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US believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, AP sources say
Read full article: US believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, AP sources sayThe United States has informed allies that it believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
US and UK spy chiefs praise Ukraine's 'audacious' Russia incursion and call for a Gaza cease-fire
Read full article: US and UK spy chiefs praise Ukraine's 'audacious' Russia incursion and call for a Gaza cease-fireThe heads of the British and American foreign intelligence agencies say Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia is a significant achievement that could change the narrative of the grinding war.
Israel-Hamas war cease-fire, hostage talks will continue after weekend meetings didn't resolve gaps
Read full article: Israel-Hamas war cease-fire, hostage talks will continue after weekend meetings didn't resolve gapsA round of high-level talks in Cairo meant to bring about a cease-fire and hostage deal to at least temporarily end the 10-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has ended without a final agreement.
White House insists it is making progress on Gaza cease-fire as talks continue over the weekend
Read full article: White House insists it is making progress on Gaza cease-fire as talks continue over the weekendThe White House says that ongoing cease-fire talks in Cairo have been constructive and will continue over the weekend as the U.S. and Mideast allies continue to press Israel and Hamas to forge an agreement.
The Latest | US-built aid pier in Gaza will reopen for a few days, then be removed permanently
Read full article: The Latest | US-built aid pier in Gaza will reopen for a few days, then be removed permanentlySeveral U.S. officials say the pier built by the American military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled on the beach to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently.
Truce in Israel-Hamas war extended by a day, minutes before it was set to expire
Read full article: Truce in Israel-Hamas war extended by a day, minutes before it was set to expireIsrael and Hamas agreed to extend a temporary truce by another day minutes before it was set to expire, said Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides.
CIA Director William Burns met Chinese leaders in Beijing as Washington tries to thaw tensions
Read full article: CIA Director William Burns met Chinese leaders in Beijing as Washington tries to thaw tensionsA U.S. official says CIA Director William Burns went to Beijing in May to meet with Chinese counterparts.
Biden aide, Saudi prince see 'progress' toward Yemen war end
Read full article: Biden aide, Saudi prince see 'progress' toward Yemen war endWhite House national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke by phone with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday amid signs that the Saudis and Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen are making “remarkable progress” toward finding a permanent end to their nine-year conflict.
US seeks to expel Russian mercenaries from Sudan, Libya
Read full article: US seeks to expel Russian mercenaries from Sudan, LibyaNorth African and Sudanese officials say the United States is increasing pressure on Middle East allies and power brokers in chaos-stricken Libya and Sudan to expel a Russian private military contractor.
Biden, Bolsonaro to hold first meeting amid election worries
Read full article: Biden, Bolsonaro to hold first meeting amid election worriesU.S. President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro lead the two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere, but they haven't met since Biden took office last year.
As gas prices soar, Biden leans toward visiting Saudi Arabia
Read full article: As gas prices soar, Biden leans toward visiting Saudi ArabiaPresident Joe Biden is leaning towards making a visit to Saudi Arabia — a trip that would likely bring him face-to-face with the Saudi crown prince he once shunned as a killer.
US vice president, top officials visit UAE to pay respects
Read full article: US vice president, top officials visit UAE to pay respectsVice President Kamala Harris has led a high-powered American delegation to the United Arab Emirates to pay respects to the federation’s late ruler and meet with the newly ascended president.
Many say Biden not tough enough on Russia: poll
Read full article: Many say Biden not tough enough on Russia: pollMany people in the U.S. continue to question whether President Joe Biden is showing enough strength in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, even as most approve of steps the U.S. is already taking and few want U.S. troops to get involved in the conflict.
'She became our voice': Albright hailed by world leaders
Read full article: 'She became our voice': Albright hailed by world leadersAs she pressed the Clinton administration into action against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic over war crimes in the Balkans, Madeleine Albright would harken back to her own childhood as a refugee from Czechoslovakia who fled the Nazis in war-torn Europe.
China amplifies unsupported Russian claim of Ukraine biolabs
Read full article: China amplifies unsupported Russian claim of Ukraine biolabsAs Russia intensifies its assault on Ukraine, it is getting a helping hand from China in spreading inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims that the U.S. is financing biological weapons labs in Ukraine.
Endgame elusive as West tries to force Russia out of Ukraine
Read full article: Endgame elusive as West tries to force Russia out of UkraineAs Western leaders congratulate themselves for their speedy and severe responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they’re also scratching their heads with uncertainty about what their actions will accomplish.
Ukraine war at 2-week mark: Russians slowed but not stopped
Read full article: Ukraine war at 2-week mark: Russians slowed but not stoppedTwo weeks into its war in Ukraine, Russia has achieved less and struggled more than anticipated at the outset of the biggest land conflict in Europe since World War II.
Russia underestimated Ukraine's resistance, US officials say
Read full article: Russia underestimated Ukraine's resistance, US officials sayTop U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia underestimated the strength of Ukraine’s resistance before launching an invasion that has likely caused thousands of Russian casualties.
Experts: Energy attacks could be behind some 'Havana' cases
Read full article: Experts: Energy attacks could be behind some 'Havana' casesA panel of intelligence experts hasn’t identified a single culprit for apparent brain injuries reported by U.S. personnel that have been linked to so-called “Havana syndrome.
Most ‘Havana syndrome’ cases not linked to US adversary, CIA says
Read full article: Most ‘Havana syndrome’ cases not linked to US adversary, CIA saysU_S_ officials say the CIA believes it's unlikely that Russia or another foreign adversary is using microwaves or other forms of directed energy to attack hundreds of American diplomats and intelligence officers who attribute their brain injuries and other symptoms to what's come to be known as “Havana syndrome.”.
Biden predicts Russia will invade Ukraine, warns Putin
Read full article: Biden predicts Russia will invade Ukraine, warns PutinPresident Joe Biden says he thinks Russia will invade Ukraine and is warning President Vladimir Putin that his country would pay a “dear price” in lives lost and a possible cutoff from the global banking system if it does.
Vaccine refusals in intelligence agencies raise GOP concerns
Read full article: Vaccine refusals in intelligence agencies raise GOP concernsThousands of intelligence officers could soon face dismissal for failing to comply with the U.S. government’s vaccine mandate, leading to concerns from Republican lawmakers about potentially hurting agencies considered critical to national security.
Officer accompanying CIA chief develops 'Havana' symptoms
Read full article: Officer accompanying CIA chief develops 'Havana' symptomsA U.S. intelligence officer suffered symptoms linked to a series of directed-energy attacks known as “Havana syndrome” while traveling with Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns in India earlier this month.
G-7 leaders can’t sway Biden to delay Afghanistan withdrawal
Read full article: G-7 leaders can’t sway Biden to delay Afghanistan withdrawalSharply divided leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies have clashed over U.S. President Joe Biden’s insistence on withdrawing from Afghanistan by August 31 in the face of the Taliban takeover.
Biden decides to stick with Aug. 31 final pullout from Kabul
Read full article: Biden decides to stick with Aug. 31 final pullout from KabulAn administration official says President Joe Biden has decided to stick with his Aug. 31 deadline for completing a U.S.-led evacuation of Americans and at-risk Afghans from the Kabul airport and for withdrawing the remaining U.S. forces.
Afghan pullout has US spies reorienting in terrorism fight
Read full article: Afghan pullout has US spies reorienting in terrorism fightThe two-decade war in Afghanistan has given U.S. spies a perch for keeping tabs on terrorist groups that might once again use the beleaguered nation to plan attacks against the U.S. homeland.
Growing mystery of suspected energy attacks draws US concern
Read full article: Growing mystery of suspected energy attacks draws US concernThe Biden administration faces increasing pressure to respond to a sharply growing number of reported injuries suffered by diplomats, intelligence officers and military personnel that some suspect are caused by devices that emit waves of energy that disrupt brain function.
US report: Taliban will likely curtail Afghan women's rights
Read full article: US report: Taliban will likely curtail Afghan women's rightsA new U.S. intelligence assessment says any gains in women’s rights in Afghanistan made in the last two decades will be at risk after the U.S. withdraws later this year.
On foreign policy decisions, Biden faces drag of pragmatism
Read full article: On foreign policy decisions, Biden faces drag of pragmatismPresident Joe Biden this past week found himself in search of a foreign policy sweet spot: somewhere between pulling a screeching U-turn on four years of Trumpism and cautiously approaching the world as it is.
US intel report: Virus impact to cause global 'aftershocks'
Read full article: US intel report: Virus impact to cause global 'aftershocks'A U_S_ intelligence community report says the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are expected to contribute over the next year to “humanitarian and economic crises, political unrest, and geopolitical competition."
Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open
Read full article: Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s Cabinet is nearly complete with the confirmation of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. A panel will also vote on advancing the nomination of Polly Ellen Trottenberg to be deputy secretary of transportation. And even as the Biden administration moves through picking nominees, there's no guarantee they'll all receive a smooth confirmation. And some of the deputies have become political footballs for Republicans looking to score concessions from the Biden administration. Cruz continues to hold up Biden’s nominee for deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, until sanctions are imposed.
Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open
Read full article: Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s Cabinet is nearly complete with the confirmation of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on Monday. A panel will also vote on advancing the nomination of Polly Ellen Trottenberg to be deputy secretary of Transportation. And even as the Biden administration moves through picking nominees, there's no guarantee they'll all receive a smooth confirmation. And some of the deputies have become political footballs for Republicans looking to score concessions from the Biden administration. Cruz continues to hold up Biden’s nominee for deputy secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, until sanctions are imposed.
Burns confirmed as CIA director as US faces diverse threats
Read full article: Burns confirmed as CIA director as US faces diverse threatsWilliam Burns, nominee for Central Intelligence Agency director, testifies during his Senate Select Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Tom Williams/Pool via AP)Without opposition, the Senate confirmed veteran diplomat William Burns as CIA director on Thursday, giving him control of the nation's premier spy agency as the U.S. government confronts threats from China, Russia, Iran and elsewhere. The approval, by voice vote, came soon after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, lifted a hold he had placed on the nomination. He pledged at his confirmation hearing last month that he would deliver “unvarnished” intelligence to the White House. Burns was warmly received by Republicans at his Senate hearing, but his confirmation was held up this month by Cruz.
Biden's Russia credentials questioned over European pipeline
Read full article: Biden's Russia credentials questioned over European pipeline(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – After years of Democratic accusations that former President Donald Trump was too soft on Russia, the Biden administration is facing Republican criticism of its approach to Moscow. The Biden administration rejects the criticism, saying it has been clear about penalties for companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and that its goal is to bolster European energy security. Like the Trump administration before it, the Biden administration believes the pipeline will harm European energy security, particularly for countries in Eastern and Central Europe like Ukraine and Poland, which the pipeline bypasses. U.S. officials have long said they fear Russia will use the pipeline as a political tool against its neighbors. The Biden administration suggests more sanctions may be coming.
Collins to back Haaland for Interior, sealing her approval
Read full article: Collins to back Haaland for Interior, sealing her approvalThe announcement makes Haaland's confirmation by the Senate nearly certain and follows Haaland's endorsement last week by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia, had been publicly undecided through two days of hearings on Haaland’s nomination by President Joe Biden. Collins said she also appreciated Haaland’s support on issues important to Maine, such as Acadia National Park, “as well as her deep knowledge of tribal issues, which has earned her the support of tribes across the country, including those in Maine.'' Interior oversees the nation's public lands and waters and leads relations with nearly 600 federally recognized tribes. AdThe Senate energy panel is set to vote on Haaland's nomination Thursday.
Biden brings no relief to tensions between US and China
Read full article: Biden brings no relief to tensions between US and ChinaBiden took office promising to move quickly to restore and repair Americas relations with the rest of the world. From Iran to Russia, Europe to Latin America, Biden has sought to cool tensions that rose during President Donald Trump’s four years in office. China and the United States are the world’s two largest economies and the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. The backdrop is clear: The United States is convinced that it and China are engaged in a duel for global dominance. Ad“There has been huge deviation between what they believe China is and what China really is,” Yu said.
CIA nominee pledges to provide 'unvarnished' intelligence
Read full article: CIA nominee pledges to provide 'unvarnished' intelligenceWilliam Burns testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Tom Williams/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden's nominee to run the CIA told lawmakers Wednesday that he would keep politics out of the job and deliver “unvarnished” intelligence to politicians and policymakers even if they don't want to hear it. William Burns told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee at his confirmation hearing that “politics must stop where intelligence work begins.”“That is exactly what President Biden expects of CIA. It was the first thing he told me when he asked me to take on this role," Burns said. AdWhile Russia is in many ways a declining world power, the country remains a disruptive and potent threat, Burns said.
Trouble at home may change Biden's hand in Iran nuke talks
Read full article: Trouble at home may change Biden's hand in Iran nuke talksShe was speaking of U.S. foreign objectives overall, including the Iran deal. Biden's first priority for renewed talks is getting both Iran and the United States back in compliance with the nuclear deal, which offered Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for Iran accepting limits on its nuclear material and gear. “It would be a first step.”But Biden also faces pressure both from Democrats and Republican opponents of the Iran deal. The United States' European allies will be eager to help Biden wrack up a win on the new Iran talks if possible, Nasr said. Besides tapping Sherman for his administration, Biden has called back William Burns, who led secret early talks with Iran in Oman, as his CIA director.
President-elect Joe Biden chooses veteran diplomat William Burns as CIA director
Read full article: President-elect Joe Biden chooses veteran diplomat William Burns as CIA directorPresident-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director. If confirmed, he would succeed Gina Haspel, the first female CIA director, who guided the agency under President Donald Trump. “I developed enormous respect for my colleagues in the CIA,” Burns said in an online video statement Monday with Biden. The director of national intelligence, not the CIA director, was in the Cabinet. Trump elevated the CIA director post back up to a Cabinet-level position, and both Haspel and National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe sit in his Cabinet.