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Two of three speakers at the engineering school’s ceremony disappeared abruptly from the school’s graduation website. A self-described “fourth-generation Trojan” from Pasadena, Ms. Blain, who has spent much of her life imagining her own U.S.C. Pro-Palestinian students tried to set up an encampment on campus days later, and university officials summoned the Los Angeles police. At the engineering school, where Ms. Tabassum, the valedictorian, will be graduating, professors were trying to resurrect her chance to speak. A university committee had picked Ms. Tabassum, who is Muslim and of South Asian ancestry, from about 100 undergraduates with near 4.0 grade point averages.

Persons: Kevin Feige, Liza Colón, Zayas, Tina, “, ”, Jaren Lewison, they’re, Ella Blain, Blain, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Biden, U.S.C, Asna Tabassum, Jon M, Chu, Marcia McNutt, Blain’s, Annette Ricchiazzi, Carol Folt, Missives, Sean Penn, —, Goodwin Liu, Merrill Balassone, Phil Chan, Pam Zhang, Safiya Umoja Noble, Lewison, Jane Coaston, Tabassum, Yannis C, Folt, Kevin Crawford Knight, Didi Global, Zohreh, Khademi, Knight, ” Hossein Hashemi, Hashemi, Dustin Jeffords Organizations: University of Southern, Angeles, Marvel Studios, Hollywood, Netflix, Dornsife, of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles Memorial, School of Dramatic Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor , Indiana University, Bloomington, Northeastern University, United Nations, University, Vermont’s, Columbia University, National Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles police, Community, Dodger, California Supreme, MacArthur, Rossier School, Education, Jewish, commencements, New York Times, Microsoft, Media, “ Locations: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Coast, Aude, Pasadena, Gaza, Ann Arbor ,, Boston, U.S, Israel, U.S.C, California, San Bernardino County

The Major Supreme Court Cases of 2024No Supreme Court term in recent memory has featured so many cases with the potential to transform American society. In 2015, the Supreme Court limited the sweep of the statute at issue in the case, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In 2023, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked efforts to severely curb access to the pill, mifepristone, as an appeal moved forward. A series of Supreme Court decisions say that making race the predominant factor in drawing voting districts violates the Constitution. The difference matters because the Supreme Court has said that only racial gerrymandering may be challenged in federal court under the Constitution.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Anderson, Sotomayor Jackson Kagan, Roberts Kavanaugh Barrett Gorsuch Alito Thomas, Salmon, “, ”, Mr, Nixon, Richard M, privilege.But, Fitzgerald, Vance, John G, Roberts, Fischer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Clarence Thomas, Samuel A, Alito Jr, Alito, ’, Moyle, Wade, Roe, Johnson, Robinson, Moody, Paxton, Robins, Media Murthy, Sullivan, Murthy, Biden, Harrington, Sackler, Alexander, Jan, Raimondo, ” Paul D, Clement, Dodd, Frank, Homer, Cargill Organizations: Harvard, Stanford, University of Texas, Trump, Liberal, Sotomayor Jackson Kagan Conservative, Colorado, Former, Trump v . United, United, Sarbanes, Oxley, U.S, Capitol, Drug Administration, Alliance, Hippocratic, Jackson, Health, Supreme, Labor, New York, Homeless, Miami Herald, Media, Biden, National Rifle Association, Rifle Association of America, New York State, Purdue Pharma, . South Carolina State Conference of, Federal, Loper Bright Enterprises, . Department of Commerce, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, ”, SCOTUSPoll, Consumer Financial, Community Financial Services Association of America, Securities, Exchange Commission, Exchange, Occupational Safety, Commission, Lucia v . Securities, Federal Trade Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security Administration, National Labor Relations Board, Air Pollution Ohio, Environmental, Guns Garland, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, National Firearms, Gun Control Locations: Colorado, Trump v . United States, United States, Nixon, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Dobbs v, Idaho, Roe, Texas, States, New, New York, Grants, Oregon, . California, Martin v, Boise, Boise , Idaho, Missouri, Parkland, Fla, Murthy v . Missouri, . Missouri, ., South Carolina, Alabama, SCOTUSPoll, Lucia v, Western

☆ Microsoft to build AI hub on previously-owned Foxconn land in Wisconsin
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Microsoft said it is pouring $3.3 billion into building a data hub in Wisconsin that aims to train employees and manufacturers on how to best use artificial intelligence. The new center aims to create 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs over time, according to Microsoft. In his remarks Wednesday, Biden plans to directly point his finger at Trump for the failed project, according to a White House official. The White House also introduced an order in 2023 to require AI system developers to share results of their safety tests with the federal government before they are released to the public. Beyond AI, Wisconsin is seeing a spate of funding toward futuristic industries.

Persons: Joe Biden, Trump, Satya Nadella, Biden, Microsoft’s Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin -, Trump, White, Infrastructure Law, Badger Locations: Wisconsin, Mount Pleasant , Wisconsin, America, Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, United States, Racine –

☆ China Is Way Ahead in Green Energy. Here’s Why That’s Risky for the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The world’s two most powerful countries, the United States and China, are meeting this week in Washington to talk about climate change. In an ideal world, where the clean energy transition was the top priority, they would be on friendlier terms. Maybe affordable Chinese-made electric vehicles would be widely sold in America, instead of being viewed as an economic threat. Instead, in the not-ideal real world, the United States is balancing two competing goals. Its concern is that Chinese dominance of the global market for these essential technologies would harm the U.S. economy and national security.

Persons: Biden, John Podesta, Liu Zhenmin Locations: United States, China, Washington, America, Nevada, Beijing

☆ Blinken Holds Regional Talks on Migration in Latin America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Hamed Aleaziz | More About Hamed Aleaziz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden has faced criticism for his handling of the southern border, and the issue is a key concern for many voters in this year’s presidential election. U.S. officials have, in recent years, increasingly turned to international partnerships to help them keep large numbers of migrants from reaching the southern border. The United States relies heavily on Mexico, its closest partner on migration, to control the number of people who are destined for the southern border. In late December, Mr. Blinken and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, went to Mexico to discuss increased enforcement during a month in which U.S. border agents had encounters with more than 250,000 migrants. Since then, the number of migrants arriving at the southern border has dropped dramatically.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Biden, Alejandro N Organizations: Mr Locations: Guatemala, United States, Mexico, U.S

☆ With or Without Tesla, More E.V. Chargers Are Coming
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Manuela Andreoni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last week, Tesla laid off most of its electric car charging team, raising doubts about the feasibility of the Biden administration’s ambitious E.V. Though Tesla accounts for more than half of the fast E.V. chargers currently installed in the United States, and though it has continued to build them faster and cheaper than anyone else, the E.V. charging market may no longer need Tesla to lead it. The administration’s goal is to build a network of a half million fast and slow chargers in the country by 2030, more than double what the U.S. has today.

Persons: Tesla, Tesla’s, Biden Organizations: Biden Locations: United States

☆ Hala Rharrit, US diplomat who quit over Biden administration’s Gaza policy, speaks out
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Hala Rharrit never expected that she would choose to leave her career as a US diplomat. About a year and a half ago, after mostly behind-the-scenes roles, Rharrit became an Arab language spokesperson for the State Department. But the US government’s policy on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza “unfortunately really, really changed that,” she said. Rharrit told CNN that she and her colleagues were “horrified” by the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, which triggered the war in Gaza. We just have not been able to say it.’”The State Department would not comment specifically on Rharrit’s case, citing personnel matters.

Persons: Hala Rharrit, Yemen —, Rharrit, “, ”, Josh Paul, Annelle, ” Rharrit, “ I’m, ‘ you’re, ’ ”, you’re, they’re, ‘, we’ve, Vedant Patel, ” “ You’ve Organizations: CNN, State Department, Biden, Israel, US, The State Department Locations: Yemen, Hong Kong, Qatar, South Africa, Arab, Israel, Gaza, United States, “

☆ Opinion: Unable to ‘win’ in Gaza, Israel sets its sights elsewhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Opinion Hussein Ibish | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —An eerie relative calm has descended on the Middle East — Gaza obviously excluded — since a highly alarming exchange of missile, rocket and drone attacks by Israel and Iran in recent weeks. Now, the recent exchange of direct military attacks with Iran might have sealed Lebanon’s fate, unless team Biden can restrain Israel. On April 1, Israel struck an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, killing a number of senior Iranian officials including Brig. As Israel’s forces moved south through Gaza, obliterating Hamas brigades with relative ease, its thinking relatively quickly turned north again. If this happens, a primary US goal regarding the Gaza war — conflict containment — would be shattered not by Washington’s adversaries, but ironically by its closest regional partner.

Persons: Hussein Ibish, Read, Biden, Israel, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Haji Rahimi, Hossein Amirollah, Louai Beshara, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Charbel Mallo, Israel —, Joe Biden Organizations: Gulf States Institute, Israel, CNN, Biden, Hezbollah, Brig, Iran’s, Quds Force, Getty, Iranian, Israeli Locations: Washington, East, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Iranian, Damascus, Brig, Syria, AFP, Tehran, United States, Kafr Kila, Lebanese

☆ Sept. 11 Trial Plea Negotiations Still Underway at Guantánamo Bay
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Carol Rosenberg | More About Carol Rosenberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prosecutors and defense lawyers are still negotiating toward a plea agreement for the men accused of plotting the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks despite the Biden administration’s refusal to endorse certain proposed conditions, the lead prosecutor said in court on Wednesday at Guantánamo Bay. “This is all whirling around us,” said Clayton G. Trivett Jr., the prosecutor, discussing key details of the negotiations in open court for the first time. He added that “around the edges we have agreed to do things” and that “the positions that we took at the time are still available.”In mostly secret negotiations in 2022 and 2003, prosecutors offered to drop the death penalty from the case in exchange for detailed admissions by the accused architect, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and four other men who are charged as his accomplices in the hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people. Since then, one of the five men has been ruled not mentally competent to stand trial. The occasion of the briefing was a legal filing by lawyers for Ammar al-Baluchi, one of the defendants and Mr. Mohammed’s nephew, asking the judge to dismiss the case or at least the possibility of a death penalty because of real or apparent political interference by Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, and other members of Congress last summer.

Persons: Biden, ”, Clayton G, Trivett Jr, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Ammar al, Mohammed’s, Ted Cruz Organizations: Republican Locations: Guantánamo, Texas

☆ Biden Tax Increases Won’t Hit Middle Class, Yellen Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The battle lines of the next big tax fight were laid out on Tuesday as Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen sparred with Republicans over the Biden administration’s plans to raise taxes on businesses and wealthy Americans. In recent weeks, Republicans have been amplifying their attacks on President Biden’s tax proposals, which have become central to the president’s re-election message. Many provisions in the $1.7 trillion tax cut that Republican lawmakers and former President Donald J. Trump enacted in 2017 are set to expire in 2025, including lower tax rates for individuals as well as many tax breaks for corporations. Renewing all of the tax measures for another decade would cost about $3 trillion, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. Republicans have begun warning that Mr. Biden plans to allow all of the tax cuts to expire, effectively raising taxes on businesses and families at a moment when inflation is pinching consumers.

Persons: Janet L, sparred, Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, Biden Organizations: Biden, Republican, Taxation, Republicans

☆ U.S. Plan to Protect Oceans Has a Problem, Some Say: Too Much Fishing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Catrin Einhorn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

New details of the Biden administration’s signature conservation effort, made public this month amid a burst of other environmental announcements, have alarmed some scientists who study marine protected areas because the plan would count certain commercial fishing zones as conserved. The decision could have ripple effects around the world as nations work toward fulfilling a broader global commitment to safeguard 30 percent of the entire planet’s land, inland waters and seas. That effort has been hailed as historic, but the critical question of what, exactly, counts as conserved is still being decided. This early answer from the Biden administration is worrying, researchers say, because high-impact commercial fishing is incompatible with the goals of the efforts. “Saying that these areas that are touted to be for biodiversity conservation should also do double duty for fishing as well, especially highly impactful gears that are for large-scale commercial take, there’s just a cognitive dissonance there,” said Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, a marine biologist at Oregon State University who led a group of scientists that in 2021 published a guide for evaluating marine protected areas.

Persons: Biden, there’s, ”, Kirsten Grorud Organizations: Oregon State University

☆ A year after his detention, Trump for the first time calls for release of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Kate Sullivan | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump, in an interview published Tuesday, called for the first time for Russia to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained for more than a year. “The reporter should be released and he will be released,” Trump told Time magazine when asked about Gershkovich. “I don’t know if he’s going to be released under (President Joe) Biden. In contrast with Trump, the Biden administration’s condemnation over Gershkovich’s detainment has been swift. Why the silence, sir?”The Biden administration’s efforts to secure Gershkovich’s release have not yet yielded results.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evan Gershkovich, ” Trump, Joe, Biden, ” Gershkovich, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Gershkovich, “, ”, Sens, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Paul Whelan Organizations: CNN, Time, Street, White, ’ Association, US State Department, “ Locations: Russia, Russian, Yekaterinburg, Moscow’s

☆ Kamala Harris Leads Push to Shore Up Democratic Support From Black Voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Maya King | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vice President Kamala Harris made a new effort to energize Black voters in battleground states on Monday, visiting Atlanta for the kickoff of a national economic tour that will highlight how the Biden administration says its policies are helping a constituency that will be vital to Democrats’ success in November. Speaking to a largely Black crowd of about 400 people, Ms. Harris laid out ways that she and President Biden have sought to improve Black Americans’ upward mobility and help them realize their business ambitions. A chief objective of the tour, she said, was to let Black business owners and entrepreneurs know about the resources available to them. “I need the help of the leaders who are here to get the word out so people know what is available to them,” she said during a conversation at the Georgia International Convention Center with Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of the financial literacy podcast “Earn Your Leisure,” which offers business advice to its more than two million listeners, a majority of whom are Black. Explaining how government policies have widened the racial wealth gap over the years, Ms. Harris pointed to the Biden administration’s attempts to try to narrow it, including small-business grants and efforts to forgive student loans.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Biden, Harris, ”, Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings Organizations: Georgia International Convention Locations: Atlanta

☆ Middle East Crisis Blinken Is Set to Meet With Top Middle East Diplomats on War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, three weeks after telling him that he could rethink U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza. An administration official said that about three-quarters of Mr. Biden’s nearly hourlong call to Mr. Netanyahu focused on the possible cease-fire and hostages deal. The two leaders also discussed hostage videos released by Hamas last week, including those showing two hostages with American citizenship. Israel, heeding pleas by Mr. Biden for restraint, fired back only a token counterattack, and both sides have indicated they want to avoid further escalation. With the immediate threat of a wider war seemingly fading, Mr. Biden and his team could shift their attention back to Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, “ That’s, John F, Kirby, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Mr, Biden “, “, Bernie Sanders, ”, Yahya Sinwar, ” Edward Wong Organizations: Israel, Hamas, State Department, Mr, Economic, White, ABC, Biden, American, ”, CNN, “, U.S Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Jordan, Israel, ”, U.S, Vermont, “ State, Iran

☆ Biden to Confer With Netanyahu on a Possible Cease-Fire and Hostage Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Peter Baker | More About Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden plans to speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday to discuss the prospects of a possible cease-fire deal to obtain the release of some of the remaining hostages held since the Hamas-led terrorist attack of Oct. 7, according to two officials with direct knowledge of the plan. Mr. Biden’s call with the prime minister is set to come just hours after Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken left Washington for his latest trip to the Middle East. Mr. Blinken will start in Saudi Arabia, where he will see Egyptian and Qatari officials who have served as intermediaries with Hamas in the cease-fire and hostage talks, which have stalled in recent weeks. The call also comes three weeks after Mr. Biden told Mr. Netanyahu that he would rethink his support for Israel’s war unless the country did more to facilitate the delivery of food and other supplies to Gaza and limit civilian casualties. Since then, humanitarian aid to Gaza has increased substantially, and Biden advisers credit Israel with responding to the president’s demands, though U.S. officials acknowledge that the aid is still not as much as is needed.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, Netanyahu Organizations: Israel, State Department, Saudi, Economic Locations: Washington, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Gaza, U.S

☆ When U.S. Diplomats Visit China, Meal Choices Are About More Than Taste Buds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Beijing beer made with American hops, to highlight the trade relationship between the two countries. Where, what and how American dignitaries eat when they visit China is a serious matter. Choices of restaurants and dishes are rife with opportunities for geopolitical symbolism, as well as controversy and mockery. An exorbitantly expensive meal can make an official look out of touch. Authenticity, history, cooking technique and taste can all affect the perception of a meal choice.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Biden Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Leader of Federal Student Aid Office Steps Down After College Admissions Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The nation’s top student aid official is stepping down, the Education Department said Friday, after the disastrous rollout of a new financial aid form that upended the college admissions process for millions of students this year. Richard Cordray, who took over as the leader of the Federal Student Aid office in 2021, will hand over his duties in June, Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona said in a statement. Mr. Cordray’s departure coincides with a fraught admissions season. College administrators, students and members of Congress across the political spectrum have rebuked the Education Department for mismanaging a redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, throwing the usual college admissions process into disarray. In his role, Mr. Cordray also oversaw a variety of other programs, including many parts of the Biden administration’s sweeping vision of student debt relief for millions of borrowers through loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans.

Persons: Richard Cordray, Miguel A, Cardona, Cordray Organizations: Education Department, Federal, Aid, College, mismanaging, Biden

☆ Blinken tells CNN the US has seen evidence of China attempting to influence upcoming US elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Beijing CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has seen evidence of Chinese attempts to “influence and arguably interfere” with the upcoming US elections, despite an earlier commitment from leader Xi Jinping not to do so. Then, Xi had pledged that that China would not do so, according to CNN reporting. The US believes that Chinese support is enabling Russia to ramp up production of tanks, munitions and armored vehicles – and to continue its onslaught on Ukraine. Instead, they characterized this as trade with Russia and said Moscow’s success didn’t depend on China, Blinken added. He also stressed the importance of such expression in democracies, without explicitly noting the lack of such freedoms in China.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Blinken, Kylie Atwood, Xi, Joe Biden, ” Blinken, Biden, —, Russia Blinken, Wang Yi, ”, who’ve, we’ve, it’s, that’s, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Moscow, CNN, Biden, Russia, “, Israel Locations: Beijing, China, American, San Francisco, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia

☆ How Abrupt U-Turns Are Defining U.S. Environmental Regulations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Coral Davenport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration’s move on Thursday to strictly limit pollution from coal-burning power plants is a major policy shift. But in many ways it’s one more hairpin turn in a zigzag approach to environmental regulation in the United States, a pattern that has grown more extreme as the political landscape has become more polarized. Now President Biden is trying once more to put an end to carbon emissions from coal plants. But Mr. Trump, who is running to replace Mr. Biden, has promised that he will again delete those plans if he wins in November. If Mr. Trump wins the presidency, he is likely to exit the accord.

Persons: Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Biden, Obama Organizations: Biden, Republican, United States, Mr, Democratic, White Locations: United States, Paris

☆ Takeaways from the Supreme Court’s oral arguments over emergency abortions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Tierney Sneed | John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The court’s far-right wing, perhaps in an attempt to keep those two justices on their side, framed the case as a federal overreach into state power. Turner, Idaho’s attorney, shot back that mental health could essentially open a loophole. Conservatives have long opposed allowing exceptions to strict abortion bans for mental health. Justice Samuel Alito, a fellow conservative, picked up on that same theme, repeatedly pressing Prelogar to explain whether the Justice Department views mental health as a way around Idaho’s abortion ban. That is exactly the kind of political influence that the Supreme Court, especially under Roberts, has generally tried to avoid.

Persons: Biden, Elizabeth Prelogar, Roe, Wade, Brett Kavanaugh, John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Prelogar, ” Prelogar, “, Roberts, Barrett –, Barrett, teed, Joshua Turner, Sonia Sotomayor, Turner, Elena Kagan, ’, Alito, CNN Sotomayor, ”, Clarence Thomas, EMTALA, Neil Gorsuch, ‘, Samuel Alito, ” Alito, –, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, – Gorsuch, Kavanaugh Organizations: CNN, Justice, Labor, Liberal, Republican, Supreme, Department, Wade, Idaho, energizing Democratic, Food and Drug Administration, GOP Locations: Idaho, Wisconsin

☆ Top Biden Official Calls for Inquiry Into Chinese Doping Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Michael S. Schmidt | Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration’s top drug official called on Monday for an independent investigation into how Chinese and global antidoping authorities decided to clear 23 elite Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug months before the Summer Olympics in 2021. The official, Rahul Gupta, who is the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that he planned to bring up the handling of the positive tests during a two-day meeting of sports ministers in Washington. Top members of the World Anti-Doping Agency are scheduled to attend the event, which starts Thursday. “The United States stands by its commitment to ensure that every American athlete and those across the globe are provided a level playing field and a fair shot in international athletic competitions,” Dr. Gupta said in response to questions from The New York Times. “There must be rigorous, independent investigations to look into any incident of potential wrongdoing.”

Persons: Rahul Gupta, “, ” Dr, Gupta Organizations: Biden, of National Drug Control, Doping Agency, The New York Times Locations: Washington, United States

☆ Middle East Crisis Senior Israeli Military Official Offers to Resign After Oct. 7 Intelligence Failures
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Mr. Netanyahu said in a social media post that his government would “act by all means” against any such move. The sanctions, if imposed, would not hold up the military aid that was just approved in Congress. The Israeli military disciplined three of the unit’s commanders after the investigation. Human rights organizations have long accused the Israeli military justice system of whitewashing wrongdoing and the military of acting with impunity. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the six months of war, according to Gazan health officials.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu, Axios, Netzah Yehuda, Leahy, Yehuda, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, “, Assad’s, Biden, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant, Antony J, Blinken, Jacob J, Lew, Gallant, Mick Mulroy, ”, ” Natan Odenheimer, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: West Bank, Biden, Netzah, Jewish, Israel, Pentagon, State Locations: States, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Iran, U.S, United States

☆ Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Biden’s Limits on ‘Ghost Guns’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a challenge to the Biden administration’s regulation of “ghost guns” — kits that can be bought online and assembled into untraceable homemade firearms. In defending the rule, a critical part of President Biden’s broader effort to address gun violence, administration officials said such weapons had soared in popularity in recent years, particularly among criminals barred from buying ordinary guns. The regulation, issued in 2022 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, broadened the bureau’s interpretation of the definition of “firearm” in the Gun Control Act of 1968. The new regulation did not ban the sale or possession of kits and components that can be assembled to make guns, but it did require manufacturers and sellers to obtain licenses, mark their products with serial numbers and conduct background checks.

Persons: Biden’s Organizations: Biden, Bureau, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Gun Control

The United States is considering imposing sanctions on one or more Israeli battalions accused of human rights violations during operations in the occupied West Bank, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. Mr. Netanyahu said in a social media post that his government would “act by all means” against any such move. The news about the possible sanctions, reported earlier by Axios, came only a day after the House approved $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza. The sanctions, if imposed, would not hold up the military aid that was just approved in Congress. On Sunday, Palestinians in the West Bank went on a general strike to protest a deadly Israeli military raid at a refugee camp.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu, Axios Organizations: West Bank, Biden, Sunday Locations: States, Gaza, Israel

☆ Live Updates: Iran State-Run Media Reports Explosions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The next year, Palestine was granted the lesser status of observer at the United Nations, a level shared by the Holy See. With the war raging in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority asked the United Nations to take up its bid a second time. The Vatican has also recognized Palestinian statehood. But as the death toll has climbed in Gaza, the push for Palestinian statehood has intensified. But some have in recent months suggested that they might recognize a Palestinian state sooner.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Timothy A, Clary, Riyad Mansour, ”, Israel —, Lynsey Addario, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden, David Cameron, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, “ Organizations: West Bank, . Security, Palestinian, Security, United Nations, United Nations Palestine, UNESCO, Observers, General, International Court of Justice, Organization for, Chemical Weapons, General Assembly, Agence France, Palestinian Authority, Union, The New York Times Locations: Hebron, West, United, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Palestine, United States, Russia, China, Ramallah, Canada, France, Britain, Spain, Ireland, Malta, Slovenia

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