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☆ US soldier was arrested in Russia last week
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An American soldier was detained in Russia last week on suspicion of theft and is currently being held in pre-trial detention, according to two US officials. “The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. The soldier was stationed in South Korea when he took leave to travel to Russia on his own, according to another US official. A State Department official confirmed that a US citizen had been detained in Russia but would not provide further details. Last July, another soldier stationed in South Korea willingly crossed into North Korea where he was immediately detained.

Persons: Gordon Black, ” “, ”, Cynthia Smith, “, Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, Ksenia Karelina, John Kirby, haven’t, ” Kirby, Travis King, King, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, US Army, Army, Russian Federation, U.S . Department of State, Vienna Convention, Consular Relations, Soldier, US State Department, Street, Marine, NBC News, State Department, US, National Security, Joint Security Area, Incheon International Locations: American, Russia, South Korea, Vladivostok “, Vienna, Ukraine, Cavazos, Texas, Moscow, North Korea, United States, Incheon, Seoul

A U.S. Army soldier has been detained by Russian authorities in the port city Vladivostok on charges of criminal misconduct, the State and Defense Departments said on Monday, adding what is likely to be another complication in the contentious relationship between Moscow and Washington. A military official identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. He was apprehended on May 2, and Russia notified the State Department of the soldier’s “criminal detention” in accordance with international agreements between the two nations. “The Army notified his family, and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia,” Cynthia O. Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said in a statement. A State Department official reiterated the U.S. government’s warning for Americans not to travel to Russia.

Persons: Gordon Black, ” Cynthia O, Smith, Sergeant Black Organizations: U.S . Army, State and Defense, State Department of, Army, U.S . Department of State, State Department, NBC News Locations: Vladivostok, Moscow, Washington, Fort Cavazos, Texas, South Korea, Russia

☆ I never wanted to have kids in the US. Now, I'm happily raising a toddler in Germany.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Susannah Edelbaum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

She ended up getting married and having a baby in Germany but has struggled with a lot of bureaucracy. Germany offers excellent maternity care, including postpartum home visits by a midwife, and down the road, various degrees of subsidized day care — the exact setup varies state by state. But in Berlin both midwives and day care centers are in short supply, according to local news channel RBB24. The author says that Berlin is filled with playgrounds and her toddler always wants to stop and play. Susannah EdelbaumI'm thrilled to be raising a toddler in BerlinDespite the late start, I found a midwife.

Persons: Susannah Edelbaum, —, somethings, That's, I'd, Susannah Edelbaum I'm, who'd Organizations: Service, Kita, Bertelsmann Stiftung Locations: New York, Berlin, Germany, Denmark, hitched, Copenhagen, Ærø, Las Vegas, Kita

☆ Ukraine Is Denying Consular Services to Men Outside the Country
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Maria Varenikova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Ukrainian officials have taken several steps in recent weeks to swell the ranks of an army depleted by more than two years of grueling combat. The government passed a new mobilization bill aimed at increasing troop numbers and has stepped up border patrols to catch draft dodgers. Now, officials are targeting men who have already left the country. This week the government announced that Ukrainian embassies had suspended issuing new passports and providing other consular services for military-age men living abroad. By suspending consular services, the government said, it was responding to demands for fairness in society.

Organizations: dodgers

☆ Ukraine tightens pressure on military age men abroad as part of wider mobilization rules overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ukraine is tightening pressure on men of call-up age living abroad by temporarily suspending consular services, amid a wider overhaul of the country’s mobilization rules aimed at beefing up its defenses against Russia’s invasion. The mechanism for updating and verifying military registration data “is currently being determined,” it said. After updating their military registration data at recruitment centers in Ukraine, male citizens aged 18 to 60 with valid military registration documents will have full access to consular services, the ministry said. The temporary suspension won’t affect the provision of consular assistance in case of emergencies with Ukrainian citizens abroad, it added. The new law is aimed at boosting the pool of men available to fight for Ukraine and streamline registration.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, “, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky’s, Oleksandr Syrsyki Organizations: CNN, “, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Ministry, People Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine’s

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian speaks during a press conference at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Beirut, Lebanon February 10, 2024. "What happened last night was not a strike," the foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said in an interview with NBC News' Tom Llamas. But the foreign minister warned that if Israel did attack Iran, the response would be swift and severe. Iran responded 12 days later, launching an unprecedented, direct military attack on Israel involving more than 300 missiles and drones. Still, the foreign minister said he hopes that a deal will be reached soon for the release of the hostages as part of a broad settlement.

Persons: Hossein Amirabdollahian, Israel, Tom Llamas, –, Amirabdollahian, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Benjamin Netanhayu Organizations: Iran's, Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NBC News, Security, Israel, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, New York, Iran, Israel, Syrian, Damascus, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Syria, Yemen, Gaza, Tehran, Isfahan

☆ Israeli and Iranian strikes transform Middle East geopolitics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Israel and Iran have now thrust the Middle East into a dangerous new era by erasing the taboo against overt military strikes on one another’s territory. Most immediately, the ball is in Iran’s court after Israel conducted strikes near the city of Isfahan early Friday. Initial reports suggest that the action was limited and, according to US officials, did not target Iranian nuclear sites in the area. Hours before the Israeli strikes, for instance, Iran had warned that any Israeli attack would be met with a robust response. “I do think it sends a message to Tehran that really they are more vulnerable to Israeli strikes than they would like to admit,” Davis said.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, John Kennedy, Netanyahu, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, it’s, Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, ” Aaron David Miller, ” Israel, they’d, Malcolm Davis, CNN’s Michael Holmes, ” Davis, Israel – Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s, Cuban, Israel, American, Hamas, Republicans, Democratic, US, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Locations: CNN — Israel, Iran, Isfahan, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Damascus, Gaza, United States, Washington, Italy, Lebanon, Tehran

☆ These 13 House Democrats voted against a resolution to condemn Iran's attack on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The House voted on Thursday to condemn Iran's recent missile and drone attack on Israel. 13 progressive House Democrats — and one Republican — voted against it. AdvertisementThe House of Representatives on Thursday voted to condemn Iran's recent missile and drone attack on Israel. 13 progressive House Democrats voted against the resolution along with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a non-interventionist libertarian who often opposes these types of resolutions. Here are the 13 House Democrats who voted against the resolution:

Persons: Democrats —, Republican —, —, Thomas Massie, Republicans teed, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Democrats, Republican, Service, Republican Rep, Republicans, Israel, Democratic Rep Locations: Israel, Iran, Iranian, Syria, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Gaza

☆ China is refusing to condemn Iran's strike on Israel — and it's part of a Middle East power play
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China refused to condemn Iran's missile attack on Israel. AdvertisementChina refused to condemn Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel as it seeks to position itself as a key player in the Middle East. The statement was notable because it contained no condemnation of Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday. The US has sought to enlist China is helping to prevent a bigger regional war, the State Department said. In the readout, China praised Iran for acting with restraint in its response to Israel's embassy attack.

Persons: —, Wang Yi's, Hossein Amir, Amir, Abdollahian, Wang, Israel's, Xi Jinping, Ebrahim Raisi, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Foreign, Saturday, Iran, Iranian, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Israel's, US, State Department Locations: China, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Syria, Iranian, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Beijing

☆ Israel’s military chief says that Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at Israel in the attack. Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Monday that Israel is considering its next steps but that the Iranian strike "will be met with a response." Both men spoke at the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which Hagari said suffered only light damage in the Iranian attack. The Iranian weapons also flew through Saudi skies, according to a map released by the Israeli military. Throughout the war, Israel has traded fire across its northern border with Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen have also attacked Israel.

Persons: Herzi Halevi, Israel, Halevi, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu, Steve Scalise, Netanyahu, Jordan —, Halevia, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, John Kirby, Kirby, Antony Blinken Organizations: Staff, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Seven, U.S . Central Command, Islamic, Hezbollah, Washington , U.S . National Security Locations: Gaza, Syrian, Damascus, Iran, Israel, U.S, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, American, France, Saudi, Iranian, Iraq, Yemen, British, Paris, Washington , U.S

☆ Exclusive: State Department officials told House investigators they created Afghanistan withdrawal plans from scratch
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The State Department has continued to publicly defend its decision making around the NEO as well as the ending of the war. Milley and retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who were in charge of the US military during the withdrawal, blamed the State Department for not ordering a NEO sooner. The State Department officials did not weigh in on whether calling a NEO sooner would have had a substantial impact, as this would have preceded their arrival in Afghanistan. Although the State Department has faced sharp criticism from the Defense Department – most recently in a congressional hearing with retired Gens. Coordination with the militaryAnd on the ground, as they grappled with the frenzied and fluid situation, State Department officials and service members at Hamid Karzai International Airport were regularly coordinating.

Persons: John Bass, Jim DeHart, Jayne Howell, Michael McCaul’s, McCaul, Biden, ”, Mark Milley, ” Howell, DeHart, ” Bass, Hamid, Bass, Wendy Sherman, Washington . Howell, I’m, Howell, “, Trump, Anna Moneymaker, Milley, Kenneth McKenzie, McKenzie, Vedant Patel, “ It’s, Defense Department –, Gens, Kenneth McKenzie –, ” DeHart, didn’t Organizations: CNN, State Department, House Foreign Affairs, Republican, Department, Foreign Affairs, Chiefs, House Foreign, ”, DC, State, Department of Defense, Airport, Foreign Service Institute, Pentagon, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, US, US Central Command, ” State Department, Defense Department, Hamid Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghan, Ukraine, Kabul Afghanistan, Washington ., Turkey, Rayburn, Washington , DC, extremis

☆ Iran says Israel bombs its embassy in Syria, kills commanders
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Emergency and security personnel gather at the site of strikes which hit a building next to the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital Damascus, on April 1, 2024. Suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran's embassy in Syria on Monday in a strike that Iran said killed seven of its military advisers, including three senior commanders, and that marked a major escalation in Israel's war with its regional adversaries. Reuters reporters at the site in the Mezzeh district of Damascus saw emergency workers clambering atop rubble of a destroyed building inside the diplomatic compound, adjacent to the main Iranian embassy building. Iran's ambassador to Syria said the strike hit a consular building in the embassy compound and that his residence was on the top two floors. Israel has long targeted Iran's military installations in Syria and those of its proxies, but Monday's attack was the first time Israel hit the vast embassy compound itself.

Persons: Faisal Mekdad, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Israel Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, Syrian, Force, Hamas Locations: Syria's, Damascus, Iranian, Gaza, Syria, Iran, Mezzeh, Israel

☆ The Middle East on the brink again after attack on Iranian consulate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on Monday may be the most dangerous escalation outside of Gaza since the start of the Hamas-Israel war nearly six months ago. The attack is the latest in a recent string of apparent Israeli strikes in Syria that targeted the IRGC and Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Technically, Iran’s consulate is sovereign Iranian territory, making this the most overt attack on Iranian soil in years. Iran’s regional allies say they entered confrontations with Israel on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza, where over 32,000 people have been killed, according to local authorities. That may be an untenable position after today’s strike, which has again brought the region to the brink of an expanded war.

Persons: Israel, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Lebanon —, Donald Trump, Soleimani, Ali Khamenei, ”, Mohammad Ali Shabani, “ Iran’s, Khamenei’s Organizations: CNN, Revolutionary Guards, Force Locations: Damascus, Gaza, Israel, Syria, Iran, Lebanese, Lebanon, Iran’s, Iranian, Baghdad, Washington

☆ Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse reverberates around the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

StreamTimeLive StreamTimeLive StreamTimeLiveAround the same time, numerous audible alarms were recorded on the ship’s bridge audio. The Dali container vessel after striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge. “Once you get here, I’ll go grab the workers on the Key Bridge and then stop the outer loop,” an officer said. When the Key Bridge was built decades ago, container ships were a fraction of the size and weight they are today. Miguel Luna, a native of El Salvador, was also working on the Key Bridge.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, ”, Jayme Krause, Nick Mosby, “ I’ve, Andy Middleton, Middleton, Dali, Marcel Muise, Scott Cowan, Baltimore –, Clay Diamond, Muise, Wes Moore, Diamond, ” Diamond, Al Drago, we’ve, “, Cowan, Jim Watson, Starr Smith, ’ ” Smith, Smith, ” Smith, ” John Zimmerman, They’re ‘, Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, Miguel Luna, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, Pima Castillo, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Castillo, Alejandro Hernandez, Carlos Hernandez, Carlos Hernandez’s, Jazmin Alvarez, Hernández, Isabel Franco, Jose Mynor Lopez, Franco, Lilly Ordonez, Lopez, ” Rafael Laveaga, Holly Yan, Maria Santana, Melissa Alonso, Allison Gordon, Emma Tucker, Tina Burnside, Alex Stambaugh, Abel Alvarado, Aditi Sangal, Danny Freeman, Caroll Alvarado, Amy Simonson, Mary Kay Mallonee, Yahya Abou, Sabrina Souza, AnneClaire Stapleton, Antoinette Radford, Dakin Andone, Curt Devine, Casey Tolan, Isabelle Chapman, Elizabeth Wolfe, Lauren Mascarenhas, Elise Hammond, Gloria Pazmino, Alex Medeiros Organizations: CNN, Evening Sun, Bethlehem Steel, Eiffel, American, Maryland State Police, Sea Catholic, Walmart, National Transportation Safety, Chesapeake Bay, Longshoremen’s Association, Maryland Transportation Authority, American Pilots Association, ”, ” Maryland Gov, Bloomberg, Getty Images Transportation Authority, US Coast Guard, “ Dispatch, Police, Getty, Maryland, CASA, Brawner Builders, Univision, Authorities, Mexican Embassy Locations: Maryland, Fort McHenry, Sparrows Point, Baltimore, Patapsco, Port of Baltimore, India, Singapore, Baltimoreans, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Yemen, Red, Dali, MarineTraffic, ” Maryland, There’s, AFP, Middleton, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Santa Bárbara, America, Dundalk, he’s, Mexican, Michoacan, Washington’s

On Wednesday, divers worked through dangerous conditions searching for the bodies of the six missing men. Two were recovered from a submerged vehicle, and the other four are presumed dead, officials said. Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval, in his 30s, of Honduras, immigrated to the United States more than 17 years ago, according to Mr. Torres, and is married with two children. All but one of the eight men worked for Brawner Builders, a contractor based in Baltimore County, the company said. The men who went missing after the collapse were all immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, according to consular authorities and the nonprofit.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Miguel Luna, Gustavo Torres, Luna, Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval, Torres, Suazo’s, Carlos, ” Carlos Suazo, Kirsten Noyes Organizations: CASA, The Times, Mr, Brawner Builders Locations: Baltimore, Dundalk, Md, El Salvador, Maryland, Honduras, United States, Baltimore County, Guatemala, Mexico

☆ Who are ISIS-K, the group that claimed it carried out the Moscow terror attack?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It is a branch of ISIS, the terror group that emerged in Syria and Iraq and, at its peak, controlled a huge stretch of territory. By 2018, ISIS-K was ranked the world’s fourth-deadliest terror group, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace, which monitors global terrorism. Video Ad Feedback What we know about ISIS group claiming responsibility for Moscow terror attack 04:16 - Source: CNNWhat do they want? Russian state media reported on March 7 that the FSB, Russia’s security service, prevented an ISIS attack on a synagogue in Moscow, according to Reuters. It is the most active terror group in the country, responsible for 73 deaths in 2023, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Persons: Kamala Harris, –, Joe Biden, Putin, ”, Daniel Byman, ” Byman, John Miller, Wakil Kohsar, Washington, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Islamic, ISIS, Sunday, US, Institute for Economics, The United Nations, Sharia, “, RIA Novosti, RIA, Reuters, Kabul University, CSIS, National Legal Training, US Central Command, National Intelligence, UN, Manchester Arena, State Department, Kyiv Locations: Moscow, Soviet, Tajikistan, Khorasan, Asia, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Africa, East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Kabul, Afghanistan’s Kunar, Nangarhar, United States, Britain, Europe, “ Russia, Georgetown, Caucasus, Pakistan –, Mastung, AFP, Germany, Paris, Ariana Grande, England, Orlando , Florida, Russian, Ukraine, Crocus

A Florida funeral home shipped the men’s remains to Ireland, according to a letter from a Florida medical examiner’s office. A CNN request under open-records law revealed documents confirming the mix-up, including letters from the Irish consulate in Atlanta to the medical examiner’s office and investigators involved in the case. That’s when the victims’ loved ones discovered the mix-up, according to the August letter from the medical examiner’s office. The Pinellas County Forensic Science Center in Largo, Florida -- home to the medical examiner's office. The District Six Medical Examiner Office did not respond to CNN’s request for additional details.

Persons: Kane Mitchell, Luke Comiskey, he’d, Comiskey, Mitchell, they’re, William Pellan, it’s, “, ” Pellan, Luke Comiskey’s, Luke, James Richard Peoples III, Peoples, ”, ’, Chris O'Mera, Pellan, Leana Wen, Police Adam Geissenberger, Barnabas Church Organizations: CNN, Florida, Pinellas Park Police Department, District Six, Office, Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, Pinellas Park police, Peoples, Six, Medical, Forensic Science, Medical Examiner Office, CNN Florida’s Department of Law, Pinellas, Pinellas Park Chief, Police, Gaelic football Locations: Dublin, Pinellas Park, St . Petersburg, Florida, Ireland, Irish, Atlanta, St . Petersburg , Florida, Pinellas, Largo , Florida, Baltimore, New York, St, Bronx, New York City, Australia, Spain

CNN —Two American brothers who were detained in Gaza earlier this month by Israeli forces are being held in Ashkelon prison, a US official tells CNN. The brothers were “arrested for collaboration with Hamas,” Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen, told CNN on Thursday. When asked for comment, the IDF told CNN the brothers are not in their custody, referring questions to the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As CNN previously reported, the brothers were among a group of roughly 20 men detained by IDF soldiers early on February 8, according to the brothers’ cousin Yasmeen Elagha. IDF did not respond to CNN’s request for comment at the time on the matter.

Persons: Alagha, Hashem Alagha, ”, Yinam Cohen, Maria Kari, Hashem, Borak’s, ” Kari, Yasmeen Elagha, –, Elagha Organizations: CNN, US, IDF, Israeli Security Agency, “ Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Chicago

☆ Family of Palestinian-American detained by Israeli forces alleges mistreatment in custody
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The family also said that US officials have not been granted consular access to her more than a week after her detention. “Despite having had her prescription medication from the moment they arrested her, the IDF has declined to administer it,” the family statement said. According to the statement, Esmail was presented to a military commission on Monday and was granted bail, but the IDF appealed the ruling. They called on the US to do more to obtain consular access to Esmail. “The United States is not without tools to obtain consular access to Ms. Esmail and to end her ordeal.

Persons: Esmail, ”, “, Netanyahu, Matt Miller, don’t, ” Miller, Jonathan Franks, Ms, Franks, “ Ms, Esmail’s, ’, Hashem Alagha, Borak Alagha, Miller, Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad Khdour, Abdel, WAFA, CNN’s Lauren Izso, Gabe Cohen Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, U.S, Embassy, . State, Israel Prison Service, ”, Esmail’s Facebook, U.S . Embassy, “ Defense, Children – Palestine Locations: Palestinian, Israel, United States, Silwad, Louisiana, U.S, Gaza, Biddu

☆ Signs of Rare Unrest Among North Korean Workers in China, Researchers Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Ju-min ParkSEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's intelligence agency says poor conditions for North Koreans working overseas have led to "incidents and accidents", while researchers report rare protests and unrest in China among workers from a North Korean military-linked trading company. Fed up with unpaid wages and lingering pandemic lockdowns, as many as 3,000 North Korean workers in China staged protests last month, according to two South Korean government-affiliated researchers, including a former North Korean diplomat. The North Korean embassy in Beijing and its consular office in the Chinese border city of Dandong did not respond to calls from Reuters seeking comment. South Korea's unification ministry said in a report last year that China and Russia were hosting North Korean workers despite the sanctions. That's not easy now, given the North Korean regime wants to keep them in China to raise money for the government."

Persons: Cho Han, Cho, Ko Young, Ko, Jimin Jung, Josh Smith, Eduardo Baptista, Antoni Slodkowski, Laurie Chen, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, . State, Korea Institute for National, South, Korea's National Intelligence Service, Security, Koreans, U.S . State Department, NIS Locations: SEOUL, China, North Korean, Beijing, Dandong, North Koreans, North Korea, Pyongyang, Korean, Helong, Jilin province, Jilin, Russia, Seoul

☆ Explainer-Embattled Ukraine Moves to Tighten Army Mobilisation Rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

(Reuters) - Ukraine's government has submitted an amended draft bill that would tighten the rules on army mobilisation for debate in parliament. Ukraine began mobilising civilians after declaring martial law in February 2022 when Russia invaded. MOBILISATION AGEThe amended bill proposes lowering the age people can be mobilised for combat duty to 25 from 27. Receiving consular services for things like passports would require citizens to present their military registration documents. The Defence Ministry introduced this change to make military registration fair and equal for all.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskiy, Yuliia Dysa, Tom Balmforth Organizations: Reuters, Army, Convicts, Defence Ministry Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

“The group participants remain detained at the immigration center in a shared cell with 80 people,” the post said. The seven band members were arrested last Thursday after playing a concert on the southern resort island of Phuket, reportedly for not having proper working papers. After paying a fine, the band members were sent to the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok. The detained musicians “include Russia citizens as well as dual nationals of Russia and other countries, including Israel and Australia,” the group Human Rights Watch said in a statement Tuesday. Andrei Lugovoi, a member of the lower house of Russia's parliament, called the band members “scum” for their criticism of Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

Persons: Ilya Ilyin, “, ”, Elaine Pearson, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Gudkov, Gudkov, Andrei Lugovoi, ” Lugovoi, Alexander Litvinenko Organizations: —, Facebook, RIA Novosti, Immigration Detention, Human Rights Watch, Rights Watch, AP, Kremlin, Russian Foreign Ministry, YouTube, Spotify Locations: BANGKOK, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Russian, Phuket, Bangkok, Australia, Asia, ”, Britain, London

☆ Is your passport too damaged for travel? Here are 11 reasons it could be, and how to avoid them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Determining if a passport is too damaged for travel often comes down to the opinion of a border authority. "Some tourist attractions will have their own 'passport stamp,' but since these are not official government agencies, they could invalidate your passport," Diehl said. Loose bindings and frayed edges are common reasons a passport is deemed too damaged for travel. "Authorities may question the authenticity of a damaged passport," he said, which could cause them to "detain you or send you home." Keeping your passport in good condition is keyDiehl said that the easiest way to avoid being turned away at the airport for having a damaged passport is to keep it safe.

Persons: —, that's, Business Insider's Monica Humphries, Jake Burton's, Eve, Steve Diehl, Diehl Organizations: Service, Business, US Department of State's, Consular Affairs Locations: Alicante, Spain

☆ Americans are canceling trips that are thousands of miles from Gaza. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Jonathan Delise | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Israel-Hamas war is affecting travel across the Middle East and beyond. Canceling plans a continent awayYet, the war's effect on travelers extends far beyond the Middle East, according to a survey from Morning Consult. Respondents said these plans included visits to the Middle East (12%) and North Africa (7%), as well as Western Europe (14%), according to the survey. Cancelations were high for domestic trips because most Americans travel within the 50 states, thus "there are simply more trips on the table to disrupt," the report stated. Some 52% of respondents with knowledge of the war said they viewed traveling to the Middle East as "very unsafe," compared to 29% of those who had not heard about it.

Persons: Saudi Arabia —, —, Olivier Ponti, Cancelations, Ponti Organizations: Middle East, United, United Arab Emirates, U.S . State Department, U.S, Department of State, Travel, Consular Affairs Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, North Africa, Western Europe, United States, Cyprus, Lebanon, Kuwait, Malaysia, Colombia, Oman, South Africa, United Kingdom, Poland, Denmark

☆ How to Open a Savings Account
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Kerri Anne Renzulli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

If you’re ready to get the most out of your spare dollars, take these steps to open a new savings account. Compare savings account optionsIf you plan to open a savings account online, there are hundreds to choose from. Banks may also require you to deposit a certain amount to open or maintain a savings account with them. If you want to open a savings account that will be shared with another person, like a spouse or partner, you should opt for a joint account rather than a single account. Fund the accountIf your chosen bank or credit union requires a minimum deposit to open a new savings account, you’ll need to fund it with a check, cash, credit or debit card payment, or transfer from another checking or savings account.

Persons: Kerri Anne Renzulli, Banks, You’ll Organizations: Insurance, U.S, government’s Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, National Credit Union Administration, Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Social, ABA Locations: government’s, U.S

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