and navigation systems for Ukraine. The sale would cover 3,350 Standard Extended Range Active Missiles, 3,350 GPS units, along with components, spare parts and other accessories, as well as training and technical support.
It said Ukraine would use funding from NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway in addition to US foreign military financing to pay for the equipment.
Photo: Reuters
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the state department said in a statement.
The sale was announced as Russia continues to step up attacks on Ukraine even after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this month to press for a negotiated settlement to the three-year-old conflict.
The US in July announced two other proposed weapons sales to Ukraine. One worth US$322 million to enhance its air defense capabilities and provide armored combat vehicles and another worth US$330 million for air defense systems, as well as the maintenance, repair and overhaul of self-propelled artillery vehicles.
The Taiwanese passport ranked 33rd in a global listing of passports by convenience this month, rising three places from last month’s ranking, but matching its position in January last year. The Henley Passport Index, an international ranking of passports by the number of designations its holder can travel to without a visa, showed that the Taiwan passport enables holders to travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. Singapore’s passport was ranked the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the index published on Tuesday by UK-based migration investment consultancy firm Henley and Partners. Japan’s and
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A strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The coldest time would be early on Thursday morning, with temperatures in some areas dipping as low as 8°C, it said. Daytime highs yesterday were 22°C to 24°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and about 25°C to 28°C in the central and southern regions, it said. However, nighttime lows would dip to about 15°C to 16°C in central and northern Taiwan as well as the northeast, and 17°C to 19°C elsewhere, it said. Tropical Storm Nokaen, currently
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