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Nearly two weeks have passed and no large-scale response has materialized, leaving Israel and the wider Middle East on edge. But Mr. Haniyeh’s killing was seen as the greater blow to Tehran because it took place on Iranian soil. “Israel has checkmated Iran in this situation because Iran is left with no good options,” said Mr. Vaez. What could an Iranian response look like? U.S. and Israeli diplomats and security officials had some advanced knowledge of its scope and intensity of Iran’s attack in April, which facilitated defensive preparations.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud, Israel, Fuad Shukr, Haniyeh’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, analystsexperts, Nasser Kanaan, Sanam Vakil, Pezeshkian, Vakil, Ms, Ali Vaez, Vaez, “ Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Keir Starmer, Nasser Kanani, Jordan, Mr, Haniyeh, Lloyd J, Austin III, Biden Organizations: Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Chatham House, Crisis, Diplomats, of Islamic Cooperation, United, Hamas Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Masoud Pezeshkian, Beirut, Lebanon, Golan, East, London, Yemen, Western, Iranian, United States, Gaza, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia

☆ Hunter Biden Sought State Department Help for Ukrainian Company
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Kenneth P. Vogel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Hunter Biden sought assistance from the U.S. government for a potentially lucrative energy project in Italy while his father was vice president, according to newly released records and interviews. The records, which the Biden administration had withheld for years, indicate that Hunter Biden wrote at least one letter to the U.S. ambassador to Italy in 2016 seeking assistance for the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, where he was a board member. Embassy officials appear to have been uneasy with the request from the son of the sitting vice president on behalf of a foreign company. “I want to be careful about promising too much,” wrote a Commerce Department official based in the U.S. Embassy in Rome who was tasked with responding.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden, ” Organizations: U.S, Embassy, Commerce Department Locations: Italy, U.S, Rome

☆ China celebrates historic Olympic gold medal tie with US after neck and neck battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Nectar Gan | Hassan Tayier | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

China has become one of the world’s most competitive sporting nations in recent decades, seeing its Olympic performance as a symbol of national strength. In 2008, it topped the gold medal table at the Beijing Games, surpassing the US for the first time. In Paris, the Chinese team appeared on course to top the medal table as it built up a sizable early lead over Team USA, thanks to its domination in shooting and diving. On microblogging site Weibo, the hashtag “China tied for first place on the gold medal leaderboard” became the top trending topic, racking up more than 500 million views. “We won every gold medal square and fair!” said a top comment with over 28,000 likes.

Persons: –, ’, ”, “, WADA, CHINADA, Erriyon Knighton, Knighton, ” “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, Beijing Games, Team USA, Soviet Union, Times, Olympics, Communist Party, Tokyo, Doping Agency, Tokyo Games, New York Times, ARD, Games, Embassy Locations: Hong Kong, China, United States, Paris, Soviet, Weibo, Taiwan, Taipei, British, Beijing, Washington, CHINADA, Los Angeles, USA

Nearly two weeks have passed and no large-scale response has materialized, leaving Israel and the wider Middle East on edge. Iran, which backs Hamas, blamed Israel for the assassination, but Israeli leaders have not said their forces were responsible. What could an Iranian response look like? U.S. and Israeli diplomats and security officials had some advanced knowledge of its scope and intensity of Iran’s attack in April, which facilitated defensive preparations. The foreign minister of Jordan, an ally of the United States, has traveled to Tehran in recent days for meetings.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud, Israel, Fuad Shukr, Haniyeh’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nasser Kanaan, Sanam Vakil, Pezeshkian, Vakil, Ms, Ali Vaez, Vaez, “ Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jordan, Mr, Haniyeh, Lloyd J, Austin III, Biden Organizations: Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Chatham House, Crisis, Diplomats, of Islamic Cooperation, United, Hamas Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Masoud Pezeshkian, Beirut, Lebanon, Golan, East, London, Yemen, Iranian, United States, Gaza, Saudi Arabia

☆ Philippines condemns China’s ‘illegal and reckless’ actions for dropping flares in the skies above South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Philippine military condemned “dangerous and provocative actions” when two Chinese aircraft dropped flares in the path of a Philippine aircraft during a routine patrol around the shoal on Thursday. The Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command countered that the Philippines had disrupted its training, accusing Manila of “illegally intruding” into its airspace. On Sunday, Marcos urged China to act responsibly both in the seas and in the skies. Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that Beijing’s expansive claims had no basis under international law.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, ” Marcos, Chester Cabalza, ”, Cabalza Organizations: Sunday, South China, Southern Theater Command, Presidential Communications Office, International Development, Security Cooperation Locations: South, Manila, Beijing, Scarborough, Philippines, Philippine, “, China, South China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, The Hague

☆ Philippine military condemns China air force for ‘dangerous’ acts in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Philippine military said on Saturday it strongly condemns “dangerous and provocative actions” by China’s air force at a contested shoal in the South China Sea. It was the first time the Philippines has complained of dangerous actions by Chinese aircraft, as opposed to navy or coast guard vessels, since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022. Two People’s Liberation Army Air Force aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a NC-212i Philippine air force propeller aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol over the Scarborough shoal on Thursday morning, the military said in a statement. Filipino fishermen frequent the Scarborough Shoal one of two flashpoints in a longstanding maritime rivalry with China. A China Coast Guard ship monitors a Philippine fisherman aboard his wooden boat in the disputed South China Sea.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Romeo Brawner, Ted Aljibe Organizations: People’s Liberation Army Air Force, China Coast Guard, Getty Locations: Philippine, South China, Philippines, Scarborough, Manila, China, Beijing, Bajo, Masinloc, AFP, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Hague

☆ China’s Great Wall of Villages
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Muyi Xiao | Agnes Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

China’s Great Wall of Villages China has moved thousands of people to new settlements on its frontiers. Mr. Akester and Mr. Barnett, who have studied Tibet’s border villages for years, reviewed The Times’s findings. In neighboring Xinjiang and Yunnan, The Times identified six new and 59 expanded border villages. (China says there are hundreds of villages like them, but few details are available and many appear to be mere upgrades of existing villages.) A Times investigation found 12 villages in disputed areas Disputed areas Villages in disputed areas Other villages CHINA CHINA TIBET Arunachal Pradesh Controlled by India Claimed by China BHUTAN INDIA MYANMAR 50 miles CHINA CHINA TIBET Arunachal Pradesh Controlled by India Claimed by China BHUTAN MYANMAR INDIA 75 miles Source: RAIC Labs and The Times analysis of Planet Labs satellite imageryChina makes clear that the villages are there for security.

Persons: ”, Xi Jinping, Bhutan Gyalaphug, Tian Shan Wang, Matthew Akester, Robert Barnett, Akester, Barnett, India Demchok, ” Mr, Xi’s, Brahma Chellaney, Mr, Chellaney, Liu Pengyu, Brian Hart, India Migyitun, Jing Qian, Tenzin, “ Organizations: Daily, New York Times, RAIC Labs, Planet Labs, The Times, SOAS University of London, India, China United Front News Network, Times, ”, Embassy, Local, Planet Labs India, China Power, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Maxar, Center for, Asia Society, Communist Party, Human Rights Watch Locations: China, India, Beijing, Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Tajikistan Fumin, Aimin, Vietnam, Luozha county, Shannan, Tibet Autonomous, Fumin, Xinjiang, Yunnan, China’s, CHINA CHINA TIBET Arunachal Pradesh, China BHUTAN INDIA MYANMAR, China BHUTAN MYANMAR INDIA, New Delhi, South China, Washington, ” India, Ladakh, Times, ”, Center for China, Central Asians, Dokha

“Any assessment that Iran is assigning lethal operations to a ‘B team’ misses the utility of nonofficial actors," said Roule, currently affiliated with United Against Nuclear Iran. Officials say they see no connection between that plot and the shooting of Trump in Pennsylvania by a local resident who had researched mass shootings and political assassinations. In 2021, the Justice Department charged four alleged Iranian intelligence operatives with trying to kidnap Masih Alinejad. “We have said many times that we have been tracking Iranian threats against former politicians,” she said this week. Neither President Joe Biden nor Vice President Kamala Harris has commented on the alleged Iranian assassination plots.

Persons: ”, Kenneth Katzman, don’t, “, ” Katzman, “ There’s, they’ve, Norm Roule, ’, Roule, aren't, Asif Merchant of, Donald Trump, John Bolton, Qassem Soleimani, New York —, Masih Alinejad, Alinejad, General Merrick Garland, we’ve, Steven M, Bolton, Biden, it’s, It’s, —, Jake Sullivan, Sean Savett, … The, Harris, White, Karine Jean, Pierre, “ We’ve, Qassem, …, Biden’s, John Kirby, ” Adrienne Watson, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Trump, Mike Turner Organizations: FBI, Soufan Center, Congressional Research Service, CIA, United Against Nuclear, Iran’s Revolutionary, Quds Force, Administration, D.C, Justice Department, Eastern, NBC News, Roule, Bolton, National Security Council, … The Biden, NBC, ., White, Indian, ” Locations: Iran, United States, U.S, U.S . Iran, United Against Nuclear Iran, Asif Merchant of Pakistan, Texas, Trump, Pennsylvania, Saudi, Washington, New York, Brooklyn , New York, Bolton, Tehran, Europe, Canada

☆ A second Iranian attack on Israel would likely dwarf its first
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Read previewIran has repeatedly vowed it will attack Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas' political leader in Tehran on July 31. Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time in April, two weeks after Israel assassinated Iranian paramilitary commanders at an Iranian consulate annex in Damascus, Syria. AdvertisementHow Israel would retaliate for any Iranian attack would likely depend on certain factors. "If the coming Iranian attack causes Israeli casualties, they are likely to want to respond harshly," Azizi said. Devine believes Israel's response will depend on the "amount of damage and casualties" any Iranian attack ultimately causes.

Persons: —, Israel, Israel's, Fuad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Antony Blinken, Arash Azizi, Azizi, what's, James Devine, Mount Allison University, Devine, MENAHEM KAHANA, Marwan Naamani, Ain, Washington Institute's Nadimi Organizations: Service, Business, Sunday, Clemson University, Iran's, National Security Council, Department of Politics, Relations, Mount Allison, Getty, Washington Institute for Near East, Tel, Hezbollah, Ain al Asad, IDF, Washington Locations: Iran, Tehran, Lebanon, Beirut, Israel, Iranian, Damascus, Syria, Britain, France, Jordan, Iraq's, Karbala, US, AFP, Yemen, Iraq, Tel Aviv, Lebanese, Ain al

☆ Pentagon Hands Over Last Base in Niger as Extremism Spreads in the Sahel
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. military turned over control of its last base in Niger to local forces on Monday, ending a yearslong counterterrorism mission in the West African country even as violent extremism remains on the rise in the region. A group of U.S. troops boarded an Air Force cargo plane and flew out of a $110 million air base in central Niger that was built with Pentagon money, among the last of 1,000 personnel that Washington had agreed to pull out by Sept. 15. A small number of troops will remain at the United States Embassy for a short time to wrap up administrative details, officials said. “The withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete,” the Pentagon’s Africa Command said in a statement, referring to the installation in central Niger. “The effective cooperation and communication between the U.S. and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications.”

Persons: “ Organizations: U.S, Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, United States Embassy, Air Base, Pentagon’s Africa Command, Nigerien Locations: Niger, West, U.S, Agadez

☆ Middle East tensions: Those leaving Lebanon hold their families extra tight as they say goodbye
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Ivan Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Beirut, Lebanon CNN —When our plane finally took off from Beirut, it was nearly an hour late. Before departing for the airport, we held each other extra tight, not sure when we would see each other again. Moments later, the Israeli military carried out a “targeted strike” in southern Beirut, roughly 10 minutes’ drive away. The next day, the hills shook with the sound of sonic booms as Israeli war planes broke the sound barrier overhead. The CNN team in Beirut later confirmed reports that Israeli warplanes had broken the sound barrier in skies over Lebanon.

Persons: Angelina, Ghenwa, Hussein, Kayta, Ivan Watson, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Katya, Israel, Fu’ad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, hasn’t, Mayyas, Lebanon’s Virgin Radio haven’t, Jack Sleiman, Taym, It’s Organizations: Lebanon CNN, Airlines, Hezbollah, CNN, Israel’s, America’s, Lebanon’s Virgin Radio Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Golan, Lebanese, Harat, Tehran . Iran, Gaza, Tel Aviv , Washington, Tehran, Beirut’s

☆ Gunmen kill New Zealand helicopter pilot in another attack in Indonesia’s restive Papua region
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Jayapura, Indonesia — Gunmen stormed a helicopter and killed its New Zealand pilot shortly after it landed in Indonesia’s restive Papua region on Monday, and they released two health workers and two children it was carrying, police said. West Papua Liberation Army spokesperson Sebby Sambom told The Associated Press that he had not received any reports from fighters on the ground about the killing. NZ Pilot Philip Mehrtens flanked by members of the West Papua National Liberation Army. Planning to use the pilot to negotiate, Kogoya has said they won’t release Mehrtens unless Indonesia frees Papua as a sovereign country. Flying is the only practical way of accessing many areas in the mountainous easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Persons: Indonesia — Gunmen, Glen Malcolm, Faizal Ramadhani, ”, Sebby Sambom, ” Sambom, “, Philip Mehrtens, Egianus, Philip Mark Mehrtens, Kogoya, Graeme Thomas Wall, Wall Organizations: Indonesia —, Zealand, Indonesian, PT, Angkasa Air Service, West Papua Liberation Army, Free Papua Movement, National Police, Associated Press, New Zealand, NZ, West Papua National Liberation Army, West, Susi, PT Freeport Indonesia Locations: Jayapura, Indonesia, Indonesia’s restive Papua, Alama, Mimika district, Central Papua, Papua, West, Jakarta, Dutch, New Guinea, West Papua, Christchurch, Indonesian, New Zealand, Ngaruawahia

☆ Nigeria, Australia and several other countries warn about travel to UK amid riots
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Nigeria, Australia, Indonesia and a number of other countries have warned their citizens about traveling to the UK, as a spate of anti-immigrant riots grips cities across Britain. The UK’s worst social unrest in years was sparked by the stabbing deaths of three young girls in Stockport, northwest England, last week. A number of countries have issued warnings in response, including a group of Muslim-majority nations. Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, took to social media platform X on Sunday to post, ““A deeply worrying situation in the UK. “Nigeria and Kenya are warning their citizens in the UK after riots in the former colonial power,” said Nairobi-based CNN correspondent Larry Madowo.

Persons: Korir Sing’Oei, ”, Larry Madowo, “ Organizations: London CNN —, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “, CNN, Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesian Embassy Locations: London CNN — Nigeria, Australia, Indonesia, Britain, Stockport, England, Nigeria, Kenya, “ Nigeria, Nairobi, United Kingdom, Indonesian, London

☆ Israel’s ambassador to Japan criticizes Nagasaki’s peace ceremony invitation snub
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The decision by Nagasaki contrasts with that of Hiroshima, which hosts its ceremony on Tuesday and has invited Israel. Nagasaki’s mayor Shiro Suzuki told reporters last week that Israel’s exclusion from Friday’s upcoming memorial was due to security concerns and was not a political decision. CNN has reached out to the Nagasaki authorities for comment. But he pointed out authorities in Hiroshima took no issue with security over Israel’s attendance. Kyodo News/Getty ImagesThe diplomat noted that Iran, which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah, is set to attend the Nagasaki ceremony.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Shiro Suzuki, “, ”, Gilad Cohen, Cohen Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Hiroshima Peace, Kyodo, ” CNN Locations: Japan, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Tokyo, ”, Iran

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the region’s biggest stories. Such escalation could also jeopardize efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages, despite recent progress in negotiations. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discussed comprehensive security strategies to protect Israel, according to a statement on Monday. Israel was considering its options to prepare for a regional attack over the weekend. The country braces for war in its own way and tends to pick up after itself.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, ”, Israel, Israel hasn’t, “, Yoav Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Ayman Safadi, Badr Abdelatti, Ali Bagheri Kani, ‘, Masoud Pezeshkian, Safadi, Nasser Kanaani, Fu’ad Shukr, Majdal Shams, Hassan Nasrallah, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” “, ” Netanyahu, Ali Bagheri, Netanyahu, Gallant, Daniel Hagari, Lebanon scrambledto, floaties, Samer Othman, Jalaa Marey, Othman, Liz Nicholas, David Adom, Be’er, Ivana Reiser, Zeev Jabotinsky, Naama, ” Be’er, ” Baer, Reiser, Roy Dror, Ron Heckmann, they’re, Dror, ” Heckmann, Uri Shacham, Shacham Organizations: Jerusalem CNN —, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Saturday, US, Israeli, Defense, US Central Command, Jordanian, Egypt’s, Zionist, Israel, Iran, Sunday, Getty Images Israel, Hezbollah, CNN, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Getty, MDA Locations: Beirut, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Lebanon, Gaza, United States, Syria, Majdal, Golan, ”, AFP, Cairo, Lebanese, Beirut’s, Mount Herzl, London, Nahariyah

TEL AVIV — Israel is bracing for a potential multiday attack by Iran and its ally Hezbollah following the assassination of two senior militant leaders last week, an Israeli official told NBC News. Israel killed Shukr in a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut last Tuesday. Hours later, news broke that Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in the early hours Wednesday morning. The call was “tense,” according to the Israeli official. This time, the Israeli official said the attacks could come over several days, with Hezbollah attacking Israel from the north while Iran’s longer-range weapons are fired from the east.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, “ They’ll, Shukr, ”, Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Biden, Israel, Netanyahu, Raf Sanchez, Doha Madani Organizations: NBC News, Diplomats Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Iran, Beirut, Golan, Tehran, Gaza, U.S, Cairo, Damascus, Tel Aviv, Doha, New York City

CNN —The US, UK and France are among several countries urging their citizens to leave Lebanon as heightened tensions in the region spark fears of a widening Middle East conflict. Haniyeh’s death came just hours after an Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut killed Hezbollah’s most senior military commander, Fu’ad Shukr. Many countries already had travel warnings in place but have issued fresh advice in the wake of the latest developments. AFP/Getty ImagesFrance told its citizens to make arrangements to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible” in a statement from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign affairs on Sunday. Israel says it is ready for “range of scenarios” following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

Persons: ”, David Lammy, “, Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s, Fu’ad, Jordan Organizations: CNN, Saturday Hezbollah, AFP, Getty, France, Ministry for, Foreign, ” Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Kuwaiti Airlines, Saturday, Pentagon Locations: France, Lebanon, ” Britain’s, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Beirut, Gaza, Metullah, Ministry for Europe, Jerusalem

☆ Russia pulled back weapons shipment to Houthis amid US and Saudi pressure
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

For the Houthis to engage in that kind of weapons transaction, moreover, “would demonstrate to us a lack of commitment” by the Houthis to peace talks, the official said. Currently, the Houthis “appear to be drifting further away from a commitment to a negotiated peace in Yemen,” the official said. And while the imminent weapons transfer was pulled back, Russia did deploy military personnel to Yemen to help advise the Houthis over a three-day period in late July, the sources said. The Russians carried bags with them, but nothing that appeared large enough to carry weapons or weapons components, the sources said. It is not clear whether the Russian ships were carrying the equipment that Russia had been preparing to transfer to the Houthis before the Kremlin abandoned the plan.

Persons: “, Saudi Arabia’s pushback, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Oman — Organizations: CNN, US, Saudi Embassy, Kremlin, US Central Command Locations: Russia, Yemen, United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Moscow, Saudi, Russian, Ukraine, Somali, Shabaab, China, Oman

☆ 2 renowned strategists say the US should defend Taiwan with nuclear strikes. Experts say such talk is just a taste of what's to come.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The US once floated nuclear retaliation in 1958 if China invaded Taiwan, and stationed nuclear weapons on the island until 1974. It would essentially tell Beijing that an invasion of the island risks nuclear war, he said. "What's the benefit of reassuring Xi that our nuclear weapons are not relevant?" "So relatively low-yield nuclear weapons could destroy that amphibious force and do little to no collateral damage onshore in Taiwan." He added that threatening war — much less nuclear war — over Taiwan would be deeply unpopular at home.

Persons: —, David Kearn, Kearn, — he'd, Greg Weaver, Weaver, Obama, Matthew Kroenig, James Acton, Greg, Matt, Kroenig, Lyle Goldstein, Goldstein, we're, Acton, Francesca Giovannini, Giovannini, Xi Jinping, Xi, It's, Marshall Billingslea, Billingslea, Rebeccah Heinrichs, Jake Werner Organizations: Service, John's, Atlantic Council, Pentagon, Business, RAND, US Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Department, Nuclear, Carnegie Endowment, International, China Initiative, Brown University, International Peace, Harvard University's Kennedy, Georgetown University, US State Department, Hudson, Keystone Defense Initiative, Kroenig, East Asia, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Johns University Locations: St, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Washington, Korea, Japan, Taiwan Strait, Washington , DC, Guam, South China, Russia, United States, Bejing, South Korea

CNN —Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says she’s in hiding, fears for her life, and can prove President Nicolas Maduro did not win Sunday’s contentious presidential election. “I am writing this from hiding, fearing for my life, my freedom,” Machado wrote in an opinion editorial published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal. Though the country’s Public Ministry later clarified that no arrest warrant had been issued for either opposition figure. The United States is among numerous countries that have called on Venezuelan electoral officials to publish detailed results from Sunday’s presidential election. I call on those who reject authoritarianism and support democracy to join the Venezuelan people in our noble cause,” she said.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, she’s, Nicolas Maduro, “, ” Machado, Machado, Jorge Rodriguez, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maduro, –, ”, Nicolas Maduro's, Carlos Landaeta, Edmundo González, Maduro didn’t, Federico Parra, Celso Amorim Organizations: CNN, Wall Street, Venezuela’s National, Public, Carter, Venezuelan, Puerto La Cruz, Getty, Electoral Council, CNE, Argentine Embassy, Human Rights Watch, Local, Foro Penal Locations: Venezuelan, Venezuela’s, Venezuela, United States, Puerto La, Anzoategui, AFP, Argentine, Miraflores, Caracas

☆ Who was freed in major prisoner swap between Russia and the West?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The German court that convicted Krasikov in 2021 said he acted on behalf of the Russian state, shooting Khangoshvili “execution style” in broad daylight. Vadim Konoshchenok, 48An undated photo of Vadim Konoshchenok included in a 2022 court document. He was arrested in February 2022, according to the Polish state news agency PAP. Lilia Chanysheva, 42Lilia Chanysheva stands is seen during a hearing at the Kirovskiy District Court in Ufa, Russia, on June 14, 2023. He was sentenced to four years in a penal colony in July 2022, according to Amnesty International.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Vadim Krasikov, Vadim Krasikov Berlin Police Krasikov, Krasikov, Zelimkhan, Khangoshvili, Ramzan Kadyrov, Putin, Viktor Bout, Whelan, Brittney, Biden, Alexey Navalny, Vadim Konoshchenok, Konoshchenok, Vladislav Klyushin, Klyushin, Roman Seleznev, US Department of Justice Roman Seleznev, Seleznev, Artem Dultsev, Ludvig Gish, Anna Dultseva, Dultsev, Maria Rosa Mayer Munos, Mikhail Mikushin, Pavel Rubtsov, Pablo Gonzalez, Oihana Goiriena, Vincent West, Pablo Gonzales, Natalia Kolesnikova, Kirill Kudryavtsev, US Marine Whelan, Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, Liberty Alsu Kurmasheva, Alexey Nasyrov, Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kara, Vladimir Putin’s “, ”, Rico Krieger, Krieger, Alexander Lukashenko, Kevin Lik, Lick, Dieter, Voronin, Ivan Safronov, Roscosmos, Demuri Voronin, Safronov, Herman Moyzhes, Moyzhes, Patrick Schoebel, Schoebel, Ilya Yashin, Yuri Kochetkov, ” Alexandra Skochilenko, Alexandra Skochilenko, Anton Vaganov, Skochilenko, “, ” Oleg Orlov, Oleg Orlov, Lilia Chanysheva, Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeeva, Maxim Shemetov, Fadeeva, Vadim Ostanin, Alexei Navalny’s, Ostanin, Andrei Pivovarov, Pivovarov Organizations: CNN, Vadim Krasikov Berlin Police, Chechen, Russian, Krasikov, US Department of Justice, US, Office, Eastern, of, Attorney's, University of Tromsø, Reuters, Court, Getty, Street, US Marine, US State Department, Radio Free, Liberty, AP, Belarusian TV, Belteleradio, Human Rights, German Red Cross, TASS, German Federal Intelligence Service, Pulkovo, Ukraine, Amnesty International Locations: American, Russia, Moscow, Berlin’s Kleiner, Russian, Georgia, Estonia, of New York, Boston, Sion , Switzerland, United States, Maldives, Slovenia, Ljubljana, Norway, Brazilian, Nabarniz, Spain, Poland, Spanish, Sverdlovsk, AFP, Irish, Radio Free Europe, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Belarusian, German, Belarus, Berlin, Germany, Europe, St . Petersburg, St, Petersburg, Meshansky, Bucha, Kyiv, Saint Petersburg, Kirovskiy, Ufa, Bashkortostan, Tomsk, Krasnodar

☆ Speculation mounts that a US-Russia prisoner swap is in the works
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

There is speculation about a potential prisoner swap between the US and Russia. The potential prisoner swap could include Evan Gershkovich and Vladimir Kara-Murza, reports say. AdvertisementSpeculation about a potential major prisoner swap between the US and Russia bubbled up this week. Russian and US officials have not confirmed or commented on a potential prisoner swap. The US State Department and the Russian embassy in the US did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara, Murza, —, Putin Organizations: Service, US State Department, Business, Reuters Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Siberia

☆ A deadly Houthi attack on Tel Aviv is forcing Israel to rethink its drone defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Read previewThe Houthis' unprecedented July 19 drone attack against Tel Aviv from Yemen caught Israelis by surprise, piercing the country's battle-tested defenses and exposing vulnerabilities that the Yemen-based rebels were ready and willing to exploit. "This confirms that technology alone, even for one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, is not enough to provide effective protection," Borsari said. "Firstly, the advanced Houthi drone was launched for the first time, following an atypical flight path that likely caught the Israelis off guard," Khoueiry told BI. Houthi Media Center via Getty Images'A more cunning approach'Following the deadly attack, the Israeli military promptly increased air patrols to protect Israeli airspace. "This means integrating low-tier air defense capabilities at scale, combining different types of effectors with an eye on cost-effectiveness," Borsari said.

Persons: —, Federico Borsari, Israel, Samad, Borsari, Freddy Khoueiry, RANE, Khoueiry, Yemen's, Sebastien Roblin, Roblin, harry IDF, CEPA's Borsari, Dome's Tamir, Tamir, RANE's Khoueiry Organizations: Service, Tel, Center for, Business, Eritrean, Technology, Houthi Media, Getty, Hodeidah, Red Sea, BI, Jordanian, US Navy, Navy Locations: Tel Aviv, Yemen, Red, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, East, North Africa, Eilat, Iran, Gulf of Aden, Gaza, Eritrea, Sudan, Saudi

☆ The killing of a top Hamas leader in its backyard is 'humiliating' for Iran, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIsmail Haniyeh, the leader of the political wing of Hamas, was killed on Wednesday. Ismail Haniyeh (left) meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, on July 30, 2024. According to Middle East and military experts, Haniyeh's death is a "humiliating" blow to Iran. A new phase of brinkmanshipTensions between Israel and Iran were high even before Haniyeh's killing. MOSAB SHAWER/AFP via Getty ImagesSince Hamas launched terror attacks on Israel on October 7, groups allied with Iran — the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah — have targeted Israel, with attacks sometimes spilling over into neighboring countries and directly involving Iran.

Persons: —, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nobody, Israel didn't, Andrew Fox, Henry Jackson, Fox, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Ameneh, Farzan, MOSAB SHAWER, Burcu, Fuad Shukr Organizations: Service, Business, Iran's, KHAMENEI.IR, Getty Images, Henry, Henry Jackson Society, New York Times, East, Global Governance Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute, BI, West, Getty, —, Middle East Security, Royal United Services Institute, Fox Locations: Iran, Tehran, AFP, Israel, Middle East, Iranian, West Bank, Hebron, Syria, Beirut, Iraq, Yemen, Red, ACLED, Lebanon

☆ Iran’s Leader Orders Attack on Israel for Haniyeh Killing, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly, in retaliation for the killing in Tehran of Hamas’s leader, Ismail Haniyeh, according to three Iranian officials briefed on the order. Mr. Khamenei gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning, shortly after Iran announced that Mr. Haniyeh had been killed, said the three Iranian officials, including two members of the Revolutionary Guards. Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of the assassination; Israel, which is at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has neither acknowledged nor denied killing Mr. Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Israel has a long history of killing enemies abroad, including Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders. But even that show of force was telegraphed well in advance, nearly all the weapons were shot down by Israel and its allies, and little damage was done.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, Khamenei, Haniyeh, Israel Organizations: Iran’s, National Security, Revolutionary Guards, Hamas Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Gaza, Damascus, Syria

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