Bryf

Israeli Raid in West Bank Leaves Nine Palestinians Dead | IN PALESTINE [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla. Today's headline is an Israeli raid in the West Bank that has left nine Palestinians dead. This firefight in a refugee camp brings the Palestinian death toll to 29 this month. According to Palestinian health officials, the Israeli army entered the West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday as part of an operation targeting Palestinian militants. The army claims that they killed at least six militants in the resulting battle, however, reports of additional deaths are being examined. An elderly Palestinian woman was also killed in the fighting, according to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry. The Israeli army is looking into these reports. In 2022, at least 146 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, the highest annual toll since 2004, according to the Israeli human-rights group B’Tselem. So far this year, 29 Palestinians have been killed. A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the incident “a massacre” and criticized the international community for not pressuring Israel to change its policies towards the Palestinians. Hamas, the Islamist militant group which rules Gaza, said Israel’s “killing and criminality” wouldn’t stop “the great revolutionary tide.” The Israeli army claims that they entered the refugee camp mid-morning on Thursday after receiving intelligence that Palestinians affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group were planning an imminent attack. Militants opened fire on troops, who shot three of them dead, the army said. Israeli soldiers shot and killed another three armed Palestinians while surrounding and storming the building in which the militant cell had holed up. No troops were injured in the firefight. Israeli officials say most of those killed during Operation Wavebreaker were members of militant groups or involved in violence. However, at least some appear to have been uninvolved civilians, including a teenage girl killed by Israeli fire during another raid in Jenin in mid-December. Israel says its West Bank operations are necessary to combat the rising threat from Palestinian militant groups, especially in areas where Mr. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-rule in parts of the occupied territory, has seen its grip weaken in recent months. Palestinian officials say Israeli military operations undermine their control and help fuel a cycle of violence. Political analysts say tensions could further escalate under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new right-wing coalition government, which has vowed to take tougher measures against Palestinians aimed at curbing violence. That's all for today's episode of Bryf. Stay tuned for more breaking news and analysis. Thank you for tuning in. This is Kyla, signing off. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Camp Blaz: America's Latest Weapon in the Pacific | WORLD [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla, and today we're discussing the opening of a new U.S. base on Guam, aimed at deterring China. The U.S. Marine Corps marked the opening of a new base on America’s westernmost Pacific island, as the Pentagon redirects its forces to counter China, which Washington has identified as a growing threat to U.S. security. This is the first new Marine base since 1952, and it is still under construction. It will eventually house 5,000 Marines tasked in the short term with deterring and detecting threats in the region. Longer-term, the Guam base, about equidistant from Japan and Taiwan, is also slated to be a hub for Marines on Guam and across the Northern Mariana Islands to train for protecting Pacific islands, including vital sea lanes, in the event of an invasion. This move comes as U.S. concerns grow about China’s military power, and the threat to Taiwan. The base would prepare more Marines for potential conflict in the Western Pacific islands, with the Marines being closer to the front lines of a potential conflict, available to quickly travel from island to island in small teams armed with anti-ship missiles to detect, harass, and destroy enemy vessels. The new base would also reduce U.S. reliance on keeping large numbers of troops in Japan, where their presence has at times caused local resentment. Gen. David Berger, the Marine Corps commandant, has said, “We don’t want to fight to get to the fight. We want to already be inside so if there’s a conflict, the stand-in forces are already forward.” In the absence of conflict, troops in Guam could practice live-fire exercises, while those stationed in the Northern Mariana Islands could practice maneuvers and overland transfers, defense officials said. Despite the fanfare during Thursday’s naming ceremony, the base is more than a year away from becoming fully operational. Fewer than 100 troops are currently stationed there, with the bulk of the rest expected to arrive by December 2024. However, the opening of this base has not been without controversy, with many residents not enthusiastic about the strain thousands of forces could put on their infrastructure, and others fearing how much a large military presence could alter islands geared toward tourism. And that's all for today's episode of Bryf. We've just discussed the opening of a new U.S. base on Guam, aimed at deterring China and providing a hub for training in the Western Pacific. As we've learned, the base will eventually house 5,000 Marines and will play a crucial role in protecting Pacific islands and vital sea lanes in the event of an invasion. The base will also reduce U.S. reliance on keeping large numbers of troops in Japan and bring Marines closer to the front lines of a potential conflict with China. As always, we'll continue to keep you updated on this story and any other important news happening around the world. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on Bryf. Stay informed, stay connected, and stay with us. This is Kyla, signing off. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Elon Musk Looks to Raise $3 Billion to Pay Off Twitter Debt | MONEY TALK [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla, and today we're discussing a report that Elon Musk is exploring ways to raise up to $3 billion to help pay off the debt he incurred when he bought Twitter. According to sources familiar with the matter, Elon Musk's team has held talks with investors about selling up to $3 billion in new Twitter shares. The funds, if raised, could be used to pay down an unsecured portion of the debt that carries the highest interest rate within the $13 billion Twitter loan package. As many of our listeners may be aware, Twitter has been struggling to keep advertisers on the platform. In November, Elon Musk said Twitter had suffered “a massive drop in revenue” and was losing over $4 million a day. He even mentioned that bankruptcy was a possibility for the company. However, Elon Musk later shared more upbeat prospects for the company, saying he expects Twitter to be roughly cash-flow break-even in 2023 as he has slashed some 6,000 jobs. The state of the fundraising talks is currently unknown. In mid-December, Elon Musk’s team reached out to new and existing backers about raising new equity capital at the original Twitter takeover price. But, some prospective backers have said they are hesitant to invest due to concerns about Twitter's financial performance. Fidelity, one of the co-investors that backed Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, wrote down its stake in Twitter by 56% in November, which suggests that Elon Musk would face an uphill battle raising funds at the original valuation from outside investors. The banks holding the $13 billion in debt that backed his takeover of the company haven’t yet received any formal notice of any repayments, sources say. Repaying the unsecured bridge loans would leave Twitter with a debt burden that has much more manageable interest rates. Twitter’s $6.5 billion in term loans and $3 billion in secured bridge loans carry an annual interest burden of 4.75% and 6.75%, respectively, plus the overnight rate, according to public filings. A potential deal would also provide a degree of relief for the banks that backed Elon Musk’s takeover of the social-media company and that intended to sell the debt to third-party investors but changed course after deteriorating market conditions sank Wall Street’s appetite for exposure to risky bonds and loans. The $13 billion of Twitter debt on bank balance sheets, one of the biggest “hung deals” of all time, has helped contribute to a drag in the number of mergers and acquisitions as banks’ firepower to back deals is tied up. It remains to be seen if this fundraising effort will be successful and what impact it will have on Twitter and its shareholders. And that's it for today's episode of Bryf. We hope you've enjoyed our in-depth coverage of Elon Musk's efforts to raise $3 billion to help pay off Twitter's debt. As we've discussed, the company has been struggling financially and a successful equity raise could provide relief for both Twitter and the banks that backed Elon Musk's takeover of the company. But as we've also noted, given the concerns about Twitter's financial performance and the current market conditions, it may be an uphill battle for Elon Musk to secure the funding he needs. So, stay tuned as we continue to bring you the latest developments on this story as they unfold. And remember, for unbiased and up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most, follow us here at Bryf. This is Kyla, signing off for now. Thanks for tuning in! [END]

Beyond Earth: The Rise of Aerial Robots in Space Exploration | OUR FUTURE [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla and today we're discussing the groundbreaking achievement of NASA's Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, and the exciting possibilities for flight on other worlds. On April 19th, 2021, Ingenuity made history by becoming the first craft to perform a powered flight on a world beyond Earth. The toaster oven-size helicopter rose 10 feet above the surface of Mars, and it won't be the last. NASA and other space agencies are already developing three more extraterrestrial fliers, and many more aerial robots are on the drawing board. These aerial robots could survey the clouds of Venus, search for life on Saturn's moon Titan, and scout out resources for Mars astronauts who may arrive in the late 2030s. However, these missions face significant technological hurdles. Flying on other worlds requires ultra-lightweight materials, autonomous navigation, and adaptations to extreme temperatures and different atmospheres. But if engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California can pull it off, we will soon be touring the solar system like never before. Geoff Landis, a physicist at NASA's John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, explains that there are so many things you can do with aerial mobility that you can't do with a lander or a rover. "If you want to do global exploration, from pole to equator, you need something capable of flying." Ingenuity has shattered expectations of what a helicopter can achieve on other planets. Originally conceived as a low-budget technology demonstration and scheduled to make just five flights, the tiny craft has taken to the Martian skies dozens of times. It has provided unprecedented aerial views of the Red Planet's surface and supported NASA's nearby Perseverance rover. Ingenuity's success has led NASA to change its plans for future missions. The agency no longer plans to send a European Space Agency rover to Mars to transport soil samples cached by Perseverance so that they can be returned to Earth for analysis. Instead, NASA plans to launch a pair of new Ingenuity-style fliers in 2028, each enhanced with four wheels and a grasping arm to help collect the samples. Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, and AeroVironment Inc. have also drawn up a concept for a larger copter with six rotors instead of Ingenuity's two. The Mars Science Helicopter, as it's known, would be able to carry up to about 10 pounds of instruments. One of the most ambitious projects in development is Dragonfly, a nuclear-powered helicopter being developed at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland. In 2027, NASA plans to launch Dragonfly toward Titan, where the atmosphere is four times as dense and the gravity about one-seventh Earth's. Under those conditions, a modest nudge from Dragonfly's eight rotors should be enough to send the half-ton science lab soaring through the sky. The Dragonfly mission's principal investigator, Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle, a planetary scientist at APL, says that Titan is calling out to be flown on. The plans call for Dragonfly to take to the air once a month for nearly three years, logging up to 10 miles per flight, to explore a landscape dotted with liquid methane lakes, ice boulders, and dunes made of grains of tar. So there you have it, folks! Thank you for tuning in to Bryf, stay with us for more unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. We'll catch you next time! [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most.

Quran Burning Sparks Diplomatic Dispute: Turkey Postpones NATO Talks with Sweden and Finland | WORLD [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla, and today we're discussing the latest development in the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Turkey, Sweden, and Finland. Turkey has postponed a key meeting with Sweden and Finland that was intended to discuss their bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This decision comes after a far-right politician in Sweden burned a Quran, drawing condemnation from both the Turkish and Swedish governments. The meeting, which was scheduled for February in Brussels, was supposed to be the next edition of a diplomatic platform designed last year to resolve the three countries' differences. However, Turkish officials did not give a reason for the postponement. This is the latest setback for Sweden and Finland in a dispute that has been ongoing since last May, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan first threatened to veto the countries' membership in NATO over their alleged ties to Kurdish militant groups. This week, Erdogan renewed his threat to block Sweden from the alliance in response to the Quran burning incident. Turkey also summoned Sweden's ambassador in Ankara to warn the Swedish government and canceled a planned visit by the Swedish defense minister to discuss the NATO accession issue. A senior Turkish official, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, has stated that Turkey is unlikely to send the NATO matter to Parliament before Turkey's presidential election in mid-May. Western officials are prodding Turkey not to upset their plans to see Sweden and Finland in the alliance by the time NATO holds its summit in early July in Vilnius, Lithuania. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has expressed confidence that Turkey will approve its NATO application, but has also warned that Ankara has come up with new extradition demands that Sweden cannot and will not meet. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has also expressed hope that Finland and Sweden will be able to join NATO ahead of the Vilnius summit. The postponement of the meeting comes after Sweden and Finland signed an agreement last June with Turkey during NATO's summit in Madrid, pledging to resolve the dispute through diplomacy, including a "joint mechanism" for security dialogue. However, the next meeting of that platform is now being postponed. Sweden and Finland have also agreed to address Turkey's extradition requests of alleged Kurdish militants and other individuals Turkey describes as terrorist suspects. Both Sweden and NATO's secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg have stated that the Swedish government has fulfilled its obligations in this regard. That’s all for today episode! Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as tensions continue to escalate between Turkey, Sweden, and Finland. Will they be able to resolve their differences and join NATO by the time of the summit in July? Only time will tell. Be sure to tune in to Bryf for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage on this and other important stories from around the world. This is Kyla signing off, thanks for listening! [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Germany Escalates Support for Ukraine with Tank Deployment | IN UKRAINE [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla. Today we're discussing a major development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Germany and the United States, along with other allies, are escalating their support for Kyiv by sending tanks to the region. Germany has announced that it will send 14 of its modern Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine as part of a coordinated push with the U.S. and other allies. The U.S. is expected to announce a donation of up to 50 U.S.-made Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine later today. This decision marks a new threshold in the West's assistance to Ukraine. While Kyiv's supporters have long provided the country with Soviet-era weapons in their own stocks, they have so far rejected Kyiv's repeated demands for modern, Western-made main battle tanks. These tanks are seen as necessary for Ukraine to retake territory currently held by Moscow. The move comes after days of intense diplomacy between Berlin and Washington. The goal is to quickly put together two tank battalions' worth of Leopard 2 tanks, with the initial battalion arriving in Ukraine within three months. Other countries such as Poland, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, and Spain have also signaled that they will supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. However, there are concerns that sending tanks could drag Germany into the conflict and prompt a military response from Moscow. Unlike the U.S., the U.K., France, or Russia, Germany does not have its own nuclear deterrent. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed these concerns in a statement, urging German voters to "trust me and trust the federal government…We will make sure that this support continues without increasing the risks for our country.” The coordinated moves by Germany and the U.S. and their allies to send tanks to Ukraine is a significant development in the ongoing conflict. The tanks will strengthen Ukraine's defensive firepower and are seen as a way to ensure that Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace. And there you have it, folks. Germany and the United States, along with other allies, are escalating their support for Ukraine by sending modern tanks to the region. This marks a new threshold in the West's assistance to Ukraine, and could be a game changer in the ongoing conflict. As always, stay tuned to Bryf for up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. This is Kyla signing off, and remember, stay informed, stay curious, and stay with Bryf. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

The Bahamian Connection: How Modulo Capital Became a Key Piece in the FTX Puzzle | MONEY TALK [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Hello and welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla and today we're going to be talking about the unknown hedge fund that received $400 million from Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed in November. As we reported earlier, before the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried sent $400 million to an obscure cryptocurrency trading firm called Modulo Capital. The firm, which was founded in March and operated out of the same Bahamian compound where Bankman-Fried lived, had no track record or public profile. Now, Modulo is emerging as a crucial part of the investigation by federal prosecutors into Bankman-Fried and his once giant cryptocurrency exchange. They're examining whether he used FTX's customer funds to invest in the little-known firm when his existing hedge fund, Alameda Research, was struggling amid a wider crypto industry downturn. The $400 million outlay was one of Bankman-Fried's single largest investments. At the same time, lawyers for FTX's new leadership are eyeing Modulo's assets as they scramble to recover the billions of dollars that customers, lenders and investors lost when the exchange imploded. It's unclear how much of FTX's $400 million investment remains or where it is. But the authorities have been aware of the trading firm for months; the day after Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas in mid-December, he was denied bail at a court hearing where a local prosecutor argued that he was a flight risk and suggested he might be able to tap the funds sitting with Modulo. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan investigating Bankman-Fried believe the Modulo investment was made using criminal proceeds — misappropriated money that FTX customers had deposited with the exchange, said a person briefed on the investigation. The flow of money to Modulo has also caught the attention of the lawyers representing FTX in the company's bankruptcy proceeding in Delaware. In a slide presentation to the exchange's creditors that was filed in court last Tuesday, FTX's lawyers flagged the transaction with Modulo as one of its prime targets for reclaiming money. As of now, neither of Modulo's two founders have been accused of wrongdoing, but they recently hired Aitan Goelman, a criminal defense lawyer who is a former director of enforcement for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. And that concludes today's episode of Bryf. The investigation into the collapse of FTX and the involvement of the hedge fund Modulo Capital is still ongoing, and we will continue to bring you the latest updates as they become available. We appreciate your listening and as always, we strive to bring you unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Thank you for tuning in, and we'll be back soon with more news, analysis and commentary from around the world. This is Kyla, signing off. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Tragedy Upon Tragedy: California Mourns Another Mass Shooting | HAPPEN TODAY [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis and commentary from around the world. I'm Kyla and today we're going to be discussing the tragic mass shooting that took place in Half Moon Bay, California, where 7 people were killed. The police have arrested a 67-year-old suspect, Zhao Chunli, in connection with the shootings. He was found in his car in the parking lot of a San Mateo County Sheriff's Office substation in the town and was taken into custody "without incident" and is "fully cooperating," according to Sheriff Christina Corpus. This shooting comes just days after another mass shooting in Monterey Park where 11 people were killed. Governor Gavin Newsom of California expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating "Tragedy upon tragedy." The shootings occurred around 2:20 p.m. in Half Moon Bay, a rural seaside town between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. At least one of the locations was a plant nursery and it's believed that the suspect may have been a worker at the nursery. Four people were found dead at a location near Highway 92, and a fifth person with life-threatening injuries was taken from that site to Stanford Medical Center. Three more people were found dead about a mile away on the outskirts of the city. Sheriff Corpus also mentioned that "for children to witness this is unspeakable," as the shooting occurred in the afternoon when kids were out of school. Investigations are still ongoing and a motive has not yet been established. The police are working with the FBI and have not uncovered any criminal history or past incidents at either of the scenes. Thanks for tuning in to Bryf for the latest updates on the tragic mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this difficult time. Stay with us for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of this story and more as we continue to bring you the stories that matter most. Don't forget to follow us for all the latest news from around the world. This is Kyla, signing off. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Ukraine's Corruption Crackdown: Two Officials Removed From Posts [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Hello and welcome to Bryf! I'm Kyla, and today we're diving into the ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky's government has dismissed two more officials as part of a renewed push to root out corruption. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense announced that Viacheslav Shapovalov, a deputy minister, had "asked to be fired" following reports of corruption in military food procurement. The ministry stated that relieving Shapovalov of his duties would "preserve the trust" of Ukrainians and the country's international partners. The prosecutor general's office also announced the firing of a deputy, Oleksii Symonenko. While the statement did not specify a reason, Ukrainian media reported that the dismissal came after Symonenko took a wartime vacation to Spain. These dismissals reflect President Zelensky's goal of reassuring Ukraine's allies, who are sending billions of dollars in military aid to fight Russia's invasion, that his government will show zero tolerance for graft. The move also appears to be part of a broader shake-up in Zelensky's government, which until now has remained relatively unchanged through nearly one year of war. It should be noted that details of the allegations against these officials have not been made public. However, over the weekend, a Ukrainian newspaper reported that the Ministry of Defense had purchased food for the military at inflated prices during the war. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov called these allegations "absolute nonsense" and the product of "distorted information." In his nightly address, President Zelensky also announced that government officials would be prohibited from traveling abroad for vacation or any other unofficial purpose. This move is intended to show that corruption will not be allowed to undermine the country's defense. Zelensky also signaled that there would be a shake-up in his government, saying he had "made personnel decisions" involving ministries, regional governments, law enforcement agencies, and other departments. A senior advisor to Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, stated on Twitter that these moves show that the Ukrainian president "directly responds to a key public demand - justice for all." Corruption has plagued Ukraine for a long time, and rooting it out remains a priority for Kyiv and its allies. With weapons and aid worth billions of dollars flooding into the country and the price tag for reconstruction efforts estimated to be in the billions of dollars, it is crucial for Ukraine to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption to maintain the trust of its allies. And that concludes our coverage of the latest developments in Ukraine's ongoing corruption crackdown. Stay tuned to Bryf for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Remember to follow us on social media for updates and analysis. Thank you for listening, and we'll be back with more news soon. This is Kyla, signing off. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Currency Crisis in Iraq: The Dismissal of the Central Bank Governor | WORLD [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] Welcome to Bryf, your go-to source for breaking news, analysis, and commentary from around the world. I'm your host Kyla. Today, we're discussing the recent dismissal of Iraq's central bank governor, Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef, by Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani. This move comes amid growing anger over the weakening of the local currency, the dinar, in recent weeks. The dinar has dropped sharply against the U.S. dollar in unofficial currency markets, raising the cost of living for ordinary Iraqis in the country's dollar-dependent economy. The dinar last traded at around 1,600 to the dollar on Monday, compared with the official exchange rate of 1,460. This has led to higher prices for imported goods, including staples such as eggs, flour, and cooking oil. Many Iraqis are blaming the U.S. for the dinar's weakness. The New York Fed and the Central Bank of Iraq began enforcing tighter controls on international dollar transactions by commercial Iraqi banks in November in a move to curtail money laundering and the illegal siphoning of dollars to Iran and other heavily sanctioned Middle East countries. Since the procedures went into effect, 80% or more of Iraq's daily dollar wire transfers, which previously totaled over $250 million some days, have been blocked because of insufficient information about the funds' destinations or other errors, according to U.S. and Iraqi government. Iraqi banks had operated under less stringent rules since shortly after the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Years of weak governments and crises—from the insurgency during the U.S. occupation to Islamic State's takeover of large portions of the country—led successive administrations to put off bringing Iraq's banking system into compliance with global money-transfer practices until now, officials said. Prime Minister Sudani, who took office just as the currency began to drop, said that he would send a delegation to Washington next month with a proposal to temporarily end the tighter scrutiny of Iraqi transactions. He also sought to reassure Iraqis, saying the currency fluctuation was temporary and the exchange rate should stabilize soon as the government takes steps to safeguard public money and prevent smuggling and money laundering. In response to the dismissal of the central bank governor, Muhsen al-Allaq, who previously served in that role between 2014 and 2020, has been named as the new central bank governor. And that's all for today's episode of Bryf. We hope you found this coverage of Iraq's Prime Minister dismissing the central bank governor and the weakening of the dinar informative and insightful. We'll be sure to keep you updated on any further developments in this story. As always, thank you for tuning in and stay with us for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. This is Kyla, signing off. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Russia Makes Strategic Advances in Ukraine's South as Kyiv Awaits Western Weapon Support [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] As fighting intensifies in Ukraine's strategically important south, Moscow claims to be making advances, while Kyiv waits for heavier weapons from its Western allies. Russian forces have pushed Ukrainian troops back from the front line in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia in a series of attacks east of the Dnipro River, according to Russian-installed regional official Vladimir Rogov. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces has reported that Russian forces have shelled 20 towns and villages along the front line in Zaporizhzhia over the past day, but has not confirmed any Russian advances there. This recent momentum coincides with a rift emerging between Kyiv's Western allies over whether to supply Ukraine with German-made tanks. Germany refrained from pledging Leopard 2 tanks at a meeting of defense officials last week, putting it at odds with many of its NATO allies, including the US. Ukraine says it needs heavier weapons, including tanks, to reclaim more territory from Russian forces and thwart an anticipated fresh offensive. Analysts have highlighted the increasing importance of the Zaporizhzhia region for Ukraine. A Ukrainian offensive in the southern region could sever the territory occupied by Russia's invasion forces, splitting the eastern and southern areas of Ukraine that Russian troops currently hold. It could also cut off Moscow's land bridge between Russia and occupied Crimea. For Russia, advances in Zaporizhzhia could boost their logistical capabilities in the south and help Moscow's forces press deeper into Ukraine. Kyiv's goal in inflicting casualties on Russian forces in eastern Ukraine is also to draw troops away from Russian lines in other regions, including Zaporizhzhia. However, nearly a year of fighting has also exacted a heavy toll on Ukrainian ranks. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the country's military leadership has been tasked with mustering reserves to allow soldiers engaged in combat to rest. Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered heavy casualties around the eastern city of Bakhmut. After months of failed attempts to seize the city, Russian forces broke through Ukrainian defenses in the nearby town of Soledar earlier this month, a sign that Moscow's mobilization of 300,000 reservists may be shifting the war of attrition in its favor. Military analysts say Russia will likely try to use the newly mobilized troops to make advances, although some believe Russia's falling munition stocks could compromise its offensives. The UK Ministry of Defense has reported that Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, recently appointed to head Moscow's forces in Ukraine, has likely taken measures to improve discipline among Russia's forces, whose morale has been hit by problems with equipment, logistics, and training in the middle of winter. In other news, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced Monday that it is reducing the number of Estonian diplomats able to work in Russia in response to what it called similar moves made by the Baltic nation. The ministry stated that the ambassador must leave the country by February 7th, in a downgrading of relations. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf, your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram

Lunar New Year Tragedy: 10 Dead in Monterey Park Shooting | Bryf Today [AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION] As authorities continue to investigate the incident, they have yet to  establish a motive for the attack. On Saturday night, a gunman killed 10  people and injured 10 more at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in  Monterey Park. The suspect, identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, was  later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a van in which he  fled after people thwarted his attempt at a second shooting. This tragic event marks the nation's fifth mass killing this month and  the deadliest attack since May 24, when 21 people were killed in an  elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The community of Monterey Park, a  city of about 60,000 people on the eastern edge of Los Angeles, is  composed mostly of Asian immigrants from China or first-generation Asian  Americans. The shooting happened in the heart of its downtown where red  lanterns decorated the streets for the Lunar New Year festivities - one  of California's largest celebrations. Despite the incident, the police chief of Monterey Park, Scott Wiese,  stated that officers arrived at the scene within three minutes of  receiving the call, and found chaos inside and people trying to flee  through all the doors. The suspect then entered a nearby ballroom in the  city of Alhambra, but witnesses said he fled in a white van after  people wrested the weapon away from him. The van was later found in  Torrance, another community home to many Asian Americans, about 34.5 km  from that second location. The Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has stated that the motive  remains unclear for the attack, and no other suspects are at large. The  suspect was carrying what Luna described as a semi-automatic pistol with  an extended magazine, and a second handgun was discovered in the van  where Tran died. Congresswoman Judy Chu has raised questions about the  attack, such as the possible motive, mental illness, domestic violence,  and the means of obtaining the guns. President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland have been  briefed on the situation, and Biden has directed federal authorities to  support the investigation. The USA Today/Associated Press database on  mass killings in the US shows that 2022 was one of the nation's worst  years with 42 such attacks - the second-highest number since the  creation of the tracker in 2006. The database defines a mass killing as  four people killed, not including the perpetrator. This is a tragic and senseless act of violence that has cast a shadow  over the Lunar New Year festivities and sent a wave of fear through  Asian American communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the  victims and their families, as well as the entire community affected by  this terrible event. [END] Don't miss a beat of the latest global events! Stay tuned with Bryf,  your go-to source for unbiased, up-to-the-minute coverage of the stories  that matter most. Our Social Media: Instagram