Helicopter lost at sea during major US-Australia drill
Four airmen are missing after their MRH90 crashed into the ocean off Queensland on Friday
Four Australian airmen are missing after their helicopter went down into waters off the coast of Queensland during a joint military exercise with the US, prompting a search and rescue operation by Canberra’s military.
The crash occurred at around 10:30 pm local time on Friday, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said, noting that the MRH90 helicopter was flying a two-aircraft mission as part of the Talisman Sabre 2023 drills with the US Marines.
“Sadly, the four aircrew who were on board are yet to be found,” Marles said in a joint statement with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Australian Defense Ministry later said “military and civilian search and rescue aircraft and watercraft” were conducting search and rescue efforts near the site of the incident, adding that the helicopter crashed in waters near Lindeman Island, located about 10 miles (15 kilometers) off the coast of Queensland.
According to the Associated Press, a rescue helicopter spotted a wreckage in the vicinity of the suspected crash site, though officials have not confirmed whether the debris came from the missing aircraft.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who are visiting Australia for talks with senior military leadership, spoke about the search efforts on Saturday.
“It’s always tough when you have accidents in training, but… the reason that we train to such high standards is so that we can be successful and we can protect lives when we are called to answer any kind of crisis,” Austin said.
Australian Brigadier Damian Hill, who directs this year’s iteration of the Talisman Sabre drills, said the exercises would be placed on hold.
Scheduled to run from July 22 through August 4, the wargames are held every two years by Washington and Canberra. This year’s exercise is set to be the largest to date, with some 30,000 troops from 13 nations taking part in a wide range of maneuvers, including amphibious landings, simulated air and ground combat, as well as naval operations.
The crash near Queensland is the second accident involving a MRH90 this year, with another plummeting into the ocean off the coast of New South Wales during a nighttime counterterrorism drill last March. All 10 crewmembers survived.
https://www.rt.com/news/580493-australian-airmen-helicopter-missing/
Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s son arrested in money laundering probe
Nicolas Petro, son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has been arrested as part of an investigation into money laundering and illicit enrichment, the attorney general’s office said early on Saturday.
The younger Petro, a politician in Atlantico province, had welcomed the investigation when it began in March and has previously called accusations that he took money from drug traffickers in exchange for including them in his father’s peace efforts to end civil strife.
Colombian media showed videos of both being escorted to a government plane by security agents in armored vehicles and motorcycles.
Petro said on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, that it was painful for one of his children to be jailed, but that the attorney general’s office had all guarantees to proceed according to the law.
“To my son I wish luck and strength. May these occurrences forge his character and may he reflect about his own errors,” the president said. “As I affirmed to the attorney general I will not intervene nor pressure his decisions, may the law freely guide the process.”
Colombia’s procurator said in a separate statement it will intervene in the upcoming hearings of Petro’s son and his ex-wife to ensure the legal system is respected, as well as the fundamental rights and guarantees of all parties.
https://nypost.com/2023/07/30/colombian-president-gustavo-petros-son-arrested-in-money-laundering-probe/
>>19268884
The Deep State hate the red folders.
If Venezuela and Colombia strengthen their relationship, the more than 11 U.S. military/CIA bases will have to leave quickly, as in Afghanistan.
All who are not of the chosen breed are cattle. Q told me.