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☆ White House slams Musk 'antisemitic rhetoric,' says 'foolish' to drop SpaceX contracts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Leah Millis | ReutersThe White House is not moving away from Elon Musk's SpaceX or Starlink technology despite condemning Musk for pushing antisemitic comments on social media, National Security Counsel spokesman John Kirby said Monday. White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 20, 2023. The Pentagon has commissioned Starlink technology to provide internet coverage to Ukraine, as the country's defensive war against Russia rages on. In September, Musk's SpaceX won a separate Pentagon contract for Starshield, a military-specific version of Starlink that is still under development. In the past, senators have scrutinized the Defense Department's dependence on Musk's technology.

Persons: Elon Musk, Chuck Schumer, Leah Millis, Musk, John Kirby, Kirby, I'm, Musk's SpaceX, SpaceX's, Joe Skipper Organizations: Intelligence, Senate, U.S, Capitol, Elon Musk's SpaceX, National Security, Musk's, White, National Security Council Strategic Communications, Reuters, Twitter, Apple, Disney, Comcast, CNBC, Pentagon, Russia, Starshield, SpaceX, Federal Aviation Authority, Boca Chica Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Texas, Brownsville , Texas, U.S

☆ US must pull out of CFE arms treaty -White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby takes part in a press briefing held by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - There was no way for the U.S. to stay in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, a key post-Cold War agreement, after Russia pulled out, White house national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday. "I don't know how we can justify not pulling out" of the treaty after Russia did, Kirby said. He said the U.S. will meet all Article Five commitments to NATO allies, which could force changes. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: John Kirby, Karine Jean, Pierre, Leah Millis, Kirby, Trevor Hunnicutt, Chris Reese Organizations: White, National Security Council Strategic Communications, White House Press, REUTERS, Rights, Conventional Armed Forces, NATO, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Europe, Russia, U.S

The funds were moved to Qatari accounts as part of a broad deal to secure the release of five Americans whom the US deemed had been wrongfully detained in Iran. There were bipartisan calls to freeze the funds in the wake of the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel this weekend. Still, the “quiet understanding” not to move the money right now appears to be largely symbolic, given the strict restrictions that were already tied to the funds. Blinken did not confirm that “a quiet understanding” had been reached but made clear the US is able to freeze the funds. The process for Iran to be able to spend the funds was expected to take months, if not years.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, Adeyemo, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, ” Blinken, John Kirby, “ It’s, “, we’ve, Saturday’s, CNN’s Jim Sciutto, Max Organizations: CNN, Saturday, Democrats, Administration, National Security Council, White, State Department Locations: United States, Qatar, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Qatari

It is also the most detailed evidence provided in recent months of Russia’s outreach to North Korea to help fuel its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, the US Treasury sanctioned a sanctions evasion network aimed at supporting arms deals between Russia and North Korea. Kirby also said Russia’s attempts to source weapons from places like Iran and North Korea was a clear signal of Moscow’s distress. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the United Nations, also accused Russia and North Korea of negotiating an arms deal during a Security Council Stakeout on Wednesday. Iran and North Korea have both denied these claims.

Persons: Biden, Sergei Shoigu’s, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, John Kirby, “, ” Kirby, Kirby, Russia’s, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Wagner Organizations: CNN, Russian, North, National Security Council, DPRK, “, US Treasury, United Nations Locations: Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Russian, DPRK, Iran, Greenfield , US

"We don't know who owns this object," said White House spokesperson John Kirby, adding that it was unclear where it began its flight. President Joe Biden ordered the shootdown, which was announced from the White House. Some lawmakers criticized the president for not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner. The object was shot down off the coast of northeastern Alaska over frozen U.S. territorial waters near the Canadian border. UNMANNED VESSEL[1/4] White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby takes questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. February 10, 2023.

☆ Treasury imposes sanctions against Russian paramilitary firm Wagner Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A mural praises the Russian Wagner group and its mercenaries fighting in Ukraine on March 30, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. The Treasury Department identified the Wagner Group, led by Putin crony Yevgeny Prigozhin, as a "significant transnational criminal organization." Joint Stock Company Terra Tech, a Russian-based technology firm, for providing space and aerial imagery to the Wagner Group. Joint Stock Company Research and Production, a Russian space company supporting Russia's military activities in Ukraine. In addition, State announced steps to impose visa restrictions on 531 members of the Russian military for their role in Ukraine.

☆ White House says North Korea supplying Russia with artillery shells
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby addresses the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. October 26, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstWASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States has information that indicates North Korea is covertly supplying Russia with a "significant" number of artillery shells for its war in Ukraine, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday. Kirby told a virtual briefing that North Korea was attempting to obscure the shipments by funneling them through countries in the Middle East and North Africa. "We do have a sense on where they are going to transfer these shells," Kirby said, but declined to give any more details as the U.S. weighs its possible options. North Korea fired at least 23 missiles into the sea on Wednesday, including one that landed less than 60 km (40 miles) off South Korea's coast, which the South's President Yoon Suk-yeol described as "territorial encroachment."

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