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☆ NATO: Higher defense spending is no magic bullet after Trump’s attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s first worth noting which countries have most dramatically increased their defense spending since the invasion of Ukraine. Yves Herman/ReutersTrump’s well-documented comments about NATO and European defense spending woke them up from that slumber. The example many point to is a deal struck earlier this year between multiple European countries to buy 1,000 Patriot missiles. “Pensions for soldiers are useful, sure, but they are not going to shoot a Russian,” a European security official told CNN. But it will be worth it, if countries don’t get bored and work together.

Persons: Donald Trump, ”, don’t, Jens Stoltenberg, It’s, Yves Herman, Reuters Trump’s, Theresa May, Trump, EMMANUEL DUNAND, Malcolm Chalmers, Russia – Organizations: CNN, NATO, Reuters, Patriot, Inter, Officials, New Nato Force Model, Getty, Royal United Services Institute, Pensions, “, Diplomats Locations: Russia, NATO, Europe, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, America, Germany, AFP, European, France, China

☆ Russia's NATO neighbors are building hundreds of bunkers and anti-tank ditches in case of an invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementEstonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are busy building massive defensive installations along their collective 1,000 miles of border with Russia and Belarus. The Baltic Defense Line, comprising hundreds of bunkers and other defensive measures, was a key part of an agreement struck between the three countries last month, prompted by the war in nearby Ukraine. Advertisement"A Baltic defensive line is a huge project," Lukas Milevski, a research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, wrote recently. A diagram of prototype bunkers published by Estonia's defense ministry shows how the oblong structures are designed to fit into a T-shaped dugout, their entrance protected by earthworks.

Persons: —, 🛡️, evkur, e cade, " ERR, Baker, ure, ely, vic, ted as say Organizations: Service, Baltic Defense, ici Locations: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Eston, ain

☆ Russia is now in a better position for attacking elsewhere in Europe, defense official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussia seems to be in a better position to launch a future attack on a NATO member state, despite its performance in Ukraine, a European defense official told Business Insider. Russia failed to take Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, early in its invasion, despite its much larger and better-supplied military. AdvertisementGermany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said last month that Russia could attack a NATO country within the next five to eight years. And Denmark's defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, also warned this month that Russia could attack a member within the next five years. Urbelis said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has strengthened NATO, but urged members to ramp up their defense efforts.

Persons: —, Vaidotas Urbelis, Urbelis, Boris Pistorius, Troels Lund Poulsen, it's Organizations: Service, NATO, Business, EU Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Russian, Kyiv, Soviet Union, Europe

☆ Opinion: How serious is Trump about pulling out of NATO? Very
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The idea that foreign countries are freeloading off the United States plays well with his base, but Trump either doesn’t understand how NATO works or chooses not to. Meanwhile, in 2014, all NATO countries agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense by this year. Every US president since Barack Obama has pressed NATO countries to reach that expenditure level, but at the time of the agreement, only three NATO countries — the US, United Kingdom and Greece — were doing so. In 2017, NATO European countries and Canada spent around $270 billion on their defense, while the United States spent around $626 billion. No matter how wrong-headed it might be, according to his close advisers Trump seems quite serious about getting out of NATO.

Persons: Peter Bergen, ”, Donald Trump’s, James Mattis, Trump, “, ” Trump, Barack Obama, Greece —, Vladimir Putin, Olaf Scholz, Monday, Putin, United States isn’t “, Angela Merkel, Merkel, John Bolton Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, Trump Administration, CNN, NATO, Trump, New York Times, United, Canada Locations: New America, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, Greece, Trump , Russian, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Germany, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, New Hampshire, Germans, Washington, New York City, Afghanistan, France

As of last year, a majority of NATO countries did not meet this pledge. But the alliance does not have its own army, and its military operations are staffed and supplied by member countries. Which Countries Meet NATO’s 2% Defense Spending Target? Only 11 of the 31 NATO member countries were expected to meet that target for 2023, according to estimates published last July by the alliance. That means that 20 NATO countries were expected to spend less than 2% of their GDP on defense, based on the 2023 estimates.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, we’re, Russia –, ” Trump, “, ’, ” Organizations: NATO, Reuters, Republican Locations: Russia, Ukraine, South Carolina, U.S, United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Greece, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, Canada

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

☆ Favoring Foes Over Friends, Trump Threatens to Upend International Order
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Soon after former President Donald J. Trump took office, his staff explained how NATO’s mutual defense obligations worked. “You mean, if Russia attacked Lithuania, we would go to war with Russia?” he responded. “That’s crazy.”Mr. Trump has never believed in the fundamental one-for-all-and-all-for-one concept of the Atlantic alliance. Indeed, he spent much of his four-year presidency undermining it while strong-arming members into keeping their commitments to spend more on their own militaries with the threat that he would not come to their aid otherwise. Never before has a president of the United States suggested he would incite an enemy to attack American allies.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, ”, “, Mr, Russia “ Locations: Russia, Lithuania, South Carolina, United States

☆ Baltic, Nordic Lawmakers Complain That US Lacks Urgency on Ukraine Aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Jonathan LandayWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior Nordic and Baltic lawmakers visiting Washington on Thursday expressed alarm at what they called a lack of urgency and a clear strategy by the United States to help Ukraine defeat Moscow's invasion. "Guys, wake up," Zygimantis Pavilionis, chairman of the Lithuanian parliament's foreign affairs committee, said in comments directed at Democrats and Republicans. All but Sweden are NATO members. Delegation members said they met administration officials and lawmakers, but mainly sought to speak to Republicans resisting fresh aid. "All of our countries around this table have (given) more than 1% of GDP of military aid to Ukraine.

Persons: Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON, Vladimir Putin, Pavilionis, Rihards Kols, Joe Biden, Marko Mihkelson, Kols, Jonathan Landay, Don Durfee, David Ljunggren Organizations: Nordic, Baltic, U.S, NATO, Lithuanian, Democrats, Republicans, Ukraine, Kyiv, Estonian Locations: Washington, United States, Ukraine, Moscow's, Russian, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, U.S, Latvian, Europe, The U.S, Russia, Moscow

☆ Watch as a plane skids off a runway and into the snow at a Lithuanian airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Airbus 320 model, belonging to the airline carrier Avion Express, veered off to the right as it landed at Vilnius Airport but slowly returned to the runway. Representatives for Vilnius Airport confirmed that videos circulating online were of the incident. AdvertisementVilnius Airport ceased operations for hours following the incident to inspect the runway but resumed flights soon after. "Please be informed that following the incident this afternoon, the runway at Vilnius Airport will be reopened for operations from 17:00, and flights will continue as normal," the airport wrote on Saturday. Representatives for Vilnius Airport told Business Insider they had no further information to provide.

Persons: skidding, —, skidded, Communications Rolanda Lipneviciute Organizations: Service, Airbus, Avion Express, Vilnius Airport, Facebook, Ministry, Justice, Business, Avion, Communications Locations: Milan, Vilnius, Lithuanian, Republic of Lithuania, Lithuania

☆ Turkey's inflation sees biggest monthly jump since August, nears 65% year-on-year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

President of Turkey Recep Erdogan addresses journalists during the final national press conference during the high level NATO summit in Litexpo Conference Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 12, 2023. Inflation in Turkey for the month of January saw its biggest monthly jump since August, rising 6.7% from the month prior, while year-on-year inflation hit nearly 65%, according to the Turkish Central Bank's figures released Monday. This is a breaking news story, please check back later for more.

Persons: Turkey Recep Erdogan Organizations: NATO, Conference Locations: Turkey, Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkish Central

LONDON (AP) — Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek clinched a spot for the United States in the Davis Cup Finals group round by winning the doubles match against Ukraine on Friday for an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five-match qualifying series in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ram and Krajicek beat Illya Beloborodko and Oleksii Krutykh 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Ukraine was supposed to host the United States for these qualifying matches. Then eight teams will make it to the quarterfinals in Malaga, Spain, in November, when a champion will be determined. 1 Novak Djokovic); South Korea at Canada; Germany at Hungary; Switzerland at Netherlands; Portugal at Finland; and Brazil at Sweden.

Persons: — Rajeev Ram, Austin Krajicek, Ram, Krajicek, Illya Beloborodko, Bob Bryan's, Sebastian Korda, Krutykh, Chris Eubanks, Taylor Fritz, Viacheslav, “, ” Ram, Bryan, Novak Djokovic, ___ Organizations: Ukraine, SEB Arena, Italy Locations: United States, Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Australia, Spain, Malaga, Slovakia, Serbia, South Korea, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Brazil, Sweden, Belgium, Croatia, Israel, Czech Republic, France, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Peru, Chile

Here's why European farmers are taking their anger to the streets:THE HISTORYPolitical Cartoons View All 253 ImagesWorld War II had spread hunger on a bountiful continent. When the war ended, Western European leaders knew that the way to people's hearts was through their stomachs. The vision of EU farming from early on was economy of scale — bigger farms, bigger holdings, setting standard rules across borders. “European farmers have found themselves under increasing pressure from many sides,” European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said. On Wednesday, the European Commission made two key proposals — one to shield EU farmers from cheap Ukrainian imports and one to sidestep an environmental measure.

Persons: Ursula, Ursula von der Leyen, —, von der, “ Ursula, ”, Jean, Francois Deflandre, Paolo Pepponi, It’s, it’s, Pepponi, Benoit Laqueue, Nicolas Abbeloos, “, Maroš Šefčovič, Šefčovič, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: HALLE, European, Agriculture, EU, European Commission, South Locations: Belgium, Paris, Brussels, EU, Ukraine, Kyiv, Halle, Lithuania, France, Spain, Italy, Rome, Europe, Sedan, New Zealand, Chile

☆ Russia's Putin Derides 'Russophobia' in Europe at World War Two Memorial
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated Europe on Saturday for "Russophobia" and criticized the Baltic States over human rights at the unveiling of a World War Two memorial. Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union and itself suffered devastation at the hands of Hitler's forces, rejects comparisons as spurious pretexts for a war of conquest. In his speech, Putin also lambasted the Baltic States over human rights. "In the Baltic states, tens of thousands of people are declared subhuman, deprived of their most basic rights, and subjected to persecution," Putin said, referring to migration crackdowns. Moscow has repeatedly accused the Baltic nations of xenophobia and treating Russian minorities as "second-class".

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Kyiv exalts, Vladimir Soldatkin, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: European Union, NATO Locations: MOSCOW, Baltic States, Ukraine, Kyiv, Leningrad, Germans, Soviet, Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moscow, Baltic

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.N. Aid Agency in Gaza Says Suspensions in Funding Threaten Crucial Humanitarian Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Victoria Kim | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

News AnalysisThe judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Friday. A ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide against Israel had deep historical resonance for both Israelis and Palestinians. It was a topic that appeared to preoccupy the sole Israeli judge, Aharon Barak, among the 17 assessing the case on the World Court. He was among the 17 judges assessing the case on the World Court. “It talks like genocide & walks like genocide,” Muhammad Shehada, a rights activist from Gaza, wrote on social media.

Persons: ” Alon Pinkas, —, ”, Hanan Ashrawi, Hamas’s, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, “, Janina Dill, Dill, Khan Younis, Israel, Aharon Barak, Barak, ” Mr, Avishag Shaar, Israel “, ” Muhammad Shehada, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: International Court of Justice, International Court, Palestinian, ., Agence France, United Nations, Israel, Oxford University, Court, Credit, Yashuv, The New York Times, Gazan Health Ministry Locations: The Hague, Israel, Gaza, South Africa, “, Israeli, Rafah, Lithuania, Tel Aviv, ”, Haifa

☆ Biden administration tells Congress it intends to sell Turkey F-16s after Erdogan approved Sweden’s NATO membership
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The State Department also sent Congress a formal notification of its intent to sell $8.6 billion worth of F-35s to Greece. Blinken, in turn, told the Turkish president multiple times that members of Congress would not approve the sale of jets until Turkey allowed Sweden to join NATO. The Turkish Parliament finally voted in favor of Sweden’s NATO accession Tuesday, and Erdogan signed off on the instruments of ratification Thursday. The US official said this was to assure Congress there was no way for Turkey to back out of the deal. Hungary still must approve Sweden’s NATO bid for the nation to finally become a member.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Erdogan, Hakan Fidan, Fidan, Robert Menendez –, Turkey –, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Menendez, Sen, Ben Cardin Organizations: CNN, NATO, The State Department, Turkish, Foreign, The New, Greek, House Foreign Affairs Committee, State Department Locations: Turkey, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Vilnius, Lithuania, London, The New Jersey, Turkish, Hungary

☆ I'm a Brazilian who moved to Lithuania. I love the career opportunities and safety — but it can be hard to make friends.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ricardo Sergio Schmitz is a Brazilian consultant working in Vilnius, Lithuania. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ricardo Sergio Schmitz, a consultant working in Vilnius, Lithuania. AdvertisementIt can be hard to make friendsIn Brazil and Portugal, it's normal to become friends with people you are introduced to quickly. Ricardo Sergio Schmitz Ricardo Sergio SchmitzIt's harder to make friends with the people you meet here, even if you have friends in common. AdvertisementStartup mentalityThe city feels like it's growing a lot.

Persons: Ricardo Sergio Schmitz, Schmitz, —, I've, Erasmus, Mykolas, Lithuania Ricardo Sergio Schmitz, Ricardo Sergio Schmitz Ricardo Sergio Schmitz It's Organizations: Deloitte, Service, Mykolas Romeris University, University of Lisbon Locations: Brazilian, Vilnius, Lithuania, Portugal, Brazil, Vilnius —

Lawmakers have conveyed as much directly to the White House, a US official told CNN. Biden met with House and Senate lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday to outline what is at stake for Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson makes a statement alongside Reps. Mike Turner, Mike Rogers and Mike McCaul on January 17, outside the White House. Privately, some US and Western officials say there could be as many as five more years of fighting. In the near term, Ukraine may be able to hang on, albeit in a stalemate, without US support, a Western intelligence source said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jake Sullivan, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Mike Johnson, I’ve, ‘, ’ ” Johnson, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ”, ” Biden, Mike Turner, Mike Rogers, Mike McCaul, Samuel Corum, Donald Trump, Trump, Mike Quigley, CNN Max, “ He’s, Putin, outlast, “, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Michael McCaul, ” Said, Kostiantyn, don’t, Volodymyr Zelensky, Gitanas Nauseda, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ints Kalnins, ” Zelenskyy, ” Trump, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, frontloading Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, White, Pentagon, Defense, National Intelligence, White House, NATO, Republicans, Getty, Kyiv, ” Democratic, Administration, Trump, Republican, Biden, Ukrainian National Guard, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Reuters, Russian Central Bank Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Kyiv, Europe, Ukrainian, Kreminna, Donetsk Oblast, Moscow, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Sevastopol, Melitopol, Vilnius, Lithuania, New York City, West

☆ Russia's electronic warfare is so intense, it may be messing up GPS signals in nearby countries: ISW
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussia's electronic warfare units are so widespread, they may be causing havoc with GPS signals in nearby countries, according to a report. The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, said that recent disruptions to GPS signals in Poland and the Baltic area have sparked rumors about the use of Russian electronic warfare systems nearby. AdvertisementThere was also speculation the interference could've been caused by secret NATO exercises or by Russian electronic warfare units in Russia's Kaliningrad enclave on the Baltic coast, said the ISW. Joakim Paasikivi of the Swedish Defense University told Swedish broadcaster SVT that the interference was likely a result of Russian hybrid warfare. Russia's electronic warfare units have played a pivotal role in its invasion of Ukraine, diverting drones and missiles by remotely scrambling the GPS coordinates and other electronic signals that enable them to be guided to their targets.

Persons: —, Joakim Paasikivi, Paasikivi, Jukka Savolainen Organizations: Service, Business, NATO, Soviet Union, Swedish Defense University, Swedish, SVT, Finnish Center of Excellence, Warfare Locations: US, Poland, Russia's Kaliningrad, Baltic, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Russia, Germany, Soviet, Russian, Swedish, Kaliningrad Oblast, Ukraine

☆ Belarus adopts new military doctrine involving nuclear weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mariya Knight | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Belarus on Friday adopted a new military doctrine that – if approved – would be the first step toward deploying nuclear weapons across the country. The Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty sets up a legal basis for a wide-ranging alliance between the two countries. Baltic states reinforce bordersThe move by Belarus came as neighboring Baltic states signed an agreement to reinforce their borders with Belarus and Russia. During an interview with state news agency Belta in August last year, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said his country did not “bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone.”“Nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones.

Persons: Viktor Khrenin, ”, Khrenin, “, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Hanno Pevkur Organizations: CNN, ” Belarusian, Belarus ’, Collective Security, Organization, Union State, NATO, The Union, The Union State of, Russia Treaty, Belarusian People’s Assembly, Novosti, UN, OSCE, ” Minsk, Estonian Defense Ministry, Estonian Minister of Defense, Belta Locations: Belarus, Republic of Belarus, Russian, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, The Union State, The Union State of Belarus, Ukraine, NATO, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Baltic, Estonia, Estonian

☆ Putin is starting to talk tough about the Baltics, laying the groundwork for 'future escalations' with NATO: ISW
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Washington-based think tank reported that Putin on Tuesday claimed that Latvia and other Baltic nations were "simply throwing out" ethnic Russian people from their borders. The think tank said it hasn't found any indication yet that Russia plans to attack the Baltics soon. However, the ISW warned that Putin may be laying the groundwork for "future aggressive Russian actions abroad under the pretext of protecting its 'compatriots.'" Undermining their sovereignty and portraying them as bullies toward Russians would fit within Putin's ultimate goal of weakening NATO, the ISW said. The think tank said it previously assessed that Putin's aim in invading Ukraine was to destabilize NATO instead of defending a NATO attack against Russia as he has stated.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, hasn't, Russia's Organizations: Service, NATO, Institute, Study, Business, RIA Novosti, Kremlin, Lithuania — Locations: Baltic, The Washington, Latvia, Latvian, Russia, Ukraine, Baltics, Soviet, Estonia, Lithuania

☆ Lithuania Broke Human Rights Laws in Case Tied to CIA Detention Program, European Court Rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lithuania broke European human rights laws by allowing the CIA to subject an alleged 9/11 suspect to "inhuman treatment" in a secret interrogation center in the Baltic country, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday. Al-Hawsawi is now held in Guantanamo Bay on suspicion of being a facilitator and financial manager of al Qaeda. While held in Lithuania, he experienced an extremely harsh detention regime, according to the press release, including solitary confinement, the continuous use of leg shackles and exposure to noise and light. “While not commenting on the specific case, I’d note that CIA’s detention and interrogation program ended in 2009," a CIA spokesperson said. It came to symbolize the excesses of the U.S. "war on terror" because of harsh interrogation methods that critics have said amounted to torture.

Persons: Mustafa Ahmed Adam al, Hawsawi, George W, Bush, Jonathan Landay, Daphne Psaledakis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: WASHINGTON, CIA, of Human, Convention, Lithuanian, Baltic News Service, Lithuania's, U.S, Senate, Republican, Pentagon Locations: Lithuania, Baltic, Guantanamo Bay, al Qaeda, Lithuanian, Washington, Guantanamo, Cuba, New York

☆ Leaked German military documents laid out a doomsday scenario where Russia wins in Ukraine then invades Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewLeaked German military documents describe a chilling scenario where Russia wins in Ukraine and then goes to war with NATO. The Baltic states and their neighbors. Google MapsThe end goal would be to move Russian troops into the Suwałki Gap, Bild reported, citing the documents. If occupied by Russia, it would cut the Baltic states off from other parts of Europe. Under the scenario obtained by Bild, NATO would fight Russia to prevent it from occupying the gap.

Persons: —, Axel Springer, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Joe Biden's, Jacek Siewiera Organizations: Service, Russia, NATO, Business, Bild, Germany's Defense Ministry, Google, Defense Ministry, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Kaliningrad, NATO's, Europe, US, Russian

☆ I went to Iceland for the first time. Here are 8 things that surprised me.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I visited Iceland for the first time in November on a reporting trip. Grace Dean/Business InsiderBut Iceland's population is concentrated in the west of the country. Grace Dean/Business InsiderYou can't find the chains you're used toThere's no McDonald's, Starbucks, or Burger King in Iceland. I found this surprising considering how far west of the UK Iceland is. Grace Dean/Business InsiderA lot of Polish people live in IcelandAccording to data from Statistics Iceland, more than 20% of Iceland's population was born overseas.

Persons: —, Grace Dean, Burger, expats, Jewells Chambers, Sonia Nicolson, Chambers Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Lights, KFC, Nordic, Homes, Greenwich, Statistics Locations: Iceland, Reykjavik Iceland, California, Reykjavik, Vik, Iceland's, Subway, Finland, Norway, Sweden, New York, England, Iceland . Towns, Statistics Iceland, Poland, Europe, Lithuania, Denmark, Romania

☆ Top diplomats meet in Davos on Ukraine 'peace formula'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania's President (not in picture) in Vilnius, Lithuania, on January 10, 2024. Ukraine pushed ahead with its peace formula to end nearly two years of war with Russia with a meeting of national security advisers from around the world in Davos on Sunday. Switzerland, which hosted the NSA representatives, said the Ukraine peace talks aimed to finalise principles "for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine" at the level of national security advisers. The role of the Global South in Ukraine's peace formula talks has come into focus in Davos. It is unclear, however, if countries in the Global South agree with that as a peace formula.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Andriy Yermak, Penny Pritzker, James O'Brien, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Nuhu Ribadu, Yermak Organizations: Lithuania's, Sunday, Economic, U.S, State, Eurasian Affairs, National, NSA Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Davos, Switzerland, Africa, Latin America, East, Asia, Swiss

☆ U.S., U.K. strike Houthi targets in Yemen in response to Red Sea attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Joanna Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The United States and the United Kingdom have "successfully conducted strikes" against Houthi targets in Yemen, President Joe Biden said late Thursday. The Iran-backed Houthi militia group began their drone and missile attacks on shipping vessels and cargo ships traversing the Red Sea late last year, drawing global condemnation. The militants claim their attacks in the Red Sea are in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. According to the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Air Force struck more than 60 targets across 16 Houthi militant locations in those strikes, launching more than 100 precision-guided munitions. Together with Greece, Singapore and Sri Lanka, the nations make up the Operation Prosperity Guardian, a coalition that was launched in December to combat Houthi attacks.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden, —, Netherlands —, Biden Organizations: Britain's, North Atlantic Council, NATO, U.S . Central Command, U.S . Air Force, Operation Prosperity Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, United States, United Kingdom, Yemen, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Netherlands, Iran, Gaza, Sanaa, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Greece, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Great Britain

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