GLOBAL ECHO NEWS

On Friday, an Israeli official informed Global Echo News that the siblings are under suspicion of aiding senior Hamas officials during the conflict and have been apprehended for interrogation. In response to queries, the IDF informed Global Echo News that the brothers are not under their custody and redirected inquiries to the Israeli Security Agency (ISA). The family's attorney dismissed the Israeli allegations, denouncing them as "baseless accusations and smears." Maria Kari, an immigration attorney representing the family, stated, "These unverified claims, which lack any evidence, are simply an attempt by Israel to evade responsibility for the unjust and arbitrary detention of two U.S. citizens."

dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina boarded a flight from Istanbul to Russia in January, the last thing on her mind was that she would find herself behind bars weeks later on treason charges, her boyfriend told CNN on Wednesday. Karelina “had no fear, she was so proud to be going home… she’s so proud of Russia,” Chris Van Heerden said, adding that the 33-year-old was excited to see her elderly grandparents in her hometown of Yekaterinburg. “She did not have a worry in the world,” he said in an interview with Brianna Keilar on OutFront. It had been several years since the Los Angeles resident had returned to Russia, he said, which is why he bought her a ticket to Russia as she was feeling homesick. The pair had been on a four-day holiday to Istanbul. She went on to Russia, while he returned to California - and that’s when he discovered she had been detained. At first, he said, her detention was only brief. Russian authorities took her cell phone then released her and she was able to see her family and contact him.

Video shows Ukrainian soldier's conversation with sister before being killed by Russia

Nearly 153,000 student loan borrowers currently enrolled in a new repayment plan launched by the Biden administration are expected to get an email Wednesday notifying them that their remaining federal student loan debt will be canceled, totaling about $1.2 billion. The email is expected to include a congratulatory message from President Joe Biden, whose administration is eager to remind voters what it has done to address student loan debt as the presidential election ramps up.

The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, aligning with its support for Israel. However, this action comes amidst growing American discontent with Israel's actions in the conflict. The US had previously indicated its plan to veto the Algerian resolution but has become more vocal in its criticism of Israel's conduct. On Monday, it introduced its own Security Council draft resolution, which notably urges a "temporary ceasefire" and explicitly cautions Israel against launching an offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Russia is actively engaged in the development of a nuclear space weapon capable of obliterating satellites through the generation of an immense energy wave upon detonation. This technology poses a potential risk to a broad spectrum of commercial and government satellites, which play a crucial role in global communication, financial transactions, and internet connectivity, as revealed by three sources familiar with US intelligence on the matter. CNN obtained more comprehensive insights into Russia's project and its associated threat than what the US government had previously disclosed. Republican Rep. Mike Turner, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, caused a stir in Washington by announcing that his panel possessed information about a significant national security threat. By Friday, President Joe Biden acknowledged publicly that Turner was referring to a novel Russian nuclear anti-satellite capability. However, officials have been reticent to provide further details, citing the highly classified nature of the intelligence.

At least one person was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a Waffle House in Indianapolis, Indiana, early Monday, police said. Officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:40 a.m. ET and, upon arrival, found five people with gunshot wounds, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Those five victims -- three men in stable condition, one woman in stable condition and one woman in critical condition -- were transported via ambulances to area hospitals. The woman in critical condition later died at the hospital, police said. The Marion County Coroner’s Office will release the woman's name once her next of kin has been notified.

Trey Filter, a father of two from Wichita, Kansas, who bravely confronted a suspected gunman during the aftermath of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting in Missouri, has finally spoken out. Video footage captured Filter tackling the assailant as chaos unfolded in the crowded streets, with gunshots claiming the life of one woman and leaving 22 others injured during Wednesday's Super Bowl parade.

Police in Washington, D.C., reported that three officers were shot while attempting to serve a warrant, with the alleged gunman surrendering later. Wednesday night saw the conclusion of a tense standoff in Washington, D.C., as an alleged gunman suspected of shooting three Metropolitan Police Department officers surrendered, according to confirmation from the MPD. The situation began unfolding around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, when officers arrived at a residence to execute an arrest warrant for a suspect wanted on charges of cruelty to animals. Despite attempts to establish communication with the individual inside the residence, the suspect refused to comply with the officers' requests to exit the premises, as Police Chief Pamela Smith informed reporters earlier in the day. Subsequently, when officers attempted to enter the home, the suspect opened fire at them, Chief Smith stated.

video and photos show a fire engulfing a structure of the Oceana Waterworld, part of the Liseberg Amusement Park in Gothenburg, Sweden. A dozen people sustained minor injuries and police evacuated a hotel and offices connected to the amusement park, warning households in the area to remain indoors due to smoke.

A day of delirious celebration in Kansas City, Mo., ended in anguish and chaos after a volley of gunfire cut through a crowd at a rally after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, killing at least one person and injuring another 21, including several children. The shots erupted around 2 p.m. local time near the city’s stately Union Station, sending thousands of red-clad fans who had packed downtown scrambling for safety as police responded with guns drawn.

Houston, TX - In a shocking turn of events, the gunman responsible for the recent shooting at Lakewood Church has been identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno. Authorities revealed that the word 'Palestine' was discovered inscribed on the firearm used in the attack, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation. The incident occurred during a Sunday service at Lakewood Church, a prominent Houston megachurch led by Pastor Joel Osteen. Witnesses reported chaos and panic as gunfire erupted within the worship hall, prompting swift responses from law enforcement and emergency

Two Israeli-Argentinian men taken captive by Hamas on October 7 were rescued on Monday in an early morning raid in which the Israeli military carried out airstrikes that local officials said killed around 100 people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The hostages, 60-year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har, had spent 128 days in captivity. Both men are in relatively good condition and have since reunited with their families.

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump’s controversial comment that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to a NATO member country that didn’t meet defense spending guidelines. “That’s not what happened, and that’s not how I view that statement,” the Florida Republican argued Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union when asked whether he was comfortable with Trump’s suggestion that he wouldn’t defend NATO countries. Rubio went on to note that the US did not leave NATO during Trump’s presidency — though Trump made private threats about withdrawing multiple times, according to The New York Times.

Tucker Carlson interviews Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. February 6th, 2024. TCN Follow Tucker on X: https://x.com/TuckerCarlson

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the high command needed to be "renewed" and that Gen Zaluzhnyi could "remain on the team". "Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said on Thursday. Gen Zaluzhnyi is a popular general trusted by Ukrainian soldiers and the public and has been something of a national hero. His recent approval ratings have been higher than those of Mr Zelensky. Analysis: General's sacking won't instantly solve Ukraine's war woes The president said he and Gen Zaluzhnyi had a "frank conversation" about the changes needed in the army, and that he thanked the general for defending Ukraine from Russia. The new army chief, Gen Syrskyi, has experience in both defensive and offensive warfare, Mr. Zelensky said.

US Air-force AH-64 apaches destroy dozens of Iran proxy targets in heavy retaliation

Rescue crews are searching for five US Marines after finding their military helicopter crashed in Southern California’s Pine Valley, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said Wednesday. The CH-53E Super Stallion had been “reported overdue” en route late Tuesday from a base near Las Vegas to one in San Diego, the US Marine Corps said. Searchers early Wednesday combed difficult, muddy terrain for the aircraft amid a rain-snow mix, according to Cal Fire and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. “The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Feb. 6, 2024, when the aircraft was reported overdue,” Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said, adding the Civil Air Patrol also was involved with the search.

My brother was killed instantly,” Anmar told Global Echo News on the phone from Al Qaim on Tuesday. “My mom does not know how we saw his body, and we cannot tell her the details. She is devastated and keeps thinking he will come back.”

Feet of snow has fallen in the California mountains — and there's more to come From Meteorologist Mary Gilbert and Stephanie Elam While rain pounds Southern California, heavy snow is burying some of the state's mountains. Winter storm alerts are in effect through Tuesday afternoon for portions of the Sierra Nevada and Southern California’s mountain ranges. Parts of the Sierras have already recorded more than two feet of snow this week with several more inches to come into Tuesday. In Southern California, the heaviest snow will target the highest elevations of the San Gabriel, Ventura County and San Bernardino mountains through Tuesday. Several feet of snow may bury these ranges by the storm’s end, mainly above pass level. Heavy, wet snow will still reach pass level for some travelers and pose “very difficult-to-impossible” conditions, according to the National Weather Service. The snow is necessary for California’s snowpack, which has been beleaguered by warmth and storms that have brought more rain than snow. This winter’s snowpack was just 52% of average for this time of year as of Tuesday, according to the latest survey conducted by the state’s Department of Water Resources. Snowpack is a vital water source, and the survey helps California to forecast how much water will be available for the rest of the year.

Yemen’s Houthis rebel group says US and British airstrikes “will not deter us” and vows a response after dozens of targets were hit in retaliation for the Iran-backed group’s repeated Red Sea attacks. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree says the capital Sanaa and other rebel-held areas were targeted in the strikes. Saree reports a total of 48 airstrikes, and writes on X that “these attacks will not deter us from our… stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”

The US said it struck 85 targets linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday in response to a drone strike in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. The aircraft used included long-range bombers flown from the United States, according to officials. President Joe Biden said adversaries should heed US warnings, while his defense secretary vowed: "This is the start of our response." The US is seeking to deter further attacks on its troops while avoiding a full-scale conflict with Iran in a region already roiled by the Israel-Hamas war. Syria has warned that the US strikes "fuel the conflict in the Middle East in a very dangerous way." Similarly, a spokesperson of Iraq's Armed Forces said "The outcomes will be dire for the security and stability in Iraq and the region." Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister said the military will focus on the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled following the Israeli bombardment of other cities. Here's how to help humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza.

Several people are dead after a plane crashed into a mobile home park in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday evening, according to the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed to FOX 13 Tampa Bay that a Beechcraft Bonanza V35 crashed into the Bayside Waters mobile home park, formerly known as Japanese Gardens, on U.S. 19 south of the Clearwater Mall. The call came in at 7:08 p.m., officials said. During a news conference Thursday evening, Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers said the plane hit one mobile home, which caused the fire to spread to three other homes. He said three structures "definitely" have fire damage while one has possible fire damage. Ehlers said the aircraft was found within one of the structures, and he can confirm that there are "several fatalities" from the aircraft and within the mobile home it crashed into. FAA officials confirmed to the outlet that the pilot had reported an engine failure. "We’re on the scene of a small plane crash at a mobile home park south of Clearwater Mall. Multiple mobile homes have caught fire. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions are on scene," fire officials wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A cruise missile launched by the Houthis into the Red Sea on Tuesday night came within a mile of a US destroyer before it was shot down, four US officials told Global Echo News, the closest a Houthi attack has come to a US warship. In the past, these missiles have been intercepted by US destroyers in the area at a range of eight miles or more, the officials said. But the USS Gravely had to use its Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) for the first time since the US began intercepting the Houthi missiles late last year, which ultimately succeeded in downing the missile, officials said. The CIWS, an automated machine gun designed for close-range intercepts, is one of the final defensive lines the ship has to shoot down an incoming missile when other layers of defense have failed to intercept it.

A senior commander in the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has given the strongest indication yet that Israeli forces were responsible for killing a man who was part of a group waving a white flag in Gaza, in footage broadcast by ITV News. The IDF initially dismissed the video, which was broadcast on January 23, claiming the footage "is edited and we have no way to comment". But in an interview with ABC News, Brig. General Dan Goldfuss, commander of the IDF 98th Division, revealed they are now investigating the incident but remained adamant his troops do not fire at civilians, adding: "There are mistakes, it is war". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpqI6mCKLpQ