John Kirby: Latest News

All news where John Kirby is mentioned

11.06.2023 / 13:55

China has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, US confirms

Police vehicles drive along El Paseo del Prado street in Havana, on November 15, 2021. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images) China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, part of a global effort by Beijing to upgrade its intelligence-gathering capabilities, according to a Biden administration official.The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the U.S.

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Putin visits occupied city of Mariupol in Ukraine for first time

Vladimir Putin visited the occupied port city of Mariupol, his first trip to the Ukrainian territory that Moscow illegally annexed in September in a show of defiance after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges.Putin arrived in Mariupol late Saturday after visiting Crimea, southwest of Mariupol, to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. He was shown chatting with Mariupol residents and visiting an art school and a children’s center in Sevastopol, Crimea.Mariupol became a worldwide symbol of resistance after outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian forces held out in a steel mill there for nearly three months before Moscow finally took control of it in May.

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US: Russian fighter jet hits American surveillance drone over Black Sea

KYIV, Ukraine - A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the U.S.

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FBI director says Wuhan lab leak likely caused Covid pandemic

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said the agency has assessed that a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, likely caused the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Did COVID-19 come from a Chinese lab? Why a new U.S. report is renewing questions

A new intelligence report from the U.S. Department of Energy that reportedly concludes it’s possible the COVID-19 pandemic originated from an accidental laboratory leak in China is renewing questions over where the virus came from.

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China says it's been 'open and transparent' in search for COVID origins

BEIJING (AP) - China on Tuesday said it has been "open and transparent" in the search for the origins of COVID-19, after questions about how the pandemic began received new attention.Most recently, the U.S. Department of Energy assessed with "low confidence" that the pandemic that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 began with the leak of a virus from a lab.

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‘No conclusion on Covid origin theory’: White House on lab leak report

Chinese laboratory leak, the White House on Monday asserted that there is no definitive conclusion on the origin of Covid-19, according to the news agency ANI. Speaking to media persons at a daily White House news conference, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that the intelligence community and the government are still looking at the Covid-19 origin theory. “There's not been a definitive conclusion, so it's difficult for me to say, nor should I feel like I should have to defend press reporting about a possible preliminary indication here," he said. Kirby was responding to questions on the findings of the Department of Energy that a lab leak most likely caused the Covid-19 pandemic, which was first reported in The Wall Street Journal over the weekend. He further said that President Joe Biden made trying to find Covid origin a priority right when he came into office.

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White House defends decision to shoot down three unidentified objects

Chinese balloon that traversed American airspace earlier this month.The three objects, including one shot down Sunday over Lake Huron, were traveling at such a low-altitude as to pose a risk to civilian air traffic, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. And though the Biden administration does not yet have evidence that they were equipped for spying purposes, or even belonged to China, officials also couldn't rule it out either, he said.RELATED: How a suspected Chinese spy balloon is different than America’s classic weather balloonLocations where U.S. warplanes have shot down objects over North America in Feb.

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Biden admin still pushing COVID vaccine mandate for military: It's unlawful and hurts national security

On national television, Biden administration spokesperson John Kirby mounted a feeble attempt to explain the president’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military. Kirby, a retired Navy admiral, had no acceptable answers when pressed about the administration’s "folly" and the perilous impact the mandate is already having on our national security. Remarkably, Kirby perpetuated the narrative that the military’s mandate must remain in place while admitting with a straight face that he was quarantined for 10 days due to his current bout with COVID-19, despite being vaccinated and double boosted.

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Russia open to talks with West, awaiting serious proposal: Sergey Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was open to talks with the West on the Ukraine war but had yet to receive any serious proposal to negotiate.In an interview on state TV, Lavrov said Russia was willing to engage with the United States or with Turkey on ways to end the war, now in its eight month.His emphasis on Russia’s receptiveness to talks came after a series of stinging defeats since the start of September that have swung the momentum of the conflict in favour of Ukraine. Trudeau ‘appalled’ by Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians, vows accountability Lavrov said officials including White House national security spokesman John Kirby had said the United States was open to talks but that Russia had refused.“This is a lie,” Lavrov said.

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China suspends dialogue with U.S., sanctions Pelosi over Taiwan visit

China cut off contacts with the United States on vital issues Friday – including military matters and crucial climate cooperation – as concerns rose that the Communist government’s hostile reaction to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s Taiwan visit could signal a lasting, more aggressive approach toward its U.S. rival and the self-ruled island.China’s move to freeze key lines of communication compounded the worsening of relations from Pelosi’s visit and from the Chinese response with military exercises off Taiwan, including firing missiles that splashed down in surrounding waters.

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Phoenix Ghost: Pentagon fast-tracks mystery drone for Ukraine. What is it?

BORODIANKA, UKRAINE - APRIL 21: In this aerial view, the inside of destroyed apartments are seen from the outside on April 21, 2022 in Borodianka, Ukraine. (Photo by Alexey Furman/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - Among the $800 million in military aid President Joe Biden announced for Ukraine this week are 120 Phoenix Ghost drones, a new weapon developed by the Air Force and fast-tracked to meet a specific need for Ukrainian forces.But what exactly the drones do and how exactly they’ll help Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression aren’t clear.

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U.S. monitoring reports of possible chemical weapon attack in Ukraine by Russia

chemical weapons by Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine — a potential red line in the conflict.In a statement to Global News Monday night, spokesperson John Kirby said if verified, the report from Ukrainian fighters of a chemical weapon attack in the heavily besieged city of Mariupol was “deeply concerning.”“We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the emailed statement said about what Kirby called “social media reports.”Azov Battalion, a nationalist military unit fighting to protect Mariupol, reported on its social media channels late Monday night that a “poisonous substance” had been dropped from a Russian drone earlier that evening. Tens of thousands dead in Mariupol, Zelenskyy says amid plea to South Korea for arms It said the unknown substance caused victims to suffer respiratory failure and symptoms of vestibulo-atactic syndrome, a neurological disorder.Battalion leader Andriy Biletsky said in a video posted to Telegram that three victims had signs of chemical poisoning, but added he expected them to recover without any “disastrous consequences” for their health.

John Kirby South Korea Russia Ukraine city Mariupol symptoms reports Citi

Pentagon dismisses Russia’s claims of U.S. bio-warfare labs in Ukraine as ‘laughable’

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby denied on Wednesday renewed Russian accusations that the U.S.

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U.S. rejects Poland’s offer to supply fighter jets to Ukraine, says it’s not ‘tenable’

The United States rejected a surprise offer by NATO ally Poland on Tuesday to transfer its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. base in Germany as a way to replenish Ukraine’s air force in its defense against invading Russian forces.

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DC National Guard to assist ahead of trucker convoy protests

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office confirmed Tuesday night that the National Guard has been authorized to assist with traffic control ahead of possible trucker demonstrations — one of which could be in the city as soon as Wednesday night. Much remains unknown about how disruptive protests could be and exactly when and how the region will be impacted.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherFOX 5 was first to report on plans by one convoy organizer, Bob Bolus, who said Sunday he would arrive in the D.C.

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White House urges Americans to leave Ukraine in next ‘24 to 48’ hours; Russian invasion could be days away

WASHINGTON - The White House is urging Americans to leave Ukraine in next "24 to 48 hours," warning U.S. won't rescue civilians if Russia invades.The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of a war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it moves further with an invasion.KHARKIV REGION, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - Soldiers operate a military vehicle during the drills of the Ivan Sirko 92nd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkiv Region, northeastern Ukraine.

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US forces launch 'successful' counterterrorism raid in Syria, civilians also reported dead

U.S. special forces carried out a counterterrorism raid in Syria early Thursday. Local officials said 13 people were killed, including six children and four women.

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Ukraine-Russia conflict: Pentagon places 8,500 troops on standby

WASHINGTON - At President Biden's direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe amid rising fears of a possible Russian military move on Ukraine.Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday no final decisions had been made on deployments, which he said would happen only if the NATO alliance decides to activate a rapid-response force "or if other situations develop" in connection with tensions over Russia's military buildup along Ukraine's borders."What this is about is reassurance to our NATO allies," Kirby said, adding that no troops are intended for deployment to Ukraine itself.Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended to Biden that up to 8,500 troops be ordered to prepare for potential deployment to Europe in light of signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not de-escalating his military pressure on Ukraine. Kirby said he was not prepared to identify the U.S.-based units because they were still being notified."We’ve always said we would reinforce our allies on the eastern flank, and those conversations and discussions have certainly been part of what our national security officials have been discussing with their counterparts now for several weeks," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.FILE - Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby.

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US committed to pay relatives of Afghans killed in errant drone strike

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Defense Department said Friday that it is committed to offering condolence payments to relatives of the 10 people who were killed in an errant U.S.

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Pentagon to compel commercial airlines to evacuate Afghans

help with the evacuation of Afghans and U.S. personnel from Afghanistan, the third time that the U.S.

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US airstrikes target Iran-backed militia groups in Syria, Iraq

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military, under the direction of President Joe Biden, carried out airstrikes against what it said were "facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups" near the border between Iraq and Syria, drawing condemnation from Iraq's military and calls for revenge by the militias.Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the militias were using the facilities to launch unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against U.S.

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Biden Pentagon, State Department at odds over pride flag

will not allow the Pride flag to be flown at installations under its purview, unlike the State Department, spokesperson John Kirby said Friday."After some careful consideration the department will maintain the existing policy regarding the display" at military bases, Kirby told reporters. "There won’t be an exception made for the Pride flag."This in no way reflects any lack of respect or admiration for the LGBTQ+ community," Kirby continued.

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US ship fires warning shots in encounter with Iranian boats

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Coast Guard cutter fired two volleys of warning shots Monday as a group of 13 Iranian fast boats sped toward U.S. Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz in what the Pentagon called “unsafe and unprofessional” maneuvers by the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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US likely to up Afghanistan force to ensure safe drawdown

WASHINGTON – The U.S. will likely increase its troop presence in Afghanistan temporarily over the coming weeks and months in order to fulfill President Joe Biden's order to safely withdraw all forces from the country by Sept. 11, the Pentagon said Friday.

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Pentagon chief orders review of deadly 2020 attack in Kenya

BERLIN – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday ordered an Army review of an investigation into a January 2020 militant assault on the Manda Bay military base in Kenya that killed three Americans and wounded three others.

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US-Philippines officials discuss concerns over China's ships

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea.

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US expresses concern about rising Russian-Ukrainian tensions

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Wednesday expressed concern about what it called escalations of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

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Pentagon approves 20 more COVID-19 vaccination teams

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 20 more military vaccination teams that will be prepared to go out to communities around the country, putting the department on pace to deploy as many as 19,000 troops if the 100 planned teams are realized. The troop number is almost double what federal authorities initially thought would be needed.

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US pauses plan to give virus vaccine to Guantanamo prisoners

WASHINGTON – The U.S. is backing off for now on a plan to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the 40 prisoners held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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United States	Cases: 46 252 513 Deaths: 750 423 Recovered: 0
India	Cases: 34 321 025 Deaths: 459 652 Recovered: 0
Brazil	Cases: 21 835 785 Deaths: 608 235 Recovered: 0
United Kingdom	Cases: 9 215 683 Deaths: 141 607 Recovered: 0
Russia	Cases: 8 494 589 Deaths: 237 619 Recovered: 0