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☆ Middle East Crisis Blinken Is Set to Meet With Top Middle East Diplomats on War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, three weeks after telling him that he could rethink U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza. An administration official said that about three-quarters of Mr. Biden’s nearly hourlong call to Mr. Netanyahu focused on the possible cease-fire and hostages deal. The two leaders also discussed hostage videos released by Hamas last week, including those showing two hostages with American citizenship. Israel, heeding pleas by Mr. Biden for restraint, fired back only a token counterattack, and both sides have indicated they want to avoid further escalation. With the immediate threat of a wider war seemingly fading, Mr. Biden and his team could shift their attention back to Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, “ That’s, John F, Kirby, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Mr, Biden “, “, Bernie Sanders, ”, Yahya Sinwar, ” Edward Wong Organizations: Israel, Hamas, State Department, Mr, Economic, White, ABC, Biden, American, ”, CNN, “, U.S Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Jordan, Israel, ”, U.S, Vermont, “ State, Iran

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Iran Accuses Israel of Killing 4 Military Advisers in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | Hwaida Saad | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

President Biden expressed optimism that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel could still consensus. While there was no indication that Mr. Netanyahu would ease his opposition, which is popular with his fragile right-wing political coalition, Mr. Biden expressed optimism that they may yet find consensus. “I think we’ll be able to work something out,” Mr. Biden said. “The prime minister needs to be able to say no, even to our best friends,” Mr. Netanyahu told reporters. “Prime Minister Netanyahu has made clear his concerns about that.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, “, ”, Mr, “ I’ll, ” Mr, Jordan, John F, Kirby, that’s, Netanyahu’s, “ We’re, “ We’ve, Rashida Tlaib, “ It’s Organizations: Israel, White House, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, National Security Council, White, Mr, Hamas, “ Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, United States, Iran, Jordan, Michigan

☆ Iran Accuses Israel of Killing 4 Military Advisers in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Adam Entous | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

While there was no indication that Mr. Netanyahu would ease his opposition, which is popular with his fragile right-wing political coalition, Mr. Biden expressed optimism that they may yet find consensus. A day later, however, Mr. Netanyahu appeared not to have been swayed by Mr. Biden’s pitch. “The prime minister needs to be able to say no, even to our best friends,” Mr. Netanyahu told reporters. But Mr. Kirby sought to play down the discord, characterizing their clashes as honest disagreements between friends. Asked about Mr. Netanyahu’s comment, Mr. Kirby said, “It’s not a phrase that we recommend using because of that context.”

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, “, ”, Mr, “ I’ll, ” Mr, Jordan —, John F, Kirby, that’s, Netanyahu’s, “ We’re, “ We’ve, Jordan, Rashida Tlaib, “ It’s Organizations: Israel, White House, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, National Security Council, White, Mr, Hamas, “ Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, United States, Iran, Michigan

The United States carried out a new military strike against Houthi ballistic missiles in Yemen on Tuesday, the U.S. military said, but the latest salvo against the Iran-backed group left the White House grappling with how to stop a battle-hardened foe from disrupting shipping lanes critical for global trade. The Houthis damaged a U.S.-owned commercial ship on Monday after attempting to hit an American warship the day before. President Biden could order another blitz of strikes against Houthi air defenses, weapons depots, and facilities for launching and producing an array of missiles and drone, but analysts say that would risk widening the war even more. Or he could settle for more limited tit-for-tat exchanges, like Tuesday’s strike, but that would not necessarily resolve the threat to commercial ships, analysts say. Mr. Kirby defended the strikes last Thursday and Friday that American and British attack planes and warships carried out against more than 60 targets using some 150 precision-guided bombs and missiles.

Persons: Biden, “, John F, Kirby Organizations: Houthi, U.S, White, Pentagon’s, Command, American, Kirby, National Security Council Locations: States, Yemen, Iran, U.S, American, Gaza, British

GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man who became a vocal advocate for families of 9/11 first responders following the death of his NYPD officer son was struck and killed by an SUV in a hospital parking lot, police said Sunday. Joseph Zadroga, 76, of Little Egg Harbor, was the father of Detective James Zadroga, who died in 2006 of a respiratory ailment his family believed was linked to the time he spent at Ground Zero. His namesake James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 provides federal health benefits to first responders who fell ill after the attacks in 2001. Police say the elder Zadroga was struck in the parking lot of a hospital in Galloway on Saturday afternoon. Joe was the father of Det James Zadroga NYPS the hero our legislation is named after,” John Feal, another prominent advocate, wrote in a post on Facebook.

Persons: Joseph Zadroga, James Zadroga, Zadroga, “, Joe Zadroga, Joe, Det James Zadroga NYPS, ” John Feal, ” Organizations: Police, Facebook Locations: GALLOWAY, N.J, New Jersey, Egg, Galloway

☆ Israel-Hamas War U.S. Pushes Israel and Hamas to Restart Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Israel has since resumed its attacks on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “Secretary Austin is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve.”Mr. Graham said his solution to the hostage impasse would be to threaten Iran, the sponsor of Hamas. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “Qatar has said that Hamas is still at the table,” she said, referring to the Persian Gulf emirate that has served as the intermediary for the talks.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, Osama Hamdan, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal, ” Hwaida Saad Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, U.S, Lebanon, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

The U.S. government is making an intense effort to persuade Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations so they can once again pause hostilities and exchange more prisoners for hostages, a White House spokesman said on Sunday. Israel has since resumed its assault on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “We should have conditions on military aid in the same way that we do for every other country.”While the White House blamed Hamas for the breakdown in hostage talks, Ms. Jayapal faulted Israel.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Monday that prohibits individuals convicted of a misdemeanor related to domestic violence from possessing firearms for at least an eight-year-period. State law currently includes firearm restrictions for those with felonies related to domestic abuse, but no law had existed for misdemeanor domestic violence. The overhauled gun laws follow two deadly mass school shootings that happened in Michigan within a 14-month period. Federal law already prohibits those charged with felonies or misdemeanors related to domestic violence from purchasing or possessing a gun. Guns were used in more than half, 57%, of those killings in 2020, a year that saw an overall increase in domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer, ” Whitmer, “, Whitmer, Democratic State Sen, Stephanie Chang, Governor Whitmer, ” John Feinblatt, Maggie Wardle, Maggie, Rick Omillian, Maggie’s Organizations: — Michigan Democrats, Democratic State, District of Columbia, Federal, “, Safety, for Disease Control, Kalamazoo College Locations: LANSING, Mich, Kalamazoo, Michigan, “

Residents of northern Gaza have used Salah al-Din Road as an escape route to southern Gaza this week during pauses in fighting by the Israeli military. Israel has agreed to put in place regular daily four-hour pauses in its relentless assault on Hamas in selected areas of northern Gaza to allow civilians to flee, the White House announced on Thursday, culminating days of pressure from President Biden as the casualty toll mounts. The White House said a second corridor for evacuations would be opened along a coastal road and that the daily pauses would be institutionalized to include advance notice of at least three hours. Image White House officials announced on Thursday the opening of a second corridor for people to evacuate northern Gaza under humanitarian pauses by the Israeli army. “There is no cease-fire,” the Israel Defense Forces wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Persons: Salah, Biden, John F, Kirby, White, Mr, ”, Samar Abu Elouf, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, Lloyd J, Austin III, Jake Sullivan, “ I’ve, ” Mr, “ It’s, “ We’re, Israel, “ Organizations: White, White House, The New York Times, Israel Defense Forces, Defense Locations: Gaza, Israel, Samar, Illinois

☆ Blinken Lays Out Possible Endgame in Gaza Under Palestinian Authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Michael D. Shear | More About Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

But increasingly, the United States and Israel are showing signs that their interests are diverging. The remarks by Mr. Blinken on Wednesday reflect a deep anxiety on the part of Mr. Biden and his aides inside the White House as the conflict enters its second month. On Wednesday, Mr. Blinken said there must be “affirmative elements to get to a sustained peace.”“These must include the Palestinian people’s voices and aspirations at the center of post-crisis governance in Gaza,” he said. But restoring the Palestinian Authority — which administers parts of the West Bank — to power in Gaza would not be easy even if Israel managed to end Hamas’s rule. Mr. Biden has also come under pressure from some in the Democratic Party, which is deeply split on the conflict.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Biden, Mr, ”, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas, John F, Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, National Security Council, CNN, White, Democratic Party, Democratic, Veterans Locations: Gaza, United, Israel, Tokyo, United States, Palestinian

☆ Nidelven Blå from Norway is the world’s best cheese for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The cheese, Nidelven Blå from cheesemaker Gangstad Gårdsysteri, vied against the crème de la crème of the cheese world in Trondheim, Norway, in the world’s largest global cheese event. Organized by the Guild of Fine Food, the World Cheese Awards, now in its 35th edition, saw experts from across the globe join forces to crown this year’s champion. The judges had delectable things to say about Nidelven Blå, a semi-solid, blue mold cheese, made with pasteurized cows’ milk. It’s a very unique language.”The Super Jury voted on finalists before a live audience at the World Cheese Awards 2023 in Trondheim, Norway, on Friday. “Competition is always stiff in the World Cheese Awards,” John Farrand, managing director of the World Cheese Awards, told CNN Travel ahead of the event.

Persons: Gangstad Gårdsysteri, “, ”, Maren Gangstadt, Gangstadt, Haakon Berg, ” John Farrand, you’re, Nidelven Blå, Farron, “ We’ve, Gourmino’s Le Organizations: CNN, Guild of Fine Food, Food, Foods, of Fine, CNN Travel, Trondheim, Super, Norway Host Locations: Trondheim, Norway, “, India, Japan, Swiss

During the first year of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Biden administration fretted constantly that if Kyiv hit back inside Russian borders, President Vladimir V. Putin would retaliate against not only Ukraine, but also possibly NATO and the West. As Ukraine’s counteroffensive edges closer, a series of bold attacks in Russia, from a swarm of drone attacks in Moscow to the shelling of towns in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine and an incursion into the country using American-made armored vehicles, have been greeted by the Biden administration with the diplomatic equivalent of a shrug. On Monday, fighters attacked at least 10 villages in the Belgorod region with heavy shelling, its governor said. Behind closed doors, senior administration officials have seemed even less fazed. “Look, it’s a war,” one senior Pentagon official said last Thursday.

Persons: Biden, Vladimir V, Putin, “ It’s, John F, Kirby, ” Organizations: Kyiv, NATO, National Security Council, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Belgorod, Ukrainian

☆ Elizabeth Banks Thinks This Interview Is Dangerous for Her
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

I don’t know where, but people are seeing it. I don’t know what they thought that movie was meant to be marketing-wise, but it was a little gem for us. He basically said, Pay me or I’m going to tell your wife. Let’s do another one.” Ray said, “OK, what do you want me to do differently?” The director said: “I don’t know. I don’t know that there’s any way to communicate that to you.

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