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☆ Does Putin’s senior aide think Trump can solve the Ukraine conflict?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ China is studying sanctions on Russia to figure out how to handle them if it invades Taiwan, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementChina is studying the effects of Western sanctions on Russia to prepare for any invasion of Taiwan. China is closely monitoring the effects of Western sanctions on Russia in order to prepare for a possible invasion of Taiwan, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Alexander Gabuev, the director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told the Journal that Russia is serving as a "sandbox" for China for how sanctions operate and how they should handle them. AdvertisementEven so, Russia's economy has been heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict and the Western sanctions imposed on it. Advertisement"Essentially, the experience of the last three years substantially reduced the fear of large authoritarian states with respect to Western sanctions, and this is very concerning," he said, adding that China-Russia economic cooperation would make any future Western sanctions against China less effective.

Persons: Alexander Gabuev, Alexander Libman, Libman Organizations: Street Journal, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Free University of Berlin Locations: China, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine, Moscow, Beijing, India, Turkey, USSR

☆ Scholz Pledges $680 Million in Aid From Germany to Ukraine During Visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany paid a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday, his first in more than two years, to reaffirm his country’s support amid mounting concern in Kyiv that the West could scale back military aid and push for a negotiated settlement with Russia. Mr. Scholz’s trip came two weeks after he held a phone call with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to discuss potential paths to end the war. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was particularly critical, warning that Mr. Scholz’s phone call risked opening “a Pandora’s box” by encouraging more leaders to engage with Mr. Putin, ultimately legitimizing the Russian president’s position. Mr. Scholz’s visit to Kyiv on Monday appeared, at least in part, aimed at easing those tensions, and he announced that his country would deliver an additional $680 million of military equipment to Ukraine by the year’s end. “Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe,” Mr. Scholz said in a social media post after his arrival on an overnight train.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz’s, Vladimir V, Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Mr, Scholz Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, “ Germany, Europe

☆ Zelenskyy says Russia is treating the first North Korean soldiers well, but it won't last
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia is treating the first batch of North Korean soldiers sent to aid in its war against Ukraine well, but that it won't last. Zelenskyy told Japanese news agency Kyodo News on Sunday that Russia was treating the North Korean troops well in order to try to attract tens of thousands more. AdvertisementThat could mean around 100,000 North Korean soldiers serving in Russia within a year, he said. Zelenskyy said during the interview with Kyodo News that North Korean troops had been killed there, confirming previous reports. AdvertisementAccording to South Korean intelligence, Russia is paying about $2,000 a month for each North Korean soldier.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Dmytro Ponomarenko, Pat Ryder, Mykola Bielieskov, Bielieskov, Kim Yong, Hyun Organizations: North, Kyodo, Korean, Kyodo News, Pentagon, North Korean, Ukraine, Sunday, Ukraine's National Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Russia, Ukraine, US, South Korea, Korea, Russian, Kursk, Asia, Korean

☆ Georgia is being rocked by days of violent protests. Here’s what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Days of protests have rocked Georgia following the government’s controversial decision to delay the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union. Tensions intensified in late October when Georgian Dream claimed victory in a contested election that was widely seen as a referendum on joining the EU. Opposition TV channel Formula showed people in the central town of Khashuri throwing eggs at the local Georgian Dream office and tearing down the party’s flag. Georgian Dream, founded by a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia, has taken a sharp authoritarian turn in recent years. Experts have warned the suspension of EU talks is another sign the country is going down an undemocratic path under Georgian Dream.

Persons: Irakli Kobakhidze, ”, “, Giorgi Arjevanidze, “ I’ve, –, ” Tsotne, Salome Zourabichvili, Ketevan, Georgians ”, Matthew Miller, Kaja Kallas, Kobakhidze, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev Organizations: CNN, European Union, Georgian, EU, ”, Getty, Georgians, Police, Reuters, Opposition, Interpress, Western, National Democratic Institute ., Democratic, Center for, US State Department, Georgia, Security, of Russia Locations: Georgia, Soviet, South Caucasus, Georgian, Russia, Europe, Soviet Union, ” Georgia, Tbilisi, AFP, Black, Poti, Tbilisi , Georgia, Ukraine, Russian, US, United States

☆ Trump said he'll put a 100% tariff on countries that give up the dollar. That could backfire.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementUS President-elect Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS nations to protect the US dollar's dominance. BRICS nations are exploring alternatives to the US dollar amid de-dollarization talks. The US dollar gained on the political uncertainty, with the Dollar Index up 0.6% at 3:10 a.m. AdvertisementIn October, Russian President Vladimir Putin opened a summit of BRICS nations by calling for an alternative payment system. AdvertisementLast week, Trump threatened 25% tariffs on imports from top trading partners Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on China.

Persons: Trump, dollarization, Donald Trump, Brad Setser, Setser, —, Michael Pettis, Pettis, There's, isn't, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Justin Trudeau, Claudia Sheinbaum Organizations: United, US, Council, Foreign Relations, Treasury, Deutsche Bank, Trump, Deutsche, Carnegie Endowment, International, Russia, ING, greenback, . Canadian, Reuters, Canadian Locations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Russian, Canada, Mexico, Florida

☆ Russian companies are turning to teenagers and retirees amid the country's wartime labor shortage
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementRussia's labor shortage has businesses turning to teens and retirees to fill positions. The nation was short around 5 million workers last year, Russia's Academy of Sciences estimated. That adds to last year's 289% increase, with openings for young workers rising from 14,500 to 42,000, the analysis found. The nation is short around 2 million workers, Bloomberg reported, citing an analysis from FinExpertiza, one of the nation's largest auditors. Last year, the Russian Academy of Sciences estimated the nation was short around 5 million workers.

Persons: Putin Organizations: Russia's Academy of Sciences, Bloomberg, Russia's, Russian Academy of Sciences Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Biden’s pardon of his son pours fuel on Trump’s claims of politicized justice
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter deepened an entanglement of politics and the rule of law that has tarnished faith in American justice and is almost certain to worsen in Donald Trump’s second term. And the cases against Hunter Biden lack the constitutional gravity or historic importance of the indictments against Trump and his frequent attacks on the rule of law. Already, Republicans are arguing the Hunter Biden pardon shows that the current president, and not the next one, is most to blame for politicizing the system of justice by meting out favorable treatment to his son. Yet at the same time, Hunter Biden put himself in a position in which he created a political vulnerability and potential conflict of interest for his father. Then, the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia soured many of the 45th president’s supporters on the justice system.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Hunter, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Jack Smith, can’t, —, Kash Patel, Hunter Biden, meting, Trump, who’s, “, ” Joe Biden, Hunter —, they’ve, David Weiss, General Merrick Garland, Patel, Pam Bondi, elect’s, he’s, Joe Biden, Joe, ” Trump, Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton, Charles Kushner, Ivanka, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, James Comey’s, Hillary Clinton’s, Mueller Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Trump, FBI, House Republicans, Capitol, Republicans, Republican, Trump Still, Trump —, Federal, Commission, Federal Bureau, Democratic Locations: sentencings, United States, France, Delaware, Ukraine, China, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Arkansas, Paris, Russia

☆ Zelenskyy said Ukraine could join NATO without Article 5 applying to its occupied territory
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementVolodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing this week for NATO to invite Ukraine to join its alliance. He said on Sunday that NATO's self-defense pact wouldn't have to apply to Ukraine's occupied territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that his country could join NATO without the alliance's collective self-defense agreement applying to its territory occupied by Russia. Related Video Zelenskyy calls out Russian 'genocide' in Ukraine, demands action at UNSpeaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said that any invitation for Ukraine to join NATO still has to recognize all of its territory as Ukrainian, including areas occupied by Russia. There would be no obligation for the rest, which is the Ukrainian territory seized by Russia in the east.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, —, Putin, they're Organizations: NATO, UN, Sky News, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, Turkey

☆ Angela Merkel recalls Trump’s ‘fascination with the sheer power’ of strongmen like Putin and Kim
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Merkel and Trump meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2017. Merkel recalled how Putin, knowing that she had once been wounded by a dog and was uneasy around them, had infamously brought his large Labrador to a meeting between them in 2007. Merkel said Putin later conceded to her that “he had lied” about this. French President Emmanuel Macron and Merkel look at Trump during a summit in Watford, United Kingdom, December 4, 2019. Asked whether she had made errors of judgment during her premiership, Merkel said: “We always have to look at matters under the conditions we were in then.

Persons: Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Putin, –, ” Merkel, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Merkel, Trump, Saul Loeb, unconventionally ”, “, ”, John Kelly, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi, Trump’s, Kelly’s, Annegret Hilse, Russia Putin, Koni, Axel Schmidt, Emmanuel Macron, Christian Hartmann Organizations: CNN, Former, Trump, White House, White, Getty, “, Reuters, Organization, NATO, AFP, Russia, Georgia, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Germany, East Germany, Washington ,, Berlin, Labrador, Moscow, Europe, Atlantic, Romanian, Bucharest, Georgia, Sochi, Crimea, Watford, United Kingdom

☆ Stoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United States
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The company in its bankruptcy filing said it is “experiencing financial difficulties” and lists between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon will continue to be available on store shelves while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process, which only pertains to its US business. The liquor has long been marketed as a Russian vodka, but its production facilities have been in Latvia for several decades. Stoli Group is a unit of Luxembourg-based SPI Group, which owns other spirit and wine brands. “The Stoli Group has been targeted by the Russian Federation since it was formed nearly 25 years ago,” said Stoli Group CEO Chris Caldwell in a statement.

Persons: Stoli, Stoli Group’s, Yuri Shefler, Vladimir Putin, ”, Chris Caldwell, ’, Caldwell Organizations: New, New York CNN — Stoli, Russian, Stoli, Russian Federation Locations: New York, Russia, Kentucky, ”, Ukraine, Russian, Latvia, Luxembourg

☆ Syria's 13-year frozen war has ignited again after allies Russia and Iran let down their defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It comes as Syria's powerful allies, Iran and Russia, are distracted with other conflicts. With Russia and Iran distracted by regional conflicts, a stagnant 13-year-long civil war in Syria has exploded into renewed violence. It's the most intense outbreak of fighting in the war since Syrian government forces, backed by Iran and Russia, drove rebels back to their strongholds in the north eight years ago, and a stalemate developed. "Israel has changed the balance of power in the region by going on this all-out war on the axis of resistance." Meanwhile, Russia, whose 2015 entry into the Syrian Civil War was crucial in propping up the Assad regime, has problems of its own.

Persons: Tahrir, Sham, Bashar al, Assad, who've, that's, Joshua Landis, Charles Lister, it's Organizations: Rebels, Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, University of Oklahoma, New York Times, Middle East Institute, Turkey Locations: Syria, Hayat, Aleppo, Iran, Russia, Hama, Idlib, Sunday, Israel, Syrian, Tunisia, Egypt, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Ukraine

☆ Putin signs off record Russian defense spending as top E.U. officials visit Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days. Their visit comes as doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new U.S. administration led by Donald Trump. Moscow sent 78 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. In Russia, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, according to regional Gov.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Russia’s, Antonio Costa, Kaja Kallas, Donald Trump, ” Costa, Marta Kos, Oleksandr Prokudin, Serhiy Lysak, Alexander Bogomaz Organizations: Lawmakers, State Duma, Federation Council, New, Ukraine, “, Gov, Dnipropetrovsk Gov, Russia’s Defense Ministry Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Kyiv, EU, U.S, “, Kherson, Russian, Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk, Russia, Ukrainian, Bryansk, Kaluga, Smolensk, Kursk

☆ Europe’s far right feels emboldened by Trump’s win but it could be short-lived
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Yet, there are common overlapping themes among Europe’s populists that are also present in Trump’s playbook. “As we know, any kind of peace agreement on Putin’s terms would be terrible for Ukraine and terrible for European security,” Van Rij stresses. “Trump’s reelection purely underscores all of that.”‘Warm air of historical righteousness’Overall, Van Rij sees “a lot of convergence in thinking” between Trump and some of Europe’s populist parties. Van Rij says France would therefore be disproportionately hard-hit by Trump’s America First trade policy. “China is seen as arch enemy number one by some in the Republican party, and Trump shares that view,” Van Rij says.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump, ”, “ wokeism, Biden, Trump, ” Geert Wilders, Alice Weidel, “, Viktor Orban, Frederick Florin, Viktor Orbán, Armida van Rij, Europe’s, Van Rij, Joe Biden’s, vocalizing, Vladimir Putin’s, Orbán, ” Trump, Calin Georgescu, Putin, ” Van Rij, “ Trump’s, they’ve, elect’s, Pen, Liana, Le, Jeremy Suykur, –, Le Pen, Xi, Giorgia Organizations: CNN, Trump, Dutch Freedom Party, Hollywood, Hungary's, Getty, Fidesz, Chatham House, Deal, Freedom Party, Center, European Reform, Agence France, Presse, EU, National, Eurostat, Trump’s America, Europe, Council, Foreign Relations, Shipping, Bloomberg, Republican, DC Locations: Germany, AFP, Europe, Trump’s, Austria, London, Europe’s, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, America, France, United States, Marseille, Fos, Hungarian, Hungary, China, Brussels, ”

☆ National security advisor Jake Sullivan says Biden told him to oversee a 'massive surge' of weapons deliveries to Ukraine before his term ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jake Sullivan told ABC News that Biden aims to help Ukraine "strengthen' its position. National security advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday said President Joe Biden was doing what he could to "strengthen" Ukraine's position as the commander-in-chief prepares to leave office in just under two months. "And President Biden directed me to oversee a massive surge in the military equipment that we are delivering to Ukraine so that we have spent every dollar that Congress has appropriated to us by the time that President Biden leaves office." Last month, Biden greenlighted Ukraine's use of powerful US-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles to strike inside Russia. Advertisement"I've encouraged the Ukrainian team to engage the incoming team as well as to engage all of our allies and partners, because, again, on January 21, the war in Ukraine doesn't just go away," Sullivan told Karl.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Trump, Joe Biden, Sullivan, Jonathan Karl, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I've, Ukraine doesn't, Karl Organizations: ABC News, Sunday, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Israel, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Biden’s pardon of his son makes presidential history
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —President Joe Biden made history Sunday when he granted a pardon to his son Hunter Biden for criminal convictions on gun and tax charges. With the pardon, Biden broke a clear public promise not to interfere with the justice system on his son’s behalf, something that will now stain his presidential legacy. She told me the framers did not anticipate the pardon power being used for close relations. In issuing the pardon for his son, Biden said Americans should still believe in the justice system. It’s in these final weeks in office that presidents frequently use their pardon power in the most controversial ways.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, “, ”, Biden, —, Hunter, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, Alexis Coe, George Washington, Bill Clinton, Roger, ► Trump, Charles Kushner, Kushner, Coe, Clinton, Trump, Marc Rich, Paul Manafort, Stephen Bannon, Bannon, It’s Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Trump, Constitutional Convention, Department of Justice, FBI, Congressional Research Service, Democrats Locations: United States, Ukraine, France, New York, Washington , DC

☆ Protests in Georgia spread as PM defies US condemnation
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The country of 3.7 million people has seen months of rising tension between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opponents who accuse it of pursuing increasingly authoritarian, anti-Western and pro-Russian policies. Opposition TV channel Formula showed footage of people in Khashuri, a town of 20,000 in central Georgia, throwing eggs at the local Georgian Dream office and tearing down the party’s flag. Georgian Dream says it is acting to defend the country’s sovereignty against outside interference. Georgia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that foreign states were trying to “interfere in the functioning of the institutions of a sovereign state”, and that this was unacceptable. But domestic opponents and Western governments have become increasingly concerned that Georgian Dream is intent – despite its denials – on abandoning that course.

Persons: Interpress, Dmitry Medvedev, Irakli Kobakhidze, ”, Kobakhidze, Donald Trump, Irakli Gedenidze, Salome Zourabichvili –, Zourabichvili, –, Giorgi Arjevanidze, Kaja Kallas Organizations: TBILISI Reuters — Protesters, European Union, EU, Protesters, Georgia, West, NATO, Getty Locations: TBILISI, Georgia’s, Georgian, Tbilisi, Black, Poti, Khashuri, Georgia, United States, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Tbilisi , Georgia, Washington, Soviet Union, AFP, Ukraine

☆ Zelenskyy agrees on X to a '3 hour' Lex Fridman podcast appearance as Musk touts another win for the platform
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to appear on Lex Fridman's podcast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed on X to record an episode of Lex Fridman's podcast in Ukraine, much to Elon Musk's delight. AdvertisementMusk has long touted his social media platform as a means of bypassing legacy media outlets and allowing world and company leaders to "speak directly to the people." Zelenskyy himself is a big social media user, sharing updates on the Russia-Ukraine war and details of meetings with other world leaders on X and Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President-elect Donald Trump.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Lex Fridman's, Elon Musk, Elon Musk's, Fridman, Lex, Zelenskyy, Musk, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, —, Jeff Bezos, podcaster Joe Rogan, " Rogan, Rogan, Biden, Julia Demaree Nikhinson Organizations: Trump, Elon, Amazon, AP, Sky News, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

☆ Putin signs off record Russian defense spending as top EU officials visit Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Russia's, Antonio Costa, Kaja Kallas, Donald Trump, Costa, Marta Kos, Oleksandr Prokudin, Serhiy Lysak, Alexander Bogomaz Organizations: Sputnik, Lawmakers, State Duma, Federation Council, New, Ukraine, EU, Gov, Dnipropetrovsk Gov, Russia's Defense Ministry Locations: Russian, videoconference, Moscow, Ukraine, Kyiv, EU, U.S, Kherson, Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk, Russia, Ukrainian, Bryansk, Kaluga, Smolensk, Kursk

☆ Putin approves record defense spending – a third of Russia’s budget
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Mariya Knight | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a record-breaking defense budget, setting aside a staggering third of the government’s total spending as the war in Ukraine drains resources from both sides nearly three years on. The budget for 2025, which was published Sunday, allocates about $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles) to national defense – amounting to 32.5% of government spending. The defense budget is about $28 billion (three trillion rubles) higher than the previous record set this year. The new three-year budget forecasts a slight reduction in military spending for 2026 and 2027. The North Korean troops may help Russia’s efforts for some time – but the material losses could be harder to make up for.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Lawmakers, Russian Central Bank, Russia, North Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Moscow, Kursk region, United States, Russia, North Korea, Kursk

☆ TikTok is facing accusations of election interference after a surprise win by a far-right candidate in Romania
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Romania's defense council says TikTok's algorithm fueled the rise of a far-right candidate. TikTok is facing accustions from regulators in Romania that content on the platform improperly influenced the country's presidential election. AdvertisementIn its statement, the Romanian defense council said there is growing interest inside Russia to "influence the public agenda in Romanian society" and disrupt social cohesion. The defense council said that not labeling the content as campaign-related drastically increased its visibility on TikTok. TikTok has also faced scrutiny in the United States for allowing political ads that included disinformation in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

Persons: TikTok, Călin Georgescu, Vladimir Putin, Marcel Ciolacu, Georgescu, —, Donald Trump, Paolo Ganino Organizations: Romania's, of National Defense, Romanian Constitutional Court, Associated Press, NATO, AP, Supreme, TikTok, Facebook, Business, Politico Locations: Romania, NATO, Ukraine, Russia, Romanian, United States

☆ Over 40 people hospitalized in Georgia during protests over suspension of EU talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the government's decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union left 44 people hospitalized, officials said Sunday. An effigy of the founder of the governing Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili — a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia — was burned in front of the legislature. He insisted it wasn't true that Georgia's European integration had been halted. The statement condemned Georgia's decision to halt its efforts toward EU accession. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and enlargement commissioner Marta Kos released a joint statement Sunday on the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations.

Persons: Bidzina, Russia —, Irakli Kobakhidze, Kobakhidze, Georgia's, Kaja Kallas, Marta Kos, Salome Zourabichvili, Zourabichvili Organizations: Riot, European Union, U.S, U.S . State, Georgian, EU, Associated Press Locations: Tbilisi , Georgia, Georgian, Russia, Georgia, U.S ., Ukraine, EU, Moscow, Tbilisi

☆ Israel's powerful air defense systems look increasingly vulnerable to attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"The Israeli Air Force does continue to rule the skies, but under the noses of the advanced fighter jets, a new air layer has been created." Above all, it strives to locate, endanger, and destroy key elements of the air defense system itself." "The degree of mobility, protection and hiding ability of the Israeli air defense system is inadequate. Unlike similar systems in the world, our air defense system was not built with synchronization as a critical goal." Meanwhile, the IDF's air defense corps switched its focus from anti-aircraft to missile defense.

Persons: Eran Ortal, Ran Kochav, Israel —, Ortal, Kochav, Ariel Schalit, Michael Peck Organizations: Sadat Center, Strategic Defense, Bar, Ilan University, Israeli Air Force, Air Force, Hezbollah, Arrow, AP, Israel's Air Force, IDF, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Iran, Britain, Lebanon, Ukraine, Soviet, Kippur, Syrian, Forbes

☆ In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Syria’s largest city for the first time since 2016
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syria's northwestern countryside. A ceasefire in Hezbollah's two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned "limited" offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said.

Persons: Hayat Tahrir, Robert Ford, Israel, Dareen Khalifa, It's, Hezbollah's, Bashar Assad's, Dmitry Peskov, Rami Abdurrahman, Abbas Araghchi Organizations: Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, International Crisis Group, Islamic, Anadolu Agency, Iranian, U.S, Zionist Locations: Rashidin, Aleppo, Hayat, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Russia, Iran, U.S, Syria, Hayat Tahrir, Hezbollah's, Ukraine, Turkey, Syrian, United States, Syrian Kurdish, Idlib, Damascus, Turkey's, Palestine

☆ What’s happening in Syria? A simple guide
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The offensive is the first time opposition forces have seized territory in Aleppo since 2016, shattering the stalemate of a war that never formally ended. Extremist Islamists including al Qaeda took an interest in Syria, taking up a common cause with the moderate Syrian opposition who did not welcome jihadist involvement. Analysts told CNN that the Syrian rebels are using a vacuum left by the group to advance in Syria. The new grouping is made up of a broad spectrum of opposition forces, from Islamist factions to moderates. The backbone of the SDF are Kurdish fighters from a group known as the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), which has previously fought other Syrian opposition groups.

Persons: CNN —, Bashar al, Assad, Assad –, Syria’s, al Qaeda, al, CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Ben Wedeman, Mostafa Salem, Christian Edwards Organizations: CNN, Saudi, United Arab, Guard, Syrian Air Force, Russian, ISIS, Syrian Democratic Forces, Operations Command, ”, Iranian, Analysts, Nusra, Peoples ’ Locations: Aleppo, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, Iran, Russia, Kurdish, Idlib, Ukraine, Israel, Syria’s, Hayat Tahrir, Qaeda, al Qaeda

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