Category Archives: Photography

Britain, India, Military, NATO, Photography, Russia, United States

The T-50 and F-35 warplanes

RUSSIAN MILITARY

Sukhoi

T-50 is a joint military collaboration between Russia and India.

The Sukhoi aircraft have an impressive track record in Russian military history. The newest model, the T-50, is currently in joint development with India.

The aircraft is expertly equipped to sustain supersonic flight, better than any Russian plane built in years past. Its range at supersonic speeds is 930 miles. At subsonic speeds, it can go 2,175 miles.

It’s also deemed a versatile and aerobatic fighter jet. Its life-support system can sustain 9G manoeuvres for a period of up to 30 seconds. Meanwhile, a pilot ejection is possible from an altitude of 60,000 feet.

T 50 engine

A quarter of the aircraft’s body weight is made of composite materials that help reduce its overall weight.

Sharp angles help minimise its radar detection, making it tough to be spotted from far away distances.

The Saturn izdeliye 117 engines (pictured) provide vectored thrust for the plane. The engines originated as part of the original AL-41F program which was launched way back in 1982.

AMERICAN MILITARY

US F35

U.S. F-35 warplanes arrive at RAF Lakenheath, England.

A fleet of F-35 stealth fighter jets has arrived in Europe from the United States as part of a planned NATO exercise aimed at “deterring” Russia.

The F-35A Lightning II jets landed at RAF Lakenheath, England, having made the journey from Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

This deployment marks the first time American F-35A fighter jets have made an appearance in Europe, though a few countries already use them as part of their air fleet.

The deployment will last several weeks and is part of the European Reassurance Initiative, a US build-up of troops and weapons in Europe launched in 2014 to “deter Russian aggression.”

Though apparently scheduled months in advance, the deployment was announced as relations between Washington and Moscow have been described as “at an all-time low” by US President Donald Trump.

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Arts, Britain, Government, Photography

Portrait: Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor Philip Hammond

MayHammond

Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty before the end of March, the starting process by which the United Kingdom will exit the European Union. The Parliamentary Bill has now received Royal Assent from Her Majesty The Queen.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, a key player in Mrs May’s Government, will be expected to keep the tax rate low to attract new trade deals following Britain’s departure from the European Union.

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Arts, Christianity, Photography, Religion

Christmas 2013: Manger Square, Bethlehem…

BETHLEHEM

Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem (Photo Credit: AP)

Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem (Photo Credit: AP)

Large crowds gathered in the biblical town of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations.

The nearby Church of the Nativity sits on the spot where Jesus is said to have been born.

Meanwhile, in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Francis celebrated his first Christmas Eve Mass since becoming pontiff.

He earlier made a visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict, 86, and said he found his predecessor looking well.

The number of visitors to Bethlehem has been steadily rising in recent years as peace talks to resolve the Middle East conflict have resumed.

Despite the erection of Israel’s separation barrier with the West Bank – which appears as a high concrete wall around the town – three gates have been opened for Christmas to allow the Christmas procession led by the Latin Patriarch coming from Jerusalem to enter the city.

Latin Patriarch Archbishop Fouad Twal – the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land – as he arrived in town, said:

…The message of Christmas is a message of peace, love and brotherhood. We have to be brothers with each other.

His motorcade crawled through Bethlehem’s narrow streets as he stopped to greet visitors.

It took Archbishop Twal nearly 90 minutes to make the short trip to the Church of the Nativity, where thousands of people were gathered ahead of Midnight Mass.

In Vatican City, a life-sized nativity scene was unveiled in the centre of St Peter’s Square.

Thousands of worshippers from across Italy and around the world queued on a cold clear night before entering St Peter’s.

As soaring music filled the air, Pope Francis made his entrance and moved slowly up the central aisle, followed by a retinue of clerics.

In a short homily, Francis said that every Christian can choose between darkness and light, between love and hate:

…If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us.

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