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US warns time running out for virus evacuations by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) April 1, 2020 The United States warned Wednesday that it may soon not be able to repatriate additional citizens caught overseas in the coronavirus pandemic after bringing home more than 30,000. "If you are on the beach when an earthquake strikes, you wouldn't just stand there waiting for the coming tsunami; you would head for higher ground immediately," senior State Department official Ian Brownlee said. "Well, in this case, the earthquake has happened," he told reporters. "It's time to seek higher ground now, and not hope for a rescue later." Brownlee said that the United States has brought home some 31,000 citizens from more than 60 countries, with the highest demand for evacuations from South Asia and Central and South America. After arranging 350 flights, the United States has another 80 scheduled but has received word from another 24,000 Americans that they may seek repatriation. "There's no guarantee the Department of State will be able to continue to provide repatriation assistance and transportation options from many countries to the US may become unavailable in the future, even in a few weeks' time," he said. The State Department has warned citizens that they may be stranded indefinitely overseas unless they come home immediately as countries impose stringent entry restrictions and airlines drastically cut flights. US officials have advised citizens to seek commercial flights when available but has been arranging air transport from countries where none are available. Some 20 million US citizens lived overseas before the crisis, meaning that the vast majority have chosen to stay put.
State Dept. approves $194M upgrade deal for South Korea's F-16s Washington DC (UPI) Mar 30, 2020 The State Department approved a sale of upgrades to South Korea's F-16 fighter planes, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday. The $194 million sale, expected to be approved by Congress, calls for South Korea to obtain Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe equipment, known as IFF, and Link 16 Technical Datalink equipment for its F-16 Block 32 fleet. IFF, in use since the 1940s and improved regularly, identifies and tracks military aircraft, and Mode 5 is the most recent imp ... read more
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