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Former Marine Paul Whelan said he was devastated when a Biden administration official told him WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner was being released from Russian detention after nine months and he was not. The official told him that to free Griner, the U.S. had traded convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s price for releasing the celebrity athlete. “It was a sham.”When he refused, Whelan said he was placed in a cell where the lights were left on around the clock. After he was sentenced to 16 years of forced labor, the Russian trial judge said he would probably be released in two weeks. “The prison food is even worse.”They subsisted, Whelan said, on tea, bread, watery soup, “the kind of fish only Russians eat.

Persons: Marine Paul Whelan, Brittney Griner, Whelan, Viktor Bout, Vladimir Putin’s, What’s, ”, “, ” Whelan, Trevor Reed, Konstantin Yaroshenko, Reed, Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Alsu, Antony Blinken, David Whelan, ’ ” Whelan, Putin, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Alexei Navalny, Flora, Andrews, Biden, Andrea Mitchell, he’ll, he’s Organizations: Marine, Biden, WNBA, NBC News, Homeland Security, U.S ., British, Kremlin, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Marines, State Department, CIA Locations: U.S, Russia, Russian, Michigan, Russian American, Radio Free Europe, Moscow, Canada, British, Iraq, Turkey, Manchester , Michigan

But Widodo appointed Subianto as defense chief after his reelection, paving the way for an alliance despite their rival political parties. Backed by Widodo, Subianto swept to a landslide victory in February’s direct presidential election on promises of policy continuity. Subianto was sworn in with his new vice president, 37-year-old Surakarta ex-Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Leaders and senior officials from more than 30 countries flew in to attend the ceremony, including Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders of Southeast Asia countries. Indonesia is a bastion of democracy in Southeast Asia, a diverse and economically bustling region of authoritarian governments, police states and nascent democracies.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Subianto, Prabowo, Gibran, ”, Atalaric Eka, “, Joko Widodo, Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Raka, don’t, Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al, Hussein, Nancy Namrouqa, Abdullah, Han Zheng, Joe Biden, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Adm, Samuel Paparo, ” Subianto, Suharto Organizations: Widodo, Southeast Asia —, Foreign, U.S, United Nations, Pacific Command, American, Army Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jakarta, Surakarta, Southeast Asia, Jordan, Jordanian, Amman, Gaza, Subianto, Asia, United States, China, U.S, Australia, Indonesian, Borneo

☆ Israel’s ties with Europe strained by wars in Gaza and Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Adding impetus to their effort is the fact Israeli military strikes are now hitting UN peacekeeping bases in southern Lebanon, which house European troops. European reproach of Israel reached new levels when Israeli military strikes began hitting posts of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. The UN has said Israel’s military has fired on its peacekeepers multiple times in recent weeks, injuring more than a dozen. ‘We have blocked everything’Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon, including an Israeli military strike that hit a UN peacekeeping base where around 1,100 Italian troops are stationed. In an earlier move that protested Israel’s war in Gaza, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized Palestinian statehood in May.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Hugh Lovatt, Josep Borrell, Ali Moustafa, ” Lovatt, ”, Biden, It’s, ” Borrell, Lovatt, Israel, Maya Sion, Netanyahu, António Guterres, Emmanuel Macron, “ Netanyahu, Macron, Carl Court, ” Macron, ” Netanyahu, Borrell, Guterres, Giorgia Meloni, ” Meloni, Meloni, Tzidkiyahu, Keir Starmer, of National Security Itamar Ben, Bezalel Smotrich, David Cameron, Ben Gvir, Smotrich, ” Ben Gvir’s, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Israel “ Organizations: CNN, UN, EU, North Africa, Foreign Relations, Hamas, European Union, Red Crescent, Reuters, UNIFIL, Europe, Agence France, Presse, United Nations Interim Force, AFP, Israel, UK, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Foreign Affairs Council, Getty, of National Security, Finance, Sky News, DPA, Nazi Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, East, Berlin, Rafah, Egypt, United States, “, Iran, Spain, Ireland, Italy, France, Tzidkiyahu, Jerusalem, Paris, AFP, Marjayoun, Vichy, Stockholm, Germany, United Kingdom, Irish, Sion, Norway, Britain, Lebanese, Khiam, Palestine

Madrid CNN —From exile in Spain, Venezuela’s opposition leader sat down with CNN en Español on Thursday where he spoke about the “nightmare” of his last days in Caracas and his hope to find a solution to Venezuela’s political crisis. In his first television interview since leaving Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia explained the role of the Spanish government in his departure from the Latin American country. Venezuela’s opposition and multiple Latin American leaders refused to recognize Maduro’s victory, which sparked deadly protests during which thousands were arrested. On September 18, the Spanish Senate approved by majority a motion presented by the Popular Party urging the Spanish government to recognize González as the elected president of Venezuela. Regarding the official figures, González says that “there is no evidence to prove they [Maduro’s regime] won.”The opposition candidate said that an inauguration in exile has not been considered.

Persons: Venezuela’s, Edmundo González Urrutia, Nicolas Maduro, Gonzalez, ‘, ’ González, ”, González, Maduro’s, Delcy Rodríguez, Jorge Rodríguez, “, Federico Parra, María Corina Machado, María Corina Machado —, Machado, Maduro, Nicolás Maduro, Florida’s, Edmundo González, Cristina Narbona, Delcy, Narbona, Alfredo Lasry R, ” González, Pedro Sánchez, Nicolás Organizations: Madrid CNN —, CNN, Venezuelan Public Ministry, Spanish, Justice, Venezuelan, National Assembly, Venezuela’s National, Getty, Venezuela “, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spanish Socialist Workers ’ Party, PSOE, Spanish Civil Guard, Barajas Airport, ”, Popular Party, Spain’s, Colombian, Electoral Council of Venezuela, Chavismo Locations: Madrid, Spain, Caracas, Venezuela, Spanish, Kingdom of Spain, AFP, Venezuelan, ”, ” Venezuela

☆ China-led regional group calls for countering protectionist policies, sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Chinese national flag flies outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on July 26, 2023. A China-led 10-state regional group criticized what it called protectionist trade measures on Wednesday, part of an intensifying standoff between Beijing and Western countries over tariffs on Chinese products. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Eurasian security and political group, also hit out at "unilateral sanctions" as member states Iran and Russia face curbs on trade. The statement said that the 10 member states, represented by seven prime ministers, "consider it important to continue joint efforts to counter protectionist trade measures that are contrary to WTO rules." Beijing has termed the moves discriminatory, and responded with similar actions as the standoff intensifies.

Organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, European Union Locations: Beijing, China, Western, Iran, Russia, Islamabad, India, Pakistan, United States, Canada

☆ Myanmar’s internet freedom is now as bad as China’s, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —For the past decade, China has consistently ranked last in the world for internet freedom due to its all-pervading online surveillance and content control system dubbed the “Great Firewall.”But a new report out Wednesday shows that internet freedoms in China’s neighbor Myanmar are now just as lacking. The report from Freedom House, a US government-funded NGO, found that global internet freedom has declined for the 14th consecutive year. In a record 43 countries, people were physically attacked or killed in retaliation for their online activities, the report found. The Central Asian nation Kyrgyzstan showed the biggest drop in internet freedoms, according to the report, as President Sadyr Japarov ramped up efforts to silence digital media and suppress online organizing. The report also covers online disinformation campaigns and political interference in the run-up to elections, including harassment of independent researchers and fact checkers.

Persons: ”, Mao Ning, Sadyr Japarov, Kloop, “ Organizations: CNN, Freedom, Trust, United Nations, UN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ”, Central, US Locations: China, China’s, Myanmar, Central Asian, Kyrgyzstan, Iceland, United States, ’

☆ Israel’s weapons: Where do they come from and who supplies them?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Antoinette Radford | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The United States has warned Israel it may stop supplying the country with weapons unless the humanitarian situation in Gaza improves. This is not the first time Israel’s major ally has threatened to turn off supplies. Here’s a breakdown of who supplies Israel with weapons:The United States:The United States is overwhelmingly the biggest supplier of arms to Israel. In 2023 69% of Israel’s arm imports came from the US, according to a report into international arms transfers by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Germany:While in 2023, Germany contributed 30% of Israel’s weapons, that supply has significantly reduced over the course of 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hassan Nasrallah, Olaf Scholz, Kay Nietfeld, Israel “, Antonio Tajani, SIPRI, David Lammy, Gil Cohen, Pedro Sanchez, “, ”, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, CNN’s Mia Alberti, Christian Edwards, Inke Kappeler Organizations: CNN, United, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, US State Department, Foreign Military, International Court, Justice, Bundestag, Pagella, Labour, MIM, Magen, Getty, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Israel, Spanish, International Court of Justice Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Stockholm, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Beirut, Nicaragua, Nazi, United Kingdom, AFP, Lebanon

☆ Russia defense chief touts ‘common understanding’ with China in Beijing talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Their task is to “strengthen and develop” their strategic partnership, the Russian defense chief added. Russia and China have been bolstering their security coordination in the face of shared frictions with the West. Belousov also held talks a day earlier with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, who ranks below Zhang in China’s military hierarchy. Belousov’s arrival in Beijing Monday coincided with China’s military flying a record number of fighter jets and other warplanes around Taiwan during large-scale military drills. China said the drills were intended as a “stern warning” to what it described as pro-independence forces in Taiwan.

Persons: that’s, Andrey Belousov, Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping, That’s, Zhang, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Belousov, Dong Jun, Andrei Belousov, Wang Yi, Putin, Lai Ching Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, China’s, Military Commission, Tass, China’s Defense Ministry, Chinese Defense, Russia's Defense, China's, Russian Defence Ministry, Reuters China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canadian Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Russia, Washington, Russian, Kazan, BRICS, Moscow, Ukraine, Ocean, Alaska –, South China, Taiwan

Having failed to secure a cease-fire, President Joe Biden’s administration is signaling that it supports Israel’s operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah and the group’s eventual withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Adopted by the United Nations in 2006 after the last major war between Israel and Hezbollah, 1701 was designed to pave the way for a lasting peace. With Hezbollah excluded, the Lebanese army and thousands of peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would have maintained an armed presence south of Lebanon’s Litani River. Smoke billows during Israeli shelling on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and an estimated 1.2 million have been displaced, according to Lebanese officials.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Matthew Miller, Rabih Daher, Benjamin Netayahu’s Organizations: ”, United, United Nations, United Nations Interim Force, Getty, Hamas, Palestinian, Israel, Biden Administration, UNIFIL Locations: Iran, Lebanon, Israel, United Nations, UNIFIL, Lebanon’s Litani, Lebanese, Kfar Kila, AFP, Gaza

☆ Russia rolled out a Soviet howitzer from the 1940s that Moscow technically shouldn't have in the first place
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia filmed its troops firing a D-74, an artillery gun developed in the 1940s that the Soviets exported to their allies. The field gun featured: a D-74 122mm howitzer, which the Soviet Union developed in the late 1940s. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimated in February that Russia was receiving at least 1 million artillery shells from North Korea. AdvertisementThe Russian defense ministry and the Chinese foreign affairs ministry did not respond to requests for comment sent by Business Insider. AdvertisementDespite its sheer age, the D-74 still can be useful for Russia in a modern war in Ukraine, Purcell said.

Persons: —, it's, Michael Purcell, " Purcell, Putin, Russian Defense Ministry Jennifer Kavanagh, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dmitry Peskov, Russia Kavanagh, Kavanagh, Purcell, Vladimir Putin, that's Organizations: Military, Service, Kremlin, Soviet Union, Marine Corps, International Security, George Washington University, DPRK, Russian Defense Ministry, Defense, Authorities, China, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Business Locations: Russia, North Korea, Russian, Donetsk, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Moscow, Soviet, Vietnam, China, Washington, Seoul, Pyongyang

CNN —Canada announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats Monday, including the high commissioner, after the police accused agents of the Indian government of being linked to homicides, harassment and other “acts of violence” against Sikh separatists in the country. The Indian government has called the accusations “preposterous” and said it was withdrawing the officials expelled by the Canadian government. Earlier on Monday, the Royal Canada Mounted Police (RCMP) took the unusual step of publicly disclosing details of multiple investigations into the involvement of Indian government agents alleged to have taken part in “serious criminal activity” in Canada. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, left, and Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin take part in a news conference at RCMP National Headquarters in Ottawa on Oct. 14, 2024. Earlier this year, Canada charged several Indian nationals with the alleged murder of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.

Persons: ”, Mélanie Joly, Stewart Ross Wheeler, Sanjay Kumar Verma, ” Joly, “, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Mike Duheme, Duheme, Brigitte Gauvin, Justin Tang, ” Duheme, Nijjar, Trudeau, Weeks, Gurpatwant Singh, Nikhil Gupta, Pannun Organizations: CNN — Canada, Sikh, “ Global Affairs Canada, Canada’s, Foreign Affairs, India’s Ministry, External Affairs, Royal Canada Mounted Police, RCMP, RCMP National Headquarters, Canadian Press, Canadian, ” Global Affairs Canada, Indian Locations: Canada, India, Ottawa, Canadian, Surrey, British Columbia, India’s Punjab, United States

U.S. officials believe Israel has narrowed down what they will target in their response to Iran’s attack, which these officials describe as Iranian military and energy infrastructure. There is no indication that Israel will target nuclear facilities or carry out assassinations, but U.S. officials stressed that the Israelis have not made a final decision about how and when to act. U.S. and Israeli officials said a response could come during the Yom Kippur holiday. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, last night and they discussed broad strokes about an Israeli response. U.S. officials have continued to urge the Israeli government to make their response proportional, sticking to military targets and avoiding oil, gas and nuclear facilities.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, it’s, Gallant, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu Organizations: U.S, Defense Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Tehran, Beirut, The U.S, U.S, Gaza

CNN —Concerns are mounting for the safety of United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon amid Israel’s ground incursion, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned on Thursday, after Israeli fire resulted in the injury of two UN troops. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported early Thursday that the peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli tank fired toward an observation tower at its headquarters in the southern Lebanese city Naqoura. “The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL,” the IDF said in a statement after Thursday’s incident. UN peacekeepers have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 2006, per a mandate by the United Nations Security Council. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome on Thursday after what she described as “unacceptable” behavior by the Israeli forces.

Persons: Jean, Pierre Lacroix, Peace Operations Lacroix, ” Lacroix, ” UNFIL, ”, Farhan Haq, –, Indonesian –, Wafiq Safa, Giorgia Meloni, Stefano Messina, Yoav Gallant, “, Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, UN Security, Peace Operations, UN Interim Force, Israel Defense Forces, UNIFIL, IDF, Indonesian, United Nations Security Council, Hezbollah, Italy’s, Israel’s, Italian UNIFIL, Irish, European Union High Representative, Foreign Affairs Locations: Lebanon, Iran, Lebanese, “, Naqoura, Israel, Beirut, Italy, France, Ireland, Rome, Italian, ” France, EU

☆ Iran is threatening to break its fragile truce with Saudi Arabia: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Iran has threatened to attack Saudi oil sites if the Gulf state supports an Israeli attack. AdvertisementThe fragile truce between longtime regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia could unravel if Gulf states allow Israel to use their airspace to strike Iran. He reportedly told the officials that Iranian-backed militias in Iraq or the Houthi militia in Yemen could be deployed against Saudi Arabia. It named Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, all of which host US military bases, as countries Iran has threatened with reprisals. GetyAn Iranian attack would likely upend the truce brokered between Iran and Saudi Arabia by China in 2023 that saw the longtime rivals establish diplomatic contacts.

Persons: Abbas Araghchi, —, Ali Shihabi, Jordan, Naftali Bennet, they'd, Mohammed bin Salman's, may've, hasn't, Brent, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: Iranian Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Service, Iran, Foreign, Saudi, Street, United Arab, Hamas, European Council for Foreign Relations, Opec Locations: Iran, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Riyadh, Islamic Republic, Iraq, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Gulf, Iranian, China, Ukraine

☆ Five Russian climbers die on Nepal’s Dhaulagiri mountain
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Five members of a Russian expedition who went missing while attempting to climb Mount Dhaulagiri have been found dead, Russia’s embassy in Nepal told CNN on Tuesday. Initial investigations suggested the group of Russian mountaineers died “as a result of falling down a slope,” the embassy said. Dhaulagiri – which translates from Sanskrit to mean “White Mountain” - is the world’s seventh-highest peak, standing 8,167 meters (26,795 ft) above sea level, in the Himalayas in central Nepal. The fatality rate of Dhaulagiri is slightly more than 16%, making it one of the most dangerous mountains to climb. The Russian Mountaineering Federation told CNN that the trip was organized by a private organization.

Persons: ” Organizations: CNN, Russian Mountaineering Federation, RIA Novosti, Leningrad Region Mountaineering Federation, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Nepal, Swiss, Austrian, Russia, Leningrad

☆ Russian court jails U.S. citizen, 72, for nearly seven years on Ukraine mercenary charge
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

They said Hubbard was provided with training, weapons and ammunition when he allegedly signed up in February 2022, the same month Moscow sent thousands of troops into Ukraine. He was detained by Russian soldiers on April 2 of that year, the RIA state news agency quoted the prosecutor as saying last month. Russian state media said Hubbard had pleaded guilty to the charge. He stood up, seemingly with difficulty, to hear the judge in the Moscow City Court pronounce him guilty, removing his hat to reveal a shaved head. He never learned Russian or Ukrainian, and had few connections to locals, she said.

Persons: Stephen James Hubbard, convicting, Hubbard, Hubbard’s, Patricia Hubbard Fox, Fox, Robert Gilman Organizations: MOSCOW, Reuters, Court, RIA, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, U.S, Fox, West Locations: Ukraine, Michigan, Izyum, Moscow, American, Japan, Cyprus, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Voronezh

ISIS executed Yazidi men and boys and committed acts of sexual violence and rape against women and girls, among other crimes, as CNN has reported. Sido said she was then trafficked to different locations across several countries over the next few years. The United States and Iraq confirmed they had coordinated to help evacuate Sido out of Gaza. “The government of Iraq asked us to do whatever we could to get her out of Gaza and get her home. An Israeli diplomat, David Saranga, released a video of Sido reuniting with her family members.

Persons: Fawzia Sido, David Saranga X, Fawzia Amin Sido, Sido, “, ”, Fawzia, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, David Saranga, Saranga Organizations: Islamic, Reuters, ISIS, CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American Locations: Islamic State, Iraq, Gaza, United States, Sinjar, Al, Hol, Syria, Idlib, Turkey, Istanbul, Hurghada, Egypt, ”, Rafah, Israel, Kerem, Jordan, Allenby, Baghdad, Iraqi, Israeli, Palestinian Hamas

Persons: Fawzia Amin Sido, Sido, “, ”, Fawzia, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, David Saranga, Saranga Organizations: ISIS, CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American Locations: Gaza, United States, Sinjar, Iraq, Al, Hol, Syria, Idlib, Turkey, Istanbul, Hurghada, Egypt, ”, Rafah, Israel, Kerem, Jordan, Allenby, Baghdad, Iraqi, Israeli, Palestinian Hamas

☆ Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Nechirvan Mando | Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS. Fawzia told CNN that she has been returned to Iraq after enduring years of captivity. Over the next few years, Fawzia was trafficked to different locations across several countries. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed that the US helped evacuate Fawzia from Gaza. And the government of Iraq asked us to do whatever we could to get her out of Gaza and get her home.

Persons: Fawzia Amin Sido, Fawzia, Hol, ” “, “, Matthew Miller, ”, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, ISIS, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, IDF, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American, US State Department Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Iraq, Sinjar, Nineveh, Al, Syria, Idlib, Turkey, Istanbul, Hurghada, Egypt, ”, Rafah, Fawzia, “, Baghdad, Iraqi

The FBI and Microsoft have seized more than 100 web domains they say Russian intelligence used for cyber-espionage, according to court documents unsealed Thursday. The domains were allegedly staging grounds for Russia’s FSB intelligence agency in its ongoing efforts to spy on targets of interest, ranging from the U.S. Department of Energy to Russian nonprofits and media outlets critical of the Kremlin. The Justice Department seized 41 of the web domains, according to the FBI affidavit, and also granted Microsoft control of 66 additional domains the company said were part of the same operation. Intelligence agencies with even moderate cyber capabilities routinely hack foreign targets to gather intelligence. Many of the web domains allegedly used by the FSB were hosted by Virginia-based company Verisign, the court documents said.

Persons: Hillary Clinton’s, Steven Masada, ” Masada, Natalia Krapiva, ” Organizations: FBI, Microsoft, U.S . Department of Energy, Kremlin, Justice Department, United, Russia’s Ministry, Foreign Affairs, NBC News, Microsoft’s Digital, Unit, The Locations: States, United States, Russian, U.S, British, Virginia

☆ China says it filed an appeal to WTO over Canada's tariffs on EVs and metals
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Sonia Heng | In Sonia-Heng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Aerial view of new energy vehicles at Huaian BYD Industrial Co., Ltd. on August 26, 2024 in Huaian, Jiangsu Province of China. China on Wednesday announced that it has filed an appeal with the World Trade Organization, asking the organization to rule on the recent tariffs that Canada imposed on Chinese electric vehicles and metal products. The ministry said it filed a lawsuit against what it called Canada's "unilateralism and trade protectionist practices" with the WTO, adding that it also launched an anti-discrimination investigation into Ottawa's restrictive measures. These measures will "disrupt and distort the global industrial chain and supply chain," the ministry added. Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Organizations: Wednesday, World Trade Organization, Union, China's Ministry of Commerce, China, Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Huaian, Jiangsu Province, China . China, Canada, China, Beijing

☆ BlackRock's CEO says China is the biggest supporter of Russia's economy amidst the Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Larry Fink says China is the biggest, fundamental supporter of Russia's economy. AdvertisementChina is Russia's biggest war backer, BlackRock chairman and CEO Larry Fink said on Tuesday. "Russia's biggest supporter and fundamental supporter of the Russian economy is China. "We have businesses in China, I'm sure everybody here has some businesses in China," Fink said. In July, Finland's President Alexander Stubb told Bloomberg in an interview that Russia's reliance on China means the Asian giant could end the Ukraine war if it wanted to.

Persons: Larry Fink, Fink, " Fink, China's, —, there's, hasn't, William J, Burns, Alexander Stubb, Xi Jinping, Stubb Organizations: BlackRock, Service, Berlin Global, Bloomberg, Business Insider, CIA, Foreign Affairs Locations: China, Russia, Russia's, Ukraine, BlackRock

Claudia Sheinbaum is officially taking office Tuesday morning as Mexico's first female president and the first of Jewish heritage. Sheinbaum is expected to head later to the National Palace in Mexico City's famed Zócalo to deliver a speech to constituents. López Obrador leaves office with an approval rating of nearly 80%, Noticias Telemundo reported. Still, crime rates remained high during López Obrador’s term, with at least 199,300 homicides and 51,700 persons reported missing from December 2018 to August of this year, Noticias Telemundo reported. Mexican government data has also shown that the strategy of López Obrador’s predecessors — pursuing drug lords in an all-out war — did not improve safety, either.

Persons: Claudia Sheinbaum, Sheinbaum, Jill Biden, Xóchitl Gálvez, Jorge Álvarez Máynez, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, —, Xavier Becerra, Isabella Casillas Guzman, Ken Salazar, Nanette Barragán, Carlos Elizondo, Mayor Regina Romero Organizations: U.S, Mexico City's, Mexico City, Citizen Movement, Noticias Telemundo, Welfare, Human Services, Small, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, White, Social, Mayor Locations: San Lázaro, Mexico City, Mexico, Morena, Mexican, U.S, Tucson , Arizona

☆ The JD Vance and Tim Walz debate is likely the last big night of the 2024 campaign. Here's what to expect.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Tim Walz of Minnesota are set to meet for the only scheduled vice-presidential debate on Tuesday, a face-off that could mark the final major moment of the campaign. Harris' national polling has ticked up since what was viewed as her convincing debate victory. This will be the first time either Brennan or O'Donnell have moderated a vice-presidential debate. Born into poverty, Vance attended the flagship school in his home state, Ohio State University, before obtaining a law degree from Yale. Walz has led a progressive rewrite of the state tax code over the objection of business interests in the state.

Persons: Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Tim Walz, Vance, Walz, —, Sen, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, he'll, Peter Loge, it's, Joe Biden, Trump, Nate Silver, Margaret Brennan, Norah O'Donnell, Brennan, O'Donnell, Scott Olson, Bradley Tusk, Tusk, whittle, Mike DeWine, Jeff Swensen, deindustrialization, he's, Lina Khan's Organizations: Minnesota Gov, Service, Ohio, Gov, Trump, School of Media, Public Affairs, George Washington University, Ohio Republican, Democratic, CBS Broadcast Center, CBS, Paramount, CBS Evening, Democratic Party, Minnesota National Guard, Army National Guard, Ohio State University, Yale, Federal Trade Commission, Big Tech, Foundation, Social Security, Tax Foundation Locations: Ohio, Minnesota, Vance, New York City, Springfield , Ohio, Iraq

Otis Keys II, 41, The Colony, Texas UPS driver grappling with smaller average paychecks despite a new union contract. When Otis Keys II hit top-level pay for his role at UPS in 2019, he expected to start checking items off his financial bucket list. That’s not what happened, even after the Teamsters union he belongs to negotiated a historic new contract last summer. “There’s a lot of guys that actually had to take a hard layoff and sit home.”Primary source of income: Keys drives full time for UPS. A UPS spokesperson said feeder drivers “are the best compensated in the industry” and “their total pay and benefits package is valued at nearly double our competitors’.”Otis Keys II is a feeder truck driver at UPS.

Persons: Otis Keys, Kamala Harris, —, “, ”, Keys, he’s, Kara Deniz, ” Otis Keys, ” Keys, “ I’m, that’s, ’, “ sneakerholic, “ I’ve, Tesla, Elon Musk, Trump, Trump “, Harris Organizations: NBC, UPS, Teamsters, Fort, Texas, The, Utilities, Dallas, Democratic, Trump, Republican Locations: Colony, Texas, The, Dallas, Fort Worth, U.S, Arlington, New York, America, Tx, “

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