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☆ Graduations Are Flashpoints for Campus Protests: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Emily Cochrane | Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Pro-Palestinian protesters dismantled their encampment at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Saturday after reaching an agreement with the institution that requires administrators to review a divestment proposal. Student demonstrators pitched dozens of tents on Vassar’s campus, starting on Tuesday. The divestment language did not mention Israel or the war in the Gaza Strip, as the protesters had in their demands. The Vassar agreement is one of several in which student protesters have agreed to clear camps in exchange for commitments to discuss institutional investment policies around Israel. They said they would donate the roughly $7,000 they had raised since launching their encampment to families in Gaza, and redistribute any donated supplies to people and organizations in Poughkeepsie.

Persons: Elizabeth H, Bradley, Vassar, we’ve, “ Organizations: Vassar College, Student, Palestinian, Vassar, Hamas, Students for Justice, Israel Locations: Poughkeepsie, N.Y, Israel, Gaza, “, ”, Palestine

☆ University Graduations Are Flashpoints for Protests Over Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Kent State students protested the war in Gaza on Saturday during the annual commemoration honoring the four students who were killed by the National Guard on May 4, 1970. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Kent State University in Ohio on Saturday to protest the war in Gaza, exactly 54 years after a similar campus demonstration ended in four student deaths. Many of them were hoisting signs calling on the university to divest from weapons manufacturers and military contractors. Image Mary Ann Vecchio kneels over the body of Jeffrey Miller, a student who was killed by Ohio National Guard troops during an antiwar demonstration at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. Credit... Today, demonstrators at Kent State are asking the university to divest its portfolio of instruments of war.

Persons: James Rhodes, — Allison Krause, William Schroeder, Sandra Scheuer, Jeffrey Miller —, Ohio ”, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Sophia Swengel, “, ”, ” Ms, Swengel, Mary Ann Vecchio, Jeffrey Miller, John Filo, Camille Tinnin, Yaseen Shaikh, Tinnin, Shaikh, Mark Polatajko, Rebecca Murphy, Polatajko, Murphy Organizations: Kent, National Guard, Kent State University, Force, Ohio National Guard, Kent State, Justice Locations: Gaza, Ohio, Kent State’s, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kent, ’, “, Palestine, ”

☆ Biden and Japan's Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering China and Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering China and Russia. "Regarding Russia's aggression of Ukraine ... Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow," Kishida said. Biden also vowed to keep open lines of communication with China and said the U.S.- Japan alliance was defensive in nature. He spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Persons: Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Biden, Kishida, Xi Jinping Organizations: Japanese, Nippon Steel's, U.S . Steel, U.S . Locations: China, Russia, Japan, United States, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, North Korea, South, East China, Taiwan, Beijing, U.S, East Asia

☆ A Ukrainian soldier said that Ukraine's losses are so heavy where he's fighting that they struggle to recover the bodies
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA Ukrainian soldier fighting near the country's northern front line has described the menace of Russia's bombardment, telling the Times of London that they are "losing so many people, there are so many bodies we can't even bring them all back." AdvertisementA major factor in the current Russian offensive is glide bombs, which Russia has stepped up the use of in the last three months. Glide bombs were a factor in the Russian capture of Avdiivka in mid-February, its only major success in recent months. Maksym Zhorin, a soldier in Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, said in a Telegram post during that battle that glide bombs "completely destroy any position," The Washington Post reported. However, these present no barriers for glide bombs.

Persons: —, Maksym, Mykola Bielieskov Organizations: Service, Business, for, Kyiv Post, Assault Brigade, Washington Post, Times, Kyiv's National Institute for Strategic Studies, Post, Ukrainian Locations: of London, Kupiansk, Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, Russia, Bakhmut, Kyiv, Avdiivka, Ukraine

☆ Food prices hold steady, but Americans have a beef with the cost of a burger
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

For burger proprietors — including smaller, mom-and-pop shops — and burger lovers alike, the price environment may not get any easier. Nearly eight decades later, the Owl Burger remains a draw, but it’s become noticeably more expensive since Covid. “Maybe 45 cents each year,” Argabright told CNN in an interview, adding that the Owl Burger sits at $7.95 now. “When you’re ordering pounds and pounds and pounds of it, it adds up pretty quick.”Beth Steele, founder of Beth's Burger Bar, in Edgewood, Florida. Where’s the beef price headedLike most aspects of inflation, there are several contributing factors behind higher burger prices.

Persons: that’s, ”, Tyler Schipper, Thomas, “ We’re, Wendy’s, Fries, Burger, Frank Chavez, it’s, Janice Argabright, ” Argabright, Beth Steele, Steele, “, hasn’t, we’re, Schipper, “ Don’t, ” Schipper Organizations: CNN, University of St, Trinity, Beth’s, Beth's, American Farm Bureau Federation Locations: Minnesota, San Antonio , New Mexico, Orlando, Beth’s Burger, Beth's Burger, Edgewood , Florida, Texas

☆ Why Australia keeps an arm’s length from South China Sea tensions, even as it draws closer with the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the Australian Parliament last week there was no mistaking the fighting talk. The Philippines accused China's coast guard of setting up the barrier at the mouth of the disputed fishing ground. That meeting will also be attended by several other nations with territorial disagreements with China – including Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Australia was unlikely to back any tough language at the summit pertaining to the South China Sea or any other hot-button issue. As Bisley put it, “We don’t like what China does, but we’re not going to put ourselves in harm’s way.”

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ”, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, –, Thomas Shoal, David, China’s, Marcos ’, China –, Scott Morrison, Collin Koh, Penny Wong annouced, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Lukas Coch, Susannah Patton, it’s, ” Patton, China’s aggressions, Wang Wenbin, Nick Bisley, Bisley, we’re Organizations: CNN, Maxar, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, China, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Australia, Australian, Partners, Reuters, South China, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, La Trobe University Locations: Philippines, China, South China, Manila, China’s, Philippine, Scarborough, Scarborough Shoal, Hague, United States, Canberra, Australia, Melbourne, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Beijing, Singapore, South, Penny Wong annouced Canberra, Southeast Asia, Japan, India

☆ Opinion: What Iran wants — and fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Opinion Hussein Ibish | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Iran has backed Hezbollah’s efforts to avoid an all-out war with Israel despite consistent Israeli escalation and threats. Hezbollah doesn’t want a war with Israel and Iran agrees. The potential for such US or Israeli airstrikes is among the most significant reasons Iran wants to avoid a broader conflict. Tehran has already restrained its Iraqi proxies, is working to help Hezbollah climb down and avoid a devastating Israeli attack. And Iran is probably urging the Houthis to take great care not to kill Americans or otherwise go too far.

Persons: Hussein Ibish, Read, Hussein Ibish It’s, Biden, Israel, Kataib, Saleh Al, Wissam, Amos Hochstein, Ebrahim Raisi, Shannon Stapleton, It’s Organizations: Gulf States Institute, Israel, CNN, Washington, Radwan Force, Iranian Locations: Washington, Iranian, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Saudi, That’s, Israel, Jordan, Hezbollah’s, Beirut, Tehran, Yemeni, Suez, Strait, Hormuz, Bab, Mandab

Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already abound — and concerns are rising that the U.S. could grow less dependable regardless of who wins. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesBiden, in contrast, has made support for Ukraine a key priority and moral imperative. But many of America's European NATO allies are worried that with or without Trump, the U.S. is becoming less reliable. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was “currently on the phone a lot with my colleagues and asking them to do more” to support Ukraine. Dalton, a former U.K. ambassador to Iran, said prospects for the Middle East would be “slightly worse” under Trump than Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron’s, Trump, Germany’s Angela Merkel, Britain’s Theresa May, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orbán “, ”, Biden, Richard Dalton, Olaf Scholz, “, Scholz, Macron, ” Macron, Boris Johnson, ” Johnson, Putin, Johnson, ” Bronwen Maddox, ” Trump, hasn't, —, Dalton, implore Biden, Itamar Ben, Israel, Turkey’s Erdogan, Sergey Lavrov, George W, Zhao Minghao, ” “, Jiwon, Kirsten Grieshaber, Dasha, Suzan Fraser, Nomaan Merchant Organizations: U.S, Trump, NATO, Congressional Republicans, Centre, Politics, University College London, Mail, Associated Press, Hamas, White, Russian, CBS, Biden, Fudan University Locations: U.S, gridlock, Congress, Ukraine, Europe, United States, British, German, Germany, ” Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Tehran, Dalton, Israel, Gaza, Turkey, Shanghai, Seoul, South Korea, Berlin, Dasha Litvinova, Tallinn, Estonia, Ankara, Washington

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — The hallways of Bacone College are cold and dark. In the college’s historic buildings, there are leaks to plug, mold to purge and priceless works of Native American art to save from ruin. Founded in 1880 as a Baptist missionary college focused on assimilation, Bacone College transformed into an Indigenous-led institution that provided an intertribal community, as well as a degree. Across the country, there are only a few dozen tribal colleges, according to the American Indian College Fund, a nonprofit that supports Native American access to higher education. Tribal colleges must be sponsored by a federally recognized tribe and have a majority Native student enrollment.

Persons: aren't, Nicky Michael, Woody Crumbo, Fred Beaver, Joan Hill, Ruthe Blalock Jones, Bacone, “ Bacone, ”, Robin Mayes, Michael, Gerald Cournoyer, Cournoyer, Patti Jo King, King, Bull, Custer, Johnnie Diacon, Leslie Hannah, he’s, Midgley, Chris Oberle, KOSU, ___ Graham Lee Brewer Organizations: Baptist, Muscogee Nation Tribal Council, Lakota, Center, American, Kiowa, Huber Energy, Muskogee County Sheriff’s, MHEC, Associated Press, National Register of Historic Places, American Indian College Fund Locations: MUSKOGEE, Okla, shuttering, Muscogee, U.S, Cherokee, Bacone, Oklahoma, Ataloa Lodge, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Utah, Muskogee County

☆ US aircraft carriers lead ‘large deck’ exercises with Japan east of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A dozen United States and Japanese warships, including two US aircraft carriers, have been putting on a show of military might this week in the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan. The US Navy aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Theodore Roosevelt were joined by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Ise, seven US guided-missile destroyers and two US cruisers for what the Navy calls a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE). An F/A-18E Super Hornet takes off from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson during exercises in the Philippine Sea on Jan. 31. Potential maritime flashpointsThat broad area reaches as far south as islands and reefs in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels have been in recent confrontations. “The coercive pressure campaign against Taiwan continues, and we’re watching it in the wake of the elections,” Aquilino told the Pacific Forum.

Persons: Carl Vinson, Theodore Roosevelt, ”, Carlos Sardiello, Vinson, Collin Koh, ” Koh, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D Eisenhower –, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, Xi Jinping, John Aquilino, ” Aquilino, “ I’m Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, Analysts, US, US Navy, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Ise, Carrier Strike, Navy, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, CNN, USNI, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, East China, Democratic Progressive Party, Communist Party, Clinton, Party, Taiwan, Pacific Command, Pacific Locations: Seoul, South Korea, United States, Philippine, Taiwan, China, U.S, Japan, Pacific, Singapore, Asia, Red, Yemen, Hawaii, South China, East, Senkaku, Beijing, fmr

☆ Hamas Unlikely to Reject Ceasefire but Will Demand Israeli Withdrawal -Source
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to pull troops out until "total victory", which he defines as eradicating Hamas. Hamas says it will not sign up to any temporary truce unless Israel commits to a withdrawal and permanent end to the war. "They haven’t entered deep into Al-Mawasi where we live but everyday they get closer," he told Reuters by phone, referring to the western district of Khan Younis along the Mediterranean Coast. Israel, which claims Hamas is using hospitals as command centres, has denied prior Red Crescent claims that it stormed the hospital. Palestinian health officials said medical teams had recovered 14 bodies of Palestinians who were killed near the centre of Khan Younis after some tanks retreated from there.

Persons: Nidal, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, Khan Younis, Osama Ahmed, Amal, Israel's, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Sharon Singleton, Peter Graff Organizations: Hamas, Palestinian, Health, Reuters, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Al, Crescent, U.S . Navy, U.S . military's, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Paris, Cairo, Khan, Rafah, Gaza City, Al, Iran, Yemen, Red, Britain, Washington, U.S, Gulf, Aden, Mughrabi, Doha, Tala, Dubai, Jerusalem

☆ 25 experts calculated the scenarios they think could play out in the US-China relationship. All the results are bleak.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewThe future of US-China relations looks grim, according to a new report by a group of 25 experts on both countries. And US scientists might find a mysterious avian flu in China, while China detains five Americans on accusations that they broke the law. Advertisement"Instead, the war scenario is a scenario of increasing crises leading to increasing distrust in diplomatic solutions," he said. 2) A zero-sum bloc gameOr US-China trade could fall to all-time lows by the late 2020s, with competition ramping up over AI, quantum computers, and other technology, the analysis said. Seyle emphasized that the analysis isn't presenting forecasts, but theoretical scenarios that hit areas of concern in broad strokes.

Persons: —, Trump, Pax Sapiens, Conor Seyle, BRICS, Saudi Arabia —, calculatingly, Seyle, Ren Libo, Adam Kahane of Organizations: Service, Business, Obama, People's Liberation Army, Observers, Pentagon, Pax Sapiens, WTO, Grandview Institute, Adam Kahane of Massachusetts, Reos Partners Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, Taiwan, Taipei, Pax, Europe, Asia Pacific, Brazil, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, America, Africa, United States, Latin America, Southeast Asia, US

ON BOARD THE USS BATAAN (AP) — When attacks with missiles and drones surged in the Red Sea late last year, crewmembers of the USS Bataan worked round the clock to make sure they were shot down before reaching passing merchant vessels. Weeks later, they are still perfecting that operation in training and simulations, along with a dozen other scenarios, despite moving north to the Mediterranean where commercial marine traffic is at little risk. The U.S. Navy is reshuffling its warship deployment in the Middle East to maintain dominance in the region – now eyeing the longer haul as concerns mount that Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza could set off a regional conflict. The Bataan was sailing toward the eastern Mediterranean Friday after taking part in live-fire exercises with NATO-member Greece on the country’s mainland. “I would say, the difference (after coming to Greece) is that the food is a little bit better.”

Persons: Weeks, Gerald Ford, Jeremy Hawkins, “ We’re, ”, Gregory Aftandilian, Sam Peters, we’re, “ Organizations: BATAAN, U.S . Navy, United, Carter, School of International Service, American University in, American University in Washington DC, NATO, U.S, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Navy Locations: Red, Bataan, Gaza, United States, Mesa Verde, America, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, American University in Washington, Israel, Greece, North Carolina, Valdosta, U.S, Georgia

☆ Blinken to meet with leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE with aim to avert larger Middle East war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards an aircraft during his departure from Washington to travel to the Middle East, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 4, 2024. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and suffering," Blinken told reporters in Doha after meeting with Qatar's leadership on Sunday. The Middle East trip follows the assassination by drone of deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, which Hamas has blamed on Israel. Many U.S. officials now fear that the fighting will draw Hezbollah and Lebanon into the war, a shift that could see Iran up its involvement as well. Hezbollah, the most powerful militant and political organization in Lebanon, has been described by analysts as having 10 times the power and military capabilities as Hamas.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Saleh al Organizations: Joint Base Andrews, United Arab Emirates — U.S, United Arab, Sunday, Hamas, Palestinian, Many U.S Locations: Washington, Israel, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, U.S, DUBAI, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Arouri, Beirut, Iran, Lebanon, Many

☆ These Middle East flashpoints could trigger regional conflict that impacts oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

There are several key flashpoints where the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a regional conflict that has a material impact on oil, according to the firm. Those flashpoints are the Red Sea, Lebanon and Iraq, analyst Helima Croft wrote in a note to clients this week. Crude prices fell Tuesday despite renewed attacks by Houthi militants in the Red Sea over the weekend. Maersk stopped shipping through the Red Sea again and is rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Some 12% of global trade and about 3 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Red Sea per day, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Persons: Helima Croft, Croft, Adi Imsirovic, Imsirovic, Steven Schoenfeld, Schoenfeld, Goldman Sachs, Tehran's Houthi, Donald Trump ratcheted, Biden, Benny Gantz, Israel, Saleh al, Joe Biden, Trump, Qasem Soleimani Organizations: RBC Capital Markets, Maersk, West Texas Intermediate, CNBC, Tuesday, Traders, Investors, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, Prosperity, U.S . Navy, U.S . Central Command, JPMorgan, Israel Defense Forces, Three U.S, Washington Locations: Israel, Sea, Lebanon, Iraq, Red, Danish, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, U.S, Yemen, The U.S, Mandeb, Aden, Britain, Hangzhou, South Africa, Suez, Asia, Europe, Hormuz, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Beirut, Croft, Erbil, Three

☆ Australia walks a tight rope on trade with China as security concerns mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2023. While trade compulsions have forced the Asia-Pacific nation to reach out to China, security concerns over Beijing's South China Sea claims have prevented a reset in ties. Trade talksPart of Beijing's calculus is rooted in Australia economic dependence on China. According to the Australian government, China is its largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of the country's total trade with the world. Australia is already closely watching potential flashpoints in the South China Sea, and in regard to Taiwan," Economist Intelligence Unit analysts said in a note.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Ding Haitao, coronavirus, Darren Lim, Lee McLean, McLean, we've, Albanese, We've Organizations: Australian, of, People, Getty Images, Xinhua, Agency, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Australian National University, Labor, Australia, U.S ., China Hub . Trade, CNBC, Sky News Australia, Economist Intelligence, U.S Locations: Beijing, China, Xinhua, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Canberra, U.S, South China, Taiwan, The Hague, Philippines

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Iowa Safe Schools, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ children, and seven Iowa students, ranging in age from fourth to 12th grades, and their families. One plaintiff, Iowa City high school senior Puck Carlson, said in an online news conference that the law is having a devastating effect on Iowa LGBTQ+ students. She has watched her younger LGBTQ+ sister struggle to feel safe in school since the law took effect, she said. Many of the banned books contain content of particular relevance to LGBTQ+ students, including LGBTQ+ characters, historical figures or themes. “As a result of the ban, LGBTQ+ students are denied the comfort of narratives that include LGBTQ+ characters and the solace that they are not alone,” the ACLU said.

Persons: “, Thomas Story, Kim Reynolds, ” Reynolds, Puck Carlson, ” Carlson Organizations: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Lambda, Republican, Iowa Safe Schools, Iowa, Iowa City, “, Schools, ACLU, Republicans Locations: Iowa

☆ Fahad Shah: Award-winning Kashmir journalist in press freedom case released after nearly two years behind bars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Kashmir journalist who was arrested under India’s sedition and anti-terror laws has returned home Thursday after being released on bail following nearly two years behind bars. Critics say Shah’s case highlights declining press freedoms in the contested region. Claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, the mountainous Kashmir region has been at the epicenter of an often-violent territorial struggle between the nuclear-armed neighbors for more than 70 years. On Monday, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court ordered his release and quashed some of the charges, according to a court document seen by CNN. “The arrest of Fahad Shah shows Jammu and Kashmir authorities’ utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely,” said Steven Butler, Committee to Protect Journalists’ Asia program, at the time.

Persons: Fahad Shah, Narendra Modi, Shah, India ”, ”, Fahad, Steven Butler, Modi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kashmir’s, abetted, Jammu &, Court, CNN, Protect Journalists ’, Guardian, Human Rights Locations: Hong Kong, Kashmir Walla, Kashmir, New Delhi, India, Pakistan, Islamabad, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Fahad Shah, Protect Journalists ’ Asia, Delhi, Laos, Philippines

BANGKOK (AP) — The United States and the Philippines are conducting joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea, which come as the two countries step up cooperation in the face of growingly aggressive Chinese activity in the area. The patrols run through Thursday and also include both the U.S. and Philippine navies. They come only days after Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the situation in the South China Sea increasingly “dire” as China seeks to assert its presence in an area where multiple nations have competing territorial claims. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own waters, which has led to disputes not only with the Philippines but also with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. The move, which Marcos said would boost the Philippines’ coastal defense, dovetails with the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, ”, ” Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, Biden Organizations: Philippine Air Force, U.S, South China Locations: BANGKOK, United States, Philippines, South China, Batanes, Taiwan, China, Philippine, South, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Honolulu, Russia, Tokyo

☆ Xi revealed the extent of China's economic woes by the speed at which he caved to some of Biden's demands
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China's Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had their first meeting in a year this week. Xi entered the talks in an unfamiliar position of weakness amid China's economic woes. It was a stark contrast to recent public remarks by the Chinese president, where he sought to blame crises and conflicts across the globe on US meddling. The New York Times noted just how quickly Xi agreed to the demands, with previous US-China deals brokered after days of painstaking diplomatic negotiations. Though Xi is hoping for a short-term decrease in tensions, Chinese economic woes are unlikely to have altered his long-term calculations.

Persons: China's Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, —, Xi Jinping, Biden, Patricia Kim, Nancy Pelosi's, he'd, Robert Daly, Wilson, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, APEC, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, Biden, UAE ., New York Times, Associated Press, Institute, Russian, The New York Times Locations: San Francisco, China, United States, UAE, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine, East, Iran, Gaza, Washington

☆ Biden and Xi sought to pull away from deepening conflict. They failed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Biden and Xi sought to smooth frayed relations at their meeting on during the APEC summit. AdvertisementChinese leader Xi Jinping was keen to stress the potentially dire consequences of US-China tensions after his first meeting with Joe Biden in more than a year. Xi seemed keen in the speech to find common ground after months of worsening relations between the superpowers. As notable as the successes, were the areas where Biden and Xi failed to reach an agreement. And in the South China Sea, a region where China has sought to establish its dominance, Chinese warplanes have sought to intimidate US fighter jets.

Persons: Biden, Xi, —, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Jonathan Ward, Xi's, Nancy Pelosi's Organizations: APEC, Service, Wednesday's, Allies, Atlas Group, The New York Times Locations: China, San Francisco ., United States, San Francisco, Taiwan, Ukraine, East, Russia, Israel, Gaza, South China

☆ U.S.-China relations are now more about crisis prevention
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

It will be a rare summit before the U.S. presidential election cycle kicks off in earnest. "The immediate aftermath of the [Biden-Xi] meeting is likely to mark a cyclical high point for bilateral relations," he said. Taiwan is set to hold its presidential election in January, and a more pro-independence winner could stir more of Beijing's ire. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, with no right to independently conduct diplomatic relations. The U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole government of China but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, a democratically self-governed island.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Michael Hirson, Trump, Xi, Gabriel Wildau, Antony Blinken, Chuck Schumer, Shen Yamei, Shen, Gina Raimondo, Lifeng, Janet Yellen, Teneo, Nancy Pelosi, Teneo's Wildau Organizations: Reuters, U.S, China Research, Research, D.C, Strategic, International, Biden, Republican, Democratic, American Studies, China Institute of International Studies, CNBC, U.S . Commerce, Treasury, U.S . House, Representatives, Economic Cooperation, China's Ministry of Commerce Locations: Bali , Indonesia, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, Beijing, San Francisco, Gaza, Ukraine, Asia

☆ Charts show a stark difference in the human cost of Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over the years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Joanna Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

An aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City on Oct. 11, 2023. Israel also suffered tremendous losses, with Oct. 7 described as "the deadliest day for Jews since the holocaust." There have been five major military conflicts between Israel and Hamas since the Jewish state unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. "Typically speaking, year on and year on, the number of Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli forces exceeds Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians, several times over," H.A. The data collated by CNBC shows that more than 18,600 Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been killed in conflicts with Israel since 2008.

Persons: Yahya Hassouna, that's, Hellyer, Paul Scham, CNBC it's, Daniel Byman, Scham, Israel doesn't Organizations: AFP, Getty, Hamas, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, West Bank, UN, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, CNBC, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Health Ministry, Royal United Services Institute for Defence, Security, University of Maryland, Middle East Institute, Washington , D.C, IDF, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Hellyer Carnegie Endowment Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Israel, OCHA, Palestinian, Jihad, Hamas, Washington ,, Egypt

Five months later, Albanese will be welcomed to the White House with the highest trappings of American diplomacy, including a black-tie state dinner underneath a tent erected on the South Lawn. Already, the White House had struggled to secure billions of dollars in new funding for Ukraine. When Albanese arrives at the White House Tuesday evening, the US House of Representatives will have been without a permanent House speaker – and legislatively paralyzed – for 21 days. Senior Biden administration officials believe that only weeks remain before a lack of additional funding for Ukraine starts to become a serious battlefield concern. The first lady developed the menu with guests chef Katie Button, a James Beard Award nominee who owns a popular tapas restaurant Cúrate in Asheville, North Carolina; White House executive chef Cris Comerford; and White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Biden, Cedric Richmond, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, –, ’ Biden, ” Biden, it’s, Ukraine –, Michèle Flournoy, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Wang, Antony Blinken, Sullivan, Blinken, Xi, Blinken’s, ”, Karine Jean, Pierre, Australia –, They’ll, John Kirby, ” Kirby, Kirby, ” Dr, we’ve, Bryan Rafanelli, Katie Button, James Beard, Cris Comerford, Susie Morrison Organizations: CNN, Australian, ., White, Hamas, Ukraine, Biden, CBS, Defense, APEC, Washington, Publicly, ”, Australia, Wednesday, ’, National Security, Army and Air Force, White House Locations: Pacific, Washington, Gaza, Israel, Asia, Vietnam, China, Ukraine, Tel Aviv, Australia, United States, America, White, San Francisco, Beijing, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, there’s, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Asheville , North Carolina

Hong Kong CNN —China and the Philippines on Sunday accused each other of causing collisions in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the latest in a string of maritime confrontations between the two countries that have heightened regional tensions. In a statement Sunday, the Chinese Coast Guard accused the Philippines of violating international marine law and threatening the navigation safety of Chinese ships. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a landmark maritime dispute, which concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. In September, the Philippine Coast Guard released video of a Filipino diver cutting a Chinese-installed floating barrier in a disputed area of the waterway that had prevented Filipino boats from entering. It came just days after after the Philippine Coast Guard accused China’s maritime militia of turning vast patches of coral near the Palawan island chain into a bleached and broken wasteland.

Persons: Thomas, “, Thomas Shoal Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Coast Guard, National Task Force, West Philippine, BRP, Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Locations: Hong Kong, China, Philippines, South China, Philippine, Ayungin, Spratly, BRP Sierra Madre, Manila, Beijing, China’s, The Hague, Palawan

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