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ReutersPhil Stewart

Hegseth rejects reports of deteriorating conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reports describing poor living conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the Middle East in support of the Iran war, were “completely misrepresented.” The comments came as Hegseth attended a military flyover and demonstration near Panama City.

2026-08-13T09:20:50.476674-07:00

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Fuel costs and Middle East disruption pressure Asian and Turkish airlines as Pegasus wins approval for Smartwings acquisition

Pegasus, Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways reported weaker second-quarter or first-half earnings as elevated fuel costs and Middle East-related disruption weighed on results. Separately, Turkish regulators approved Pegasus’ acquisition of Smartwings Group, expanding its European footprint amid a more challenging operating environment.

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New Zealand Says It Disrupted Chinese State-Linked Bid to Install Satellite-Tracking Infrastructure

New Zealand’s security agency said it disrupted an attempt by a Chinese state-linked observatory to establish satellite-tracking infrastructure in the country. The case, highlighted in the agency’s annual assessment, underscores growing concern over foreign espionage activity and the strategic value of space-monitoring sites.

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Latvia evaluates Embraer A-29 Super Tucano to build a counter-drone aviation capability

Latvia is assessing Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano as a light combat aircraft for intercepting incoming unmanned aerial vehicles. The evaluation would give the Latvian Air Force a national armed fixed-wing capability, with the turboprop considered primarily for short-range counter-drone missions rather than its traditional light-attack role.

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