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Idrees Ali
For Idrees Ali's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday will be leading the monthly meeting known as the Ukraine defense contact group (UDCG) of about 50 allies that have been militarily supporting Ukraine.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 19, 2024
Out of money, Pentagon chief looks to convince allies of commitment to Ukraine
Lack of funding is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce resources, officials say.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 8, 2024
Biden takes on Trump and Republicans in State of the Union speech
The 68-minute speech gave Biden, who is suffering from low approval ratings, a chance to speak directly to millions of Americans about his vision.
A soldier stands in front of the grave sites of fallen soldiers in Kinmen, Taiwan, on Aug. 23, 2023. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered his military to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027, though many analysts see that as an attempt to galvanize his military rather than a timeline for invasion.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 1, 2024
How Washington is preparing for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
It is looking at a key vulnerability — military logistics — and is setting up hubs in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure supplies are readily available.
A satellite view of the U.S. military outpost known as Tower 22, in Rukban, Rwaished District, Jordan
WORLD
Jan 29, 2024
Three U.S. troops killed in Jordan drone strike linked to Iran
Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the attack, the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October.
Houthi supporters rally to denounce air strikes launched by the U.S. and Britain, in Sanaa, Yemen on Jan. 12.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 17, 2024
U.S. strikes Houthi missiles as Greek vessel hit in Red Sea
Attacks by the Iran-allied militia on ships in the region since November have affected companies and alarmed major powers.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 19, 2023
Diplomats gird for 'doomsday' as prospect of Trump presidency looms
If he were to win a second term, Trump is likely to install loyalists — meaning his whims and isolationist policies would be easier to enact than before.
General Abdourahmane Tiani, who was declared as the new head of state of Niger by leaders of a coup, arrives to meet with ministers in Niamey, Niger, on July 28.
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 11, 2023
U.S. military mission in Niger in focus after coup
U.S. troops have trained Nigerien forces in counterterrorism and operated two military bases, including one that conducts drone missions.
Visitors walk past a military fence at Imjingak peace park in the border city of Paju on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 21, 2023
U.S. worries mount over soldier after silence from North Korea
U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Washington was fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang, including through U.N. communications channels.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 11, 2023
U.S. officials review intel sharing after damaging leak
Investigators are also working to determine what person or group might have had the ability and motivation to release the intelligence reports.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 10, 2023
U.S. searches for source of highly-classified intel leak
Some Western security experts and U.S. officials have said they suspect the source could be someone from the United States.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 16, 2023
U.S. and Russian military chiefs in rare talks after drone downed
Moscow's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, that American drone flights by Crimea's coast 'were provocative in nature.'
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 9, 2023
Australia expected to buy up to five Virginia class submarines as part of AUKUS, sources say
U.S. President Joe Biden will host leaders of Australia and Britain in San Diego next week to chart a way forward for provision of the nuclear-powered submarines.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 14, 2023
U.S. military says key sensors recovered from downed Chinese balloon
'Crews have been able to recover significant debris from the site, including all of the priority sensor and electronics pieces identified,' the U.S. military said in a statement.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 13, 2023
Ruling out aliens? Senior U.S. general says not ruling out anything yet
Recent incidents come as the Pentagon has undertaken a new push to investigate military sightings of unidentified objects.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 3, 2023
Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States, Pentagon says
The old-fashioned intelligence collection method recalls lengths to which Beijing and Washington have been willing to go to spy on each other amid increased tensions.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 17, 2022
No evidence of UFOs so far in Pentagon investigation
The Pentagon's recent push to investigate reports of UFOs has so far not yielded any evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth or crash-landed here, say senior defense staff.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 29, 2022
U.S. and Russia have used 'deconfliction' line once so far during Ukraine war
When it was announced in March, the Pentagon said the deconfliction line was created to avoid any inadvertent clashes in NATO airspace or on the ground.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Aug 13, 2022
China's military drills near Taiwan offer spying opportunity for U.S. and allies
The drills provide an opportunity to scrutinize the missiles China would use to drive off foreign militaries intervening in any future invasion.
Japan Times
WORLD
Aug 6, 2022
U.S. readies new $1 billion Ukraine weapons package
The Biden administration's next security assistance package will be one of the largest so far, and could include munitions for long-range weapons and armored medical transport vehicles.
Japan Times
WORLD
Aug 3, 2022
Biden's al-Qaida counterterrorism win masks some concerns with strategy
The CIA drone strike that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri relied on a perfect set of conditions, analysts say.

Longform

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