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☆ 'The Pillowcase Murders': What happened to Billy Chemirmir? Authorities say he killed 22 older women in 2 years.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read preview"The Pillowcase Murders" puts the convicted murderer Billy Chemirmir in the spotlight. The Paramount Plus docuseries details how authorities accused him of killing 22 older women between 2016 and 2018, though he was only found guilty of two murders. Chemirmir attacked women living in nursing homes and senior living communities in Texas, prosecutors alleged. AdvertisementHe posed as a maintenance man to gain entry into the building and then used pillows to smother his victims, prosecutors said. AdvertisementAccording to press releases from prosecutors, Chemirmir was ultimately accused of killing 13 women in Dallas County and 9 in Collin County.

Persons: —, Billy Chemirmir, Chemirmir, Mary Bartel, Lu Thi Harris, Mary Brooks Billy Chemirmir, Tom Fox, Mary Brooks, Prosecutors, Wyatt Busby, Shannon Dion Organizations: Service, Paramount, Netflix, Business, NBC, Dallas, Dallas Morning News, Coffield Unit, Associated Press, Guardian, Texas, Fox Locations: Texas, Fort Worth, Dallas County, Collin County, Anderson County, Dallas

☆ How this L'Oréal exec stays motivated at work even after working at the same company for 30 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vismay Sharma, president of L'Oreal's South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa market — dubbed SAPMENA — has worked at the same company for more than 30 years and still enjoys his work. "I love working in the beauty industry. It's an industry that brings joy, self-confidence and wellbeing into people's lives on a daily basis," he told CNBC's My Biggest Lessons. Sharma added that while turnover, profitability and market share are important concerns for any organization, the "real long-term motivator" for him is seeing the value in his day-to-day work. Watch the full video for the rest of Sharma's lessons.

Persons: Vismay Sharma, —, Sharma, CNBC's Organizations: L'Oreal's South, L'Oreal's South Asia Pacific Locations: L'Oreal's South Asia, Middle East, North Africa

☆ Opinion | What Hillary Clinton Got Wrong About Student Protesters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Elizabeth Spiers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Appearing last week on “Morning Joe,” Hillary Clinton lamented what she views as the ignorance of students protesting the war in Gaza. The host, Joe Scarborough, asked her about “the sort of radicalism that has mainstream students getting propaganda, whether it’s from their professors or from the Chinese Communist government through TikTok.” Ms. Clinton was happy to oblige. “I have had many conversations, as you have had, with a lot of young people over the last many months,” she said. I’ve also seen and heard the assumptions made about them by some of their elders — administrators, parents and others. In the current panic, the protesters are described as somehow both terribly fragile and such a threat to public safety that they need to be confronted by police officers in riot gear.

Persons: ” Hillary Clinton, Joe Scarborough, Ms, Clinton, “, ”, ” I’ve, I’ve, it’s, Ken Griffin, Bill Ackman, Donald Trump —, —, whiny ”, Mike Lawler, Mr, Lawler, Kaz Daughtry, Rousseau Organizations: Communist, New York, Republican, Columbia University, Columbia, Oxford University Locations: Gaza, TikTok, New, New York, U.S

☆ Latest shipping data reveals that mid-range retail is the new consumer price sweet spot
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Almost 80% of current freight orders received for peak season are for mid-range price items, the survey shows. Similar to last year, respondents expect less consumer appetite for luxury and aspirational luxury items imported. The world's second-largest ocean freight company, Maersk, recently told CNBC it expected a "normal" peak season. "There's nothing that indicates that it would be a slower peak season or a bigger peak season," said Charles Van der Steene, president of Maersk North America, in a recent interview with CNBC. "We believe in normalized peak season.

Persons: Eric Thayer, Robinson, Kuehne, Nagel, Noah Hoffman, Hoffman, hypersensitive, Charles Van der Steene, We've, John David Rainey, Rainey, Larry, Jon Gold, Nate Herman, Biden Organizations: US, Bureau, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Chain Survey, National Retail Federation, American Apparel and Footwear Association, United National Consumer Suppliers, ITS Logistics, DHL, Uber Technologies, C.H, Maersk, Walmart, Uber, International Longshoremen's Association, ILA, United States Maritime Alliance, Brands Locations: of Los Angeles, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Panama, Maersk North America, East Coast, Gulf, East, North America, West, Coast

☆ In a white-collar recession where $100,000 jobs are hard to find, women are winning out
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Emily Mccrary-Ruiz-Esparza | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Fewer women apply for 6-figure positionsAccording to iCIMS's analysis, women have made up 41% to 44% of applicants for six-figure jobs across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the US since 2020. In other words, though they constitute less than half of applications for six-figure jobs, they are often hired for more than half of those jobs. "The fact that they are applying for these six-figure jobs does not imply that the gender pay gap is narrowing," says Njuki. "This would require a comparison between the women in those six-figure jobs and the men in those six-figure jobs." "A big reason for the gender pay gap is not enough women in the higher-paid managerial and leadership positions.

Persons: —, Hewlett Packard, Jemimah Njuki, Yana Rodgers, Rodgers, Njuki, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Vanguard, Hewlett, UN, Center for Women, Rutgers University, McKinsey Locations: Asia, Europe, East, South America, United States

☆ HSBC falls 3% amid reports that top shareholder Ping An is looking to trim its stake
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Customers use automated teller machines (ATM) at an HSBC Holdings Plc bank branch at night in Hong Kong, China, on Saturday, Feb 16, 2019. Despite the fall, HSBC's share price is still at its highest since August 2018, trading at about 68 Hong Kong dollars per share. Shares of HSBC Holdings fell over 3% in Hong Kong on Friday after reports that its top shareholder Ping An Insurance might be looking to cut its stake in the British bank. There are several options including "further share sales, similar to the $50 million sale it disclosed last week." Ping An sold HSBC shares worth 391.49 million Hong Kong dollars ($50.19 million) on May 7, cutting its stake from 8.01% to 7.98%.

Persons: Ping, Bloomberg Organizations: HSBC Holdings Plc, Hong, HSBC Holdings, Ping, Bloomberg, An, HSBC, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, China, British, Asia

☆ The US secretly sent communist-friendly Coca-Cola to a Soviet general in a bid to maintain good ties across the Iron Curtain
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewAs World War II ended and the Iron Curtain fell over Eastern Europe, relations deteriorated between the Soviet Union and its Western allies. Zhukov had developed an intense liking for Coca-Cola, a drink now illegal in the Soviet Union. PH/Sherman Montrose ACMECoca-Cola's steadfast support for the Allied war effort helped make it both distinctly American and recognizable worldwide. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty ImagesAt Zhukov's request, the new beverage wasn't put in the usual Coke bottles but instead in unmarked, straight-edged bottles. Its rival Pepsi eventually gained a virtual monopoly in the Soviet Union, which the Soviets maintained — once trading several warships for $3 billion worth of Pepsi — until 1985.

Persons: —, Georgy Zhukov, Zhukov, Truman, Robert Woodruff, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Bong, Henry, Hap, Arnold, Coke, Eisenhower, Getty Images Zhukov, Mark W, Clark, Harry Truman, James Farley, It's Organizations: Service, Soviet Union, Business, Sherman, Sherman Montrose ACME, US, US Army, Army Air Forces, Allied, Keystone, Getty Images, Cola Export Corporation, Getty, Cola, Pepsi Locations: Eastern Europe, Soviet, Soviet Union, Cassino, Italy, Sherman Montrose, North Africa, Coke, Montgomery, Frankfurt, Germany, France, American, Austria, Dehradun, India, Vienna, East

☆ Take a look at the 'Mighty Dragon,' China's $120 million stealth fighter meant to rival the US Air Force's fifth-gen jets
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Chinese jet has drawn comparisons to the F-35 since the jets were locked in military encounters in 2020. The Chengdu J-20 and the Lockheed Martin F-35. Ju Zhenhua/Xinhua/Getty Images; rancho_runner/iStock /Getty Images PlusThe F-35 jet was introduced to the US military in July 2015. There are three variants of the jet: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A, the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B, and the carrier-based F-35C. Lockheed Martin touts the F-35 as the "most advanced fighter jet in the world," with very low observable stealth, advanced sensors, information fusion, and network connectivity.

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Ju Zhenhua, Kenneth Wilsbach, Wilsbach Organizations: Lockheed, Getty, US Air Force, China Morning Post, US Pacific Air Forces Locations: Chengdu, Xinhua, East

☆ Modi's strongman rule raises questions about India's 'democratic decline' as he seeks a third term
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, center, during a campaign rally in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesA decade into power, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears set to secure a rare third term, with the general elections now underway. Opposition 'witch hunt'Ahead of the elections, India's main opposition — the National Congress party — accused the Modi government of freezing its bank accounts. "This is a criminal action on the Congress party done by the prime minister and the home minister," said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a fiery attack. "During Manmohan Singh's time, India was also growing very fast," he added, referring to the economic reforms under the former prime minister in the 1990s.

Persons: Narendra Modi, India's, Modi, Prakash Singh, Asim Ali, Ali, Milan, Modi's, —, Rahul Gandhi, Chietigj Bajpaee, Arvind Kejriwal, consecrating, Ronojoy Sen, Neelanjan Sircar, Manmohan Singh's, Sircar Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty, India's, East, CNBC, Dem, Freedom House, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Newsweek, Bharatiya Janata Party, National Congress, South Asia, Chatham House, Aam Aadmi Party, Modi's BJP, BJP, Institute of South Asian Studies, Centre for Policy Research Locations: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, East Asia, New Delhi, Sweden, U.S, Milan Vaishnav, South Asia, Gujarat, Ali, Delhi, Lok, Ayodhya, Ayodhya —, BJP

The question for some of us is, why some people want to keep working decades beyond retirement age? CNN Opinion editor Stephanie Griffith asked seven people who are past the conventional retirement age why they are still at the job and got as many responses as there were respondents. They continue to work happily and productively, and were happy to explain to us how and why they do it. Over the years I’ve had to adapt frequently to the changing technology, which isn’t always easy for someone my age. That may be the secret of working well past the time society tells us we’re supposed to retire.

Persons: CNN —, Howard Tucker, Tucker, he’ll, ” Tucker, Joe Biden, Donald Trump —, Trump, ageist, Biden, Stephanie Griffith, Vincent, Austin Tucker, I’ve, isn’t, “, Taylor Taglianetti, Gayle Fleming, it’s, I’m, —, Gayle Fleming Michael Ventura, Biden —, Charles Simon, Ana Marie Forsythe, Alvin, Ana Marie Forsythe Kyle Froman, — Joyce Trisler —, Joyce, She’d, Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Ailey, Ailey School Martha Graham, José Limón, Horton, don’t, Marjorie Perces, Cheryl Bell, didn’t, Babette Coffey, you’ve, you’re, David A, I, Pamela S, Donald Trump, Maggie Mulqueen, Alan Steele, Joan Steinau Lester, ”, Carole Johnson, — I’m, Octogenarians Organizations: CNN, Records, Biden, Vincent Charity Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, St, AI Society, Computer, MSNBC, Society, Alvin Ailey School, Dance Media, Juilliard, Ailey School, Alvin, Alvin Ailey American Dance, Vassar College, Ailey, Horton Department, The New York Times, CBS, American, French Legion of, Social Security, Twitter Locations: Ohio, St, Cleveland, one’s, Seattle , Washington, Cambridge , Massachusetts, West, Horton, New York City, ”, Brookline , Mass, drmaggiemulqueen.com

☆ Opinion: Israel could defeat Hamas in Gaza more quickly if the US didn’t hold it back, this military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hilary Krieger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN: Do you think that Israel can defeat Hamas without conducting a ground invasion in Rafah? The fact is that Rafah’s where the hostages and remaining Hamas military power and leadership are believed to be, their rockets and weapons production and other capabilities, everything. CNN: Couldn’t Israel’s offensive still have the effect of creating more militants who are going to join Hamas and fight against Israel? But it’s also a very winnable war for Hamas at this point because wars are not determined just by military capability. The problem is that the international community pushed Israel into this framework of going slower, going methodically, evacuating every area beforehand.

Persons: CNN —, John Spencer, Spencer, John Spencer Spencer, He’s, ” Spencer, JACK GUEZ, they’ve, we’re, there’s, Couldn’t, David Petraeus, Petraeus, who’s, it’s, You’ve, Dawoud Abo, Israel, I’ve, Israel doesn’t, that’s, — we’re, they’re, would’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Modern, Institute, IDF, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Getty, Israel, Nazi, Spencer, Shiva, Dawoud Abo Alkas, ISIS, UN, Gaza, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, West, Rafah, Spencer, Israeli, Hamas, Gaza City, AFP, Iran, Palestine, Northern Gaza, Afghanistan, United States, Egypt, Sinai, Anadolu, Qaida, Mosul, Panama, Tokyo

Soaking storms will shift east on Friday and target more of the Gulf Coast after rumbling to life Thursday afternoon in parts of Texas. Floods deluge roads: Several roads closing in northern and eastern Bosque County, Texas due to water over crossings or bridges. More than a dozen school districts closed: The Houston Independent School District has announced campuses will be closed on Friday and will reopen next week. Schools will reopen on Monday, May 20,” the school district said in a message on Facebook. A handful of Houston-area school districts announced they would close Friday as well, including Aldine Independent School District, Channelview Independent School District and Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

Persons: Mary Benton, Samuel Peña, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Houstonians, Seth Waller, Bell County . Organizations: CNN, Houston Fire Department, Texas -, Florida Panhandle, National Weather Service, Hyatt, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Mayor, Houston, College Station, Houston Independent School, HISD, City of, Facebook, Aldine Independent School District, Channelview Independent School District, Fairbanks Independent School District Locations: Texas, Louisiana, Houston, Gulf, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas - Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Hyatt Regency, Bryan, College, Bosque County , Texas, Bell County, Bell County . McLennan, Falls, City of Houston, Cypress

☆ The Ukraine war exposed serious flaws in some of the most sophisticated US weapons systems
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Analysts say the US is gaining invaluable insights into the flaws of some of its most important weapons and military production systems. AdvertisementA shortage in weaponsThe Ukraine war has exposed problems not just with the quality of weapons, but with the US' capacity to produce them in the quantity Ukraine needs. "The biggest problem that the Ukraine war has exposed with American weapons is that the Pentagon simply does not buy enough munitions for a large-scale protracted conflict," said Pettyjohn. AdvertisementShe added that the recent Ukraine aid bill, which also contains billions for US weapons production, doesn't fix the problem. But though the war has posed serious conundrums for Pentagon chiefs, it's also shown that many of its weapons systems remain much better than those of its opponents.

Persons: —, Scott Peterson, Pettyjohn, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Center, New, New American Security, Ukrainian, Russia, Pentagon Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, New American, Afghanistan, Russia, United States

☆ China pledges $42 billion in a slew of measures to support the struggling property sector
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

China announced "historic" steps to stabilize the crisis-hit property sector on May 17, 2024, allowing local governments to buy "some" apartments, relaxing mortgage rules and pledging to deliver unfinished homes. These and other measures announced Friday marked Beijing's latest efforts to address issues in the massive real estate sector. The real estate companies can then use funds earned from those sales to complete construction on other apartments, the central bank said. Pre-sold, unfinished homesFor years, many apartments in China tended to be sold before construction was finished. Nomura estimated last year there were around 20 million such pre-sold, unfinished apartments in China.

Persons: Zhu Ning, Tao Ling, Xiao Yuanqi, Larry Hu, Dong Jianguo, Lifeng, Zhu, Nomura Organizations: China, Nurphoto, Getty, Tsinghua University, People's Bank of China, National Financial Regulatory, Macquarie, CNBC, of Housing, Housing, Future Publishing Locations: BEIJING, Wanxiang City, Huai'an City, East China's Jiangsu, China

☆ Why Middle East travel is growing faster ‘than any other region’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Rym Bendimerad | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Last week, travel and tourism industry representatives from more than 150 countries gathered at the annual Arabian Travel Market trade show, held this year in Dubai. There, CNN’s Eleni Giokos spoke with Julia Simpson, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), about trends in tourism in the Middle East, and the challenge of making travel more sustainable. We are here in the Middle East — this is the first time I’ve been to the Arabian Travel Market — but what’s interesting is everyone’s telling me they have never, ever seen it this busy. Simpson: Well, the GCC and Middle East is growing faster than any other region. Visitors and delegates at the Arabian Travel Market.

Persons: CNN’s Eleni Giokos, Julia Simpson, I’ve, Simpson, Saud, you’ve, We’ve, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Travel, Tourism Council, Arabian, GCC, Gulf Cooperation, United, Visitors, Oxford Economics Locations: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al, Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Saudi, Arabia, —, Saudi Arabia, Oman, East, UAE, Gaza, Egypt

☆ Oil prices rise on moderate U.S. inflation data, strong demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices extended gains from the previous session on Thursday on signs of stronger demand in the U.S. where data showed slower inflation than markets expected, strengthening the argument for an interest rate cut which could result in even stronger demand. U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell, reflecting a rise in both refining activity and fuel demand, showed data from the Energy Information Administration, or EIA. Crude inventories fell 2.5 million barrels to 457 million barrels in the week ended May 10, the EIA said, versus the 543,000 barrel consensus analyst forecast in a Reuters poll. Signs of slowing inflation and stronger demand were supporting prices, ANZ Research said in a client note, as is geopolitical risk which it said remains elevated. Gains were constrained after the IEA trimmed its forecast for 2024 oil demand growth, widening the gap between its view and that of producer group OPEC.

Persons: Brent Organizations: U.S, West Texas Intermediate, Federal Reserve, Energy Information Administration, EIA, ANZ Research, OPEC, Global, Organization for Economic Co Locations: Nolan , Texas, U.S, East, Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt, Israel

☆ 'Biggest barrier' to Saudi-Israeli normalization is the two-state solution, says ex-CIA director
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict is "elusive" right now, according to former CIA director David Petraeus, adding that it is also the "single biggest barrier" to normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. "A solid path, a solid commitment to a two-state solution from Israel" is the biggest hurdle to Israel and Saudi's normalization plans, Petraeus, who is now chairman at KKR Global Institute, told CNBC's Dan Murphy. However, there have been discrete but growing cooperation between them in recent years, raising hopes for a normalization agreement. Palestinian militant group Hamas infiltrated Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and kidnapping dozens more. More than 35,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian enclave so far, according to the health ministry there which is run by Hamas.

Persons: David Petraeus, Petraeus, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Joe Biden's Organizations: KKR Global Institute, Hamas Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, CNBC's Dan Murphy . Saudi Arabia, Palestinian

☆ Zelenskyy canceled all his foreign trips, a sign things are critically bad for Ukraine right now
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This has given Russian forces the chance to make small but steady gains. It's one of 30 settlements that have seen heavy bombardment by Russian forces, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Monday. AdvertisementHolding on until Western aid comesMeanwhile, chronic delays in Western support has left Ukraine badly under-supplied in ammunition. Advertisement"This year represents a window of opportunity for Russia," military analyst Michael Kofman told the Times. "But if the Russian military is not able to turn these advantages into battlefield gains and generate momentum, there's a fair chance that this window will begin to close as we enter 2025."

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy's, Sergii Nykyforov, Nykyforov, EFE, King Felipe VI of Spain, Zelenskyy, Hamish de Bretton Gordon, Bretton Gordon, Vladimir Putin, George Barros, Chasiv Yar, Kyryo Budanov, Oleh Syniehubov, Ann Marie Dailey, Russia's, Emmanuel Macron's, de Bretton Gordon, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, Business, Telegraph, British, Institute, Associated Press, New York Times, BBC, Kharkiv, RAND, Fleet, Russian, Politico, Times Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Spanish, Portugal, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Chasiv Yar, Vovchansk, Russian, Ukraine's, prevarication, it's

☆ Markets underestimate geopolitical risk as raft of elections looms, ECB's De Guindos says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

And simultaneously, we are referring to geopolitical risks. I think that, you know, markets sometimes are underestimating the potential impact of geopolitical risks that are there," Luis de Guindos told CNBC's Annette Weisbach. Rising geopolitical risks present "considerable downside risks," the ECB warned in the report. The report attributes the rally in financial markets to analyst expectations of interest rate cuts from major central banks this year. "And that's the element that you cannot ignore, you cannot overlook this potential impact that could affect risk aversion, risk attraction, commodity prices, growth, overall growth in the global economy."

Persons: Luis de Guindos, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, De Guindos Organizations: European Central Bank, Stock, U.S, ECB Locations: U.S, Europe, East, Ukraine

☆ Jake Sullivan met in-person with representatives of countries whose citizens Hamas took hostage
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan convened for the first time this week an in-person meeting of ambassadors and chiefs of mission representing countries whose citizens were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, CNN has learned, as a ceasefire and hostages release deal remains stalled. Those 17 countries, along with the United States, have citizens whom Hamas took captive at the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting comes at a critical moment when the efforts to secure the release of hostages and Gaza ceasefire appear to have stalled once again. Multiple US diplomats have told CNN in recent weeks that they are consistently hearing those concerns from their counterparts abroad. Still, the White House has also been clear that the US remains a steadfast supporter of Israel, including its right to defend itself.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Israel, “, ” Sullivan, Biden, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Qatar –, United Nations, Israel, White Locations: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Rafah

☆ Drag queen Nymphia Wind performs at Taiwan’s presidential office
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Christy Choi | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Taipei, Taiwan CNN —Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind gave a riotous performance at Taiwan’s presidential office on Wednesday, celebrating her win on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” last month. Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind shakes hands with Taiwan's outgoing leader Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind performs on May 15, 2024. Nymphia Wind attends "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 16 finale screening at The Edge at Hudson Yards. Nymphia Wind and Jimbo onstage at the "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 16 finale screening event on April 19, 2024 in New York City.

Persons: Nymphia, Tsai Ing, Gaga’s “, Huang Fei’s “ Chase, Chase, ”, ” Nymphia, Tsai, Wang Yu Ching, Xi Jinping, Lai Ching, Taiwan’s, popstar, “, Sun, Sun Yat Sen, Santiago Felipe, Leo Tsao, that’s, Jimbo, ” Tsai Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Facebook, Weibo, Sun Yat, Hudson Yards, Reuters Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, ” Taiwan, Beijing, Taiwanese, Asia, China, Taiwan’s, East, Santiago, West, New York City

Launching an offensive into the Kharkiv region, Russian forces quickly advanced several kilometers, managing to reoccupy several villages that were liberated during Ukraine’s successful offensive in September 2022. By threatening Ukraine’s second most populous city, Russia hopes to pin Ukrainian resources in the region, exposing the front elsewhere. While Russia lacks the forces to assault the city itself, the operation is designed to create a dilemma. This risks leaving Ukrainian forces in Donetsk even more vulnerable if Russia commits its reserves in that direction. Russian forces are also applying pressure near Kupiansk, to Kharkiv’s east, and in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.

Persons: Ukraine’s Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Donetsk, Kupiansk, Sumy, Chernihiv

☆ Middle East Crisis Temporary Pier Is Anchored in Gaza to Deliver Aid, U.S. Military Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. officials had said last week that the floating pier and causeway had been completed, but that weather conditions had delayed their installation. An American ship loaded with humanitarian aid, the Sagamore, set off for Gaza from Cyprus last week, and the aid was loaded onto a smaller vessel that had been waiting for the pier to be installed. Aid groups say the devastation in Gaza after seven months of Israeli bombardment, strict Israeli inspections and restrictions on crossing points are limiting the amount of aid that can enter Gaza. The Pentagon has said that the pier could help deliver as many as two million meals a day. An aid group, World Central Kitchen, built a makeshift jetty in mid-March to deliver aid by sea to Gaza for the first time in nearly two decades.

Persons: Charles Q, Brown, “ It’ll, ”, “, that’s, Nadav Shoshani, Dan Dieckhaus, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Helene Cooper Organizations: U.S, Israel, U.S . Central Command, United Nations, Central Command, U.S ., Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff, NATO, Israeli Navy, Division, Food, U.S . Agency for International Development Locations: Rafah, Israel, Gaza, An American, Cyprus, Brussels, Kerem

☆ Defending in Its North, Ukraine Faces Pressure All Along Front Line
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Maria Varenikova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian forces said on Thursday that they were slowing the pace of an offensive push by Russia in their country’s northeast, even as they struggled to contain new Russian assaults at several other locations on the front line, with Moscow seeking to stretch Kyiv’s troops to break through their defenses. The Ukrainian military reported late Wednesday that it had repelled four ground attacks in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where Russian forces surged across the border last week and quickly captured a dozen or so villages and about 50 square miles of territory. “Over the course of the day, our Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine — all units involved — have managed to partially stabilize the situation,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Wednesday evening. “Our attention is constantly focused on the front line, on all combat zones.”Ukrainian civilians who were evacuated on Thursday said that Russian forces had been fighting in small units that slip through the forest and into villages. They have popped up unexpectedly on streets in the town of Vovchansk, a village a dozen miles to the east of Kharkiv city that is now contested between the two armies.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Russian, Defense and Security Forces Locations: Russia, Moscow, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Vovchansk

☆ US and Philippine Marines train in seizing and defending key terrain near Taiwan's south coast in a show of force against China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Drew F. Lawrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

They were operating in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands, Philippine territory north of the mainland — key terrain for a potential conflict with China. The mission, known as maritime key terrain security operations, or MKTSO, was practice for that conflict, but had real-world implications. It was a show of force headed by elements of the Marine Corps ' newest Pacific-oriented unit: the Marine littoral regiment, or MLR. AdvertisementUS Marines prepare to load onto a UH-60 Black Hawk for the maritime key terrain security operations event at Paredes Air Station, Philippines. Malia SparksThose units were joined by a rifle company, also a joint-nation element, with the ability to seize and defend key terrain in the event of conflict.

Persons: —, Army Chinooks, Cpl, Malia Sparks, Maj, Robert Patterson, Military.com, Mark Lenzi, Lenzi, Patterson, Marine corporals Organizations: Service, Marine Corps, Business, Philippine Marines, Army, UH, Paredes Air, US Marine Corps, Philippine Marine, US Army UH, 3rd, Combat, Marines, Enhanced, US Army CH, Marine, United Locations: Taiwan, Northern Luzon, Philippine, China, Philippines, Itbayat, United States

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