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☆ US assesses Israel has amassed enough troops to launch full-scale incursion into Rafah, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If Israel were to proceed with a major ground operation into Rafah, it would be going against months of warnings from the US to forego a full-scale offensive into the densely populated city. Going “headlong into Rafah” could have dire consequences, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday. “They couldn’t launch an attack of that scale today.”“Their weapons production factories underground have been eliminated. However, the Biden administration has been ramping up the pressure on Israel to start focusing much more in earnest on post-war Gaza plans – so far, to little effect. Blinken publicly called on Israel to engage more seriously on developing a plan for post-war Gaza over the weekend.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Jake Sullivan, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Antony Blinken, “ Israel’s, ” Blinken, Israel, Matt Miller, “, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel, White, State, NATO Youth Summit, Aspen Institute, Press, Hamas, CBS Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel

☆ US paused shipment of bombs to Israel amid concerns over potential use in Rafah incursion, US official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The United States paused a shipment of bombs to Israel amid concerns over their potential use in a Rafah incursion, according to a US official. The shipment, which was held back last week, includes 1,800 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds and 1,700 bombs weighing 500 pounds. CNN reported over the weekend that one shipment of ammunition to Israel had been paused, but the reason was unclear. On Monday, Israel carried out what the US described as a “limited” operation in Rafah, taking over the border crossing with Egypt that is a vital lifeline for humanitarian aid. “We have not made a final determination on how to proceed with this shipment,” the official said.

Persons: Biden, Israel, ”, Matt Miller, “, Pat Ryder, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Ali Jadallah, Marc Garlasco, Sabrina Singh, “ You’ve, You’ve, I’m Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, US, Getty, UN Locations: United, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, Anadolu, Israel’s, Vietnam

☆ Biden announces US airdrops of humanitarian assistance into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The United States will begin air dropping food aid to the people of Gaza, President Joe Biden announced Friday, as the humanitarian crisis deepens and Israel continues to resist opening additional land crossings to allow more assistance into the war-torn strip. Speaking in the Oval Office, Biden said the US would be “pulling out every stop” to get additional aid into Gaza, which has been under heavy bombardment by Israel since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. Biden said aid was not flowing into Gaza quickly enough, and said he was working to broker an immediate ceasefire deal that would allow additional aid in. Palestinians run along a street as humanitarian aid from Jordan is airdropped in Gaza City on March 1, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. AFP/Getty ImagesSenior US officials have repeatedly pressed Israeli officials in face-to-face meetings on the urgent need to open additional crossings.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, Matt Miller, ” Miller, ”, Samantha Power, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Office, AFP, Getty, Israeli Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, ”, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, France, airdropped, Gaza City

☆ Hamas has softened some demands as Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations progress, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Hamas’ requirements for the numbers of Palestinians [prisoners that] would have to be freed has declined,” the official added. A diplomatic source familiar with the discussions confirmed that Hamas softened its position ahead of an agreement on the first phase of a deal. “They have to come down to reality,” Netanyahu said of Hamas on Fox News. “And I think if that’s the case, we’ll be able to have a deal we certainly wanted, and I wanted. With or without a hostage deal, “We will do it anyway” Netanyahu told CBS News, because “total victory is our goal.”“We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it,” Netanyahu said.

Persons: ”, Matt Miller, “, ” Miller, Miller, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, we’ll, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Biden, State, Doha, Israeli, Fox News, CBS Locations: Gaza, Paris, Rafah, Doha, Qatar, Egypt

☆ Netanyahu's first post-war plan seeks security buffer in Gaza — in blow to U.S. diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as the US Secretary of State gives statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. He is expected to visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington closes ranks with its ally that has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed his first official plan for the post-war future of the Gaza Strip, calling for Israel's ongoing military presence in the enclave and for the preservation of a security buffer zone — a step antithetical to the wishes of closely-allied Washington. In the intermediate term, Israel wishes to "maintain its operational freedom of action in the entire Gaza Strip, without a time limit," as well as to retain a security buffer within the besieged territory. "The security perimeter being created in the Gaza Strip on the border with Israel will remain as long as there is a security need for it," the document says.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Israel, Matt Miller, Israel — Organizations: Israeli Defence Ministry, Washington, Hamas, NBC News, Gaza, U.S . State Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, AFP, Gaza, Washington, Palestinian, U.S, Egypt

☆ Blinken spoke with detained American Paul Whelan on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Monday with Paul Whelan, an American who has been detained in Russia for more than five years, the top US diplomat said Tuesday. And they will until he and Evan Gershkovich and every other American wrongfully detained is back with their loved ones,” Blinken said at an event on hostage diplomacy at the Wilson Center. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said Tuesday that Blinken “assured Paul Whelan, as he has in his previous calls, that we’re with you. The time is now to take decisive action and bring this debacle to a close,” Whelan told CNN from his prison camp in Mordovia. Miller reiterated on Monday that the US has “put a significant offer on the table” to try to secure Whelan and Gershkovich’s release.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Paul Whelan, Paul, Evan Gershkovich, ” Blinken, Matt Miller, “, Biden, ” Miller, Whelan, Blinken, ” Whelan, Joe Biden, ”, Miller Organizations: CNN, Wilson Center . State, US State Department Locations: American, Russia, Mordovia

☆ Family of Palestinian-American detained by Israeli forces alleges mistreatment in custody
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The family also said that US officials have not been granted consular access to her more than a week after her detention. “Despite having had her prescription medication from the moment they arrested her, the IDF has declined to administer it,” the family statement said. According to the statement, Esmail was presented to a military commission on Monday and was granted bail, but the IDF appealed the ruling. They called on the US to do more to obtain consular access to Esmail. “The United States is not without tools to obtain consular access to Ms. Esmail and to end her ordeal.

Persons: Esmail, ”, “, Netanyahu, Matt Miller, don’t, ” Miller, Jonathan Franks, Ms, Franks, “ Ms, Esmail’s, ’, Hashem Alagha, Borak Alagha, Miller, Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad Khdour, Abdel, WAFA, CNN’s Lauren Izso, Gabe Cohen Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, U.S, Embassy, . State, Israel Prison Service, ”, Esmail’s Facebook, U.S . Embassy, “ Defense, Children – Palestine Locations: Palestinian, Israel, United States, Silwad, Louisiana, U.S, Gaza, Biddu

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden plans to issue an executive order targeting violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank whom he has said have undermined stability in the area, a US official and source familiar with the matter told CNN. Officials said they had compiled evidence they said offered proof of the individuals’ role in the West Bank violence that would withstand judicial review, including information from public reporting. The State Department can apply the policy to both Israelis and Palestinians who were responsible for attacks in the West Bank, Blinken said at the time. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in the weeks immediately following the Hamas attack as settler violence intensified. An estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Matt Miller, ”, ” Biden, “, “ we’re, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: Washington CNN, West Bank, CNN, Politico, White House, The State Department, ”, Bank Locations: United States, West, Gaza, Huwara, “, Israel, East, America

☆ Group of Palestinian-Americans skip Blinken meeting over Biden admin’s support for Israel’s offensive in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

More than 26,000 have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and Gaza is on the brink of famine. ‘Soul-searching’One of the invitees to the roundtable, Dr. Tariq Haddad, said in an intensely personal, 12-page letter to Blinken that he initially intended to go to the meeting. “My family are subsisting on animal feed, Secretary Blinken, because of your policies,” he said. Public oppositionAnd while Blinken was quietly confronted behind closed doors about the administration’s policy toward Gaza on Thursday, members of the administration, including Blinken, have also faced public displays of opposition. “And we are working 24/7 to try to dramatically expand the flow of food, medicine, shelter – I mean, so much is needed.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe, Biden, ”, “, Tariq Haddad, ” Haddad, Haddad, –, Matt Miller, ” Miller, Samantha Power, Power, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Biden, Middle East, State Department, State, Palestinian, US Agency for International Development, USAID, Agency, USAID Missions Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Thursday’s, ”

☆ Group of Democrats call on Blinken to provide answers on bypassing Congress to approve arms sales to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of 19 predominantly Democratic lawmakers is calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide answers about why he bypassed Congress last month to approve arms sales to Israel. The top US diplomat made two emergency determinations in December to immediately approve the transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment to Israel. In their letter, the lawmakers noted the rarity of administrations using emergency declarations to immediately approve arms sales without congressional approval. “Use of a national emergency waiver does not exempt the U.S. government from assessing whether arms sales are consistent with” those standards, they wrote. I would say that the process that the secretary followed and the process that we follow here at the State Department is the process that the law actually prescribed,” Miller said at a State Department briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, James McGovern, Earl Blumenauer, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Raúl, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Jill Tokuda, Maxine Waters, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Leahy, credibly, “ Israel, ”, ’, “, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, UN, Independent, Democratic, State Department, Leahy, ”, Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

The alleged strike targeted the Mazzeh neighborhood in Syria’s capital, home to several diplomatic missions including the Iranian embassy, according to Syrian authorities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) identified the four others killed as military advisors Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, Saeed Karimi and Mohammad Amin Samadi. Their presence in Syria had been “at the official invitation of the Syrian government,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, noted in a statement on social media. Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty ImagesRegional spillover fearsThe attack in Damascus comes amid concerns that Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza is spiraling into a regional war. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday vowed to “punish” Israel for the Damascus missile strike.

Persons: Israel “, “, Hojjatollah Omidvar, Iran’s, Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, Saeed Karimi, Mohammad Amin Samadi, Nasser Kanaani, Louai Beshara, Tehran’s, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Matt Miller, ” Miller, Ebrahim Raisi, ” Israel, ”, CNN’s Kareem Khadder Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Syrian Ministry of Defense, Israel Defense Forces, Network, Quds Force, Revolutionary Guards, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Security, Getty, Economic, Israel, Palestinian Ministry of Health, State Locations: Damascus, Syria’s, Iranian, Mazzeh, Syria, AFP, Gaza, Iraq, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen, Red, Davos, Palestinian, Ramallah, The, Israel

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —Pakistan and Iran have both conducted strikes on each other’s territories in an unprecedented escalation of hostilities between the neighbors, at a time when tensions have risen sharply across the Middle East and beyond. Iran claimed it had “only targeted Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan” and that no Pakistani nationals were targeted. In 2015, the group claimed responsibility for an attack that killed eight Iranian border guards, with militants reportedly crossing into Iran from Pakistan. Iran’s strikes on Tuesday sparked a diplomatic spat, with Pakistan recalling its ambassador from Iran and suspending all high-level visits from its neighbor. And after Pakistan’s strikes, Iran on Thursday demanded “an immediate explanation” from its neighbor, Tasmin reported.

Persons: Islam –, hideouts, Jaish al, ”, Karim Sadjadpour, Wesley Clark, “, Jaish, CNN What’s, Tasmin, Matt Miller, Washington, “ We’ve, –, Miller, ” Pakistan’s Organizations: Pakistan CNN —, Adl, Justice, Iran’s, Carnegie Endowment, International, US Army, CNN, Hamas, US, National Counterterrorism Center, US State Department, US State, Pakistan – Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, Pakistan CNN — Pakistan, Iran, Balochistan, Sistan, Baluchestan, restive Baloch, Gaza, Here’s, Pakistan’s Balochistan, Iran’s, Iran’s Sistan, Baluchestan province, Islam, ”, United States, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Red, NATO, Afghanistan, Tehran, Pakistan’s, Iranian, India, ” China

☆ Iran says attacks by its allies won’t stop until Israel’s war in Gaza ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Attacks by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East won’t stop until Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza ends, Tehran’s top diplomat warned on Wednesday, as tensions across the region threaten to spiral into wider conflict. Since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and the Israeli offensive in Gaza that followed, the militant group Hezbollah has engaged in daily confrontations with Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. Houthi rebels have launched a series of attacks on commercial ships and Western military vessels in the Red Sea, a major artery for international trade. Iran also launched missile strikes in Syria and Pakistan against what it described as terrorist groups who it blamed for deadly attacks inside Iran in recent weeks. Meanwhile, there are fears that the ripple effects of the tensions have begun to extend beyond the Middle East.

Persons: Tehran’s, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Hassan Nasrallah, “, Hizam al, Assad, Matt Miller, ” Miller, Israel, Herzi Halevi, ” Halevi, Chris Liakos, Adam Pourahmadi, Jennifer Hansler, Wayne Chang Organizations: CNN, Economic, Sunday, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iraq, US, State, Israel’s, Staff, Israel Defence Forces Locations: Gaza, Iranian, Davos, Israel, Lebanon, Red, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Erbil, Pakistan, Yemen, “, East, China, ”

☆ Fate of American hostages up in the air with little prospect of stalled hostage talks resuming soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The White House has said there is one American woman and seven men unaccounted for following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The talks have stalled, and there does not appear to be any real prospects of those discussions starting back up any time soon, according to multiple senior administration officials. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday the US is doing “everything in our power” to get hostages released from Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that there are 136 hostages still being held in Gaza, including 17 women and children. It is unclear how many of those are being held by Hamas as opposed to other militant groups that operate in the territory.

Persons: ’, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, “, ” Israel, –, ”, Matt Miller, “ We’ve, they’ve, ” Miller, Israel, Gaza –, CNN’s Haley Britzky, Tamar Michaelis, Joshua Berlinger, Jack Forrest Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Thai, United, Israel Defense Forces, Sunday, Nova, ” Locations: Gaza, American, Israel, Russian, Doha, Qatar, Egypt, United States

Washington CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grabbed Brett McGurk’s arm as he walked out of a tense meeting of the Israeli Cabinet over securing the release of hostages Hamas was holding in Gaza. Hamas – after refusing for days – had relented in offering identifying information about several dozen hostages, such as their age, gender and nationalities. It laid out how women and children would leave in the first phase, as well as incentives for Hamas to release more hostages beyond that. On October 24, Hamas appeared to agree to the parameters of a deal to release women and children hostages. Hamas would only guarantee 50 and refused to produce identifying information about the hostages.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Brett McGurk’s, ” Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Hamas –, –, – couldn’t, Biden –, Xi Jinping –, Biden, McGurk, Bill Burns, Natalie, Judith Raanan, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Stephanie Hallett, Natalie Raanan’s, Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel wasn’t, Israel, Blinken, David Barnea, ”, Matt Miller, John Kirby, Kirby, CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, White, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Al, CIA, Qatari, White House, State Department, CNN, State, National Security, US State Department Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, San Francisco, Qatar, Doha, Cairo, Hamas

CNN —President Joe Biden took aim at violence against Palestinians in the West Bank in an op-ed published Saturday, signaling that the US is prepared to issue visa bans. Biden also in the op-ed rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza in the op-ed, maintaining a position he has held since the Israel-Hamas conflict began early last month. The president underscored that message in his op-ed Saturday and attempted to highlight the similarities between the two wars. “Both Putin and Hamas are fighting to wipe a neighboring democracy off the map,” Biden wrote. Biden closed with condemning the rising antisemitism and Islamophobia since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, Matt Miller, Biden, “, Putin, ” Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Washington Post, State Department, Hamas Locations: Washington, United States, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ Blinken lands in Israel with eye toward balancing support for IDF, civilians in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel Friday to press the Israeli government on its ongoing offensive in Gaza amid growing international condemnation and a steadily mounting civilian death toll. Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv on Friday morning, accompanied by newly confirmed US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew. The continued flow of that humanitarian aid and ongoing departure of civilians will be another key focus of his conversations in Israel, Blinken said Thursday. Israeli officials have also limited the entrance of fuel into Gaza, arguing that Hamas has stolen large quantities and withheld it from civilians. The top US diplomat has said repeatedly that there cannot be a return to the “status quo” with Hamas, and Israeli officials have said they intend to eliminate the group from Gaza.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Israel Jack Lew, ” Blinken, Privately, you’re, ” –, ”, “ That’s, it’s, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, West Bank . State, West Bank Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Washington, DC, –, Mosul, Aleppo, Fallujah, “, Jordan, Bahrain, Rafah, Egypt

CNN —Sweden inched a step closer to joining NATO on Monday after Turkey’s president sent accession protocols to parliament. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted both Sweden and Finland to seek NATO membership but the former’s entry had been stymied by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s sign off on the accession protocols comes after months of delays but it is unclear how long the process will take. Since applying for membership, Sweden has tightened its anti-terror legislation and agreed to work more closely with Turkey on its security concerns. The United States welcomed the news that Erdogan had signed and sent Sweden’s NATO accession protocols to the Turkish parliament on Monday.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, Erdogan, Jens Stoltenberg, Matt Miller, ” Organizations: CNN, NATO, Turkish, Sweden’s, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party, European Union, The United, ”, Hungary’s, Reuters Locations: Sweden, Russia’s, Ukraine, Finland, Turkey, Turkish, The United States, NATO, Hungary

Shadi Tabatibi/Reuters Relatives mourn for a family killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 21. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images Palestinians inspect a destroyed area following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 21. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18. Yousef Masoud/The New York Times A morgue worker arranges body bags at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12. Erik Marmor/AP Six-month-old Sama Alwadia is rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, ”, “, ” Bbuildings, Mohammed Zaanoun, Ashraf Al, Mohammed Al, Masri, Mark Regev, Benjamin Netanyahu, we’ve, ” Regev, Matt Miller, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Ariel Schalit, Jalaa Marey, Said Khatub, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Nir Oz, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Shadi Tabatibi, Ali Jadallah, Belal al Sabbagh, Mohammed Saber, Khan, Rizek Abdeljawad, Ahmad Gharabli, Janis Laizans, Abed Khaled, Mohammed Dahman, Gallant, Yasser Qudih, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Ronen Zvulun, Belal Khaled, Abed Rahim Khatib, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Mohammed Abed, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mustafa Hassona, Mahmoud Khaled, Samar Abu, Fatima Shbair, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Hatem Ali, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Majdi, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Marwan Abusada, Ghassan Abu, Sittah, there’s, Hatem Edhair, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved Lifshitz, – Cooper’s, Amiram, Oded –, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan, Lifshitz, ” Nurit Cooper, ” Daniel Lifshitz, he’s, John Kirby, we’re, ” Kirby Organizations: Jerusalem CNN — Aid, CNN, West Bank, Getty, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Indonesian, UN, Shifa, Reuters, US State, Pictures, Tel Aviv University, AP, New York Times, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, Palestinian, Aris Messinis, Haim, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Rockets, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health, West Bank . Hospitals, Palestinian Authority, Nasser, Hamas, White, National Security Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza City, Zahra, Rafah, AFP, Kibbutz Shefayim, Israeli, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Deir al, Anadolu, Khan Younis, Europe, Zahra City, Egypt, Xinhua, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Al, Ahli, Sderot, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Beit Kama, Haifa, Cyprus, Nablus, West, Kfar Saba, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Kibbutz Be'eri, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion

☆ Russian court extends custody of US journalist in 'foreign agent' case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who holds Russian and U.S. citizenship, attends a court hearing after being detained on suspicion of failing to register as a "foreign agent," in Kazan, Russia October 20, 2023. Kurmasheva is a Prague-based journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is funded by the U.S. Congress and designated by Russia as a foreign agent, meaning it gets foreign funding for activity deemed to be political. "This appears to be another case of the Russian government harassing U.S. citizens," State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters on Thursday. That contrasted with its reaction after Gershkovich's arrest, when Peskov told reporters, without providing evidence, that the reporter had been "caught red-handed" while trying to obtain military secrets. She was charged a week later with failure to register as a foreign agent, an offence that carries up to five years in prison.

Persons: Alsu Kurmasheva, Alexey Nasyrov, Kurmasheva, Edgar Matevosyan, Evan Gershkovich, Matt Miller, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Jeffrey Gedmin, Filipp Lebedev, Mark Trevelyan, Felix Light, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, RFE, Russian, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Congress, Reuters, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: Radio Free Europe, Kazan, Russia, American, Prague, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington

☆ Congress and Washington wonder if Biden and McCarthy cut secret Ukraine funding deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The suspicion is that Biden agreed to sign a stop-gap federal government funding deal that did not include Ukraine aid he wanted to provide, in exchange for McCarthy agreeing to hold a standalone vote on that aid later. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., demanded during an angry speech Monday targeting his fellow Republican McCarthy on the House floor. McCarthy on Monday denied that there was a secret plan for Ukraine funding. "There's an overwhelming number of Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate who support Ukraine," Biden said at the White House. A standalone vote on emergency Ukraine funding would likely pass the House, but only with the help of Democratic votes.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, McCarthy, Republican McCarthy, McCarthy's, Washington, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, I'm, Matt Miller, Miller, Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba, Amanda Macias, Emma Kinery Organizations: Rep, U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON —, Washington buzzed, Republican, Ukraine, House, Congress, Democratic, Sunday, Democrats, White, House Republicans, Russia, Ukraine . State Department Locations: Washington, Ukraine, United States, U.S

☆ Sam Altman thinks Silicon Valley has lost its culture of innovation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

OpenAI's Sam Altman thinks Silicon Valley no longer has an innovation culture. "Before OpenAI, what was the last really great scientific breakthrough that came out of a Silicon Valley company?" Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. "There used to be great research that happened in companies in Silicon Valley, Xerox PARC being the obvious example. To this, Altman responded by saying Silicon Valley did have a product innovation culture, but he felt it missed the mark on groundbreaking research.

Persons: OpenAI's Sam Altman, Sam Altman, Altman, Nicolai Tangen, I'm, Marc Andreessen, Andreessen, Horowitz, Matt Miller, Altman's OpenAI, ChatGPT, OpenAI Organizations: Service, Xerox PARC, Norges Bank Investment, Sequoia Capital, Biosciences Locations: Wall, Silicon, Silicon Valley, China, California, OpenAI

Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 19 more years in prison after being found guilty in a Russian court on a series of charges, his team confirmed Friday. Navalny faced charges of inciting and financing "extremist activity" and "rehabilitating Nazi ideology," charges he and his supporters reject. In a social media post on Thursday, Navalny said that he expected to receive a "Stalinist" prison term. Navalny, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics, was already serving two prison sentences. A nine-year prison sentence on charges of embezzlement and fraud and more than two years for a parole violation.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Navalny, Russia's, Vladimir Putin's, Biden, Matt Miller, Miller Organizations: IK, Kremlin, Navalny Locations: Russian, Moscow, Melekhovo, Vladimir, Ukraine, Russia

☆ US and Western officials fear Putin unlikely to change course in Ukraine before 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Kylie Atwood Natasha Bertrand Jennifer Hansler Kevin Liptak | Kylie Atwood | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

One US official said they have “no doubt” that Putin is “trying to hold out” until the 2024 election. Another source familiar with the intelligence said “it’s sort of the elephant in the room” for the US, Ukraine and Europe. Trump, the far-and-away front-runner for the GOP nomination at this point, has not committed to backing Ukraine in the war. Ron DeSantis walked back previous statements calling the war in Ukraine a “territorial dispute” he has maintained a broadly anti-interventionist policy. “Putting a shape on the US election will have an enormous effect” in how the war proceeds, the official said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, ”, Putin, “ Putin, Trump, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Kevin McCarthy, Daniel Fried, Gian Marco Benedetto, Bill Taylor, Patrick Ryder, Matt Miller Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Western, ”, Trump, Republican, Ukraine, GOP, Florida Gov, Congressional Republicans, Anadolu Agency, “, New York Times, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Europe, European, Poland, Japan, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, Russia, India

Ukrainian, Russian and international officials say there is no prospect of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the moment, as the war continues to rage and Kyiv seeks to reclaim territory through a counter-offensive. Neither the Jeddah gathering - which is expected to begin on Friday, with the main discussions on Saturday and Sunday - nor the peace summit would involve Russia, officials say. Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey, played a mediation role in a major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia last September. Zelenskiy attended an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia in May this year, at which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his readiness to mediate in the war. A second senior EU official said Saudi Arabia reached "into parts of the world where (Ukraine's) classical allies would not get to as easily".

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Leo Varadkar, Clodagh, Zhovkva, Zelenskiy, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jake Sullivan, Matt Miller, there's, Dmitry Peskov, Olena Harmash, Carien du Plessis, Gabriela Baczynska, Daphne Psaledakis, Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard, Jon Boyle Organizations: Ireland's, REUTERS, Global, Reuters, European Commission, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Russia, Arab, Saudi Crown, EU, . National, U.S . State, Thomson Locations: Horodetskyi, Ukraine, Kyiv, Jeddah, China, BRUSSELS, LONDON, Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, Moscow, Copenhagen, Riyadh, United States, U.S

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