8 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has informed Congress that it plans to move ahead with the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Libya, proposing to allocate nearly $41 million to restore America's formal diplomatic presence in the North African nation after a near 14-year absence.
The department told lawmakers on Monday that the money would cover "a range of security-related activities ***** ociated with plans for the potential phased resumption of embassy operations in Libya," according to a copy of the notification obtained by The ***** ociated Press.
The move to reopen the embassy "is essential to advancing U.S. national security interests," it said. "The United States must remain engaged in regions where near-peer competitors and other adversarial actors are actively expanding their influence."
"Libya's strategic location on the Mediterranean and its role in regional security, energy markets, and migration flows make it vital to U.S. interests," it said. "The country's instability has drawn increased involvement from near-peer competitors, notably Russia, which threatens U.S. and allied objectives in North Africa."
Libyan officials representing both the western and eastern regions of the country that have been in conflict for more than a decade have recently met with top Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos.
#africa #associated
The department told lawmakers on Monday that the money would cover "a range of security-related activities ***** ociated with plans for the potential phased resumption of embassy operations in Libya," according to a copy of the notification obtained by The ***** ociated Press.
The move to reopen the embassy "is essential to advancing U.S. national security interests," it said. "The United States must remain engaged in regions where near-peer competitors and other adversarial actors are actively expanding their influence."
"Libya's strategic location on the Mediterranean and its role in regional security, energy markets, and migration flows make it vital to U.S. interests," it said. "The country's instability has drawn increased involvement from near-peer competitors, notably Russia, which threatens U.S. and allied objectives in North Africa."
Libyan officials representing both the western and eastern regions of the country that have been in conflict for more than a decade have recently met with top Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos.
#africa #associated
13 days ago
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets on Saturday as their battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
The region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks in a conflict increasingly focused on control of the strait. The collapse of an interim ceasefire leaves no clear end in sight for the war that the U.S. and Israel began more than four months ago.
The U.S. Central Command said late Friday it had launched its seventh straight night of attacks aimed at degrading Iran's military. Early Saturday it said the strikes had hit "surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities."
Kuwait said Saturday it was intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, and air sirens sounded in Bahrain according to the government there.
Iranian officials say recent U.S. strikes have killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds, with new casualties reported Friday, when the U.S. military also acknowledged more injured service members.
The region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks in a conflict increasingly focused on control of the strait. The collapse of an interim ceasefire leaves no clear end in sight for the war that the U.S. and Israel began more than four months ago.
The U.S. Central Command said late Friday it had launched its seventh straight night of attacks aimed at degrading Iran's military. Early Saturday it said the strikes had hit "surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities."
Kuwait said Saturday it was intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, and air sirens sounded in Bahrain according to the government there.
Iranian officials say recent U.S. strikes have killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds, with new casualties reported Friday, when the U.S. military also acknowledged more injured service members.
1 month ago
A US Army company commander used attack drones and ground robots to clear a breach.
Dozens of drones hit enemy mines, trenches, and barriers before two C4-packed ground robots finished the job.
The mission acted as a drone contact layer, putting the systems ahead of soldiers.
At a recent exercise at Fort Polk, Louisiana, a US Army company commander used attack drones and ground robots to destroy enemy positions, clearing the way for soldiers.
The drones and robots did the difficult and dangerous work that a rifle company might otherwise have had to do, showing the role Army uncrewed systems could play in future wars.
Dozens of drones hit enemy mines, trenches, and barriers before two C4-packed ground robots finished the job.
The mission acted as a drone contact layer, putting the systems ahead of soldiers.
At a recent exercise at Fort Polk, Louisiana, a US Army company commander used attack drones and ground robots to destroy enemy positions, clearing the way for soldiers.
The drones and robots did the difficult and dangerous work that a rifle company might otherwise have had to do, showing the role Army uncrewed systems could play in future wars.
1 month ago
WASHINGTON, June 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department announced visa restrictions targeting people it said were undermining peace in Ethiopia on Thursday, focused on hardliners in the Tigray People's Liberation Front and their immediate family members.
"Rising tensions between Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) hardliners and the Ethiopian government have threatened to reignite the conflict in northern Ethiopia and undermine peace and security across the entire region," the State Department said in a statement.
The State Department cited clashes between TPLF forces and Ethiopian government forces earlier this year.
"This visa restriction policy targets individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution to the crisis in the Tigray region," it said.
Tigray's main political party reasserted control over the northern Ethiopian region's political administration in May, following through on a threat to violate a key provision of the deal that ended a civil war with the federal government.
"Rising tensions between Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) hardliners and the Ethiopian government have threatened to reignite the conflict in northern Ethiopia and undermine peace and security across the entire region," the State Department said in a statement.
The State Department cited clashes between TPLF forces and Ethiopian government forces earlier this year.
"This visa restriction policy targets individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution to the crisis in the Tigray region," it said.
Tigray's main political party reasserted control over the northern Ethiopian region's political administration in May, following through on a threat to violate a key provision of the deal that ended a civil war with the federal government.
2 months ago
What would you do with an $80,000 bonus, more than quadruple the amount of an average annual salary? Or with $140,000 in debt relief?
Those are the questions being posed to men in Russia, as the military advertises multi-million-ruble incentives to fight in Ukraine. Ads plastered on roadside billboards and embedded in young men's social media feeds are offering eye-watering sums – more than many people earn in years – alongside promises to become a "hero" or be fast-tracked to Russian citizenship.
And yet military recruitment was down by 20% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2025, and there are signs it's still faltering, according to Russian economy expert Janis Kluge.
The Kremlin's strategy has long been to outlast Ukraine in an attritional war profiting from its immense population and large military industry that can sustain a slow, grinding campaign. And now, with the Ukraine war in its fifth year, President Vladimir Putin's war coffers are getting a much-needed boost thanks to the Iran war increasing oil prices.
The problem?
Those are the questions being posed to men in Russia, as the military advertises multi-million-ruble incentives to fight in Ukraine. Ads plastered on roadside billboards and embedded in young men's social media feeds are offering eye-watering sums – more than many people earn in years – alongside promises to become a "hero" or be fast-tracked to Russian citizenship.
And yet military recruitment was down by 20% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2025, and there are signs it's still faltering, according to Russian economy expert Janis Kluge.
The Kremlin's strategy has long been to outlast Ukraine in an attritional war profiting from its immense population and large military industry that can sustain a slow, grinding campaign. And now, with the Ukraine war in its fifth year, President Vladimir Putin's war coffers are getting a much-needed boost thanks to the Iran war increasing oil prices.
The problem?
