Latest news with #SamuelGranados
New York Times
20-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Wealth and Warfare Empower a Rwanda-Backed Militant Group in Congo
Rare-earth minerals critical for smartphone manufacturing. Lucrative trafficking routes and dizzying stockpiles of weapons. The lives of millions of people. All are now under the control of the M23 militia and its powerful backer, Rwanda. M23 reigns over a vast territory in eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to lucrative mines and other natural resources. In the major city of Goma, on the border with Rwanda, M23's soldiers now patrol the streets and M23-appointed officials rule the city. Congo's large but inept army has not slowed the group's advance, nor has condemnation by the United Nations Security Council. After months of fighting, the leaders of Congo and Rwanda held talks in Qatar this week and called for an immediate cease-fire. M23 declined to comment on whether it would honor the cease-fire. Last month, The Times traveled to Goma days after its capture by M23. Butembo Democratic Republic of Congo Detail Lake Edward uganda M23's area of influence Rutshuru Goma Rubaya coltan mine RWANDA Lake Kivu Kibuye Bukavu BURUNDI 60 miles Democratic Republic of Congo Lake Edward 60 miles M23's area of influence uganda Rutshuru Rubaya coltan mine Goma Lake Kivu RWANDA Kibuye Bukavu Detail tanzania BURUNDI Note: Data as of March 14 Source: International Peace Information Service By Samuel Granados M23, once a ragtag militia, now behaves like a governing entity in buzzing cities, lucrative coltan and gold mines, and strategic border crossings. Its immigration officers stamp passports, and in a city still scarred by deadly fighting, its leaders have urged young people to join its army so they can 'liberate Congo.' The group has vowed to march on Kinshasa, Congo's capital. That makes M23 and Rwanda a threat to the sovereignty of Congo, the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa by territory, with more than 100 million people, where millions of people have died in the last three decades in endless wars. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
18-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
What to Know About Israel's Renewed Assault on Gaza
Israeli forces on Tuesday launched the largest and most deadly attacks on Gaza since a cease-fire with Hamas that began roughly two months ago. The barrage killed hundreds of people, according to health authorities in the enclave. As of midday Tuesday, it remained unclear whether the strikes were a brief attempt to force Hamas to compromise in cease-fire talks or the beginning of a new phase in the conflict. What happened with the latest strikes? Mediterranean Sea Jabaliya Israel carried out deadly airstrikes across Gaza. Gaza City GAZA STRIP Nuseirat Deir al Balah ISRAEL Khan Younis Israel called for residents to evacuate areas in red, emphasizing two zones in particular. Rafah 5 Miles Jabaliya Israel carried out deadly airstrikes across Gaza. Gaza City Sderot GAZA STRIP ISRAEL Nuseirat Mediterranean Sea Deir al Balah Netivot Israel called for residents to evacuate areas in red, emphasizing two zones in particular. Khan Younis Ofakim Rafah EGYPT 5 Miles Sources: Israeli military (evacuation zones); aftermath photos and New York Times reporting (strike locations) By Samuel Granados, Pablo Robles and Sanjana Varghese Just before 2:30 a.m. local time, the Israeli military announced that it was conducting 'extensive strikes' on Hamas targets. At least 400 Palestinians, including children, were killed in the strikes, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry's figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Hamas publicly announced the deaths of at least five senior officials among the group's Gaza leadership. Two were officials in the group's political bureau, and three others — including Bahjat Abu Sultan, the director of Hamas's feared internal security agency — held senior security roles. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
13-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Russia Claims to Have Regained Control of Key Kursk Town
Russia's Defense Ministry said Thursday that the military had regained full control of the town of Sudzha, the main population center in the part of the Kursk region of Russia that Ukrainian troops had captured last summer. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed a retreat from the town, where the previous night Kyiv's military had reported fierce fighting. If confirmed, that would leave only small pockets of Russian land along the border under Ukrainian control — and could deny Kyiv a key point of leverage in any cease-fire negotiations as U.S. officials head to Moscow for talks. Ukraine's top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, said on Wednesday night that Ukrainian troops would 'hold the line in the Kursk region for as long as it remains reasonable and necessary.' Russian advances Russian-claimed advances Ukrainian-held territory Russia claimed it had taken Sudzha, the main Ukrainian outpost in Kursk. RUSSIA Korenevo Glushkovo Snagost Sudzha Guyevo UKRAINE Detail UKRAINE Sumy 5 miles Russian advances Russian-claimed advances Ukrainian-held territory RUSSIA Russia claimed it had taken Sudzha, the main Ukrainian outpost in Kursk. Glushkovo Snagost Sudzha Guyevo UKRAINE Detail Sumy UKRAINE 5 miles Note: As of March 12. Source: The Institute for the Study of War with American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project By Samuel Granados Parts of the Kursk region have been under Ukrainian control since August, when Ukraine's military mounted a surprise cross-border offensive and quickly captured approximately 500 square miles of land, including the town of Sudzha. At the time, the move was seen as an attempt to stretch Russian forces thin across multiple fronts, especially as Ukrainian forces were steadily losing ground elsewhere on their own territory. Holding Russian territory was also seen as a potential bargaining chip for Ukraine in any eventual cease-fire talks. Russia made steady progress in Kursk over the past week Russian advances Russian-claimed advances Ukrainian-held territory MARCH 6 MARCH 10 MARCH 12 RUSSIA RUSSIA Korenevo Korenevo Korenevo RUSSIA Snagost Snagost Snagost Sudzha Sudzha Sudzha Guyevo Guyevo Guyevo UKRAINE UKRAINE UKRAINE Sumy Sumy Russia made steady progress in Kursk over the past week Russian advances Russian-claimed advances Ukrainian-held territory MARCH 6 RUSSIA Korenevo Snagost Sudzha UKRAINE Guyevo MARCH 10 Korenevo RUSSIA Snagost Sudzha UKRAINE Guyevo MARCH 12 Korenevo RUSSIA Snagost Sudzha UKRAINE Guyevo Source: The Institute for the Study of War with American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project By Samuel Granados Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
25-02-2025
- Business
- New York Times
At Stake in Ukraine-Trump Deal: Titanium, Lithium and Rare Earths
Officials in Ukraine and the Trump administration say they are close to a deal that would give the United States revenues from Ukraine's minerals and other natural resources, including titanium, lithium, oil, natural gas and rare earth elements. Critical mineral deposits in Ukraine Titanium Lithium Cobalt Other critical minerals Ukraine holds territory in Russia's Kursk region. BELARUS RUSSIA Kyiv UKRAINE Area controlled by Russia MOLD. ROMANIA CRIMEA Critical mineral deposits in Ukraine Titanium Lithium Cobalt Other critical minerals RUSSIA BELARUS Ukraine holds territory in Russia's Kursk region. POLAND Lviv Kyiv Kharkiv UKRAINE Dnipro Area controlled by Russia MOLDOVA Odesa ROMANIA CRIMEA Note: Critical minerals are those that are important for industry, including many green technologies, and have a high risk of supply disruption. Sources: Conflict and Environment Observatory, Institute for the Study of War with American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project By Samuel Granados A draft agreement seen by The New York Times described the creation of an U.S.-controlled fund that receives revenue from Ukraine's natural resources. It did not offer any security guarantees. What are Ukraine's natural resources? Ukraine, the largest country wholly within Europe, controls more than 100 major deposits of critical minerals, according to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics, along with modest oil and natural gas reserves. Ukraine has deposits of 20 of the 50 minerals the U.S. Geological Survey lists as critical for America's economic development and defense, including: Titanium is used in construction, airplanes, orthopedic implants and as an additive in paint and cosmetics, including sunscreen, among many other things. Titanium mines in central Ukraine account for about 6 percent of global production, according to Ukrainian media. Lithium is a crucial element in batteries, including those in electric vehicles, and in other industrial products, including some medications. Ukraine has a third of Europe's total reserves, although some sites are in war-contested areas. Before the war with Russia, Ukrainian officials suggested to Elon Musk that he invest in Ukrainian lithium mines. Uranium is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Ukraine has the largest uranium reserves in Europe. Rare earths are a group of more than a dozen metals, much less abundant than Titanium or Lithium, that are used in many high-tech sectors, including green energy, electronics and aerospace. Ukraine has substantial reserves that are mostly untapped, and it is unclear how expensive they would be to extract. What does Trump want? Mr. Trump says he wants revenue from the minerals as repayment for military aid that the United States has provided to Ukraine. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
