Key takeaways: Impasse between Democrats and Republicans has deepened, and it is unclear when a deal will be reached. White House has warned of the…
Posts tagged as “Eastern Ukraine”
The US State Department has approved an emergency sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition to Israel, worth more than $106 million, circumventing Congress. This is part of a long-standing trend of US arms sales to Israel, and is intended to support Israel's military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. Congress has the opportunity to block the sale, though it is unlikely to do so.
Vladimir Putin has announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election in March 2021, signaling his intention to remain in power for at least another six years. Despite costly wars and attacks, Putin has maintained a strong base of support and is expected to win the election. The election will be closely watched by the international community, as it will be a key indicator of the future of Russia and its relationship with the rest of the world.
Five American celebrities have been tricked into recording video messages for a stranger named "Vladimir," which were then doctored and used to discredit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Kremlin took advantage of these celebrities by repurposing their video messages to falsely portray Zelensky as a drug addict. Microsoft's report is a reminder of the need to be aware of the potential for manipulation of public figures and their messages, as well as the importance of providing support to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
The Justice Department has announced the indictment of two Russian intelligence officers for a hacking campaign against U.S. and British government agencies, contractors, and NATO members. The campaign, which began in 2016 and lasted until 2022, was aimed at gathering intelligence and influencing British politics. If convicted, the two officers could face up to 20 years in prison and the Justice Department is seeking to extradite them and seize any assets they may have in the U.S.
At the Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy engaged in a heated exchange over Nikki Haley's foreign policy views. Christie took the argument to President Donald Trump, and Ramaswamy accused Haley of floating a conspiracy. The debate concluded without any physical altercation, but it was one of the most contentious fights yet at one of the Republican presidential primary debates, with Christie speaking dramatically less than the other three candidates.
On Wednesday, the Senate failed to pass a key test vote on a bill that would approve tens of billions of dollars in emergency spending, including aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other priorities. The vote was blocked by Republicans demanding stricter border security measures and Senator Bernie Sanders, who opposed aid to Israel without conditions. President Joe Biden has made a plea for the bill to be passed, but the future of the aid remains uncertain.
The U.S. Justice Department has charged four Russian nationals with war crimes in connection with the invasion of Ukraine, including unlawful confinement, torture and inhuman treatment, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit war crimes. The defendants have been identified and the victim is an American, but no additional information has been released. The case is yet to go to trial and the potential penalties for the defendants are unknown.