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☆ Here's why Israel, one of the toughest militaries, isn't arming Ukraine despite a global push to do so. It's got another fight in focus.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Israel, a major US partner, has not provided direct military aid to Ukraine. Russia allows Israel to conduct operations targeting Iran-linked forces in Syria, something it doesn't want to jeopardize. Israel, as of February 2022, was the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance — most of which comes in the form of military support. But the country has stopped short of providing direct lethal military aid to Ukraine, despite pleas from leadership in Kyiv. Even as Moscow allows Israel to clamp down on Iranian influence in Syria, Russia and Iran have increased their military ties and support throughout the Ukraine war.

Downing Street referred requests for comment to the business ministry, which oversees Companies House, Britain’s public registry of companies. And, in most cases, if foreign companies purchased the property before 1999 or hold UK property in a trust they don’t need to publicly disclose the beneficial owners. The Cyprus-based company, A. Corp Trustee Limited, wasn’t listed on Britain’s new property register as of Tuesday morning. A listing on the UK’s new property register for Hanley Limited identifies the beneficial owner as a Swiss company called Pomerol Capital Sa. Ravellot also wasn’t on the new property register.

☆ Cloudflare says White House asked tech firm to bypass Iran censorship, but US sanctions got in the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In the case of San Francisco-based Cloudflare, Prince said the White House official suggested the company could be given a “license” to operate in Iran, but Prince replied that it was “too late” for that. Prince did not name the White House official. CNN has requested comment from the White House National Security Council. About 10% of Russian households use that anti-censorship Cloudflare technology, Prince claimed. The phone call from the White House, Prince said, illustrated a difficult “tradeoff” between sanctions meant to punish human rights-flouting regimes and the need to get technology into the hands of dissidents.

☆ Jair Bolsonaro could be deported if the US decides he's causing 'adverse foreign policy consequences'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro came to Florida late last year on a visa. To deport him, the Secretary of State could rule that Bolsonaro is harming US foreign policy. Late last year, Bolsonaro, while still Brazil's head of state, came to Florida, with people spotting him everywhere from fast-food joints to grocery stores. Under federal law, Bolsonaro could be deported if the Secretary of State has "reasonable grounds" to believe that his presence in the country "would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States." Under that provision, Bolsonaro could be deported whether or not he has even been charged with a crime.

☆ Guns, drugs and migrants: Biden heads to Mexico to face diplomatic challenges with North American allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Peter Nicholas | Peter Nicholas Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

MEXICO CITY — When North American leaders gathered in 2021 — at the first summit for the group in five years — the mood was upbeat. Before he arrived in Mexico City on Sunday night, Biden stopped in El Paso, Texas, amid criticism from congressional Republicans that the southwest border has gotten more porous on his watch. Citing health concerns, López Obrador has called for banning imports of genetically modified corn. Ahead of the summit, the leaders sought to ease some of the strains and perhaps create a more convivial atmosphere. Rather than fly into the more conveniently located Mexico City hub airport, Air Force One landed Sunday at a new airport that was a pet project of López Obrador’s.

☆ 'Deadly' double agent Ana Montes who was a US spy for communist Cuba freed from prison after 20 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ana Montes, seen as "one of the most damaging spies" in US history, has been released from prison. When she was working a clerical job at the Department of Justice, Cuban authorities identified her as someone who would be sympathetic to their cause. She was able to pass highly sensitive information over to Cuban authorities through memory alone. "She compromised everything — virtually everything — that we knew about Cuba and how we operated in Cuba and against Cuba," Van Cleave said. Chris Simmons, a former investigator with the DIA, described Montes as "a very deadly woman, a very dangerous woman," NBC reported.

☆ Xi Jinping is 'preparing the Chinese people for war,' Trump-era National Security Adviser says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

McMaster warned that Xi Jinping is preparing China for war. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyHerbert Raymond McMaster, a former National Security Adviser, said on Monday he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping is "preparing the Chinese people for war." McMaster urged the US to increase its military presence in the Asia Pacific region. In November, Xi urged the Chinese military to be ready for potential war and outlined a vision for the People's Liberation Army to become a world-class force by 2027. The Chinese president also denounced "foreign interference" with Taiwan — a veiled threat against the US that came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's August visit to Taipei.

But other potential Chinese investors were less sure. Most investors had decided to head home ahead of Chinese New Year, said Yu. GUNFIRE, PANICNews of the hotel attack spread fast to the investors running China Town - a cluster of 10-storey blocks about 20 minutes drive away, overlooked by snow-topped mountains. After security forces secured the hotel, Yu got through to some of the guests by phone. In all, about 35 Chinese investors were in the hotel, he said - about a third of the number he estimated were in Afghanistan at the time.

But they fear a harsh new anti-gay law passed by Russian lawmakers will leave them little choice. As the Kremlin prepared to finalize the expansion of the 2013 discriminatory anti-gay law, members of the LGBTQ community in Russia told CNN they feared the uncertain future ahead. Activists say a new legislative package that beefs up an existing anti-gay law is a threat to LGBTQ people in Russia. And it’s just reducing the space within which a non-heterosexual existence can comfortably take place in Russia,” Healey told CNN. Yulia Alyoshina, Russia's first transgender politician, said the new law was discriminatory and would make life tougher for Russia's LGBTQ community.

☆ Biden chose humanity over geopolitics with Griner release
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But President Joe Biden’s decision to exchange WNBA star Brittney Griner for Viktor Bout goes beyond the exchange’s bottom line. And it prompted top Republicans to charge that he had prioritized a basketball superstar over an ex-marine who benefited from a vocal political pressure campaign on Biden. This adds another layer of complication for Biden as he seeks to get Whelan free, since it involves another government and would require German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to potentially agree to supersede his country’s own legal system. While Biden is being castigated by some political opponents in Washington for doing a bad deal, administration officials insisted that he got the best one on offer. It was a choice between bringing home one particular American, Brittney Griner, or bringing home none,” a senior administration official told reporters on Thursday.

☆ Xi Jinping: Saudi's MBS rolls out the red carpet for China's president, in a not too subtle message to Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Saudi leaders will infuse the trip with a dose of spectacle. The Saudi king – or his powerful Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman – may bestow the Chinese leader with some honors and medals. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fist bumps US President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15. Today, the US consumes only a fraction of that Saudi oil, and China is Saudi Arabia’s biggest client and trading partner. Over the last year, Gulf Arab countries appear to have ramped up their independent-minded policy.

☆ Belarus foreign minister Makei dies - Belta
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 26 (Reuters) - Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has died at the age of 64, state news agency Belta reported on Saturday. "Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has passed away suddenly," Belta reported. Before the presidential elections and mass anti-government protests in Belarus in 2020, Makei had been one of the initiators of efforts to improve Belarus' relations with the West and had criticised Russia. However, he abruptly changed his stance after the start of the protests, claiming they were inspired by agents of the West. "We are shocked by the reports of the death of the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted in her Telegram channel.

☆ Foreign governments dropped $750,000 on Trump's DC hotel during key lobbying pushes, subpoenaed documents show
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Documents released Monday detail foreign government spending at the Trump Hotel in Washington, DC. The documents show Saudi Arabia and the UAE rented rooms while lobbying the Trump administration. Rep. Carolyn Maloney said the records show Trump may have been "guided by his personal financial interest." Monday's records, which had been subpoenaed by the Democratic-led committee, detail spending that came during key moments in US foreign policy. The Qatari government also spent more than $300,000 at the property during this time, the records show.

☆ Republican Sen. Todd Young faces off against Democratic Mayor Tom McDermott in Indiana's US Senate election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Explore more race results below. Sen. Todd Young is running against Democrat Tom McDermott to represent Indiana in the US Senate. McDermott has served as mayor of Hammond, Indiana's 8th largest city, for nearly two decades. IN-01 HouseRepublican incumbent Sen. Todd Young faces off against Democrat Tom McDermott in Indiana to represent the state in the US Senate. Prior to entering public office, McDermott served six years in the Navy as a nuclear submariner.

☆ Trump defended hosting the Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament by saying 'We have human rights issues' too. Human rights experts agrees and say Trump himself was responsible for many during his presidenc
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Human rights groups have previously called Trump out for exacerbating human rights violations while president. "We have human rights issues in this country too," Trump said on October 30 after reporters asked whether he was concerned about human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups have acknowledged that the US, like many countries, has its share of human rights issues and violations. Alison Leal Parker, Managing Director for the US Program at Human Rights Watch, told Insider that "the wholesale assault" of fundamental human rights under Trump was "unprecedented." "Every previous administration, including the current one, including the Biden administration, has been responsible for human rights violations," Parker said.

☆ In bankrupt Lebanon, locals mine bitcoin and buy groceries with tether, as $1 is now worth 15 cents
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +32 min

Others arrange clandestine meetings via Telegram to swap the stablecoin tether for U.S. dollars in order to buy groceries. In Jan., police raided a small crypto mining farm in the hydro-powered town of Jezzine, seizing and dismantling mining rigs in the process. But mining crypto tokens to earn a living is not for everybody. Younes tells CNBC that he initially moved 15% of his money into bitcoin, and he kept the remaining balance in cash. Lebanon has six bitcoin ATMs — one in Aamchit and five in Beirut, according to metrics offered by coinatmradar.com.

☆ Pence calls for the US to continue to support Ukraine 'until peace is restored' after Kevin McCarthy suggests GOP will slow aid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mike Pence declared that Republicans should not abandon Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia. Pence's said American support must remain "until Russia relents and until peace is restored." And we must continue to provide the generosity, compassion, and prayers of the American people until Russia relents and until peace is restored." Pence even echoed an FDR phrase that President Joe Biden has also used, calling the US an "arsenal of democracy" amid Russia's war. Depending on how key midterm races shake out, the GOP could add even more Ukraine-skeptic lawmakers to their ranks.

British Pound Sterling and U.S. Dollar notes are seen in this June 22, 2017 illustration photo. Deutsche Bank's Currency Volatility Index – the historical volatility index of the major G7 currencies - jumped to a two-and-a-half year high of 13.55 on Monday. While Sterling and the yen have fared extremely poorly against the dollar, the greenback's meteoric rise has spared no major currency. Reuters GraphicsMoves have surprised long-time currency traders and investors. "Our team is working around the clock from multiple global locations," said Kamboj, adding he is not trading sterling because the pound's direction now depends entirely on how the Bank of England reacts.

☆ A small war in Central Asia is a big problem for Joe Biden's narrative about taking on Russia and China
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Chris Mccallion | Defense Priorities | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is only one part of a broader geopolitical contest, however. Resul Rehimov/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesWhile Armenia and Azerbaijan both have warm relations with Russia, Armenia has a security agreement with Russia as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), an alliance of six post-Soviet states in Central Asia. More recently, Erdogan has acted as a diplomatic broker in the Ukraine war and has bucked Western sanctions by purchasing Russian military hardware. KAREN MINASYAN/AFP via Getty ImagesIt is probable that the timing of the most recent flare-up between Armenia and Azerbaijan was not coincidental. Azerbaijan was likely emboldened to launch the recent attack on Armenia by the successful Ukrainian counteroffensive around Kharkiv and Russia's generally poor performance during the Ukraine war.

Ben Stansall/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoLONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Britain is moving ahead with plans for a sweeping overhaul of its public registry of companies in a bid to transform it into an active gatekeeper of corporate information and crack down harder on "dirty money", a government source said. Companies House is Britain's public registry of companies, their directors, significant shareholders who control the business and their financial filings. Anti-corruption groups have long called for reforms to the registry to improve transparency and tackle corruption through shell firms. At the moment, companies can be owned by nominees and many do not file full financial statements. ($1 = 0.8825 pounds)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterWriting by Kirstin Ridley, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A Trump advisor's trial could shed light on 'espionage lite' and foreign influence around the former president
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( C. Ryan Barber | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But in a court filing, federal prosecutors said Barrack was not referencing Trump's campaign or the United States. Indeed, Barrack is only the latest Trump ally to face charges in connection with an alleged foreign influence campaign. In court papers, federal prosecutors alleged that Barrack agreed in the spring of 2016 to develop a backchannel between the Emiratis and Trump campaign. The prosecution of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort kicked off a new era of foreign influence enforcement. Through his lawyers, Barrack has also argued that his contacts with Emiratis were no secret to the Trump campaign and the former president's administration.

☆ Democrats in Congress are supporting another huge defense budget while ignoring a threat they've warned about for decades
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Yint Hmu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In debates about defense spending and foreign policy, Democrats have failed to deliver on climate. The depth and scope of the IRA's approach to confronting climate change is unparalleled. Yet 180 House Democrats voted for the bill, which expanded our budget for conducting a polluting, militaristic foreign policy to nearly $850 billion. US foreign policy, militarism, and climate policy must go together. The national security community is acutely aware of the effects of climate change — they've been thinking, planning, and gaming out scenarios since the late 2000s.

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