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☆ Israeli women and children have been freed by Hamas. But families of other hostages are in limbo
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Each weekend since the Hamas attacks, Sherman has taken part in a rally in Tel Aviv for the hostage families. Under the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, groups of Israeli citizens and other nationals have been freed from Gaza every day since Friday, while Israel has released Palestinian women and children detainees. All of the Israelis released under this deal have been civilian women and children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured on October 28, has indicated he would be open to extending the country's truce with Hamas. Tsafrir Abayov/APA group of Israelis watch as a helicopter carrying hostages released by Hamas lands in Petah Tikva, in Israel, on November 26.

Persons: Israel CNN — Alex Sherman, Ron, Sherman, Yahya Sinwar, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Hamas , Abir, Nadav Eyal, Eyal, Khan Younis, ” Amir Oren, ”, Tsafrir, Leo Correa, Netanyahu, ” Eyal, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Oren, Biden Organizations: Israel CNN, Hamas, CNN, Israeli, Reuters, Palestinian, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Democracy Institute, US, United Nations Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, United States, Qatar, Abir Sultan, Khan, Israel’s, Egypt, Petah Tikva, “ Israel, Sinwar

☆ Rocky hostage release underscores fragility of deal between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Saturday blamed the delay on issues with the amount of aid being delivered and selection of Palestinian prisoners being released. Thirty-nine Palestinian teenagers and women were also released from Israeli prisons, per the terms of the exchange, on Saturday. All but one of the Israeli hostages released had been at the communal kibbutz of Nir Oz when they were abducted. Under the deal, Israel is freeing three Palestinians from jail for every Israeli hostage allowed out of Gaza. Released Palestinian prisoners arrive to Beitunia, west of Ramallah, on Friday.

Persons: ”, Neta Rosenberg, Alex Sherman, Ron, Israel –, Emily Hand, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Adi Shoham, Naveh, Regev, Noam Avigdori, Sharon Avigdori, Hila Rotem, Shoshan, Noam, Nir Oz, Yafa Adar, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Yoni Asher, we’ll, we’re, We’ve, we’ve, “, Nutthawaree Munkan, ” Boonyarin Srichan, Joy, Aseel El, ” El, Titi, Issam, Nadav Rudaeff, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Joseph Ataman, Clarissa Ward, Kocha, Manveena Suri, Eve Brennan, Lauren Izso Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian, Saturday, Reuters, Ofer, West Bank, Getty, West Bank . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Irish, Alma, Philippine, Beitunia, AFP, Thailand, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Anadolu

All but one were abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz, according to spokespeople for the kibbutz and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Eleven foreign nationals were also released alongside the Israeli hostages: 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, according to a Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Here’s what you need to know about the released hostages:Yafa Adar, 85Adar is a founder of the Nir Oz kibbutz and is the oldest person to be taken hostage on October 7. Now Daniel and Emilia are on their way to Israel,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. “She has diabetes, and suffers severe vision loss in one of her eyes,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement.

Persons: Nir, “, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Yafa, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Tamir Adar, Nir Oz, Margalit Moses, ”, Hana Katzir, Rami Katzir, Elad, Nir Oz’s, Adina Moshe, David, Sa’id, Moshe, Ruth Munder, Keren, Ohad, Roee, Avraham, Ruth, Keren Munder, Ohad Munder, Munder “, Daniel Aloni, Emilia Aloni, Emilia, Sharon Aloni, “ Daniel, Daniel, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher, Doron, Efrat Katz, Ganot Hadar, Dori Roberts, Efrat, Roberts, Channa Peri, Peri Organizations: CNN, Gaza, Qatar Foreign Ministry, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Raz Locations: Israel, Hatzarim Airbase, Gaza, Hatzerim Airbase, Mozambique, Aviv, Ganot, Kibbutz Nirim, South Africa

☆ Hebron, West Bank: Palestinians under curfew say they are being punished for things they did not do
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Tara John/CNNIncreased separationIsrael has occupied the West Bank since seizing the territory from Jordanian military occupation in 1967. Israel views the West Bank as “disputed territory,” and contends its settlement policy is legal. Even by the standards of the West Bank, the situation in Hebron is complicated. People pray on the exterior wall of the Cave of the Patriarchs on November 17 in Hebron, West Bank. “There is an unannounced war in the West Bank,” Sfard told CNN.

Persons: Tarik, Tara John, Betar’s, ”, B’Tselem, ” Dror Sadot, “, ” Tarik Betar's, Joe Biden, Israel, Sadot, Itamar Ben Gvir, Ben Gvir, ” Hisham Sharibati, –, Issa, Michael Sfard, ” Sfard, “ Issa, ” Issa, Yishai Fleisher, Fleisher, Sfard, ” Fleisher, Ahmad, We’ve Organizations: West Bank CNN —, CNN, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, Betar, Residents, IDF, Palestinian Authority, Bank, The West Bank, ”, United, National, Palestinian, Issa Amro, Amro, ” Issa Amro, Jewish Locations: Hebron, West, Betar, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, States, Washington, Kiryat Arba, Hebron’s, Tel, Issa

The Israeli military says Hamas is holding 239 hostages in Gaza, including foreign nationals from dozens of countries, who were taken during the October 7 attack. She would have turned nine on November 17 while in captivity, the single parent, whose wife died of cancer, previously told CNN. While reasonably hopeful that Emily might be among those that will be released, he told CNN on Wednesday that he has heard nothing from the government about her whereabouts or condition. Leon Neal/Getty ImagesAnother family told CNN they face a “terrible week” ahead as they wait to learn whether their loved one will be among the hostages released. Liz Hirsh Naftali, Edan’s great-aunt, told CNN about the “excruciating” wait to hear if her great-niece is coming home.

Persons: Hadas Kalderon, Nir Oz, Kalderon’s, Erez, Ofer, Thomas Hand, “, Emily, Weeks, they’re, Leon Neal, Roman, Yarden, Gat, Abigail Edan, Liz Hirsh Naftali, Edan’s, ”, Abigail, ” Liz Hirsh Naftali, Israel’s, Anat Moshe Shoshany, won’t, she’s, –, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, CNN, Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, Palestinian, ’ Affairs, Hamas Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza

☆ ‘Never going back.’ Israelis evacuated from border town with Lebanon fear war with Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Tara John | Adi Koplewitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

There are fears of a full-blown confrontation with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon – that would open up a dangerous new front in the war. Israelis who were evacuated from the north of the country and seen in a hotel lobby in Tiberias, Israel, on November 16. They have lived through the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and fight with Hezbollah in 2006. View of the Sea of Galilee from a hotel in Tiberias, Israel, on November 16. Tara John/CNNA group of cousins, who were evacuated from the town of Dovev, knit quietly in a hotel lobby in Tiberias, Israel on November 16.

Persons: Jesus, Boaz Yosef, Tara John, Hassan Nasrallah, Elana Pilveny, ”, ’, Shoshana, “, ” Pilveny, Yosef, Israel “, Yoav Gallant, David Shenfer, ” Shenfer, Israel’s, Kibbutz Bar’am, “ We’ve, ” Lea Raivitz, Raivitz Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Reuters, Defense Ministry, Israeli, Nations, CNN Hezbollah, Kibbutz, Residents Locations: Tiberias, Galilee, Israel, Lebanon, Dovev, Israel’s, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Beirut, Kiryat Shmona, Lebanese, View, overflights

☆ Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu battles on all fronts, amid growing pressure to free hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Only a small handful of families have met with the Israeli leader since the attacks, infuriating the hundreds of other relatives. Freeing hostages should be at the top of the Israeli war cabinet’s agenda, he said. Winds have been shifting against the prime minister as Israel’s war in Gaza drags past its sixth week. Cracks emergeOpposition parties initially rallied behind Israel’s war effort, with National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz joining the wartime government – but cracks have begun to emerge. Freeing hostages from Hamas was worth it, “whatever the cost,” he said.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Gil Dickmann, Carmel Gat, ”, Benny Gantz, , Yair Lapid, Lapid, “, ” Lapid, Ada Gansach, Tara John, Israel, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, ’, Ilan Rosenberg, Gilad Shalit, Asher Elyahol, ” Ofir Dagan, Dagan, Yehudit Waiss, Waiss, Elyahol, “ we’ll Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israel’s, CNN, Palestinian, National Unity Party, Likud, Twitter, Israeli, National, Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, Family, Hamas, Reuters Locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, United States, Gulf, Qatar

☆ Israelis are arming up in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack. Some are worried it is playing to the far right’s vision for the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Tara John | Adi Koplewitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“We saw this in the first days of the war, wherever there were weapons, the scale of the disaster was smaller,” Ben Gvir said in a press release. Critics see it as part of a far-right vision to inflame Israeli-Palestinian relations in the country, especially in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Some in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, such as Ben Gvir and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, support annexing the West Bank. When CNN asked Ben Gvir at the Caesarea event last week whether his actions were inciting violence against Palestinians, CNN was kicked out of the ceremony. He adds that arming people like that “is only showing what he (Ben Gvir) is trying to cause, which is chaos.”CNN has reached out to Eliasi for comment.

Persons: Itamar Ben Gvir, ’, “, Ben Gvir, ” Ben Gvir’s, Mariam Barghouti, Ben Gvir’s, , ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Bezalel Smotrich, we’re, we’ll, Itamar Ben, Gvir, William Bonnett, Amichay Eliyahu, Ben, Eliyahu, Roy Malkan, ” Malkan, Yoav Eliasi, Ori Givati, Guy Ben, Israel’s Ben, ” Ben, Porat, Liat Eisner, We’re, Eisner, she’s, Netanyahu’s, I’m Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Ministry of National Security, West Bank, Power, New York Times, “, Jewish Power, CNN, Palestinian Ministry of Health, The United Nations, Israeli National Security, Israel Defense Forces, Heritage, ”, ” CNN, Reuters, Survey, Israel’s, Gurion University, ” Protesters, Ben, ” Security Locations: Caesarea, Jerusalem, Israel, Judea, Samaria, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, Abdelathim, Qusra, Nablus, Judaea, ”, Ben Gvir’s, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Swiss

CNN —Israel has claimed responsibility for an attack on an ambulance outside Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the enclave, which witnesses say killed and wounded dozens of people. Israel said it had targeted the ambulance because it was being used by Hamas, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). A spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, who was at Al-Shifa Hospital, said that Israel was responsible for the attack. Blood is splattered on the side of an ambulance after an Israeli airstrike outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on November 3. “When the ambulances moved towards the south, the occupation [Israel] targeted the ambulances in multiple locations, including on the gate of Al-Shifa medical compound,” he said.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Israel, “, ” PRCS, Saeed Jaras, Dr, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Cross, ”, Medhat Abbas, Israel’s, Yousef Abu Al, Tanya Haj, Hassan Organizations: CNN, Shifa, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Al, Palestine Red Crescent Society, of Health, International Committee, ICRC, Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations, Medical Locations: Gaza, Al, Palestine, Gaza City, Rafah, Israel, Ramallah

CNN —A Palestine TV correspondent and 11 members of his family were killed Thursday in southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian Authority-run television network, in what it described as an Israeli airstrike. Palestine TV has not published evidence linking it directly to an Israeli strike. Hattab’s death sent shockwaves through his newsroom, with Palestine TV journalist Salman Al Bashir making an emotional on-air report that reduced a television anchor to tears. Palestine TV journalist Salman Al Bashir takes off his vest and helmet while giving an emotional on-air report on Thursday after the death of fellow Palestine TV correspondent, Mohammad Abu Hattab, in Gaza. Al Bashir also said Israel’s weeks-long bombardment of the enclave had become unbearable for Palestinians in Gaza.

Persons: Mohammad Abu Hattab, Nasser, WAFA, Hattab’s, shockwaves, Salman Al Bashir, ”, ” Al Bashir, Al Bashir, “, Gazans, Khan Younis Organizations: CNN, Palestinian Authority, Palestine, Palestine TV, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Protect Journalists Locations: Gaza, Palestine, Ramallah, Israel, Hattab’s, Al Jazeera’s Gaza, Israeli

☆ Family of Al Jazeera Gaza journalist, Wael Al-Dahdouh, killed in Gaza strike, says broadcaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Kevin Flower | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Al Jazeera said its bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al Dahdouh, lost his wife, son, daughter, and grandson in what it said was an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday. “Members of the family of our colleague Wael Al Dahdouh, including his wife, son, and daughter, were martyred in an Israeli bombing,” Al Jazeera wrote in an on-air message. An emotional Al Dahdouh was seen in a video crying as he stood over his son’s body, wrapped in a white sheet. His son Mahmoud was 15 years old, and his daughter Sham was seven years old, Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera anchor Abdisalam Farah announced the deaths on air, visibly struggling to keep his composure and tearing up.

Persons: CNN — Al Jazeera, Wael Al Dahdouh, ” Al Jazeera, Al, Adam, Al Jazeera, Al Dahdouh, Mahmoud, Sham, Abdisalam Farah, Tal El Hawa, Al Dahdouh’s, “, Wael Dahdouh, CPJ, Roshdi Sarraj, Melwani, Pierre Meilha, Sophie Jeong Organizations: CNN, IDF, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Palestinian Ministry of Health, International Press Institute, Protect Journalists, French, Radio France, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Al, Al Aqsa, Al Jazeera, Tal, Ramallah, Gaza City, Zahra, Lebanese

Voter turnout was “historic” at 82.33% despite initial security concerns, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council president Diana Atamaint said after polls closed Sunday. “We will inform the country of the first results as the votes are processed,” she said. Ecuador’s Interior Minister Juan Zapata also assured the country in a news conference that there had been no security incidents to report. “Governing Ecuador right now is hell – this presidency is designed to eliminate you from political life,” Freeman said. The new president will have relatively little time to work on a solution to the country’s woes.

Persons: Luisa González, Daniel Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Diana Atamaint, “, Atamaint, Juan Zapata, Guillermo Lasso, ” Will Freeman, Rafael Correa, González, César Ortiz, Ortiz, ” Freeman Organizations: CNN, Electoral, Nacional, Council, Foreign Relations, Movimiento Revolución Locations: Ecuador, Sucumbios, America, Belgium, Peru, Colombia, Europe, Quito

☆ Hamas militants trained for its deadly attack in plain sight and less than a mile from Israel’s heavily fortified border
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Paul P. Murphy Tara John Brent Swails Oren Liebermann | Paul P. Murphy | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In a December 2022 video, Hamas fighters can be seen flooding a training area, shooting rockets and capturing pretend prisoners as they surround mock Israeli buildings. In one clip, militants are seen practicing take-offs, landings and assaults with paragliders. During the October 7 attack, paragliders took off at dawn close to two training camps geolocated by CNN that are near the Gaza-Israel border. In three of the training camps, they even created fake Israeli tanks consisting of what appears to be a large outer shell surrounding a truck. Fighters are seen practicing an attack against it, launching RPGs and other explosives.

Persons: paragliders, Jonathan Conricus, “, ” Conricus, Conricus, Ali Baraka, Erez Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, National Relations Locations: Erez, Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Lebanon

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Thursday that it was not an “external” attack that crashed the plane carrying Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin in August, but hand grenades within the aircraft. Speaking at the Valdai Forum in Sochi, Putin said the “chairman of the investigative committee just reported a few days ago that the fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of the victims. A wreckage of the private jet is seen near the crash site in the Tver region, Russia, August 24, 2023. In June, Prigozhin and his Wagner troops seized key military sites and marched toward Moscow, where the Kremlin had deployed heavily armed troops to the streets. Peskov has denied claims that the Kremlin might have been involved in the plane’s demise, calling such speculation an “absolute lie.”

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, ” Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Stringer, ”, Prigozhin’s, Dmitry Peskov, Joe Biden, I’m, Peskov Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Reuters Locations: Sochi, Moscow, St . Petersburg, Tver, Russia, St Petersburg, Belarus

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Democratic legislator from central Wisconsin announced Tuesday that she is running for U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden's seat next year. State Rep. Katrina Shankland, of Sevens Point, joined a crowded field of Democratic challengers in western Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District. Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, narrowly defeated Democratic state Sen. Brad Pfaff to flip the seat for the GOP last year after longtime Democratic incumbent Ron Kind chose not to seek reelection. Pfaff has decided not to challenge Van Orden in 2024. Van Orden was outside of the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, before he was elected to Congress.

Persons: Derrick Van Orden's, Katrina Shankland, Tara Johnson, Rebecca Cooke, Aaron Nytes, Van Orden, Sen, Brad Pfaff, Ron Kind, Pfaff, vulgarities, didn't Organizations: —, Democratic, Wisconsin, U.S . Rep, State, Congressional District, Former La, Harvard Law, Navy SEAL, GOP, Democrats, Senate, Capitol Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin's, Former La Crosse County

CNN —The United Nations Security Council has greenlit the deployment of an armed multinational force to Haiti, as the Caribbean nation wrestles with rampant gang violence and political paralysis. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the United States have also strongly urged the international community to back such a mission. Though approved by the powerful UN Security Council, the force would not formally be under UN control. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22, Prime Minister Henry told fellow nations that it was “urgent” that the Security Council approve a military mission to reestablish order. The Security Council has found itself in repeated deadlock in recent years amid deepening geopolitical rivalries.

Persons: Ariel Henry, General Antonio Guterres, Henry, Jean, Junior Joseph, –, Antony Blinken, Washington, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Zhang Jun, Vassily Nebenzia, Jovenel Moise, Maria Isabel Salvador, ” Organizations: CNN, United Nations Security Council, Haitian, United Nations, UN Security Council, UN, Haitian National Police, United Nations General Assembly, Security Locations: Haiti, Caribbean, United States, Russia, China, Kenya, Antigua, Barbuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Port, New York, UN

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A third Democratic candidate has announced that she's running for a western Wisconsin congressional seat held by freshman Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in one of the presidential battleground state's swing districts. Johnson, 61, said she was running to fight for working families, rural communities, abortion rights, affordable health care and prescription drugs, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. A former Navy SEAL, Van Orden was outside of the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, before he was elected to Congress. Political Cartoons View All 1145 ImagesVan Orden did not respond to a message seeking comment on Johnson's comments or candidacy. Johnson's decision to run comes after state Sen. Brad Pfaff, who lost to Van Orden by 4 percentage points in November, decided not to challenge him again.

Persons: —, Derrick Van Orden, Tara Johnson, Rebecca Cooke, Aaron Nytes, Johnson, Van Orden, ” Van Orden, vulgarities, Will Reinert, ”, Joe Biden, “, ” Reinert, Sen, Brad Pfaff, Deb McGrath, McGrath Organizations: Democratic, Former La, Wednesday, Harvard Law School, Republican, Congressional, Social Security, La Crosse County Board, GOP, Capitol, Democrats, Navy SEAL, National Republican Campaign Committee, CIA Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Former La Crosse County, Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Johnson, La Crosse County, ”

CNN —French authorities will be “uncompromising” in their enforcement of a new ban on abayas in schools, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday, following the decision to ban the robe-like garment in the upcoming academic year. He reiterated that “religious symbols of any kind have no place” in French schools under the country’s principle of “laïcité,” which translates roughly to “secularism” in English. Because this is the very condition that makes citizenship possible and therefore religious symbols of any kind have no place in them. And we will vigorously defend this secularism,” Macron remarked. Last year lawmakers backed a ban on wearing the hijab and other “conspicuous religious symbols” in sports competitions.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Danièle Obono, Macron, ” Macron, “, ”, – Organizations: CNN, “, United Nations Human Rights Locations: Vaucluse, France

CNN —Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russian mercenary group Wagner, was on the passenger list of a plane that crashed northwest of Moscow, killing all 10 on board, according to Russian state media. The bodies of eight people have been found at the crash site, state media outlet Russia 24 reported. Earlier, TASS reported the plane “burned up” on impact after being in the air for about half an hour. One of two Wagner planesVideo published by Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti showed a plane falling out of the sky with one wing missing. A separate video, also released by RIA Novosti, purports to show plane engine debris at the crash site.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, “, Vladimir Putin’s, Reuters Wagner, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Putin, ” Biden, I’m, FlightRadar24, Don –, Biden, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Burns, ” Burns, ” Blinken Organizations: CNN, Embraer, Federal Air Transport Agency, Russian Ministry of Emergency Services, TASS, Russian Investigative Committee, Wagner, Ostorozhno, Reuters, Nazi, Novosti, RIA Novosti, Wagner Group, Biden, Kremlin, CIA, NATO Locations: Moscow, Tver, Kuzhenkino, Russia, Belarus, Russia's Tver, Ostorozhno Novosti, Soledar, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kursk, Soviet, Nazi Germany, Rostov, –, St, Petersburg, United States

CNN —Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin says he is in Africa “making Russia even greater on all continents, and Africa even freer,” in a video circulating on pro-Russian military blogs Monday. In the clip, Prigozhin is seen holding a rifle in a desert area while wearing camouflage. “The former colonizers are trying to keep the people of African countries in check. And this is the (the reason for the) love for PMC Wagner, this is the high efficiency of PMC Wagner. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Wagner forces were heavily involved in capturing the eastern cities of Soledar and Bakhmut.

Persons: CNN — Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, ” Prigozhin, ” Wagner, Sudan’s, ”, “, PMC Wagner, Vladimir Putin’s Organizations: CNN, “, Central African, PMC Wagner, PMC Locations: Africa “, Russia, Africa, Russian, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Central African Republic, In Sudan, West, St Petersburg, Ukraine, Soledar, Belarus

Gonzalez is set to face the surprise second-place finisher Daniel Noboa in a run-off election in October, according to the National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE), as neither candidate won more than 50% of the ballot. Ecuador presidential candidate Daniel Noboa makes remarks as he arrives to participate in a presidential debate on August 13. Crime has topped the agenda of this year’s presidential race, which was punctuated by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, an outspoken anti-corruption journalist. Gunfire interrupted Noboa’s caravan on Thursday as he was traveling in Guayas province, but authorities say the presidential candidate was not the target of the incident. But the winner of October’s run-off vote will have relatively little time to work on a solution.

Persons: CNN — Luisa González, Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa, Ecuadorians, Diana Atamaint, González, Rafael Correa –, Álvaro Noboa –, Guillermo Lasso, Karen Toro, Fernando Villavicencio, Pedro Briones, Christian Zurita, October’s Organizations: CNN, Movimiento Revolución, Sunday, Electoral, Accion Democratica Nacional, Electoral Council Locations: Ecuador, Belgium, Esmeraldas province, Guayas, Quito, Russia, Ukraine, China, Bangladesh

CNN —Anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo, from the progressive Movimiento Semilla party, appeared to have won Guatemala’s presidential election on Sunday, beating former first lady Sandra Torres in a race marred by fears of democratic backsliding. With more than 95% of the ballots counted, Arévalo won 59.1% of the vote compared to Torres’ 36.1%, according to official data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. A voter casts their ballot at a polling station during the presidential run-off election in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on August 20, 2023. Prosecutors and judges associated with the commission were arrested and investigated and many have since fled the country. Members of the media who have opposed corruption in their reporting have also faced legal consequences.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Sandra Torres, Arévalo, Torres, Irma Palencia, “, ”, Alejandro Giammattei, Cristina Chiquin, Rafael Curruchiche, Department’s Engel, ” Curruchiche, José Rubén Zamora Organizations: CNN, Movimiento Semilla, Torres ’, Torres ’ Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, Reuters, US, Central, United Locations: Guatemala, Guatemala City, Central American, United States, United Nations, Guatemalan

☆ Ecuador election: assassinations cast a grim shadow as country selects a new president
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Nearly 100,000 troops will be dispatched to ensure public safety and order across Ecuador on election day, Ecuador’s government says. Friends, family members and supporters of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio attend a tribute at Quito Exhibition Center. Henry Romero/ReutersEverything to play forAnything could happen in Sunday’s presidential vote, say analysts, who point to the killing of Villavicencio as potentially changing voters’ preferences. Journalist and presidential candidate Christian Zurita gestures next to his running mate, vice presidential candidate Andrea Gonzalez (R), in Quito on August 13, 2023. Ecuador presidential candidate Yaku Perez looks on as he arrives to participate in a presidential debate, in Quito, Ecuador August 13, 2023.

Persons: CNN —, Fernando Villavicencio, Otto Sonnenholzner, Guillermo Lasso, Henry Romero, ”, Laura Lizarazo, “, Glaeldys González, …, Pedro Briones, Luisa González, Rafael Correa, Lizarazo, Rodrigo Buendia, Correa, González, Villavicencio, Christian Zurita, Andrea Gonzalez, Martin Bernetti, Moreno, Erika Paredes, Marcos Pin, ” Lizarazo, Yaku, Yaku Perez, Karen Toro, El, Nayib Bukele –, Bukele, Jan, Vicente Gaibor del Pino Organizations: CNN, Quito Exhibition Center, Reuters, ”, Crisis, Movimiento, Getty, CNN En, Construye’s, Alianza Actuemos Locations: Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, United States, Guayaquil, Esmeraldas province, Quito, AFP, Belgium, Samborondon

☆ Guatemala elections: Troubled vote looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Torres won 16% of the first-round vote in June with Arévalo coming in with 11.8% of the votes cast. “Guatemalans wanted an option on the ballot where they can vote to reject the current political system. Moises Castillo/APThis is the third presidential cycle Torres has competed in, losing in 2019 to current President Alejandro Giammattei. Guatemala currently recognizes Taiwan, and Arévalo has said he would like Guatemala to have relations with both Taipei and Beijing. Congress is set to be largely controlled by establishment parties following this year’s elections, including the outgoing president’s Vamos party and Torres’ UNE.

Persons: CNN —, Sandra Torres, Bernardo Arévalo –, Torres, Arévalo, “ Guatemalans, ” Will Freeman, backsliding, Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Reuters Arévalo, Rafael Curruchiche, ” Curruchiche, “, ” Freeman, Bukele, Alvaro Colom, Moises Castillo, Alejandro Giammattei, Juan José Arévalo, Freeman, Thelma Aldana, Aldana, Luis Von Ahn, Torres ’ Organizations: CNN, Council, Foreign Relations, United, Public Ministry, Reuters, Movimiento Semilla, US State Department, US, European, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, Getty, Duolingo, Torres ’ UNE Locations: backsliding, Guatemala, America, United Nations, Guatemala City, Spain, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, El Salvador, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing

☆ Fernando Villavicencio assasination: How corruption and gang warfare transformed Ecuador
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But the high-profile assassination on Wednesday of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio could be a turning point for the country that has so far struggled to control the bloodshed. Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio ran on an anti-corruption platform prior to his death. Floundering authoritiesSecurity and state forces have been badly unprepared for the rise of criminal groups in the country. A a car transports the body of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio on August 10. Last year, the US withdrew visas from high-ranking officers of Ecuadorian state security forces, alleged to be linked to drug trafficking, as well as several judges and lawyers.

Persons: CNN —, Fernando Villavicencio, ” Juan Pappier, Watch’s, “, Karen Toro, Laura Lizarazo, ”, ” Lizarazo, Ecuador’s, Guillermo Lasso, Lizarazo, Eric Farnsworth, –, Villavicencio –, El, Nayib Bukele, Luisa González, Rafael Correa, Vicente Gaibor del Pino Organizations: CNN, Customs, Border Patrol, Ecuadorian, Reuters, Lobos, of, Americas Society, Security Locations: Ecuador, ”, Peru, Colombia, Europe, Washington, Americas

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