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Biden has literally, and figuratively, wrapped Netanyahu in a warm embrace since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. Biden himself told reporters on his way back from Israel that he had a “long talk” with Israeli officials “about what the alternatives are” to a possible extended ground operation. “At the same time ... Netanyahu and I discussed again yesterday the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That was followed by more than a dozen lawmakers introducing a resolution urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire. Biden administration officials, meanwhile, in their interactions with their Israeli counterparts have witnessed trauma — and rage — that is palpable.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, he'd, Netanyahu, Bibi, ”, He's, Netanyahu “, “ We’re, ” Biden, Antony Blinken, Delia Ramirez, Summer Lee of, Michigan —, Blinken, Ilhan Omar, Omar, Israel, “, ” Josh Paul, Biden’s, Gazans Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Israel, Democratic Party, Democratic, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, West Bank, Rep, Ministry, State Department's Bureau, Political, Military Affairs, State Department, U.S Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israeli, U.S, Ukraine, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Delia Ramirez of, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Afghanistan, Rafah, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, United States

☆ US Senate panel to vote on key Biden telecom board nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote next week on President Joe Biden's nominee for a key fifth seat on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules adopted under Democratic then-President Barack Obama in 2015. Biden's first nominee for the open seat, former FCC official Gigi Sohn, withdrew in March after three hearings. The FCC has raised mounting concerns about Chinese telecom companies which had won permission to operate in the United States decades ago. In 2019, the FCC voted to deny state-owned Chinese telecom firm China Mobile Ltd (0941.HK) the right to provide U.S. services and later withdrew U.S. authorizations for several other Chinese telecom carriers, including China Telecom Corp (0728.HK).

Persons: Joe Biden's, Anna Gomez, Gomez, Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks, Donald Trump, Biden, Barack Obama, Biden's, Gigi Sohn, Sohn, David Shepardson Organizations: U.S, Senate, U.S . Federal Communications Commission, Democratic, State Department's Bureau, Cyberspace, Digital, Radio Conference, FCC, Republican, China Mobile Ltd, HK, China Telecom Corp, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, United

☆ Sudan factions agree day's truce designed to 'break cycle of violence'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The conflict has displaced more than 1.9 million people, some 400,000 of whom have crossed into neighbouring countries. "There are heavy strikes near us and bullets from every direction in Al-Thawra neighbourhood in Omdurman," said Sanaa Ahmed, a 24-year-old resident. The army confirmed in a statement that it had agreed to the 24-hour ceasefire while asserting "its right to respond to any violations". The conflict in Sudan derailed the launch of a transition towards civilian rule four years after a popular uprising ousted strongman President Omar al-Bashir. Sudan's army and the RSF fell out over the chain of command and military restructuring plans under the transition.

Persons: Sanaa Ahmed, Omar al, Bashir, Sudan's, Khalid Abdelaziz Ahmed Elimam, Jana Choukeir, Adam Makary, Aidan Lewis, Jon Boyle, Nick Zieminski, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Artillery, Rapid Support Forces, Medical, MSF, U.S, U.S . State Department's Bureau, African Affairs, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Food, El Obeid, DUBAI, Saudi, Sudan's, Khartoum, Darfur, Omdurman, Bahri, Al, Thawra, El, North Kordofan State, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Jeddah ., Jeddah, Sudan, U.S ., Dubai, Cairo

☆ Biden nominates telecom attorney Anna Gomez to FCC after more than two years of deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden nominated telecom attorney Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, his second attempt to fill an empty seat on the typically five-member panel that has left the agency in a 2-2 deadlock for his entire presidency thus far. Gomez has previously worked for the FCC in several positions over 12 years, the White House said. Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of USTelecom, a trade group that represents broadband providers like AT&T and Verizon , congratulated Gomez in a statement. Free Press, a nonprofit advocacy group that supports net neutrality, said Gomez's nomination was long overdue. González called Gomez "eminently qualified" for the role and praised the nomination of a Latinx candidate to the position.

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday determined that Russia has "wrongfully detained" American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, effectively saying that espionage charges are bogus and that the case is political. The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. The Wall Street Journal's publisher and editor in chief said the "wrongfully detained" designation "will unlock additional resources and attention at the highest levels of the U.S. government in securing his release." Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine if a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

[1/2] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in this handout picture taken in Moscow, Russia, 2019. The Moscow Times/Handout via REUTERSBRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - The United States is working through the process to determine whether Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention by Russia is "wrongful", U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding it would soon be completed. The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine whether a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

Magnitsky sanctions aim to punish those accused of corruption or enabling human rights abuses. The U.S. Treasury Department, which is responsible for Magnitsky sanctions, declined to comment. U.S. officials in Brazil and the United States have already begun the process of identifying and investigating specific targets, the source said, with potential punishments ranging from visa blacklists to Global Magnitsky sanctions. It is unclear when or if the United States could sanction specific targets, as the investigations can take a while. Targeting environmental criminals with Global Magnitsky sanctions is unusual but not unprecedented.

☆ Biden to nominate career diplomat Tracy as ambassador to Russia, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterWASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will nominate career diplomat Lynne Tracy, currently the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, as ambassador to Russia, the White House said on Tuesday. The post in Russia has been vacant since Sept. 4, when envoy John Sullivan concluded his tenure there amid soaring bilateral tensions due to Moscow's war in Ukraine. Tracy was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 2014 to 2017. Before being sworn in as ambassador to Yerevan in 2019, she served as senior adviser for Russia affairs in the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Kanishka Singh and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden nominates Lynne Tracy to be new Russian ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

President Joe Biden announced he would nominate Lynne Tracy, the current ambassador to Armenia, to serve as U.S. ambassador to Russia. Tracy, a career diplomat, will take over from John Sullivan who left Moscow at the beginning of the month and announced his intention to retire. Tracy served as the second-highest official at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 2014 to 2017 as deputy chief of mission. Tracy's nomination to be ambassador comes at a crucial moment for U.S.-Russian relations amid tensions over the continuing invasion of Ukraine. Elizabeth Rood, deputy chief of mission to Russia, has led the U.S.'s embassy in Moscow since Sullivan left.

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