Russia Deploys Avangard Missile System: Its Lethal

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Vladimir Putin claims Russia has deployed its Avangard hypersonic missile system - Video

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that can travel at 20 times the speed of sound has been deployed. He has further said that the missile that can travel at 20 times the speed of sound. If true it puts Russia ahead of other nations. BBC has reported that defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has confirmed that the hypersonic weapon system entered service on 27th December. He called it a "landmark event."

Avangard

Mr. Putin had indicated the development of the Avangard in his annual State of the Nation address last year.

As per the Russians, the weapon system is now developed and deployed. The weapon system was tested in December 2018. In the test, the missile was able to hit a target of 6000 km( 3700 miles) away in the Ural mountains.

The Avangard is a hypersonic missile system that is nuclear-tipped. It can carry a nuclear warhead of two megatons. It is generally to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile and launched. The weapon can travel at 20 times the speed of sound. With its high-speed, the missile can at the moment penetrate most available-anti-missile shields.

Meghan Markle is Suspected to be Pregnant by her Fans

Meghan Markle's pregnancy bump: rumors surface (Image credit-BBC/You Tube)

Meghan Markle recently sparked pregnancy rumors after she was photographed seemingly hiding her growing baby bump.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle, set the rumor mills agog. They came into the limelight when they decided to part company and step back as senior members of the royal family. All along they felt that the media had given them biased and unfair coverage. One cannot be sure about it but it seemed that many people in England might not have been happy that a person with black ancestry had entered the realm of royalty. IBTimes reported at the end of December 2019, that Meghan Markle recently sparked pregnancy rumors after she was photographed seemingly hiding a growing baby bump.
Press and racist coverage

The couple has now stated that they will no longer participate in the traditional Royal press system that grants exclusive rights to select UK outlets. Both Harry and Meghan believe they have been treated unfairly by the UK press since the news broke of their relationship. Many people feel that there are undertones of racist coverage about them.

Pregnancy

The rumor mills are spelling out a yarn that Megan could be pregnant. There is no confirmation about this and is based on conjecture and interpretation of photographs which have appeared of the Duchess in the press.

Most of the fans of the royal couple believe that Meghan Markle is set to announce that she and Harry are expecting their second child in 2020. This is the view of the royal family fans. It has been reported that the leading bookmaker, Coral believes that the couple will announce their second baby soon. Express UK reported that it is more than likely that this will happen, as opposed to William and his wife Kate announcing that they are expecting their fourth baby.

Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai"

The Saga of the Last Samurai

Tom Cruise poster

Hollywood is the leader in world cinema and has thrown up stars with a global following. One of the stars that deserve mention is Tom Cruise. This handsome star has starred in many Hollywood hits, some of them unforgettable. One of his films in which he gave a stupendous performance is  ‘The Last Samurai”. The Samurai is a warrior clan that dominated Japanese society and culture for close to 3000 years. They had distinctive swords that were slightly curved and thus more aerodynamic with minimal drag.

Tom Cruise plays an American in Japan who dons the garb of the Last Samurai. There is a lovely undertone of a celestial love between Tom Cruise and the widow Taka of a Samurai warrior played by Japanese actress Koyuki. In the end, Tom Cruise returns to the village and his love for eternal bliss and happiness.
In the movie Tom Cruise as a samurai, a warrior plays his role to the hilt. The battle with swords against guns and artillery is stupendous. The photography is wonderful and the scenic splendor of Japan is captured beautifully by the camera.

The film is based on the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion led by Sag Takamori was a battle between Samurai warriors with swords against Government forces with rifles and cannons. Tom is ably complemented by the Japanese actor Ken Watanabe as the warrior Sag Takamori. This is one of the best films of Tom Cruise and brings out his histrionic ability
For me, this is the best film of Tom Cruise as he dons the garb of a Samurai warrior to perfection.

Emirati Girl Strikes out as Fashion Model

Breaking into Dubai Fashion World

Image Source - Instagram/@rafeeaalhajsi

In a conservative society, a girl has broken barriers and modeled in a fashion show in Dubai

Dubai and the UAE are unlike any other place in the Middle East. This is one of the best places for the flowering of fashion and arts. Exhibitions of painting and high flying fashion shows are held to make Dubai one of the contemporary top art and artistic places in the world. All credit to the ruler of Dubai to have brought this about. Visiting Dubai gives you an unreal feeling as one is witness to stupendous architectural marvels like the Burk Khalifa. Dubai also holds international fashion shows and girls and top models from London, Paris and New York adorn the catwalk.

The fashion shows are regularly held in Dubai.

There was a welcome change as a local Emirati girl  Rafeea Al Hajsi took part in the show. She is a girl from the UAE and she confessed that she had an uphill task to rise up in this profession. The event she took part in was the "Arab Fashion week" which is into its 3rd year. Last year's edition had a new girl who was a local Emirati. The show lasted 5 days and attracted record crowds and visitors. It was also broadcast live all over the world.

She was lucky as she was spotted by Lebanese designer  Aiisha Ramadan. The designer offered to showcase Rafeea in her own catwalk show. Rafeea has large brown eyes with height and poise and it showed when she was awarded Arab Fashion Week best-dressed model.

Rafeea has also taken to the ramp in France at the Paris fashion show and this can only be considered a feather in her cap. She has now established herself.and her distinction of being the first fashion model from the UAE is a record that will remain forever. Others will follow but the ice is broken by Rafeea.

Tank Biathlon in Russia: Great Competition

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Ever heard of a Biathlon? well if you haven't then read on. It's a tank competition and is often referred to as the equivalent of the Olympics for tanks. These are heavily armored vehicles with mounted guns and machine guns and are the pride of any army. They are considered the elite and are referred to as Armored corps.

The idea for a tank competition was thought off by the Russian defense minister and so far 3 tank Olympics called a "biathlon" have been conducted: all in Russia. This year 19 nations have entered and so has the Indian army with two T-90 tanks and a crew of six. The Biathlon opened on 29 July and will continue to 6 April 17. 

The Biathlon consists of a firing competition, precision shooting, racing, and relay racing. It is a real test for man and machine and India has done well though they have been unable to match the Chinese and the Russian tanks and crew. Both these

countries are vying for the top honors though the Russians have beaten the Chinese team in both the firing and racing events.

The biathlon is still on and is attracting tremendous interest.  The Americans were invited but refused to participate in the events. Only they can tell us why, but in case they had come it would be interesting to watch how the tank crews of Russia and China square off against the American tanks and crew. It would have not only made great news but would have been extremely exciting.

Russia is leading in the tank Olympics so far and we will have to wait up to 6th August to see if there is any upset. India has, however, faded out from the top position. Maybe they need to practice tank maneuver a little more.

First Batch of Women Fighter Pilots Inducted in IAF:Is it Worth IT?

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News has been broadcast by the Indian Air Force that it has inducted 3 women to fly fighters. The girls who were commissioned in 2016 have been selected to fly the MIG-21( BIs) the most advanced version of this Russian plane, which is the workhorse of the IAF.

Names are not important in an academic discussion, but one must question the IAF decision to let women fly supersonic fighters. Flying is one thing, but getting into combat with forces up to 8G operating is a tricky matter.  Flying combat planes is not a picnic, and I have flown donkeys hours to

inform readers that it is no piece of cake. Yet, the IAF has inducted women to fly fighters. Precious resources are wasted and the vacancy could be better

filled by energetic men.

Historically for the last 2000 years, one has not heard of woman combatants. If there are any, they can be counted on fingers. Why did this happen? The reason is simple women have physiological cycles that differ from man and going into combat can be a handicap. I recollect when flying a sortie in the near past ina chopper, my co-pilot called it a day as she was not in a fit frame to fly due to her physiological condition. In such a scenario a   substitute pilot had to take her place.

I support the emancipation of women but making them fighter pilots, more as a showcase event is not the best way forward.

The Legend of Heracles and the She Monster Hydra

Battle Royale

Heracles or Hercules was the illegitimate son of the God Zeus. When his wife Hera learned about Heracles she resolved to get him killed. She hoped that the dreaded many-headed Hydra would kill Heracles. The Hydra also known as Lernaean hydra was a many-headed monster with a unique ability. If any head was cut, it was replaced by 2 heads. It also exhumed poisonous fumes which if breathed would kill an opponent. But the clue was that the Hydra had only one immortal head.

The Hydra lived in the swamps of Lerna. Beneath this swamp was a passage to the Underworld and the Hydra was a guard to that passage. Heracles was given the task of slaying the Hydra as part of the 10 labors of Hercules by Eurthystheus.

Heracles went to kill the Hydra with his mouth and nose covered with a cloth to ward of the fumes of the Hydra. He started by firing flaming arrows into the serpent's lair. He also carried a golden sword which was gifted to him by the Goddess Athena who loved Heracles. Heracles confronted the Hydra in its lair with his sword, club, and harvesting sickle. But in the battle whatever heads Heracles cut, two more grew in their place. After some time Heracles was in despair. Hera watching the fight was happy and assumed that the illegitimate son of Zeus would soon be killed.

Killing of Hydra

Heracles and Hydra

The details of the struggle of Heracles and the Hydra are recounted in the Apollodorus. Realizing that he could not kill the Hydra Heracles called for help from his nephew Iolaus. His nephew came with an idea to scorch the cut head of the Hydra. Thus Heracles cut off each head and his nephew using a blazing firebrand to cauterize each head of the Hydra. The Hydra now began to lose. This disturbed Hera who sent a large crab to distract Heracles. He crushed the crab with his foot and he went on to cut the immortal head with the golden sword given by Athena.

Hera was upset that Hercules had killed the Hydra and placed it in the sky as the constellation Hydra. She then turned the crab into the constellation Cancer. The legend of the killing of Hydra by Heracles is one of the great romances of Greek mythology and one can savor it even now.

Modern Hydra

slaying Hydra

Old legends have a habit of repeating themselves and in the modern age, we have the ISI( Islamic State). This is the modern Hydra and it keeps on growing sustaining itself with support from the Muslim populace all over the world. The moderate Muslims have cowed down as all value their lives.

US Marines and Nude Photos of Fellow Combatant Women

Sensational News

Typical women marine

News has come in of American Marines, who have violated the code of honor of a soldier. In other words, it is an act prejudicial to good order and discipline. The Marines were members of a secret Facebook page where nude photographs of fellow women combatants were posted. This page on Facebook had a membership of over 30000. It also carried the rank, name, and unit, of the women combatants.

'Probably this group was functioning for a long time but the lid was blown only a few months back last year.
There is no doubt that there will always be an attraction between men and women, but as women serve in all theaters of the army, morale needed not to be lowered by photographing women combatants in the nude and circulating them to members, against their will and consent.

Different lines of thought

In uniform

After the incident became known to the authorities, two lines of thought emerged. Some opined that it's a natural Instinct and they say "boys will be boys." However, the majority think that this is a grave transgression of discipline and a disservice to the women who have joined the #Armed Forces

The news of the women's photographs has now become public property and has been broadcast all over the world.

It does not show the Us Marines in a gòod light. The news that many Marines posted lewd comments on the photographs is cause for worry. One wonders how the women combatants will feel about reading them. Well in case they had been posted with their concurrence, it would have been another story but we know that women combatants were photographed surreptitiously and without their knowledge. This is a grave violation of human dignity.

Navy investigates

women train with men

Congress is seized of the matter. The Navy's Criminal Investigative Service is carrying out an investigation, and the photographs have been taken down. A senior Democrat Adam Smith, on the House Armed Services Committee, is clear that the online behavior is “degrading, dangerous and completely unacceptable.”

Sexual harassment cases in the armed forces are nothing new and the preceding two years have seen thousands of cases in the US military. The cases have increased after Congress approved the induction of women in all areas of the armed forces, including combat duties

Cause for worry?

The face of the future

The Marine command is perturbed that such a large number of active troops took part in this episode. What will the corps do? It can't afford to send thousands of soldiers home. Its a question that has no answer. But discipline has to be kept and a few ringleaders were punished and dismissed or given a small jail term. This is a temporary solution, but what next?

Sanna Marin is 34 beautiful and prime minister of Finland.

The new prime minister of Finland Sanna Marin is not only the youngest ever prime minister in the world but she is a woman that exudes confidence. When she recently attended the conclave of the EU leaders at Brussels, she stood out as a young leader in her own right, in contrast to most leaders being middle-aged or older.

Salesgirl

Not everybody has accepted her and the recent comment by a minister of the Estonia cabinet who referred to her as a"salesgirl" was extremely uncharitable.

 News has reported that the remark was made by Mart Helme. He is the interior ministe

Sanna Marin is unmarried and is reportedly dating Markus Raikkonen. Not much is known about him except that the couple has a daughter and as yet have decided not to get married.

Sanna Marin is only 34 years old. She was earlier the transport minister.

She seized her opportunity earlier this month after the leader of the Social Democratic Party stepped down. She replaced him and became the youngest serving prime minister in the world. Another point that is unique to Finland is that the governing coalition of five parties has all leaders who are women and under the age of 35. This is also a first in the world where so many women leaders are part of the power setup.

Sanna Marin was brought up by her mother. Her parents broke up when she was young and her mother gravitated to a same-sex relationship. She started her career from the bottom rungs of society and by dint of ability rose up in the hierarchy.

Gender equality

Finland has always been at the forefront of gender equality in Europe. It was the first country in the world to elect women to parliament.

Marin undertook her first job at 15 in a bakery. After graduating she worked as a cashier. This job made the Estonia minister refer to her as a salesgirl. Marin entered politics when she was just 20 and has nearly 14 years of political experience. When she was just 27 she was elected as Tempere City Council leader and just three after this, she was elected as an MP. She has not looked back and now is the prime minister of Finland.

Future

Marin will have to be on her toes after the euphoria of being the youngest prime minister settles down. She will have to face factionalism in her party as well as the nationalist Finns party. The best part is she has had a child out of wedlock and only 34. Staying with her boyfriend one hopes she will be able to do justice to the chair she occupies.