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☆ Secretary Antony Blinken’s Boeing 737 out of Davos had a critical failure. He had to switch planes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Secretary of State Antony Blinken was forced to change planes to return to Washington from Davos after his plane suffered what the traveling press was told was a critical failure related to an oxygen leak. Blinken and the traveling party boarded the modified Boeing 737 jet in Zurich on Wednesday after a day and a half of meetings at the global summit in Davos. While a cause of that accident is still under investigation, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has acknowledge a “mistake” by Boeing led to the incident. But the newer version of the 737, the 737 Max, has had a series of serious problems long before the Alaska Air incident this month. But it has had other quality issues since returning to service beyond the Alaska Air incident.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Dave Calhoun, Blinken, CNN’s Chris Isidore, Gregory Wallace Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Alaska Airlines Locations: Washington, Davos, Zurich, deplane, Alaska, Indonesia, Ethopia, Denver

Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. The strikes came as the U.S. keeps urging Israel to take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and rising civilian deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesCurrently:— Gaza has lost telecom contact again, while Israel’s military announces it has surrounded Gaza City. — A U.N. official says the average Palestinian in Gaza is living on two pieces of bread a day.

Persons: Israel, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken, Mohammed Shia, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, evacuee Sara El, Masry, –, JORDAN, Jordan, King Abdullah II, ”, Michael Hertzog, ” Hertzog, OBAMA, Barack Obama, “, he’s, ” Obama, I’ve, Alp Toker, Juliette Touma, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, IRNA, Khamenei, Haniyeh, JERUSALEM —, Jacob Lew, Biden, ” Lew, Isaac Herzog, Lew, Antony Blinken’s Organizations: West Bank, Iraqi, Hamas, Ministry, WHO, GAZA, SYDNEY AIRPORT SYDNEY, Nine, Sydney Airport, Australian, United Arab Emirates, Mideast, Central Command, FIRE, NATIONS, Inter, Agency, UNRWA, United Nations, Jordanian, Twitter, ISRAEL, CBS, JERUSALEM, Paltel, Associated Press, Hezbollah, U.S, Israel, Embassy, . Riot Locations: Gaza, Ramallah, Baghdad, Jordan, Israel, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Gaza City, —, U.S, Berlin, israel, Sydney, Rafah, DUBAI, United Arab, Suez, ., Ohio, America's, Iran, UN, Palestinian Territory, GAZA AMMAN, Jordanian, GAZA, Palestinian, IRAN, TEHRAN, Lebanon, GAZA JERUSALEM, Beit Hanoun, TURKEY, ISTANBUL –, Ankara, Turkish

☆ Analysis: US is mounting a frantic effort to head off a wider Middle East war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —US leaders are mounting an urgent effort to prevent Israel’s war against Hamas and a resulting civilian catastrophe in Gaza from escalating into a widening regional conflict that could snowball into an even greater geopolitical crisis after this month’s horrific attacks. If we look at the issue of water – we all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life,” Lazzarini said. Hamas has urged civilians to ignore Israeli warnings to evacuate the northern part of Gaza. Back in Washington, the administration is expected to offer a full classified briefing on the situation to senators Wednesday. “Whether it is 24 hours, 48 hours, whether it is by next week, the fact is, it’s coming,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, Biden, Antony, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ”, Philippe Lazzarini, Gazans, ” Lazzarini, Israel, he’d, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, we’ve, Sullivan, CNN’s Jake Tapper, David Satterfield, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Netanyahu, it’s, ” Biden, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Mitt Romney, Utah –, Aaron David Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Antony Blinken’s, Administration, Union, CBS, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, United Arab, State Department, West Bank, United Nations, ISIS, ”, Israel, Representatives, Republican, New York Democrat, Tel, Veteran US Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, United States, Washington, Saudi Arabia, “ State, Iran, Blinken, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Cairo, Rafah, Turkey, Lebanese, Lebanon, Islamic Republic, Iraq, Syria, Saudi, Ukraine, America, Tel Aviv, Utah, East

Finland is a European Union member that supports sanctions on Russia and the most recent to join NATO. Both Turkey and the UAE have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but have not joined Western sanctions and sought to maintain ties with Russia. The latest sanctions package targets Russian companies that repair, develop and manufacture weapons, including the Kalibr cruise missile. Turkey, meanwhile, has tried to balance its close ties with both Russia and Ukraine, positioning itself as a mediator. Including the latest sanctions, the U.S. has targeted almost 3,000 businesses and people since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to State.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, ” James O’Brien, Putin, O’Brien, “, ” O’Brien, ”, Richard Connolly, Alexander, Lukashenko, ” Connolly, Denis Manturov, Connolly, Tom Keatinge, Andrei Bokarev, Sergei Shoigu, Iskander Makhmudov, Alexei Krivoruchko, Wagner, Otar, Partskhaladze, Antony Blinken, Suzan Fraser, Jon Gambrell, Antony Blinken’s Organizations: United Arab, State, Treasury, NATO, State Department’s Office, Associated Press, State Department, European Union, The State Department, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Oxford, Western, Russian Industry, Trade, Centre for Financial, Security, Royal United Services Institute, “, U.S, Russian Defense, Russian, Federal Security Service Locations: States, Russia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Ukraine, U.S, UAE, Russia’s, Moscow, Finland, European, Belarus, Russian, ”, London, North Korea, Georgian, State, Ankara, Dubai

☆ Opinion: Russia capitalizes on Niger coup while US stands idly by
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Two weeks ago, a military junta suddenly deposed Niger’s pro-American, democratically elected president. Already at least one leader of the Niger junta has met with Wagner representatives in neighboring Mali, where Wagner has developed a firm presence. Given the stakes, the initial responses by those who support Niger’s ousted president have been ill-considered and anemic. But the Wagner-supported ruling juntas in two of Niger’s neighbors immediately pledged to join with Niger’s military in fending off any such invasion, calling it a “declaration of war” against them. All have been grounded since Niger’s junta declared the entire country a no-fly zone.

Persons: David A, Niger’s, David Andelman, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Mohamed Bazoum, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, ECOWAS’s, didn’t, Bazoum, Germany —, Putin, Antony Blinken’s, Victoria Nuland Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, American, David Andelman CNN, Central African, West African States, ECOWAS, Wall Street, US, African Union, NATO, Russian, Wagner Group, Faustin, Twitter, Niger’s Locations: United States, Africa, Russia, Niger, Mali, Central African Republic, Sudan, Burkina Faso, African, Niamey, Sahel, South Asia, Afghanistan, East, North Africa, France, Italy, Germany

☆ US officials search for hidden Chinese malware that could affect military operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US officials are searching for Chinese malware hidden in various defense systems that could disrupt military communications and resupply operations, The New York Times reported Saturday. The administration believes malicious computer code has been hidden inside “networks controlling power grids, communications systems and water supplies that feed military bases,” officials told the Times. The discovery has heightened concerns that hackers could “disrupt US military operations in the event of a conflict,” according to the Times. One congressional official told the newspaper that the malware was “a ticking time bomb” that could allow China to cut off power, water and communications to military bases, slowing deployments and resupply operations. Because military bases often share the same supply infrastructure as civilian homes and businesses, many other Americans could also be affected, officials told the Times.

Persons: China Nicholas Burns, Biden, –, Antony Blinken’s, Blinken Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Times, Microsoft, White House, State Department, Department of Commerce, FBI Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Indonesia

☆ Biden admin believes hack gave China insights into US thinking ahead of Blinken’s crucial Beijing visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The hack – which Microsoft said was launched in mid-May – was discovered by the State Department right around the time of Blinken’s visit to Beijing, officials said. Still, it provided the Chinese government with additional knowledge from the private discussions of US officials heading into Blinken’s visit. Another target of the hack, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is also expected to soon visit China. Blinken “raised” the issue of the hack in a meeting with top Chinese official Wang Yi in Indonesia on Thursday, a senior State Department official said. On Wednesday State Department Spokesperson Matt Miller said that the department had “detected anomalous activity” in June.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken’s, –, Edward Snowden, Charlie Bell, Blinken, Gina Raimondo, Blinken “, Wang Yi, “, Wang, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, State Department, Microsoft, FBI, National Security Agency, NSA, The State Department, Wednesday State Locations: Beijing, China, Blinken’s, Indonesia

☆ US officials saw signs Prigozhin was planning challenge to Russian military but surprised by rapid escalation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Alex Marquardt Jim Sciutto | Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

US and Western intelligence officials saw signs that Prigozhin was making preparations for such a move, including by massing weapons and ammunition, one Western intelligence official and another person familiar with the intelligence said. Prigozhin had vowed Friday to retaliate against Russian military leadership over an alleged strike on a Wagner military camp and claimed control of military facilities in two Russian cities. A European intelligence official told CNN that the “temperature had obviously been building,” but few could have predicted what Prigozhin was planning. It is not clear to US or European officials how far in advance Prigozhin was planning the rebellion. One source familiar with Western intelligence said it appeared that it must have taken at least several days to organize.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, Putin, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken’s, Blinken, Matthew Miller, “, Stringer Stringer, Kamala Harris, Adam Hodge, Lloyd Austin, Brig, Pat Ryder, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Intelligence, Ukraine, House, European Union, Foreign, Commonwealth, Development, ”, Southern Military District, REUTERS, Reuters Biden, National Security, US, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Moscow, Russian, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Japan, United States, Ukraine, Britain, Rostov, Don, Poland

☆ US Coast Guard ship transits Taiwan Strait after Blinken’s trip to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A US Coast Guard ship “conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit” on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the US Navy. Koh’s database notes two occasions where Coast Guard cutters have sailed the strait with US Navy destroyers. China’s Coast Guard responded on Thursday on their official Weibo account where Gan Yu, the spokesperson of China’s Coast Guard, said that “on June 21 US Coast Guard Stratton sailed through the Taiwan Strait” and accused the US of “hyping up” the matter by announcing it publicly. According to the US, the Chinese ship came within 150 yards of the USS Chung-Hoon – less than the length of the Arleigh Burke-class ship itself. A Chinese military spokesperson later accused Washington of “deliberately stirring up trouble and risks in the Taiwan Strait.”

Persons: “, USCGC, ”, Antony Blinken’s, Xi Jinping, Collin Koh, Xi, Gan Yu, Coast Guard Stratton, Haley Sims, Hoon, USS Chung, Arleigh Burke Organizations: South Korea CNN, Coast Guard, US Navy, Beijing, USCG, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Navy, China’s Communist Party, Taiwan, China’s, Guard, Weibo, China’s Coast Guard, US, CNN, USS Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Taiwan Strait, Canadian, Washington

☆ US Ambassador to China: ‘We are ready to talk’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said Tuesday the United States is “ready to talk” to China, and expressed hope that Beijing would “meet us halfway on this.”Burns, however, did not give a clear answer about when Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to China – which was postponed in February – would be rescheduled. “Our view is we need better channels between the two governments and deeper channels, and we are ready to talk,” Burns said at an event at the Stimson Center, which he attended virtually. “We’ve never been shy of talking, and we hope the Chinese will meet us halfway on this,” he said. Tensions soared following a visit by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan and after a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed the US, leading Blinken to call off that planned visit to China. “So I think that’s what we would like and I’m sure that’s what the European countries would like, that’s what Ukraine wants from China.”

☆ U.S.-China Tension Grows as Suspected Spy Balloon Leads to Postponed Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Charles Hutzler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip would have been the highest-level U.S. visit to Beijing in four years. WASHINGTON—The postponing of Secretary of State Antony Blinken ‘s trip to Beijing after a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was detected over Montana is fueling a cycle of provocation and retaliation that the U.S. and China are finding hard to break. The Biden administration indefinitely delayed what would have been the highest-level U.S. visit to Beijing in four years just hours before Mr. Blinken was due to depart Friday. Mr. Blinken called the balloon’s presence a violation of U.S. sovereignty, and some members of Congress reproached the administration for not shooting it down. China said the craft was for meteorological research and regretted that it had blown off course.

☆ Blinken Trip to China Postponed After Spy Balloon Spotted Over U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Vivian Salama | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—The State Department has indefinitely postponed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing after what U.S. officials identified as a Chinese reconnaissance balloon was detected loitering above the continental U.S., a U.S. official said. U.S. officials on Thursday said the craft was loitering over Montana having earlier crossed Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and Canada. The Pentagon scrambled jets and at one point considered shooting down the balloon, the officials said, though didn’t over concerns that the debris posed a risk to people on the ground.

☆ U.S.-China rewarming trade is half-full of hot air
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Pete Sweeney | Thomson Reuters | Asia Economics Editor Pete Sweeney Joined Reuters Breakingviews In Hong Kong In September Previously He Served As Reuters' Chief Correspondent For China Economy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Enter a literal ball of hot air in the form of a Chinese spy balloon that the United States military is tracking in its home skies. The balloon’s brazen appearance augurs ill for Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s expected visit to Beijing next week. However, it is important to put the balloon in the context of Beijing’s habitual good cop, bad cop negotiating routine. In financial terms, Beijing still largely has its good-cop hat on. U.S. investors may fret about Chinese eyes in the sky, but in financial terms they have more to fear from the flaming gas jets in their own legislature.

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