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☆ From Free Speech to Free Palestine: Six Decades of Student Protest
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Richard Fausset | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An American college student looked out at a sea of protesters and spoke of a machine that had grown so “odious” that it had left people of good will little choice. “You’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop,” he said. That scene played out 60 years ago at the University of California, Berkeley. The words were directed at the university leadership, and referring to its restrictions on campus political activity. But the speech, from the student leader Mario Savio, and the sit-in that followed could have happened yesterday.

Persons: “ You’ve, you’ve, ”, Mario Savio Organizations: University of California Locations: Berkeley, Gaza, United States, Vietnam

☆ Virtual reality could revolutionize mental-health treatments, including ketamine therapy, for conditions like depression and anxiety
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Christine Macintyre | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The tech is helping mental-health providers treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In the face of this staggering prevalence, virtual reality offers transformative solutions in mental-health treatment and care. He uses FireflyVR's platform, The Sanctuary, a clinically designed VR experience that uses cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce patients' anxiety before they undergo ketamine therapy. VR cue exposure, Siegfried said, helps reduce binge-eating habits by exposing people to triggering stimuli in a controlled environment. Both cue exposure and embodiment aim to address the complex psychological dynamics of eating disorders.

Persons: —, Shel Mann, Mann, Dr, Christopher Romig, Stella, It's, Romig, Nicole Siegfried, Siegfried Organizations: Service, Disease Control, VR, Veterans Affairs, Behavioral

CNN —An Egyptian delegation is in Israel in an effort to advance stalled negotiations aimed at releasing hostages and implementing a ceasefire in Gaza, Egyptian and Israeli officials told CNN on Friday. The delegation is also set to continue discussions with Israeli officials on security coordination around a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, another Israeli official said. Despite months of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel have failed to reach an agreement over differences on key demands. Abed Rahim Khatib/picture-alliance/dpa/APAnother sticking point in the negotiations is the number of Israeli hostages set for release in the first phase of the agreement. A senior Hamas official criticized the statement as a show of “ironic international politics” and called for the signatory countries to put pressure on Israel to accept a deal.

Persons: Al Jazeera, Khalil Al, Hayya, –, Israel –, “, ”, Abed Rahim Khatib, Basem Naim, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, ” Goldberg, ” Matthew Hollingworth Organizations: CNN, US, UN, Al, Hamas, Food Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Tel Aviv

☆ Opinion: $95 billion Israel-Ukraine aid package gives Biden huge leverage. He should use it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Opinion Mark Hannah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The $95 billion military aid package President Joe Biden signed Wednesday was a feat of tough-minded negotiation to get funding to Ukraine and Israel after months of congressional horse-trading. But if the aid inflates those countries’ war aims, it could discourage the kind of tough-minded negotiation that is the only way to end their wars. The new infusion of aid gives the US a lot of leverage with Ukraine and Israel. However, the recent aid package includes long-range missiles, or ATACMS, which suggests Ukraine is readying an offensive against Crimea. In Israel, putting conditions on military aid is a better idea.

Persons: Mark Hannah, Joe Biden, Mark Hannah Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Mark Milley, “, —, Israel, Biden, George W, Bush, Putin, Ukraine’s, Biden judiciously, Netanyahu, Henry Kissinger, Golda Meir, Kissinger, ” Kissinger, Russia shouldn’t Organizations: Institute for Global Affairs, Eurasia Group, CNN, Wednesday, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Palestinian Authority, Abrams Tanks, Crimea, Israel, Twitter Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Crimea, Washington, Ukrainian, Russia, Gaza, United States, Kippur, Tel Aviv, Soviet

☆ Apple fixes iPhone bug that suggested Palestinian flag when some people typed ‘Jerusalem’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Apple has fixed a bug that suggested the Palestinian flag emoji when some users searched for the word “Jerusalem” in the emoji keyboard. Apple’s previous update was introduced on March 21, but the recent discovery of the bug upset some users on social media. It’s possible, however, Apple’s machine-learning technology determined the suggested emoji based on analyzing texts from millions of its users. In 2017, the US administration of President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of American foreign policy. So suggesting a Palestinian flag emoji for the search query “Jerusalem,” particularly when Israel is at war with Hamas, added tensions amid a long-running dispute.

Persons: Apple, Donald Trump, ” Organizations: CNN, Apple, East Locations: Israel, East Jerusalem, Jerusalem

☆ How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Israel’s military said Sunday that “99%” of projectiles fired by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its partners, with only “a small number” of ballistic missiles reaching Israel. In total, around 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel by Iran overnight Saturday, the military said. US officials said more than 70 drones and three ballistic missiles were intercepted by US Navy ships and military aircraft, without giving details of exactly what defenses were used to bring down the projectiles. The Iron Dome is the bottom layer of Israel’s missile defense, according to the country’s Missile Defense Organization (IMDO). The ballistic missiles that did reach Israel fell on the Netavim Air Base in southern Israel, Israel’s military spokesman said, adding that they caused only light structural damage.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, John Bolton, CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Biden, ” Biden, Menahem Kahana, Israel’s Rafael, CNN’s Irene Nasser, Eugenia Yosef, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, Saturday, Israeli, Israel, US Navy, Aegis, Pentagon, Royal Air Force, Defense, US, country’s Missile Defense Organization, Getty, Defense System, Raytheon, Missile, Center for International, Strategic Studies, CSIS, Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, Netavim, Base, Israeli Air Force Locations: Iran, Israel, Britain, Israeli, France, Gaza, Sderot, AFP, United States, Iraq, Yemen

☆ Iran launches retaliatory strikes toward Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Lauren Izso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Iran has launched drones toward Israel, amid fears of a regional escalation following an apparent Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy complex in Syria last week. Several dozen drones were launched from within Iran, a senior US administration official told CNN. Iran state media also confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had “launched extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories,” referring to Israel. It’s a threat that will take a number of hours to arrive in Israel,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said late on Saturday local time, asking Israelis to be “vigilant.”Israel has prepared for a “direct attack by Iran,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Saturday evening. The state of Israel is strong.

Persons: “, Daniel Hagari, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, ” Netanyahu, CNN’s Hamdi Alkhshali, Adam Pourahmadi, Paul Murphy Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Locations: Iran, Israel, Iranian, Syria, Britain, France, Haifa

☆ Opinion: The world rushes to court Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Now, they’re urgently working on two fronts: seeking to Trump-proof their foreign policy and defense, and hoping to minimize the potential negative impact of a Trump victory. Making matters more unusual – and far more unethical – Trump has effectively launched his own shadow foreign policy, actively undermining Biden’s – America’s – policy. Not only is the former president leveraging his control of the Republican Party to block US aid to Ukraine ‑ Trump is interfering in US foreign policy elsewhere. Interfering in US foreign policy is bad enough, but there’s also an unseemly financial angle.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Fumio Kishida, David Cameron, Donald Trump, –, It’s, they’re, Putin, Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, Viktor Orban, ”, Orban, “, ’, Joe Biden’s, – Trump, Biden’s, Ukraine ‑ Trump, Richard Grenell, Grenell, Grennell, there’s, Jared Kushner, Aleksandar Vucic, ingratiate, Japan’s, Shinzo Abe, Ivanka Trump, —, Biden Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Washington , D.C, British, Trump, Ukraine –, NATO, European, Trump Heritage Foundation, ”, EU, Europe –, Republican Party, Serbian Locations: Washington ,, Japan, United States, Mar, Europe, Russia, European Union, Ukraine, EU, ” Russia, “, East, Guatemala, Washington, Serbia, New York

☆ The iPhone suggests a Palestinian flag when some people type ‘Jerusalem.’ Apple is working on a fix
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Apple is working to a fix a bug in its latest iOS software that suggests the Palestinian flag emoji when some users search for the word “Jerusalem” in the emoji keyboard. But the user, who said she was Jewish, provided a long list of other cities that don’t surface a flag when entered into the emoji search box. For its part, Israel considers Jerusalem as its undivided capital. In 2017, the US administration of President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of American foreign policy. So suggesting a Palestinian flag emoji for the search query “Jerusalem,” particularly when Israel is at war with Hamas, is adding to tensions amid a long-running dispute.

Persons: Apple, Donald Trump, ” Organizations: CNN, Apple, East Locations: Israel, East Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Iran may now be compelled to respond despite its unwillingness to enter war with Israel and the United States. And it has increased such attacks since October 7, when Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250, prompting a devastating Israeli war in Gaza. “That would mean that the Israeli attack on Iran has put a target on the backs of American troops in the Middle East,” he said. Washington has, however, tried to distance itself from Monday’s Israeli attack. Attack Israeli interests abroadAfter past attacks on Iran, Israel has often anticipated Iranian retaliation on its interests in foreign countries, and beefed up security at its embassies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Qassem, Israel hasn’t, ”, Daniel Hagari, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, ” Amir, Israel, CNN’s Paula Newton, Parsi, Biden, Israel Iran’s, Houthis, Sanam Vakil, Jalal Rashidi, Vakil, Omar Sanadiki, ” Vali Nasr, “, Farzan Organizations: CNN, Seven, Revolutionary Guards, Israel Defense Forces, Iran’s, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Islamic, US National Security, Israel, Hezbollah, Chatham House, State Department, Chatham, ” stoke, UN, Global Governance Locations: Iranian, Damascus, Baghdad, Iran, Israel, United States, Syria, Gaza, Quds, Swiss, Tehran, Washington ,, Iraq, Jordan, Washington, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, Iraqi, East, North Africa, London, Argentina, India, Georgia, Thailand, Jalal Rashidi Kochi, Azerbaijan, “, Chatham House, ”, Switzerland

☆ Opinion: Half measures won’t work. What Gaza needs is a Marshall Plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Opinion Zaher Sahloul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In one tragic instance, several people were killed when a pallet bearing food aid plummeted from the sky and landed on top of them. But in terms of the sheer scale of the misery I have witnessed, there has been nothing to compare to Gaza. Palestinian children in Rafah wait to receive food distributed by a charity kitchen amid severe food shortages of food supplies. In fact, many children in Gaza have diarrhea due to the lack of clean water and poor sanitation. This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows parachutes of humanitarian aid dropping over the besieged Palestinian territory in late March.

Persons: Zaher, Khan Yunis, I’ve, Biden, Samantha Power, Mohammed Salem, Khan Younis, kneeled, Mohammed Abu Shahla, Mohammed, Lama, Jack Guez, Abdallah Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Getty, UN, Marshall Plan, Marshall, US, USAID, Reuters, Nasser Hospital, Gaza Locations: Gaza, United States, Khan, Israel, AFP, Washington and New York, Europe, Israeli, Rafah, Israel's, Palestinian

☆ Why student loan forgiveness remains a key issue for the Biden campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Still, the Biden campaign sees student debt forgiveness as a winning issue. The administration is working on developing another student loan forgiveness program, relying on a different legal authority this time. Student debt policy has come a long wayStill, student loan borrower advocates agree that forgiveness for nearly 4 million people is worth acknowledging. Before the 2016 presidential campaign, broad student debt cancellation was not an issue that candidates usually campaigned on. Cole also served on the Department of Education’s rulemaking committee tasked with developing the new student loan forgiveness program.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, It’s, –, ”, Braxton Brewington, “, ” Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, we’ll, it’s Joe Biden, Seth Schuster, Trump Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren –, Betsy DeVos, “ Joe Biden, ” Warren, DeVos, he’s, The Trump, it’s, There’s, that’s, Brewington, Wisdom Cole, Cole, Jill Biden’s, ” Cole, Warren, CNN’s Ariel Edwards, Levy Organizations: Washington CNN, Supreme, Republican, Biden, Trump Democratic, CNN, Education Department, Corinthian Colleges, The, PSLF, Department of Education, NAACP Youth & College Division, Department, Education’s, State, Union, Black, KFF, NAACP Locations: California, United States, Massachusetts

☆ Opinion | 100 Days of Javier Milei
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Uki Goñi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, has been in office for just over 100 days. The extreme libertarian program that Mr. Milei says will make Argentina great again — along with his unruly hair and tongue — has attracted countless comparisons to Donald Trump and won him high praise from Mr. Trump and other powerful admirers. A self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist,” Mr. Milei won the presidential race in November on promises to end Argentina’s sky-high inflation through a free-market transformation of the state. So far, he’s failed to deliver: Inflation doubled during his first month in office, though it has slowed down recently. Is he the economic visionary who won over voters and prompted Mr. Musk to predict that “prosperity is ahead for Argentina”?

Persons: Javier Milei, Milei, Donald Trump, Trump, Elon Musk, Mr, he’s, Musk Organizations: Economic, Mr Locations: Argentina, Davos, Switzerland, Congress, “

☆ Putin says he’s ready to use nuclear weapons if Russian state at stake, but ‘there has never been such a need’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Helen Regan | Josh Pennington | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Moscow is ready to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to the existence of the Russian state but “there has never been such a need,” President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with state media published Wednesday. Putin said that from a military and technical standpoint, Russia is ready for a nuclear war, though he didn’t say one was imminent. He warned that if US troops were deployed to Ukraine, Russia would treat them as interventionists. So I don’t think that everything is going to go head-on here, but we are ready for it,” Putin said. In his interview with state media, Putin said Russia would be willing to negotiate on Ukraine, but only if based on reality.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Joe, Biden, ” Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, It’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, ” Zelensky, ” Organizations: CNN —, RIA Novosti, “, CNN, US, Russian, Russia’s, NATO, Kremlin Locations: CNN — Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Belarus, Europe

☆ Haiti’s prime minister is resigning. Will that bring calm to the gang-ravaged country?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In Henry’s place, a transitional council will be established and endowed with some powers of the presidency – including the ability to name a new interim prime minister. It is unclear how long it could take to establish a transitional council to begin the transfer of power, though Haiti’s former PM Claude Joseph told CNN that it could be created within 24 hours. The big question is whether these changes can bring calm to Haiti, and put a stop to the terrible violence tearing apart Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. Talks with regional leaders continued, leading into the emergency CARICOM meeting on Monday. The United States will contribute $300 million to the Kenyan-led multinational security mission, Blinken said after attending the CARICOM meeting on Monday.

Persons: CNN —, Ariel Henry, Henry, Claude Joseph, Jimmy “, Henry’s, Cherizier, Odelyn Joseph, Romaine LeCoeur, Fanmi, Petit, Jimmy Cherizier, Viv Ansanm, “ ’ Viv Ansanm ’, ” Cherizier, Guy Philippe, Philippe, ”, “ we’re, State Anthony Blinken, William Ruto, “, ” Blinken, Mia Mottley, Will Ariel Henry, Blinken Organizations: CNN, CNN — Haiti’s, Caribbean, US State Department, AP, United Nations, Initiative, Transnational, CARICOM, Montana Group, Petit Dessalinnes, United Nations Security, Kenyan, senior State Department, State, State Department Locations: Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Kenya, Port, Prince, Swiss, EDE, CARICOM, “, Barbados, United States

☆ US asked China and India for help to prevent Russia from carrying out a nuclear strike in 2022, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe US asked non-allies for help in an attempt to dissuade Russia from carrying out a nuclear strike in 2022, a senior US administration official told CNN. The official said their assessment was that input from the likes of India, China, and others "may have had some effect" on Russia's thinking. In June 2023, President Joe Biden said Russia's nuclear threat remained "real" following the news that Russia had moved nuclear weapons into neighboring Belarus. "All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Guneyev, Putin, Biden, Sergei Shoigu, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: Service, CNN, Business, Getty, Russian, NATO, Reuters Locations: Russia, India, China, AFP, Ukraine, Kherson, Russian, Belarus

☆ The US is dropping aid into Gaza. Here’s why that will do little to ease a humanitarian crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The US has joined several other countries in airdropping aid into Gaza, which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis. But despite this advantage, aid agencies say their drawbacks overwhelmingly outweigh their benefits. “Humanitarian workers always complain that airdrops are good photo opportunities but a lousy way to deliver aid,” Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group’s UN Director said. Aid agencies have consistently said not enough aid is reaching Gaza. “When countries use airdrops and these maritime piers is usually if not always in situations when you want to deliver humanitarian aid into enemy territory.

Persons: We’ve, ” Richard Gowan, Michael Fakrhi, “, ” Fakrhi, John Kirby, ”, ” Kirby, Mahmoud Shalabi, Shalabi, Abdel Qader Al Sabbah, Kerem Shalom, Michael Fakhri, Israel, Dave Harden, ” Avril Benoît, CNN’s Louis Mian, Sana Noor Haq, Nadeen Ebrahim, Lauren Kent Organizations: CNN, UN, Food Programme, Islamic, “, Crisis, White, Medical Aid, Palestinian, Food, US Aid, Biden, MSF Locations: Gaza, warzones, Afghanistan, Islamic State, Iraq, Beit Lahia, Palestinian, Israel, Kerem, Rafah

☆ Promises Donald Trump has made so far in his campaign for a second term
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Piper Hudspethblackburn | Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Trump also said in that campaign video that he would cut funding for schools that teach critical race theory and gender ideology. Health careLast November, Trump promised to replace the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, in a series of posts on Truth Social. Trump also vowed in a June 2023 campaign video to reinstate his previous executive order so that the US government would pay the same price for pharmaceuticals as other developed countries. The former president added in a campaign video that he would stop lobbyists and government contractors from pushing senior military officials toward war. We will reverse almost all of them,” Trump said in a campaign video.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Immigration Trump, Trump, ”, “, ” “ We’ll, ” Trump, Education Trump, Obamacare, Biden, ” “, Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, ‘ Everybody’s, ’, ‘, he’s, Energy Trump, “ We’re, ” “ It’s, Equity “, CNN’s Tami Luhby, Kate Sullivan, Kristin Holmes Organizations: CNN, Republican, Immigration, Des Moines Register, ATF, FBI, DHS, Hamas, Department of Defense, Education, of Education, of Justice, Department of Education, Health, Trump, Democrats, Trump Administration, Justice, CIA, Department, U.S, Attorneys, Soros District, Marxist, National Guard, Department of Justice, NATO, Cities, Environmental Protection Agency, Energy, Trade, Trump Reciprocal Trade, Economy Trump, Black Conservative, Rifle Association, Legislative Action, Equity Locations: United States, Israel, America, United States of America, State, Washington , DC, Washington, NATO, American, South Carolina, Russia, Ukraine, New Hampshire, New, China, Michigan, Des Moines , Iowa

☆ Images show Palestinians running toward food parcels attached to parachutes as US airdrops begin on Gaza beach
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The White House said this was the first of many airdrops to come. Parachutes with food parcels attached descended into the territory from around 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on its website. AdvertisementWhile humanitarian agencies have criticized the Biden administration for the airdrops, saying they are inadequate, White House spokesperson John Kirby said it was the first of many airdrops to come. AdvertisementJordanian army airdrops humanitarian aid in the northern Gaza Strip. "There's a framework deal," a senior White House official told reporters on Saturday.

Persons: —, CENTCOM, Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Joe Biden, Abo, Axios, Abed Zagout Organizations: Service, US Central Command, AFP, Getty, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Abo Alkas, White House, Getty Images Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Anadolu, Gaza City, KHATIB, AFP

Smoke billows above the Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil during Israeli bombardment on February 28. “We are operating in the assumption that an Israeli military operation is in the coming months,” one senior Biden administration official said. An Israeli military operation is a distinct possibility.”The leadership of Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed paramilitary group, has expressed support for Palestinians and condemned Israel’s offensive in Gaza. There have been months of daily, deadly cross-border strikes by both Israel and Hezbollah that have displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israeli residents from their homes. That deal would likely postpone an Israeli incursion, US officials believe.

Persons: Bint Jbeil, Jalaa Marey, Biden, ”, “ Organizations: Getty, Biden, Hezbollah Locations: Lebanese, AFP, Israel, Lebanon, Israeli, Iran, Gaza

☆ Takeaways from the Supreme Court arguments over bump stocks and machine guns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( John Fritze | Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The Supreme Court’s conservatives pressed the Biden administration Wednesday to justify a federal ban on bump stocks, a device that can convert a semi-automatic rifle into a weapon that can fire far more rapidly. The ATF reclassified the devices as machine guns in 2018. “And through many administrations, the government took the position that these bump stocks are not machine guns.”The court’s liberals seemed more certain the devices fell within what Congress intended when it banned machine guns. “That’s exactly what bump stocks do, as the Las Vegas shooting, vividly illustrated.”Justice Samuel Alito asked the attorney representing the ban’s challenger, Michael Cargill, if he could imagine the reasons why a lawmaker might ban machine guns but not bump stocks. “Bump stocks can help people who have disabilities, who have problems with finger dexterity, people who have arthritis in their fingers.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Brett Kavanaugh, ensnare, you’re, ” Kavanaugh, Biden, “ That’s, It’s, Barrett, Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, ” Barrett, “, Neil Gorsuch, ” Gorsuch, Elena Kagan, Kagan, ” Brian Fletcher, Fletcher, ” Fletcher, ”, Samuel Alito, Michael Cargill, Jonathan Mitchell, Sonia Sotomayor, ” Kagan, Alito Organizations: CNN, Biden, Trump, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, ATF, Las Locations: Vegas

☆ Mohammed Shtayyeh, Palestinian Authority prime minister, and government to resign
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Nick Thompson | Ibrahim Dahman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and his government have submitted their resignations, he announced Monday. The resignation comes as the Palestinian Authority (PA), which is seen as corrupt, comes under intense pressure from the United States to reform and improve its governance in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The PA was set up in the mid-1990s as a temporary government pending Palestinian independence after the Palestine Liberation Organization signed the Oslo Accords with Israel. It is headquarters in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah and exercises nominal self-rule in parts of the territory. Israel has rejected the prospect of the PA returning to Gaza after the war, and has dismissed the idea of establishing a Palestinian state in the territories.

Persons: Mohammed Shtayyeh, “, Mahmoud Abbas, ” Shtayyeh, Fatah, doesn’t, ” Organizations: CNN, Palestinian Authority, Facebook, West Bank, Palestine Liberation Organization, West, Hamas Locations: United States, Palestine, Oslo Accords, Israel, West Bank, Ramallah, Gaza

☆ Why Zelensky’s plea will fall on many deaf Republican ears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —There is a simple reason why many Republicans will snub Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s desperate plea for billions of dollars in arms and ammunition. He told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in an interview in Kyiv Sunday that Republicans such as Trump ally Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance – who have been speaking out against more Ukraine aid – do not comprehend the stakes of the conflict. How Trump transformed the GOPThe Ukraine war funding showdown highlights how America’s domestic politics are already reverberating around the globe. The splits in the GOP over Ukraine were exposed last week when 26 Senate Republicans voted against the bill containing Israel and Ukraine aid while 22 backed it.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, It’s, Zelensky, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance –, –, ” Zelensky, Trump, Mitch McConnell, Vladimir Putin, Putin –, III, Biden –, Putin, Alexey Navalny, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, Matt Gaetz, ” Trump, Mike Johnson –, Biden, Johnson, ” Jake Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, •, • There’s, Vance, ” Vance, ’ ”, ” Zelensky –, CNN’s Collins, Avdiivka –, he’s Organizations: CNN, America, Republican, Kyiv Sunday, Trump, Ohio, GOP, NATO, Party, Trump Republicans, Conservative Political, Florida, Ukraine, White, Ukraine –, Munich, Conference, Republicans Locations: Europe, Russia, United States, Ukraine, Kyiv, Soviet, Washington, America, Mexico, “ State, South Carolina, European, China, Taiwan, Avdiivka, Israel, There’s

☆ Analysis: Two years of war has been a disaster for Russia with no end in sight
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Matthew Chance | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Moscow CNN —Two years ago, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I was among the many long-time observers of the Kremlin who got it wrong. Even if the war ends tomorrow, it is likely to take many years for its strength and numbers to recover. And the past two years of brutal war have twisted and distorted Russia internally too. Even President Putin has been indicted for war crimes at the Hague. I was in Chechnya when, in 2000, a newly installed President Putin brought that rebellious Russian region to heel, unleashing a relentless Russian military.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Putin, Inna Varenytsia, Reuters Russia’s, toting Wagner, – Alexey Navalny –, Anna Politikovskaya, Anatoli Stepanov, Putin miscalculated, Rather Organizations: Moscow CNN —, Kremlin, Russian, Reuters, Hague, Getty Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, Europe, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Chechnya, Russian, Avdiivka, AFP, Georgia, Georgian, Crimea, It’s

☆ Nearly 153,000 people will be notified that their student loan debt is canceled
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington CNN —Nearly 153,000 student loan borrowers currently enrolled in a new repayment plan launched by the Biden administration are expected to get an email Wednesday notifying them that their remaining federal student loan debt will be canceled, totaling about $1.2 billion. Biden’s plans to provide student debt relief were dealt a significant blow when the Supreme Court rejected his signature student loan forgiveness program last year. Nearly $138 billion of federal student loan debt has been canceled for almost 3.9 million borrowers since Biden took office. Most of the federal student loan debt cancellations that have taken place under Biden have come through programs that existed before he took office. The PSLF program cancels outstanding federal student loan debt for public-sector workers who have made 120 qualifying monthly student loan payments, or about 10 years’ worth of payments.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Biden’s, “, ” Biden, he’s, Trump, Betsy DeVos, CNN’s Nikki Carvajal, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, Department of Education, SAVE, of Education, Office, PSLF, Corinthian Colleges, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department, Education, Social Security Locations: Culver City , California

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