DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bow down but I won’t,” Biden told supporters at a Broadway fundraiser. Biden has sought a package of $13.1 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine and $8.5 billion for humanitarian support. Officials played down Biden’s absence at the climate summit, saying the issue will be interspersed through the president’s remarks and events throughout the week. Senior administration officials said the two leaders will discuss issues including Iran but declined to elaborate further. Biden is scheduled to host talks Thursday at the White House with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Persons: Joe Biden, —, he’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Vladimir Putin’s, Trump, Putin, MAGA, ” Biden, “, “ He’s, underscoring, António Guterres, Xi, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, John Kerry, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Benjamin Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ___ Kim Organizations: General, Donald Trump . White, Democratic, —, NATO, Kyiv, Trump, Ukraine, Central Asian, White House, . Security, White Locations: U.S, Ukraine, United States, New York, Central, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, France, Russia, China, Biden’s, Iran, Washington

“Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence,” Mr. Biden said as President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine watched from the audience. I respectfully suggest the answer is no.”“We have to stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow,” Mr. Biden continued. “Ask Prigozhin if one bets on Putin’s promises.”Both Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelensky received strong applause from some of the delegations in the hall, but many others did not clap. On Tuesday evening, Mr. Biden and Jill Biden were to host a reception for other world leaders at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “This is clearly a genocide,” Mr. Zelensky said.

Persons: Biden, Mr, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Vladimir V, Moscow, ”, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, “, Biden’s, Kevin McCarthy, we’ve, Lloyd J, Austin III, Ukraine’s, Xi Jinping, Jill Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Netanyahu, “ Slava Ukraini Organizations: appeasing Moscow, United Nations General Assembly, Republicans, United Nations, International Criminal Court, . Security, Mr, White, Pentagon, Capitol, Defense, General, appeasing, United, Soviet Union —, Turkmenistan —, Metropolitan Museum of Art, United Nations ’ Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Washington, New York, Russia’s, Germany, China, Beijing, Libya, “, United Nations, Soviet Union, Soviet Union — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, China’s, Brazil, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Moldova, Georgia, Syria, Belarus, Baltic

☆ At UN, Biden will ask world to stick with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. President Joe Biden steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in New York, U.S. September 17, 2023. Biden, a Democrat, has made rallying U.S. allies to support Ukraine a leading component of U.S. foreign policy, arguing the world must send a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will not be able to outlast the West. But Biden has faced criticism from some Republicans who want the United States to spend less money there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to visit Biden at the White House on Thursday and meet with some congressional leaders as well. After his speech, Biden will sit down with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss world hotspots.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Jake Sullivan, General Antonio Guterres, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Lula, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Sullivan, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Air Force One, REUTERS, General, Russian, Central, Democrat, NATO, Republican, UN, U.S, Reuters, White, House, Wednesday, Israeli, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Brazil, Russian, United States, Washington, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran

☆ Biden to push for Ukraine aid, democracy as China and Russia skip UN General Assembly
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, where he plans to promote democracy and advocate for increased support for Ukraine. Lula has argued the U.S. and other Western nations are prolonging the war with their defense support. This will be the first time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has attended the U.N. summit in person since the war began. A "substantial section" of Biden's speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday will be devoted to the war in Ukraine, Sullivan said. U.S. support for Ukraine

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, Saul Loeb, Biden, it's, Jake Sullivan, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Lula, Benjamin Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sullivan Organizations: Defense, . Homeland, Hurricane, White, Washington , D.C, AFP, Getty, United Nations General Assembly, Ukraine, House, . Security, Global, Israeli, General, United Nations Charter Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Washington ,, France, United Kingdom, China, Russia, United States, Brazil, Ukraine, U.S, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

☆ The global treasures in the running for UNESCO’s World Heritage status
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This year, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is reviewing nominations from both 2022 and 2023, with participants from across the world attending the session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to examine almost 50 contenders. According to UNESCO, sites must be of “outstanding universal value” to be included on the World Heritage List. So far, the World Heritage Committee has inscribed approximately 1,157 sites in 167 different countries onto the World Heritage List. Seo Heun Kang/UNESCO World Heritage Nomination OfficeOnly those countries that sign the convention creating the World Heritage Committee and list are permitted to nominate sites. Gordion, the capital city of ancient Phrygia in Ankara, Turkey, is also nominated for a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Persons: John E, Seo Heun Kang, Bale, Gordion, Mustafa Ciftci, Midas, Morten Rasmussen, Sarah Langrand, Dominique Marck, Bani Ma’arid, Bani Ma'arid, Hamad Al Qahtani, Koh Ker, Mount Pelée, Canada Bale, Francesca Street Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Cultural Organization, UNESCO World Heritage, Heritage, World, Anadolu Agency, Danish Agency for Culture, Fine Arts Department, de Nîmes, National Center for Wildlife, Architectural Museum, Kazan Federal University, Khinalig, Tunisia ESMA Museum, Clandestine Center of Detention, Wooden Posts, Greece Historic Center of Guimarães Locations: Gaya, Denmark, Thai, Ohio, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hancock, United States, Goryeong, South Korea, Addis Ababa, Phrygia, Turkey, Ankara, B.C.E, Madagascar, Si Thep, Thailand, Si, Nîmes, France, Gorokhovets, Russia, Vladimir Oblast, Erfurt, Germany, Cambodia, Khmer, Courland, Latvia, Kaunas, Lithuania, Ab’aj, Guatemala, India, Karakum, Tajikistan, Menorca, Spain, Ethiopia, Iran, Klondike, Canada, Czech, Odzala, Kokoua, Congo, Mount, Northern Martinique, Benin Ha Long, Ba Archipelago, Vietnam, Forests, Azerbaijan, Jericho, Palestinian Territories, Kazan, Tunisia, Argentina, Belgium, Suriname Royal, Netherlands, Anatolia, Bisesero, Rwanda, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Masouleh, Turan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Northern Apennines, Italy, Tajikistan Highlands, Mongolian, Mongolia, Greece, Portugal

☆ NASA astronaut heads to International Space Station on Russian rocket
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A NASA astronaut on her inaugural spaceflight and two cosmonauts launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft toward the International Space Station Friday, marking the first time Russia has launched astronauts to the orbiting outpost in nearly a year. The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 11:44 a.m. ET and began a quick, three-hour trajectory to rendezvous with the space station. Once at the space station, the group will prepare to take over operations from a trio of crew members that have been on the space station for nearly a year after launching aboard the Soyuz MS-22 vehicle. The most recent SpaceX flight arrived at the space station in August, carrying astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency.

Persons: Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai, Roscosmos, Frank Rubio, Rubio, Valeri Polyakov, Rubio —, O’Hara — Organizations: CNN, NASA, Russian Soyuz, Soyuz, Baikonur, Oceanographic, SpaceX, Roscosmos, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, European Space Agency Locations: Russian, Russia, Kazakhstan, Massachusetts, United States, Ukraine

☆ North Korean athletes to participate in the Asian Games in China, KCNA reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Sept 16 (Reuters) - North Korean athletes have left Pyongyang for the Asian Games on Thursday that will take place in China, marking the first international, multisport event that North Korea has participated in since the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. The Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, a year after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. KCNA did not mention the size of the team or athletes' travel routes. North Korea closed its borders to nearly all travel in early 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and dropped out of the Tokyo Olympics due to coronavirus concerns. In August, North Korean taekwondo athletes participated in the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) World Championships in Kazakhstan, the first appearance by the country's athletes at an overseas competition since the start of the pandemic.

Persons: KCNA, Heekyong Yang, Josh Smith, Sandra Maler Organizations: Asian Games, Tokyo, North, International, International Olympic Committee, Beijing Winter Games, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Pyongyang, China, Korea, Indonesia, Hangzhou, North Korea, North Korean, Kazakhstan, Tokyo

☆ Soyuz spacecraft with US astronaut, two Russian cosmonauts docks at ISS
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - A Russian spacecraft blasted off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome on Friday carrying two Russian cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS), live TV images showed. At 1853 GMT the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft with American Loral O'Hara and Russians Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub on board docked at the ISS, Russia's Roscosmos space agency said. They will join the current crew of NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Frank Rubio, Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin, Konstantin Borisov and Sergei Prokopyev, as well as Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Japan's Satoshi Furukawa. The ISS is one of the few international projects on which the United States and Russia still cooperate closely.

Persons: Loral O'Hara, Oleg Kononenko, Maxim Shemetov, Nikolai, Jasmin Moghbeli, Frank Rubio, Dmitry Petelin, Konstantin Borisov, Sergei Prokopyev, Andreas Mogensen, Satoshi Furukawa, Luna, William Maclean, Mark Porter Organizations: NASA, International Space, Baikonur, REUTERS, Kazakhstan's Baikonur, Soyuz, Washington, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Kazakhstan, Russian, Kazakhstan's, U.S, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

MOSCOW (AP) — One American and two Russian space crew members blasted off Friday aboard a Russian spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a mission to the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub lifted off on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft at 8.44 p.m. local time. O’Hara will spend six months on the ISS while Kononenko and Chub will spend a year there. Neither O’Hara nor Chub have ever flown to space before, but they will be flying with veteran cosmonaut and mission commander Kononenko, who has made the trip four times already. Later in September, three of the ISS crew will depart, including NASA astronaut Frank Rubio who will have been there for more than a year.

Persons: Loral O’Hara, Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai, O’Hara, Kononenko, Frank Rubio Organizations: MOSCOW, Baikonur, International Space Station, NASA, ISS Locations: Kazakhstan, U.S, Russia, Denmark, Japan

☆ Biden to meet with Netanyahu at UN General Assembly for first face-to-face meeting since Israeli PM returned to office
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Donald Judd | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden next week will hold his first face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the Israeli leader came back into office. Biden will meet Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, before hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington later in the week. Netanyahu has not been invited to the White House since he returned to office in December, a move widely interpreted as linked to the Biden administration’s disapproval of the Israeli government’s proposed judicial reforms. Netanyahu’s office trumpeted in July that he had been “invited” to meet Biden in the United States, but the White House pointedly declined to call it an invitation and previously wouldn’t say where the leaders would meet. On Wednesday, Biden will meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, joining the Brazilian leader for an event with labor leaders from both countries.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Israel, Jake Sullivan, ”, Zelensky, Sullivan, ” “, ” Sullivan, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United Nations General Assembly, Biden, White, Ukraine, Capitol, Wednesday Locations: Washington, United States, Israel, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Brazil

☆ As Apple launches new phone, key facts on titanium
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man check his phone near an Apple logo outside its store in Shanghai, China September 13, 2023. China's titanium producers said they expect stronger demand after the launch of the new Apple models. Titanium minerals are used to make titanium sponge which can be turned into metal for industrial applications. China was the second largest importer of titanium sponge with more than 13,000 tons last year, followed by South Korea with 9,000 tons, according to TDM. WHAT IS TITANIUM USED FOR?

Persons: Aly, Pratima Desai, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, United States Geological Survey, WHO, Trade Data Monitor, Titans, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, United States, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, vaping

☆ Vostochny Cosmodrome: What is Russia’s space launch facility in Amur?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view shows flags of Russia and North Korea ahead of the meeting of Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Сosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023. Sputnik/Vladimir Smirnov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsVLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 13 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin met North Korea's Kim Jong Un, possibly at Russia's most modern space rocket launch site, on Wednesday amid the forests of the eastern Russia. What is the Vostochny Cosmodrome? * Putin ordered the construction of the cosmodrome to reduce reliance on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, which gained independence after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. * Meeting Kim, cast by former U.S. President Donald Trump as the "rocket man", at Vostochny puts a spotlight on Western concerns about the development of North Korea's missile capabilities.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Smirnov, Putin, Kim, Donald Trump, Luna, Guy Faulconbridge, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, North, Baikonur, U.S, Soyuz, Thomson Locations: Russia, North Korea, Amur, Rights VLADIVOSTOK, Russia's, Russian, China, Vladivostok, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, Soviet

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Vostochny space launch facility where President Vladimir Putin hosted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday reflects an ambitious attempt by Moscow to burnish its scientific glory that faded after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The new spaceport has a troubled history tarnished by construction delays and widespread corruption. DIFFICULT CONSTRUCTIONVostochny’s location in an unexplored and sparsely populated area in Russia’s far east has added to the cost and length of construction works. The first launch from Vostochny initially had been planned for 2015 but was pushed back until the following year. In 2018, an inspection revealed cavities in the ground under the launch pad that were blamed on shoddy construction works and required additional funds to fix.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Vostochny, Luna Organizations: MOSCOW, North, Soviet Union, Baikonur, Soyuz Locations: Moscow, Soviet, Soviet Union, Russia, Kazakhstan, Russia’s, Tsiolkovsky, Vostochny

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio now holds the record for the longest U.S. spaceflight. Rubio surpassed the U.S. space endurance record of 355 days on Monday at the International Space Station. But their stay was doubled after their Soyuz capsule developed a coolant leak while parked at the space station. By then, Rubio will have spent 371 days in space, more than two weeks longer than Mark Vande Hei, the previous U.S. record holder for a single spaceflight, Russia holds the world record of 437 days, set in the mid-1990s. “Your dedication is truly out of this world, Frank!” NASA chief Bill Nelson said via X, formerly known as Twitter.

Persons: Frank Rubio, Rubio, Mark Vande Hei, Frank !, Bill Nelson Organizations: NASA, Space, Twitter, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education, AP Locations: Russia, Kazakhstan

☆ Violeta Mitul: Moldova soccer player dies aged 26 in hiking accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Moldovan soccer player Violeta Mitul has died aged 26 in a “tragic accident,” European soccer’s governing body UEFA announced on Friday. Violeta Mitul was playing club soccer in Iceland. Ettore Griffoni/LiveMedia/ShutterstockMitul joined Icelandic club Einherji earlier this year but had previously played for clubs in Spain, Italy, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Moldova did not qualify for this year’s Women’s World Cup but Mitul played in all 10 of her country’s qualifying matches. CNN has reached out to her club Einherji and the Moldovan Football Association.

Persons: Violeta Mitul, “, ”, Ettore Griffoni, Shutterstock Mitul, Mitul Organizations: CNN — Moldovan, UEFA, ” UEFA, Einherji, Moldovan, Tiraspol, Vasas, CNN, Moldovan Football Association Locations: Europe, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romanian, Moldova

☆ Danilina and Heliovaara win U.S. Open mixed doubles title
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kazakhstan's Danilina and Heliovaara of Finland randomly teamed up ahead when they happened to be at the sign-in table at the same time. It was an amazing run," Danilina said during her on-court interview. Heliovaara and Danilina remained in control as they opened the second set with another break before the Americans got the set back on serve in the fourth game. But Heliovaara and Danilina refused to let the Americans back into the match and went on to break at love for a 5-4 lead before closing out victory. Heliovaara initially forgot to mention Danilina when he addressed the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd during the trophy presentation but quickly requested the microphone back.

Persons: Finland's Harri Heliovaara, Anna Danilina, Austin Krajicek, Jessica Pegula, Mike Segar, Harri Heliovaara, Kazakhstan's, Danilina, It's, Heliovaara, Arthur Ashe, Anna, Frank Pingue, Ed Osmond Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Heliovaara, Finland, Toronto

☆ Cuba arrests 17 for allegedly helping recruit some of its citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Cuban authorities have arrested 17 people in connection with what they described as a network to recruit Cuban nationals to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Cuba's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the government had detected a network operating from Russia to recruit Cuban citizens living both in Russia and in Cuba to fight in Ukraine. "Cuba is not part of the war in Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry said in a news release. Russian law allows foreign nationals to enlist in its army, after signing a contract with the Defense Ministry. It also noted that there have been online adds seeking recruits for the Russian army in Armenia and Kazakhstan.

Persons: César Rodríguez, José Luis Reyes, Marilin Vinent, Dannys Castillo, Vinent, Sergei Sobyanin Organizations: Cuba's Interior Ministry, Cuba's, Foreign Ministry, U.S . State Department, Russia, Defense Ministry, Moscow, Russian Defense Ministry, British Defense Ministry, Twitter, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Cuba, Russian, Ryazan, Moscow, Cuba Republic, Havana, Central Asia, Armenia, Kazakhstan

☆ China is eroding Russia's influence over old allies as the alliance it leads crumbles over Ukraine, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian influence is waning despite formal alliances and the old ties of the Soviet Union. It is also home to most members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): Russian President Vladimir Putin's equivalent of NATO. Russia's influence on them is also being weakened by more countries competing for their attention, Graham said. AdvertisementAdvertisementHe said that "Russia's operation in Ukraine is undermining, eroding its ability to maintain its influence across the former Soviet space." "You're seeing the slow erosion of Russian influence."

Persons: Thomas Graham, Vladimir Putin's, Graham, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Stanislav Zas, Nikol Pashinyan, Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym, Tokayev, Sadyr Japarov, Emomali Rakhmon, Anton Novoderezhkin Organizations: Service, Yale, Collective Security, Organization, NATO, Moscow REUTERS, Russia, Armenian, Kazakh, Kremlin, Sputnik, REUTERS, Central, AFPTV, Getty Locations: Central Asia, Russia, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, China, Turkey, East, Caucasus, Moscow, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Central, Europe, Iran, Russian, Belarusian, Bakhmut, AFP, Azerbaijan, Soviet

☆ Cuba says its citizens were recruited to fight with Russia in Ukraine — but the government is only cracking down now 'because they got caught,' former counterintelligence officer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Lauren Steussy | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Cuban government says it's cracking down on efforts to recruit citizens to fight with Russia. But Cuba experts say it's likely that Cuba, a longtime Kremlin ally, was involved in these efforts. AdvertisementAdvertisementAndrés Albuquerque, a Miami-based political analyst, said it's also possible Russia worked alongside the Cuban government to recruit citizens. The recruitment in Cuba — as well as similar efforts in June in Kazakhstan — comes as Russia faces a manpower crisis. Just this past June, Cuba's Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera met with his Russian counterpart, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in Moscow.

Persons: Chris Simmons, Simmons, they've, Cuba didn't, it's, Putin, Albuquerque, Cuba —, Fidel Castro, Álvaro López Miera, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu Organizations: Service, Cuban, Russia, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense Intelligence Agency, NPR, Defense, Western Military District, New York Times, Times, Kazakhstan —, Cuba's Army, Russian Locations: Cuban, Russia, Cuba, Kremlin, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Albuquerque, Miami, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, War, Moscow

☆ Cuba Says Its Citizens Were Lured to Fight in Russia’s War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Valeriya Safronova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Cuba has been a close ally of Russia since the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Álvaro López Miera, the head of Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, visited Moscow in June. He was received by his Russian counterpart, Sergei K. Shoigu, who said that Cuba was Russia’s “most important ally” in the Caribbean. About 70,000 Russian tourists visited Cuba in the first half of 2023, according to Russian state media, and about 11,000 Cubans visited Russia in 2022, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators. It is not the first time that a country has claimed that its citizens were being recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

Persons: Elena Shuvalova, Álvaro López Miera, Sergei K, Shoigu, Russia’s, ”, ” Mr, Ukraine ” Organizations: Moscow Times, Russian Army, Cuban Foreign Ministry, Cuba’s Ministry, Revolutionary Armed Forces, Tass, Russian Association of Tour Locations: Moscow, Cuba, Russia, Cuban, Caribbean, Ukraine, Russian, Kostanay, Kazakhstan, Kazakh

☆ Pope, quoting Buddha, urges religious dialogue to fight fundamentalism
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Pope Francis speaks during an ecumenical and interreligious meeting at the Hun Theatre, during his Apostolic Journey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 3, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Calling himself one of the "humble heirs" of ancient schools of wisdom and quoting the Buddha, Pope Francis on Sunday urged all religions to live in harmony and shun ideological fundamentalism that foments violence. But the pope repeated on Sunday that he put great importance in "ecumenical, inter-religious and cultural dialogue". "There can be no mixing, then, of religious beliefs and violence, of holiness and oppression, of religious traditions and sectarianism," Francis said. Several of the leaders, including the rabbi and the shaman, imparted a special blessing from their religions on the pope, wishing him health and a long life.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Francis, Jesus, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Philip Pullella, Lincoln Organizations: Hun, REUTERS, Sunday, Catholic, Mongolian, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, Mongolian, China, Beijing, Soviet, Kazakhstan

☆ North Korea hints at tourism reopening, but doubts remain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

When North Korea slammed its already tight borders closed in 2020, he was one of many travel industry professionals left out in the proverbial cold. One of Cockerell’s business concerns, he says, is that a lack of search engine interest in North Korea trips could hurt his website’s visibility on Google. In 2017, the United States banned its passport holders from traveling to North Korea and has renewed this ban through at least 2024. The 2017 ban on American travel to North Korea came shortly after the death of Otto Warmbier, a recent college graduate from Ohio who participated in a Young Pioneer Tours group trip to North Korea. Warmbier was detained in North Korea in 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster and held for 17 months.

Persons: Simon Cockerell, ” Cockerell, ”, Cockerell, Kim, Otto Warmbier, Warmbier, CNN’s Paula Hancocks, Irene Nasser, Kate Springer, Yoonjung Seo Organizations: CNN, Air Koryo, of Tourism, United, DPRK, Tours, North Koreans, North Korean Locations: North Korea, North, Pyongyang, Beijing, China, Vladivostok, Russia, Koryo, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tourism, United States, Ohio

☆ Russia dominated the first space race, but now it can't even land on the moon. Photos show the US and China are way ahead.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

China, Russia, and the US (with its international allies) are all plotting huge new moonshots. Photos of the space efforts of the US, China, and Russia reveal how far behind the former space power has fallen. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US and China are innovating, while Russia's space tech agesNASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Berger cited other underlying issues that are stifling Russia's space ambitions, like budget cuts, quality control, and corruption. Western sanctions have harmed Russia's space program in other ways, limiting its access to high-quality microchips, the AP reported.

Persons: Artemis, Russia isn't, hasn't, Russia's Luna, Bill Nelson, Luna, NASA’s, —, Tingshu Wang, Sergei Markov, Russia's, Steve Seipel, Yuri Borisov, Borisov, Bill Ingalls, Eric Berger, Vladimir Putin's, Berger, Xue Lei, landers, Roscosmos, Victoria Samson Organizations: Service, NASA, AP, Soviet Union, Operation, Space Corporation, Politico, New York Times, China National Space Administration, Vostochny, Luna, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight, Arizona State University NASA, Orion, NASA NASA, SpaceX, National Museum, Reuters, Kremlin, Kennedy Space Center, CNN, Russian Soyuz, Baikonur, Future Publishing, Getty, European Space Agency, ESA, Secure, Foundation Locations: Wall, Silicon, China, Russia, Soviet, Soviet Union, China National Space Administration Russia, Russia's Far, India, Russian, Beijing, Ukraine, Florida, Kazakhstan, Washington

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Friday to discuss grain ahead of the Erdogan meeting. "It turned out that it is more difficult to do this than to build new corridors, new ground routes," said Shoigu, who attended the signing ceremony for the Black Sea deal in Istanbul in 2022. Turkey's foreign minister said at a briefing in Moscow on Thursday that reviving the deal was important for the world. U.S. wheat prices rose on Friday, though Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia saw no sign that it would receive the guarantees needed to revive the grain deal. Lavrov said he had discussed Putin's initiative to supply up to 1 million tonnes of Russian grain to Turkey at reduced prices for subsequent processing at Turkish plants and shipping to countries most in need.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tayyip Erdogan, Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Putin, Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan, Dmitry Peskov, Erdogan, Hakan Fidan, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, it's, Russia's, António Guterres, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey, Conor Humphries, Alison Williams Organizations: Sputnik, Erdogan, UN, United Nations, United, Kremlin, Turkish, Russian, Central African, Initiative, Qatar, Russian Agricultural Bank, SWIFT, Thomson Locations: Asia, Astana, Kazakhstan, Sochi Turkey, Russia, MOSCOW, Black, Sochi, Ankara, Ukraine, United Nations, Turkey, Moscow, Istanbul, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea, EU, Odesa

☆ US Open order of play on Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his second round match against Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Order of play on the main show courts on the fifth day of the U.S. Open on Friday (play starts 1500 GMT/11 AM ET unless stated, prefix number denotes seeding):ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM (1600 GMT/12 PM ET)14-Tommy Paul (U.S.) v 21-Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Spain)Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) v Jennifer Brady (U.S.)32-Elise Mertens (Belgium) v 6-Coco Gauff (U.S)32-Laslo Djere (Serbia) v 2-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM10-Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic) v Taylor Townsend (U.S.)1-Iga Swiatek (Poland) v Kaja Juvan (Slovenia)22-Adrian Mannarino (France) v 10-Frances Tiafoe (U.S.)Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic) v 9-Taylor Fritz (U.S.)4-Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) v 30-Sorana Cirstea (Romania)Compiled by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Mike Segar, ARTHUR ASHE, Tommy Paul, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Caroline Wozniacki, Jennifer Brady, Elise Mertens, Coco Gauff, Laslo Djere, Novak Djokovic, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, Karolina Muchova, Taylor Townsend, Swiatek, Adrian Mannarino, Frances Tiafoe, Jakub Mensik, Taylor Fritz, Elena Rybakina, Sorana, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Osmond Organizations: Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Serbia, Czech Republic, U.S, Poland, Slovenia, France, Kazakhstan, Romania, Mexico City

Search resuls for: "Kazakhstan"

25 mentions found