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I’m tripping over their bodies,” said Sydney Seiler, the U.S. national intelligence officer for North Korea from 2020 to 2023. “Kim Jong Un is selling North Korean soldiers as cannon fodder mercenaries,” South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said last month. It’s an entirely new environment for the North Korean soldiers, who live in one of the most isolated and repressive countries in the world. The Russian military is teaching the North Korean soldiers about 100 key military terms, but “North Koreans are having a difficult time learning Russian,” South Korean lawmakers Lee Sung-kwon and Park Sun-won said last month. North Korean soldiers’ inexperience could be another point of friction and a major factor in how they are deployed.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ”, Sydney Seiler, Seiler, Gavriil, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk Yeol, Shigeru Ishiba, Kim, “ Kim Jong, Kim Yong, hyun, John Hardie, Lee Sung, Bruce Bennett, ” Hardie, Bennett, ” Bennett, Edward Howell, “, ” Howell, Stella Kim Organizations: Ukraine, North, NBC News, U.S, The State Department, Korea’s National Intelligence Service, NBC, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty Images, Economic Cooperation, South Korean Defense, Pentagon, Politico, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, North Korean, South Korean National Intelligence Service, AFP, Getty, Korean, Battalion, Russian Ministry of Defense, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, South, Sun, Rand Corp . Communication, Chatham House Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, U.S, North Korea, Russian, Kursk, Korean, Korea, Washington, Pyongyang, Getty Images North Korea, South, Asia, Lima , Peru, The U.S, California, Ukrainian, London, Seoul, Hong Kong

U.S. officials expect that in the coming weeks, Iran is likely to contact individual Americans directly to try to influence how they vote, stir societal divide or incite violence, according to three sources with knowledge of U.S. intelligence reporting on the issue. The U.S. intelligence community noted this month that Iranian hackers appear to have gained access to some Americans’ voting records, as they did in 2020. Last week, U.S. intelligence officials told reporters that both Iran and Russia were continuing propaganda operations to influence American voters and society. A spokesperson for Iran’s mission to the United Nations didn’t respond to a request for comment, but officials for Tehran have routinely denied American accusations of election influence campaigns. In the leadup to the 2020 election, U.S. officials announced that Iran was behind an ambitious effort to sow election discord.

Persons: ”, John Hultquist, Donald Trump, ” Max Lesser, we’ve, IRGC, desecraters Organizations: Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, United Nations, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, NBC News, “, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Department, Trump militia, Google, Haaretz Locations: Iran, U.S, Sweden, Israel, Russia, Tehran, Florida, Swedish

☆ Ukraine is eroding Russia's military advantage with strikes on its ammo depots
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Military experts said it's partly down to Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian ammo depots. AdvertisementUkraine is reducing Russia's artillery advantage on the battlefield, and recent attacks on ammo depots have likely sped that up. According to military experts, these developments are likely due in part to Ukraine's recent long-range strikes on Russian ammunition depots. Taking out the ammoUkraine damaged several rear Russian ammo depots using long-range weapons in a string of long-range strikes that began last month. But Kastehelmi said that in the long run, Russia will "most likely" be able to adapt to Ukraine's long-range strikes.

Persons: it's, —, Ivan Havryliuk, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, John Hardie, Hardie, Emil Kastehelmi, Zelenskyy, Mark Temnycky, Kastehelmi Organizations: Service, CNN, Russia, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Maxar, Security Service, Ukraine, Technologies, Black Bird Group, Council's Eurasia Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kursk, Oktyabrsky, Toropets, Russia's, Tver, —, Tikhoretsk, Krasnodar Krai, Republic, Adygea, Finnish

☆ NATO's new chief is inheriting messy wars and a possible second Trump presidency. It's not going to be easy, security analysts say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

And then, with the US presidential elections now less than five weeks away, there is the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency. AdvertisementMark Rutte earned the nickname "Trump whisperer" after placating the former president on US commitments to NATO. According to Prakash, Rutte is "coming into the role from a certain outlook, and that outlook is essentially saying: 'We need to stand with America.'" NATO's deputy secretary-general, Mircea Geoană, told Euronews in July that China, as a direct enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine, threatened the alliance's security. AdvertisementShifting NATO away from Russia and toward other threats is going to be "perhaps the greatest challenge facing Mark Rutte," Prakash said.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg, —, Abishur Prakash, Prakash, Stoltenberg, John Hardie, Donald Trump, Rutte, Hardie, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Scott Applewhite, ATACMS, Josep Borrell, Joe Biden, Ramiz Dallah, Israel ramped, Israel, Benjamin Friedman, Keir Giles, Trump, Brandon Bell, Giles, Friedman, Kamala Harris, Harris, Chip Somodevilla, NATO's, Mircea Geoană, Euronews Organizations: Service, NATO, Inc, Russia, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Trump, AP, Pentagon, Russian, Republicans, Hamas, Getty, Defense, Chatham House's, NATO's, Europe NATO, Ukraine Defense Contact, Assistance, Training, Kyiv, Dutch, NRC, America Locations: Ukraine, escalations, Russia, Netherlands, Gaza, Toronto, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, Israel, Lebanon, Anadolu, Europe, Chatham House's Russia, Eurasia, Savannah , Georgia, South China, Philippines, China

☆ Iran's response to Israel will be a choice between revenge and survival. Markets say it's choosing survival
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves before voting in the country's presidential election, in Tehran, Iran July 5, 2024. Iran's generals and its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have pledged revenge, but their actions and language suggest a more measured response so far. "Iran's response options aren't good. on September 16, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gestures as he addresses his supporters during a rare public appearance at an Ashoura ceremony in Beirut's southern suburbs November 3, 2014.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hassan Nasrallah, pagers, "⁠, Behnam ben Taleblu, Ismail Haniyeh, Khamenei, Iran's, Masoud Pezeshkian, Majid Saeedi, Pezeshkian, Yemen's, Sina Toossi, Houssam, Toossi, Yoav Gallant, Naim Qassem, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hasan Shaaban Organizations: Iran's, Reuters, Lebanese, Brent, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CNBC, Islamic, Getty, Center for International, Anadolu, Israeli, Hamas, Hezbollah Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Beirut, OPEC, Islamic Republic, Red, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Beirut's

☆ Israeli politics swirl as Hezbollah conflict ramps up
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“It’ll take him months on end to train for the job,” said Gadi Eisenkot, a highly respected former Israeli military chief and member of the opposition. Policy and domestic politics are impossible to separate in any democracy, but especially in Netanyahu’s Israel – and especially now. Remarkably, Netanyahu held a security consultation on Wednesday but did not invite his defense minister, an Israeli official told CNN. Hezbollah says that it’s attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza; Israel wants to get Hezbollah to stop firing even without a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. With both the Philadelphi Corridor and Hezbollah, Netanyahu’s critics have questioned why, if they were so critical, he waited months to raise the stakes over those issues.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gideon Sa’ar, “ It’ll, ”, Gadi Eisenkot, –, Gallant, Netanyahu, Israel –, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben Gvir, Ben Gvir’s, Abir, ” Eyal Hulata, “, ’, ” Gallant, Baz Ratner, it’s, ” Gilad Malach, Netanyahu’s, ” Malach, Damocles, Sa’ar, Bezalel Smotrich, Ammar Awad, Reuters Eisenkot, I’m, Gallant –, Malach, Michael Shemesh, Kan, ” Shemesh Organizations: Israel CNN, CNN, Reuters, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Democracy Institute, National Security, Finance, General Staff Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, United States, Abir Sultan, ” Lebanon, Egypt, Israeli, New York

☆ Hezbollah is not Hamas. Can Israel afford another all-out war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Since October 8, the day after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, there has been regular cross-border fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military. Hezbollah first fired at Israel to protest the war in Gaza, demanding a ceasefire there as a condition to end its attacks. Should Israel enter full-scale war with Hezbollah, experts say it will face a much stronger threat than Hamas – and commensurate costs. “It’s devastating on the Israeli economy, on Israeli society,” Guzansky said, adding that the impacts will live on for years to come. Domestically, while Israelis showed a greater appetite for fighting at the outset of the Gaza war, polls show that domestic support has waned over the last months.

Persons: Israel, –, ”, Yoel Guzansky, Tsur Shalom, Abbas Ahmad Srour, Mohammad Hussein Kassem, Chris McGrath, Hassan Nasrallah, ⁠ Behnam Ben Taleblu, ” Ben Taleblu, Mizrahi, ” Orna Mizrahi, ” Mizrahi, Yoav Gallant, Guzansky, Netanyahu, Mostafa Alkharouf, ” Guzansky, “, Lebanon's, Jack Guez, Amir Yaron, That’s, Moody’s Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel, Institute for National Security Studies, National Security Council, Reuters, Military, Ramat, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Washington DC, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, Division, Getty, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Bank, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Kiryat, Moreshet, Haifa, Aita al Chaab, Israel’s, Iraq, Yemen, –, Ramat David, Lebanese, Iran, ”, Anadolu, Independence, Kiryat Bialik, AFP

☆ Washington and Seoul discussing new deal on cost sharing for US troops in South Korea ahead of a potential Trump election victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The negotiations over the Special Measures Agreement, known as the SMA, strained the US-South Korea alliance during the Trump administration. Former President Donald Trump demanded Seoul pay up to 400% more for the presence of the 28,500 US troops in the country during negotiations over the current agreement. Under the current agreement, South Korea pays about $1 billion annually, representing an increase of about 13.9% over previous SMAs. Earlier this year, Trump said that he did not think the South Korea is paying enough based on the last agreement. One complication is that a deal will have to be approved by South Korea’s national assembly — which is dominated by the opposition party to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Persons: —, Trump, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un’s, Joe Biden, ” Trump, Yoon Suk, “, ”, David Maxwell Organizations: CNN, Seoul, South, State Department, ROK, South Korean Ministry of Foreign, Biden, Defense Department, Biden Administration, US, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Trump Locations: Washington, Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, Korea

☆ U.S. says Iran is sending ballistic missiles to Russia in a 'dramatic escalation'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine in a “dramatic escalation” that will let Moscow strike deeper inside Ukrainian territory, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. “Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine against Ukrainians,” Blinken told reporters. “Dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles,” he said. Confirmation from Washington that Iran is now arming Russia with sophisticated short-range ballistic missiles will likely increase pressure on the Biden administration to ease restrictions on how Ukraine can use weapons to strike at targets inside Russia. Iran has denied it is providing missiles to Russia and has called for countries to halt any weapons shipments to either side in the conflict.

Persons: Antony Blinken, David Lamy, ” Blinken, Blinken, “ We’ve, we’ve, ”, Biden, Andrii, Naser Kanaani, Dmitry Peskov, “, Lamy, Behnam Ben Taleblu Organizations: Ukraine, Blinken, British, Firefighters, U.S, Iran Air, Iranian Foreign Ministry, ISNA, Kremlin, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Locations: Iran, Russia, Moscow, U.S, Britain, London, Ukraine, Washington, Kyiv, Russian, Kharkiv, Gaza, Iranian, Tehran

☆ Ukraine is striking targets hundreds of miles inside Russia for 3 key reasons, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While the news grabbed headlines, it was not the first time that Ukraine has reportedly targeted sites deep within Russia. AdvertisementUkraine does not currently have permission to use long-range guided weapons such as the ATACMS to hit such targets inside Russia. While striking targets so far from the frontline may be seen as Ukraine spreading itself rather thinly, such attacks have three key benefits, experts told BI. "Russia has already adapted its air defense posture following previous drone strikes and reportedly has stood up mobile counter-UAS [unmanned aircraft system] teams. Russia's S-400 is one of its most advanced air defense systems.

Persons: —, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Justin Bronk, Moscow's pocketbook, John Hardie, Hardie, hasn't, Bronk Organizations: Service, Business, Ukraine's Security Service, International Security, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Stringer, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Ukraine, Royal United Services Institute, Russia, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Bloomberg, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Murmansk, Russia, Astrakhan, Bashkortostan, Moscow

☆ Israel promised a massive revenge attack on Hezbollah but so far hasn't followed through
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTensions in the Middle East escalated on Saturday after Israel said the armed group Hezbollah launched a lethal rocket strike on a soccer field. Brink of warTensions were already high in the region before Hezbollah's lethal rocket strike. Following Hezbollah's rocket strike, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said Sunday that the US was in "continuous discussions" with Israel and Lebanon, hoping to restore calm. "Hezbollah is also operating in Syria, and it is likely that Israel will target Hezbollah's military sites there at a greater scale than before," she told BI. According to Khatib, the possibility of a wider war in the region remains low because it is not in anyone's interest — it would be damaging to Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and the US, she said.

Persons: —, Israel, Majdal Shams, Benjamin Netanyahu, Brink, Daniel Hagari, Adrienne Watson, Axios, Lina Khatib, Khatib, Thomas Juneau, Juneau Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, IDF, Business, Israel's Air Force, US National Security, Sunday, Middle East Institute, School of Oriental, Studies, Israel, University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Israel Program, National Security Network, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Locations: Lebanon, Majdal, Israel, Iran, Gaza, London, Syria, Iran's

☆ Iran's new president may be a reformist, but change remains distant
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Newly-elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits to the shrine of the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran, Iran on July 06, 2024. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIran on Friday elected its first "reformist" president in 20 years, signaling many voters' rejection of hardline conservative policies amid low turnout of just 49%, according to official figures. Iran's sole reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili are set to go to runoffs after securing the highest number of votes in Iran's presidential election, the interior ministry said. "This is why many Iranians have lost hope in bringing about change through the ballot boxes and are boycotting elections." "The core structure of Iran's theocratic regime, where a Supreme Leader's authority eclipses that of any president, will remain steadfastly intact… In essence, Iran's theocracy is designed to resist meaningful change."

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Ruhollah Khomeini, Fatemeh, Masoud, Ibrahim Raisi, Sina, Toossi, Massoud Pezeshkian, Majid Saeedi, Mohammad Khatami, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nader Itayim, Khamenei, Itayim, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh, Hashemi Alireza Zakani, Saeed Jalili, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Iran's, ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, Atta Kenare, Ben Taleblu, Pezeshkhian, Mahsa Amini, Amini, Mahsa, Ozan Kose, Pezeshkian's Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Center for International, CNBC, Guardian Council, Argus Media, Vehicles, Afp, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, AFP, for Human Rights, Trump Locations: Tehran, Iran, Afrasiabi, Islamic Republic, Mideast, Washington, Pezeshkian, Kurdish Iranian, Iranian, Istanbul

☆ North Korean troops could be sent to Ukraine due to their sheer numbers, not their effectiveness, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSpeculation has been growing that North Korea could send troops to Ukraine. As of now, the prospect of North Korean soldiers being deployed to Ukraine is speculative and unlikely, experts told Business Insider. "Given what we know about nutrition in North Korea, even in the army, they might have issues," he told BI. But if it does, he added that North Korean soldiers may "simply" be helping rebuild a destroyed city like Mariupol. Bennett, from RAND, said he thinks it is "fairly likely" that North Korea will send troops to Ukraine, without elaborating further.

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Edward Howell, John Hardie, Evans Revere, Albright, Revere, George W, Bush, Bruce Bennett, Kim Jong Un, Bennett, Kim, Wallace Gregson, Benjamin Young, Young, Guns, Hardie, Howell Organizations: Service, South Korea's, Chosun, Korean, Business, Pentagon, Military Commission, Institute, North, Korea, Chatham, Programme, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Korean People's Army, Group, East, RAND, US Marine Corps, Pacific Security Affairs, Chatham House, Virginia Commonwealth University, Great Locations: Korea, Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, South, Chatham House's Asia, Korean, East Asia, Pacific, South Korea, Koreans, Howell, Chatham, Europe, Mariupol

☆ Israel is inching toward a wider war and a nasty fight against an enemy poised to bombard it as no other foe has
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementFor Israel, a larger war with Hezbollah would look very different from the full-scale conflict it's fighting against Hamas in Gaza. Before the 2006 Lebanon War, a monthlong conflict fought against Israel, Hezbollah maintained some 15,000 projectiles. REUTERS/Avi OhayonBut a larger Hezbollah war could overwhelm some of these systems, a scenario that has caused concern in Washington. During the 2006 war, Hezbollah fired somewhere between 100 and 200 rockets per day at Israel, according to estimates cited by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. More than two dozen soldiers and civilians have already been killed in Israel, and in Lebanon, that figure has surpassed 450.

Persons: —, Ariel Schalit, Daniel Byman, MAHMOUD ZAYYAT, Avi Ohayon, Stringer, Rami Shlush, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, Tehran —, Business, United Nations, Israel, Hamas, AP, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty, Institute for National Security Studies, CSIS, REUTERS, Foundation for Defense, Democracies, Israel Communications, Research Center, Congressional Research Service, Institution Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Tehran, Gaza . The Lebanon, Kiryat Shmona, Gaza, Lebanese, Nabatiyeh, AFP, Israeli, Washington, Khiam, Israel's

☆ Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It would be a welcome moment for Ukraine, which has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot systems. "Israel's Patriots would greatly expand Ukraine's air defense capacity at a time when it is sorely needed," John Hardie, the Deputy Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Russia Program, said. Zelenskyy's Patriot pleasUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has never been shy about his desire to get his hands on more Patriot systems. AdvertisementIn April, Zelenskyy told NATO members that Ukraine needed at least seven Patriot or other advanced air defense systems to defend against Russian attacks. The Patriot air defense systemA 2023 report by the Congressional Research Service describes the Patriot system as an "integral component of U.S. air and missile defense."

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin's, John Hardie, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Bohl, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Putin, Joe Biden, John Kirby Organizations: Service, Russian, Financial Times, Business, Israel's Patriots, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Russia, Israeli Air Force, Patriot, Iraqi Scud, Officials, East, Hezbollah, NATO, Patriots, New York Times, National Security, Congressional Research Service Locations: Israel, Ukraine, North Africa, Lebanese, —

☆ Chinese cities desperate for cash are chasing companies for taxes — some from the 1990s
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Last year, the soy milk seller made a net profit of only 209 million yuan ($29 million). And it’s still unsure how much it owes in fines, which could be potentially higher than the actual $11.7 million tax bill. Including fines, the company needed to pay a total amount of 480 million yuan ($66 million). The amounts paid vary from 8 million yuan ($1.1 million) to 310 million yuan ($43 million). It said in January that the Shenzhen government had asked for payment of 19.8 million yuan ($2.7 million) in back taxes for 2017 and 20.2 million yuan ($2.8 million) in fines.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Craig Singleton, Frank Tian Xie, ” Singleton, it’s, ” Bohui, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Authorities, Food & Beverage, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Administration of Taxation, “ Police, Taxation, Centers ”, University of South, University of South Carolina Aiken, Ningbo Bohui Chemical Technology, Healthcare, ChinaLin Securities, Yixintang Pharmaceutical Group Locations: China, Hong Kong, Zhijiang, Hubei, Yichun, Jiangxi, University of South Carolina, “, ” Beijing, Ningbo, Qinghai, Golmud, Chongqing, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Hezbollah leader warns Israel of war with 'no red lines,' threatens Cyprus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The leader of Hezbollah has vowed a fight with "no rules and with no red lines" if full-out war erupts between the Lebanese militant group and Israel, warning Cyprus against getting mired in the conflict. Lebanon and Israel have regularly traded cross-border fire since the start of the Jewish state's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas — which, like Hezbollah, is backed by Iran — in the Gaza Strip. The Hezbollah leader also threatened war against the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, if the European Union member permits Israel to launch military operations from its territory. Nasrallah accused Israel of "conducting maneuvers in preparation for the Lebanon war" in Cyprus, without disclosing his sources. In response to Nasrallah, Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday stressed that his country is not involved in the conflict and is, in fact, part of the solution, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

Persons: Iran —, Taleb Sami Abdullah, General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Seth Frantzman, Nasrallah, Israel, Manar, Nikos Christodoulides Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Foundation, Defense, Democracies, Associated Press, European Union, Cyprus News Agency, CNBC, Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, U.S, Cypriot

☆ Xi's claim that the US is trying to trick China into invading Taiwan is meant to divide the US and its allies: experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewXi Jinping's claim that the US is trying to trick China into invading Taiwan is aimed at driving a wedge between the US and its European allies, experts told Business Insider. But in addressing the issue with the EU leader, Xi was trying to counter the US narrative and undermine transatlantic relations, Scobell said. "Also, China knows that the EU is generally ambivalent about backing the United States in a war with China over Taiwan," he added. However, over the last few years, the mood in Washington, DC, has shifted toward greater hawkishness, Graeme Thompson, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, told Business Insider in November. Under its One China policy, the EU recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China.

Persons: —, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi, Andrew Scobell, Scobell, Craig Singleton, Singleton, Timothy Heath, von der Leyen, Graeme Thompson, Mike Pompeo, John Bolton Organizations: Service, European, Financial Times, Business, US Institute of Peace, BI, EU, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Taiwan, RAND, Eurasia Group, Royal Services Institute Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Ukraine, United States, Washington ,, People's Republic of China, EU, Taiwan Strait

☆ Iran's upcoming snap elections: A battle of anti-western hardliners
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iranian Leader Press Office | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIran is holding snap elections on June 28 following the sudden death of former Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The election will take place against the backdrop of a battered Iranian economy, widespread popular discontent and crackdowns on dissent. He described Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei⁠ as the country's "only 'voter' of significance." Iran's Presidency | WANA | Via ReutersBut with Sunday's announcement of the approved candidates, "those hopes were largely dashed," he said. It comes after turnout for Iran's parliamentary election in March was also the lowest for a legislative contest in the Islamic Republic's history at 41%.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, Ibrahim Raisi, crackdowns, Behnam ben Taleblu, Ayatollah Khamenei⁠, ben Taleblu, Nader Itayim, it's, Raisi, Khamenei, Mahsa Amini, Sanam Vakil, Itayim, ATTA KENARE Organizations: Iran's, Tehran University, Iranian, Press, Anadolu, Getty, U.S, Guardian Council, Council, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CNBC, Western, Argus Media, Reuters, Union for Secular Republic, Human Rights, Chatham House, Islamic Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Mideast, Iran's, Islamic Republic, Kurdish Iranian, East, North Africa

CNN —China’s military drills around Taiwan are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over the island, the People’s Liberation Army said Friday as its forces kicked off a second day of large-scale exercises encircling its democratic neighbor. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has condemned China’s military exercises as “irrational provocations” and dispatched its own sea, air and ground forces in response. A total of 19 Chinese warships and seven coast guard vessels were detected near the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry. China Coast Guard drill near Taiwan. China Coast Guard/Weibo‘Blockading Taiwan’China’s military drills are often as much about playing to a domestic audience as signaling intentions internationally, and state media has ramped up coverage of the drills.

Persons: CNN —, Lai Ching, Lai, Xi Jinping, ”, China’s, Tsai Ing, ” “, Wu Qian, Liu, Tsai, wasn’t, “, I’m, Zhang Chi, Zhang, Carl Schuster, Craig Singleton, ” Singleton, Singleton, Lionel Fatton, ” Fatton Organizations: CNN, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Command, Party, Taiwan, Guard, CCTV, Taiwan’s Defense, Kyodo, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s, Ministry, Chinese Communist Party, China Coast Guard, Taiwan . China Coast Guard, Weibo, US, Coast Guard, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Webster University Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, China, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait, China's, Taiwan ., ”, Kaohsiung, Wuqiu, Geneva

☆ Yellen returns to China to tackle economic challenges bedeviling ties with US
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Janet Yellen has kicked off her second visit to China as US treasury secretary to continue efforts to further stabilize ties between the world’s two largest economies. “During prior meetings with her Chinese interlocutors, Yellen has largely avoided taking a strong stance on controversial issues,” he said. Trade tensionsBiden administration officials have suggested raising tariffs on Chinese imports to “level” the playing field for trade. Former President Donald Trump has threatened to slap 60% tariffs on imports from China if he is re-elected. The “forces” are often referred to as emerging industries such as EVs, new materials and artificial intelligence.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Janet Yellen, Yellen, “, ’ Yellen, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Lifeng, Liu He, Pan Gongsheng, Lan Fo’an, Craig Singleton, ”, Biden, Xi’s, Donald Trump, Rick Waters, ’, Xi, Waters, don’t, ” Singleton Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Finance, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Bali . Trade, Biden, Trump, Treasury Department Locations: China, Hong Kong, Georgia, United States, California, Guangzhou, Beijing, Washington, Bali ., Eurasia

☆ If the US bans TikTok, China will be getting a taste of its own medicine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But American apps have long been barred in China. “The TikTok bill appears likely to become law and China’s displeasure seems ironic, if not hypocritical, given its stance toward American social apps,” said Brock Silvers, managing director at Kaiyuan Capital. The Chinese government has said it strongly opposes a forced sale of TikTok, and it has the legal ability to do so. A man walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, in Beijing. “While China has completely banned [these] American apps, TikTok enjoys all the benefits of America’s free and open legal and political systems,” he said.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — TikTok, ByteDance doesn’t, Wang Wenbin, ”, Brock Silvers, Wang, Joe Biden, TikTok, CNN Beijing’s, Trump, Greg Baker, “, Winston Ma, Silvers, Alex Capri, Craig Singleton, “ We’ve, ” Capri Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, Foreign Ministry, Google, Kaiyuan, Chinese Commerce Ministry, ByteDance, Trump, CNN, Commerce Ministry, Getty, New York University School of Law, Foundation, National University of Singapore Business School, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Weibo, Twitter, Facebook Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, TikTok, ByteDance, AFP, Washington, Washington , DC

☆ Iran has reduced stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, says nuclear watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Adam Pourahmadi | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Iran has reduced its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium in the months since October 2023, according to a confidential report from the International Atomic Weapons Agency (IAEA) viewed by CNN on Tuesday. In October, Iran possessed 128.3 kilograms (282.9 pounds) of uranium enriched to approximately 60%, the highest level documented by the IAEA. By February, the stockpile had been reduced to 121.5 kilograms, according to the report. Iran reduced the quantity of near weapons-grade uranium by mixing 31.8 kilograms of the stockpile with uranium enriched to a much lower level, around 2%, according to the report. However, while Iran had reduced its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, the report also noted a steady increase in stocks of uranium enriched to 20%.

Persons: IAEA Rafael Grossi, Donald Trump, Eric Brewer, Ben Taleblu, Majid Asgaripour, they’ve, ” Brewer, Brewer, Taleblu, “, ” Taleblu, Matthew Miller, Yemen’s Houthi Organizations: CNN, International Atomic Weapons Agency, IAEA, Center for Arms Control, United, Experts, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Governors, US State Department, American Locations: Iran, Bushehr, Israel

☆ Battle for the Red Sea expands with U.S. strikes, EU stepping up its efforts against Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Defense officials tell CNBC as of February 21, there have been at least 59 attacks on commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea. But the EU said the Red Sea moves reflect the need for a stronger European presence in protecting ships from Houthi attacks. Trade leaders have urged more countries to join the military effort in the Red Sea. A war of misinformation in the Red Sea crisis also continues. On February 2 in Brussels, Borrell informed Yemeni Prime Minister Bin Mubarak about the plans to launch a new EU maritime operation in the Red Sea and about its mandate.

Persons: Mason, Torm Thor, Good Hope, Peter Stano, Josep Borrell, Mark Montgomery, Sen, John McCain, Steven Lamar, Hussein, Azzi, Stano, Houthis, Borrell, Bin Mubarak, Rashad Al, Carl Bentzel, Bentzel, Tesla Organizations: European Commission, United States Central Command, Command, U.S, CNBC, European Union's Naval Force, EU, French Navy, Prosperity, Prosperity Guardian, EU Commission, Navy, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Senate Armed, NATO, U.S . Central Command, UK, Prosperity Guardian . Trade, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Central Command, Yemeni, Presidential, Council, UN, Federal Maritime, Foreign Shipping, State Department, FMC, Walmart Locations: Aden, Iranian, Yemen, Red, Libyan Coast, Good, Somalia, European, EU, U.S, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Houthi, Europe, Suez, Belize, Brussels, Yemeni, United States, Egypt, Germany, Israel

☆ Iran has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East. Now it's sending them to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Iran presents its first hypersonic ballistic missile 'Fattah' (Conqueror) in an event attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and other government officials in Tehran, Iran on June 06, 2023. Reuters reported that Iran delivered at least 400 of its short-range Fateh-110 ballistic missiles to Russia in January of this year, and that figure is likely to rise. "It was always a matter of when, not if, Iran would transfer ballistic missiles to Russia," Behnam ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told CNBC. Ballistic missiles will keep him in that fight for longer now." In 2022, U.S. Central Command estimated that Iran had over 3,000 ballistic missiles in its arsenal.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Vladimir Putin, Behnam ben Taleblu, Putin Organizations: Reuters, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CNBC, U.S . Central Command Locations: Iran, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan

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