Christopher Harress

151-180 (out of 1281)

Christopher is the defense reporter for International Business Times, counting on his four years as logistics officer in the British Royal Navy to inform his daily reporting on the nexus of business, politics, international affairs and defense. He came to IBT after graduating from the renowned investigative course at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where he delved into an array of topics, including FIFA corruption and employment discrimination against military veterans.
Once a freelancer, Christopher has reported from Senegal, all across Europe, New Zealand and Australia. His investigations have appeared prominently in the New York Times and FourFourTwo magazine, where he won an Overseas Press Club award for his reporting on the human trafficking of young soccer players from Senegal to France. Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, he currently lives in New York and splits his time between playing Sunday league soccer and frightening people by wearing his kilt.

A women walks out of a New York subway stop.

When Does Winter Start 2015? Facts For The Beginning Of The Cold Weather Season

Despite almost record-breaking high temperatures in December this year, experts are divided over the kind of weather we'll get this winter.

After Su-24M Jet Downing, Russia Deploys S-400 Missile System In Syria, Grounds US Aircraft

Russia's deployment of the S-400 in Syria is purely for protection, it says, but the move has inadvertently grounded U.S. jets, and Pentagon officials claim Russia was targeting its aircraft.

Pentagon chief Ash Carter gestures during a press conference

Ash Carter Email Scandal: Amid Possible Security Breach, 27 Electronic Messages From Defense Chief Released By Pentagon

Pentagon chief Ash Carter has been caught in an email scandal after admitting he used his personal email for work purposes.

The S-400 missile defense system on parade in Moscow.

India Wants Russian S-400 Missile Defense System, But Moscow Lukewarm On Deal Amid T-50 Stealth Fighter Joint Venture Talks

Moscow is lukewarm on the deal, preferring to focus on a joint venture to build the new T-50 stealth fighter jet, the first fifth-generation fighter jet outside of the U.S.

German Spies Battle ISIS In Syria: Assad Working With Berlin Foreign Intelligence Agency To Fight Islamic State Group

German spies will descend on Syria in collaboration with Bashar Assad's Damascus government to help beat the Islamic State group.

Russian guns are fired during a military salute outside Moscow.

Russian Defense Manufacturing Hits New High As China, India Take Advantage Of Moscow's Affordable And Advanced Technology

A report released this week shows that sales of Russian weapons increased significantly in 2014 while Western sales have dropped.

Russian president Vladimir Putin addresses journalists at a Moscow conference

Russian Sanctions On Ukraine To End? Putin Will Not Impose New Penalties On Kiev In 2016

Russian sanctions are to end going into 2016, but Kiev will lose access to free trade with Moscow.

The national flag of Taiwan during a drill of the country's security troops

Amid US-China Tensions, Defense Sales To Taiwan Angers Chinese Government

The agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan has angered Beijing, while adding to disputes centered around the South China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter gestures during a press conference.

The Fight Against ISIS In Iraq: Wider Anti-Islamic State US Role Sought By Ash Carter During Visit To Middle Eastern County

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Iraq Wednesday to secure broader Iraqi involvement in the fight against the Islamic State group, but Baghdad is hesitant.

The T-90 tank during rehearsals in Moscow.

Iran Defense Spending: Tehran Wants Russian Weapons Including T-90 Tank And Attack Helicopters

General Ahmad Reza said Wednesday Iran wants to make major defense purchases. Regional rivals are concerned that sanctions relief will see Tehran add $150 billion to its budget.

Islamic State Group In Afghanistan: ISIS Growing Outside Of Syria And Iraq, Pentagon Report Finds

ISIS presence in Afghanistan has increased as presence shifts east from Syria and Iraq.

Secretary of State John Kerry meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow

US-Russia Anti-ISIS Syria Meeting: In Moscow, Kerry, Putin Discuss How To Defeat Islamic State

The countries are at odds over Syrian President Bashar Assad and the conflict in Ukraine but agree that the terrorist organization must be destroyed.

Two Rafale fighter jets on the deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle

French Anti-ISIS Airstrikes In Iraq: Cruise Missiles Used For Islamic State Group Bombing In Western Part Of Country

France, which has been involved in U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in Iraq since September 2014, on Tuesday hit targets in the west of the country.

US Defense Spending: Amid Tight Military Budget, Air Force F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Military Purchases May Need To Be Reduced

Around 42 percent of the Air Force's $72.7 billion budget over the next decade will be spent on the F-35.

Islamic State Group Funding: Taxes On Muslims Used By ISIS To Fund Caliphate

U.S. officials estimate that the Islamic State group takes in as much as $40 million from taxation per month, equaling its oil profits over the same period.

Why Is It So Warm Winter 2015? Fall Arctic Oscillation To Blame For December Heat Wave

Temperatures across the country are soaring because of a little-known weather phenomenon in the North Pole.

A rocket takes off from a North Korean launch site.

Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea Nuclear Weapons Could Hit US After Upgrade To Satellite Launching Station

The facility will eventually be capable of firing rockets that are around 60 meters long, twice the size of the Unha-3 rocket that let North Korea put a satellite in space in 2012.

A reaper idle drone on the tarmac at a naval base in California

Air Force Wants More Drones To Fight ISIS: US Military Could Spend $3 Billion On New Drones And Pilots

It wants to increase the drone fleet by adding 75 General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers as part of a $3 billion program to improve firepower and intelligence capability.

Amid Fight Against ISIS, NATO European Military Spending Questioned By Pentagon Following Islamic State Terror Attacks

Aside from Britain and France, few European members of the Western military alliance are doing their fair share to combat ISIS, the U.S. says.

Russian ships at the Kaliningrad military base in the Baltic Sea

After Russian Nuclear Missile Drills, Baltic Sea Access Could be Blocked By Moscow, Pentagon Fears

Since Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, Moscow has resumed large scale ballistic missile tests and its adversarial relationship with the NATO-led West.

EU Russia Sanctions Extended? Italy Blocks European Union's Proposal To Renew Legislation Amid Disagreements

Italy wants to first formally discuss renewed sanctions against Russia before it allows the EU to extend the legislation.

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter testifying

US Strategy Against Islamic State Group: Anti-ISIS Military Action In Syria Outlined By Pentagon Chief Ash Carter

Ash Carter outlined the U.S. strategy to defeat ISIS, but failed to give timelines on taking back the terror strongholds of Mosul and Raqqa.

A protester plants a flag during clashes with Israel

Islamic State Group In Gaza: ISIS Affiliate Gains Foothold In Palestine Amid Attacks On Israel

Increased attacks from an ISIS affiliate in Gaza are endangering the fragile peace that exists there.

U.S. Special Forces troops before a patrol

US Special Forces Fight ISIS, Bolstered By Allied Elite Units

Elite fighters from the U.S. and other nations are forming a unified military effort against the Islamic State group.

People from the Hui minority read from the Koran

Islamic State Group In China: Terror Group Targets Mandarin-Speaking Chinese Muslims In New Recruitment Drive

The terror group recently released a chant in Mandarin aimed at recruiting Muslims from the Hui ethnic group in the northwest of the country.

Soldiers in the PLA of China take part in a military parade.

China Military Overhaul 2016: Western-Style Defense Restructuring Nearing Completion

The restructuring will see the military cut around 300,000 troops from its pool of around 2 million active personnel and create a Western-style military force.

Obama delivering a speech in the Oval Office.

Is Obama's War Against ISIS Legal? US Airstrikes In Syria And Iraq Raise Constitutional Concerns

The 16-month U.S. military effort against ISIS has been fought using legislation passed on Sept. 18, 2001, to specifically target those responsible for 9/11.

Russian Military Satellite Fails In Major Blow To Moscow's Federal Space Agency

The lost satellite was designed both for civilian and military use, primarily to scan the Earth's oceans and weather systems from space including spotting submarines for the armed services.