. Military Space News .
MILTECH
Prague aims to halt EU gun control law
 by Staff Writers
 Prague (AFP) June 14, 2017


Rights group warns US-led force on white phosphorus use
Beirut (AFP) June 14, 2017 - The Human Rights Watch organisation on Wednesday urged the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq to protect civilians from the effects of white phosphorus.

The statement comes after several instances in which the US-led coalition has deployed the munition in the fight against IS in Iraq's Mosul and Syria's Raqa city.

"No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities," said HRW arms director Steve Goose.

"US-led forces should take all feasible precautions to minimise civilian harm when using white phosphorus in Iraq and Syria."

White phosphorus can be used to create a smoke screen or as a battlefield marker, but it can also be deployed as a deadly incendiary weapon, a use prohibited under international law.

Last week striking images shared by activists and the Islamic State group showed white phosphorus being used over Raqa city, where a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters is battling to oust the jihadists.

Asked about the incident, coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon declined to "discuss every detailed use of munition or capability available across our formations."

But he added that white phosphorus was used "in accordance with the law of armed conflict" and "in a way that fully considers the possible incidental effects on civilians and civilian infrastructure."

HRW said it had not been able to independently verify any civilian casualties resulting from the use of white phosphorus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said 23 civilians had been killed by white phosphorus used in Raqa on June 8.

The Britain-based group said the US-led coalition had dropped the munition from planes.

But HRW said the images from Raqa were characteristic of ground-fire artillery projectiles containing white phosphorus.

Czech authorities said Wednesday they will ask the European Court of Justice to strike down new EU gun control rules that have its hunters and gun collectors up in arms.

Approved in mid-March by the European Parliament, the new directive notably bans civilians from possessing certain semi-automatic weapons as part of counter-terrorism measures.

"We cannot allow the EU to interfere in the position of member states and their citizens under the guise of fighting terrorism," Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said in a statement.

He added the complaint to be filed by mid-August would request the legislation be invalidated. The ministry will also propose a postponement of its effect.

"I'm not happy about the complaint but we have no other option," he said.

The new legislation took effect on Tuesday and EU members are now obliged to incorporate it in their national legislation within 15 months.

EU commissioner for security, Julian King, said in March the directive sought to curb access to weapons for criminals and terrorists.

The ministry said the directive would affect practically all 300,000 legal firearm licence holders in the country of 10.6 million people which is bracing for parliamentary elections in October.

Besides banning short semi-automatic firearms with loading devices over 20 rounds and long semi-automatic firearms with loading devices over 10 rounds, the directive prohibits long firearms that can be folded or concealed in other ways.

It also introduces measures to make it easier to trace firearms and ensures that firearms converted to blank firing ones for use in theatres or television must be registered under the same category as the original weapons.

The Czech Republic, where there is no recent history of terrorism, has been pushing for softer rules on gun control, unlike other countries like Luxembourg and France which asked for strict legislation.

MILTECH
Raytheon receives Long Range Precision Fires contract
 Washington (UPI) Jun 16, 2017
 Raytheon has received a $116 million contract from the U.S. Army to enter the maturation and risk-reduction phase of the Long Range Precision Fires program. The maturation and risk reduction phase is a series of tests of all missile components to ensure readiness for construction, with live-fire tests of the weapon, by the end of 2019. "Raytheon can develop, test, and field this ... read more
Related Links
 The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com

Thanks for being here;
 We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal
 		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly

paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.
Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MILTECH
Suspected N.Korea drone filmed missile defence site: Seoul

 Seoul trapped between a rock and a THAAD place; NK tests cruise missile

 S. Korea to freeze new THAAD deployment pending probe

 Russia nears deal to sell air-defence system to Turkey
MILTECH
IAI test fires new surface-to-surface missile

 Raytheon receives $618 million contract for SM-2 missiles

 Raytheon receives contract for AIM-9X missiles

 Lockheed Martin receives MLRS rocket contract
MILTECH
Insitu receives $45 million contract extension for SOCOM UAVs

 US-led coalition downs Iran-made drone in Syria

 Can use of a drone improve response times for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests compared to an ambulance

 Leonardo debuts new target drone at Paris Air Show
MILTECH
Harris Corp. awarded Special Forces radio contract

 Airbus provides German troops with support communications at 15 sites worldwide

 Airbus further extends channel partner program for military satellite communications in Asia

 Radio communications have surprising influence on Earth's near-space environment
MILTECH
Elbit debuts loitering munition system

 Australia tests combat recon vehicles

 Transforming How Troops Fight in Coastal Urban Environments

 Raytheon receives Long Range Precision Fires contract
MILTECH
Weapons found after shots fired in oil field: Saudi

 Mattis, Dunford press Congress for increased, stable budgets

 Senate narrowly defeats resolution blocking Saudi arms sale

 Dassault, Indian partner breaking ground on facility
MILTECH
China, Russia to hold joint naval drills in Baltic Sea

 NATO holds first war games on vulnerable Baltic corridor

 Russian jet conducts 'unsafe' intercept of US plane

 Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines launch naval patrols
MILTECH
Silver atom nanoclusters could become efficient biosensors

 Chemists perform surgery on nanoparticles

 Superconducting nanowire memory cell, miniaturized technology

 Nanotechnology reveals hidden depths of bacterial 'machines'








The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.