Author: Laura Kelly

Why the discovery of a Chinese balloon in US skies is such a big deal

Tensions between the U.S. and China are on the rise again after the discovery of what the Biden administration is describing as a sophisticated Chinese espionage tool flying over the United States. The discovery of a massive Chinese surveillance balloon over Montana, which hosts some nuclear silos, sparked a diplomatic crisis on Friday, with Secretary…

Blinken trip to China postponed over ‘unacceptable’ spy balloon

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a trip to Beijing after a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was detected in U.S. airspace, a senior State Department official said Friday. Officials said the U.S. noted that China had issued a statement of regret, but described the balloon’s presence as a grievous violation that required a strong…

5 sore spots between the US and Israel as the Biden-Netanyahu era begins

Spiraling violence between Israelis and Palestinians and fierce protests against proposed judicial reforms are at the forefront of President Biden’s concerns more than one month into the renewed leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. and Israeli officials stress the unbreakable bond between the two countries, but a recent visit by Secretary of State…

Senators say no F-16 upgrades for Turkey if it blocks Finland, Sweden from joining NATO

President Biden should make clear to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that Congress is unlikely to approve fighter jet upgrades for Ankara if it fails to advance Sweden and Finland’s bid to join NATO, a bipartisan group of senators said Thursday. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group,…

At least five killed in attack on Jerusalem synagogue

At least five people were killed in an attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem, Israeli security and medics said Friday. Israeli police said they shot and killed the suspected gunman who attacked the synagogue, which occurred as people took part in religious services marking Shabbat. Five others were wounded in the attack. State Department deputy…

Biden says US tanks to Ukraine are not an offensive threat to Russia

President Biden on Wednesday said that the commitment of U.S. Abrams tanks to Ukraine is not “an offensive threat to Russia,” appearing to respond to threats from Russian officials that the provision of Western tanks to Ukraine would escalate tensions with Moscow. “There’s no offensive threat to Russia” the president said in remarks from the…

In significant shift, Biden sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine

President Biden will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, matching a German announcement to immediately provide Leopard tanks that Kyiv says are essential in their fight against Russia. The Abrams tanks are not expected to reach the battlefield for months related to the time needed to procure the tanks and carry out the training…

Russia’s war in Ukraine pushes Doomsday Clock to closest point to midnight in history

Russia’s war in Ukraine has significantly raised the risk of global self-annihilation, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warned Tuesday, moving forward the Doomsday Clock to its closest point to midnight ever. The Doomsday Clock is meant to measure the gravest risks to human existence to pressure world leaders to recommit to addressing extinction-level challenges,…