DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Mideast and US leaders tried to sweep the issue under the rug. That may not work anymore
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Abbas Al Lawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Palestinian issue, he said, is brought up “a lot less than you think” in negotiations with Arab states. “The international community no longer seems to care, and the Palestinians’ Arab allies are embracing the most right-wing government in Israeli history. (Netanyahu told CNN last month he believes that making peace with Saudi Arabia could eventually lead to peace with the Palestinians.) The plan was widely perceived as challenging China’s trade ambitions and would presumably have been activated after Saudi Arabia and Israel normalized ties. In the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, around three-quarters of their populations were opposed to normalizing with Israel, the poll found.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Netanyahu, Omar Rahman, Biden, Israel, Trump, “, Khaled Elgindy, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Elham, Donald, Joe, John Kirby, Mahmoud Abbas, Mohammed Al Yahya Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Saudi, Middle East Council, Global Affairs, United Arab, Abraham Accords, United, Israel, West Bank, Middle East Institute, Palestinian Affairs, Haaretz, London’s, House, National Security, Muslim Brotherhood, MBS, Palestinian, Washington Post, Washington Institute . Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, ”, Saudi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, United States, UAE, Palestine, New York, Saudi Arabia, India, Europe, Riyadh, Washington

☆ Israel has to think long and hard how it got completely blindsided by Hamas' surprise attacks, says former US National Security Council official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's "shocking" that Israel seemed to miss signs of Hamas' attacks, Ret. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementIsraeli intelligence appears to have missed the signs of the "enormous amount of preparation" required for Hamas' string of attacks at the Gaza Strip border, Ret. Hamas launched a series of surprise incursions and rocket attacks along the Gaza border on Saturday, killing what Israeli authorities estimated so far to be 700 people and wounding another 1,500. Israel would have to conduct a "major diagnosis" of its intelligence capabilities, Vindman added.

Persons: Israel, Col Alexander Vindman, Vindman, —, Col, Alexander Vindman, Alicia Menendez, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Shin Bet, Martin Indyk, Richard Hecht Organizations: MSNBC, Service, Hamas, European Affairs, US National Security Council, US Army, West Bank, Bloomberg, Israeli Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran

☆ The Russian weapons Ukrainian soldiers most fear, according to an expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian artillery launches missiles during military exercises on September 27, 2011 in Chebarkul, Chelyabinks region, Russia. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian artillery gunners have played a crucial role in destroying or pinning down Ukrainian units seeking to advance through Russian defenses. AdvertisementAdvertisementDubbed "Putin's vultures" by Ukraine's military, the Ka-52 is highly maneuverable, fitted with tough armor, and can fire tank-busting missiles. The UK's military said that the helicopters give Russia a key battlefield advantage, and have imposed a "heavy cost" on Ukraine. "Ka-52 crews have been quick to exploit opportunities to launch these weapons beyond the range of Ukrainian air defenses," Britain's Ministry of Defence said.

Persons: Gian Gentile, Rand, Sasha Mordovets, Gentile, DJI, SERGEI SUPINSKY, Matt Dimmick, Kamov, Leonid Faerberg, Ukraine's Organizations: Service, US Army, Getty, US National Security Council, of, NGO, BBC . Russian Air Force, Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Russian, Chebarkul, Chelyabinks, Kyiv, AFP

☆ Possible North Korea-Russia weapons deal could be big boost for Kim Jong Un, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Russia’s failures on the battlefield in Ukraine could turn into a win for North Korea. It would also come after 17 years of UN sanctions aimed at hampering North Korea’s ability to build a fully functioning nuclear weapons and ballistic missile force. North Korea has attempted two satellite launches this year; both ended in failure. Russia’s “purchases will undermine the North Korea sanctions regime and help to generate revenue for the Kim regime. “North Korea makes good what I call heavy industrial weapons,” Schuster said.

Persons: South Korea CNN —, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, “, Sergei Shoigu, Kim, ”, Leif, Eric Easley, Kim Jong, Putin, Doo, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, Daniel Salisbury, –, ” Salisbury, Schuster, ” Doo, Joseph Dempsey, Trent Telenko, ” Telenko Organizations: South Korea CNN, North, United Nations, US National Security Council, ”, Russian, Putin, Ewha Womans University, CNN, Foreign Relations, Korea Institute for Defense, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, King’s College London, Russia, US Navy, UN Security Council, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Siberian Railway, US ’ Defense Contract Management Agency Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Ukraine, North Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Moscow, West, Korea, Iran, Korean, “, Japan, Russian, Vladivostok

CNN —Ukraine’s counteroffensive is “moving forward” after Kyiv made some headway in its campaign to recapture territory seized by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday. Despite everything and no matter what anyone says, we are advancing, and that is the most important thing. It is unclear if Zelensky is referring to a specific official or comment, but he appears to be trying to reverse the narrative that Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive has, to date, delivered poorer-than-expected results. Despite continued sluggish progress, Kyiv said in mid-July it felt no pressure for quick results. Zelensky and Kirby’s statements echo what Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Friday.

Persons: CNN —, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelenksy, John Kirby, Dmytro Kuleba, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Kuleba, CNN Kuleba, you’re, ” Kuleba Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, US National Security Council, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne, Crimean, Kremlin, Kyiv, Verbove, United States

☆ Take a look at the $63 million F-16 fighter jet the West has pledged to help Ukraine win the war with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Denmark and the Netherlands are sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with US approval. Ukraine has long coveted the US-made jet as it seeks to bolster its air capabilities in its war with Russia, which has a more advanced air force. Mads Claus Rasmussen/AFP/Getty ImagesSpecificationsThe F-16 is a multi-role fighter built by Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force. A US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US will also begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly and maintain F-16s in Arizona in October, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mette Frederiksen, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Lockheed Martin, Justin Bronk, Ethan Miller, James Hecker, It's, Stringer, John Kirby, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Al Jazeera, Kajsa Ollongren, Oleksii Reznikov, Pat Ryder Organizations: Service, Getty, Lockheed, US Air Force, Falcon, AIM, Royal United Services Institute, U.S . Air Force, Nevada, US Air Forces, Israeli Air Force, US National Security, Pentagon, Pentagon Press, Air Force Locations: Denmark, Netherlands, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Indian Springs , Nevada, Europe, Romania, Athens, Al, Kyiv, Arizona

It had never “recognized UNSC resolutions infringing on the rights of a sovereign state,” Kim said. Pyongyang’s second attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit took place on Thursday, and failed due to a malfunction in the third-stage of the rocket. Its first attempt failed in May when the Chollima-1 satellite vehicle rocket crashed into the sea soon after liftoff. North Korea will try another launch in October, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. North Korea's UN ambassador Kim Song attends a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, August 25.

Persons: ”, Kim Song, ” Kim, Pyongyang’s, Kim Song’s, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, “ Organizations: CNN, UN Security Council, UN, East China, US National Security Council, DPRK, Korean Central News Agency, UN Security, Reuters Locations: North Korea, East, Japan, Okinawa, North, UN, Kim Song’s UN

CNN —North Korea’s second attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit failed Thursday due to a malfunction in the third-stage of the rocket, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The unsuccessful launch came after North Korea’s first attempt failed in May, when the new satellite vehicle rocket Chollima-1 crashed into the sea soon after liftoff. In a news conference Thursday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Japan “strongly protests” North Korea’s latest launch and “condemns it in the strongest terms,” adding that the launch used ballistic missile technology. During the summit, the three leaders pledged closer cooperation to protect against nuclear threats from North Korea and urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. North Korea is expected to celebrate its 75th foundation day on September 9 with a military parade.

Persons: North Korea’s, KCNA, Defense Kimi Onoda, Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan “, “, Matsuno, ”, Yoon Suk Yeol, Adrienne Watson, Joe Biden, Camp David, Kim Jong Un Organizations: CNN, Korean Central News Agency, North, Defense, South Korean, Japanese Coast Guard, Japan’s, United Nations Security, Korea’s National Security Council, UN, NSC, US, US National Security Council, DPRK Locations: Pyongyang, East China, Japan, Okinawa, North Korea, South Korea, United States, Korea, North, Camp

☆ More countries using advanced F-35 fighter jets could free up F-16s for Ukraine, former Lockheed Martin exec says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

More militaries are turning to F-35s for their air forces, a former Lockheed Martin exec said. Tom Burbage told Newsweek that the adoption of F-35s frees up F-16s for air forces like Ukraine's. It says the aircraft would boost its air force, which is currently made up of Soviet-era jets. Experts say that Ukraine receiving advanced jets could help to deter Russia's air force, which hasn't played a notable role in the invasion due to Ukraine's advanced air defense systems. Retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, a former senior commander in the UK's air force, told Newsweek that F-16s are "slowly becoming 'surplus' because of the F-35 orders."

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin's, Ukraine's, Burbage, hasn't, Greg Bagwell, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Lockheed, Newsweek, Service, Privacy, Air, US National Security, Fox News, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine's, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Finland, NATO

☆ Kim Kardashian's Skims may be the hero the IPO market needs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This latest round was led by Wellington Management, a firm known for taking companies public. Jens Grede, Skim’s CEO, recently told Dealbook that stock investors have shown an increased interest in consumer-oriented businesses like Skims and that an IPO is something the company wants. “At some point in the future, Skims deserves to be a public company,” he said. If a Skims IPO were to succeed, “companies, CFOs and investors in general will see this as a very positive sign,” said Sokhi. Netflix posted nearly $8.19 billion in revenue for the quarter, compared to the $8.3 billion Wall Street had projected.

Persons: Kim Kardashian, Goldman Sachs, ”, David Solomon, Ro Sokhi, Cava, “ There’s, Skims, Andy Muir, Jens Grede, Megan Penick, Robinson, Kardashian, we’re, “, ” Adam Hodge, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia “, Tesla, Chris Isidore, Refinitiv, Clare Duffy, Samantha Delouya Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Wellington Management, Nike, US National Security Council, Russian Defense Ministry, Wednesday, Netflix Locations: New York, Cava, Skims, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Odesa’s

Moscow’s withdrawal from the wartime deal on Monday threatens to push up food prices for consumers worldwide and could tip millions of people into hunger. The White House said the deal had been “critical” to bringing down food prices around the globe, which spiked after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Tensions between the two countries heightened on Wednesday, limiting the possibility that the deal to export critical commodities across the Black Sea will be restarted. Wheat prices are still down more than 50% from their all-time high in March 2022. The Black Sea deal — originally brokered by Turkey and the United Nations a year ago — has ensured the safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukrainian ports.

Persons: “, ” Adam Hodge, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia “, —, Vladimir Putin, — CNN’s Katharina Krebs Organizations: New, New York CNN, US National Security Council, Russian Defense Ministry, Wednesday, United Nations, Organization for Economic Co Locations: New York, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Odesa’s, Turkey, Istanbul, Kyiv, Moscow

Seoul, South Korea CNN —For the first time in decades, a nuclear capable US Navy ballistic missile submarine has made a port call in South Korea, in a move that comes just days after North Korea test-fired what it said was a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile. The presence of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan was announced by the country’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday afternoon. The NCG is a joint US and South Korean panel set up by the countries’ leaders at a summit in Washington in April. The Nuclear Threat Initiative at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies estimates that each Trident missile can carry four nuclear warheads, meaning each US ballistic missile submarine could be carrying about 80 nuclear warheads. One arriving in South Korea on a port visit – which must be arranged 24 to 48 hours in advance – would be far more visible, giving North Korea an advantage, Schuster said.

Persons: Kurt Campbell, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un, ”, Kim, “, James Martin, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk, ” Biden, Biden, Yoon, ” Carl Schuster, ” Blake Herzinger, Schuster, Kim Jong, we’ve, ” Schuster Organizations: South Korea CNN —, North, country’s Defense, US National Security Council, Nuclear Consultative, DPRK, Democratic, Nuclear, James, James Martin Center, Nonproliferation, Trident, South, ROK, US Navy, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Pacific, United States Studies Centre Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, Ohio, Korean, Busan, Washington, Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Pyongyang, United States, Hawaii, –

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A US national is believed to be in North Korean custody after crossing the border during a tour, a United Nations agency said Tuesday. The individual was detained during a Joint Security Area tour after crossing the Military Demarcation Line separating North and South Korea, the United Nations Command said in a tweet. The prospect of a US national being held in North Korean military custody comes at a time of fraught diplomacy and rising military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Under leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea has been ramping up tests of potentially nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, something South Korea and its treaty ally the United States are keen to push back on. The NCG is a joint US and South Korean panel set up by the countries’ leaders at a summit in Washington in April.

Persons: “, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, Kurt Campbell, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk Yeol Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, Security, United Nations Command, U.S, National, Democratic People’s, UNC, Joint Security, North, CNN, Busan –, US National Security Council, Nuclear Consultative, South Korean Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North, United Nations, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, South, North Korea, United States, Busan, Washington, Pyongyang

☆ How the Black Sea grain deal collapse could impact global food prices and hunger
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —Wheat and corn prices on global commodities markets jumped Monday after Russia pulled out of a crucial deal allowing the export of grain from Ukraine. The collapse of the pact threatens to push up food prices for consumers worldwide and tip millions into hunger. The White House said the deal had been “critical” to bringing down food prices around the globe, which spiked after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Food pricesThe global food price index complied by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization hit an all-time high in March 2022, but has fallen steadily since then. “A renewed rise in agricultural commodity prices would obviously push up retail food prices but perhaps not by as much as you think, particularly in developed economies,” she said.

Persons: “, ” Adam Hodge, —, Vladimir Putin, General Antonio Guterres, Shashwat, ” Saraf, Richer, Caroline Bain, ”, Rob Picheta, Hanna Ziady, Mick Krever, Anna Chernova, Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: London CNN —, US National Security Council, Chicago Board of Trade, United Nations, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Gro Intelligence, Food Security Information Network, European Union, Rescue, East, Agriculture Organization, Capital Economics, CNN Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Istanbul, Kyiv, Moscow, United States, Sevastopol, Russian, Crimea, East Africa, East, Africa

Now, the man who had been tasked with reviving a nuclear deal to constrain that program has been sidelined. Progress on nuclear talks, as well as the fate of detained Americans in Iran, is likely to boost the incumbents in the polls, analysts have said. Malley was one of the architects of the 2015 nuclear deal reached with Iran under the Obama administration. The administration began negotiations to re-enter an Iran nuclear agreement later that year. “US policy is informed by the administration’s national security calculations, and not any one person in the national security apparatus,” Vaez said.

Persons: Biden, Rob Malley, Malley, Abram Paley, Paley, Jake Sullivan, sidelining, Obama, Donald Trump, Obama’s, Israel, Malley’s sidelining, Nasser Kanani, Javed Gurban Oghli, Israel ”, Gabriel Noronha, Trump, “, ” Noronha, ”, Ali Vaez, Vaez, ” Vaez, Foad Izadi, Ebrahim Raisi, Brett McGurk, McGurk, ” McGurk Organizations: CNN — United, CNN, State Department, Representative, US National, Crisis Group, ICG, Islamic, Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian, Jewish Institute for National Security of, Iran, US State Department, “, University of Tehran’s Faculty of World Studies, US National Security Council, Middle, National Security Council Locations: Iran, Tehran, Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Middle East, Oman, Syria

☆ White House says Biden and Netanyahu will ‘probably’ meet this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will “probably” meet before year’s end, the White House says, a step toward easing what had been a strained relationship but still short of the full-blown Oval Office invitation Netanyahu has long sought. Earlier, Netanyahu’s office said Biden invited the prime minister to meet in the United States. The lack of a White House invite has angered Netanyahu, who returned to office in December after previously serving as prime minister for more than a decade. Biden has invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog for talks at the White House on Tuesday. Biden didn’t answer directly when Zakaria asked when Netanyahu would get a White House invitation.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Netanyahu, ”, John Kirby, forthrightly, Biden, ” Kirby, Isaac Herzog, Herzog, Netanyahu’s, “ Bibi, ” Biden, Fareed Zakaria, Zakaria, Kirby Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US National Security Council, White, West Bank Locations: United States, Washington, Iran, Israel

☆ Chinese intelligence hacked State Department emails in ‘significant’ breach
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 5, 2023. Chinese intelligence hacked into Microsoft email accounts belonging to two dozen government agencies, including the State Department, in the United States and Western Europe in a "significant" breach, according to Microsoft and U.S. national security officials. "The Senate Intelligence Committee is closely monitoring what appears to be a significant cybersecurity breach by Chinese intelligence," Sen. Mark Warner, D-VA, and chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence said Wednesday. The compromise was "mitigated" by Microsoft cybersecurity teams after it was first reported to the company in mid-June 2023, Microsoft said in a pair of blog posts about the incidents. It's also a timely example of the kind of threat that U.S. national security officials have been warning about for months and years.

Persons: Strategic Communications John Kirby, James, Brady, Sen, Mark Warner, Mandiant, Charles Carmakal, Adam Hodge, Covington Organizations: National Security, Strategic Communications, White, Microsoft, State Department, Senate Intelligence, Intelligence, U.S, Warner, of State, CNBC, National Security Council, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, Security, Wall Street Locations: Washington ,, United States, Western Europe, China, Burling, Guam, It's, U.S

☆ Solomon Islands signs China policing deal in upgrade of ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

China and the Solomon Islands on Monday signed a deal on police cooperation as part of an upgrade of their relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” four years after the Pacific nation switched ties from Taiwan to China. “In just four years, the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands has developed rapidly, and we can now say that it is very fruitful,” Li told Sogavare. China will continue to provide assistance to the Solomon Islands to enhance its law enforcement capacity, according to a joint statement released by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. China has long supported so-called South-South cooperation, which refers to cooperation between developing nations as equals for mutual benefit. Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is already building a cellular network in the Solomon Islands, financed by a $66 million Chinese EXIM bank loan.

Persons: ”, Manasseh Sogavare, Premier Li Qiang, Sogavare, Solomon, ” Li, Washington “, ’ Sogavare, Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Xi Organizations: Solomon Islands, Premier, “, US National Security Council, Xinhua, Huawei, “ Sports, Pacific Games Locations: China, Solomon Islands, Pacific, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Australia, Taipei, Solomon, Japan, Britain, Honiara

☆ Ukraine cluster munitions: A top House Republican supports Biden's decision while a prominent Democrat disagrees
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Shawna Mizelle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Over 100 countries, including the UK, France and Germany, have outlawed the munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but the US and Ukraine are not signatories to the ban – a point that McCaul emphasized on Sunday. CNN previously reported that President Joe Biden mulled over the decision before approving the weapons transfer on Friday. “The president’s been doing a good job managing this war, this Putin aggressive war against Ukraine. 3 Republican in the Senate, welcomed the sending of cluster munitions to Ukraine but said the US was taking “too long” to supply weapons to the country. “I don’t believe the (Biden) administration deserves any blame for this,” Lee said.

Persons: “, ”, Michael McCaul, Barbara Lee, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” McCaul, Volodymyr, Zelensky, McCaul, Joe Biden mulled, Biden, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, John Kirby, ” Lee, Putin, Tapper, Lee, Virginia Sen, Tim Kaine, ” Kaine, Wyoming Sen, John Barrasso, ” Barrasso, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Biden, ” “, we’d Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, Sunday, Biden, Democrat, House Foreign, Texas Republican, California Democrat, Union, CNN, Cluster Munitions, US National Security, ABC, Ukraine, US, Fox News, State Department, Trump, White, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, Texas, California, “ State, Russia, France, Germany, Wyoming, Afghanistan, United States, Qaeda

☆ Eyeball to eyeball: Estonia stares down Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Jill Dougherty | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It sits high on the western bank of the Narva River, its 13th-century castle proudly flying the blue, black and white flag of Estonia. We think we know roughly what makes them tick.”Like parts of Ukraine, Estonia was illegally annexed and occupied by the Soviet Union. Estonians at the conference were adamant: Unless Russia is utterly defeated in Ukraine, there is no reason to expect Putin will change his strategic objective. Jill Dougherty/CNNSeveral Russians at the conference said they feel personally responsible for the horrors Russia is unleashing on Ukraine. What’s more, Vladimir Putin is winning support for the war from so-called “swing states” and nations in the Global South.

☆ The Taliban promised to provide security to Afghans. New data shows threat from ISIS is growing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Eliza Mackintosh Ehsan Popalzai Antonio Jarne Lou Robinson | Eliza Mackintosh | Ehsan Popalzai | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

“Currently we don’t have security in Afghanistan at all, whenever we go out we don’t know if we will come home alive or not,” he added. Taliban security forces guard a checkpoint near the foreign ministry in Kabul on March 27, after an ISIS-K suicide bomber struck the site. The data, which is available in a live map, includes 367 pieces of open-source evidence — largely videos and images shared on social media — about 70 ISIS-K attacks since August 2021. As the Taliban try to minimize the threat ISIS-K poses, attacks on civilians continue. Taliban security forces have been waging ongoing operations and night raids against ISIS-K.

CNN —A United States convoy was attacked in Nigeria on Tuesday killing four people, including two personnel from the US consulate and two police officers, and kidnapping three others, according to local police and US officials. “No US citizens were involved and therefore there were no US citizens hurt,” said John Kirby of the US National Security Council. “We are aware of some casualties, perhaps even some killed.”When the assailants saw security forces “they made away with two police operatives and a driver of the second vehicle in the convoy,” Ikenga Tochukwu, deputy superintendent of police, said. “No US citizen was in the convoy,” he added. Police said that joint security forces “have embarked on a rescue and recovery operation in the area.”A State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that “Mission Nigeria personnel are working with Nigerian security services to investigate.”They continued: “The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field,” they continued.

CNN —A US-made Patriot air defense system was likely damaged, but not destroyed, as the result of a Russian missile barrage in and around Kyiv early Tuesday morning local time, a US official tells CNN. We’ll stay out of commenting on Russian sources,” said the Ukrainian Air Force spokesman, Yurii Ihnat. Ukraine currently has two Patriot air defense systems in country, one donated by the US and the other donated jointly by Germany and the Netherlands. It is unclear which of those systems was potentially damaged, but taking one out of commission – even for a short period – could affect Ukraine’s ability to defend Kyiv amid intensifying Russian missile attacks. The components operate together to fire a Patriot missile and successfully guide it to its target.

Peskov did not provide any evidence to his claims, nor additional details regarding the alleged attack, saying that information would be released later. Earlier this week, Russia claimed Ukraine launched a drone strike targeting the Kremlin in an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a “planned terrorist attack.” Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement. The United States had nothing to do with this. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty ImagesRyabkov also accused US officials of trying to “promote the idea of Washington’s non-involvement” in the purported drone attack, TASS reported. “Washington has long been a direct party to the Ukrainian conflict and aims to destroy sovereign Russia,” he said, according to TASS.

☆ Video appears to show Russian Wagner troops shooting their own comrade, shoving each other into enemy fire in chaotic trench battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A video from Ukraine shows a chaotic trench battle in the contested city of Bakhmut. A Ukrainian official said it showed Ukraine reclaiming territory from Russia's Wagner mercenaries. Gerashchenko quoted a soldier who sent him the video, saying it shows Ukrainian soldiers retaking a trench from Russian forces. Wagner group soldiers have been particularly involved in the battle for Bakhmut. The Wagner group took on a growing role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the country's army struggled to take over the country.

Search resuls for: "US National Security Council"

25 mentions found