War in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine continues to go poorly for Russia as North Korea sends around ten thousand troops to aid Putin’s invasion. The Associated Press reports that North Korean troops have been reported in the Kursk region, an area where Russia is struggling to repel a Ukrainian incursion. NATO officials are worried that this may increase tensions in the already tumultuous Indo-Pacific region. A spokesperson for the Pentagon has stated that the U.S. will not place any limitations on Ukraine’s use of U.S. weapons on North Korean forces. Previously, the U.S. has placed limitations on the use of US-supplied weapons against Russia, particularly by placing a restriction on long-range strikes within Russia.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
On Monday, NBC News reported that the Israeli parliament has voted to ban the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Israeli government alleges that UNRWA supports terrorist activities, a claim which the organization strongly disputes. A number of nations have condemned the ban, including Spain, Slovenia, Ireland and Norway. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also expressed concern at the passing of the bill. President Biden has not commented as of Monday night, but the Biden administration had previously called for Israel to refrain from banning the organization. This comes amid rising tensions between Israel, Iran and Lebanon.
U.S. Restricts Investment in Chinese Technology
The Biden Administration has finalized a set of restrictions on U.S. investment in China in key technological sectors. Reuters reports that the restrictions primarily focus on semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. The U.S. Department of the Treasury believes that these technologies are at the core of Chinese military innovation, and therefore should not be funded by American investors. This is the latest move in the push to direct American investment and innovation back into the United States.
