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☆ US assesses Israel has amassed enough troops to launch full-scale incursion into Rafah, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If Israel were to proceed with a major ground operation into Rafah, it would be going against months of warnings from the US to forego a full-scale offensive into the densely populated city. Going “headlong into Rafah” could have dire consequences, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday. “They couldn’t launch an attack of that scale today.”“Their weapons production factories underground have been eliminated. However, the Biden administration has been ramping up the pressure on Israel to start focusing much more in earnest on post-war Gaza plans – so far, to little effect. Blinken publicly called on Israel to engage more seriously on developing a plan for post-war Gaza over the weekend.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Jake Sullivan, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Antony Blinken, “ Israel’s, ” Blinken, Israel, Matt Miller, “, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel, White, State, NATO Youth Summit, Aspen Institute, Press, Hamas, CBS Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel

☆ Philippines calls for expelling Chinese diplomats as South China Sea row escalates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. China said the United States must refrain from "stirring up trouble" or taking sides on the South China Sea issue, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard. The Philippines' national security adviser called on Friday for Chinese diplomats to be expelled over an alleged leak of a phone conversation with a Filipino admiral in a significant escalation of a bitter row over the South China Sea. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the comments provocative and said Chinese diplomats in the Philippines had to be allowed to do their job. The report said the conversation had taken place in January and the transcript was provided by a "ranking Chinese official", which it did not name.

Persons: Shoal, Antony Blinken, Eduardo Ano, Lin Jian, Lin, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Thomas Shoal Organizations: Guard, U.S, Philippine, U.S . State Department, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila Times, Beijing, Reuters Locations: Philippine, South China, China, United States, Manila, Philippines, China's, Beijing

☆ Russian charged with LockBit ransomware crimes — $10 million reward for his arrest
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced criminal charges against a Russian national, Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, for allegedly creating, developing, and administrating the LockBit ransomware-as-service group. The U.S. State Department at the same time offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the apprehension and arrest of Khoroshev, a 31-year-old from Voronezh, Russia. The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on Khoroshev, blocking all property and interests he holds in the United States or are in the possession of Americans. Khoroshev, who also is known as LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab, was charged in a 26-count indictment in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, which accuses him of personally pocketing at least $100 million from victims of the group. He typically received 20% of each ransom payment, authorities said.

Persons: Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, Khoroshev, LockBit's, pocketing Organizations: U.S . State Department, Treasury Department, The, Justice, DOJ Locations: Russian, Voronezh, Russia, United States, U.S, New Jersey

☆ Georgia rocked by protests as government pushes Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —After spending his days making wine in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, Tsotne Jafaridze returns home to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, and begins his new routine. Jafaridze, who also owns a travel business and says he receives 95% of his income from foreign sources, says he would “immediately” be listed as a foreign agent under the broadly-written law. But the government reintroduced the same bill in March and appears determined to force it through, despite protests that grow fiercer every week. Despite recent Russian aggression against Georgia, Georgian Dream has long been accused of harboring pro-Russian sympathies and its billionaire founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made his fortune in the Soviet Union. Bidzina Ivanishvili addresses a rally in support of the "foreign agent" law in Tbilisi, April 29, 2024.

Persons: Jafaridze, ”, Vladimir Putin, “, Giorgi Arjevanidze, isn’t, ” Natalie Sabanadze, –, Levan Khabeishvili, Khabeishvili, Bidzina Ivanishvili, ” Buziashvili, Ivanishvili, Bidzina, Shakh, Sabanandze, Irakli Kobakhidze, Kobakhidze, ” Sabanadze, Viktor Orban, Europe’s, Matthew Miller, Washington, Georgia “, Irakli Gedenidze, Viktor Yanukovych, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, European Union, Getty, EU, United National Movement, National Security Council, Soviet Army, Soviet Union, Belarus ’, Party, Georgian, Conservative Political, United, State Department, Protesters, Reuters Locations: Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia’s, Russia, Georgian, Russian, Soviet, AFP, Brussels, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Hungary, Hungarian, United States, stoke, ”

☆ U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, in breach of global ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine undergo training to storm enemy trenches using simulation equipment as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine on February 29, 2024. The U.S. has formally accused Russia of using chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops and announced late Wednesday that it is imposing more sanctions on Russian individuals and entities. The U.S. State Department released a statement late Wednesday in which it accused Russia of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which bans the production and use of chemical weapons, by using the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces. Chloropicrin was used as a poison gas in World War I but is now more commonly used in agriculture as an insecticide. "When inhaled, these agents cause alveoli, air sacs in the lungs, to secrete fluid, essentially drowning those affected," the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons states.

Persons: Chloropicrin Organizations: National Guard, Ukrainian, U.S . State Department, Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC, Russian, Chemical Weapons Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kharkiv Region, U.S

☆ Mali Claims Death of Terrorist Who Helped Lead Deadly Ambush in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ruth Maclean | More About Ruth Maclean | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Mali said on Monday that it had killed a high-value Islamist commander who helped lead a 2017 attack in which four American and four Nigerien soldiers were killed alongside an interpreter. The U.S. State Department had put a $5 million bounty on the head of the commander, Abu Huzeifa — a member of an affiliate of the Islamic State — after his participation in an attack in Tongo Tongo, Niger, on American Green Berets and their Nigerien comrades. At that time, the attack was the largest loss of American troops during combat in Africa since the “Black Hawk Down” debacle in Somalia in 1993. In a post on social media on Monday, Mali’s armed forces said that on Sunday they had “neutralized a major terrorist leader of foreign nationality during a large-scale operation in Liptako” — a tri-border region that contains parts of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Persons: Abu Huzeifa —, — Organizations: Nigerien, U.S . State Department, Islamic, American Green Berets Locations: Mali, Tongo Tongo, Niger, Africa, Somalia, Liptako, Burkina Faso

☆ Israel Faced a Sophisticated Attack From Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Jin Yu Young | More About Jin Yu Young | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The weapons Iran used on Saturday can travel much farther, and some of them can travel much faster. Still, Israel said that nearly all of the missiles and drones that Iran fired were intercepted, many with help from U.S. forces. In Saturday’s attack, 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles and 110 surface-to-surface missiles were fired toward Israel, according to Israeli military officials. It has a range of more than 1,200 miles — plenty to reach Israel from Iran. In recent decades, Iran has largely been focused on deterrence, long-range missiles, drones and air defenses.

Persons: Israel, Fabian Hinz, Jeffrey Lewis Organizations: Hamas, Islamic, Fajr, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, International Security, U.S . State Department Locations: Iran, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Yemen, Berlin, United States, Vietnam

☆ The West urges China to intervene with Iran amid fears of a direct attack on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iranians attend a funeral procession in Tehran, held for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria. Western diplomats have mounted pressure on China to prevent Iran from escalating tensions in the Middle East with a direct retaliatory strike against Israel. U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken earlier this week spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other counterparts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia amid rising fears of retaliation by Tehran against Israel. Beijing is a critical trade partner of Russia and Iran as one of the last recipients of their oil exports. The three countries are also members of the China-led BRICS coalition of emerging markets.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Blinken, Matthew Miller, it's, Olaf Scholz Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel, U.S, Chinese Foreign, U.S . State, BRICS Locations: Tehran, Syria, China, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, U.S, Germany, Beijing, Russia

☆ Oil consolidates gains amid concerns of worsening Middle East crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices held steady in early Asian trading on Thursday after gaining a dollar a barrel in the prior session as investors braced for a worsening of the Middle East crisis, potentially involving Iran, the third-largest oil producer in OPEC. Oil prices held steady in early Asian trading on Thursday after gaining a dollar a barrel in the prior session as investors braced for a worsening of the Middle East crisis, potentially involving Iran, the third-largest oil producer in OPEC. A Bloomberg report on Wednesday said the U.S. and its allies believe major missile or drone strikes by Iran or its proxies against Israel are imminent. "The market has become increasingly concerned that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate across the Middle East, putting oil supply at risk," ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes said. Oil traders will also be looking out for a monthly oil market report from the OPEC due to be published later on Thursday, and the International Energy Agency's oil market report due on Friday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Daniel Hynes Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Hamas, Bloomberg, Israeli, U.S . State Department, ANZ, International Energy Locations: Iran, Gaza, Israel, Syria, U.S, United States

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine accused of another nuclear plant drone strike; Flooding worsens in Russia's Orenburg
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant during the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict outside Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, June 15, 2023. Officials at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine on Tuesday accused Kyiv of a further drone attack, after an unmanned aerial vehicle allegedly fell onto the roof of its training centre. Kyiv has denied that it is behind a series of strikes on Europe's largest nuclear plant in recent days that prompted the International Atomic Energy Agency to sound the alarm over nuclear safety, and has instead accused Moscow of using the seized facility as a propaganda platform. U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday called on Russia to end its militarized occupation of the facility and said Moscow is "playing a very dangerous game,"Meanwhile, Russian authorities continue to battle historic flooding in the southern region of Orenburg. More than 300 homes have been flooded and there's an order in place to evacuate more than 100,000 people as water levels in the Ural River continue to rise rapidly.

Persons: Matthew Miller Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, . State Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Kyiv, Moscow, Orenburg

☆ The US allowed a Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass at the UN. What does that mean for the war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Abbas Allawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Following several failed attempts over five months of Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council on Monday finally passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israeli officials lambasted the resolution, saying they have no intention of ceasing fire. Israel criticized the language of the resolution, saying it doesn’t firmly tie a ceasefire to the freeing of the hostages held in Gaza. Oren Ziv/AFP/Getty ImagesIs the resolution binding on Israel? After the resolution passed, US officials went to great lengths to say that the resolution isn’t binding.

Persons: doesn’t, ”, United Nations Gilad Erdan, Israel Katz, ” Katz, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, Ron Dermer, Joe Biden, Gabriela Shalev, Louis Har, Oren Ziv, Matthew Miller, John Kirby, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Zhang Jun, Farhan Haq, VI, VII, Maya Ungar, ” Ungar, Yossi Mekelberg, ” Mekelberg, Ungar, ” Shalev, ” Biden, Dawoud Abu Alkas, Biden, Kamala Harris, Kirby, Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, Shalev, Israel Organizations: CNN, United Nations Security, Hamas, United Nations, Council, Foreign, US, UN, Hebrew, Getty, State Department, White, National Security, Crisis Group, ICG, Chatham House, Security Council, Assembly, Reuters, Washington, Israel’s Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, Washington, Rafah, Israeli, Tel Aviv, UN, Brussels, East, North Africa, London, Al Shifa, Gaza City, Reuters Israel

☆ 'An extraordinary thing': U.S. break with Israel on UN cease-fire vote triggers Netanyahu rage
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned prior to the vote that the delegation's visit would be pulled, if Washington did not veto the motion. "The U.S. declining to protect Israel from a resolution it passionately objects to by not providing a veto is an extraordinary thing." The motion also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "In this case, the abstention is a very strong signal to Israel that the United States is losing patience," Ibish said. Smoke billows after Israeli bombardment in central Gaza City on March 18, 2024, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

Persons: United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Angela Weiss, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hussein Ibish, Matthew Miller, Miller, Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, Ibish, Israel's, Biden Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Security, UN, Afp, Getty, Hamas, White, Security, U.S, UN Security Council, Gulf States Institute, CNBC Locations: Gaza, New York, Israel, Palestinian, Washington, Israeli, United States, Rafah, Gaza City

☆ Israel defense minister’s meeting with Lloyd Austin comes at a delicate moment in push for US weaponry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Gallant will be told that the various cases of weapons sales are being worked on, a senior administration official told CNN. “There is scrutiny, but no policy decision to deny” the provision of additional weapons to Israel, the official told CNN. But the defense secretary’s position on providing weapons to Israel has not shifted much since the war began, officials said. “If there is one, that would be something we would want to hear,” said the senior administration official who added that consequences for ignoring US urgings are increasingly being considered. Austin also told Gallant last week that Israel needs “to consider alternatives to a major ground operation in Rafah,” according to a Pentagon readout of their call.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, Gallant, —, Joe Biden’s, Austin, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’re, John Kirby, Israel, “, Patrick Ryder, ”, ” Gallant, Biden, Netanyahu, ” Kirby, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: US, Israel, Pentagon, UN, ” National Security, CNN, Austin, Israel Defense Forces, Foreign, State Department, Congress, Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Washington, Rafah, Israel, Lebanon, ”

☆ 'Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong': Beijing hits back at U.S. for 'slandering' city's new security law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of China and Hong Kong displayed in rows. China's embassy hit back against U.S. criticism of Hong Kong's new national security law on Thursday, saying the U.S. should "respect China's sovereignty." Hong Kong lawmakers passed a new national security law on Tuesday which critics say grants the government more power to quash dissent. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which no country is in the position to point fingers at or interfere in," a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Persons: Hong, Hong Kong's, Vedant Patel, John Lee, Wang Yi, — CNBC's Evelyn Cheng, Clement Tan Organizations: U.S . State Department, Kong's Legislative, China's, Beijing, China - Locations: China, Hong Kong, U.S, China's, Hong Kong . Hong Kong, Kong's, China - U.S

☆ China slams the U.S. for interfering in Arunachal Pradesh border dispute with India
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A tableau of Arunachal Pradesh state during the Republic Day parade along Kartavya Path in New Delhi, India, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. China slammed the United States for interfering in its border dispute with India, after Washington said it recognized the disputed Arunachal Pradesh as a part of Indian territory. China, which refers to the territory as Zangnan, claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of southern Tibet. India rejects those claims, stating Arunachal Pradesh has always been a part of India. Kugelman pointed out that the U.S. typically refrains from commenting on some Indian border disputes, such as the one with Pakistan over Kashmir.

Persons: Washington, Lin Jian, China's, Narendra Modi, Vedant Patel, Zangnan, Lin, Michael Kugelman, Kugelman Organizations: India's, Foreign Ministry, U.S . State Department, United, LAC, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, CNBC Locations: Arunachal Pradesh, New Delhi, India, China, United States, Beijing, Indian, Tibet, U.S, Pakistan, Kashmir, Washington

☆ U.S. investigating Meta for role in illicit drug sales, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A smart phone is displaying Facebook with the Meta icon visible in the background in this photo illustration. The paper quoted a spokesman for Meta as saying in a statement: "The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies and we work to find and remove this content from our services". "Meta proactively cooperates with law enforcement authorities to help combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs," he added. The prosecutors' office and a spokeswoman for the FDA declined to comment to WSJ. Meta, the FDA and the Virginia Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Persons: Nick Clegg, Meta Organizations: U.S, Wall Street, Drug Administration, Meta, FDA, Virginia Attorney, U.S . State Department, United Nations Office, Drugs Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Virginia

☆ Russian Embassy in US in Contact With State Department Ahead of Elections, Ambassador Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The Russian embassy in Washington is in "close contact" with the U.S. State Department ahead of the presidential election in Russia this week to ensure the security of the diplomatic mission, ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on Monday. President Vladimir Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, is set to win a new six-year term in the March 15-17 vote. This would enable him to overtake Josef Stalin and become Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years. "We are in close contact with the secret service of the State Department. We expect that the Americans will fulfil their obligations to ensure the security of the diplomatic mission."

Persons: Anatoly Antonov, Vladimir Putin, Josef Stalin, Antonov, Joe Biden's, Biden, Putin, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, U.S . State Department, State Department, Union Locations: Russian, Washington, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Moscow, Melbourne

☆ Hong Kong proposes new security bill with life imprisonment for 'treason' and 'insurrection'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flag of Hong Kong flies from a ferry boat on July 2, 1997, a day after the former British colony returned to Chinese rule. Hong Kong on Friday unveiled a new draft security bill proposing up to life imprisonment for offences such as insurrection and treason following a month of public consultation period for the bill. The draft legislation is necessary for Hong Kong to fulfil its constitutional duty to safeguard national security, China's Ministry of National Security emphasized in its official WeChat account on Monday. Beijing imposed a controversial law four years ago, which stamped out dissent and led to the arrest of many Hong Kong pro-democracy activists. China's 2020 national security law aimed at prohibiting secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference.

Persons: Hong, John Lee Organizations: British, China's Ministry of National Security, Hong, U.S . State Department, Kong's Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ Middle East Crisis Head of U.N. Aid Agency Says Israel Is Trying to Undermine Its Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

He warned on Monday that the worst might be yet to come in Gaza if humanitarian services collapse. The head of the United Nations agency providing aid for Palestinians in Gaza has said that his organization was being targeted with a “deliberate and concerted campaign” to undermine its operations when its services are most needed. Israel’s accusations in January prompted 16 donor countries, including the United States, to suspend about $450 million in funding. The court, the United Nations’ highest judicial body, has ordered Israel to take immediate steps to facilitate the aid Gaza desperately needs and is weighing whether Israel has committed genocide in its war in Gaza. Israel has a long history of friction with UNRWA, which was founded in 1949 and is one of the oldest U.N. agencies.

Persons: Philippe Lazzarini, Lazzarini, Israel, ”, ” Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Biden, “ Organizations: UNRWA, United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, General Assembly, International Court of Justice, Palestinian, U.S . State Department Locations: Geneva, Gaza, New York, Israel, United States

☆ U.S. Warns Spring Breakers Headed to Mexico, Jamaica or the Bahamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Vjosa Isai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ms. Moore, 75, has always felt safe during her stays in Jamaica, where she’s returning for the fourth time on Wednesday. But this year, while she’s still happy to take a trip, a travel advisory for Jamaica, reissued in January by the U.S. State Department, has elevated her concerns. “I’m sure there are parts, just like the United States, that you can go into that are not recommended,” said Ms. Moore. In recent weeks, the State Department and U.S. Embassies have issued new and updated advisories urging travelers to Mexico, Jamaica and the Bahamas — some of the busiest international spring break destinations — to exercise extra caution after recent violent events, some in tourist areas. Security experts suggest that the advice is largely consistent with advisories of previous years.

Persons: Ginger Moore, Moore, she’s, “, ” Organizations: U.S . State Department, State Department, U.S, Embassies Locations: Panama City, Fla, Caribbean, Jamaica, United States, Mexico, Bahamas

☆ Nuclear War: The Rising Risk, and How We Stop It - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( W.J. Hennigan | W.J. Hennigan Writes About National Security For Opinion. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The United States estimates Russia has a stockpile of up to 2,000 tactical nuclear warheads, some small enough they fit in an artillery shell. But the detonation of any tactical nuclear weapon would be an unprecedented test of the dogma of deterrence, a theory that has underwritten America’s military policy for the past 70 years. Possessing nuclear weapons isn’t about winning a nuclear war, the theory goes; it’s about preventing one. If Mr. Putin dropped a nuclear weapon on Ukraine — a nonnuclear nation that’s not covered by anyone’s nuclear umbrella — what then? Many in the administration believed the Kremlin’s dirty bomb ploy posed the greatest risk of nuclear war since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

Persons: Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Lloyd Austin, Russia Sergei Shoigu, Britain Ben Wallace, Defense Turkey Hulusi Akar, Sebastien Lecornu, General Austin, Mark Milley, Biden, Putin’s, William J, Burns Organizations: United, of American, NATO, Defense, State, Defense Turkey, National Defense, Defense Minister American, Russian, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Moscow, White House, State Department, The Energy Department, Strategic Command, ’, Pentagon, Unmute Defense, Central Intelligence Agency Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Kharkiv, Kherson, Russian, U.S, Crimean, Moscow, Poland, China, India, Turkey

☆ Boeing agrees to $51 million settlement for U.S. export violations, including in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing said on Thursday it had reached a $51 million settlement with the U.S. State Department for numerous export violations including Chinese employees in China improperly downloading documents related to U.S. Defense Department programs. The administrative settlement covers unauthorized exports of technical data and resolves 199 violations of the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the State Department said. Boeing said it was "committed to our trade controls obligations, and we look forward to working with the State Department under the agreement." Boeing voluntarily disclosed the violations, which mostly occurred before 2020, and the government documents did not allege disclosure of classified material. The settlement includes a three-year consent agreement and $51 million civil penalty, of which $24 million will be suspended by the State Department so Boeing can use the funds for remedial compliance measures to strengthen its compliance program.

Organizations: Boeing, New York Stock Exchange, U.S . State Department, U.S . Defense Department, The State Department, Control, State Department Locations: New York, U.S, China, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Israel, Turkey, Lebanon

☆ West closely watching Putin's next move after breakaway region asks Moscow to 'protect' it from Moldova
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with his confidants for the 2024 election at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 31, 2024. Maxim Shemetov | ReutersSpeculation is mounting that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use his annual address to Russian lawmakers Thursday to announce that Russian troops will be sent to "protect" the pro-Russian, breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova. Officials in the separatist region appealed to Russia on Wednesday for "protection" against Moldova's pro-Western government. "We keep a close eye and reiterate that the Transnistrian region is aligned with the goal of peace and security of Moldova. A map of Moldova, including the breakaway region of Transnistria.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Maxim Shemetov, —, Putin, Moldova's, Daniel Voda, Matthew Miller, Tursa, Russia's, Ivana Stradner, Daniel Mihailescu Organizations: Gostiny Dvor, Reuters, Moldova's, Russia's Foreign, RIA Novosti, Analysts, Federal, U.S . State Department, EU, Getty Russia, United Nations, Defense, Democracies, CNBC, Kremlin, Russian Federation, Institute for, Afp, Getty Locations: Moscow, Russia, Transnistria, Moldova, Soviet Union, Europe, Pridnestrovie, Moldavian Republic, Transnistrian, Ukraine, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Washington, U.S, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Chisinau

☆ U.S. cautions Pacific Island nations about China security ties after Hawaii neighbor Kiribati gets Chinese police
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Jan. 6, 2020 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2020. The United States on Monday cautioned Pacific Islands nations against assistance from Chinese security forces after Reuters reported that Chinese police are working in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati, a neighbor of Hawaii. Kiribati's acting police commissioner Eeri Aritiera told Reuters last week uniformed Chinese officers were working with police in community policing and a crime database program. "We are concerned about the potential implications security agreements and security-related cyber cooperation with the PRC may have for any Pacific Island nation's autonomy," the spokesperson said. The United States countered with a pledge in October to upgrade the wharf on Kanton island, a former U.S. military base, and said it wants to open an embassy in Kiribati.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Taneti Mamau, Eeri Aritiera Organizations: of, People, Monday, Pacific, Reuters, U.S . State Department, world's, United Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, United States, Kiribati, Hawaii, Honolulu, People's Republic of China, Washington, Kanton, U.S

☆ Netanyahu's first post-war plan seeks security buffer in Gaza — in blow to U.S. diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as the US Secretary of State gives statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. He is expected to visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington closes ranks with its ally that has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed his first official plan for the post-war future of the Gaza Strip, calling for Israel's ongoing military presence in the enclave and for the preservation of a security buffer zone — a step antithetical to the wishes of closely-allied Washington. In the intermediate term, Israel wishes to "maintain its operational freedom of action in the entire Gaza Strip, without a time limit," as well as to retain a security buffer within the besieged territory. "The security perimeter being created in the Gaza Strip on the border with Israel will remain as long as there is a security need for it," the document says.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Israel, Matt Miller, Israel — Organizations: Israeli Defence Ministry, Washington, Hamas, NBC News, Gaza, U.S . State Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, AFP, Gaza, Washington, Palestinian, U.S, Egypt

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