DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Andrew Tate will stand trial on trafficking and rape charges, Romanian court rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Louis Mian | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The trial of Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed “misogynist” online influencer accused of human trafficking and rape, can go ahead, a Romanian court said Friday. Tate was indicted in June along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian citizens on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women – allegations they have denied. The court in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, has not yet confirmed a trial date and the Tate brothers have already appealed the ruling, said Mateea Petrescu, a spokeswoman for the brothers. Romanian prosecutors alleged the Tate brothers seduced victims by falsely claiming they wanted a relationship or marriage with them. The Tate brothers, both former professional kickboxers, were first arrested in December 2022 and kept in police custody until April 2023, before being placed under house arrest.

Persons: Andrew Tate, “, influencer, Tate, Tristan, Mateea Petrescu, Eugen Vidineac, ”, ” Adrian Sandulescu Organizations: CNN, Tate Locations: Bucharest, Romania’s, United Kingdom, Romania

☆ Nigeria: More than 100 prisoners on the run after heavy rainfall destroys part of prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Nimi Princewill | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —More than 100 prisoners have escaped from a medium security prison in Nigeria after heavy rainfall destroyed part of the facility, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) said in a press release on Thursday. In 2022, more than 300 inmates broke free after Boko Haram militants raided a prison in Nigeria’s capital Abuja. Authorities said at the time that some operatives of the jihadist group who had been held in the prison escaped during the raid. A year earlier, over 200 prisoners fled a prison in the neighboring Kogi State after gunmen invaded the correctional facility, killing a policeman. Five months before the invasion, more than 2000 inmates escaped during a similar attack by armed men at another prison in the southeastern Imo State.

Persons: “ Organizations: CNN, Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, Authorities Locations: Nigeria, Suleja, Niger, Nigeria’s, Abuja, Kogi State, Imo State

CNN —Three people in Germany have been arrested under suspicion of spying for China, while two people have been charged in the United Kingdom for espionage offenses. “Allegations suggest the suspects have had ties to a Chinese secret service since before June 2022,” the German prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The couple are accused of buying and exporting a specialized laser to China without authorization, violating European Union regulations. Germany’s justice minister Marco Buschmann congratulated the prosecutor’s office in a post on social media platform X, writing that the arrests highlighted the need to stay vigilant. Separately in the UK, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced charges against two men who allegedly breached the UK’s Official Secrets Act on behalf of China.

Persons: Thomas R, Thomas, Herwig, Ina F, Marco Buschmann, Nick Price Organizations: CNN, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Foreign Trade, Ministry of State Security, Britain’s, Prosecution Service, CPS, Terrorism, Crown Prosecution Service, Metropolitan Police, ’ Locations: Germany, China, United Kingdom, Westminster, London

☆ Dominic West opens up about ‘absurd’ furor over Lily James pictures
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —British actor Dominic West has opened up about the furor surrounding images taken in 2020 of him with his former co-star Lily James, calling the situation “absurd” and “deeply stressful” for his family. After the photos were published, West and FitzGerald posed for the press outside their home, holding a piece of paper with the handwritten message: “Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. “And so when we go out, we do sort of say, ‘Shall we go and have a show of unity up in London?’”“It was an absurd situation. It was deeply stressful for my wife and my kids, but there were lighter moments,” West told the British newspaper. It’s a story as old as time.”West is set to star in Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer.

Persons: Dominic West, Lily James, Catherine FitzGerald, ”, James, FitzGerald, we’d, ” West, West, Prince Charles, Netflix’s, ” “ I’d, “ I’d, Arthur Miller’s “ Organizations: London CNN, Sunday Times, West, British, ”, London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket Locations: British, Rome, Italy, London, Netflix’s “

☆ Kenyan military chief Francis Ogolla died in helicopter crash, says president
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Larry Madowo | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Kenya’s military chief, Francis Ogolla, died in a helicopter crash in the western part of the country on Thursday, President William Ruto announced in a televised address. “I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces,” he said. The helicopter crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday afternoon local time, killing Ogolla and nine other members of the military, Ruto said. Ogolla was on his way to visit troops in the North Rift region of the country and to inspect ongoing school renovations, the president said. “For me, as the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, it is a tragic moment for the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and it is a most unfortunate day for the nation at large,” Ruto said.

Persons: CNN —, Francis Ogolla, William Ruto, “, Francis Omondi Ogolla, ”, Ogolla, Ruto, ” Ruto Organizations: CNN, Kenya Defence Forces

☆ Biden tells Netanyahu US will not support counter-strike against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Mj Lee | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday, Biden sought to frame Israel’s successful interception of the Iranian onslaught as a major victory — with the suggestion that further Israeli response was unnecessary. Biden told the Israeli prime minister in his phone call that he should consider Saturday a win because Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, a senior administration official said. Even as American officials stressed to their counterparts that the final decision on how to respond to Iran is up to Israel, Biden has sought to prevent a wider escalation of the conflict. In this handout photo, released early Sunday local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks on the phone with US President Joe Biden. “I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks — sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” Biden said in a statement following his conversation with Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, John Kirby, ” Kirby, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, “, Israel, ” Biden, Netanyahu, Kirby, Israel —, ”, Tapper, Gallant, Hossein, CNN’s Catherine Nicholls, Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, White House, Union . ”, Seven, Sunday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Israel, Iran, “ State, Gaza, Tehran

☆ Iranian navy seizes Israel-linked container ship amid escalating tensions in Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Adam Pourahmadi | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed the seizure, saying there are 25 crew on board. Portugal’s government said that it was in touch with the Iranian authorities. The Strait of Hormuz, at the northern end of the Gulf of Oman, is the biggest oil chokepoint in the world. The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, wrote on social media platform X that he had spoken with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. The two discussed their “shared concerns about Iranian threats to attack Israel,” Cameron wrote, adding that “further escalation in the region is in no-one’s interest and risks further loss of civilian life.”

Persons: CNN —, IRNA, “, Eyal Ofer, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Israel, David Cameron, Benny Gantz, ” Cameron, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Navy, Zodiac, Mediterranean Shipping Company, United, Israel Defense Forces, United Kingdom’s Locations: Israeli, Hormuz, Iran, Syria, Portuguese, Gulf of Oman, Tehran, Iranian, United States, Damascus, Gaza, The Iran, Yemen, Red, Israel

☆ New Zealand tightens visa rules in response to ‘unsustainable’ migration
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —New Zealand announced it has tightened its visa rules, introducing language and skill criteria and shortening work permit lengths in response to “unsustainable net migration.”The changes to the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV) scheme have gone into immediate effect, and will mean that New Zealand is “better testing the local labor market and reducing the risks of putting New Zealanders out of work,” the country’s Minister of Immigration, Erica Stanford, announced on Sunday. In 2023, 173,000 non-New Zealand citizens migrated to the country, the statement said. Employers will need to make sure that migrants meet these requirements before hiring them, and will be required to declare that no “suitable and available New Zealander” applied for a job before it is offered to a migrant. They must also advertise job postings for at least 21 days and declare “why any New Zealanders who applied were not hired,” according to New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Some roles in the transport and care sectors will be exempt from these requirements, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website says.

Persons: Erica Stanford, Stanford, “, Zealander ” Organizations: CNN, New Zealand, Zealanders, Immigration, Employers, New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation, Ministry of Business Locations: Zealand, New Zealand, Zealanders, Zealander

☆ Leader of Northern Ireland’s main pro-union party resigns after police charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Northern Ireland’s main pro-union party, is stepping down after he was charged with “allegations of an historical nature,” the DUP announced on Friday. “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offences,” the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement said. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said Friday her “priority” was to “continue to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve” following Donaldson’s resignation. Under his leadership, the DUP refused to participate in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government in protest over post-Brexit trading rules. The DUP announced on Friday it had unanimously appointed Gavin Robinson as interim party leader.

Persons: Jeffrey Donaldson, Mr Donaldson, “, Donaldson, Michelle O’Neill, ”, O’Neill, Sinn Fein, Emma Little, ” Donaldson, Gavin Robinson Organizations: CNN, Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Northern Ireland’s, Party, Party Officers, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Police Service of Northern, Facebook, Northern Irish, United, Ulster Unionist Party Locations: Northern, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Newry, Ireland, Northern Ireland

☆ UK judge denies Trump’s appeal in suit related to Steel dossier
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A London appellate justice refused former President Donald Trump’s request to appeal the dismissal of his case against retired British spy Christopher Steele’s company over his controversial 2016 dossier. Steyn also ordered Trump to pay £300,000 in legal fees to Steele’s company, Orbis Business Intelligence, which Trump requested to be stayed. In his order Wednesday, Lord Justice Mark Warby said Trump’s “appeal would have no real prospect of success,” finding that some of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s arguments were contradictory and his appeal attempted to offer new points that he didn’t present before Steyn. The dossier claimed that Trump conspired with the Kremlin to win the 2016 election and that Russia had compromising information on him. While the dossier was initially seen as credible due to Steele’s reputation, a series of US government investigations and lawsuits over the years discredited many of the claims.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Christopher Steele’s, Karen Steyn’s, Steele, —, Steyn, Trump, Mark Warby, Trump’s, Jean Carroll, ”, ” Steele, “, Donald Trump, CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Natasha Bertrand, Zahid Mahmood, Marshall Cohen, Catherine Nicholls Organizations: CNN, Orbis Business Intelligence, Republican, Trump, ” CNN, Kremlin Locations: London, British, York, Russia

International sanctions and UN investigations into North Korea’s illegal weapons program have previously been backed by Russia. North Korea has also gained a powerful backer at the UN which wields veto power. While UN sanctions prohibit arms transfers to or from North Korea, the Kim regime has become a big supplier of weapons to Putin’s war effort in Ukraine. The vote in the 15-member Security Council on Thursday was 13 in favor, Russia opposed and China abstaining. But as Russia holds veto power, the resolution to continue the panel of experts’ work failed.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Nebenzia, Kim, Barbara Woodward, “, ” Woodward, ”, Robert Wood, ” Wood Organizations: United Nations CNN, United Nations, Korean, UN, Security Council, CNN, North, Security, South Korea’s Foreign Locations: Russia, Pyongyang, Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Korea, Russian, North Korea, South, Korean, China, ”

People line up at a makeshift memorial outside Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 24. Maxim Shemetov/ReutersAll four suspects in the Crocus City concert hall attack case have been remanded into pre-trial detention until May 22, the Moscow City Court said via Telegram. The names of the four accused in the case are Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, Moscow City Courts announced via Telegram. All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and had been in Russia on either temporary or expired visas. The attack also came barely a week after Putin secured his fifth presidential term.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Saidakrami, Shamsidin, Mukhammadsobir Faizov, Putin Organizations: Reuters, Telegram Locations: Crocus, Moscow, Crocus City, Tajikistan, Soviet, Russia

The appalling attack on the vast Crocus City Hall concert venue and shopping complex near Moscow – claimed by ISIS – left more than 100 people dead. This is hardly the stability and security for which so many Russians voted for Putin. For years, the Kremlin strongman has been cast as a leader able to guarantee order in this vast, turbulent country. But now, the focus is firmly on the apparent reappearance in Russia of jihadists, unrelated to the Ukraine war or domestic opposition to the Kremlin. But for a leader who has promised security and stability to Russians, a large-scale terror attack on home soil is a powerful blow to his image.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Moscow –, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Crocus City Hall, ISIS –, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Crocus, Moscow, Putin’s, Ukraine, Ukrainian, jihadists, Russian

☆ 3 dead and dozens injured in hotel attack close to Somalia’s presidential palace
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Three people were killed and 27 people injured in a “terrorist attack” at a hotel near Somalia’s presidential palace on Thursday, the country’s state broadcaster Somalia National Television (SNTV) has reported. According to SNTV, five armed gunmen attacked the SYL Hotel in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday night. All five were shot and killed by Somali security forces, SNTV cites Somali police as saying. While SNTV did not identify the organization behind the attack, Somali police spokesman Colonel Qasim Ahmed Roble told AFP that the assailants were from terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited injured victims of the attack at Erdoğan Hospital in Mogadishu on Friday, the state broadcaster said.

Persons: SNTV, Qasim Ahmed Roble, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, “, Josep Borrell, ”, ” Borrell Organizations: CNN, Somalia National Television, AFP, Erdoğan, High, European Union for Foreign Affairs, Security, Somali, United Locations: Somalia’s, Mogadishu, Shabaab, Somalia, Somali, al, Al, United Nations

☆ French appetite for frogs’ legs threatens frog species, experts warn Macron
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The popularity of the famous French delicacy of cuisses de grenouille, or frogs’ legs, is threatening the existence of certain frog species, a group of more than 500 environmental campaigners has warned French President Emmanuel Macron. A joint study by Robin des Bois and Pro Wildlife found that France alone consumes more than 3,000 tons of frozen frogs’ legs a year. Vietnam is also a large exporter of frogs’ legs, but these frogs are typically farmed rather than wild, according to a media statement accompanying the letter. “But the EU still tolerates the collection of millions of animals in other countries – even if this threatens the frog populations there. The signatories called on France to develop proposals to protect declining frog species, and to ensure that the monitoring, regulation and sustainability of the trade in frogs’ legs is governed by international trade rules.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Robin des Bois, Jeff Pachoud, ” Fejervarya, Arun Roisri, ” Sandra Altherr, Alain Moussu, Moussu Organizations: CNN, Biodiversity, Pro Wildlife, European Union, Wildlife, Getty Locations: France, Pierrelatte, Lyon, AFP, Indonesia, Turkey, Albania, Vietnam, Europe

☆ ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’: Climate activists who targeted famous Vermeer painting win court appeal against jail sentence
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Johannes Vermeer's painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" was targeted by climate activists in October 2022. Given the length of time that the demonstrators spent in pre-trial detention, the court said, a prison sentence would have been excessive. To punish these activists severely might have a “chilling effect” on others, the court said in a media statement. Just Stop Oil Belgium is not affiliated with its British namesake, environmental activist group Just Stop Oil. CNN was unable to contact the Belgian organization directly but has reached out to Extinction Rebellion Belgium for comment, as it has previously issued statements on behalf of Just Stop Oil Belgium.

Persons: Johannes Vermeer’s, Johannes Vermeer's, Lex Van Lieshout Organizations: CNN, Getty, Netherlands Public, Service, Hague, Appeal Locations: Belgian, Belgium, The Hague, Netherlands

☆ Gold sculptures worth more than $1.3 million stolen from Italian art exhibition
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Nearly 50 gold pieces of art created by Italian sculptor Umberto Mastroianni were stolen from an exhibition near Lake Garda, Italy, on Wednesday night, the host of the exhibition, the Vittoriale degli Italiani estate, told CNN. Forty-nine pieces of art, worth €1.2 million (more than $1.3 million USD), were stolen, a spokesperson for Vittoriale degli Italiani said Saturday. The exhibition, called “Like a warm, flowing gold,” opened at the end of December and was scheduled to close on Friday. Images of gold sculptures worth more than $1.3 million that were stolen from an Italian art exhibition. Vittoriale degli ItalianiImages of gold sculptures worth more than $1.3 million that were stolen from an Italian art exhibition.

Persons: Umberto Mastroianni, Vittoriale degli, “ Uomo, Donna ”, ”, degli, Giordano Bruno Guerri, ” Guerri Organizations: CNN, Vittoriale, AFP Locations: Italian, Lake Garda, Italy

CNN —Iceland has evacuated its world-famous Blue Lagoon due to nearby seismic activity that suggests an “imminent” volcanic eruption, the country’s public broadcaster RÚV reported Saturday. Magma has begun flowing after “intense seismic activity” in the area around the lagoon, a popular geothermal spa known for its milky-blue, comforting warm waters, according to RÚV. Located just under an hour’s drive from Iceland’s capital and largest city Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. As well as the Blue Lagoon, the peninsula is home to Iceland’s main airport, Keflavik International. In November, the Blue Lagoon was closed for a week after 1,400 earthquakes were measured in 24 hours.

Persons: RÚV, Magma, Thorvaldur Thordarson, “ Organizations: CNN, Police, Keflavik International Locations: Iceland, Grindavík, RÚV, Reykjavik

☆ Ukraine war: Two babies among 10 killed as Russia hits Odesa apartment block
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Maria Kostenko | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Her husband and daughter survived the drone attack, her sister told CNN. According to Saturday’s daily address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a toddler named Mark was also killed - he was two, set to turn three on Sunday. 18 apartments have been destroyed,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday. At least four have been declared killed after the drone strike hit a residential building in Odesa. Ukraine has been asking its western allies for more military aid as Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its third year.

Persons: Oleh Kiper, Anna, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mark, Andriy Kostin, Zelensky, Oleksandr Gimanov, ”, Joe Biden’s Organizations: CNN, Getty, Ukraine, Republican, Pentagon Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Odesa, Ukraine, AFP, Russia

☆ Two-year-old boy and baby among 7 killed as Russia hits Odesa apartment block
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Maria Kostenko | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A two-year-old boy, who officials said was named Timofii, was discovered under rubble on a ground floor after the strike, Odesa City Municipality said on Telegram. He was killed the day before his third birthday, Oleh Kiper, the head of Odesa region military administration, said in a TV interview. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack showed the need to further strengthen the country’s air defense capacities. 18 apartments have been destroyed,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday. At least four have been declared killed after the drone strike hit a residential building in Odesa.

Persons: CNN —, Anna, Oleh Kiper, Andriy Kostin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleksandr Gimanov, ”, Zelensky, Joe Biden’s Organizations: CNN, Getty, Ukraine, Republican, Pentagon Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Odesa, Odesa City, Ukraine, AFP, Russia

☆ Freddie Mercury’s London home for sale for $38 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —The former London home of rock legend Freddie Mercury is available to buy – that is, for those with a cool £30 million ($38 million) to spare. The property was bought by Mercury on the spot when he first visited it in 1980, according to Knight Frank, which is handling the sale. In this spirit, the dining room was painted citrus-yellow, reportedly Mercury’s favorite color, with complementary jewel tones in the cornices of the room. The property’s principal suite is entered through what used to be Mercury’s dressing room, where he stored his clothes and stage costumes. After more than 30 years taking care of them, Austin, now 72, auctioned about 1,400 of Mercury’s belongings last year, and is now looking to sell Garden Lodge for offers in excess of £30 million ($38 million), according to Knight Frank.

Persons: Freddie Mercury, Knight Frank, Robin Moore Ede, ” Knight Frank, Barney Hindle, Knight Frank The, Mercury, Mary Austin, “, ” Austin, Freddie Organizations: London CNN, Mercury Locations: London, Kensington, Austin

☆ Navalny’s body given to his mother, spokesperson says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The body of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny has been given to his mother more than a week after he died, Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on Saturday. “Alexey’s body was handed over to his mother. Yarmysh added that Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, is still in Salekhard, the Arctic town where her son’s body was being held. Navalny’s family and colleagues have blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s death, which comes ahead of the presidential election next month. “We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexey deserves.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, Navalny’s, Kira Yarmysh, “, ” Yarmysh, Yarmysh, Lyudmila Navalnaya, Navalny, ”, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Alexey Organizations: CNN Locations: Salekhard, Russian

Munich, Germany CNN —Hamas’s demands for a hostage deal are “delusional” and need to be “close to reality,” Israel’s Coordinator for the Captives and the Missing, Gal Hirsch, told CNN Saturday. But Hamas’s demands are disconnected from reality - delusional,” the former Israel Defense Forces commander said in an interview with CNN’s Alex Marquardt at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He suggested that, though Israel and Hamas had previously agreed on a deal to supply medication to Israeli hostages, the hostages did not receive this medication. Hamas will be dismantled, but we would like very much to make a deal and to bring our hostages back home. “They wanted very much to break the potential deal just as they did in the previous one,” he suggested.

Persons: Germany CNN —, ”, Gal Hirsch, CNN’s Alex Marquardt, counteroffer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Hirsch, ” Hirsch, Khan Younis, “, Martin Meissner, Marquardt, Deir al Balah Organizations: Germany CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Munich, Israeli, Minister’s, Hamas, Nasser, IDF, UN Locations: Munich, Germany, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Khan, The Hague, Netherlands, Rafah, Deir al

☆ Hungary can ratify Sweden’s NATO bid as soon as Feb 26, Orban says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hungary can ratify Sweden’s NATO bid as soon as February 26 when the country’s parliament reconvenes, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Saturday. “We are going in the direction that, at the start of parliament’s spring session, we can ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO.”According to the Hungarian government’s website, the parliament reconvenes for its spring session on February 26. Hungary is the last NATO member to approve Sweden’s accession to the military alliance. Last June, Orban’s party Fidesz told CNN that it expected Sweden to “allay its concerns” before the vote on Sweden’s accession to NATO. Finland joined NATO in April 2023 – doubling the alliance’s border with Russia – but Sweden’s bid was mired in challenges.

Persons: reconvenes, Viktor Orban, ” Orban, Orban’s, Orban, Jens Stoltenberg, “, Vladimir Putin, Katalin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Swedish, Fidesz, ”, Russia, European Union Locations: Hungary, Sweden, ” Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Hungarian, Turkey

CNN —Russian authorities on Tuesday launched criminal proceedings against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, charges the leader of the Baltic state alleged were politically motivated. The Kremlin accused Kallas, Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys of destroying or damaging monuments to Soviet monuments in memory of Soviet soldiers, Russia’s state-run Tass news reported. Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, Kallas announced that Estonia would remove all of the country’s Soviet monuments from public spaces. A report by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service said Russia may consider doubling the number of troops stationed on its border with the Baltic countries and increasing those on its frontier with Finland, which joined NATO last year. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also on Tuesday delivered his annual foreign policy speech, which included fiery anti-Russian remarks and a full-throated backing for Ukraine.

Persons: Kaja Kallas, Kallas, Peterkop, Simonas, Dmitry Peskov, ” Kallas, ”, Vladimir Putin, Margus Tsahkna, Joshua Berlinger Organizations: CNN, Estonian, Kremlin, State, Lithuanian Culture, Russia, Soviet Union, European Union, NATO, Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, Ukraine Locations: Baltic, Estonian, Ukraine, Estonia, Russia, Siberia, Soviet, Finland, “

Search resuls for: "Catherine Nicholls"

25 mentions found