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German national Jian G, who worked for AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, was arrested by Saxony State criminal police in Dresden and had his residences searched, the prosecutor’s office said early Tuesday. The aide was later suspended by the European Parliament, a spokesman for the body told CNN. Prosecutors said he passed on information about “negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament” to China in January. The far-right AfD party has nine seats in the European Parliament, and is competing alongside Germany’s traditional parties in the European elections in June. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the homes and workplace of the trio were searched in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg.

Persons: Jian G, Maximilian Krah, ”, Jens Schlueter, Jian, “, Krah, Nancy Faeser, Thomas R, – Herwig, Ina F, –, Wang Wenbin Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, International Trade, Security, Defence, Foreign Trade, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of State Security, ” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Crown Prosecution Service Locations: China, Europe, Saxony, Dresden, Germany, United States, Bad Homburg

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

☆ Half of the missiles Iran fired at Israel failed on launch or malfunctioned and crashed, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Around 60 of Iran's missiles failed on their own, multiple reports say. AdvertisementHalf of the missiles Iran fired at Israel over the weekend failed on launch or malfunctioned and crashed, according to reports. But around 60 of Iran's missiles failed on their own, according to several reports. An estimated 50% of Iran's 120 ballistic missiles failed to launch or crashed in flight, unnamed US officials told CBS News and The Wall Street Journal. President Biden said on Friday that he expected Iran to attack Israel "sooner, rather than later."

Persons: —, Gilad Erdan, CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, Amir Saeid Iravani, Israel, Biden, Sean McFate, McFate, They've Organizations: Service, CBS News, Street Journal, United Nations Security Council, Getty, Israel Defense Forces, Navatim Air Force Base, UN, Sky News, Syracuse University, Israel, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Department of Defense Locations: Israel, Iran, Syria, France, Jordan, Gaza

☆ Leaders Urge Restraint as Israel Considers Retaliation Against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Mr. Netanyahu now must make a choice. Will he respond to Iran with a forceful counterattack and potentially entangle Israel and other countries in a broader war? No Israeli leader has warned about Iran so consistently as Mr. Netanyahu or, for that matter, has spent so long in office. Since his first year in office in 1996, Mr. Netanyahu warned that a nuclear Iran would be catastrophic and that time was running out. It was never clear if Mr. Netanyahu was bluffing, and the prospect of an imminent strike receded.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ”, Mazal Mualem, “, ” Ms, Mualem, Efraim Halevy, Netanyahu’s, Jeremy Issacharoff, Obama, Barack Obama, bluffing, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Issacharoff, Israel, “ Bibi Organizations: Al, Mr, United Nations General Assembly, Munich Security Conference, of Foreign Affairs, United Locations: Israel, Iran, East, Iranian Embassy, Damascus, Gaza, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, United States, Iranian, Israeli, Germany, U.S, States, Washington, United Arab Emirates

☆ The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine arrest its security chief and send him to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia is demanding that Ukraine arrest its own security chief and extradite him to Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Vasyl Malyuk of being involved in terrorist acts. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRussia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded on Sunday evening that Ukraine arrest the head of its own security services and extradite him to Russia. The ministry issued a statement blaming Vasyl Malyuk, the chief of the Security Service of Ukraine, for an explosion at a bridge in Crimea that Russia said killed five people in October 2022.

Persons: Vasyl Malyuk, Malyuk, — Organizations: Russian Foreign Ministry, Service, Russia's, of Foreign Affairs, Security Service, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Crimea

NTSB crews used the ship’s voyage data recorder, or VDR, to piece together a rough timeline of events leading up to the collision. But it will take months for them to gather the piles of physical evidence, maintenance records, ship data and witness interviews required to deliver a full report, Homendy said. • 01:24:59 a.m.: Numerous audible alarms were recorded on the ship’s bridge audio. • 01:26:39 a.m.: The ship’s pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for tugboats in the vicinity to assist the vessel. • Around 01:27:04 a.m.: The pilot ordered that the ship’s port anchor be dropped and issued additional steering commands.

Persons: Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key, Jennifer Homendy, Marcel Muise, Investigators, Homendy, “, who’ve, ” Homendy, James Wallace, Peter Gautier, Divers, Roland L, Butler Jr, Pete Buttigieg, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Butler, ”, Miguel Luna, Maynor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, CNN’s Tori B, Powell, Sarah Engel, Elise Hammond, Curt Devine, Casey Tolan, Isabelle Chapman, Daniel Medina, Sahar Akbarzai, Melissa Alonso, Hande Atay Alam, Lucas Lilieholm Organizations: CNN, Transportation, NTSB, Port, Fort McHenry, Maryland Transportation Authority, •, US Coast Guard, Maritime, Port Authority, Baltimore City Fire, Coast Guard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Seagirt, Port of Boston, Maryland, Singapore, Baltimore, Patapsco, Mexico, Guatemala, Camotán, Mexican

☆ Belarus' leader undermined the Kremlin's dubious claims that Ukraine backed ISIS attackers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Lukashenko claims Belarus and Russian security prevented Moscow shooting suspects from entering Belarus. AdvertisementBelarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said his country's security, with the help of Russia's Federal Security Service, tried to prevent Crocus City Hall shooting suspects from entering Belarus. "There was no chance they could enter Belarus," Lukashenko said, reported the state-run Belarusian Telegraph Agency. Lukashenko's statements on the concert hall terror suspects fleeing towards Belarus undermine the Kremlin's claims that the suspects tried to escape to Ukraine first, in an attempt to link Ukraine to the attack. No credible evidence has emerged to suggest that Ukraine was involved in the attack that killed at least 139 people.

Persons: Lukashenko, Putin, —, Aleksandr Lukashenko, Maria Zakharova, Crocus Organizations: Service, Federal Security Service, Crocus, Belarusian Telegraph Agency, ISIS, Russian Ministry of Foreign Locations: Belarus, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Washington

☆ StanChart CEO Winters meets China FX regulator, launches investment banking unit
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters met with the head of China's foreign exchange regulator on Monday, a month after the bank suspended new investments by its clients in the country into offshore products via a quota-based channel. "We have confidence in China's continued financial sector opening and economic transition," Winters said. "The inauguration of SCSCL will enhance Standard Chartered's ability to serve clients domestically and internationally, deepening and diversifying our capabilities in China". StanChart started hiring staff in China since 2023 as it geared up to launch the investment banking unit targeting niche bond deals, chairman of the unit said last year. Blackstone's Schwarzman held a meeting on Monday with the chief secretary of Communist Party of China, Cai Qi, a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows.

Persons: Bill Winters, Winters, Zhu Hexin, StanChart, Zhu, China's, StanChart's Winters, Noel Quinn, Blackstone's Schwarzman, Cai Qi, Cai Organizations: China's, Administration of Foreign Exchange, SAFE, Standard Chartered Securities China, China Development, Communist Party of China, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: London, China, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Baltimore key bridge collapse: Recovery efforts continue for 6 presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse as investigation gets underway
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | Yahya Abou-Ghazala | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Recovery efforts are now underway for the missing people, who are presumed dead. People from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico among the missing: Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the missing, according to the nonprofit Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the missing, according to the nonprofit CASA . Ship blacked out before crash: Just minutes before impact, there was a “total blackout” of engine and electrical power on the ship, according to Clay Diamond, executive director of the American Pilots Association. Eight construction workers were believed to be mending potholes on the bridge when it fell, according to officials. A specialized team will also determine who was controlling the vessel and who was on the ship’s bridge at the time of the crash, she said.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, James Wallace, Wes Moore, “ We’re, Jennifer Homendy, Richard Worley, Miguel Luna, Petén, Clay Diamond, Diamond, “ It’s, ”, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, US Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Buttigieg, Luna, DALI, “, ” Moore, Dali, Tasos Katopodis, Moore, CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Flora Charner, Sarah Engel, Jack Forrest, Allison Gordon, Elise Hammond, Jennifer Henderson, Betsy Klein, Jamiel Lynch, Sean Lyngaas, Mary Kay Mallonee, Lauren Mascarenhas, Pete Muntean, Tori B, Powell, Rachel Ramirez, Amy Simonson, Aditi Sangal, Michael Williams Organizations: CNN, US Coast Guard, Baltimore City Fire, Divers, Maryland Gov, Guard, Transportation Safety, National Transportation Safety, Baltimore Police, CASA, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexican Embassy, American Pilots Association, Reconstruction, Vital, Transportation, El, Maritime, Port Authority of, Infrastructure Security Agency, Coast Guard, for Disease Control, Gov, Association of Maryland Pilots, ”, NTSB Locations: Baltimore, ”, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, San Luis, Camotán, Washington, US, Patapsco, El Salvadoran, Maryland, Port Authority of Singapore

☆ Son Jun-ho: South Korean soccer player returns home after being detained in China on suspicion of accepting bribes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —South Korean soccer star Son Jun-ho, who was detained in China for allegedly accepting bribes, has recently returned home, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday. The ministry has been communicating with the Chinese authorities through “various channels” and requested cooperation to “ensure a swift and fair process,” it said without giving details of the release. He has also represented South Korea’s men’s national team and reached the knockout stages of the World Cup in 2022 with the squad. Son became the first foreign soccer player to be investigated and detained since the CSL started in 2004, according to China’s state-run Global Times. His arrest was part of a broader initiative by Beijing to rid Chinese soccer of alleged corruption in the highest levels of the sport, during which the Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog has been investigating a host of Chinese Football Association figures.

Persons: Son, “, ” Organizations: CNN, South, country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese Super League, Football Association, Korea’s, CSL, Times, Communist, Chinese Football Association Locations: South Korean, China, China’s, Liaoning, Shandong Taishan, Beijing

☆ Russia seems to be using its Ukraine playbook to destabilize another European state, experts warn
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewSome of Russia's recent behavior in parts of Moldova has some experts sounding alarm bells, warning some of it looks similar to destabilizing activities before the invasion of Ukraine. Russia has accused Ukraine of drone striking a military base in Russian-occupied Moldova as pro-Russian figures seems to be actively destabilize the Moldovan government from within. Leading up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the government fought Russian separatists in the Donbas region. They eventually helped secure territory in the region for Russia, which later illegally put them under Russian control. AdvertisementAnd Moldovan officials recognize the danger as Russia increases pressure.

Persons: —, Maria Zakharova, Alexander Shcherba, DANIEL MIHAILESCU, ISW, Putin, Mihai Popsoi Organizations: Service, Business, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Supreme, for, Moldovan, Russian 14th Army, Getty, Ukraine, country's Intelligence, Security Services, AP Locations: Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Moldovan, Moldova's Transnistria, Transnistria, Russian, Washington, Chisinau, AFP, Russian Moldovan, Soviet, Donbas

☆ Ukraine hits at least 3 Russian oil refineries in one of the largest drone strikes in recent months
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine recently launched a wave of drone strikes against Russian oil facilities. Within two days, Ukraine has hit at least three oil refineries, according to CNN. AdvertisementUkraine hit a third Russian oil refinery with one of its largest drone strikes on Wednesday, as the country stepped up aerial attacks on key Russian energy infrastructure in the past two days. Since Tuesday, Ukraine has been hitting Russia with a wave of drones, targeting oil refineries located deep in the country. If the numbers are accurate, that would mark one of Ukraine's largest drone strikes against Russia in recent months, according to the report.

Persons: —, Pavel Malkov Organizations: CNN, Service, The Washington Post, Russia's Defense Ministry, Bloomberg, Russia, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Financial Times Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Ryanzan, Moscow, The, Russia, Kstovo, Kirishi

☆ The U.S. wants ByteDance to sell TikTok. China is almost certainly going to refuse
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Visitors are visiting TikTok's stand at the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) in Shanghai, China, on April 27, 2023. CostFoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesThe U.S. could be about to force ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant that owns TikTok, to divest its U.S. business or effectively ban the app. But a sale looks unlikely — not least because China is expected to block it. Last year, the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) told ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban. TikTok algorithm at the centerWhat complicates a sale further is TikTok's algorithm.

Persons: ByteDance, Paul Triolo, Albright Stonebridge, CNBC's, Wang Wenbin, Shu Jueting, CFIUS, China's Shu, Triolo, Richard Windsor Organizations: Appliance, Electronics, Nurphoto, Senate, Washington, Lawmakers, Chinese Communist Party, TikTok's, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NBC, U.S ., Foreign Investment, China's Ministry of Commerce, Radio Free Mobile, TikTok Locations: Shanghai, China, United States, TikTok, U.S, ByteDance, TikTok USA, USA

“If you have minerals or oil under the ground, how do you come up with a price for a long-term contract? The shift to renewable energy and electric vehicles has caused a spike in the demand for critical minerals, driving these kind of loans. Adesina, whose Abidjan, Ivory Coast-based institution helps finance development in African countries, said these arrangements come with a litany of problems. Photos You Should See View All 60 Images“These are the reasons I say Africa should put an end to natural resource-backed loans," Adesina said. After Chad, Angola and the Republic of Congo approached the IMF for support, the multilateral lender insisted on the renegotiation of their natural resource-backed loans.

Persons: Akinwumi Adesina, paydowns, Adesina, ” Adesina, Glencore, Trafigura, ”, Mao Ning Organizations: African Development Bank, Associated Press, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Chartered, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Railway Group, Gecamines, Alliance for Green Infrastructure Locations: Lagos, NIGERIA, China, Congo, Nigeria, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Africa, Chad, Angola, Republic of Congo, Guinea, Ghana, Beijing, Nigerian, AP.org

☆ US religious freedom delegation cuts short Saudi Arabia visit after rabbi is asked to remove his kippah
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Celine Alkhaldi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An American delegation on religious freedom cut short its visit to Saudi Arabia after one of its members was asked to remove his Jewish head covering, or kippah. The delegation from the US Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF) was on an official visit to the UNESCO heritage site of Diriyah, the original home of the Saudi royal family, when Saudi officials asked its chairman Rabbi Abraham Cooper to remove his kippah, the commission said in a statement Monday. It added that the Saudi government had invited the group to tour the site and that the visit had been approved by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CNN has reached out to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi embassy in Washington. “Saudi officials’ request for Chair Cooper to remove his kippah was stunning and painful.

Persons: Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Cooper “, Cooper, ”, Frederick A, Davie, “, ” Davie, ” Cooper Organizations: CNN, An American, US, UNESCO, Saudi, Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Human Rights Commission Locations: Saudi Arabia, Diriyah, Saudi, Washington, Kingdom

☆ Plan to Deliver Aid by Sea Faces Big Hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Gaya Gupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“It constitutes tacit consent and encouragement on the part of the governments of Canada and Sweden to continue to ignore the involvement of UNRWA employees in terrorist activity,” the statement said. In a government statement on Saturday, Sweden said that it would disburse a conditional first payment of some $20 million. The United Nations has also commissioned an external review. The United States and other countries announced plans this week to try to get aid into northern Gaza by sea through the Mediterranean coast. In recent weeks, nations have been sending in aid via airdrops attached to parachutes.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Philippe Lazzarini, Aaron Boxerman Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNRWA, Nations, European Union, United, Palestinian Locations: Canada, Sweden, Gaza, Israel, United States, Jerusalem

☆ Why Australia keeps an arm’s length from South China Sea tensions, even as it draws closer with the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the Australian Parliament last week there was no mistaking the fighting talk. The Philippines accused China's coast guard of setting up the barrier at the mouth of the disputed fishing ground. That meeting will also be attended by several other nations with territorial disagreements with China – including Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Australia was unlikely to back any tough language at the summit pertaining to the South China Sea or any other hot-button issue. As Bisley put it, “We don’t like what China does, but we’re not going to put ourselves in harm’s way.”

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ”, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, –, Thomas Shoal, David, China’s, Marcos ’, China –, Scott Morrison, Collin Koh, Penny Wong annouced, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Lukas Coch, Susannah Patton, it’s, ” Patton, China’s aggressions, Wang Wenbin, Nick Bisley, Bisley, we’re Organizations: CNN, Maxar, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, China, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Australia, Australian, Partners, Reuters, South China, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, La Trobe University Locations: Philippines, China, South China, Manila, China’s, Philippine, Scarborough, Scarborough Shoal, Hague, United States, Canberra, Australia, Melbourne, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Beijing, Singapore, South, Penny Wong annouced Canberra, Southeast Asia, Japan, India

Reliable and affordable food and commodity imports are more important to a net food importer like Kenya than to some other countries. Perhaps more importantly, a critical part of the world's food supply system remains disrupted, undermining food security and raising the underlying costs of cross-border trade. The governments of Kenya and Ukraine are also working together on food security. Meanwhile, Russia's own efforts to play a part in rebuilding food security have been more a public relations exercise than real action. Although Russian sources have claimed that such shipments have begun, there is still little evidence of Russian food aid arriving in Africa.

Persons: Timothy Njagi Njeru, Kalya Kiptiony, Dr Abraham Korir SingOei, William Ruto, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia's, Dr Njeru, Lensa Omune Organizations: Tegemeo Institute, Kenyan, Initiative, Kenya's Ministry of Foreign, Diaspora Affairs, International Food Policy Research Institute, Insider Studios, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Locations: East Africa, Ukraine, Kenya, Russian, Nairobi, Russia, Africa, Horn, Port, Mombasa

☆ Negotiators race to secure Israel-Hamas hostage and ceasefire deal ahead of Ramadan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Looming over the hostage deal discussions is the threat by Israel to launch an offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza, where around 1.5 million displaced Gazans have fled. Israel appears dug inAs Israel appears dug in its position, negotiators expect Hamas to again respond in the coming days. The first hostage deal in late November saw the return of dozens of hostages taken captive by Hamas on October 7 and a week-long truce. Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have continued to argue that “complete victory” is needed over Hamas. Supporting Tuesday’s UN resolution, proposed by Algeria, in the middle of the ongoing hostage talks would have jeopardized the ceasefire talks, White House said.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Ramadan, Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Brett McGurk, Bill Burns ’, ” Gal Hirsch, Majed Al, Ansari, ” Al, Benny Gantz, White, “, John Kirby, – Organizations: CNN, Israel, CIA, Munich Security, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “ Qatar, United Nations, UN, Senior, United Nations Security Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Cairo, Doha, Algeria

☆ Sexual assaults carried out ‘systematically’ during Hamas attack, Israeli report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Lauren Izso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Israeli civilians suffered “brutal sexual assaults” that were carried out “systematically and deliberately” during Hamas’ October 7 attacks, according to a report published by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) on Wednesday. When most of the victims of sexual assaults are murdered, we have a moral and humanitarian obligation to amplify their silent cry,” the report said. According to evidence collected by the ARCCI, men, women, and children were all victims of gruesome sexual abuse on October 7. It is the only organization in Israel whose main aim is to combat sexual violence, according to its website. The allegations include extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention, degrading treatment, rape and sexual violence, according to a statement by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Persons: ”, “, Orit Sulitzeanu Organizations: CNN, Association, Nova, UN, United, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, West Bank, Human Rights, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Israel, Gaza, United Nations

☆ Where is Hind? Calls for answers more than a week after rescuers go missing trying to save trapped 6-year-old
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Demands for answers are mounting over the fate of 6-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who became trapped in a car with her dead relatives after it came under Israeli fire in Gaza more than a week ago. “We need to know what has happened to Hind and the PRCS ambulance team,” the PRCS said in their latest statement on X early Tuesday. “So many wonderful things can happen in a week, but for those waiting for news or for information a week is anguish. We’re in the car, the tank is right next to us,” Layan screams, amid intense gunfire in the background. Alone, terrified and trapped in the car with the bodies of her relatives around her, Hind made a desperate call for help.

Persons: Hind Rajab, Hind, ”, ” Hind, “, ” Layan, Layan, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, PRCS, Yousef Zieno, Ahmed Almadhoun –, Rana Al, I’m, Yousef, Ahmed, Hind’s, Wissam Hamada, …, ” Wissam, Hind Hamada, Wissam Organizations: CNN, Palestine Red Crescent Society, ” CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Red, Getty, Health Ministry, Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IDF, of Health, “ Locations: Gaza, Palestine, Israeli, AFP, Rana, Al, Israel

An Australian writer and businessman who has been detained in China since 2019 has been declared guilty of espionage and was given a death sentence with two years’ probation on Monday, in a blow to warming relations between Australia and China. If Mr. Yang does not commit any crimes in those probationary two years, the sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment, Penny Wong, the Australian foreign minister, said in a statement. She described the verdict as “harrowing.”The long detention of Mr. Yang — who is also known by his legal name, Yang Jun — has been one of the sources of tensions between Australia and China. Now the severe sentence may again weigh on relations, which had been improving after the election of a new, center-left Labor government in Australia in 2022. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, visited Beijing late last year and has pressed for Mr. Yang’s release.

Persons: Yang Hengjun, Yang, Penny Wong, Yang —, Yang Jun —, Anthony Albanese Organizations: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labor Locations: Australian, China, Australia, Beijing

☆ Kenya Plans to Bypass Court Order in Haiti Deployment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Abdi Latif Dahir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kenya’s government will not await a court of appeal ruling before deploying its forces to Haiti, a senior government official said, further underscoring the government’s determination to move ahead with the proposed multinational force aimed at bringing stability to the gang-ravaged Caribbean nation. Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, the principal secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The New York Times in an interview that Kenya and Haiti were working to finalize a bilateral agreement in the next two weeks and that, once in place, Kenyan forces would immediately deploy. The declaration from Mr. Sing’Oei comes just a week after the country’s High Court blocked the deployment of 1,000 police officers, saying it could go ahead only if there was a “reciprocal arrangement” detailing the framework under which Kenyan forces can operate in Haiti. Mr. Sing’Oei said the High Court provided a legal pathway for the deployment, namely the bilateral reciprocal arrangement with Haiti. But he said the government was appealing the decision to a higher court anyway to seek clarifications on some findings the government “finds problematic.”

Persons: Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, Sing’Oei, Kenya’s Organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New York Times, Kenyan Locations: Haiti, Caribbean, Kenya

☆ HBO is recasting a 'White Lotus' role after Ukraine accused the actor of supporting Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

HBO said Friday it would be recasting a "White Lotus" role held by Serbian actor Miloš Biković. The Ukrainian government accused Biković of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. In a statement, Biković pushed back, saying he could "never wish such devastation on anyone." "We have decided to part ways with Miloš Biković and the role will be recast," an HBO spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Miloš Biković, Biković, — Organizations: HBO, Service, Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Business Locations: Serbian, Ukraine

CNN —Unidentified gunmen killed nine Pakistani workers in the restive southeastern border region of Iran, Pakistani officials say, just over a week after Iran and Pakistan carried out military strikes on each other’s territory. No group or individuals have taken responsibility for the attack, in the city of Saravan, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency. “Embassy will extend full support to bereaved families.”“We called upon [Iran] to extend full cooperation in the matter,” he added. Last week, Pakistan and Iran carried out tit-for-tat strikes on militants on each other’s soil in a major escalation of tension between the two sides. Both nations have long fought militants in the restive Baloch region along the border.

Persons: “, ”, Muhammad Mudassir Tipi, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “, Nasser Kanani, Kanani, Pakistan “ Organizations: CNN, Mehr News Agency, Pakistan’s, “, Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Iran, Pakistan, Saravan, Balochistan, Sistan, Baluchestan, restive Baloch

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