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☆ China’s hosting Palestinian and Ukrainian delegations this week. But can it play peace broker in global conflicts?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has had a busy week in which two devastating conflicts have loomed large. Kuleba’s visit was the first time in the nearly 29 months of Russia’s war on Ukraine that a high-level Ukrainian official has visited China. Official statements from Beijing and Kyiv after Wednesday’s Wang-Kuleba talks gave no indication that the Ukrainian diplomat had swayed Beijing toward Kyiv’s vision for peace. Observers say Beijing could, at some point, play a role in any potential future talks, but is unlikely to shift its relationship with Russia. But it was met with some skepticism from observers in the region given the failure of past attempts at unity.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Wang, Fatah, Dmytro Kuleba –, –, Kuleba, Beijing “, ” Wang, ”, Steve Tsang, Kuleba’s, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Zelensky, Russia ”, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud al, Mussa Abu Marzuk, Pedro Pardo, Beijing’s, Wednesday’s Wang, ” Kuleba, Xi, Chong Ja Ian, Donald Trump, Trump’s, JD Vance, ” Chong, Jonathan Fulton Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hamas, Ukrainian, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Beijing, NATO, Central Committee, Fatah, China's, Getty, Foreign Ministry, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Kyiv, Observers, West, National University of Singapore, Republican, Global, ”, Palestinian, US State Department, West Bank ”, Atlantic Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Russian, Kyiv, Laos, AFP, Guangzhou, Ukrainian, Moscow, China’s, ” Russia, India, Brazil, Israel

☆ Harris navigates Biden and Netanyahu as she considers her stance on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Up until now, Harris has been defined by working for President Joe Biden, arguably the most explicitly pro-Israel American president, even though his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu has frayed. “President Biden brought to the White House a lifelong relationship with Bibi Netanyahu and a very mature history on the US-Israel relationship,” Murphy said. “The vice president has been a strong and longstanding supporter of Israel as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people. “One can criticize specific policies of the government of Israel while still strongly supporting the state of Israel and the people of Israel. Soifer said she is satisfied that Harris remains committed to Israel — even after being read the indirect answer about whether the vice president considers herself a Zionist.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Harris didn’t, she’s, Netanyahu, ”, Richard Haass, George W, “, Israel —, hypotheticals, Donald Trump, Doug Emhoff, Kamala, that’s, ” Emhoff, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Bibi Netanyahu, ” Murphy, It’s, Israel, Harris ’, Dean Lieberman, Phil Gordon, Obama, Gordon, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, She’ll, Harris –, Netanyahu –, Israel ’, Ritchie Torres, Trump, Abraham, Abbas Alawieh –, –, ” Alawieh, —, Israel ”, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Jason Miller, Emhoff, He’s, Halie Soifer, Soifer Organizations: CNN, Israel American, Democratic, White, Foreign Relations, Bush’s State Department, Biden, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Jewish, Senate Intelligence, Israel, Council, ”, West Wing, New York Democrat, Iron, Michigan Democratic Party, Republican Jewish Coalition, Republican, Naval Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Indiana, Connecticut, Israeli, United States, Iran, U.S, America, Gaza, North Carolina, Ohio, Jerusalem, California, Los Angeles

☆ What to know about the 25th Amendment and Joe Biden as Republicans allege a ‘cover-up’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Even before Biden dropped out of the race, Rep. Chip Roy, the Texas Republican, filed a resolution in June after the president’s disastrous debate performance, calling on the 25th Amendment to be used against Biden. After Biden withdrew from the race, Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican, wrote letters to Harris and the Cabinet officials in the Biden administration, asking them to remove Biden from office. To forcibly wrest power from a sitting president, the vice president would have to be on board, according to the text of the amendment. Why do we have the 25th Amendment? That was before the 25th Amendment, so there was no constitutional rule.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, –, Biden, Trump, Kamala Harris, Chip Roy, Mike Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ” Johnson, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Harris, ” Schmitt, Antony Blinken, Insurrectionists, Donald Trump, John Minchillo, Betsy DeVos, Mike Pence, Kevin McCarthy, recommitted, Nancy Pelosi, John F, Kennedy, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Kennedy slumps, Jacqueline Kennedy, Clinton Hill, Ike Altgens, Richard Nixon, Reagan Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Federal, Commission, Texas Republican, Republican, Trump’s, Republicans, USA, Trump Cabinet, New York Times, Trump, Reagan Locations: Missouri, Trump, Washington ,, Dallas

☆ Optimism increases about prospects for a Gaza ceasefire deal, but families of hostages remain concerned ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

For the families of the hostages held more than nine months in Gaza, there is no time to wait. The Israeli prime minister wants to meet with Biden before the Israeli delegation formally transmits its response to the mediators, the source said. US officials have been sensitive to the Knesset recess as they remain convinced that politics are at play for Netanyahu back in Israel. US officials believe it is possible that Israelis are seeking to put maximum pressure on Hamas ahead of a deal. US and Egyptian officials have begun preparing the flood of humanitarian aid that would enter Gaza if a ceasefire deal goes into effect.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, “ It’s, ”, Netanyahu ‘, ’ Aviva Siegel, Keith, Netanyahu “, They’ve, I’ve, Siegel, “, Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Harris, Netanyahu doesn’t, Jonathan Dekel, Chen, Sagui Dekel, Satan, ” Netanyahu, Daniel Neutra, Omer, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, There’s, Israel, –, Jake Sullivan, ” Blinken, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Democratic, Monday, US State Department, Government, Biden, UN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Washington, Rafah, Egyptian, el, Arish

☆ U.S., Japan to hold high-level security talks on nuclear deterrence
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and the United States will hold security talks on July 28 that for the first time will cover "extended deterrence", a term used to describe the U.S. commitment to use its nuclear forces to deter attacks on allies. Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and the United States will hold security talks on July 28 that for the first time will cover "extended deterrence," a term used to describe the U.S. commitment to use its nuclear forces to deter attacks on allies. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also hold three-way talks with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. The security talks with Japan will also include efforts to deepen cooperation between defense industries and upgrade command structures to improve coordination between their militaries . "These historic 2+2 talks will cement our shift from a focus on Alliance protection to one of Alliance projection," U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said.

Persons: Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, we're, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Rahm Emanuel Organizations: U.S ., U.S, State, East, Pacific Affairs, U.S . Defense, Japan, United States, Alliance, East Asia, Self Defense Forces Locations: Japan, United States, Washington, Tokyo, U.S, China, Russia, North Korea, East Asia, South Korea, Pacific, Asia

☆ China finally agrees with Trump on something — they both think Kamala Harris can't win
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden's ditched election bid has gone viral in China, where online consensus is veering toward former President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric. AdvertisementVice President Kamala Harris met briefly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2022 at her request during the APEC forum that year. As for Trump, the former president is often the subject of memes in China, mocking him as a secret agent for Beijing. Montages of Harris laughing on camera have also surfaced in China, though most are not derogatory. Most July polls put either Democratic leader behind Trump, though typically by a slim disadvantage of one to five percentage points.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump's, Kamala Harris —, Biden, Harris, Joe Biden, Trump, there's, Wu Dalang, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Kamala Harris, Ding Haitao, She's, Doug Emhoff, Blinken —, China —, Laffin, Kamala Organizations: Service, Democratic, White, Business, Republican, APEC, Getty, Trump, Biden Locations: China, Gansu, Weibo, Bangkok, Xinhua, Beijing, Trump

☆ Netanyahu’s visit to the US could be crucial to a ceasefire deal. But does he want one?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But as detailed ceasefire negotiations aimed at turning a framework agreement into a final deal stretch into their third week, Netanyahu’s visit will still be critical to the prospects of a ceasefire in Gaza. Senior US officials say a deal is within reach, but the prospects of a deal may hinge on the answer to one key question: Does Netanyahu actually want a deal? And the right-wing coalition partners keeping him in power have threatened to bolt if Netanyahu cuts a deal that ends the war. And publicly, his rhetoric has undermined confidence in Israel’s commitment to reaching a deal that could end the war. And Netanyahu’s allies insist he is earnest in his desire to strike a hostage release deal – just the right deal, one that could allow Israel to resume fighting in Gaza.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, –, Joe Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, rebuffing, Biden, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Health –, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, Will Lanzoni, Netanyahu –, “, Israel, Bibi, ” Trump, Barak Ravid, ” Netanyahu Organizations: Israel CNN, Israeli, Gaza . Senior, Getty, Israel’s, Palestinian Ministry, Health, White, Israel, Republican, Convention, CNN, Trump, Republican National Convention Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Washington, Gaza ., Gaza, Israel’s, Egypt, AFP, Rafah, Milwaukee , Wisconsin

☆ Paul Whelan tells CNN he has ‘sympathy and empathy’ for Evan Gershkovich but expresses hope following sentencing
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia, told CNN he has “sympathy and empathy” for Evan Gershkovich following the conviction and sentencing of the Wall Street Journal reporter, but expressed hope that the development could open the door for a deal to secure both of their release. Whelan, who called CNN from his remote prison camp in Mordovia Friday, said he was able to watch a news broadcast about the sentencing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier Friday that the US government is working “quite literally every day” to bring Gershkovich and Whelan home. “Look, any effort to bring any American home is going to be part of a process of back-and-forth discussion, potentially negotiation. And I don’t think that’s dependent on an election in the United States or anywhere else,” he said.

Persons: CNN — Paul Whelan, ”, Evan Gershkovich, Whelan, “, Evan, Trevor Reed, Brittney Griner, Gershkovich, ” Whelan, Antony Blinken, we’re, Paul Whelan, ” Blinken, Blinken Organizations: CNN, Wall Street Journal, US State Department, US, Aspen Security, they’ll Locations: Russia, Mordovia, Moscow, United States

☆ Blinken says Iran’s nuclear weapon breakout time is probably down to 1-2 weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that Iran’s breakout time – the amount of time needed to produce enough weapons grade material for a nuclear weapon – “is now probably one or two weeks” as Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear program. “Iran, because the nuclear agreement was thrown out, instead of being at least a year away from having the breakout capacity of producing fissile material for a nuclear weapon, is now probably one or two weeks away from doing that,” he said. Blinken said the policy of the US is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that the administration would prefer to stop that from happening through diplomacy. The State Department also said that there is no anticipation that the recent election in Iran will change the country’s behavior. “We have no expectations that this election will lead to a fundamental change in Iran’s direction or its policies,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier this month.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ”, “, Blinken, Biden, Trump, Matthew Miller, it’s, that’s Organizations: CNN, Aspen Security, US Defense Department, US, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, UN, State Department, The State Department, ”, “ Locations: Tehran, Iran, “ Iran, “

☆ Video: Antony Blinken says Iran has sped up it’s nuclear weapon breakout time
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Allison Love | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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CNN —A prominent North Korea expert and former CIA analyst has been indicted by a New York grand jury on charges of secretly working for the South Korean government in exchange for designer goods, Michelin star meals and $37,000 for a fund that she controlled. The indictment alleges Terry acted as a “valuable source” of information for the South Korean government. She has authored reports for both American and South Korean news outlets. South Korea is a key US ally in the Asia-Pacific, though Terry’s indictment is not the first case of alleged collusion to test the two countries’ friendship. Internal Pentagon documents leaked last year described, in remarkable detail, private conversations between two senior South Korean national security officials, whom the US had allegedly wiretapped.

Persons: Sue Mi Terry, ”, “, Terry, Louis Vuitton, Iva Zorić, ” Zorić, Antony Blinken, Lee Wolosky, ” Wolosky, emptively, George W, Bush, Barack Obama Organizations: CNN, CIA, New, South Korean, Michelin, US National Security Council, ROK, South, Council, Foreign Relations, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Foreign, Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East, FBI, Oceanic, National Security Council, Pentagon Locations: North Korea, New York, Republic of Korea, ROK, Korean, Korea, South Korea, United States, Seoul, Japan, Asia

☆ Israel’s Netzah Yehuda: How an army unit deemed abusive by the US is shaping the fight in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Cnn S International Investigations Team | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +25 min

In this 2014 photo, Israeli soldiers in the Netzah Yehuda battalion are seen taking part in training in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, near the Syrian border. While he was in Netzah Yehuda, he said, the battalion’s commanders played a key role in perpetuating a culture of violence, both by standing by as it happened and promoting it. The findings by the expert panel would have been enough to disqualify a military unit from any other country, the officials said. Lt. Col. Nitai Okashi oversaw the Netzah Yehuda battalion from 2018 to 2020. Lt. Col. Uri Levy was in charge of Netzah Yehuda from 2014 to 2016.

Persons: Yehuda, Menahem Kahana, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Mike Johnson, Israel “, Blinken, Netzah Yehuda, –, ” Charles Blaha, they’re, ”, “, Biden, Israel, Netzah, Ahmad Jamil Fahd, Sanad, Shin Bet, Gil Cohen, Josh Paul, Paul, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Amanpour, ” Paul, Eyad Baba, Joe Biden, Leahy, Sen, Patrick Leahy, Charles Blaha, Blaha, Omar Assad, Assad, Netzah Yehuda –, Mati Shevach, Nasser Nasser, ” Blaha, Shevach, Nitai Okashi, Okashi, Der Spiegel, , Uri Levy, Levy, Johnson, don’t, ” Netzah Yehuda, Col, Shlomo Shiran, Katie Polglase, Benjamin Brown, Barbara Arvanitidis, Alex Platt, Mark Baron, Augusta Anthony, Alberto Mier, Toby Hancock, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Laura Smith, Eliza Mackintosh, Dan Wright, Matt Wells Ami Kaufman, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, US State Department, State Department, Getty, IDF, State Department’s Office, Security, Human Rights CNN, Congress, Department, Israel Border Police, Internal Security Forces, ” CNN, Israeli Air Force Base, Magen, State, Human, Kfir Brigade, AP, Netzah, Urban Warfare Training Center, CBS, Battalion, Kfir Infantry Brigade, West Bank ., Jerusalem Brigade, Britain’s Guardian, Okashi, Israeli, Augusta Anthony Visual Locations: Israeli, United States, Gaza, Golan, Syrian, AFP, Palestinian, Israel, Ramallah, Rahat, Jerusalem, Jiljilya, Col, West Bank, Jiljiliya, Beit Hanoun

☆ Russia targeting Ukrainian airfields before F-16s arrive shows its fear of the jets, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementRussian strikes have been recorded at multiple Ukrainian bases in recent weeks. This includes Russia claiming to have hit Ukraine's Mirgorod air base, 100 miles from the border with Russia, destroying five Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets. "I think their belief is that the more Western weaponry Ukraine has of all sorts, the more formidable its military will become," he said. A Ukrainian Air Force official also said in June that Ukraine would store some of its F-16s abroad, so Russia cannot attack them. It's hard to take out airfieldsRobinson said that destroying air bases is not an easy task.

Persons: —, it's, Sukhoi Su, Michael Clarke, Jasmonet Holmes, US Air Force Rajan Menon, Columbia University's, Tim Robinson, Matthew Savill, Chanceler, Robinson, Ukraine's, Clarke, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, Business, Russia, Air Force, Staff, US Air Force, Columbia, Columbia University's Saltzman Institute of War, Peace Studies, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, Royal United Services Institute, Chanceler Nardone, Ukrainian Air Force Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Soviet, Russian, Leiria, Portugal, Chanceler Nardone Ukraine

☆ Russia is already fighting NATO, just not with tanks and fighter jets, argues a former top US general
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Recent covert acts of sabotage are far from the level of aggression and brutality that Russia has put on display in Ukraine. But make no mistake, a former top US general argued this week, Moscow is already fighting NATO. "We face wider Russian aggression directed at our own democracies, from hybrid attacks to threats in the high north," he added. "We, ourselves, have been experiencing hybrid attacks from Russia for decades, so that's why the threat has been quite clear, what we're facing." The Russian hybrid attacks were a notable discussion point on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington this week.

Persons: —, Ben Hodges, Vladimir Putin's, Vladimir Putin, Pavel Byrkin, John Healey, We've, Andris Sprūds, Healey, Hodges, Antony Blinken, Blinken, It's Organizations: Service, NATO, Business, US Army, NATO Public Forum, Ukraine, Security, Sputnik, Public, Latvian Defense, Alliance Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, US Army Europe, Washington ,, Russian, Baltic, Washington

☆ NATO allies are discussing reclaiming some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —NATO officials are discussing taking action to reclaim some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe should a wider conflict with Russia break out in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions told CNN. A decade ago, when Europe was still crawling out of the economic crater caused by the global financial crisis, the promise of infrastructure funding from Chinese-owned investment firms seemed like a major windfall. The fear, according to one US official, is that Beijing could use the infrastructure it owns in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict were to expand. The discussions reflect an increasing focus on China by the NATO alliance. A NATO official said that if a war erupted, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operating control, under emergency security measures.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Kishida, ” Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Initiative, Helsinki Shipyard –, US, Ukraine, European Union Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, NATO, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Finland, Canada, Japan, East Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, Washington

☆ Zelenskyy says the problem with the coming F-16 fighter jets is the same one Ukraine had with the Abrams tanks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWestern-provided F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and set to start flying missions later this summer. But they may not yet be enough to make a difference on the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated in a discussion this week on what Ukraine needs, comparing the jets to the US-made Abrams tanks that Ukraine got last fall. "The problem with F-16," the Ukrainian president said, "is the number and the dates." The US sent only 31 M1A1 Abrams in total, and they were delivered to Ukraine months after British and German tanks. For comparison, Ukraine received about 300 US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, nearly ten times more than the number of Abrams sent.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Abrams, Bret Baier, Zelenskyy, Derek Seifert, Zelenskky, haven't, Michael Currie, Antony Blinken's, it's, Zachariah Lopez, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Service, Business, Fox News, Reagan Institute, Abrams Ukraine, NATO, Egyptian, Force, US Air Force, US, Abrams, Bradley, Getty, Ukraine —, Ukrainian Air Force, Osan Air Base, US Air Force Tech, White, National Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Washington , DC, Russia, Egypt, Denmark, Netherlands, Soviet, South Korea

☆ Russia's brutal missile strike on a Ukrainian children's hospital just before the big NATO summit appears to be backfiring
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

AdvertisementEmergency officials and civilians conduct search and rescue operations among the rubble of Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital on Monday. The deadly Russian missile attack saw child cancer patients evacuated and moved with medical tubes still in their bodies. Women hold patients at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital that was damaged during Russian missile strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. He said that "when you hit not just a hospital or a children's hospital —and not just a children's hospital, but a children's hospital in which there are children were being treated for cancer — it doesn't get much worse than that in terms of brutality." A UN investigation found the children's hospital likely took a direct hit from a Russian missile, likely a Kh-101.

Persons: —, Kyiv's, Joe Biden, Biden, Gleb Garanich, Rajan Menon, Columbia University's, Russia's, Menon, Mykhailo Podolyak, Beata Zawrzel, Keir Starmer, Aleksandr Gusev, Getty Images Biden, Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Antony Blinken, Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken, ORI AVIRAM, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Jake Epstein Organizations: Service, NATO, Ukraine, Business, Kyiv Regional Military Administration, Getty, NATO's, Ohmatdyt, Russian, Monday, REUTERS, Columbia, Columbia University's Saltzman Institute of War, Peace Studies, NATO Summit, UN, Children's Clinic, Getty Images, Ukrainian Foreign, MOD, Moscow Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Okhmatdyt, Anadolu, Washington ,, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Biden didn't show up for an early evening meeting with the German chancellor because he had to go to bed: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden canceled an early evening meeting with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the last minute because he had to go to bed, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. According to the report, the chancellor and his aides were surprised by Biden's absence and Blinken's appearance. Related storiesThe Journal report said that the White House has consistently reduced Biden's daily schedule and shielded him from impromptu meetings. AdvertisementBoth CNN and The New York Times have reported that Biden told governors he needed to get more sleep and stop holding events after 8 p.m. The White House has not responded to these claims.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Antony Blinken, Biden, Axios, Donald Trump, ABC's George Stephanopolous, Abigail Disney, Walt Disney's grandniece Organizations: Service, Wall Street, Business, State Department, White, CNN, The New York Times, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, Trump, Alliance, Biden Locations: Germany, Ukraine, China, Russia, Washington

☆ Israel is inching toward a wider war and a nasty fight against an enemy poised to bombard it as no other foe has
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementFor Israel, a larger war with Hezbollah would look very different from the full-scale conflict it's fighting against Hamas in Gaza. Before the 2006 Lebanon War, a monthlong conflict fought against Israel, Hezbollah maintained some 15,000 projectiles. REUTERS/Avi OhayonBut a larger Hezbollah war could overwhelm some of these systems, a scenario that has caused concern in Washington. During the 2006 war, Hezbollah fired somewhere between 100 and 200 rockets per day at Israel, according to estimates cited by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. More than two dozen soldiers and civilians have already been killed in Israel, and in Lebanon, that figure has surpassed 450.

Persons: —, Ariel Schalit, Daniel Byman, MAHMOUD ZAYYAT, Avi Ohayon, Stringer, Rami Shlush, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, Tehran —, Business, United Nations, Israel, Hamas, AP, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty, Institute for National Security Studies, CSIS, REUTERS, Foundation for Defense, Democracies, Israel Communications, Research Center, Congressional Research Service, Institution Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Tehran, Gaza . The Lebanon, Kiryat Shmona, Gaza, Lebanese, Nabatiyeh, AFP, Israeli, Washington, Khiam, Israel's

The concern is compounded because many believe Trump poses a threat to the future of NATO. Questions about Biden and his political future inject further uncertainty into a summit where key allies are also dealing with major political changes. However, as one former senior US diplomat said, there will “certainly be a spotlight” on Biden at the NATO summit. Adding to the pressure is the increased significance of this year’s NATO summit. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has sought to focus attention on the content of the summit and away from Biden’s debate performance.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Biden, — Keir Starmer —, Emmanuel Macron’s, —, he’s, Antony Blinken, spry, “, Lloyd Austin, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: CNN, NATO, Labour Party, Biden, Brookings Institute, North Atlantic Council, White Locations: Washington ,, Russia, United, US, Austin, European, Italy, Ukraine, United States, NATO

☆ Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month in Washington, source says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet in Washington, DC, in several weeks when the Israeli prime minister visits to address Congress on July 24, a source familiar told CNN. US and Israeli officials are still in the process of nailing down logistical details for the Biden-Netanyahu meeting, which would likely take place at the White House, the source said. A White House official told CNN that Biden has known Netanyahu for decades, and that “they will likely see each other when the Prime Minister is here over the course of that week. But we have nothing to announce at this time.”CNN has also reached out to the prime minister’s office for comment. Last month, Biden said in an interview that Netanyahu may be dragging out the war in an attempt to cling to power and said it was “uncertain” whether Israel had committed war crimes.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, “, ”, ” Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken “, Amos Hochstein, Netanyahu’s, CNN’s Jack Forrest, Christian Edwards, Tara John, Kevin Liptak, Natasha Bertrand, Arlette Saenz, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Melanie Zanona, Oren Liebermann, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Organizations: CNN, Biden, White, ” CNN Locations: Washington , DC, Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ US officials went line-by-line through arms shipments to Israel with defense minister to rebut Netanyahu’s delay claim
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —American officials went through a line-by-line explanation of hundreds of US weapons shipments to Israel in meetings this week with the country’s defense minister in a bid to rebut claims from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that President Joe Biden was delaying military assistance. The meetings with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant came amid a growing spat between the Biden administration and Netanyahu, who has claimed that armaments are being delayed to the intense frustration of Washington. “We had a very good opportunity to sit down with experts from across our system and go through every single case,” a senior US administration official said. Since Netanyahu first took his complaints public last week, White House officials have brushed off some of his comments as motivated by politics as he works to maintain a fragile grip on power. We look forward to constructive consultations with the defense minister in Washington this week,” a White House official said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Yoav Gallant, Biden, Netanyahu, Gallant, ”, Netanyahu’s, –, Antony Blinken “, ” Netanyahu, wasn’t, “ Organizations: Washington CNN — American, White, Officials Locations: Israel, Washington, Gaza, Rafah

Washington CNN —American officials are hoping to gain a better understanding of Israel’s war plans in meetings this week with the country’s defense minister, who arrived in Washington as the rift widened between the Biden administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will not end the war until we return all of our hostages – 120 hostages, the living and the deceased. Netanyahu said that once the “intense phase” of the Gaza conflict is over Israel will continue “mowing the grass” in Gaza, which US officials oppose. But Netanyahu ignored the demand from his defense minister, refusing to make such a public statement. And former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who resigned from a unity government with Netanyahu two weeks ago, accused Israel’s longest-serving leader of putting political considerations ahead of a post-war strategy.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ”, —, that’s, Matt Miller, Gallant, Bill Burns, Amos Hochstein, ” Gallant, Benny Gantz, Israel’s, Israel, Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Miller, “ vexing, “ Organizations: Washington CNN —, Biden, CIA, Defense, National, State Department, White, Washington Locations: Washington, Gaza, Israel, United States, ”, Lebanon

☆ China employing 'gray zone tactics' at contested Second Thomas Shoal, Lowy Institute's Yaacob says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. China said the United States must refrain from "stirring up trouble" or taking sides on the South China Sea issue, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard. China is employing "gray zone tactics" against the Philippines at the contested Second Thomas Shoal reef, a move likely aimed at avoiding U.S. intervention in the region, according to Lowy Institute's Rahman Yaacob. Last week, Philippine officials said Chinese forces damaged the country's boats and injured several sailors near the Second Thomas Shoal — claimed by both Beijing and Manila — in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Gray zone tactics refer to "coercive actions that are shy of armed conflict but beyond normal diplomatic, economic, and other activities," according to Rand Corporation.

Persons: Shoal, Antony Blinken, Lowy Institute's Rahman Yaacob, Thomas Shoal —, Yaacob Organizations: Guard, U.S, Manila —, Asia Program, Lowy Institute, Rand Corporation, Philippine Locations: Philippine, South China, China, United States, Manila, Philippines, Beijing, Spratly Islands, Yaacob, Asia, India

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his decision to go public about delays in the supply of weapons from the United States, saying months of private discussions did not yield any results. At the beginning of a cabinet meeting Sunday, Netanyahu said that “after months of no change in this situation, I decided to give it a public expression. The US remains Israel’s most important ally and biggest supplier of arms but has voiced increasing concern over the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza. Our ties are crucial and perhaps more important than ever, at this time,” Gallant told reporters, according to a statement from the Israeli defense ministry. The Israeli defense minister has clashed with Netanyahu, who is facing an ongoing battle to keep his government together.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Biden, Antony Blinken “, Amos Hochstein, ” “, Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, ” Gallant, Gallant, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US, U.S Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, Washington

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