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☆ China says Britain's MI6 turned two Chinese government staff to spies
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A Chinese flag in Pudong's Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 18, 2023. China has alleged that the British Secret Intelligence Service MI6 turned two staff members of unnamed Chinese central state organs into spies for the British government, its State Security Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The ministry said the case against the two spies, a married couple, is under further investigation. In January, China revealed an espionage case in which it said MI6 used a foreigner in China to collect secrets and information. Britain in April charged two people with providing prejudicial information to China and last month charged three people with assisting Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service in Britain.

Persons: Hong Organizations: British Secret Intelligence Service, State Security Ministry Locations: Lujiazui, Shanghai, China, Britain

☆ Currencies tread cautiously after U.S. inflation report, focus on ECB
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar posted its first monthly decline of the year in May, weighed down by shifting expectations on when the U.S. central bank will cut rates and by how much. Traders are now pricing in about a 53% chance of a rate cut in September, versus about 49% before the report. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, was 0.067% lower at 104.51 on Monday. Sterling was 0.04% higher at $1.27475, while the euro last fetched $1.085325 ahead of the European Central Bank policy meeting on Thursday when the central bank is seen as almost certain to cut rates. The comments from ECB officials will be in focus for traders along with economic projections as they assess whether the central bank will provide further cuts after Thursday in the wake of data showing a rise in euro zone inflation in May.

Persons: Brian Jacobsen, Sterling, Chris Weston, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore Organizations: Federal Reserve, Traders, Annex Wealth Management, European Central Bank, ECB, Japan's Ministry of Finance, U.S, IG Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, U.S, Tokyo

☆ South Korea's Yoon approves exploration of vast oil, gas prospects off the coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gave the green light on Monday to conduct exploratory drilling for potentially vast oil and gas prospects found off the east coast of the nation that is one of the world's largest energy importers. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gave the green light on Monday to conduct exploratory drilling for potentially vast oil and gas prospects found off the east coast of the nation that is one of the world's largest energy importers. "Today, I approved the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to go ahead with the drilling for exploration deep in the east sea," Yoon said. Yoon identified an area off the southeastern industrial port city of Pohang as the location. The president said South Korea has conducted a series of explorations for oil and gas beginning in 1996 and tapped a gas reserve of the equivalent of about 4.5 million barrels.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon Organizations: South, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Energy Locations: Pohang, South Korea

☆ Maldives to ban Israelis from entering country amid war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Sahar Akbarzai | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Maldives has announced it will ban Israeli passport holders from entering the country amid its war on Hamas in Gaza. The presidential office of the Indian Ocean island nation, known for its luxurious resorts and endless white sand beaches, made the announcement in a press release Sunday. Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu resolved to impose the ban following a recommendation from the cabinet, the release said. The country’s laws will be amended, and a cabinet subcommittee will be established to oversee the efforts, the president’s office said. “Together with the government and people of Maldives, I call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to violence and unhindered humanitarian access,” the president posted on X last week.

Persons: Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Mohamed Muizzu, Karim Sahib, Muizzu Organizations: CNN, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United, Getty, UNRWA Locations: Maldives, Gaza, ” Maldives, United Nations, Dubai, AFP, Palestine ”, Solidarity, Palestine, Rafah

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskyy accuses China of helping Russia to disrupt upcoming peace summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on June 2, 2024. SINGAPORE — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday accused China of helping Russia to disrupt an upcoming peace summit by pressuring other countries not to attend. Zelenskyy, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, said that Russia is using Chinese influence in Asia to disrupt the summit. "Unfortunately, regrettably, Russia, using Chinese influence on the region, using Chinese diplomats, does everything to disrupt the peace summit," he said, according to a translation of his remarks, without giving specific examples. Zelenskyy also accused Russia of threatening other nations with blockades of goods such as agricultural exports, chemical products and high energy prices.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir, Putin, Zelenskyy Organizations: SINGAPORE —, CNBC, Chinese Foreign Ministry Locations: Singapore, SINGAPORE, China, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Asia, regrettably, Moscow

☆ Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric dam in critical condition after Russian strikes, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric dam, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), is in “critical condition” after it was hit in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s key energy facilities, authorities say. The head of the Zaporizhzhia region military administration, Ivan Fedorov, told Ukrainian television that the power plant can no longer produce electricity. Russia has continued its tactic of striking key energy facilities this week, with the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy warning Sunday of a “significant power shortage” as a knock-on effect of the strikes. Last year, the Nova Kakhovka dam, a major dam and hydro-electric power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine collapsed. Russia denied any involvement in the disaster and in turn accused Ukraine of destroying the dam, without providing evidence.

Persons: CNN —, Ivan Fedorov, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, “ Organizations: CNN, Dnipro Hydroelectric Power, Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, ” Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy, Frankivsk Locations: Dnipro, Russia, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Ivano, Kyiv, Russian, Kharkiv, Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Nova, Moscow

☆ Israel-Gaza War: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Two Israeli officials confirmed that Mr. Biden’s proposal matched an Israeli cease-fire proposal that had been greenlit by Israel’s war cabinet. “Put your money where your mouth is.”But at home, Mr. Netanyahu faces a host of competing pressures. Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition, also urged Mr. Netanyahu to take the deal as outlined by Mr. Biden. He repeated that his party would back Mr. Netanyahu’s government if hard-liners like Mr. Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, left over a hostage release deal. Political analysts said Mr. Netanyahu has tried to avoid that scenario, as it would make him dependent on some of his harshest critics.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Biden’s, ” Mr, Mr, — Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, ”, “ Biden, ‘, Uzi Arad, “, Cheriss, Gil Dickmann, Carmel Gat, Kibbutz, Dickmann, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Yair Lapid, Mr . Biden Organizations: Hamas, ”, Gaza Health Ministry, Palestinian, White, ., The New York Times, Kibbutz Be’eri, Mr Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv

☆ 80th anniversary of D-Day: This year will likely be the last major D-Day anniversary with living veterans, so organizers are all-out
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Fifteen Canadian veterans, including three or four that fought on D-Day, are traveling with the Canadian delegation, according to John Desrosiers, the director of international operations for Veterans Affairs Canada. US D-Day veterans attend an event at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial as part of the 79th anniversary D-Day celebrations on June 6, 2023. American and Canadian organizers told CNN that they will seat veterans last at their respective national ceremonies to keep them comfortable. The general public at the American event, for example, may need to be seated about an hour in advance due to security precautions. American troops march up from Omaha Beach on June 18, 1944.

Persons: Jake Tapper, “, Jack Foy, Foy –, Foy, ” Foy, ”, Michel Delion, Mark, Katherine Sibilla, –, Charles Djou, John Desrosiers, Desrosiers, Christopher Furlong, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Justin Trudeau, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Buckingham, Djou, Tom Schaffer, John Pinkerton, Schaffer, Gareth Fuller, Hitler, Ben, ” Brands, “ There’s Organizations: CNN, Chief Washington, Democracy, France CNN —, Mission, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Monuments Commission, Canadian, Veterans Affairs Canada, Cemetery, Memorial, British, French Interior Ministry, Defense, Underwood Archives, Ben Brands, ”, US Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: Caen, France, Ukraine, Europe, Normandy, US, United States, Belgium, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, British, Ver, Mer, Omaha, Sword, Utah, Omaha and Utah, Nazi Germany, Omaha Beach, Germany, Colleville, Canada, American

☆ With shake-up at defense ministry, ‘Putin’s chef’ gets his wish from beyond the grave
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Berlin CNN —Removing a long-time defense minister from his post is nothing out of the ordinary. Arresting five of his senior staff, however, is clearly more than just a search for fresh blood — especially in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Analysts who spoke to CNN described the defense ministry as one of the most corrupt in the country. Putin was likely awaiting his reelection by the Russian people in March before making moving in on the defense ministry. The defense ministry is central to how that war ends.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Sergei Shoigu, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, ”, Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Prigozhin, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Kazakov, Stanovaya, Andrey Belousov, – Shamarin, Ivanov Mikhail Komin, Vadim Shamarin, General Vadim Shamarin, Reuters Shamarin, Ria Novosti, Timur Ivanov, Ivanov, Alexey Navalny, —, Turar Kazangapov, Oleg Savelyev, ” Komin, Prigozhin’s, Gerasimov, ” Stanovaya, Komin, “ it’s Organizations: Berlin CNN, CNN, West ., Reuters, Sputnik, Kremlin, Getty, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Putin, European Council of Foreign Affairs, Main, Russian Armed Forces, “, Russian Defence Ministry . Russian Defence Ministry, Ria, Benz, Corruption Foundation, Russian, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Staff, Armed Forces Locations: Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Ukraine, Russia, Kharkiv, Donbas, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Russian, AFP, Vienna, Courchevel, France, Astana, Kazakhstan

☆ The Ukraine war is a huge opportunity for US intel to recruit Russian spies
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Analysis Josh Campbell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Editor’s Note: The CNN Original Series “Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game” examines the tenuous global geopolitics during the Cold War through the lens of two notorious double agents: Oleg Gordievsky and Aldrich Ames. CNN —Russia’s brutal ongoing invasion of Ukraine has provided US intelligence services with a rare opening to recruit Kremlin insiders furious with the handling of the war. “Disaffection creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us,” said CIA Director Bill Burns last year during a speech in the United Kingdom. Russian Foreign Ministry building is seen behind a billboard showing Z, a tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, on October 13, 2022. As the documentary underscores, the espionage lessons of the Cold War could very well determine future global stability.

Persons: Oleg Gordievsky, Aldrich Ames, CNN —, ”, Bill Burns, “, David McCloskey, Alexander Nemenov, James Schlesinger, Douglas London, Edgar Hoover, Stefani Reynolds, Jim Sciutto, Tim Naftali, –, Sarah Moon, Alex Marquardt, Donie O’Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, CIA, Russian Foreign Ministry, Getty, FBI, BBC, Edgar Hoover FBI Locations: Ukraine, United Kingdom, Moscow, AFP, Virginia, Russia’s, Washington, Washington ,, Soviet Union, Europe

☆ North Korea sends 600 more trash balloons into South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Soldiers inspect debris from a balloon sent by North Korea that landed in Incheon, South Korea on June 2, 2024. She compared North Korea’s actions to South Korea’s years-long practice of sending balloons with anti-North Korea leaflets the other way. North Korea is almost completely closed off from the rest of the world, with tight control over what information gets in or out. Earlier this year a South Korean research group released rare footage that it claimed showed North Korean teenagers sentenced to hard labor for watching and distributing K-dramas. But the situation in North Korea deteriorated in the following years and diplomatic talks fell apart – prompting strict rules to snap back into place.

Persons: Kim Jong Un’s, Kim Yo Jong –, –, ” Organizations: CNN, Korea’s, Chiefs, Staff, United Nations Command, Korean Central News Agency, North Locations: Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, North Korea, Incheon, Korean, China

Singapore CNN —China’s support to Russia will extend the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday, as he called on countries across the Asia-Pacific to join an upcoming peace summit he accused Russia of trying to thwart. It comes ahead of the international peace conference on Ukraine slated to be held June 15-16 in Switzerland. “With China’s support to Russia the war will last longer. When asked later about China’s statement it would not attend the peace summit, the Ukrainian leader accused Russia of using Chinese diplomats to disrupt it. “Time is running out” including for Ukrainian children taken by Russia, Zelensky told a packed hall during an address on the closing day of the three-day security meeting.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, China –, ” Zelensky, “, Putin, of National Defense Dong, ” Dong, Lloyd Austin, Dong, Russia ”, Vladimir Putin, ”, Austin, Prabowo Subianto, José Ramos, Pat Ryder, Joe Biden Organizations: Singapore CNN —, of National Defense, CNN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Criminal, Ministry of Foreign, US Defense, Horta, Ukraine, Pentagon, Twitter Locations: Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, Asia, Pacific, China, Switzerland, Beijing, Kharkiv, The Hague, United States, Timor

☆ China claims married couple working for government spied for UK’s MI6
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China on Monday accused Britain of recruiting a married couple employed by the Chinese central government to spy for its MI6 intelligence service, as the two countries trade allegations of espionage. Those charges in the United Kingdom came after China’s MSS said in January it had detained the head of a foreign consultancy who had allegedly spied for MI6. Under Xi Jinping, China’s most authoritarian leader in decades, the country’s notoriously secretive spy agency has drastically raised its public profile and broadened its remit. In its latest statement Monday, the MSS detailed its allegations against the married couple. According to the MSS, foreign spies are omnipresent and infiltrating everything – from mapping apps to weather stations.

Persons: Hong, Xi, Wang, “, –, Zhou, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of State Security, Conservative Party, China’s, ”, CNN, Britain’s Foreign, Secret Intelligence Service, CIA Locations: Hong Kong, China, British, United Kingdom, Britain

He also warned that the death of any Filipino citizen at the hands of another country in the South China Sea would be “very close” to an act of war. It is also a rare opportunity to hear from, and pose questions to, senior Chinese military leaders. Robert Ward, IISS Japan chair, told CNN he felt Dong’s tone was “more shrill” than he’s seen in previous speeches by Chinese defense chiefs at the gathering. “The strategic environment in Asia has actually got more tense and I think we saw that in the Chinese defense minister’s speech today,” Ward said. “Every year for three years, a new Chinese defense minister has come to Shangri-La,” the official told CNN.

Persons: Dong Jun, ” Dong, ”, Xi Jinping, Dong, Lloyd Austin, ” China’s, “, Lai Ching, China, Ferdinand R, Marcos Jr, Austin –, China “, Robert Ward, he’s, ” Ward, they’ve Organizations: Singapore CNN, Taiwan, National Defense, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s Defense Ministry, South China, Austin, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, US Locations: Singapore, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, China, Taiwan Strait, East, South, South China, Philippines, ”, American, The Hague, Philippine, Ukraine, Dong, Russia, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ Opinion: This deal can end the war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —It’s taken more than half a year, but, finally, President Joe Biden has publicly unveiled an Israeli plan that could end the bloodshed in Gaza. But getting the two sides to actually agree to — and implement — the peace plan is far from a certainty. As the Gaza war continues, Israel’s dreams of normalization with the Arab world will steadily erode. Support for the Gaza war among Americans has dropped from 50% at the beginning of the war in November to 36% in March, according to Gallup. Evan Vucci/APNetanyahu also keeps fighting the Gaza war with no real plan for the “day after,” in short, without a strategy.

Persons: Peter Bergen, ”, Osama bin Laden, CNN — It’s, Joe Biden, Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Harry Truman, Donald, Evan Vucci, Sun Tzu, Max, Tacitus, Israel’s, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Maya Alleruzzo, — Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, Hamas, Politico, Gaza Health Ministry, Gallup, US, Democrat, Israel, American, White, Biden, Israeli, Twitter, Facebook, UN Locations: New America, Gaza, United States, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Japan, Palestinian, Michigan, Israel, Washington, Tel Aviv, United, Qatar, Egypt

☆ Arrests of Russian generals and officials raises questions about Putin's war machine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Five senior figures in Russia's defense establishment have been arrested on corruption charges. The arrests follow the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defense minister. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIt began with Timur Ivanov, Russia's then-deputy defense minister, who was arrested after being accused of taking bribes "on a particularly large scale."

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, —, Timur Ivanov, Russia's, Yuri Kuznetsov, Andrey Kozyrev, Boris Yeltsin, Putin, Foreman Organizations: Russia's MOD, Service, Kremlin, Business Locations: Moscow, Cyprus

☆ Honduras declares health emergency as Central America starts peak dengue season
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Honduras has declared a national health emergency after reporting a rise in hospitalizations and deaths from dengue, the health ministry announced on Friday. The Honduran health ministry has reported 23,037 suspected cases of dengue in the first 20 weeks of the year. That’s one of the highest totals in the Americas, according to data collected by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The entire region has already reported more than 8.65 million cases in the first five months of 2024 – almost twice as many as the more than 4.5 million cases reported in all of 2023, which was a record at the time. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.

Persons: –, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, Pan American Health Organization, Central, CNN Health, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention Locations: Honduras, hospitalizations, Honduran, Americas, Brazil, Central America, Caribbean, “ Honduras, American Isthmus, Mexico

☆ What seven more months of war would mean for Palestinians, Israelis and the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Abbas Al Lawati | Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Israel has warned that its war in Gaza could extend until the end of the year. Prolonging the war could have catastrophic consequences for Palestinians in the already ravaged territory and significant repercussions for Israel and beyond, experts said. “And currently Hamas doesn’t seem to be ready to release them.”Impact on Israel’s economyThe war hit Israel’s economy hard in the immediate aftermath of October 7. As of January, the Israeli military was spending $272 million per day on the war, according to the Israeli news site Ynet. Despite these efforts, the war persists, civilian casualties rise and famine spreads in Gaza, intensifying pressure from some of his electorate.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, ”, Joe Biden, “, Assaf Orion, Juliette Touma, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yohanan Plesner, Plesner, Israel, Malcolm Shaw, Yaron Wax, Johanna Geron, INSS, Amir Levy, Orion, Daniel Hagari, ” Plesner, Biden Organizations: CNN, National, Institute for National Security Studies, Israel Defense Forces, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins Center, Humanitarian Health, Israel, United Nations, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israeli, Israel Democracy Institute, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, United, P Global, Moody’s, Service, Troops, American, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Rafah, Europe, Palestinian, British, The Hague, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ Video shows Ukrainian drone taking out a jet ski with 2 Russian soldiers who were attempting to cross the Dnipro River
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Drones targeted Russian soldiers crossing the Dnipro River on a jet ski, said Ukraine. AdvertisementFootage shared by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine appears to show Russian soldiers crossing the Dnipro River on a jet ski being taken out by a drone. The video, released by Ukraine's 79th State Border Guard Service, appears to show the Russian soldiers being targeted by Ukrainian FPV drones. The drone tracks the jet ski as it crosses the river. When the Russian soldiers reach the opposing bank, the drone hones in and hits the jet ski.

Persons: — Organizations: Ukraine’s 79th State Border Guard Service, Service, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine's 79th State Border Guard Service, Business Locations: Dnipro, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian

CNN —The UK ambassador to Mexico was quietly fired earlier this year after pointing a rifle at a local embassy employee, the Financial Times reported Friday. The incident was captured in a video shared on social media. When asked for details, the UK embassy in Mexico deferred CNN’s questions to the British foreign office. The UK government website indicates that Benjamin is no longer an envoy. Mexico - which holds presidential, national and local elections Sunday - faces rampant violent crime, with sky-high crime and homicide rates.

Persons: Jon Benjamin, Benjamin, “ Jon Benjamin Organizations: CNN, Financial Times, British Foreign, Commonwealth, Development Locations: Mexico, British, Durango, Sinaloa

Zelensky’s surprise attendance at the gathering is a stark illustration of Kyiv’s determination to keep the international community engaged in Ukraine’s defense – and its vision for peace – more than two years into Russia’s devastating invasion. A CNN team at the summit witnessed Zelensky and his delegation arriving. His attendance at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore provides a rare opportunity for Zelensky to potentially meet with defense chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific, including China which has deepened its relations with Moscow since the war. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and defense heads from US allies Australia, Japan, and South Korea, as well as China’s Defense Minster Dong Jun are expected to be in attendance for the three-day gathering. Announcing his arrival at the summit, Zelensky said in a statement on X that he would hold “a number of meetings,” in particular with Austin, Singapore’s president and prime minister, Timor-Leste’s president and Singaporean investors.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenksy, Zelensky, Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, ”, Austin, Rustem Umerov, “, Roman Pilipey, Zelenksy, Ukraine’s, Dong, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, –, It’s, Sergey Lavrov, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, CNN’s Ivan Watson, Xiaofei Xu, Alex Stambaugh, Natasha Bertrand, Sharon Braithwaite Organizations: Singapore CNN —, CNN, US, Austin, Ukrainian Defense, Getty, NATO, Russia, Northern, Firefighters, Reuters, Ministry, RIA Novosti, Russian, Key Locations: Singapore, Asia, Kharkiv, China, Moscow, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Timor, Ukraine, AFP, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Europe, North Korea, Beijing, Beijing’s, Russian, Reuters Beijing, Zelensky, Kyiv

☆ Militant group releases 2 videos of an Amazon cloud engineer held hostage in Gaza since October 7
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewPalestinian Islamic Jihad released two videos this week showing Russian-Israeli hostage Alexander Troufanov, an Amazon cloud engineer. PIJ, a militant group that operates in Gaza alongside Hamas, released the first video on Tuesday. It would also include an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages, a "surge" of humanitarian aid, and a reconstruction plan for Gaza. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during Hamas' October 7 attacks, with roughly another 240 taken hostage in Gaza. PIJ is the second-largest armed group in Gaza after HamasMembers of Al-Quds Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Persons: —, Alexander Troufanov, Troufanov's, Troufanov, Alexsander, Sasha, Trufanov, Nir, Irena Tati, Yelena, Sapir Cohen, PIJ, Al, Berl Lazar, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Alexander Trufanov, Joe Biden, Ashraf Amra Organizations: Service, Jihad, Business, Haaretz, Annapurna Labs, Amazon, Amazon Web Services, TASS, Al, Quds Brigades, Anadolu Agency, Getty, of National Intelligence Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Alexsander, Israel, The, Al Jazeera, Qatar, PIJ, Quds, Palestinian

☆ After Biden’s Push for Truce, Netanyahu Calls Israel’s War Plans Unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In his statement, Mr. Netanyahu did not explicitly endorse or reject a proposed cease-fire plan that Mr. Biden had laid out in an unusually detailed address on Friday. Two Israeli officials confirmed that Mr. Biden’s proposal matched an Israeli cease-fire proposal that had been greenlit by Israel’s war cabinet. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations. But the timing of Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks, coming first thing the next morning, seemed to put the brakes on Mr. Biden’s hopes for a speedy resolution to the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu’s office said in the statement released on Saturday morning.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Biden’s, ” Mr Organizations: Hamas, ”, Gaza Health Ministry Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ Austin expresses 'concern' over China's activities in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC witnessed the two delegations walking out of the meeting venue, but neither Dong nor Austin responded to reporters' questions. According to a readout from the Pentagon, Austin said that the U.S. remains committed to its "one China" policy. He also added that more communication is necessary and will help to stabilize the military to military relations. The Pentagon readout mentioned Austin and Dong discussed North Korea's provocations, such as its contributions to Russia's war in Ukraine. Friday's meeting follows a video teleconference call between Austin and Dong in April.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, Dong, Austin, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wu Qian, Wu, CNBC's Lin Lin Organizations: Defense, SINGAPORE — U.S . Defense, CNBC, Pentagon, U.S, U.S . Department of Defense, PRC Locations: Singapore, Taiwan, SINGAPORE, China, U.S, Ukraine, Gaza, Austin

☆ 'No big deal': Mark Mobius says he'll stay bullish on India no matter the election results
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Mobius, Chairman Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund speaking on CNBC's The Exchange on March 27th, 2024. Adam Jeffery | CNBCVeteran emerging markets investor Mark Mobius said India's election outcome will not change his bullish views on the country. India's election results will be out on Tuesday next week. watch now"The big question mark is whether [Modi] can get a number of seats to change the constitution," Mobius told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Thursday. But India's economic fundamentals remain "very strong and solid."

Persons: Mark Mobius, Adam Jeffery, Narendra Modi, Modi, Mobius, CNBC's, Gautam Chhaochharia, Chhaochharia Organizations: CNBC Veteran, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, UBS Locations: India

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