🇾🇪❌🛥❗️ — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports that an attack has taken place in the Gulf of Aden, 57 NM from Aden!

➡️ The master of the ship reports at least 5x explosions near the ship, but no damage noticed!

🔗 United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO)

🇸🇻 — Nayib Bukele on 𝕏:

Gang members will spend their entire lives in prison. But non-violent criminals can receive training and repay their debt to society.

We’ve already started with the first 48,000. Here’s just one of the things they do

Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele)

🇺🇸🔋 Mapped: Electric Vehicle Adoption By State in 2023

🔗 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-electric-vehicle-adoption-by-state/

🇺🇸🤝🇧🇦 CIA Chief In Bosnia To Emphasize U.S. Support And 'Worrying' Rhetoric Of Republika Srpska President

CIA Director William Burns was in Sarajevo on August 20 to discuss the “worrying secessionist rhetoric and actions” of the pro-Russian president and government of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Serb entity, a U.S. government official told RFE/RL.

“They discussed issues of mutual interest, which include the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina,” according to the official, who asked not to be named.

Almir Dzuvo, the chief of Bosnia's Intelligence and Security Agency, confirmed earlier to RFE/RL that Burns was in Sarajevo. Burns “voiced his support for the cooperation of U.S. and Bosnian intelligence agencies" during his meeting with Dzuvo, the Bosnian intelligence chief told RFE/RL.

Bosnia’s head of diplomacy Elmedin Konakovic, who also met with Burns, said Bosnia “once again received confirmation of full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and condemnation of secessionist messages and moves.”

Konakovic told RFE/RL that while he could not comment on some parts of the discussion, a universal message was sent that the American administration is “very clear that Bosnia’s foreign policy partner is still firmly with Bosnia-Herzegovina."

Burns's visit is a “very good message” to Serbia that the United States will not tolerate its actions, Assenova said.

🔗 https://www.rferl.org/a/cia-burns-bosnia-dzuvo/33085824.html

🇺🇸🇷🇸 CIA Chief William J. Burns is on a surprise visit to Serbia.

He is being hosted by the Serbian Security Intelligence Agency (BIA).

🔗 https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/direktor-cia-berns-poseta-beograd/33087580.html

🇺🇸🤝🇽🇰 The head of the CIA in the Presidency of Kosovo

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, was seen entering the Kosovo Presidency building on August 22.

His visit to Kosovo comes after the senior American intelligence official stayed in other countries of the region.

Previously, the American Embassy in Pristina did not confirm Burns' visit to Kosovo. Radio Free Europe did not receive confirmation either from the Presidency of Kosovo, or from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

However, the American army plane, with which the head of the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, is believed to have traveled to Bosnia and Serbia, was seen at noon on Thursday at Pristina's "Adem Jashari" International Airport.

Burns' visit to the region comes at a time when the American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, has said that his country has been challenged in several aspects by the Government of Kosovo, led by Albin Kurti.

The USA and other countries of the international community have criticized some decisions and actions taken recently by the Kurti Government, which have been considered "unilateral" and "uncoordinated".

The US Department of State has asked the Kurti Government to return to "constructive and close engagement" with Washington, the European Union and NATO, while Washington is also demanding that Kosovo's institutions not open the bridge over the Ibër River to traffic. , citing security concerns.

🔗 https://www.cna.al/english/kosova-bota/shefi-i-cia-s-ne-presidencen-e-kosoves-i406468

🇮🇹 Italy's foreign minister says country needs more African students

Tajani's centre-right Forza Italia party has urged the government to consider granting citizenship to foreign minors who have completed most of their education in Italy.

The proposal has met with opposition from the two hard-right coalition parties, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy and Matteo Salvini's League.

"I think the numbers of African students studying in Italy should be increased", Tajani said at a Catholic business and politics conference in Rimini, on the Adriatic coast.

He was discussing an Italian development initiative for African countries, known as the Mattei Plan, named after the late founder of Italy's state controlled energy company Eni.

Tajani likened the project to a modern day Marshall Plan, which saw the United States support European economies in the aftermath of World War Two.

Far fewer foreigners study in Italy than in other large European Union nations.

Data from Italy's national statistics institute ISTAT shows the country issued around 25,000 study permits in 2022, compared to almost 105,000 issued by France and about 70,000 by Germany.

ISTAT cited the relatively limited use of Italian as an international language and the difficulties of finding work in Italy among probable reasons for the dearth of foreign students.

🔗 https://www.reuters.com/world/italys-foreign-minister-says-country-needs-more-african-students-2024-08-22/

🇬🇧🇳🇬 UK opens portal to recruit Nigerians for British Army

The British Army has announced a new recruitment drive targeting Nigerians and other Commonwealth citizens, inviting applications for various roles within its armed forces.

The recruitment window is open from August 19, 2024, to August 26, 2024.

Interested candidates from Nigeria are sought for positions including musicians, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Engineers Technicians, tradesmen, and paratroopers.

The British Army emphasised the critical role of Commonwealth soldiers in its ranks and their continued importance within the organization.

🔗 https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/japa-uk-opens-portal-to-recruit-nigerians-for-british-army/

🇬🇧 Magistrates told to stop jailing offenders to ease prisons crisis

A senior judge has said that people on bail who are likely to receive a custodial sentence should have their hearings postponed until at least September 10

Magistrates have been told to stop jailing convicted criminals for several weeks in the latest effort to ease pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons.

One of the country’s senior judges has issued a “listing direction” to the managers of magistrates’ courts in England and Wales saying that offenders who are on bail and likely to be jailed should have their sentencing hearings postponed until at least September 10.

The order could affect some who have pleaded guilty to offences during the recent spate of rioting as well as others facing sentences for crimes including assaults.

But from September 10, the government will implement its emergency early release scheme, which is forecast to free 2,000 places immediately and another 1,700 by October 22.

According to ministers, in the longer term, the scheme will free up to 5,500 prison places.

The core of the scheme involves moving the standard release date of most prisoners from 50 per cent of their sentence served to 40 per cent. The scheme will not include prisoners serving sentences for violent offences of four years or more, as well as sex and domestic violence offences.

Green emphasised that “every case must be considered individually, and decisions must be made upon the basis of the interests of justice” and that the process “needs to be a carefully conducted exercise”.

🔗 https://archive.ph/QBaDr

🇻🇪⛓ — The president of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela, controlled by Chavismo, has requested an investigation against the team of María Corina Machado and Edmundo González for the publication of the July 27th electoral records.