ABU DHABI -- The United States and Russia agreed on Thursday to reestablish high-level military-to-military dialogue in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement released by the U.S. European Command.
The dialogue channel was suspended in the fall of 2021 prior to the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the statement said. (U.S.-Russia Military Dialogue)
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TEHRAN -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Thursday its naval forces have seized two vessels carrying smuggled fuel near the Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf.
In a statement on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said that after seizing the vessels with a judicial order and transferring them to the southern port city of Bushehr, its forces detained 15 foreign crew members on board the ships and handed them over to the country's judicial authorities for legal proceedings. (Iran-Vessel-Oil)
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CARACAS -- Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Wednesday that authorities are investigating the events surrounding the Jan. 3 U.S. military operation, which resulted in the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
In his statement, the military chief did not specify the type or scope of the investigation, but indicated that the ongoing investigation will allow the country "to learn, evaluate and make adjustments" to the transformation plan for Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces, adding that "extremely high technology" was involved. (Venezuela-Investigation)
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that California can use its new congressional map, amid an ongoing fight between Democrats and Republicans for control of the House of Representatives ahead of the midterm elections.
"The application for the writ of injunction pending appeal presented to Justice (Elena) Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied," the Supreme Court said in a one-sentence order that provided no elaborations. (U.S.-Supreme Court-California) ■
