KIEV, February 23 -- As the result of the Russian attack, one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded in Donbas conflict zone. The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) HQ reported this on Facebook. The Russian militants violated the ceasefire regime 14 times, including eight times with Minsk-banned weaponry. The enemy fired 77 shells of 120 mm and 82 mm calibers over 24 hours. Besides the enemy fired the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with wire-guided anti-tank missile system, the grenade launchers of various system, the heavy machine guns, and small arms. Our fighters had been deliberately targeted by a sniper. In the East operational group action zone, the enemy fired eight times:
In the North group area, the enemy attacked our positions 6 times:
Ukrainian Armed Forces stopped the attack by opening fire as well. According to surveillance, eight Russian militants were killed and two more were wounded on February, 22. Also, two units of the Russian military vehicle technology were destroyed. Since midnight on February, 23, the enemy has not opened fire.
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Forget the usual Youtube clickbait gimmick since there’s no way to tell that the Chevy Volt was actually trying to keep up with the Tesla Semi, but there’s no doubt that the electric truck achieved highway speed on the ramp incredibly fast. That’s even true if that trailer was empty, which is likely the case.
The owner of the channel ‘My Tesla Adventure’ said that he could barely catch up in his own Tesla vehicle: “In my Model 75D Uncorked I had to put the pedal down to catch back up.” I assume that he meant a Model S 75D, but it is impressive either way. Without a trailer, Elon Musk said that the Tesla Semi can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds thanks to its 4 independent Model 3 electric motors. Tesla Semi Price and RangeAfter Tesla revealed the pricing of its electric semi trucks last year, we learned that the regular production versions for the 300-mile and 500-mile range versions will be $150,000 and $180,000 respectively, while the company is also listing a ‘Founders Series’ version for $200,000. But after a year in development, Musk said that he expects that the production version could be even more efficient with a range closer to 600 miles. Tesla originally said that it aims to bring the electric truck to production in 2019, but that was over a year ago and the company hasn’t updated the timeline since. BANGKOK, February 22 -- Chiang Mai and Lampang on Friday were choking on “code red” air pollution with PM2.5 levels above 90 micrograms (mcg) per cubic metre of air, according to the Pollution Control Department (PCD). Northern and northeastern provinces also cited PM2.5 levels beyond the Thai safety limit of 50 mcg. Greater Bangkok enjoyed a respite from haze, having PM2.5 levels within the safe range at 12-35 mcg, which were predicted to drop further on Saturday thanks to various dust-tackling measures, the PCD said. The PCD daily update on haze situation in the North, as of 9am on Friday, cited the PM2.5 levels between 33-100 mcg with the "code-red" status reported at tambon Chang Kerng of Chiang Mai's Mae Chaem district (100 mcg) and at tambon Phra Baht of Lampang's Mueang district (93 mcg). The "code-orange" status was reported in tambon Chang Pheuk (61 mcg) and tambon Sri Phum (57 mcg) of Chiang Mai's Mueang district; in tambon Ban Dong (71 mcg) and tambon Mae Mo (67 mcg) of Lampang's Mae Mo district; tambon Ban Klang in Lamphun's Mueang district (88 mcg); tambon Nai Wiang in Nan's Mueang district (62 mcg); tambon Na Chak in Phrae's Mueang district (67 mcg); tambon Jong Kham in Mae Hong Son's Mueung district (59 mcg); and tambon Mae Pa in Tak's Mae Sot district (63 mcg). In the Northeast, the PM2.5 level rose beyond the safety limit in tambon Nai Mueang of Khon Kaen's Mueang district at 67 mcg. The agency urged people to refrain from outdoor burning to help reduce the haze problems. Updates on air quality are available on the website air4thai.pcd.go.th and the phone app "air4thai”. CARACAS, February 22 -- President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the closure of Venezuela's border with Brazil "until further notice" amid a tense standoff with the US-backed opposition leader, Juan Guaido, over allowing in humanitarian aid. The border with Brazil would be "completely and absolutely" closed from 8pm (00:00 GMT) onwards, Maduro said in a televised address on Thursday. The embattled leader said he was also considering a "total closure of the border with Colombia", where he has already ordered the military to barricade a major border bridge to prevent aid from entering the country from the Colombian border town of Cucuta where supplies are being stockpiled, most of it from the United States. Calling the aid a "provocation" and a "child's game", Maduro suggested it was a precursor to a US military intervention in the oil-rich, but economically crippled the Latin American country. "[The US] aimed to generate a huge national mess, but they didn't succeed. The country wants peace," he said, surrounded by members of the military. HONG KONG, February 22 --China is building killer robot warships amid escalating tensions between China and the United States in the western Pacific. The race is on to control the western Pacific, with China and the US keen to rule the strategically-vital trading routes. China already holds the upper hand in terms of navy numbers in the disputed area. And with the Chinese fleet about to acquire large numbers of killer robotic warship, this advantage over the US is about to grow. The Chinese has revealed a design for an autonomous robot warship that could finally tip the balance of geopolitical power in their favour. The unmanned surface vessel, known as JARI, will help extend Beijing's naval advantage over the United States in the western Pacific. The US currently employs a network of sensor and shooter drones to penetrate anti-access environments such as the South China Sea. JARI is considered to be China’s response to this kind of warfare. JARI is 15 metres long and weighs 20 tons (18,000 kg). The warship has a sailing range of 500 nautical miles, and the boat is believed to boast a 42 knot top speed. The vessel comes equipped with eight small vertical launch system cells, a torpedo launcher, a forward mounted machine gun, and a rocket launcher for counter-surface engagements. This points to JARI having a similar mission to People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s manned Type -55 destroyer: anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare. JARI also comes complete with cutting-edge radar and sonar devices, capable of detecting and terminating aerial drones, ships and submarines. JARI was this week unveiled by the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company at Abu Dhabi’s International Defence Exhibition and Conference. The Chinese navy news arrives as the US Navy is preparing to unveil its own array of next generation robotic warships. These will include two unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The smaller of the two USVs will act as scouts and decoys, and will attempt to interfere with enemy communications. The larger USVs are arsenal ships, armed with missile launchers. The primary attraction of robot warships is they are considerably cheaper to run than manned vessels. US Rear Admiral John Neagley said: ”Part of the value of having unmanned surface vehicles is you can get capacity at a lower cost.” The US Navy is also investing in unmanned robotic submarines. Earlier this month, the US Navy reportedly paid Boeing £33million ($43million) for four Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles. These autonomous submarines are 51 feet long and can travel up to 6,500 nautical miles. And they could be used for anti-surface warfare and mine countermeasures. BEIJING , February 22 -- North Korea says it is facing a food shortage for 2019 that will require rations be reduced by almost half for its citizens. The country revealed the information to the United Nations in a two-page memo, although the document is not dated. However, the information comes a week before North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. The summit will be the second between the two nations. The memo says that the country produced 503,000 tons less of food in 2018 as compared to 2017. The country estimates that its food shortage will equal 1.4 million tons in 2019. Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, wrote the memo. Song said the combination of high temperatures, drought and typhoons, as well as sanctions against the country are to blame for the shortage. The memo, issued from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea's official name, urges the United Nations to provide assistance. “The DPRK government calls on international organizations to urgently respond to addressing the food situation,” the memo says. North Korea plans to import 200,000 pounds of food and grow roughly 400,000 pounds of crops, but a gap still remains in supplying food for the country. Because of the gap, North Korea said in the memo that it planned to reduce food rations by 10.5 ounces for a "family of blue or white collar workers," going from 1.2 pounds (550 grams) of food per day to 0.66 pounds (300 grams) per day. The ration reductions were scheduled to begin in January. According to a March 2018 report from the United Nations, 10.3 million people — nearly half the population of the country — are in need. Of those people, 41 percent are undernourished. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that UN officials and other aid groups were working with North Korean officials "in order to take early action to address their humanitarian needs" for the country's "most vulnerable people." The memo says that sanctions issued against North Korea have contributed to the shortage by “restricting the delivery of farming materials in need." “All in all, it vindicates that humanitarian assistance from the UN agencies is terribly politicized and how barbaric and inhuman sanctions are,” the memo reads. Data to verify the claims made in the memo are hard to come by, though the United Nations did confirm that the numbers in the memo match what the country reported at the end of January. Several experts have said that the memo could be a negotiating ploy for Kim ahead of the summit with Trump. “Just look at the way the letter is worded. They want to make it sound like sanctions equals starvation so the U.S. should really be benevolent and give them up,” Benjamin Silberstein, co-editor of North Korean Economy Watch and an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said. Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former CIA analyst that tracked North Korea, echoed Silberstein. BARCELONA, February 21 -- Current lap time results [3pm] for day four of the first Formula 1 pre-season test at Circuit de Catalunya. 1. Alexander Albon THA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda STR14 1m 17.637s 66 laps 2. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Renault F1 Team R.S.19 1m 17.785s 34 laps* 3. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport W10 1m 17.977s 58 laps* 4. Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90 1m 18.046s 90 laps 5. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport W10 1m 18.356s 11 laps* 6. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo Racing C38 1m 18.511s 86 laps 7. Romain Grosjean FRA Rich Energy Haas F1 Team VF-19 1m 18.563s 64 laps* 8. Pierre Gasly FRA Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda RB15 1m 19.202s 83 laps 9. Kevin Magnussen DEN Rich Energy Haas F1 Team VF-19 1m 19.389s 18 laps 10. Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team MCL34 1m 19.543s 58 laps 11. Lance Stroll CAN SportPesa Racing Pont F1 Team RP19 1m 20.026s 47 laps 12. Robert Kubica POL ROKiT Williams Racing FW42 1m 21.542s 48 laps* * Morning only ** Afternoon only LONDON, February 21 -- Britain said its relationship with China was facing complications, triggered by the plan to send a new Royal Navy aircraft carrier to the Pacific. The admission follows Britain’s participation this week in a joint naval drill with the US in the South China Sea, as part of an effort by the US and its allies to boost their military presence in the hotly contested waters. UK Finance Minister Philip Hammond said China-UK relations had been damaged by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson's threat to deploy the Queen Elizabeth warship, along with two squadrons of F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighters, to the disputed waters. China has reportedly cancelled planned trade talks with Hammond due to its anger at the announcement. Britain’s naval ambitions to once again rule the waves are laughable at best and make no sense at all “It is a complex relationship and it hasn’t been made simpler by Chinese concerns about Royal Navy deployments in the South China Sea,” Hammond said in a BBC radio programme on Thursday. “This is entirely premature, the aircraft carrier isn’t going to be at full operational readiness for another couple of years, no decisions have been made or even discussed about where its early deployments might be." Hammond's comments came after a joint exercise with the US on Monday – which included a search and seizure scenario – and less than a week after the American Indo-Pacific commander Admiral Phil Davidson said the US and its allies would be stepping up naval operations in the disputed area, which has become a dangerous flashpoint between China and the US. British marines and sailors from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose and crew members from the US Navy’s fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe carried out the maritime security and logistics training in the South China Sea. The US Navy said on Wednesday that the exercise had involved a “visit, board, search and seizure scenario”, in which a boarding team from the Montrose embarked and secured the Guadalupe, which was acting as a vessel engaged in high seas trafficking, "But the once-great British team's deputy boss would not comment on precisely what the problem was back at the Grove factory." BARCELONA, February 21 -- A contrite Claire Williams has faced the Formula 1 media in Barcelona, admitting Williams' absence from the opening two days amid fierce speculation was "embarrassing". 'Nothing to do with money' "It wasn't just one thing. We need to focus all of our energy on this test," she told Finland's MTV, "but I'm not going to talk about it publicly. Williams' delayed FW42 finally got up and running on Wednesday, some 8 seconds off the leading pace. Many have observed that Williams' simple livery and car design, coupled with the Barcelona delay, hint at obvious money problems. "No, it has nothing to do with money. It's about not getting the car ready on time," Claire Williams insisted. "First we wanted to do a shakedown and we found that we couldn't. The parts just did not match as we expected," she said. "But I'm not going to go into any details about why this happened. We still need to analyse it and ensure that it doesn't happen again. 'Extremely disappointed' "There is no excuse. All the other teams finished their cars on time, and we did that as well for over 40 years. It is embarrassing that we are so late. "I can only apologise to all the fans and to our drivers. We are all extremely disappointed," Williams added. She said the team now has to "live with compromises" ahead of the 2019 season, just as Williams desperately needs to pull itself off the back of the grid. But she rejected rumours Williams might not be able to race in Australia with two cars. "I can guarantee that we will have not only two cars in Australia but a spare chassis and enough spare parts," she said. "It would be an understatement to say that the last days have been terrible for us, but finally we have the car on track and we can start working." One big rumour during the delay is that technical boss Paddy Lowe could be sacked. Lowe's media duties for the entire Barcelona test have been cancelled. "I did not pay much attention to all the speculation, but we are not going to waste energy with blame or washing dirty laundry in public," Williams said. As for Lowe, Claire said he will "concentrate his energy on getting our car in the best possible condition" rather than taking difficult questions from the media. BANGKOK, February 21 -- Foreign investors have dumped 10.5 billion baht in Thai equities in seven straight sessions, the longest losing streak in more than two months, as worries about potential political instability grip the nation ahead of elections in March. The Stock Exchange of Thailand main index has lost about 175 billion baht of its market value since the surprise, short-lived entry of the sister of His Majesty the King into politics threw the election into turmoil. On Feb 8, Princess Ubolratana stunned the nation with her candidacy for prime minister for the Thak Raksa Chart Party that is loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. But the King blocked her bid, with the party facing dissolution ahead of the election on March 24, the first since a 2014 military coup. Since then, foreign investors have sold a net 10.5 billion baht of Thai shares. In November, foreign net selling was 9.3 billion baht over an eight-session period. Until recently, overseas inventors had bought a net 8.3 billion baht of Thai shares between Jan 1 and Feb 7. After Feb 7, things turned down with foreign sales of 2.3 billion baht for the year-to-date. In 2018, foreign net selling was nearly 300 billion baht. Investors may return after the election, fund managers say. "That's because of political uncertainty. The political heat is still here," said Prapas Tonpibulsak, chief investment officer of Talis Asset Management. "Some investors may want to sell some and are in no rush to come back until there is clarity after the poll," he said. Thai stocks are still a good bet because economic fundamentals remain solid, with growth of more than 3% expected this year, said Saharat Chudsuwan, head of marketing and wealth advisory of TISCO Asset Management. "This is just political noise and it will go away," he said. The key risk for the economy is the possibility of violent protests ahead of the elections, said Capital Economics. "Another outbreak of protests and violent conflict, would deal a significant blow to the economy," it said, estimating that the last outbreak of violence in 2013-2014 knocked around 0.7 percentage point off economic growth. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy grew slightly faster than expected in the fourth quarter, with 2018 growth of 4.1%-- the fastest pace in six years. But growth this year could be hurt by politics. "We maintain our forecast of below-potential GDP growth of 3.7% in 2019, with downside risks increasing from export slowdown and political uncertainty," said Charnon Boonnuch, economist of Nomura in Singapore. 北京2月21日电 题:走进科技创新的春天 2018年10月,第四届军民融合发展高技术装备成果展览上,我国拥有自主知识产权的1200余项展品集中亮相,来到中国人民革命军事博物馆的参观者络绎不绝。 “坚持向科技创新要战斗力”“全面实施科技兴军战略”,参观人群中有许多两院院士的身影,也有来自军队基层一线的科技工作者,他们对习近平主席关于科技创新的重要论述牢记于心。 创新驱动,一个指向未来的宏伟战略。党的十八大以来,习主席深刻把握世界军事发展大势和我军所处历史方位,着眼实现党在新时代的强军目标,擘画科技创新蓝图,为强军兴军注入了强大动力。 “谁牵住了科技创新这个牛鼻子,谁走好了科技创新这步先手棋,谁就能占领先机、赢得优势” 阳光和煦,在天津滨海新区的国家超级计算天津中心,一栋橘红色大楼外墙上,“天河”两个大字格外醒目。近千平方米的主机房内,由国防科技大学计算机学院研制的我国首台千万亿次超级计算机系统——天河一号,排列成13行,犹如列队受阅的方阵,正高速运转。 如今,天河一号又添了一个新伙伴——天河三号原型机系统,该系统研制成功并通过验收,标志着我国高性能计算已开始向百亿亿次级的“E级”超算迈进。天河三号超级计算机将实现所有元器件的国产化,预计两年后投入使用。 中国工程院院士、国防科技大学计算机学院院长廖湘科介绍说,5年多前习主席视察国防科技大学并接见学校科技创新团队代表,为科研人员坚持以我为主、勇于自主创新注入了强大精神动力。天河二号研制成功后,创新团队立即全力投入到天河三号的研制攻关,向新的“中国速度”冲锋。 “习主席和科技创新团队代表一一握手、亲切交谈,询问教学科研和生活情况,勉励大家埋头苦干、再接再厉,在新的起点上不断取得更大成绩。”廖湘科回忆当时的场景仍记忆犹新,他说,习主席参观了学校科研成果展示,在不大的展厅里,他一边看一边问。 在2015年举行的国家科学技术奖励大会上,习主席接见了廖湘科等获奖代表。作为国家科学技术进步奖特等奖获得者、“天河一号高效能计算机系统”项目第一完成人,廖湘科代表全体获奖人员发言。 廖湘科说,作为我国自主创新成果,“天河”系列超级计算机日益显示出作为国家重要基础设施的强大支撑作用,成为国家科技创新和经济社会发展的强劲引擎。 “谁牵住了科技创新这个牛鼻子,谁走好了科技创新这步先手棋,谁就能占领先机、赢得优势。”党的十八大以来,在不同场合、不同时机,习主席对创新驱动作出深刻阐述——“实施创新驱动发展战略决定着中华民族前途命运”“把创新摆在我军建设发展全局的重要位置”“国防科技和武器装备发展必须向以创新驱动发展为主转变”……统帅号令,激励全军广大科研人员以时不我待的紧迫感,加紧在一些战略必争领域形成独特优势,力争实现由“跟跑”“并跑”向“并跑”“领跑”的转变。 在江城武汉,悬挂着“祖国利益高于一切”标语的海军工程大学某重点实验室里,灯火通明是常态。 “中国要强盛、要复兴,就一定要大力发展科学技术,努力成为世界主要科学中心和创新高地。”2018年5月28日,习主席在两院院士大会上的讲话,始终回响在中国工程院院士、海军工程大学教授何琳心头。 “习主席在大会上讲的‘形势逼人,挑战逼人,使命逼人’,让我们感受到一种前所未有的紧迫感。”何琳回忆说。 科研攻关夜以继日,科研成果加速转化,学术氛围空前浓厚……放眼全军,在一处处科研攻关现场、一座座实验室里、一个个讲台上,涌动着撸起袖子加油干的壮志豪情。 北斗卫星、舰船新型集成化发电技术、舰船综合电力技术……这些出自军队科研人员之手的前沿性自主创新成果,闪耀在我国创新驱动发展的天空。 “关键核心技术是要不来、买不来、讨不来的” “你们是党和军队的宝贵财富,我一直惦念着大家,希望大家多出成果、带好队伍,为强军兴军作出更大贡献。”2018年5月16日,习主席视察军事科学院的暖心话语,让在场的每一名军队科研工作者深受感动。 那天,习主席来到军事科学院军事医学研究院,考察相关科研工程进展情况,看到不少成果达到世界先进水平,习主席很高兴,勉励大家再接再厉,再创佳绩,之后还专门看望了在军事科学院工作的两院院士,关切了解大家的工作生活情况。 “在一幅幅展板、一件件实物前,习主席看得很仔细,不时驻足询问,详细了解科研项目进展情况。我们真切感受到,习主席对军事科技创新很重视,对科技工作者真关心、真爱护。”中国工程院院士、军事科学院军事医学研究院研究员金宁一说。 在金宁一的记忆里,不论是全军装备工作会议,还是全国科技创新大会、两院院士大会、中国科协第九次全国代表大会,不论是向军事科学院、国防大学、国防科技大学授军旗致训词,还是两会期间和军队人大代表座谈交流,习主席多次阐述科技创新的重要性。 “习主席在两院院士大会上深刻指出,实践反复告诉我们,关键核心技术是要不来、买不来、讨不来的。”金宁一深有感触地说,军事核心技术更是买不来的,习主席一系列重要讲话为军事科技领域自主创新擘画了宏伟蓝图,指明了具体方向。 2017年冬天,一场近年来最强的季节性流感,让人们记住了一种“抗流感神药”:磷酸奥司他韦。由军事科学院某研究所自主研制生产的磷酸奥司他韦已能满足常规需要及战略储备,且价格仅为进口药的一半,为构筑我国医学防护的坚实盾牌又立新功。 “习主席指示把军事科研创新的引擎全速发动起来,我们一定要加倍努力,以原创、实用、一流的科研成果服务部队备战打仗需要。”多次受到习主席亲切接见的中国科学院院士、军事科学院系统工程研究院某研究所所长尹浩说。 从红山脚下到湘江之畔,从荆楚大地到黄浦江边……习主席擘画的科技创新宏伟蓝图,指引并鼓舞着全军教学科研人员以高昂的斗志投身到火热的科研创新实践中。 “把创新成果转化为实实在在的战斗力” 2018年9月,经中央军委批准,增加“献身国防科技事业杰出科学家”林俊德、“逐梦海天的强军先锋”张超为全军挂像英模。 消息传来,某基地研究员王建国激动不已,他说:“林俊德是科技战线的元勋,也是扎根基层的科研人员的优秀代表。” 2017年全国两会上,习主席亲切接见王建国,得知王建国已在大漠戈壁工作了整整30年,勉励他:“就需要像你这样扎根基层的科研人员。” 王建国说,习主席的深情关怀,激励我们扎根科研一线,前赴后继、勇攀高峰。 2018年8月,一篇题为《习主席视察过的武器装备》的网文在微信朋友圈里刷屏:从海口舰、辽宁舰,到两栖突击车、轰—6K新型轰炸机,习主席视察过的武器装备几乎涵盖了各个军兵种。 仔细浏览着这篇文章,中部战区陆军某师营长郭国华心情难以平静,2018年1月3日,习主席来到该师训练一线视察。 “那天天气特别冷,习主席对军事科技创新成果转化尤为重视。”郭国华说,高新武器装备凝聚了科研工作者的智慧和心血,但他们毕竟不是武器装备的直接操作者,基层掌握娴熟后才能最终转化为战斗力。 “下更大气力推动科技兴军,坚持向科技创新要战斗力,为我军建设提供强大科技支撑”……有人把2017年的春天称为“科技兴军的春天”。这是因为习主席在十二届全国人大五次会议解放军代表团全体会议上,围绕推动科技兴军作了深刻系统阐述,发出了科技兴军的动员令。 多次现场聆听习主席重要讲话,陆军第83集团军某旅副参谋长、十二届全国人大代表韩庆波觉得,随着国防科技的快速发展,当务之急是要大力培养精通新装备的创新人才,让新装备尽快形成战斗力。他深有感触地说,向科技创新要战斗力成为官兵心头的烽火、奋进的誓言。韩庆波所在部队新装备科技含量高,新装备到底如何训练、如何作战、如何保障等问题是他们研究思考的问题。 科技兴军的征程中,广大官兵处于军事斗争准备的最前沿,打通科技成果转化“最后一公里”,基层官兵大有可为。站在新的历史起点上,全军官兵胸怀报国之志,坚定创新信心,必将在科技兴军实践中交出精彩答卷。 BARCELONA, February 20 -- Williams’ FW42 has finally made its on-track debut in Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Williams, which finished a distant last in the 2018 Constructors’ Championship, endured delays in readying its FW42. It cancelled a planned shakedown before missing both of Monday and Tuesday’s test days, leaving it on the back foot compared to its rivals. The FW42 arrived in Barcelona early on Wednesday morning and it was fired up during the first four-hour session, but was not yet ready to join the action. Russell brought the car out for an installation lap shortly before 14:30, following a post-lunch red-flag period caused by Haas’ Romain Grosjean stopping on track. Williams has yet to communicate its intended run plan for Thursday. Current lap time results [3pm] for day three of the first Formula 1 pre-season test at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain: 1. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo Racing C38 1m 17.762s 94 laps 2. Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90 1m 18.350s 99 laps 3. Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault F1 Team R.S.19 1m 18.800s 63 laps* 4. Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda STR14 1m 18.897s 65 laps 5. Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda RB15 1m 18.899s 52 laps 6. Pietro Fittipaldi BRA Rich Energy Haas F1 Team VF-19 1m 19.249s 48 laps* 7. Carlos Sainz Jr. ESP McLaren F1 Team MCL34 1m 19.354s 33 laps 8. Romain Grosjean FRA Rich Energy Haas F1 Team VF-19 1m 19.358s 8 laps** 9. Sergio Perez MEX SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team RP19 1m 20.102s 48 laps 10. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport W10 1m 20.693s 88 laps* 11. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport W10 1m 20.818s 11 laps** 12. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Renault F1 Team R.S.19 1m 20.885s 17 laps** 13. George Russell GBR ROKiT Williams Racing FW42 No time set 1 laps *Morning only **Afternoon only MOSCOW, February 20 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned the United States against deploying new missiles in Europe, threatening to retaliate in kind by targeting Western capitals with his own new weaponry. Delivering a state of the nation address, Putin said the US abandoned a key arms control pact - the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty - to free its hands to build new missiles and tried to shift the blame for the move on Russia. "I'm saying this clearly and openly - Russia will be forced to create and deploy new types of weapons that could be used not only against the territories where a direct threat to us comes from, but also against the territories where decision-making centres directing the use of missile systems threatening us are located," Putin said. "The capability of such weapons, including the time to reach those centres, will be equivalent to the threats against Russia." He did not say what specific new weapons Moscow could deploy, but he reported quick progress on an array of new systems presented a year ago. New arms Putin said the first batch of Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles will be deployed this year. He added the tests of the new Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone have been progressing successfully. The first submarine equipped to carry the Poseidon will be commissioned later this year, Putin reported. He also announced the coming deployment of the new Zircon hypersonic missile for the Russian navy, saying it's capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and will have a range of 1,000km. He said the Zircon programme will not be too costly as the missile has been designed to equip Russia's existing surface ships and submarines. While issuing a tough warning to the US, Putin also said Russia still wants friendly relations with Washington and remains open to arms control talks. "We don't want confrontation, particularly with such a global power as the US," he said. The US has accused Russia of breaching the INF treaty by deploying a cruise missile that violates its limits - accusations Moscow rejected. The INF treaty banned production, testing and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500km to 5,500km. The intermediate-range weapons were seen as particularly destabilising as they take shorter time to reach their targets compared to the intercontinental ballistic missiles. That would leave practically no time for decision-makers, raising the likelihood of a global nuclear conflict over a false launch warning. CARACAS, February 20 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said that he was confident that countries across the world would support the Bolivarian Republic in the event of a US military invasion. "If Venezuela is attacked by the US empire, the peoples of the world will rise up and begin fighting it together," he said addressing medical university graduates on Tuesday. Maduro’s speech was broadcast live over his Twitter account. The nation’s leader stressed that Venezuela had found itself in the epicenter of a political standoff between the US, which is taking "aggressive, unilateral and imperial actions" and those who advocate "a multilateral democratic approach based on accord, harmony and dialogue between peoples throughout the world." On February 18, during his speech at Florida International University in Miami, US President Donald Trump said that Washington was considering all options to resolve the domestic political crisis in Venezuela. Juan Guaido, Venezuelan opposition leader and parliament speaker, whose appointment to that position had been cancelled by the country’s Supreme Court, declared himself interim president at a rally in the country’s capital of Caracas on January 23. Several countries, including the United States, Lima Group members (excluding Mexico), as well as the Organization of American States, recognized him as president. Venezuela's incumbent President Nicolas Maduro blasted these actions as an attempted coup and said he was cutting diplomatic ties with the United States. In contrast, Russia, Belarus, Bolivia, Iran, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria and Turkey voiced support for Maduro. BARCELONA, February 20 -- All eyes are on the Williams garage ahead of the third day of testing in Barcelona. The struggling British team missed the first two days of 2019 running, amid rumours of design flaws and the potential departure of technical boss Paddy Lowe. One Williams mechanic said it would be “a miracle” if the FW42 made its test debut on Wednesday. Rookie driver George Russell, though, said he was “confident” Williams’ predictions of running on Wednesday are accurate. “Everyone is working as hard as possible to get it sorted,” the reigning F2 champion added. A team spokesman said running before lunch on Wednesday was “unlikely”, amid speculation the car is finally en route from Oxfordshire to Spain. It is an alarming situation for the once-great team’s fans, including those of returning F1 driver Robert Kubica. “As this goes on, surely someone will lose their job,” correspondent Krystian Sobierajski, of the Polish broadcaster Polsat Sport, said. Former F1 driver Marc Surer told Speed Week: “If the new car is again bad, I honestly do not know what will become of Paddy Lowe. “This is his last chance.” |
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