Latest news with #RadioLiberty
American Military News
2 days ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Trump revives travel ban, barring nationals from Iran, Afghanistan, and elsewhere entry to US as of next week
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. US President Donald Trump on June 4 signed a proclamation resurrecting the travel ban from his first term, ordering a new ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Afghanistan and Iran, from entering the United States. Trump said the travel ban is necessary to protect Americans from terrorist attacks such as a June 1 attack in Colorado in which authorities say a group of people demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas was attacked by an Egyptian national. 'The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas. We don't want them,' Trump said in a video message. The suspect in the Colorado attack, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, threw fire bombs and sprayed burning gasoline at the group, according to police. Fifteen people were injured. US Homeland Security officials said Soliman was in the country illegally after overstaying a tourist visa. Trump compared the new travel ban to the 'powerful travel restrictions' he imposed on a number of mainly Muslim countries in 2017 shortly after his first term began. He described that action as one of the most successful policies of his first term and a key part of preventing major foreign terrorism attacks on US soil, citing terrorism attacks that occurred in Europe in recent years. 'We will not let what happened in Europe happen in America,' Trump said. 'We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen.' In addition to Afghanistan and Iran, the countries on the new travel ban are Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The ban takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Washington time on June 9. Though the restriction does not effect travelers from Egypt, Trump said in 'light of recent events' he ordered the secretary of state to update him on the review of the practices and procedures of Egypt 'to confirm the adequacy of its current screening and vetting capabilities.' In addition to the ban, there will be heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, the proclamation said. Trump said he remains 'committed to engaging with those countries willing to cooperate to improve information sharing and identity management procedures, and to address both terrorism-related and public safety risks.' The travel ban issued during his first term banned citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. It resulted in chaos and confusion at airports in those countries and at US airports as travelers were either barred from boarding their flights to the United States or detained once they arrived. The travelers affected included students and faculty as well as professionals, tourists, and people visiting friends and loved ones. Trump defended the ban on national security grounds, arguing it was not based on anti-Muslim bias. It was revised amid legal challenges until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The new travel ban follows an executive order Trump issued in January requiring the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on 'hostile attitudes' toward the United States. The executive order also asked for an assessment of whether entry from certain countries represented a national security risk.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kremlin explains how and when Moscow will respond to Ukrainian attacks on military airfields
The Kremlin has stated that Russia will respond to Ukraine's attacks on its strategic airfields when and how the Russian military deems necessary. Source: Dmitry Peskov, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin's press secretary, as quoted by Radio Liberty Details: Peskov confirmed that Vladimir Putin said during a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump the day before that Moscow would respond to the attack. Nevertheless, Putin's spokesman said that Russia would like to hear strong condemnation of these strikes at the international level. Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that Russia would continue negotiations with Ukraine. Peskov also said that Putin and Trump did not discuss a personal meeting during their conversation on 4 June. According to him, there is a general understanding that such a meeting is necessary, but it needs to be properly prepared. Previously: US President Donald Trump announced a phone conversation with Putin, during which the Kremlin leader very strongly stated that he would be forced to respond to the recent attack on airfields. Axios, citing sources, wrote that Trump privately expressed his admiration for the Security Service of Ukraine's special operation Pavutyna ("Spider's Web"), during which Russian strategic aircraft were hit. Background: The Security Service of Ukraine's special operation, codenamed Pavutyna ("Spider's Web"), was carried out on 1 June 2025. It was one of the largest and most complex sabotage operations against Russian military aircraft. The Security Service of Ukraine said that the operation resulted in the destruction of 41 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft. NATO considers this operation very successful. Meanwhile, the White House said that Ukraine's actions had raised the level of risk. On 4 June, the US Embassy in Ukraine issued a warning about the growing risk of large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Satellite images reveal damage to Russian Belaya airbase after Ukrainian drone strikes
Radio Liberty journalists have released satellite imagery showing the consequences of Ukrainian drone strikes on Belaya airbase in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast on 1 June 2025. Source: Radio Liberty Details: Analysis of video and satellite imagery enabled Radio Liberty to independently confirm the destruction of at least 11 Russian aircraft during the Ukrainian Security Service's Pavutyna (Spider's Web) operation on 1 June: seven Tu-95 bombers (one possibly damaged), four Tu-22M3 bombers and one An-12 cargo aircraft, not classified as strategic warplane. At Belaya airbase, Radio Liberty verified the destruction of four Tu-22M3 and three Tu-95 bombers, with one additional Tu-95 likely damaged. Background: On 1 June, the Security Service of Ukraine carried out a special operation codenamed Pavutyna, during which strategic aviation aircraft were targeted at four Russian airfields. SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk stated that "in total, 34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main Russian airfields were destroyed". The SSU officially stated that 41 Russian strategic aircraft, including A-50s, Tu-95s, Tu-22M3s and Tu-160s, had been struck by first-person view drones. The estimated cost of the damaged warplanes is over US$7 billion. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ukrainian suspected of arson linked to Starmer was likely recruited by Russia via Telegram, journalists say
One of the four suspects in a series of arson attacks on property linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer may have been recruited by Russian intelligence via the Telegram app. Source: Skhemy, an investigative reporting project by Radio Liberty, as reported by European Pravda Details: After analysing the Ukrainian suspect's activity on social media and messenger apps, journalists came to the conclusion that 21-year-old Roman Lavrynovych, suspected of setting fire to property linked to Starmer, may have been recruited by Russian security services via Telegram. Skhemy's investigation revealed that Lavrynovych had been actively searching for work in Telegram groups for foreigners in London from 2022 to 2025. Most of the work he sought was in construction or hospitality, often for cash. His last post seeking work in one of these groups appeared on 3 May – five days before a car linked to Starmer was set on fire in London. It is reported that Lavrynovych last accessed Telegram in the early hours of 13 May, just a few hours before he was arrested by police following another arson attack on a building also connected to the UK prime minister. His latest job-seeking posts on Telegram channels were made in early May. On 2 May, for example, he wrote in the London UA group: "Looking for a job, open to any options". Two hours later, a user named Yurii replied: "Message me privately". Yurii had joined the group just a few days earlier. Skhemy also found that Lavrynovych had listed the UK as his place of residence and had provided a UK phone number in his profile on the Russian social media platform VKontakte as early as 2016. Lavrynovych is facing three counts of arson with intent to endanger life. Earlier, three people had already been charged in the case: Ukrainians Petro Pochynok (34) and Roman Lavrynovych (21), and Stanislav Karpiuk (26), a Romanian citizen of Ukrainian origin. Pochynok and Karpiuk are charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. All three are expected to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday 6 June. On 2 June, London police announced that a fourth man had been arrested in connection with the series of arson attacks linked to the UK Prime Minister. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Russians strike central Kramatorsk and residential area with drones
Russian forces have carried out a drone strike on the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast. Source: Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko; Radio Liberty journalist Serhii Horbatenko Quote from Honcharenko: "Kramatorsk came under enemy attack – residential area and the central square of the city. Early reports indicate that UAVs were used. As of 17:00, one woman has been reported injured. There is also destruction. We are still assessing the full consequences. The danger has not yet passed!" Details: Horbatenko stated that "a Russian fixed-wing Molniya-type attack drone struck directly in the centre of Kramatorsk". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
