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☆ I'm planning to spend $5,000 to see Taylor Swift in Europe with my kids. Our floor tickets, hotel, and flights are set to cost less than our nosebleed seats in the US did.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jamie Davis Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewWhen Taylor Swift first announced her Eras Tour, I laughed when I heard colleagues had cleared their work schedules to buy tickets. And once The Eras Tour started, it became clear that it was the concert of the century. AdvertisementFortunately, five cousins chipped in to buy my daughter tickets for her birthday. I've wanted to go for years, and snagging Swift tickets would allow me to finally make the trip. I scored three VIP floor seats for the first night of Swift's Eras Tour in Warsaw for less than $1,000.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Swiftie Taylor Swift, Christopher Polk, Swift, I've, snagging Swift, It's, Jamie Davis Smith Organizations: Service, Business, Country Music Hall of Fame, Ticketmaster Locations: Nashville, Poland, Warsaw, Paris

☆ Russia launches barrage of 99 drones and missiles on Ukraine’s energy system, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Moscow launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure Friday, with a mass barrage of 99 drones and missiles hitting regions across the country, Ukraine's armed forces said. Ukraine's state-owned grid operator, Ukrenergo, said Friday's attack deliberately targeted thermal and hydroelectric power plants across central and western regions. Five people, including a 5-year-old girl, were wounded during the attack in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, said local Gov. He later said that another man had been killed and one more injured in a separate drone attack Friday. Vyacheslav Gladkov later said on social media that one man had died as the result of a separate drone attack which struck an apartment block.

Persons: Ihor Klymenko, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Serhii, Vyacheslav Gladkov Organizations: Kyiv, Gov, Polish Armed Forces, NATO, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Regional Gov Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Kyiv, Russian, Belgorod, Dnister, Novodnistrovsk, Moldova, Odesa, Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Warsaw, Braila county, Romania

☆ Opinion: The heroism of Ukraine and the nihilism of Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Opinion Amelia Glaser | Marci Shore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Global Images Ukraine/Getty ImagesIn Ukraine the air raid alerts are incessant. Kyiv has the best air defense in Ukraine; the country lacks the resources to defend other cities this way. He noted that Ukrainian air defense had done a spectacular job that morning intercepting every single missile launched at Kyiv. The United States has essentially cut off Ukraine, and Ukrainian air defense is quickly running out of ammunition. After we landed back in JFK, we turned off the air raid sound on our phones.

Persons: Amelia Glaser, Marci Shore, Read, Mike Johnson, Vladimir Putin’s, Covid, ” –, Andrii, you’re, Oleksandr Roytburd, Roytburd, Alla Horska, Tymofiy Mylovanov, Amelia, Iya Kiva, Marci, Tetyana Ogarkova, Volodymyr Yermolenko, Putin, Tucker Carlson, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Carlson, Khmelnytsky, Oleksandr Halenko, Gleb Garanich, texted, ”, Sergii, “, Alina Smutko, Sergii’s, Mark Hamill –, Luke Skywalker, Agiya Zagrebelska, Arad, “ Pessimists, Rob Bauer, ” Bauer, “ I’m, Iaroslava Strikha, beholden, Donald Trump, Johnson, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, ” Putin Organizations: UC San Diego, Yale University, CNN, of Decorative, Applied Arts, Design, Warsaw —, Kyiv School of Economics, KGB, Ukrainian, Fulbright, NATO, National Agency on Corruption, Kyiv Security, United, Kyiv, National, Security Forum Locations: Russia’s, Crimea, Kyiv, New York, JFK, Warsaw, Polish, Chelm, Bucha, Russian, Yevhenii, Ukraine, Sens, Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, KSE, Muscovy, Russia, Poland, Syria, Murmansk, Kyiv oblast, Austrian, texted, United States

☆ Oil prices rise as heightened geopolitical risk exacerbates supply concern
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pumpjack pulls oil from the Permian Basin oil field in Odessa, Texas, on March 14, 2022. Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Monday on concern over tighter global supply brought about by escalating conflict in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, while a shrinking U.S. rig count added to upward price pressure. "Falling U.S. rig count also increased worry over tighter supply," he said. In the Middle East, Israeli forces besieged two more Gaza hospitals on Sunday, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Meanwhile, the U.S. oil rig count fell by one to 509 last week, showed data from energy services firm Baker Hughes , indicating lower future supply.

Persons: Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Israel, Al, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Baker Hughes Organizations: Brent, NS, Nissan Securities, Kyiv, Palestinian, Israeli Locations: Odessa , Texas, Russia, Ukraine, Lviv, Warsaw, Moscow, Kyiv, East, Gaza, Rafah, U.S

☆ Russian missiles that Patriots have beaten before are slipping through cracks in Ukraine's defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to suggest that his country still needs more of the advanced air-defense systems. Rescue team works at a site of residential buildings destroyed by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on March 22, 2024. AdvertisementKyiv maintains a formidable arsenal of air-defense assets alongside the Patriots, which includes Soviet-era systems and others provided by the West. But Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy, have repeatedly said that the existing capabilities are not enough to protect the country from unrelenting Russian bombardments.

Persons: —, Denys Shmyhal, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stringer, Zelenskyy, Adrienne Watson, Michal Dyjuk Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Business, Telegram Channel, Ukraine's, Dnipro, Telegram, AP Ukraine, Kharkiv, REUTERS, Patriots, National Security, Patriot, U.S, AP, US, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Moscow, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Warsaw, Poland

Learn moreTaylor Swift's reign continues as she ramps up for the next leg of The Eras Tour. If you're hoping to attend, we've compiled all of the details of The Eras Tour, including how to get Taylor Swift tour tickets. Below, we've put together a guide on everything to know about The Eras Tour, including the tour schedule, ticket purchasing details, resale ticket prices, and the concert film streaming options. On Vivid Seats, the cheapest Taylor Swift tickets on these dates start at $1,133 and $2,212, respectively. Check out everything you need to know about streaming The Eras Tour concert film in our guide.

Persons: Taylor, she'll, we've, Taylor Swift, Swift, Paramore, Gracie Abrams Organizations: Business, Canada, Poets Department, Ticketmaster, Miami, Vancouver ., Swift, Disney Locations: Paris, North America, London, France, Stockholm, Sweden, Lisbon, Portugal, Madrid, Spain, Lyon, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Liverpool, Cardiff, Dublin, Ireland, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Zurich, Switzerland, Milan, Italy, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Hamburg, Munich, Warsaw, Poland, Vienna, Austria, Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Canada, Toronto, Vancouver, LA, Miami , Florida

☆ US Army instructors say Ukrainian soldiers were 'amazing' at mastering the Patriots they've used to shoot down Putin's overhyped missiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ukrainian soldiers spent 10 weeks learning to use the US military's Patriot air-defense system. Business Insider recently visited Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where Patriot training took place last year, and spoke with two US Army instructors who were involved in the program. They described the Ukrainian soldiers as "awesome" students and "amazing" learners with a lot of drive to learn how to operate the system. AdvertisementFILE - Patriot missile launchers acquired from the U.S. last year are seen deployed in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 6, 2023. AdvertisementA Patriot missile is fired during a training exercise at the Black Sea training range in Capu Midia, Constanta, Romania, on Nov. 15, 2023.

Persons: —, Michal Dyjuk, Kevin McConkey, Ukraine —, McConkey, Sean Gallup, Austin Christie, Christie, George Calin Still, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: US, Patriot, US Army, Fort Sill, Service, Business, Army, U.S, AP, Getty, Ukrainian, Russian Air Force, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Fort Sill , Oklahoma, Fort Sill, Warsaw, Poland, Rzeszow Jasionska, Midia, Constanta, Romania, Moscow, Alexander Zemlianichenko Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Germany, Netherlands

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president on Monday called on other members of the NATO alliance to raise their spending on defense to 3% of their gross domestic product as Russia puts its economy on a war footing and pushes forward with its invasion of Ukraine. President Andrzej Duda made his call both in remarks in Warsaw and in a piece published by The Washington Post. His appeal came on the eve of a visit to the White House, where U.S. President Joe Biden will receive both him and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday. NATO increased its spending to 2% of GDP for its members after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, but most members, including Germany, still fall short of that benchmark. It is allocating close to 30 percent of its annual budget to arm itself," Duda argued.

Persons: —, Andrzej Duda, Joe Biden, Donald Tusk, “ Russia’s, ” Duda, Duda, Vladimir Putin’s, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: NATO, The Washington Post, White, Polish, United, Russian Federation, Brussels Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Warsaw, Moscow, Ukraine's Crimean, Germany, U.S, United States

☆ House Democrats probe SpaceX over alleged illegal export and use of Starlink by Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Lora Kolodny | In Lorakolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

House Democrats Robert Garcia, D-Calif. and Jamie Raskin, D-Md, sent a letter to SpaceX demanding transparency from the defense contractor following reports of potentially illegal purchases and use of Starlink satellite internet equipment by Russia in occupied territories of Ukraine. The congressmen also announced a probe of SpaceX by the Democratic House Committee into the company's safeguards and procedures for preventing illegal exports and use of its Starlink equipment and services. The Washington Post first reported on the probe and March 6 letter to SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell. In a statement on Thursday, the congressmen wrote, "Russia's use of Starlink satellite terminals would be in contravention of U.S. export controls that prohibit Russia from acquiring and utilizing U.S.-produced technology." The new probe by House Democrats follows news on Wednesday that a man in New Jersey was arrested on charges of allegedly trafficking 675 SpaceX Starlink terminals which were purchased with stolen credit card accounts or hacked Starlink billing accounts.

Persons: Robert Garcia, Jamie Raskin, Gwynne Shotwell, Elon Musk, Musk, Starlink, Walter Isaacson, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, GUR, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher Organizations: SpaceX, Democratic, Committee, Washington Post, Netflix, Directorate of Intelligence, Russian, Democrats, House, Department of Defense, CNBC, House Democrats, Police Locations: Ukraine, Warsaw, Poland, Russia, Crimea, Russian, Kyiv's, Ukrainian, Donetsk, House China, Taiwan, Starlink, New Jersey

☆ Don't want Russia to successfully invade your country? Then do this.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Even though Russia may dwarf a small state, that doesn't guarantee a successful airport seizure. AdvertisementHere's some advice for nations who don't want Russian troops as uninvited guests: Guard your airport. However, other Russian airport takedowns have been largely successful. Stringer points to a special airport defense regiment that Switzerland stationed at Zurich Airport during the Cold War, as a good model. "Understanding and delineating the sequence of events Russia has historically used to initiate a coup and devising countermeasures to thwart these actions may prove critical in defending against the next Russian invasion."

Persons: —, Russia's, Kevin Stringer, Heather Gregg, Stringer, Hafizullah Amin, Amin, playbook, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Guard, Kremlin, West, Institute ., Air, US Army, Russian, Spetznaz, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Rapid, Brigade, National Guard, Antonov, Zurich Airport, United States, 75th Ranger Regiment, Air Force, CIA, Hostomel, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Hostomel, Russia, Kyiv's Hostomel, Ukraine, Institute . Moscow, Prague, Kabul, Sevastopol, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Warsaw, Czechoslovakia, Baltic States, Moldova, Georgia, Russian, Switzerland, Zurich, Europe, Finland, Sweden, Forbes

☆ A complete timeline of Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +53 min

AdvertisementNovember 2016: Holland and Zendaya appear in their first-ever joint cover, for The Hollywood ReporterZendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. March 2021: Holland describes Zendaya as 'very sensible and humble'Zendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. November 17, 2021: Holland and Zendaya comment on their relationship going publicZendaya and Tom Holland in "Spider-Man: No Way Home." February 18, 2022: Tom Holland denies reports that he bought a new house in London with ZendayaTom Holland in February 2022. I visited a lot while they were shooting it and I really, really enjoyed it.

Persons: —, Tom Holland, Zendaya, they've, Sony Pictures Entertainment Holland, Peter Parker, Holland, didn't, I've, He's, Con Tom Holland, Albert L, Ortega, Laura Harrier, Liz, Tony Revolori, Flash Thompson, Jacob Batalon, Ned Leeds, ove, hank y, hank, ove y 'all!, hanks, eing, hy, H, ada, ike, huck, Tom Hol, le tag ove, g the, Hol, MJ', ake, hal l, taki, as h, Rob K, ate fame, abou, ..ha, lea, Kev, edd, Josh Flor, birt, rie, stor, Ric, aske, Tom H, ed then, hal, ong, winn, Q, iva, riva, ory, oba, Fran, and S, Jacob, him ", nic, Eric C, y, 2022:, enda y, Kelly, siti, ted, Hunter, Marc, Marin, inger, his ap, Rajan, Ze, kee, enjoy,, "I wa, stu, shou, olly, ing each o, I love, It's, Elvin R odrig, bert Downey Jr. an, Harry, l ove, bec, Room,", enda, fini Organizations: Service, Sony, Business, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Marvel, America, Hollywood, San Diego Comic, Con, San Diego Convention Center, ust, pla, imi, ucc, MTV, ppr, a pl, Norton, rac, eas, CP, ACP, Fr, rit, acc, klan, ely Locations: Holland, Zendaya, ife, uman, pla, Hol, " he, sens, nsw, pula, India, Italy

☆ Here’s why a SCOTUS ruling on social media rules matters to so many people
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s obvious enough that the legislation would affect those social media giants, who are challenging the laws’ constitutionality through industry trade associations. But in scrutinizing the laws’ scope and First Amendment impacts, justices from both sides of the ideological spectrum worried Monday that the legislation’s effects could spill far beyond major social media platforms. “We’re talking about the classic social media platforms, but it looks to me like it could cover Uber. Social media applications are seen on an iPhone in this photo illustration taken on 10 November, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty ImagesThat law permits social media users to try to sue platforms for violations.

Persons: CNN — Uber, —, Henry Whitaker, “, ”, Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, Whitaker, Jaap Arriens, ” Whitaker, Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, “ I’m, ” Jackson, Uber, Aaron Nielson, Barrett, ” Sotomayor, ” Nielson, ” Chris Marchese, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Neilson, ” Barrett, you’ve, Elena Kagan, you’re, Kagan Organizations: CNN, Facebook, YouTube, Web, LinkedIn, NetChoice Litigation, AFP, Getty, Texans, PayPal Locations: Texas, Florida, Warsaw, Poland, ” Texas, ”, Washington , DC, AFP, El Paso

☆ An airline replaced 3 flights with an A380 superjumbo to cope with Taylor Swift travel rush
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Qantas used an Airbus A380 to replace three flights from Melbourne to Sydney on Friday. Demand for air travel has been "incredibly high" during Taylor Swift's Australian tour, Qantas said. AdvertisementAustralia's Qantas flew an Airbus A380 from Melbourne to Sydney on Friday to help cope with huge demand for air travel during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. AdvertisementCoupled with "incredibly high demand" for flights into the city because of Swift's tour, Qantas decided to operate a special flight to transport the passengers. Swift's tour has been huge for local economies.

Persons: Taylor, —, Swift, Sebastian Kahnert, QF7168, she's, AirDNA Organizations: Qantas, Airbus, Service, Australia's Qantas, Boeing, Qantas Airbus, Getty, Wales Locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Boston, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, London, Singapore, Flightradar24, Cardiff, Warsaw, Poland

☆ Hard Lessons Make for Hard Choices 2 Years Into the War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Steven Erlanger | David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has the capacity to keep Kyiv supplied with the weapons, technology and intelligence to fend off a takeover by Moscow. But Washington is now perceived around Europe to have lost its will. That is the essence of the conundrum facing Ukraine and the NATO allies on the dismal second anniversary of the war. The sanctions that were supposed to bring Russia’s economy to its knees — “the ruble almost is immediately reduced to rubble,” President Biden declared in Warsaw in March 2022 — have lost their sting. Income from oil exports is greater than it was before the invasion.

Persons: Russia’s, Biden, — Organizations: Kyiv, NATO Locations: Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Washington, Europe, Warsaw, Russian

☆ Poland Starts Probe Into Allegations of Illegal Phone-Hacking
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"Our work in the investigative commission will cause not only an earthquake, but also a tsunami." PiS say the changes are a political witchhunt and that it always acted legally. I'm sure that every surveillance conducted by secret services was accepted and ordered by court," former Deputy Justice Minister Sebastian Kaleta said. However, Polish media have recently reported that the spyware may have also been used against PiS politicians, news that if proved true could strain lawmakers loyalties. "It seems to me that this may be, unfortunately, a trial by fire that (PiS) won't necessarily pass," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at Warsaw University.

Persons: Witold Zembaczynski, Jacek Karnowski, Sebastian Kaleta, Anna Materska, Jaroslaw, Kaczynski, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak, William Maclean Organizations: Monday, Pegasus, Civic Coalition, Associated Press, Warsaw University Locations: WARSAW, Israel

☆ More than 400 detained in Russia at events in memory of Navalny, rights group says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A demonstrator carries a placard with a picture of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as people gather to attend a rally in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw on Feb. 16, 2024. More than 400 people have been detained at events across 32 Russian cities since the death of Alexei Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most formidable opponent, according to rights group OVD-Info, as Russians continued to gather and lay flowers. As of 2000 GMT on Saturday, more than 200 people were detained in St. Petersburg. But there was no mention of the events on Russian state news agencies, which are under full Kremlin control. Footage filmed by Reuters on Saturday in St Petersburg showed dozens gathering by a monument to the victims of repression.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's, Navalny, Putin Organizations: Russian Embassy, KGB, Reuters Locations: Russian, Warsaw, Russia, Ukraine, Navalny, St Petersburg, Moscow, St . Petersburg

☆ Opinion: Navalny’s death extinguished the last hope I had for my former home
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Opinion Sasha Vasilyuk | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

She grew up between Ukraine, Russia and the US. As someone who grew up between Ukraine and Russia, I used to go back to both countries to visit family every year. She asked me if I’d heard about Navalny’s death and said she was heartbroken and had been crying all morning. But Navalny’s death represents the extinguishing of all hope for Russia’s turnaround. That speaks of Navalny’s power to inspire small acts of courage, even if they won’t bring any real change in the face of overriding fear.

Persons: Sasha Vasilyuk, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, Putin, Sasha Vasilyu, Christopher Michel A, I’d, hadn’t, Sergei GAPON, SERGEI GAPON, Sergei Gapon, “, ”, Russia lawlessly, –, didn’t, Sasha Alexeyeva, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Getty, Russian Embassy, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, California, Moscow, today’s Russia, Europe, Eastern Europe, Latvia, Warsaw, AFP, Crimea

☆ Ukraine's military is shifting to a defensive strategy that failed Nazi Germany in WWII
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Ukraine's military has chosen a defensive strategy that echoes the German approach from WWII. AdvertisementAnswering that question first requires defining “active defense,” one of those broad military terms that mean different things to different people. Active defense is meant to be waged by large units, while Ukraine appears to conducting small-unit operations. “Active defense was understood to be generally applicable to divisions, corps and field armies,” Nash said. Even a limited ‘active defense’ needs all of these elements, too.”Last summer, Ukraine’s frontal assault with vehicles hit mines and were menaced by missiles fired from Russian helicopters.

Persons: today’s, Douglas Nash, ” Nash, “, –, Erich von Manstein, von Manstein, von Manstein’s, “ Von Manstein, Ukraine —, Russia —, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Erich Von Manstein, it’s, Von Manstein, Hitler, inflexibly, von Organizations: Third Reich, Red Army, US, US Army, Western Allies, Wehrmacht, Keystone, Getty, German, Reuters, AK, Russo, NATO, West, NATO —, Soviets Locations: Nazi Germany, Ukraine, Russia, today’s Ukraine, Berlin, Stalingrad, Germany, Italy, France, Kharkov, Ukrainian, Donetsk Oblast, Avdiivka, Ukraine’s, It’s, Russian, Warsaw, Western Europe, West Germany

WARSAW, Poland (AP) —U.S. President Joe Biden will host Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk for a meeting in Washington on March 12, the 25th anniversary of Poland’s joining the NATO Alliance, the White House said Thursday. The declaration of support has special significant now, when political infighting in U.S. Congress is stalling approval of a $60 billion aid package for Kyiv. Poland last year spent some 4% of its GDP on defense and has earmarked some 3.1% of its 2024 GDP for the purpose. The U.S.-Polish strategic energy security partnership, economic ties and “shared commitment to democratic values” will also be a theme of discussions. Duda hails from the right-wing party that ruled until December, and he has accused Tusk's government of violating Poland's constitution and using authoritarian methods.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrzej Duda, Donald Tusk, Poland’s, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, Tusk, Duda, Tusk's Organizations: —, NATO Alliance, Congress, NATO Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Washington, U.S, Kyiv, Warsaw

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s president has met the CEO of U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin about strengthening security in the region and continued U.S. investment in Poland’s military weapons and equipment, the country's National Security Bureau said Wednesday. The bureau in a post on X, formerly Twitter, said the talks between President Andrzej Duda and Jim Taiclet included “securing the participation of Poland's defense sector" in deliveries and maintenance of U.S. weapons such as jet fighters, Javelin missiles and elements of the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Lockheed Martin makes Javelins, HIMARS and some jet fighters. More than 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Poland, on NATO's eastern flank, mostly in the Rzeszow region near the border with Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion there. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Persons: —, Lockheed Martin, Andrzej Duda, Jim Taiclet Organizations: National Security Bureau, Javelin, - Mobility, Lockheed, Associated Press Locations: WARSAW, Poland, U.S, Rzeszow, Ukraine, Russia's

☆ Elon Musk must testify in SEC probe of his Twitter takeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Lora Kolodny | In Lorakolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has to testify in a probe by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concerning his 2022 acquisition of Twitter, a U.S. judge ordered in a court filing out Saturday. Musk closed his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 in a deal worth roughly $44 billion, and has since rebranded it X. Musk, his attorney Alex Spiro and the SEC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The settlement required Musk to have a "Twitter sitter" approve his tweets about his electric vehicle business before posting them. Attorneys for SpaceX argued in their suit that the very structure of the federal labor board violates the U.S. Constitution.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Laurel Beeler, Alex Spiro, Tesla Organizations: SpaceX, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Twitter, CNBC, SEC, U.S, Supreme, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Southern, Southern District of, Attorneys, . Constitution, Starbucks Locations: Warsaw, Poland, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Brownsville, .

☆ Russia's Wagner Group expands into Africa's Sahel with a new brand
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Natalia Kolesnikova | Afp | Getty ImagesWagner Group has been replaced by a new entity known as Russia's Africa Corps across its key strongholds in the continent, its new leader has confirmed. The new entity has been subsuming operations in Mali and Libya for several months, and negotiations to establish a Russian military base in the CAR are reportedly underway. watch now"The Africa Corps consists of mercenaries and volunteers, and does not form part of the Russian Armed Forces. It began recruiting in December 2023, and has also included job offers for former Wagner Group mercenaries; it may also recruit local residents," they explained. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov oversaw the creation of the Africa Corps, which is expected to be fully completed by this summer.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Natalia Kolesnikova, Dmitry Utkin, Anton Yelizarov, Ibrahim Traoré, Piotr Żochowski, Miłosz Bartosiewicz, Yunus, bek Yevkurov, Yevkurov Organizations: Afp, Getty, Wagner, Africa Corps, Central African, Russian National Guard, Russian Federation, Telegram, Centre, Eastern Studies, CAR, Africa, Russian Armed Forces, Wagner Group, CES Locations: MOSCOW, Moscow, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Belarus, Russia, Cossack, Sahel, Russian, Warsaw, Algeria, Africa, Ouagadougou

You gotta pay your bills.’”NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the 31 allies are committed to defending each other. Photos You Should See View All 21 Images“NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Under NATO’s mutual defense clause, Article 5 of its founding treaty, all allies commit help of any member who comes under attack. Article 5 has only ever been activated once – by the U.S. in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. NATO has undertaken its biggest military buildup since the Cold War since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Donald Trump, Władysław Kosiniak, Kamysz, “, Trump, ”, ’ ” Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, Putin, ___ Cook, Kirsten Grieshaber Organizations: NATO, Republican, . Defense, ”, ’, Foreign Ministry, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Trump, Associated Press Locations: WARSAW, Poland, U.S, Russia, Europe, Conway , South Carolina, ” Russia, NATO, Anchorage, Erzurum, Baltic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moscow, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Ukraine’s Crimean, Brussels, Berlin

☆ Polish PM Says U.S. Republicans Should Be Ashamed for Not Backing Ukraine Aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday that Republican senators in the United States should be ashamed for blocking a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine, saying former U.S. President Ronald Reagan would be "turning in his grave". Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a bipartisan effort to bolster border security that had taken months to negotiate, but said they could still approve aid for Ukraine, and Israel, that had been tied up in the deal. "Dear Republican Senators of America. Ronald Reagan, a Republican, was the 40th president of the United States, holding the role from 1981 to 1989. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesU.S. Republicans for months have insisted that any additional U.S. aid to Ukraine, and Israel, must also address the high numbers of migrants arriving at the U.S-Mexico border - a top voter concern.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Ronald Reagan, Tusk, Ukraine's, Donald Trump, Trump, Alan Charlish, Susan Fenton Organizations: Polish, U.S . Senate, Wednesday, Ukraine, Republican, U.S, Republicans, Kyiv Locations: WARSAW, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Israel, Poland, Russia, Soviet Union, Mexico

☆ Ukraine’s railways are still running after two years of war. Here’s how
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Ben Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Ukraine’s rail network, known as Ukrzaliznytsia or UZ for short, has always been a source of pride and practicality in the eastern European nation, even before the war. ‘Constant threat’Ukraine's rail network, known as Ukrzaliznytsia or UZ for short, has always been a source of pride and practicality in the eastern European nation. UZ says a further $9 billlon is likely required to repair and modernize the existing UZ network, which at 19,700 kilometers is one of the world’s longest. “Our responsibility is to be a stable partner.”Indeed, despite the war, UZ says it has repaired and renewed 289 kilometers of track in 2023, rebuilt 15 bridges, built 528 new freight cars and repaired around 9,000 others. Britain’s Network Rail and Swiss Federal Railways are providing engineering support to help rebuild damaged infrastructure, while the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force (GURTF) was established in 2022 to raise funds to support Ukrainian rail workers and their families.

Persons: UZ, – UZ, ”, Jeff J Mitchell, Yarema Dul, “, ” UZ, it’s, Ukraine’s, Olena Zelenska, Dul, Transport Network Mykola Panov, Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, Yevhen Liaschenko, ” Liaschenko, GURTF, Andy Bagnall Organizations: CNN, UNICEF, Russia, UZ’s, Transformation Department, Transport Network Mykola, CNN Travel, “, ” Railway, Publishing, Transport Network, Britain’s, Rail, Swiss Federal Railways, Global Ukraine Rail Task Force, Rail Partners Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Lviv, Warsaw, Vienna, Panama7, Odesa, Kharkiv, Russian, Poland, Germany, Soviet Union, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Hungary

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