DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Turkey is back in from the cold with NATO and F-16 moves, but thorny issues remain
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey spent nearly two years — along with Hungary — holding up Sweden's accession to NATO. Within hours of Ankara's decision, the U.S. approved a $23 billion sale for F-16 fighter jets to Turkey that had been delayed since 2021. It's worth noting that Hungary has yet to approve Sweden's NATO bid, and remains the only member of the alliance standing in the way of the Nordic country's accession. Turkey seemingly has a unique position that allows it to push the envelope and cross lines with its NATO allies. "My approval of Turkey's request to purchase F-16 aircraft has been contingent on Turkish approval of Sweden's NATO membership.

Persons: Turkey Recep Erdogan, It's, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it's, Victoria Nuland, David Lepeska, Ben Cardin Organizations: NATO, Conference, Hungary —, UAE, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Turkey, Vilnius, Lithuania, Hungary, Sweden, Washington, Russian, Turkish, Eastern

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Vetoes U.N. Resolution Calling for a Cease-Fire in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

But the donations have become the focus of a legal battle after an Israeli credit card company balked at transferring the funds. The campaign portrayed the family as victims of harassment by the Israeli left and emphasized its financial plight since Mr. Levi’s accounts were frozen. Then the nonprofit group that organized it took it down. The campaign to support Mr. Chasdai has raised 114,000 shekels, roughly $31,000, through a separate crowdfunding platform. But the sweeping nature of the U.S. sanctions means that financial institutions would be reluctant to participate in efforts to direct money to Mr. Levi or others, experts said.

Persons: Biden, Yinon Levi, Levi, Levi’s, David Chai Chasdai, Levi —, Britain —, Sapir Levi, Reut Gez, “, Gez, Chasdai, ”, Eliav Lieblich Organizations: West Bank, Cal, Mr, U.S . State Department, ABC News, State Department, Britain, Mount, Mount Hebron Regional Council, Democratic Bloc, Tel Aviv University, “, U.S . Treasury Locations: U.S, Tel Aviv, Israel, Palestinian, Huwara, Israeli, Hebron, Mount Hebron

☆ Inside the deadly Russian Arctic prison where Alexey Navalny spent his last days
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Deceased Russian dissident Alexey Navalny spent his final days in one of Russia's harshest prisons. Located near the Arctic Circle, the IK-3 prison colony is infamous for its terrible conditions. AdvertisementNavalny might have joked about prison life, but the reality of life behind bars was brutalA satellite image of the IK-3 prison colony where Navalny was detained. While Navalny did crack a couple of dark jokes about prison life, inmates in Russia's penal colonies often have to contend with brutal living conditions. Khulilidze told Life that his beating lasted about half an hour and he wasn't given any medical assistance after that.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, —, Navalny, Igor Kalyapin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Vera Savina, Santa, I'm, Tatiana Stanovaya, Stanovaya, Meduza, Antonina Favorskaya, Mikho, Khulilidze, It's, Joe Biden, Jens Stoltenberg, Biden Organizations: IK, Service, Moscow Times, Getty, Prison Service, Maxar Technologies, Reuters, US State Department, State Department, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, BBC, Russia's Federal Prison Service, NATO Locations: Moscow, AFP, Russia, Santa Claus, IK, Russian, Russia's

☆ Israel's Six-Week Drive to Hit Hamas in Rafah and Scale Back War
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +10 min

Gaza's ruling group can keep fighting and is prepared for a long war in Rafah and Gaza, said the official, who requested anonymity. A senior regional security official said Israel believed some Hamas commanders and hostages were in Rafah. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron also told lawmakers that Britain and its allies "will look at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations". Yet for Netanyahu and many other Israeli officials, talk of a two-state solution amounts to a betrayal of the people killed on Oct. 7. "I say clearly to anyone still stuck in October 6: We will never lend a hand to the creation of a Palestinian state," Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar said on social media last month.

Persons: Samia Nakhoul, Jonathan Saul, Humeyra Pamuk, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Avi Melamed, Yoav Gallant, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, Gaza's, hasn't, Israel . Fighting, Khan Younis, Emad Joudat, Gallant, Israel, Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, Washington, David Cameron, Britain haven't, Miki Zohar, Dan Williams, Nidal Al Mughrabi, Andrew Hay, Jeff Mason, Pravin Char Organizations: Humeyra Pamuk DOHA, Reuters, Military, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Israeli, America, . Senior, Palestinian Authority, State Department, Israel, United Nations Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Washington, Qatar, RAFAH, Hamas, Khan, Gaza City, Egypt, Cairo, U.S, Palestinian, Britain, Palestine, Doha, London, Jerusalem

☆ Burnsville, Minnesota shooting: 2 police officers and 1 firefighter killed, governor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Chris Boyette | Joe Sutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Two police officers and a firefighter were fatally shot and another officer was injured after responding to a domestic incident early Sunday morning in Burnsville, Minnesota, according to local authorities. Burnsville city officials identified the three victims Sunday afternoon as officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, 40. “Minnesota mourns with you,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said during the news conference. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville,” Walz said. He was part of the department’s crisis negotiations team and was also a physical evidence officer, officials said.

Persons: “, Adam Medlicott, Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, Adam Finseth, Drew Evans, ” Evans, Evans, “ Minnesota, Tim Walz, Walz, ” Walz, ” Jim Mortenson, Minnesota Sen, Amy Klobuchar, ” Klobuchar, Elmstrand, Ruge, Finseth, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Cindy Von Quednow Organizations: CNN, of Public, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Law Enforcement Labor Services, Minnesota, Burnsville, Guard Locations: Burnsville , Minnesota, Burnsville, Minnesota, of Minnesota, Minneapolis

“The Monuments Men were not all men,” said Anna Bottinelli, president of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation. The Army recently revived the concept, with the first new class of monuments officers graduating in 2022. The Monuments Men and Women Gallery includes a recreation of a salt mine where monuments officers found stolen art. Valland, who inspired the role played by Cate Blanchett in the “The Monuments Men” movie, died at 81 in 1980. The Army’s first class of the new monuments officers, called heritage and preservation officers, graduated in the summer of 2022.

Persons: Mary Regan Quessenberry, ”, Anna Bottinelli, Robert Edsel, Edsel, George Clooney, Matt Damon, ” Bottinelli, Quessenberry, Mason Hammond, “, ‘ Mary, ’ ” Edsel, Ken Scott, ” Edsel, ” Scott, Rose, Valland, Cate Blanchett, Edith Standen, Jessica Wagner, she’d, ” Wagner, ___, Kendria LaFleur Organizations: DALLAS, Women Foundation, Fine Arts, Army, National WWII Museum, Women’s Army Corps, Harvard University, Radcliffe College, Harvard, Allies, Ardelia, State Department Locations: U.S, Berlin, Dallas, Paris, New Orleans, Europe, Massachusetts, Valland, Germany

MUNICH (AP) — Top diplomats from the U.S. and China on Friday held a “candid and constructive” discussion on issues vexing their strained relations over Taiwan, the situation in the South China Sea, Russia’s war against Ukraine and synthetic opioids, the State Department said. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken had emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait as well as expanding on nascent counternarcotics efforts. Blinken also raised concerns about China's support for Russia’s defense industrial base that Washington sees as helping Moscow’s military operations against Ukraine. “The two sides had a candid and constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition in the relationship,” Miller said. Photos You Should See View All 33 Images“Both sides recognized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and (China) across a range of strategic issues, including consultations and high-level meetings in key areas in the coming months,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Matthew Miller, Blinken, ” Miller, Blinken “, ” Organizations: —, State Department, Foreign, Munich, California . State Department, Washington, Ukraine, North Locations: MUNICH, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Ukraine, California ., Taiwan Strait, United States, North Korea

☆ US Urges Timely Election in Senegal, Welcomes Court Ruling Against Delay
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday welcomed a court decision that overturned the postponement of Senegal's presidential election to December, and called for a new "free and fair election" to be held as soon as possible. A bill that pushed back the Feb. 25 poll and plunged the country into electoral uncertainty was overturned on Thursday by Senegal's Constitutional Council. In his Friday statement accepting the council's ruling, Sall said he would initiate the consultations needed to organise the election as soon as possible. CONTEXTThe opposition and foreign powers had urged the authorities to comply with the constitutional council's ruling. Senegal had never previously delayed a presidential vote.

Persons: Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Macky Sall, Sall's, Sall, Kanishka Singh, Stephen Coates Organizations: Senegal's Constitutional Council, State Department Locations: United States, Senegal, Washington

☆ U.S. Designates the Houthis a Terror Group
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Michael Crowley | More About Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The State Department on Friday designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, following through on a mid-January warning to crack down on the Yemen-based militant group. The action officially labels the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, a step that gives the United States new powers to crack down on the Iran-backed Houthis’ access to the global financial system. It restores a designation given to the group late in the Trump administration, which Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken reversed soon after taking office in 2021, partly to facilitate peace talks for Yemen’s civil war. Last month, Mr. Blinken announced the State Department’s intent to return the Houthis to its terrorism list, but delayed the action for 30 days. Some aid groups have warned that their work will inevitably be constrained in a country with dire humanitarian needs.

Persons: Trump, Antony J, Blinken Organizations: State Department, United Locations: Yemen, United States, Iran, Houthi

CNN —Talks on a hostage and ceasefire deal for Gaza appear to be at an impasse. During the process, Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from Gaza, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – would be freed. The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas’ leadership and rescues the hostages. Even as talks continue in Cairo, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza designed to hunt down top Hamas figures. The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said that Hamas must change its negotiating position before talks can continue in Cairo.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel –, Said Khatib, ”, ’, –, Netanyahu, “, Matthew Miller, Ronen Zvulun, Shin Bet, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu –, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ We’re, we’re, Joe Biden, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Israeli, Getty, “, US State Department, ’, IDF, State Department, The Washington Post Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Paris, AFP, Qatar, “ Qatar, Doha, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, “, Egypt, Albania, The Washington, Palestinian, United States

Here are some key findings from an Associated Press investigation into Rocha's alleged betrayal and the missed red flags that could have helped him avoid scrutiny for decades. Rodríguez told AP he believed at the time he received from the Cuban defector in 2006 was an attempt to discredit a fellow anti-communist crusader. It wasn’t just Rodríguez’s tipster — whom he refused to identify to the AP but says was recently interviewed by the FBI. Officials told the AP that as early 1987, the CIA was aware Castro had a “super mole” burrowed deep inside the U.S. government. The FBI and CIA declined to comment, and the State Department didn’t respond to requests.

Persons: Manuel Rocha, Félix Rodríguez, Rocha, “, ” Rodríguez, MANUEL ROCHA, ”, Fidel Castro’s, Fidel Castro, “ El, Liliana Ayalde, Castro, Evo Morales, Ayalde, retracing, “ Che ” Guevara, Rodríguez, tipster, Peter Romero Organizations: MIAMI, Ivy League, CIA, Cuban, Miami, FBI, State Department, Associated Press, WHO, Yale, of Intelligence, Authorities, The Taft School, Prosecutors, U.S, AP, Officials, . Locations: America, Cuban, Cuba, Chile, Colombia, New York City, Connecticut, Bolivia, U.S, Paraguay, Brazil, Latin America, Investigative@ap.org

Glenn Youngkin’s policies on the treatment of transgender students and rule that school districts are not required to follow them. But opponents argue that the policies violate the law by codifying discrimination against transgender students. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of two transgender students: one, a high school student in York County, the other, a middle school student in Hanover County. Ralph Northam’s administration were praised by advocates for transgender students, but many school boards did not adopt them. Some school boards with conservative majorities have adopted the policies, while some liberal-leaning school boards, especially in northern Virginia, have resisted.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin’s, Youngkin, ” Andrew Ewalt, Ralph Northam’s, Jason Miyares, Macaulay Porter, Katherine Goff, Chris Whitley Organizations: —, of Education, Republican Gov, Democratic, York, Virginia Department of, Democratic Gov, Department of Education, Republican, York County School Division, Legislative Affairs, Hanover County Public Schools Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, York County, Hanover County, Hanover

HOUSTON (AP) — The former mother-in-law of the woman who opened fire at a Houston megachurch tried for years to alert authorities and others, including church staff, about her ex-daughter-in-law’s mental health struggles, she said Wednesday. Two people were wounded in the shooting, including Moreno's son, who was shot in the head. Various questions about the shooting remained unanswered on Wednesday, including Moreno’s motive and details about how she obtained the AR-style rifle she used. Carranza also said that in 2020 and 2021, her attorney sent emails to Lakewood Church asking for assistance with intervening in Moreno's struggles, believing that Moreno's mother attended the church. Iloff said they were still looking but had not found any records showing Moreno's mother attended the church.

Persons: Houston megachurch, Walli Carranza, Carranza, Joel, Genesse Moreno, Moreno, can’t, ” Carranza, Samuel, Enrique Carranza, “, Sam, Melissa Landford, Moreno's, Don Iloff, Moreno “, ”, Iloff, ” Iloff, Osteen, ” Osteen, Jim Vertuno, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, Lakewood, Associated Press, University of Houston, Services, CPS, of Family and Protective Services, Lakewood Church Locations: Houston, Florida, Colorado, Lakewood, Texas, Austin

☆ More than 400 personnel take part in Ukraine aid oversight, US watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —More than 400 personnel take part in the oversight of Ukraine aid, according to a new report from a US government watchdog, underscoring the massive effort to manage billions of dollars in US assistance. In total, the report said there are more than 400 personnel working across the US, Germany, Ukraine and Europe to audit and evaluate US assistance to Ukraine. The report comes as some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have demanded more oversight over Ukraine aid before they agree to any additional funding. The State Department watchdog has more than 100 staff members working on Ukraine oversight, three of whom are in Kyiv. The USAID watchdog has another 80 personnel working on Ukraine.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, – Organizations: CNN, Defense Department, State Department, United States Agency for International, Representatives, Ukrainian, Operation Atlantic, NATO, The Defense Department Office, The State Department, USAID, Ukraine – Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Ukrainian, Germany, Russia, Crimea, Kyiv, Romania, North Korea, Iran

(AP) — Inmates at a Mississippi prison were forced to mix raw cleaning chemicals without protective equipment, with one alleging she later contracted terminal cancer and was denied timely medical care, a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges. Susan Balfour, 62, was incarcerated for 33 years at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility until her release in December 2021. Prisoners were required to clean the facility, without protective equipment, using chemicals that might cause cancer, Balfour's lawsuit says. “I feel betrayed by our system that failed to provide timely medical care for me. The companies contracted to provide health care to prisoners at the facility — Wexford Health Sources, Centurion Health and VitalCore — delayed or failed to schedule follow-up cancer screenings for Baflour even though they had been recommended by prison physicians, the lawsuit says.

Persons: JACKSON, Susan Balfour, Balfour, I'm, VitalCore —, Drew Tominello, Tominello, Pauline Rogers ,, ” Rogers, ” ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, U.S . Southern, U.S . Southern District of, Centurion Health, Mississippi Department of Corrections, of Corrections, Mississippi Supreme, Rech Foundation, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Mississippi, U.S, U.S . Southern District, U.S . Southern District of Mississippi, Wexford, @mikergoldberg

☆ Opinion: I’m a Palestinian American. This is what I told Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Opinion Rajaie Batniji | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —On February 1, I met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a 90-minute private discussion on the situation in Gaza. Many of my fellow Palestinian Americans discouraged me from speaking with you today, concerned that this discussion was solely performative. You know that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, provides food for most Gazans and critical infrastructure for other aid organizations. I have worked extensively in global health and wrote a series of research papers in 2009 on what we thought then was a Palestinian health crisis. What do you wish to be your legacy, Secretary Blinken?

Persons: Read, CNN —, Antony Blinken, Blake Marvin I, Blinken, nodded, Mr, ’, –, Abed Rahim Khatib, Israel, indignity Organizations: CNN, State Department, Palestinian, Oxford, Marshall, Wall Street, United Nations, UN, UNRWA, International Court of Justice Locations: Gaza, San Francisco, Rajaie, Palestinian American, California, Stanford, Shejaiya, Israel, Iraq, Rafah, American, Shifa, al, Palestinian

☆ US Reviewing Reports of Civilian Harm by Israel, State Dept Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"We do seek to thoroughly assess reports of civilian harm by authorized recipients of U.S.-provided defense articles around the world," Miller said at a press briefing, adding that a process under the State Department's Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance (CHIRG) was assessing incidents in the current conflict. Israel's ensuing assault on Gaza has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 68,000, according to Gaza health officials. The guidance sets out a process by which State Department officials investigate specific incidents where civilians may have been harmed by U.S. weapons. But a source familiar with the process said the department was looking at least 50 reported incidents of civilian harm. The process is separate from assessments the State Department sometimes undertakes to determine whether atrocities, including crimes against humanity or even genocide, have been committed in a conflict.

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Israel, Matthew Miller, Biden, Miller, Joe Biden, Simon Lewis, Sandra Maler Organizations: State, U.S, State Department's, State Department, Department, Reuters, Washington, Defense Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, Washington

The bill would bar counties from usurping state law on agricultural operations, including revoking such county regulations that were previously adopted. “This bill is of specific interest to many Hardy County residents because it contains language that would explicitly address a situation specific to Hardy County,” county planner Melissa Scott wrote in an email to The Associated Press. It’s unknown whether Allegheny Wood Products, which has eight sawmills in the state, wants to resume its efforts to obtain an air permit. Also under the bill, county commissions also would be barred from adopting ordinances that regulate buildings on agricultural land or operations. "What activities are considered ‘related to agricultural operations’?

Persons: ”, John Rosato, comas, Melissa Scott, didn’t, Steven Schetrom, “, Jim Justice, Scott Organizations: Allegheny Wood Products, Environmental, Air Quality, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Associated Press, AP, Republican Gov, Virginians Locations: CHARLESTON, W.Va, West Virginia, Allegheny, Hardy County, Baker, ”, Hardy, Virginia, Washington ,

☆ Alaskapox: What to know about virus after officials report first known fatal case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Health officials in Alaska have identified the first known death linked to a recently discovered virus called Alaskapox. Since its discovery in 2015, seven Alaskapox infections have been reported, according to the state Department of Health. “This is the first case of severe Alaskapox infection resulting in hospitalization and death,” the health department said in a release last week. Still, there is a lot that isn’t known about the virus, McLaughlin said, including how it spreads from animals to humans and how long it has been around. “What has changed is clinician awareness and the general public’s awareness that Alaskapox virus is something that’s a possibility,” McLaughlin said.

Persons: ”, Joe McLaughlin, McLaughlin, Alaskapox, “, ” McLaughlin, Julia Rogers, ” Rogers, Rogers, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN — Health, of Health, Alaska ., Alaska Department of Health, Epidemic Intelligence, US Centers for Disease Control, Health, The Alaska Department of Health, Get CNN, CNN Health Locations: Alaska, Africa, Asia, Europe, Fairbanks, Kenai

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Kirby, President Joe Biden's national security spokesman, is getting an expanded role at the White House, according to a U.S. official. Kirby will have a new title, White House national security communications adviser, and will be named an assistant to the president, the official said Sunday. Kirby came to the White House in 2022 as the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, not long after Karine Jean-Pierre was named White House press secretary, after the departure of former press secretary Jen Psaki. He will run a separate team from the national security press team that will coordinate information across agencies, the official said. Under Biden, Kirby has been a regular fixture in the White House press briefing room.

Persons: — John Kirby, Joe Biden's, Kirby, Reuters . Kirby, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jen Psaki, Obama, Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, U.S, White House, Associated Press, Reuters ., National Security, NSC, U.S . Navy, Pentagon, State Department Locations: U.S

☆ US Special Envoy on North Korea to Visit Tokyo, Seoul
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Julie Turner, will travel to Tokyo and Seoul from Monday, the State Department said. On the visit through Feb. 22, Turner will meet with government officials, activists and North Korean defectors, the department said in a news release on its website on Friday. "Special Envoy Turner's trip will underscore the U.S. commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea, increasing access to uncensored information within the closed country, and empowering survivor voices advocating for concrete change," the release said. President Joe Biden, however, had vowed on taking office that human rights would be at the centre of his foreign policy. (Reporting by Kevin Buckland in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard and Tom Hogue)

Persons: Julie Turner, Turner, Joe Biden, Kevin Buckland, William Mallard, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, State Department, North Korean, State Department's Office, East, of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor Locations: TOKYO, North, Tokyo, Seoul, North Korea, United States, Pyongyang, East Asia

☆ Exclusive-US-Backed Force in Syria: More Air Defence Needed After Deadly Drone Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Maya Gebeily(Reuters) - A force that has been the backbone of the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State said additional air defences should be deployed in northeast Syria after six of its fighters were killed in a drone attack it blamed on pro-Iran factions. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, said his force considered it "a dangerous development when our camps are targeted in drone attacks by factions backed by Iran." On Feb. 4, the SDF said an explosive drone attack by Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Syria killed six of their fighters. Asked whether he had requested additional military backing to fend off such attacks, Abdi said his Kurdish-led force would "require technical capabilities and an increase in the aerial defensive systems" deployed in northeast Syria. It holds a quarter of Syria, including oil fields and areas where some 900 U.S. troops are deployed.

Persons: Maya Gebeily, Mazloum Abdi, Jan, Abdi, That's, Bashar al, Assad, Phil Stewart, William Maclean Organizations: Islamic State, Syrian Democratic Forces, U.S, Hamas, SDF, Reuters, Pentagon, State Department, White, Islamic Locations: U.S, Syria, Iran, State, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Jordan, Kurdish, Washington, Islamic State, Turkey

CNN —Two American citizens were detained by the Israel Defense Forces during a raid of a home in Gaza early Thursday morning local time, according to a family member in the United States. Hashem Alagha, 20, and Borak Alagha, 18, were among a group of roughly 20 men detained by IDF soldiers during the incident, according to Yasmeen Elagha, who identified herself as their cousin. She said both men are American citizens, born in the suburbs of Chicago and raised there in their early childhood. The US is aware of reports that the Israeli military has detained two American citizens in Gaza, according to a State Department spokesperson. Patel said they believe “the vast majority” of US citizens seeking to leave Gaza have reached out to the State Department.

Persons: Hashem Alagha, Borak Alagha, Yasmeen Elagha, Elagha, –, “, ”, Vedant Patel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Patel Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, State Department, Israel Locations: Gaza, United States, Chicago, Canadian, Rafah, Egypt

☆ Analysis: Maduro’s immigration card could influence America’s election, not just Venezuela’s
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Rafael Romo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Let’s get united,” Maduro said. Banning Machado from running for president amounts to a repudiation of the agreement, both the opposition and the United States have claimed. “In response to anti-democratic actions by Maduro representatives, the United States has revoked sanctions relief for Venezuela’s gold sector. Venezuela has recently been cooperating with the United States to reduce illegal immigration by allowing removal flights. It’s also immigration and oil during an election year in the United States.

Persons: Voters don’t, Nicolás Maduro, Joe Biden, Biden, Hugo Chávez, Maduro, ” , Let’s, ” Maduro, María Corina Machado, Machado, Maria Corina Machado, Gaby Oraa, ”, ” Machado, Leopoldo López, Maduro’s, Brian Winter, there’s, “, ” Winter, John Moore, Banning Machado, Matthew Miller, Delcy Rodríguez, “ Maduro, It’s Organizations: CNN, Venezuelan, Voters, Socialist United Party of Venezuela, American, US, Venezuela’s, Justice, National Assembly, Bloomberg, Getty, Americas Quarterly, Immigrants, Border Patrol, Biden, US State Department, Twitter, State Department Locations: Venezuela, United States, Caracas, Madrid, Spain, Rio Grande, Eagle Pass , Texas, Barbados, Maduro, Mexico

☆ U.S. Mends Fences With El Salvador's Bukele as China Lurks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Now, more than ever, the U.S. needs Central American nations like El Salvador to curb migration to the southern border. In October, the State Department's top Latin America diplomat, Brian Nichols, visited El Salvador and posed for photos with Bukele. WAITING IN THE WINGSAt the same time, there are growing ties between China and El Salvador. Although of limited commercial importance in itself, El Salvador offers China a foothold in Central America, and in 2017 broke relations with Taiwan in favor of China. "El Salvador wants to do trade with everyone," Bukele said during his victory speech on Sunday night.

Persons: Diego Oré, Sarah Kinosian, Nelson, Nayib Bukele, Jean Manes, Bukele's, Brian Nichols, Antony Blinken, Bukele, Manes, Ana Maria Mendez, Salvadorans, El Salvador, El, Margaret Myers, Diego Ore, Nelson Renteria, Christian Plumb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters, El Salvador, Central American, U.S, U.S ., Central, State Department's, El, U.S . State Department, Washington Office, U.S . Customs, USAID, The U.S, Inter, Huawei, Washington, Diego Locations: United States, U.S, El Salvador, Latin America, America, China, Honduras, Washington, China's, San Salvador, Central America, Taiwan, Mexico City

Search resuls for: "The State Department"

25 mentions found