Category: World

Former and current US intelligence officials criticize Trump's decision to appoint Tulsi Gabbard. Experts consider her appointment risky due to her lack of experience and soft stance on Russia.

President-elect Donald Trump's decision to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as head of US intelligence is a risk, according to some current and former US intelligence officials.

Writes UNN with reference to Reuters.

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Trump's appointment of Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who has little experience in intelligence and is considered soft on Russia and Syria, increases the risks. In particular, among the possible risks is the possibility that the top advisers could give the new Republican president a distorted view of global threats. On the other hand, foreign allies may be reluctant to share important information.

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For example, Randall Phillips, a former CIA operations officer who served as the agency's chief representative in China, said that with Trump supporters holding the highest government positions, “it could be a precondition for some really questionable actions” by the intelligence community's leadership.

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Since leaving the Democratic Party, Gabbard has become increasingly critical of Biden and popular among conservatives, frequently appearing on far-right TV and radio shows, where she has become known for her support of isolationist policies and her disdain for the “awakening.

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Shortly after Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard wrote on social media: “This war and suffering could have been easily avoided if the Biden/NATO administration had simply recognized Russia's legitimate security concerns about Ukraine becoming a NATO member.

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UNN reports that Tulsi Gabbard's appointment could lead to “clashes” in countering Russian disinformation efforts – NBC

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North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has recently ordered the mass production of kamikaze drones as their so-called strategic partnership with Russia develops.

Source: Sky News with reference to the Korean Central News Agency, a North Korean state-run news outlet

Details: Kim Jong Un reportedly stressed the need to build a mass production system as soon as possible and move to full-scale mass production of drones.

NATO obtained information that Russia is sending missile technology to North Korea in exchange for military assistance.

Background:

• Prior to that, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin signed a law ratifying the treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and the DPRK. North Korea also ratified the treaty.
• According to the latest data from South Korea's intelligence service, members of the North Korean military previously sent to Russia are in Russia’s Kursk Oblast and already engaged in combat operations against Ukraine.

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Storm Sara with winds of 75 km/h has hit northern Honduras and is moving towards the Yucatan resorts. Up to 75 cm of precipitation is forecast with a risk of flooding and landslides in the region.

Tropical storm Sara hit northern Honduras late Thursday night and threatened parts of Central America and southern Mexico, including the resort peninsula of Yucatan, AP reported, UNN reported.

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According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Sarah made landfall about 165 kilometers west-northwest of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduran-Nicaraguan border. It is near Brus Laguna, a village of about 13,000 people. There are several other settlements nearby.

Mexican authorities warned that the storm could cause “intense rains” on the resort peninsula of Yucatan.

Sarah's wind speed was about 75 km/h, and she was moving westward at a speed of about 17 km/h.

The storm is expected to remain roughly on this path before moving out to sea again and threatening the Belizean coast.

The center reported that the storm, “Sarah,” is expected to bring 25 to 50 centimeters of rainfall, and in some areas up to 75 centimeters. Such heavy rain could lead to life-threatening flooding and landslides.

Sara is forecast to pass over or near the tourist destination of Roatán off the coast of Honduras on Sunday. The storm is then expected to turn northwest toward Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula.

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Russian forces are continuing to suffer losses in the war of aggression against Ukraine, losing 1,520 troops killed and wounded, 20 artillery systems, 11 tanks and dozens of other pieces of military equipment over the past 24 hours alone.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 15 November 2024 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.]:

• approximately 717,590 (+1,520) military personnel;
• 9,330 (+11) tanks;
• 18,968 (+21) armoured combat vehicles;
• 20,492 (+20) artillery systems;
• 1,252 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;
• 999 (+2) air defence systems;
• 369 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;
• 329 (+0) helicopters;
• 18,886 (+34) tactical and strategic UAVs;
• 2,641 (+1) cruise missiles;
• 28 (+0) ships/boats;
• 1 (+0) submarine;
• 29,167 (+77) vehicles and fuel tankers;
• 3,645 (+16) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

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Princess Yuriko Mikasa has died at the age of 101 after a long illness. She was the wife of Prince Mikasa for 75 years and was actively involved in charity work, including with the Japanese Red Cross.

The oldest member of the Japanese imperial family, Princess Yuriko Mikasa, has died at the age of 101. This is reported by NHK, UNN reports.

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The death of the princess was officially confirmed by the Agency of the Imperial House of Japan. Thus, the imperial family now numbers 16 people, including the emperor.

Princess Yuriko was hospitalized in March this year due to a heart attack and aspiration pneumonia. Within the first 10 days of treatment, doctors got rid of the princess's pneumonia symptoms, and then she was transferred from the intensive care unit to a general ward. At the same time, Princess Yuriko remained unconscious.

In early September, the Imperial House Agency announced that the Princess's condition was deteriorating. On November 11, St. Luke's Hospital reported a massive failure of the princess's organs.

Yuriko Mikasa died at 6:32 am (local time) on the 15th.

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Yuriko was born in 1923 into an aristocratic family. At the age of 18, a few months before the outbreak of World War II, she married Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of Hirohito and uncle of the current Emperor Naruhito. The couple lived together for 75 years, but Prince Mikasa died in 2016. He was 102 years old at the time. The prince and princess had five children, two of whom are still alive. Princess Mikasa was the honorary president of various charitable organizations and was also actively involved in the work of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

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China accused the Philippines of unauthorized delivery of cargo to the Sierra Madre warship, which was stuck on Second Thomas Reef. The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the rotation of personnel and the delivery of supplies.

China has accused the Philippines of delivering cargo to a warship that is stuck on Second Thomas Reef, which is the subject of a dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea. This was reported by ABC News, according to UNN.

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At the same time, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that it had recently rotated personnel on board the Sierra Madre and delivered the necessary supplies to the ship.

The Chinese coast guard said that the delivery was carried out without proper authorization and regarded the presence of the Philippine vessel as “illegal” because it was in territory that China considers its own. In turn, the Philippine authorities have not yet commented on the Chinese statement.

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Ukraine is anticipating a US$1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the end of December.

Source: Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

Quote: "We successfully completed the fifth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme at the end of October. We have met all structural benchmarks for the sixth review. Based on the results of the current mission, we expect to receive the next tranche of US$1.1 billion by the end of December."

Details: Shmyhal reported that the parties discussed further implementation of reforms outlined in the cooperation memorandum with the IMF, as well as Ukraine’s progress, which the Fund has highly regarded.

The prime minister expressed gratitude to the IMF team for maintaining full operations in Kyiv, emphasising that it helps better understand Ukraine's urgent needs.

Background: The IMF mission began its work on 11 November to conduct the sixth review of the cooperation programme with Ukraine.

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An Israeli airstrike on a humanitarian camp in Gaza killed one person and injured more than 20 others. A Doctors Without Borders clinic was damaged and medical equipment was destroyed.

An Israeli airstrike on a humanitarian camp in southern Gaza killed at least one person and injured more than 20 others. This is reported by the NY Times, UNN reports.

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The Israeli army explained the strike as necessary to destroy the launcher, which, according to them, posed a threat to Israeli civilians. However, the military did not specify what type of weapon was used. At the same time, the Israeli army stated that it had warned civilians in the area to evacuate before the strike.

According to the Palestinian media, several tents were damaged, as well as one of the medical facilities of the humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières, located near the site of the explosion. Representatives of the organization stated that their clinic was damaged and medical equipment was destroyed during the strike, which was not warned by the Israeli military.

The international community has expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks on humanitarian zones, which are often used as a refuge for thousands of displaced people.

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Russian forces struck Odesa on the evening of 14 November, damaging a residential building and a main heating pipeline. As a result of the attack, one woman was killed and two people were injured.

Source: Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office; Hennadii Trukhanov, Odesa Mayor; Dumska news agency; Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration

Details: The Russians attacked the city on the evening of 14 November using drones launched from the Black Sea. The mayor reported that air defence was responding in Odesa. Later, it was confirmed that the main heating pipeline was damaged, causing one of the boiler houses to halt operation.

Yermak later reported a hit on a residential building. Local residents and Telegram channels have shared images showing the aftermath of the attack.

Армія РФ завдала удару по житловому будинку в Одесі. Є загибла та поранені.
Відео – Думська pic.twitter.com/7lq7iKDuJT

— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) November 14, 2024

The damage to the apartments. Photo: Hanna Shelest on Facebook The damage to the apartments. Photo: Hanna Shelest on Facebook The damage to the apartments. Photo: Hanna Shelest on Facebook

The head of the Oblast Military Administration reported that a woman was killed and at least two people were injured as the result of the large-scale attack.

Residential buildings, a church, and cars were damaged, with fires breaking out at several locations.

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The DPRK leader has tested suicide drones and ordered their mass production. Against the background of cooperation with russia, questions arise about possible technical assistance from moscow in the development of these weapons.

Kim Jong-un has tested suicide drones and ordered the mass production of such aircraft weapons. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.

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According to state media, the North Korean leader emphasized the importance of updating military strategy in the face of the spread of these technologies around the world.

It is noted that Kim Jong-un has already led several suicide drone tests earlier this year. At the same time, against the backdrop of increased military cooperation between North Korea and terrorist russia, questions arise as to whether the DPRK has received technical assistance from moscow to develop these weapons.

According to information, such weapons are actively used in Ukraine and the Middle East. Kim Jong-un noted that in the context of growing global competition for the use of drones for military purposes, such technologies are becoming an important element in conflicts of various scales.

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