DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Russia Expels British Diplomat After U.K. Booted His Counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Neil Macfarquhar | More About Neil Macfarquhar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it was expelling Britain’s defense attaché from the country, reciprocating against the British government after it threw out his Russian counterpart last week. The Russian ministry announced that further, unspecified retaliatory steps would be forthcoming because of the “unfriendly” measures taken by London. The ministry summoned a British diplomat to inform him that the attaché had been declared “persona non grata,” according to a statement. Britain had announced on May 8 that it was ordering the Russian defense attaché to leave, describing him as an “undeclared” military intelligence officer.

Persons: attaché Organizations: Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Locations: British, London

☆ Britain to Expel Russian Defense Attaché and Close Some Diplomatic Sites
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s diplomatic feud with Russia escalated on Wednesday after the British government announced it would expel a senior Russian diplomat who officials claim is an “undeclared” military intelligence officer, and also shut down several Russian diplomatic facilities in the country. The government accused Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., of a pattern of “malign activity” in Britain and Europe, including hacking and leaking trade documents relating to the United States, and targeting of British lawmakers through malicious email campaigns. James Cleverly, the British home secretary, told Parliament that the government was announcing the retaliatory measures “to make clear to Russia that we will not tolerate such apparent escalations.”Britain’s action came two days after the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the British ambassador to Moscow to lodge a “strong protest” over remarks the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, had made about Ukraine’s using weapons supplied by Britain to strike Russian territory.

Persons: James, ”, David Cameron Organizations: Federal Security Service, Russian Foreign Ministry Locations: Russia, British, Russian, Britain, Europe, United States, Moscow

According to the Pentagon's most recent report on China's military power, Beijing has “denied, canceled or ignored” military-to-military communications and meetings with the Pentagon for much of last year and this year. In an effort to improve transparency and communication, defense leaders from the two countries were meeting regularly. He and other defense chiefs, Joint Chiefs chairmen and regional high-level U.S. commanders routinely traveled to China over the next decade, and Chinese defense leaders came to the Pentagon. The Pentagon routinely complained that there was little tangible progress in the press for greater transparency in China’s military ambitions and its burgeoning defense budget. But the lack of communications heightened worries about an increase in what the Pentagon calls risky Chinese aircraft and warship incidents in the past two years.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “, Robert Gates, ”, Chuck Hagel, Hagel, China's, Obama, Trump, Nancy Pelosi’s, Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, Carolyn Bartholomew, Bonnie Lin, ” Lin, Tara Copp Organizations: WASHINGTON, Economic Cooperation, Military Maritime, U.S, Pentagon, Defense Department, Chiefs, Yuchi, Pacific ., Beijing, The Defense Department, China Economic, Security, China, Center for Strategic, International Security, Associated Press Locations: Asia, San Francisco, China, Beijing, U.S, Singapore, South China, South, America's, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Washington

☆ Israel military announces ground operation expansion in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Kevin Flower | Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is “expanding ground operations” in the Gaza Strip, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced Friday, as intense airstrikes rocked the besieged enclave and with communications links reportedly severed. Gaza residents told CNN the strikes were the most intense they have experienced since Israel began to retaliate against Hamas’ October 7 terror attack nearly three weeks ago. A huge wall of heavy smoke that lasted 15 to 30 minutes also blew from Gaza into southern Israel earlier Friday evening. “We have, of course, certainly seen Israel undertake varied operations on the ground in the last couple of days,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday. He also declined to say if the Biden administration has confidence that Israel has fully considered the ramifications of a ground incursion.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Israel, Shtayyeh, Deir al Balah, Ayman Safadi, ”, ” Hagari, Hagari, John Kirby, “, we’re, ” Kirby, Biden, Kirby, Phillipe Lazzarini, Lazzarini Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, ” Palestinian Authority, Al Aqsa Martyrs, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Reuters, United Nations, UN, Assembly, Hamas, IDF, National Security, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Locations: Gaza, Israel, ”, Al Aqsa, Deir, Palestine, Gaza City, Israel’s, Egypt, Rafah

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing hundreds of people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. Hamas' Oct. 7, attack in southern Israel killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took some 200 captive into Gaza. In Gaza City, Israeli airstrikes also hit the house of Hamas’ top political official, Ismail Haniyeh, killing at least 14 people. Haniyeh is based in Doha, Qatar, but his family lives in Gaza City.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Joe Biden, Mohammed Abu Selmia, ” Abu Selmia, “, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abbas, Richard Hecht, haven’t, Khan Younis, Deir al Balah, Witnesses, Ayman Nofal, Netanyahu, ”, Ismail Haniyeh, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tzahi Hanegbi, —, Israel's Karam, Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel's, ” Khamenei, ___ Kullab, Nessman, Lee, Amy Teibel, Abby Sewell, Samy Magdy, Jack Jeffrey, Ashraf Sweilam Organizations: Ministry, Palestinian, Associated Press, Israel, “ Intelligence, Alhi, Gaza, Gaza Health Ministry, Abbas ’ Palestinian, West, Bank, Palestinian Authority, Embassy, Nasser Hospital, United Nations Palestinian, Israeli, Israel’s National Security Council, Food Program, Hamas, Iran’s, Amman . Associated Press Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, al, Ahli, Gaza City, Hamas, Amman, Jordan, Abbas ’, West Bank, Ramallah, Beirut, Khan, Deir al, Doha, Qatar, Rafah, Egypt, Lebanon, Iranian, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Amman ., Cairo, el, Arish

By 6pm local time on Friday, nearly 98,000 people had left Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia, according to Armenian state media, citing the prime minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan. Azerbaijan should “refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Armenian authorities said. Mnatsakanyan, who reportedly served as defense minister from 2015 to 2018, was arrested Friday and taken to the Azebaijani capital of Baku, according to state media. Manukyan, who reportedly served as the former deputy commander of Nagorno-Karbakh’s armed forces, was detained Wednesday, Azerbaijani state media reported. A video published by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service showing Manukyan in Azerbaijani detention could not be independently verified by CNN.

Persons: Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Stéphane Dujarric, ”, David Ghahramanyan, “, Loven, Davit Manukyan, Mnatsakanyan, Ruben Vardanyan, David Babayan, Samvel Shahramanyan, ” Babayan Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Vehicles, International Court of Justice, Azerbaijan’s State Security Service, Karabakh, Azerbaijani State Security Service, State Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, “ Republic, Artsakh’s, Baku, “ Republic of Artsakh

☆ US intel report details increasing importance of Chinese technology to Russia’s war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The report says Chinese firms are “probably” helping Moscow to evade these sanctions – though it is “difficult to ascertain the extent” of that help. Those supplies have been largely banned by the US and Europe in an attempt to cut off Russia’s war chest. “Russia’s war against Ukraine has been enabled in no small part by China’s willingness to support them, in direct and indirect ways. The US believes that at the outset of the war, China intended to sell Russia lethal weapons for use in Ukraine, a US official previously told CNN. China has claimed neutrality over the war in Ukraine and called for peace in the conflict.

Persons: Russia ”, China “, ”, Jim Himes, “, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Li Shangfu Organizations: Washington CNN, National Intelligence, Russian, ” Semiconductor, ” CNN, Congress, House Intelligence, ” Democratic, CNN, Chinese Defense Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, People’s Republic of China, Moscow, Beijing, Washington ,, Europe, United States

☆ Lukashenko Says Prigozhin Is in Russia, Not Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | Juston Jones | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

MINSK, Belarus — The mercenary leader Yevgeny V. Prigozhin is in Russia, the leader of Belarus said on Thursday, adding to the questions swirling around Mr. Prigozhin’s fate nearly two weeks after he called off his stunning armed rebellion against Moscow’s military leadership. None of Mr. Lukashenko’s claims could be verified, and Mr. Prigozhin has not been seen in public since the rebellion nearly two weeks ago. Mr. Prigozhin was “not on the territory of Belarus,” Mr. Lukashenko said, and nor were Wagner troops, who he said remained in their “permanent camps,” believed to be in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. Mr. Lukashenko also signaled that at least some of Wagner’s fighting force — which was instrumental in Russia’s capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut this spring — could stay intact. But on Thursday, Mr. Lukashenko appeared less definitive about the possible presence of Wagner troops in Belarus.

Persons: Yevgeny V, Aleksandr G, Lukashenko, Prigozhin, Wagner, Lukashenko’s, ” Mr, ”, Vladimir V, “, Dmitri S, Mr, Putin, ’, Putin’s, Anatoly Kurmanaev, Ivan Nechepurenko Organizations: Independence, Kremlin, Russia, The New York Times, West, Mr Locations: MINSK, Belarus, Russia, Russian, St, Petersburg, Luhansk, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Belarusian, Minsk, Moscow

☆ Ukraine Says It Is Ready for Arrival of Wagner Troops in Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Belarus has ratcheted up its messaging about plans to offer refuge — and possibly work — to Wagner group mercenaries after a failed rebellion in Russia, Ukrainian forces say they are ready for any potential threat from their neighbor to the north. In recent days, Ukrainian officials have tried to tamp down concerns while heralding their preparations, with President Volodymyr Zelensky nodding to plans for reinforcing the border in his overnight address into Saturday and top commanders emphasizing that no current threat had been found. Mr. Zelensky indicated that Ukrainian intelligence was monitoring the situation closely, adding, “We very carefully analyze every fact and any prospects in all directions.” Ukraine’s top generals were “instructed to strengthen the northern direction — to guarantee peace,” he said. This week, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, the Kremlin-aligned autocratic leader of Belarus, invited members of the Wagner group who had participated in a rebellion against Russian forces to relocate to an “abandoned” military base in his country. New satellite imagery from Thursday and Friday, analyzed by The New York Times, shows that more than 250 tents, enough to house thousands of troops, have been erected in the past five days at an unused base.

Persons: —, Wagner, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Ukraine’s, “, ”, Aleksandr G, Lukashenko Organizations: The New York Times Locations: Belarus, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Biden administration approves potential $440 million arms sales to Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Michael Callahan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —The Biden administration has approved two potential arms sales totaling $440 million to Taiwan amid ongoing tensions between the self-governing island and Beijing, the State Department announced Thursday. “This proposed sale serves US national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the State Department said. Washington has long provided arms to the island under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, and there is bipartisan support for supplying Taiwan with weapons. “China’s ever-expanding military and grey zone oppression have posed a severe threat to Taiwan,” the ministry said in a statement. “The US arm sales this time not only helps to build Taiwan’s capacity in responding to China’s military threat, but also strengthens our defense resilience and satisfies our training needs.”

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, –, “, Mao Ning, “ China’s, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, State Department, Cultural, Washington, Taiwan Relations, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, United States, China, Taiwan Strait

In a series of Telegram posts on Friday, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of striking a Wagner military camp. “A huge amount of our fighters were killed,” he said, in a radical escalation of a longstanding feud with Russia’s military leaders. In a later Telegram post, Prigozhin said that his criticism of the Russian military leadership was a “march of justice” and not a coup. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Putin is aware of the situation and “all necessary measures are being taken,” according to state media RIA Novosti. In the interview, he claimed the ministry misled Russian President Putin entirely.

Persons: CNN —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, ”, ” Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Prigozhin “, “, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Russia’s, Sergey Surovikin, Prigozhin’s, Igor Strelkov, Tatyana Stanovaya, Mykhailo Podolyak, ’ Prigozhin, , Shoigu – Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Prigozhin's Press Service, –, Russian, Federal Security Service, PMC, Novosti, Social, State, Russia, Russian Ministry of Defense, Security, Defense, Twitter, Internet Research Agency, of Defense, Ministry of Defense, NATO Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Donetsk People’s Republic, “, Putin’s Russia, St . Petersburg, NATO, Crimea

☆ Australia Russia embassy row: Suspected Russian diplomat squatter dismissed as just "a bloke" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Australia’s government last week terminated its lease on the grounds of national security. A man, believed to be Russian diplomat, has remained at the site in defiance of the move. Albanese was asked by journalists on Friday to comment on reports that a Russian diplomat had taken up residence in a shed. “The national security threat that was represented by a Russian Embassy on site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass on the site – that, we don’t see really as a threat to our national security,” he replied. On Friday, Australia’s home affairs minister said Moscow had told the Australian government that it would take the matter to court.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, ”, “ We’re, Clare O’Neil, Australia’s, Moscow, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Australian, Russian Embassy, Home, Russian, Reuters, Australian Federal Police, CNN, Russian Federation, Commonwealth Locations: Hong Kong, Russian, Moscow, Canberra, Yarralumla, Australia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

“As president, I could have declassified, but now I can’t,” Trump says, according to the transcript. CNN obtained the transcript of a portion of the meeting where Trump is discussing a classified Pentagon document about attacking Iran. The transcript of the audio recording suggests that Trump is showing the document he’s discussing to those in the room. Look, look at this,” Trump says at one point, according to the transcript. Look, look at this.”“Secret” and “confidential” are two levels of classification for sensitive government documents.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Trump, Trump, Jack Smith’s, he’s, Trump’s, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, CNN Trump, Mark Milley, Susan Glasser, Milley, –, Smith, General Merrick Garland Organizations: CNN, “, Mar, White, Publicly, Trump, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Yorker, Defense Department, Justice Department Locations: Iran, Florida, Bedminster , New Jersey

☆ Republican primary candidates tap-dance around second Trump indictment charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For his rivals, though, the campaign has been frozen in place, with Trump again seizing the spotlight and relegating them to supporting roles. So when word of the indictment broke, DeSantis sprinted to Trump’s corner – along with the loyalists he is ultimately hoping will break for him. Look, look at this.”Among the 2024 field, DeSantis and longshot primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy emerged overnight as Trump’s most ardent defenders. Ahead of a new ad launch, its first of the 2024 primary, a senior adviser to the group said the new indictment furthered Christie’s political case against Trump. “While Donald Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the ongoing criminal proceedings will be a major distraction,” Hutchinson said.

Persons: Donald Trump –, –, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Justice “ weaponized ”, Joe Biden, Donald, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Clinton, Hunter, Biden, Trump’s, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, ”, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, “ We’re, ” Pence, “, Pence, General Merrick Garland, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, Haley, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, demurred, ” Scott, Chris Christie, ” Christie, Colin Reed, Asa Hutchinson, Donald Trump, ” Hutchinson Organizations: CNN, Trump, Florida Gov, Department, Justice, Republican, Republican Party, Manhattan, Attorney, Justice Department, FBI, United Nations, South Carolina Gov, Fox, Department of Justice, Former New Jersey Gov, “, GOP, Arkansas Gov Locations: Florida, Iowa’s, New York City, “, South Florida, Iran, ”, South Carolina, Arkansas

☆ The man behind Trump World’s myth of rigged voting machines
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +32 min

He publicly announced his purchase of Montgomery’s data in August at a gathering in Missouri of hundreds of his followers. “I own it,” Lindell said of Montgomery’s data, touting it as irrefutable proof Trump was cheated. On Nov. 9, far-right podcaster Joe Oltmann linked Montgomery’s Hammer and Scorecard claims to a parallel conspiracy theory: that widely used voting machines manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems were rigged to flip votes from Trump to Biden. Powell amended her complaint a few days later and dropped the expert’s declaration and the references to Montgomery’s claims. But the government said in a recent court filing that the order has nothing to do with election data.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile Friday, the South Korean and Japanese governments said, a day after it resumed weapons tests as it vowed “fiercer” military responses to the U.S.’s strengthening its alliances with South Korea and Japan. It would be the second ICBM North Korea has fired this month and the third this year, after it refrained from conducting such tests since 2017. Japan’s Defense Ministry also said it appeared to be an ICBM-class ballistic missile. In a statement Thursday, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said the summit would lead to a “more unpredictable phase” in the situation on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. and South Korean officials say North Korea is also preparing to conduct its seventh nuclear test, which would be its first since 2017.

☆ North Korea fires ballistic missile as it vows ‘fiercer’ military response to U.S. and allies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, hours after the North threatened to launch “fiercer” military responses to the U.S. bolstering its security commitment to its allies South Korea and Japan. It said South Korea has strengthened its surveillance of North Korea while maintaining military readiness in close coordination with the United States. It was North Korea’s first ballistic missile firing in eight days and the latest in its barrage of tests in recent months. North Korea previously said some of the tests were simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets. Many experts say North Korea would eventually want to enhance its nuclear capability to wrest bigger concessions from its rivals.

Austin later condemned North Korea’s “irresponsible and reckless activities” during a joint press conference with Lee. The South Korean government source said officials suspect it was a Hwasong-17, North Korea’s most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile that was first successfully tested on March 24. That launch set a new standard for Pyongyang, recording the highest altitude and longest duration of any North Korean missile ever tested. North Korea followed the presumed ICBM test Thursday with two short-range ballistic missile launches, according to South Korea and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media in Tokyo following North Korea's weapons tests.

After Fox News host Tucker Carlson took to the airwaves to ridicule female service members, an Army general defended the tens of thousands of women in the ranks in a social media post. That includes reviews of how active-duty officers engage on public social media platforms, where they are rightly held to stricter standards than typical users. This is evident in the war in Ukraine, where social media has greatly influenced the global public’s perception of the war. It’s true that just 4% of Russian military personnel were women in 2020, compared to 16.5% in the U.S. armed forces. And Russian female military personnel aren’t permitted to serve in combat roles.

Search resuls for: "” Military"

19 mentions found