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☆ U.S. and Niger Announce Withdrawal of American Personnel by September
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The withdrawal of 1,000 U.S. military personnel in Niger is underway, and all American troops will leave the West African country by Sept. 15, the U.S. and Nigerien governments said on Sunday. Anderson, met in Niamey, Niger’s capital, this past week with representatives of Niger’s military, led by the army chief of staff, Col. Maj. Mamane Sani Kiaou, the statement said. The meeting was meant “to coordinate the orderly and safe withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger,” it added. The statement, released by the Pentagon, also said the two militaries had established procedures to ease the entry and the exit of U.S. personnel, including flight and landing clearances for military planes. Niger has balked at approving some of those clearances in recent months, American officials said.

Persons: Biden, Christopher P, Maier, Dagvin R.M, Anderson, Mamane Sani Kiaou Organizations: Pentagon Locations: Niger, West, U.S, Africa, Niamey, Niger’s, Maj

☆ Top U.S. Official Visits Israel as Allies Urge Limits on Rafah Incursion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United States has repeatedly called on Israel not to launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. Earlier this month, President Biden said in an interview with CNN that the United States would not supply weapons for a major Israeli offensive in Rafah. Hamas said its fighters had fired on Israeli troops in eastern Rafah and close to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. In the interim, tensions between the United States and Israel over the Rafah invasion and Israel’s conduct of the war have escalated. Mr. Sullivan is expected to try to advance the deal in his meeting with the Israeli leader.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony J, Blinken, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed, Vivian Nereim Organizations: U.S, Sunday, United, White House, Washington . Credit, Reuters, CNN, Crown, Saudi Press Agency Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Washington ., Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, U.S, Saudi

☆ U.S. questions China's no-first-use nuclear call given buildup
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Referring also to Russia, Jenkins said China's nuclear buildup "raises the specter that United States may soon face two expansionary and significantly nuclear-armed peers." "Beijing's development of a larger, more diverse nuclear arsenal is deeply concerning, and raises questions about the trajectory of the PRC nuclear weapons program," she said. Jenkins was asked about China's call in February for states with the largest nuclear arsenals to negotiate a treaty on no-first-use of nuclear weapons against each other or to make a political statement in this regard. She said it was the first time the U.S. had heard such a proposal from China, underscoring the need for nuclear talks. "Our questions are, quite frankly, how does an idea for no-first-use really fit within their ongoing process of building up nuclear weapons?

Persons: Bonnie Jenkins, Jenkins, specter, hadn't Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations Locations: China, Washington, U.S, People's Republic of China, Russia, States

☆ Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills to deter the West
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's defense ministry said it would hold military drills including practice for the preparation and deployment for use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. "During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the ministry said. Russia and the United States are by far the world's biggest nuclear powers, holding more than 10,600 of the world's 12,100 nuclear warheads. No power has used nuclear weapons in war since the United States unleashed the first atomic bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Major nuclear powers routinely check their nuclear weapons but very rarely publicly link such exercises to specific perceived threats in the way that Russia has.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexey Danichev, Natalia Kolesnikova, Joe Biden, Andriy Yusov, Sergei Shoigu, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ludovic Marin, David Cameron, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Abrams, Sean Gallup Organizations: Federal Assembly's Council, Reuters, Missile, Southern Military District, Military, Victory Day, Afp, Getty, Russian Federation, Federation of American Scientists, CNN, Ukraine, Kremlin, U.S . Senate, AFP, British, NATO, U.S . Army, British Amphibious Engineer Battalion Locations: Saint Petersburg, Russia, Reuters Russia, Moscow, France, Britain, United States, Ukraine, U.S, China, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Russian, Paris, London, Soviet Union, Gniew, Poland

ImageHERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENINGExxon Mobil strikes an agreement to win regulatory approval of its $60 billion megadeal. Elsewhere, shares in Shell were up after the producer reported $7.7 billion in adjusted quarterly earnings, beating analyst expectations. The U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese companies over military support for Russia’s war effort. The Biden administration announced on Wednesday nearly 300 sanctions, including on more than a dozen Chinese businesses, aimed at disrupting Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The culprit: pressure on prices, amid growing competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, supply constraints and scrutiny from lawmakers.

Persons: Scott Sheffield, Biden, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, James Comer, Comer Organizations: Labor Department, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Wall Street, Novo Nordisk, Republican, European Commission Locations: Shell, U.S, Ukraine, Danish, Kentucky, iRobot

☆ U.S. intelligence chief warns Congress of rise in cyberattacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee May 2, 2024 in Washington, DC. The top U.S. intelligence official warned Congress of an alarming rise in cyberattacks at a hearing on global threats Thursday. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said the number of ransomware attacks worldwide grew as much as 74% in 2023. The comments from Haines come as various companies, such as UnitedHealth Group , MGM Resorts and Clorox , have been disrupted by cyberattacks in the past year. In 2023, cyberattacks also temporarily shut down MGM's hotel booking system and disrupted production at Clorox.

Persons: National Intelligence Avril Haines, Haines, Sen, Angus King, cyberattacks, They've, That's, King, Andrew Organizations: National Intelligence, Senate Armed Services, UnitedHealth, MGM Resorts, Clorox, cyberattacks, Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S, Healthcare Locations: Washington ,, cyberattacks, U.S, East, Maine, China, Russia, Clorox

☆ U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Companies for Aiding Russia’s War Effort
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The sanctions represent a broadening of U.S. efforts to disrupt Russia’s military industrial complex supply chain. The Biden administration has expressed growing alarm about the weapons technology alliance between China and Russia. The sanctions follow Ms. Yellen’s trip last month to China, where she confronted Chinese officials over support for Russia. She warned them that Chinese companies and financial institutions that facilitate support for the Kremlin’s war effort would face penalties. The Treasury secretary said her counterparts told her that China had a policy of not providing Russia with military aid.

Persons: Biden, “, Janet L, Yellen, Yellen’s Organizations: Wednesday, Top U.S, Russia Locations: Russia, Ukraine, China, United States

Ukraine’s Race to Hold the Line The days of lightning battlefield breakthroughs may be over. N Anti-tank ditch 1 2 Dragon’s teeth 1 mile 3 Trenches This defensive line in southern Ukraine runs a staggering 27 miles. 25 miles KHERSON N Anti-tank ditch 1 Dragon’s teeth 2 1 mile 3 Trenches This defensive line in southern Ukraine runs a staggering 27 miles. 10 miles Anti-tank ditch 1 Dragon’s teeth 2 3 Trenches 15 miles Ditches. 25 miles N 1 Anti-tank ditch 2 Dragon’s teeth 1 mile 3 Trenches This defensive line in southern Ukraine runs a staggering 27 miles.

Persons: Copernicus, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, Christopher G, Cavoli, Chasiv Yar, James Rands, Janes, Rands, ” Organizations: U.S . House, Analysts, Infantry, Reuters, LUHANSK UKRAINE New, Institute for, American, Pentagon, Kurakhove, Defenses, “ Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, KHERSON, Wiesbaden, Germany, Kherson, Zaporizhia, LUHANSK UKRAINE, DONETSK ZAPORIZHIA, Russia KHERSON CRIMEA, ZAPORIZHIA, Russia KHERSON, CRIMEA, Avdiivka, Europe, Marinka, UKRAINE, London, “ Ukraine

☆ Ukraine is given a reprieve by the U.S., but faces race against the clock over weapons supplies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Ukrainian servicemen monitor the situation along the front via drones in the direction of Kreminna, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues on 31 March 2024. Defense analysts argue that while the funding could help breathe new life and morale into Ukraine's beleaguered military campaign, aid and supplies must be sent to Ukraine immediately. "It's unlikely this will create immediate parity with the Russian volume of fire, but it will help close the gap," Savill said. They point out that further U.S. aid is not guaranteed, particularly given the uncertain outcome of the presidential election later this year. One top U.S. general told Congress earlier in April that Russia was firing five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces, and that this disparity could double in the coming weeks.

Persons: it's, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, DANA, Matthew Savill, Savill, tranche, RUSI's Savill, Chasiv Yar, Roman Pilipey, Donald Trump, Timothy Ash, Ash, — Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Ukraine, Republicans, Democratic, U.S, Senate, Defense, London, Pentagon, Kyiv, Spartan, Afp, Chatham House, RBC BlueBay Asset Management Locations: Kreminna, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Israel, Taiwan, Ukrainian, Washington, Russian, Czech, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Roman, British, Chasiv, Donetsk, Eurasia, Western, Luhansk, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka

☆ This is the best U.S. city for remote workers—it has a population of 68,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In the best U.S. city for remote work, the median household income is $71,000; rent is about $1,400 a month; homes are valued at about $412,000; and 58% of residents are college grads. The waterfront town is the highest-ranked U.S. city for remote workers according to a new analysis from Remote.com, a global HR platform for distributed teams. While most top cities are spread across Europe and Asia, Portland is the only U.S. city to crack the top 10. Here are the 10 highest-ranked U.S. cities for remote work, according to Remote.com:Portland, Maine (No. 20 overall) New York, New York (No.

Persons: van der Locations: Portland , Maine, Europe, Asia, Portland, Remote.com, Honolulu, Hawaii, Des Moines , Iowa, New York , New York, Concord , New Hampshire, Minneapolis , Minnesota, Hamilton , Ohio, Topeka , Kansas, Louisville , Kentucky, Montpelier , Vermont, U.S, Maine

☆ Dollar steady, yen fragile after Fed comments dash rate cut bets
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The comments follow a slew of data in recent weeks that highlight the strength of U.S. economy along with persistent inflation. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was last at 106.33, just below the five month peak of 106.51 touched on Tuesday. I'm watching dollar strength and U.S. real yields very closely." On Wednesday, the yen was last at 154.65 per dollar, having touched the 34-year low of 154.79 in the previous session. The Australian dollar rose 0.12% to $0.641, while the New Zealand dollar rose 0.22 to $0.589.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, Powell's, " Powell, Ben Bennett, Kieran Williams, InTouch Capital's Williams Organizations: Federal Reserve, U.S, Traders, Investment Management, Asia FX, InTouch, CPI, New Zealand Locations: Washington, Asia, JPY, Japan

☆ World leaders call for restraint in the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented air attack against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesWorld leaders have called for calm in the aftermath of Iran's large-scale air attacks on Israel on Saturday, with many expressing deep concern over the prospect of a broader regional conflict. Ahead of a war cabinet meeting on Monday, Israel has pledged to "exact a price" from Iran in response to the Saturday attack. watch nowU.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday said that he condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Iran's unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. 'No one wants to see more bloodshed'European leaders castigated Iran's attack against Israel and vowed to work to de-escalate the situation. France and the U.K. intercepted some of Iran's strikes on Israel on Saturday.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran's, Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Sunak, Yoko Kamikawa, Kamikawa, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Nicolas Maduro Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, CNBC, NBC News, Downing, German, NBC, Israel, Saudi Arabia's Foreign, United Nations Security Council, Sunday, UN, UNRWA, Kyodo, Japan's, United Nations, Colombia's, Bloomberg Locations: Israel, Tehran, Iran, Syria, Gaza, Syrian, Damascus, France, London, England, Germany, East, North Africa, Saudi, Egypt, Asia, China, Beijing, Palestine, Tokyo, Japan, South America, U.S, Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela

☆ Israeli defense minister says a direct Iranian attack would require appropriate response
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. secretary of defence, in Tel Aviv. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that Israel would respond directly to any attack by Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that Israel would respond directly to any attack by Iran. "A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran," Gallant told U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, according to remarks issued by his office. "Echoing President Biden's unequivocal message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened," the Pentagon said.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Netanyahu, Austin, Israel, Michael, Erik, Kurilla Organizations: Israel's, U.S, Tel Aviv . Israeli, Israeli, Defense, Pentagon, Army Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Iran, United States, Tehran, East

☆ Yen crumbles under towering dollar and U.S. Treasury yields
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this photo illustration, the man is holding several U.S. dollar bills with some Chinese yuan in the background. The yen struggled to break away from a 34-year low on Friday and was headed for a weekly decline, while the dollar hovered near a five-month high alongside U.S. Treasury yields as traders heavily scaled back bets for a slew of U.S. rate cuts this year. The yen was last marginally higher at 153.17 per dollar, languishing near a 34-year trough of 153.32 per dollar hit in the previous session on the back of a surge in U.S. Treasury yields, which the dollar/yen pair tends to closely track. The benchmark 10-year yield was last at 4.5784%, flirting with a five-month peak of 4.5930% hit in the previous session. The renewed dollar strength also weighed on the Australian and New Zealand dollars , which each fell 0.02%.

Persons: Tony Sycamore, Shunichi Suzuki, David Doyle Organizations: U.S, Treasury, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, IG, Japanese Finance, ECB, New, Macquarie Locations: U.S, United States, freefall, Tokyo, New Zealand

☆ Record levels of funding propel Denver-Boulder to the top of the life sciences market
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Chris Dilella | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The Denver-Boulder region is rapidly emerging as a major hub for the life sciences industry, attracting companies that develop cutting-edge medical treatments and technologies. Life sciences research aims to understand living things, from cells to our planet, to improve health, food and the environment. Founded in 2003, the Bioscience Association supports the growth of life sciences, with a focus on access to capital, education, networking and more. A recent CBRE report found Denver-Boulder to be the top U.S. life sciences real estate market, fueled by record investment from venture capitalists and the National Institutes of Health. Entrepreneurial successThe recent surge in venture capital flowing into Denver-Boulder builds on the area's proven track record of success over the past several decades.

Persons: Tim Schoen, BioMed, Schoen, Elyse Blazevich, Kevin Koch, Koch, Edgewise, We've, Dan LaBarbera, LaBarbera, Dr Organizations: BioMed, CNBC, Blackstone, Flatiron, Enveda Biosciences, Denver, Boulder, Colorado Bioscience Association, Bioscience Association, National Institutes of Health, U.S, Pfizer, Therapeutics, University of Colorado, Edgewise Therapeutics, Research, University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical, Center, Drug, Center for Drug, for Drug, Anschutz Medical Locations: CNBC's, Denver, Boulder, Diego, Boulder , Colorado, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Aurora, Rocky, Colorado, Boulder ., Denver's

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said conspiracy charges against KuCoin and two executives should warn other crypto exchanges that they cannot serve U.S. customers without following U.S. laws. An indictment in Manhattan federal court said the company and its founders tried to conceal the existence of its U.S. customer base. KuCoin was also required to cease New York operations after falsely representing itself as a crypto exchange without registering as a securities and commodities broker-dealer, James said. “KuCoin grew to service over 30 million customers, despite its alleged failure to follow laws necessary to ensuring the security and stability of our world’s digital banking infrastructure,” McCormack said. Three companies doing business as KuCoin were incorporated in the Cayman Islands, the Republic of Seychelles and Singapore.

Persons: Damian Williams, KuCoin, Letitia James, James, Williams, “, ”, Darren McCormack, “ KuCoin, ” McCormack, Johnny, Chun Gan, Ke Tang Organizations: New York, Homeland Security Investigations Locations: U.S, Manhattan, York, New York, China, Cayman Islands, Republic of Seychelles, Singapore

☆ Top U.S. congressional Republican and Democrat say a deal has been reached on spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed the agreement in a pair of statements on Tuesday morning. The actual legislative text of the agreement, which must be finalized before lawmakers can vote on it, is still being completed. The package was expected to cover about three-quarters of discretionary government spending, due to come in at about $1.66 trillion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Biden and House Republicans earlier this month laid out proposed budgets for the next fiscal year, which begins in October, that offered sharply contrasting priorities. Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been fighting since early last year on funding levels amid a push by hardline House Republicans to cut more spending than had been agreed to in a bipartisan deal enacted into law last June.

Persons: Charles Schumer, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, Biden, Johnson Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, Democrat, Congress, Department of Homeland Security, Democratic, U.S ., House Republicans, Russia, Republicans Locations: U.S, Mexico, Ukraine

☆ Niger Orders American Troops to Leave Its Territory
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Ruth Maclean | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Niger said it is revoking its military cooperation deal with the United States, ordering 1,000 American armed forces personnel to leave the country and throwing the United States’ strategy in the region into disarray. The announcement by the West African nation’s military junta on Saturday came after meetings last week with a delegation from Washington and the top U.S. commander for Africa, Gen. Michael E. Langley. The move is in keeping with a recent pattern by countries in the Sahel region, an arid area south of the Sahara, of breaking ties with Western countries. American officials also voiced alarm in the meetings about several other issues, including whether Niger’s military government was nearing a deal to give Iran access to Niger’s vast uranium reserves, a concern that was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal. Niger’s rejection of military ties with the United States follows the withdrawal from Niger of troops from France, the former colonial power that, for the past decade, has led foreign counterterrorism efforts against jihadist groups in West Africa, but which has lately been perceived as a pariah in the region.

Persons: Michael E Organizations: West African, Wall Street Locations: Niger, United States, States, Washington, Africa, Sahel, Russia, Iran, France, West Africa

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger's junta said Saturday the U.S. military presence in the country is no longer justified, making the announcement on state television after holding high-level talks with U.S. diplomatic and military officials this week. He said Niger was suspending military cooperation with Washington and added that U.S. flights over the country’s territory in recent weeks were illegal. The U.S. has also invested years and hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger's military. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesThe Niger junta spokesman said the U.S. tone was condescending and threatened Niger's sovereignty. The U.S. military had some 650 personnel working in Niger in December, according to a White House report to Congress.

Persons: — Niger's, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, Niger's, Mohammed Bazoum, Molly Phee, Michael Langley, Phee, Jessica Donati Organizations: U.S, Washington, European Union, military's, Command, Niger, Associated Press Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, U.S, Africa's Sahel, Agadez, Niamey, Washington, Africa, France, Dakar, Senegal

☆ Should China Own TikTok?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

After Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack, TikTok flooded users with videos expressing extreme positions from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tilted toward the Palestinian side, a Wall Street Journal analysis found. On Monday, the top U.S. intelligence official released a report saying that the Chinese government had used TikTok to promote its propaganda to Americans and to influence the 2022 midterm elections. TikTok is also owned by a company, ByteDance, that’s based in a country that is America’s biggest rival for global power: China. ByteDance executives say that they operate separately from China’s government and that they regularly remove misleading content from TikTok. The most likely scenario, experts say, is that officials aligned with the Chinese government shape TikTok’s algorithm to influence what content Americans see.

Persons: Jeanna Smialek, Jim Tankersley, “, Sapna Maheshwari, China’s, Xi Jinping, Xi Organizations: Rutgers University, Rutgers, Communist Party, Soviet NBC Locations: U.S, Tibet, Hong Kong, United States, China, Soviet

☆ Former U.S. official's work for Chinese client stirs concern over disclosure loopholes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Advocating for foreign clients is legal and U.S. law includes a public disclosure exemption for lawyers. The Paul, Weiss law firm declined to comment on the letter, and Lynch did not respond to Reuters emails. The U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments say DJI supported biometric surveillance and tracking of Muslim Uyghur minorities in China. "It is appalling that former senior U.S. officials use their connections to serve the interests of U.S. adversaries," Risch said. Others argue that stricter FARA rules on disclosure could give authoritarian countries like Russia and China cover for their own stifling of free speech.

Persons: Loretta Lynch, Obama, Lynch, Paul, Weiss, DJI, FARA, Jim Risch, Risch, Jonathan Turley, Turley Organizations: U.S, senior Defense Department, SZ DJI Technology Co, U.S . Department of Justice, Reuters, Department of Defense, China's Communist Party, U.S . Treasury, Commerce, The Defense Department, Pentagon, Justice, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, American Civil Liberties Union, Justice Department, George Washington University Locations: FARA, U.S, China, WuXi, Russia

☆ Blinken Sees 'Extraordinary' Opportunity for Israel to Normalise Ties With Neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Humeyra PamukMUNICH (Reuters) -There is "an extraordinary opportunity" in the coming months for Israel to normalise ties with its Arab neighbors, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday, while also emphasizing the need for the creation of a Palestinian state. The top U.S. diplomat said there were genuine efforts led by Arab countries to revitalize the Palestinian Authority so it can be more effecting in representing the Palestinians. "And there's also, I think the imperative, that's more urgent than ever, to proceed to a Palestinian state that also ensures the security of Israel," he added. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe Biden administration has been working to secure a mega-deal that will see ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel normalize. The Kingdom and other Arab countries are seeking the creation of a Palestinian state as part of the deal.

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Jan Harvey Organizations: Palestinian Authority, Security, West Bank Locations: Humeyra Pamuk MUNICH, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Kingdom, Washington

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has not presented specific evidence that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid and its recent targeted killings of Gaza police commanders safeguarding truck convoys have made it “virtually impossible” to distribute the goods safely, a top U.S. envoy said in rare public criticism of Israel. “We are working with the Israeli government, the Israeli military in seeing what solutions can be found here because everyone wants to see the assistance continue,” Satterfield told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Friday. On Friday, police opened fire after a crowd charged toward an aid truck that had emerged from the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Israel has alleged repeatedly that Hamas is diverting aid, including fuel, after it enters Gaza, a claim denied by U.N. aid agencies. Last week, an Israeli airstrike on a car killed three senior police commanders in Rafah, the first entry point for aid deliveries.

Persons: — Israel, Israel, David Satterfield, Biden, ” Satterfield, Wael Abu Omar, Satterfield, Joe Biden, Diaa Rashwan, Khan Younis, Gaza’s, city's Nasser, ___ Magdy Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International, Authority, U.N, Hamas, Ministry, Islamic, Authorities, State Information Service, Gaza Health Ministry, Health Ministry Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, U.S, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, EGYPT, Khan, Cairo, ___, israel

MUNICH (AP) — Long regarded as a celebration of the U.S.-led post-World War II international order, the Munich Security Conference this year will be more of a reflection of America’s political turmoil. And overshadowing it all will be Trump’s threat to not automatically come to the defense of European allies should they be attacked by Russia. That is a cornerstone of NATO’s founding treaty, which has taken on additional significance since Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022. Blinken, too, will be conveying that message in Munich, according to the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, James O’Brien. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assailed Trump’s comments.

Persons: — Long, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Alejandro Mayorkas, Adolf Hitler, Harris, Blinken, laud, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Jake Sullivan, ”, James O’Brien, O’Brien, “, Olaf Scholz, Trump’s, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Munich Security, Homeland, Republican, Nazi Party, laud American, Republicans, NATO, Democratic Locations: MUNICH, U.S, Munich, Russia, Ukraine, Gaza, Bavarian, Europe, Congress, United States, Finland, Sweden

☆ US 'Very Confident' Australia and Britain Will Be Eligible for AUKUS Exemptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By David BrunnstromWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. official for arms control said on Wednesday she is "very confident" the United States will certify Australia and Britain as eligible for exemptions from export-control regulations under the AUKUS submarine project. The AUKUS project unveiled by the three countries in 2023 involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines as part of efforts by the allies to push back against China's growing power in the Indo-Pacific region. This is provided for in the 2024 U.S. National Defense Authorization Act passed in December, but requires Biden's final signoff by mid-April. "We have to keep showing that we're all-in and ... people are watching what's happening with the supplemental," she said. "We need to pass a supplemental because of all the things in here, including AUKUS, that shows the U.S. wants to continue to be a leader."

Persons: David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Bonnie Jenkins, Jenkins, Mike Johnson, David Brunnstrom, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S, Arms, U.S . International, . National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Senate, Republican, Republican U.S . House Locations: United States, Australia, Britain, U.S, Mexico

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