• Mexico Mayors Linked To Alleged Cartels To Be Charged

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Two serving and one former mayor in the western Mexican state of Michoacan are being held over allegations they have links to a notorious drugs cartel.

    A federal judge has ordered they be charged with organised crime.

    The move follows the publication on social media of videos showing them apparently meeting the leader of the Knights Templar cartel.

    The Knights Templar control much of the methamphetamine and marijuana trade in western Mexico.

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  • Planning For Conflicts Of The Future At Nato Summit

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    The crisis in Ukraine has refocused minds at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) on the threat posed by Russia and the need to improve the alliance's collective defence capability.

    At this week's summit in Newport in Wales, Nato heads of state will agree on a Readiness Action Plan to respond to such crises.

    It will involve setting up a new spearhead force of 4-5,000 troops, ready to deploy within 48 hours.

    The alliance is also committed to boosting its intelligence gathering and sharing with the use of spy planes and unmanned drones.

    Swarm Of Drones

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  • Russian Fears As Nervous Estonians Look To The West

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Sunset on the Narva River is a vision of peace and tranquillity. Medieval castles loom high above both banks, while fishermen cast their lines into the fast flowing waters.

    But as the relationship between Nato and Russia continues to deteriorate, this is also a front line between competing visions of the future in this part of the world.

    The conflict in Ukraine, and Russian military action there, has made many people in the Baltic states nervous. They wonder what President Putin is planning next.

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  • Stocks Rise In Russia Following Ceasefire Announcement

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Russian stocks have risen to their highest level in three months following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.

    The main Micex index gained 3.5%, while Russian gas giant Gazprom saw its highest jump since June, rising 3.3%.

    The Russian rouble also surged, up 1.6% against the dollar to 36.86roubles.

    The figures come after Ukranian president Petro Poroshenko announced he had agreed a "ceasefire process" with President Putin.

    A spokesperson for the Russian President denied that a deal had been made, saying that Russia was not a party to the conflict.

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  • Huge Mistral Bill For Halting Russia Deal For France

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    The decision to suspend delivery of a Mistral naval assault ship to Russia risks costing France at least 1bn euros (£800m), officials say.

    French President Francois Hollande said Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine meant conditions were not right for delivery of the helicopter-carrier.

    He later said "a ceasefire and a political settlement" should be in place before the deal could go ahead.

    Russia was expecting two Mistral ships - the first one in October.

    A French diplomat earlier said the contract was suspended until November, and the delay "could cost us 1bn euros".

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  • Banki Town Near Cameroon Seized By Boko Haram

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram has captured the town of Banki, which borders Cameroon, after government troops fled, residents say.

    The military has not yet commented on the latest town to reportedly fall to the insurgents in recent weeks.

    Fears have been raised that their main target is Maiduguri, the capital of north-eastern Borno state.

    Boko Haram's "lightning territorial gains" could lead to Nigeria breaking up like Iraq, a think-thank has warned.

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  • US Hostage Steven Sotloff Beheaded By Islamic State

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    An Islamic State video has appeared which purports to show the beheading of Steven Sotloff, a US journalist being held hostage by the militants.

    Mr Sotloff, 31, was abducted in Syria in 2013. He appeared at the end of a video last month which showed fellow US journalist James Foley being killed.

    A militant in the latest video also threatens to kill a British hostage.

    Mr Sotloff's family said they were aware of the video and were "grieving privately".

    After Mr Foley's death, Mr Sotloff's mother appealed to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to save her son's life.

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  • State Of Emergency Lifted As Calm Returns To Ferguson

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has lifted the state of emergency declared to combat nights of violent protests in the city of Ferguson last month.

    Mr Nixon had implemented the order on 19 August, following demonstrations against the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman.

    Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead after being stopped for jaywalking.

    Mr Nixon said people were "getting back to their normal routines" and the order was no longer needed.

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  • Official Plane Of Japan's PM 'Tracked Online'

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Japan's government has admitted that the flight paths of official aircraft used by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were posted online.

    The location of the planes and other flight data were published on the website Flightradar24, which shows live air traffic around the world, local reports said.

    The defence ministry said it had asked the website to remove the information.

    Officials said they had confirmed the data was removed on 27 August.

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  • Ten Killed in Ghazni Government Compound By Afghanistan Taliban

    / By Armoured Cars / In security

    Taliban militants have attacked an Afghan government compound in the eastern town of Ghazni killing at least 10 people, officials say.

    Eight security personnel and two civilians were among the dead, police say, with all 19 attackers also killed.

    Gunmen detonated two truck bombs as they blasted their way in to attack police and intelligence offices.

    More than 160 people were injured and buildings, including the town's museum, were badly damaged.

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