Multiple international crises and domestic issues dominated headlines this week, including the ongoing crackdown on protesters in Iran, the likely poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, U.S. military strikes in Syria, the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie's mother, and a partial government shutdown in the U.S.
In Iran, security agents continued to arrest individuals suspected of participating in nationwide protests that began last month, according to CBS News. In one instance, the Nakhii sisters, Nyusha and Mona, were taken from their home after being forced to provide their phone passwords. A friend of the sisters, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrests, which have been occurring for weeks following a government crackdown.
Meanwhile, multiple European governments stated that Alexei Navalny was likely fatally poisoned in a Russian prison. Analysis of samples from Navalny revealed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs, according to a joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The statement noted that Russia claimed Navalny died of natural causes, but given the toxicity of epibatidine, poisoning was highly likely.
In Syria, the U.S. military conducted strikes against Islamic State targets. U.S. Central Command announced that ten strikes hit over 30 ISIS targets between February 3 and February 12 as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched in retaliation for an ISIS ambush that killed U.S. soldiers and an interpreter in December. President Trump vowed "very serious retaliation" after the ambush, according to CBS News.
In the United States, the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, intensified after she was reportedly kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1. The FBI released photos and videos of an armed person in a mask tampering with a security camera at her home, according to ABC News.
Finally, a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security went into effect on Friday, February 14, as lawmakers remained at an impasse over immigration enforcement. This is the third time since October that the federal government has experienced a lapse in funding, according to ABC News. Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought directed DHS to begin implementing its shutdown plans. Members of Congress have left Washington for a weeklong recess. Trump said he will be involved in the DHS funding negotiations.
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