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☆ Why a Tactic Used by Czars Is Back With a Vengeance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Amanda Taub | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The day before, the police charged three men with aiding the Hong Kong intelligence service and forcing entry into a residential address. I’m not going to speculate on whether the three men are guilty or innocent, as their court case is ongoing. But the arrests have drawn attention to the phenomenon of “transnational repression,” in which autocratic governments surveil, harass or even attack their own citizens abroad. Last month, following a string of attacks on Iranian journalists, Reporters Without Borders proclaimed London a “hot spot” for the phenomenon. Although transnational repression is an old practice, it appears to be gaining prevalence.

Persons: ”, Hong Kong’s, I’m Organizations: Hong, Foreign, U.K, Borders Locations: London, Hong Kong, China, Britain

☆ India elections 2024: Once again, millions of migrants are unable to vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Noemi Cassanelli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Often referred to as the “city of dreams,” Mumbai draws migrants from across the country hoping to find wealth and success. Noemi Cassanelli/CNNThe Covid-19 pandemic only underscored the volatility of migrant workers’ circumstances when millions lost their jobs almost overnight and were forced to go home. The biggest group is in the United Arab Emirates, with 3.4 million NRIs, followed by 2.5 million in Saudi Arabia; next is the United States with 1.2 million. The massive group of disenfranchised migrant workers stands in sharp contrast to these achievements – with no solution in sight. That means for now, voting remains an unlikely reality for many migrant workers.

Persons: India CNN — Chanu Gupta, ” Gupta, Chanu Gupta, Noemi Cassanelli, ”, Gupta, –, “ Organizations: India CNN, CNN, Nations, United Arab, ”, Workers Locations: Mumbai, India, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, ” Mumbai, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United States, United Kingdom, Dubai, NRIs

☆ 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

☆ More Americans Are Moving Abroad Because the US Is Too Expensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"We realized we couldn't afford the mortgage and the car payments and everything," Stonestreet told me. Americans work more, vacation less, spend more on healthcare, and die sooner than people in other high-income economies. These factors likely explain why some Americans are moving to countries that aren't generally considered low-cost-of-living locales. She said that living abroad afforded her a degree of flexibility and spontaneity that would be out of reach back home. From their temporary perch in Tirana, Albania, the couple told me via WhatsApp that their only regret about moving abroad was not doing it sooner.

Persons: Amelia Basista, Stonestreet, Basista, Maliya, I'm, Fale, scoping, Cristina Johnson, Johnson, Mariana, Dustin Lange, that's, Mariana Lange, Mark Zoril, Andrew Hallam, Zoril, hasn't, — Zoril, Tomorrow's Organizations: State Department, American Citizens, Monmouth University, Labor Statistics, Financial Technology Association, Business Locations: South America, Denver, Cuenca, Ecuador, Germany, Canada, France, Minneapolis, Latin America, America, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Belize, States, Austin, North Carolina, Central America, Portugal, Spain, Lisbon, Europe, Tirana, Albania

☆ Former CIA officer breaks down 'duty to warn' requirement that saw the US give rival Russia a heads up before the attack in Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ex-CIA officer Laura Thomas explained the 'duty to warn' protocol, that sounds the alarm on threats. Before the March 22 Crocus City Hall attack, Russia dismissed the US warnings. The CIA uses the "duty to warn" protocol to alert a US or non-US entity of an impending threat. Once a "duty to warn" notification is delivered, the CIA officer who issued the warning documents marks it as a "fulfilled" duty. "CIA's own duty to warn process does not always involve State Department, as it is not the same as a 'public' notification," Thomas said.

Persons: Laura Thomas, —, It's, ake, ould, ure, eason, haring, ike Organizations: CIA, Crocus City, Service, ust, tate Locations: Russia, italy

☆ Get Ready for the Great Trump Diaspora
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Paul Starobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Atlantic devoted an entire issue to the authoritarian horrors in store for America "If Trump Wins." AdvertisementA second Trump presidency, Speer said, could serve as a "catalyst" that further fuels the growing diaspora of Americans living in exile. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the DNC, has nearly tripled its membership. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the Democratic National Committee, has nearly tripled its membership, which now numbers in the hundreds of thousands. My wife and I are both Trump decriers, although we didn't begin our Italy property search to find a refuge from MAGA-infused America.

Persons: specter, Donald Trump —, Trump, Gallup, George W, Bush's, Barack Obama's, Doris Speer, Speer, —, Roe, Wade —, Martha McDevitt, Pugh, Emily, Francophiles, Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin —, Nicole Kidman's, MAGA, batty, it's, John Galey, Paul Starobin Organizations: Washington Post, Trump, America, Association of Americans Resident Overseas, dodgers, DNC, Democratic National Committee, Leggett, Italy Facebook, Côte, IRS, Citizens Abroad, Los Angeles Times, New Books Network Locations: Umbria, Italy, Montana, Tuscany, Texas, Tennessee, America, Canada, Washington, Paris, United States, Iraq, Europe, Vietnam, Sedona , Arizona, Portugal, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Golden, California, MAGA

☆ Opinion: What is Putin afraid of?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. But in its attempt to exercise and display its strength, Putin is showing his fear. Security forces have arrested Russians questioning the war in Ukraine, let alone questioning Putin. According to rights organization Freedom House, Russia has become one of the world’s top perpetrators of transnational repression. Criticism of the war or of Putin can lead to death in a Russian prison camp.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Vladimir Putin, Ksenia, Putin, Karelina, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, Chris Van Heerden, didn’t, Boris Nemtsov, Anna Politkovskaya, There’s Navalny, Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, —, Gershkovich, Vadim Krasikov, ”, Maxim Kuzminov, Russia “, Alexander Litvinenko, Sergei Skripal, “ Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, Kremlin, Russia’s Federal Security Service, KGB, Security, US, Wall Street, House, Police Locations: Russia, Russian, Los Angeles, Ukraine, Yekaterinburg, Germany, Chechen, Alicante, Kuzminov, London, Salisbury, England, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ Russian war critic poses an awkward challenge for Putin and the Kremlin as the election nears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The Kremlin has sought to dismiss Nadezhdin's potential to upset an election whose win for Putin is seen as a done deal. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told CNBC Thursday that "we are not inclined to exaggerate the level of support for Mr. However, Nadezhdin's recent growing popularity and prominence has changed that, political analysts say, and he now poses a challenge and a dilemma for the Kremlin as the election nears. Nadezhdin has said in interviews that he would end the war with Ukraine, describing the war as a "fatal mistake." Stanovaya believed it was likely that the CEC would not recognize a portion of the signatures that Nadezhdin has garnered.

Persons: Boris Nadezhdin, Vera Savina, Vladimir Putin's, Nadezhdin, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, isn't, Putin's, Tatiana Stanovaya, he's, Stanovaya, András, Czifra, Peskov Organizations: Civic Initiative, Central, Commission, Afp, Getty, Kremlin, CNBC, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Duma, Ukraine, Moscow, Election Commission, CEC, Eurasia, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Boris Nadezhdin Press, Central Electoral, Putin, Kremlin's Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Mar, today's Russia, Anadolu

☆ China's Xi Urges Stronger Rule of Law Overseas Amid 'External Risks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping has called for stronger rule of law related to foreign affairs given "external risks and challenges" as China opens up to the outside world, state media reported on Tuesday. Xi, speaking during a study session of the Communist's Party's powerful political bureau, said that to protect its overseas citizens and interests, it was necessary to deepen international cooperation on law enforcement, strengthen consular protection and assistance, and build strong rule of law. To facilitate economic and trade exchanges, authorities say Chinese law firms have set up 180 overseas offices in 35 countries and regions, an increase of nearly 50% since 2018. China needs to actively develop foreign-related legal services and cultivate world-class arbitration institutions and law firms, Xi said. China says such centres are meant to help its citizens renew expired driving licences, and are run by Chinese volunteers, not law enforcement officers.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel Organizations: Tencent Holdings, Alibaba Locations: BEIJING, China, Nepal, U.S, Canada, Britain, Netherlands, Beijing, Ukraine, Sudan

☆ ECB starts preparation for digital euro in multi-year project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Francesco Canepa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A number of Caribbean countries and Nigeria have already launched digital currencies while China and Sweden are among those that have rolled out pilot projects. The ECB says a digital euro will create competition in the market for payments, dominated by U.S. credit card companies. The digital euro will distributed by the ECB as well as commercial banks and digital wallet providers. Many of these projects surged around 2019, when Facebook announced plans to introduce a digital currency, which were then ditched. But the rise of stablecoins – crypto tokens backed to some degree by traditional currencies – gave central bank’s digital currencies, or CBDC in financial jargon, new impetus.

Persons: Markus Ferber, Francesco Canepa, Alex Richardson, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Bank of England, Bank of Canada, European People's Party, U.S, Monetary Fund, Commission, Bank for International, Facebook, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Nigeria, China, Sweden

☆ Biden takes a political hit but brings Americans home
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

After all, the United States does not do deals with its well-meaning friends to free hostages or wrongly detained Americans. There is no perfect deal to free imprisoned Americans and the agreement with Iran is especially divisive. In this way dealing with US enemies can be a sign of political strength rather than weakness. Criticism from the likes of former President Donald Trump and Pence is politicized in the context of their presidential campaigns – and ignores their own deals to free Americans. Moscow is subsequently currently driving a relentless bargain over the fate of imprisoned Americans Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Pence, –, Trump, Wang, Kim Jong, Trump’s, Biden, Mike McCaul, Viktor Bout, Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, ”, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, foments, Neda Sharghi, Emad Sharghi, “, Paul Whelan’s, Morad, Namazi – Organizations: CNN, Washington, Biden, Trump, Texas, House Foreign Affairs, Wall Street, White, GOP, US Treasury Department Locations: Iran, United States, Russia, Venezuela, Qatar, China, North Korea, Tehran, Moscow

☆ France calls for release of French official in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - France's foreign ministry on Tuesday called for the immediate release of a French official held by security forces in Niger. It said that an adviser to French nationals in Niger had been arrested by Niger security forces on September 8. The official is a "conseiller des Français de l’étranger" (adviser to French citizens abroad), who is an elected official who represents French expatriates and works closely with the country's embassies and consulates. According to the foreign ministry website, there are 442 such advisers worldwide. Their role is to help French expats with issues relating to work, schools, social security and other issues.

Persons: Tassilo Hummel, William Maclean Organizations: French, GV, Thomson Locations: Niger, France, Paris, Niamey, French

☆ Turkey curbs credit card use for foreign travel, in blow to sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ceyda Caglayan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ISTANBUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Turkey's banking watchdog has stopped allowing credit card payments by instalment for foreign travel, such as flights, travel agency fees and accommodation, in a step seen dealing a blow to foreign travel operators. The move, which hit airline shares and was seen as curbing foreign currency outflows, was one of two measures announced by the BDDK watchdog late on Monday, which it said were among coordinated steps to strengthen financial stability. "The logic (of the step) is 'citizens shouldn't go abroad and spend foreign currency'," he said, adding that the foreign travel sector was also being hit by increasing difficulties faced by Turks in securing tourist visas. The credit card move also had an impact on airline share prices, with Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS) dipping 1.3% and the airline Pegasus (PGSUS.IS) dropping 2.3%. ($1 = 26.9618 liras)Reporting by Ebru Tuncay; Editing by Daren Butler and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Cem Polatoglu, shouldn't, Ebru Tuncay, Daren Butler, Emelia Organizations: Turks, Turkish, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday announced a first round of sanctions targeting Russia and Iran for engaging in hostage-taking and the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens abroad. The State Department has formally moved to declare Gershkovich's detention a wrongful one, which opens up additional resources to secure his release. The administration has identified at least two American citizens who are wrongfully detained in Russia and three in Iran, along with one legal permanent U.S. resident. One administration official said relevant families were briefed on the new sanctions ahead of Thursday's announcement. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, Washington and its allies have imposed rounds of coordinated sanctions vaulting Russia past Iran and North Korea as the world's most-sanctioned country.

CNN —The situation on the ground in Sudan on Wednesday remained too volatile to get diplomatic staff from the US Embassy in Khartoum out of the country, a top State Department official told congressional staffers. Another US official told CNN that State Department officials are in contact with Pentagon officials in Djibouti where the US has military assets to determine the best evacuation operation. Officials told staffers Wednesday that there are an estimated 16,000 American citizens in Sudan, most of whom are dual nationals, and roughly 500 had contacted the US Embassy since the outbreak of fighting. “Within Sudan, the Department of Defense’s mission is primarily focused on providing security at the US Embassy. While operational security prevents us from going into detail, the Department of Defense, through the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, provides ongoing security for diplomatic facilities worldwide,” he said.

☆ North Korea slams U.S. for protecting raiders of Spain embassy in 2019 case
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, April 4(Reuters) - North Korea criticized the U.S. for refusing to extradite a man who was accused of staging a break-in at North Korea's embassy in Spain in 2019, saying Washington was protecting terrorism, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday. The North Korean embassy in Madrid issued a statement marking the fourth anniversary of the raid, during which a group of men bound and gagged staff for hours before driving off with computers and other devices. "But the U.S. is openly protecting and encouraging acts of terrorism against our citizens abroad based on groundless claims," it added. The embassy called Washington's behaviour "daylight robbery" and "gangster," demanding it provide a formal apology and compensation and arrest and extradite the raiders. The FBI gave the items to Spanish authorities who eventually returned them to the embassy.

☆ Rich Russians can't easily travel overseas after Putin's invasion, so they're going on cruises at home instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's cruise industry enjoyed "serious growth" in 2022, a lawmaker told the news agency TASS. Many Russians went on cruises for the first time because they couldn't travel overseas. Konstantin Puchkov of the online travel marketplace Cruise House told Insider that river cruises had been particularly popular. The added burdens of international travel mean that Russia's domestic cruises are now attracting wealthier customers — including those who've previously vacationed overseas. Russian tourists can still technically enter Europe through third countries, such as Turkey, but that makes journeys more expensive and time-consuming.

☆ UK tells Chinese government to take notice of lockdown protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The Chinese government should "take notice" of protests against its strict zero-COVID policy and restrictions on freedoms, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday. "Protests against the Chinese government are rare and when they do happen I think the world should take notice, but I think the Chinese government should take notice," Cleverly told reporters. Protests in China and among Chinese citizens abroad were triggered by a fire in the Xinjiang region last week that killed 10 people who were trapped in their apartments. "It's clear that the Chinese people themselves are deeply unhappy with what is going on, about the restrictions imposed upon them by the Chinese government," Cleverly said. "These are the voices of Chinese people talking to their government and I think it's right that the Chinese government listens to what those people are saying."

☆ Travel warnings: What other nations tell their citizens about US violence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

After all, the rate of gun-related deaths in the United States has been going up in recent years. CNN Travel keeps a periodic check on what the governments of the United States’ neighbors and closest allies tell their citizens about coming here. It also tells its citizens that “violent crime, including gun crime, rarely involves tourists, but you should take care when traveling in unfamiliar areas. In many states, it is legal for United States citizens to openly carry firearms in public. “Violent crime has targeted individuals and groups from the LGBTQIA+ community and those with diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Persons: –, It’s, They’re, ”, it’s, Tara Walton, Lauren Redfern, ” Redfern, Israel Israel, Uriel Sinai, sprees, Kazuhiro Nogi, Shinzo Abe, they’re Organizations: CNN, US, Violence, CNN Travel, United, Washington Post, Getty Images Canada, ”, US Department of Homeland Security, London, Israel, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lufthansa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Airlines, Haneda Airport, New Zealanders, & Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: United States, America, Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia, United States of America, Canada, Windsor , Ontario, Detroit , Michigan, Mexico, ” United Kingdom, United Kingdom, United, London, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Israel, Algeria, France, carjackings, Boston, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, ”, Atlanta, Germany German, Europe, Germany, Florida, Japan, Tokyo, AFP, Zealand, New Zealand, New

☆ U.S. is probing Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing, Israel's defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Abu Akleh’s supporters accuse Israel of intentionally killing the 51-year-old and have urged Washington to open a full investigation. Gantz, who is set to leave his post following elections earlier this month that vaulted Israel’s former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to power, was defense minister when Abu Akleh was killed. In September, Israel acknowledged for the first time that Israeli fire probably killed Abu Akleh. Human rights groups have long accused the Israeli military of failing to properly investigate wrongdoing by its own troops and seldom holding forces accountable. Abu Akleh was shot while reporting on an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, long a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

☆ Dual citizens abroad say it's worth ballot obstacles to make sure their votes count
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Sakshi Venkatraman | Sakshi Venkatraman Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

When I moved overseas, it wasn’t as easy.”Thousands of dual citizens like Lee are eligible to vote in the coming election, and experts say in a close race, they could be a critical bloc. In 2020, Georgia saw 27,252 votes cast from abroad, which exceeded the 11,779-vote margin of victory that flipped the state blue. But while dual citizens have a constitutional right to cast their ballot, a messy system and a lack of infrastructure often keeps them from doing so, advocates said. Thirteen states — including Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania — prohibit absentee voting for citizens who have never resided in the country. “I think that you can still make a difference with your votes.”Some dual citizens might not call the U.S. home, but Lines said America’s policies have an effect everywhere.

☆ Every state allows members of the military to vote by mail. Here are the other ways to vote overseas.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Kayla Gallagher | Tien Le | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Every state is required to send ballots to members of the military and other US citizens living overseas who request them. Every state allows members of the military stationed overseas and US citizens living abroad to submit their ballots by mail. In the chart below, UOCAVA voters refers to those covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act. But the option increases chances for military and overseas ballots to be counted on time. Military members or citizens stationed overseas can also register to vote and request their absentee ballots from the nonpartisan Overseas Voter Foundation.

REUTERS/Jose Luis GonzalezMEXICO CITY, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Voluntary returns of Venezuelan migrants in Mexico by plane back to their homeland are likely to begin in the next few days, four people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Under a bilateral plan announced on Oct. 12, Washington said it would grant up to 24,000 Venezuelans humanitarian access to the United States by air. The Mexican government said on Oct. 12 that Venezuelans entering its territory from that day onward would not be allowed to apply from Mexico for access to the United States by air. Those Venezuelans who have entered Mexico illegally and want to stay in the country will have to request asylum, according to a Mexican official familiar with the matter. That could mean voluntary return to Venezuela is more attractive to some than staying in Mexico, the official said.

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