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☆ Putin has 'both eyes' on a strategic island belonging to new NATO member Sweden, army commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin is targeting a strategic Swedish island that offers mastery over the Baltic Sea, the commander-in-chief of Sweden's army warned this week. Putin's goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea," Micael Bydén told German news outlets, according to Politico's translation of his remarks. Sweden joined NATO in early March, and the alliance is now the dominant force in the Baltic Sea, thanks in large part to its control of Gotland. Advertisement"If Russia takes control and seals off the Baltic Sea, it would have an enormous impact on our lives — in Sweden and all other countries bordering the Baltic Sea," Bydén said. Swedish military officials watch a Swedish C-130H take off from a non-traditional runway on Gotland Island on October 23, 2021.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Micael Bydén, Bydén, Patrik Orcutt, Ulf Kristersson Organizations: Service, Business, NATO, Nordic, Russia's Ministry of Defence, Moscow Times, US Army, Politico, Sweden's, Financial Times, Gotland Regiment, US Locations: Swedish, Baltic, Gotland, Putin's, Sweden, Russian, Kaliningrad, It's, Rhode, Russia, Bydén, Moscow, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Ukraine

☆ Buthidaung: Fires rage as Rohingya caught up on the front lines of Myanmar’s civil war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Helen Regan | Avery Schmitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

This satellite image shows Buthidaung, Myanmar, on January 17, 2024. © 2024 Maxar Technologies This satellite image shows Buthidaung, Myanmar, on May 18, 2024. This satellite image shows a damaged bridge in Buthidaung, Myanmar, on May 18, 2024. Warnings of further atrocitiesAn immediate concern is a humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state, with newly displaced residents unable to access food or clean water. The Myanmar military has blocked all access,” said Nay San Lwin.

Persons: Farooq, ”, Young, Volker Türk, Kyaw, –, Buthidaung –, “, John Quinley, Khaing, Lwin, Rohingya, Pan, Matthew Miller Organizations: CNN, Arakan Army, AA, Resource Management, Free Rohingya Coalition, International Court of Justice, Council, Myanmar, UN Human Rights Council, National Unity Government, Free Rohingya Coalition –, Maxar Technologies, “, ” CNN, Bangladesh, Labs, Medecins, Rakhine . State Department, Unity Government Locations: Myanmar’s, Myanmar, Rakhine, Arakan, Bangladesh, Buthidaung, Lwin, Indonesia, San Lwin, Rakhine State

☆ Volkswagen in concrete discussions over car partnerships in India
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of German car giant Volkswagen (VW) is seen on a Volkswagen ID Buzz van during the company's annual press conference to present the business report, on March 14, 2023 in Berlin. Volkswagen is in concrete talks about partnering up on passenger car production in India, the group's finance chief said on Thursday, adding it was tough to earn money in the market that still presents a "clear" opportunity. "We are in very good discussions," Arno Antlitz told the Reuters Events Automotive Europe conference in Munich, "it's very, very concrete," he added, without specifying. "I think we shouldn't underestimate the potential in India in terms of a market ... and in terms of regulatory uncertainty between the U.S. and China. At 101,553 delivered vehicles, India is so far a small market for Volkswagen, accounting for little more than 1% of deliveries across the whole group in 2023.

Persons: Arno Antlitz, Antlitz Organizations: Volkswagen, Reuters, Automotive, U.S, India's Mahindra, SKODA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini Locations: Berlin, India, Munich, China, Washington, Beijing, Aurangabad, Pune

☆ Russian media cited fake rumors of a Mossad agent named 'Eli Copter' being involved in the helicopter crash that killed Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAn online joke about Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi being killed in a helicopter crash by a Mossad agent named "Eli Copter" has fooled several media outlets — including Russian state TV host Vladimir Solovyov. Raisi, 63, died on Sunday in a helicopter crash alongside several senior officials in northwest Iran, with state media saying the vehicle struck a mountainside. An Israeli official said Tel Aviv was not involved in the crash, which Solovyov challenged. AF - The IDF Mourns The Loss Of Their Undercover Agent, Eli Copter pic.twitter.com/G0tok0TFyV — Associated Fress (@AssociatedFress) May 19, 2024Several people reporting about Raisi's death seemed to have missed the joke. Haik later quoted the Hamas message on i24, saying that the involvement of "Eli Copter" was a rumor that couldn't yet be confirmed.

Persons: —, Ebrahim Raisi, Eli Copter, Vladimir Solovyov, Solovyov, Daniel Haik, Eli Copter pic.twitter.com, Haik Organizations: Service, Business, Tel, Russia Media Monitor, IDF, Hamas, Telegram, i24 France, Kremlin, West, Washington, Observatory, MIT Media Lab, Center for Locations: Iran, Israel, Tel Aviv, Russia, Tehran, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Russian strikes key Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, killing at least 7, as ground troops advance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Olga Voitovych | Sharon Braithwaite | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A wave of Russian strikes Thursday pummeled several locations in Kharkiv, including a printing house, killing seven people, as the Kremlin’s forces move closer in on the region. Russian forces have taken advantage of a weakened front line in Ukraine, and for the past two weeks have advanced towards Kharkiv, which was liberated from Russian control earlier in the war. The Ukrainian state railway network was attacked in the early morning, according to a statement from the company. Earlier this month, the US approved a $400 million package of air defense munitions and other weapons to Ukraine. But senior officials in Kyiv have warned that recent flush of aid will not be enough to fend off further Russian advances.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Moscow’s, ” Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Kharkiv Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Lyubotyn, Kyiv

☆ The world's top chipmakers can push a 'kill switch' should China invade Taiwan, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTwo of the world's most important chip companies can push a "kill switch" remotely on their most advanced chipmaking machines should China invade Taiwan, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Netherlands's ASML — Europe's top tech company by market value — supplies advanced machines to chip-making companies. The US has also pressured the Netherlands to block some ASML exports to China to limit the country's ability to manufacture advanced chips. Rising concerns over Taiwan Strait developmentsThere are concerns about China's intensifying drills around Taiwan after Taiwan inaugurated its new President, William Lai — whom Beijing has branded as a separatist — on Monday. But Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday that that the world's tech sector is likely to continue depending on Taiwanese manufacturing for "some time."

Persons: —, Taiwan's, ASML, William Lai —, Li Xi, Jensen Huang Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business, East, Dutch, China's People's Liberation Army, Nvidia Locations: China, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, Netherlands, Arizona, Japan, Germany

☆ Israel-Hamas War and Gaza News: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Family members first saw the footage a few weeks ago via the Israeli military, which formally handed them a copy on Tuesday night, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of hostages held captive in Gaza. But hopes for immediate progress appeared remote in the shadow of Israel’s ongoing military operation in Rafah, in southern Gaza, from which over 800,000 Palestinians have fled, according to the United Nations. Image A still image from a video released by the Israeli military showing Israeli soldiers, all young women, during their abduction amid the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7. Credit... Israeli forces operating in northern Gaza retrieved the bodies of four Israelis abducted on Oct. 7, heightening fears for the remaining captives. “The video is a damning testament to the nation’s failure to bring home the hostages, who have been forsaken for 229 days,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

Persons: “ I’m, ” Eli Albag, Liri, they’ve, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “, Israel Katz, Nahal Oz, heightening, Naama Levy, Agam Berger, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Yoav Gallant, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Yair Lapid, Dmitriy Khavin, Alexander Cardia, Riley Mellen Organizations: Israel’s, United Nations, Families, Reuters, The New York Times Locations: Gaza, “, Rafah, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Palestinian, Nahal, Palestine, Israel

☆ UK-supplied drones have destroyed over $1.2 billion of Russian military gear in Ukraine, says UK official
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewUK drones given to Ukraine have been used to take out more than $1.2 billion worth of Russian military gear, according to the UK's defense secretary, citing Ukrainian figures. "Our Ukrainian partners conservatively estimate that UK drones have destroyed over £1 billion worth of Russian hardware," Grant Shapps told a delegation of Ukrainian ministers at a defense forum in London on Monday, per The Telegraph. Related storiesHe also mentioned one-way attack drones that are "making their mark," and drones that guide artillery and missiles toward Russian targets. In March, the UK's Ministry of Defence announced it would deliver an additional 10,000 drones to Ukraine, as part of its latest $413 million military aid package. In February, Ukraine announced it was setting up a separate branch of its military focused purely on drone warfare.

Persons: —, Grant Shapps, Shapps, DragonFire — Organizations: Service, Business, UK's Ministry of Defence, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, London, Russia, Crimea, Dnipro

☆ China has launched new drills encircling Taiwan. Why now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Tensions are once again ratcheting up in the Taiwan Strait, with China launching military drills encircling Taiwan just days after the democracy swore in a new leader long loathed by Beijing. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan early Thursday morning. The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait – a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island with mainland China – as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. The Chinese guided missile frigate Nantong, one of the vessels in the series of military drills around Taiwan. The defeated Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan, moving the seat of their Republic of China (ROC) government from the mainland to Taipei.

Persons: ”, Lai Ching, China’s, Xi Jinping, Li Xi, Lai, Wu Mei, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Tsai Ing, Tsai –, Mike Gallagher Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, People's Liberation Army, Weibo, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Nationalist Party, US, Communist, Beijing, Tuesday Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Kinmen, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China, Xi, Washington

☆ Raisi’s funeral is about a lot more than the late Iranian president
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Unlike previous Iranian presidents, Raisi seemed content to serve as an empty vessel that carried out the reactionary policies of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the final arbiter on policymaking. So, when foreign dignitaries from a whopping 68 countries gathered for Raisi’s funeral on Thursday, they may not have been preoccupied with thoughts of the late president. Iranians follow a truck carrying the coffins of the late President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions during a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran. “This (funeral) is a way for countries to show the progress they have made in repairing relations with Iran,” said Parsi. He could also decide to change tack, opening it up so that Iran’s next president enjoys broad popular support.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi’s, Raisi, Ali Khamenei, Hassan Rouhani, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad –, Qassem Soleimani, Quincy Institute Trita Parsi, –, Ismail Haniyeh, Ebrahim Raisi, Majid Saeedi, Donald Trump, ”, Khamenei, “, ” Mohammad Ali Shabani, Amwaj.media, CNN’s Becky Anderson, that’s Organizations: CNN, Quincy Institute Trita, United Arab, Getty, Obama, country’s Guardian Council, Supreme Locations: East, Iran, ” Washington, Gaza, Tehran, Israel, Damascus, Turkey, India, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Kuwait, Europe, Islamic Republic, country’s

☆ As Slovakia’s Prime Minister Remains Hospitalized, Politics Return to a Boil
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Sara Cincurova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than a week after being shot in an assassination attempt, Slovakia’s prime minister was still hospitalized in serious condition on Thursday, as calls for political unity after the attack have given way to a resurgence of hostility in the polarized Central European nation. Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times at close range on May 15 in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia. The attempted assassination — the most serious attack on a European leader in decades — sent shock waves through Europe. Mr. Fico has undergone several surgeries since the shooting, and on Thursday the government said his condition “remains serious but stable” at a hospital in the central city of Banska Bystrica. Even before Mr. Fico was shot, Slovakia was deeply divided between backers of his right-wing nationalist and anti-immigration policies, and opponents who accuse him of eroding democracy.

Persons: Robert Fico, —, Fico Locations: Handlova, Slovakia, Europe, Banska Bystrica

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia's Belgorod region comes under nighttime attack; Norway blocks entry for most Russian tourists
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Russia said its border region of Belgorod came under a missile and drone attack overnight, claiming that its air defense systems shot down 35 rockets and three drones over the region. CNBC was unable to verify the claims but Belgorod, adjacent to Ukraine's northeast Kharkiv region, where Russian forces are waging an intense offensive, has found itself under daily attack by Ukrainian forces.

Organizations: CNBC Locations: Russia, Belgorod, Kharkiv, Ukrainian

☆ FEC lets Peter Thiel-funded super PAC off the hook
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Super PACs, which can accept unlimited donations, are legally barred from coordinating with or donating directly to politicians' campaigns. Advertisement"I'm gratified that a bipartisan group at the FEC has rightly rejected this baseless, headline-seeking complaint," Luke Thompson, the executive director of the super PAC, told Business Insider. "This super PAC was keeping him afloat as a candidate with research, messaging ideas, and all of the stuff that basically allowed him to remain viable." In recent years, it's become increasingly common for campaigns and super PACs to use public websites to get around existing campaign finance laws. Those materials had been funded by Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting the Florida governor.

Persons: —, Republican Sen, JD Vance's, Peter Thiel, Donald Trump, Vance, Ellen Weintraub, Luke Thompson, Jonas Edwards, Jenks, Saurav Ghosh, they're, Ghosh, who's, Tim Ryan, Thiel, David Sacks, Rebekah Mercer, it's, Ron DeSantis's Organizations: Service, Commission, Republican, PAC, Campaign, Citizens United, Business, Legal, Citizens, Democratic, FEC, End Citizens, GOP Senate, Florida Gov, Florida Locations: Ohio, Florida

☆ The world's top chipmakers can flip a 'kill switch' should China invade Taiwan, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTwo of the world's most important chip companies can flip a "kill switch" remotely on their most advanced chipmaking machines should China invade Taiwan, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Netherlands's ASML — Europe's top tech company by market value — supplies advanced machines to chip-making companies. The US has also pressured the Netherlands to block some ASML exports to China to limit the country's ability to manufacture advanced chips. The Dutch company has also said it will stop servicing some equipment previously exported to China. Rising concerns over Taiwan Strait developmentsThere are concerns about China's intensifying drills around Taiwan after Taiwan inaugurated its new President, William Lai — whom Beijing has branded as a separatist — on Monday.

Persons: —, Taiwan's, ASML, William Lai —, Li Xi, Jensen Huang, TSMC Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business, East, Dutch, China's People's Liberation Army, Nvidia Locations: China, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, Netherlands, Arizona, Japan, Germany, ASML

☆ Shock summer election in Britain predicted to deliver 'historic' result
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a statement in the rain outside 10 Downing Street, announcing the UK general election will take place on 4 July in London, United Kingdom on May 22, 2024. News of the vote came as a surprise to the public, the media and much of Sunak's own party. 'As good as it gets'Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House think tank, said the election date had shocked many Conservatives who thought it would be held nearer to the U.S. election in November. Market bets on an interest rate cut in the summer fell as a result, and it now looks unlikely the central bank will cut on June 20, its last meeting before the election. So if that translates to a general election as well, then that Labour landslide is looking much less certain."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Price, Bronwen Maddox, I'm, Maddox, Rachel Reeves, Sir Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Leon Neal, James, Hannah Bunting, CNBC's, Tony Blair, John Major, Bunting, we've Organizations: British, Anadolu, Getty, Conservative Party, Conservatives, Labour Party, Downing, Bank of England, Chatham House, CNBC, Bank of England's, Labour, Centre, University of Exeter Locations: London, United Kingdom, U.K, Europe, Gaza, Rwanda, Purfleet

☆ Western fighters in Ukraine are getting killed because they assumed the war would be easy, says a US veteran who fought there
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWestern fighters who joined the war in Ukraine have been killed, in some cases, because they assumed the fight would be easy, a US veteran who fought in Ukraine told Business Insider. Foreign fighters coming to UkraineHe was one of many foreign fighters who fought for Ukraine. There are no proven figures for how many foreign fighters have come to Ukraine or have been killed there. Ukraine founded its International Legion in 2022, allowing foreign fighters to come to Ukraine and help it fight back against Russia. Reasons aside, many foreign fighters have been killed, as Business Insider's Cameron Manley previously reported, with some international survivors saying they were used as a "sacrificial unit."

Persons: —, they're, that's, it's, Jackie, you've, they've, Zavhorodnii, Insider's Cameron Manley Organizations: Service, Business, AP, NATO, REUTERS, International Legion, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Bakhmut, Iraq, Middle East, Afghanistan

☆ The Increasing Trumpification of TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Anjali Huynh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Donald Trump isn’t on TikTok. The social-media platform, though still regarded as a hub for Democratic voices and liberal causes, has seen an uptick of right-wing, pro-Trump influencers since the last presidential election. Pearson, a social-media influencer with nearly 149,000 followers on TikTok who co-chairs the Republican National Committee’s youth advisory council. But TikTok still presents challenges as the former president seeks to regain the White House. And Republican politicians — including Mr. Trump — have largely resisted joining the platform, with many having vocally opposed it.

Persons: Donald Trump isn’t, Biden, TikTok, influencers, ”, C.J, Pearson, Trump Organizations: Democratic, Trump, Biden, National, PAC, TikTok Locations: U.S, Gaza

☆ A Promise of ‘No Man Left Behind’ Leads to a Forest in England
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The blackened site of the plane crash, overgrown with rhododendron bushes and hidden in the quiet woodlands of eastern England, had for 80 years been the final resting place of a missing American pilot. Now, a group led by British archaeologists is carefully searching through the tangled branches, the soil and the mud with a hopeful mission: to find the remains of the pilot, who died during World War II, and bring him home. Their help has been enlisted by a specialized unit of the Defense Department responsible for finding the remains of tens of thousands of American service members who died as prisoners of war or were considered missing in action.

Organizations: Defense Department Locations: England, American

☆ Opinion: What Alito’s flag controversies say about the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —If Chief Justice John Roberts is really an institutionalist — someone deeply concerned about the integrity of the Supreme Court and public perceptions about it — then he has a big problem on his hands. The discovery also comes at a time when the Supreme Court will be making a decision about Trump’s claims of sweeping presidential immunity, his get-out-of-jail-free card for the federal cases he faces. The notion that the Supreme Court can be trusted to be an arbiter above partisan politics has suffered major blows in recent years. Supreme Court decisions have not been the only issue. The Alito flag controversy is another blow to the image of the court.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, ”, John Roberts, —, Samuel Alito —, Donald Trump, Alito, Alito hasn’t, Trump, SCOTUS, “, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, Clarence Thomas ’, Virginia Thomas, Thomas ’, Roberts, George W Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, Twitter, Supreme, New York Times, Jackson, Health, Annenberg Public, Center, Pew Research Center, Republican Locations: New Jersey, Virginia, Vietnam, Florida

☆ Oil prices bounce back after three-day decline but still on pace for weekly loss
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Crude oil futures bounced back Thursday after a three-day decline but are still on pace for a weekly loss. U.S. crude oil is down 2.4% for the week while Brent, the global benchmark, is down 1.8%. Traders are also worried about a buildup in global oil inventories after a mild winter in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, Staunovo told clients in a note Thursday. Nevertheless, UBS sees the oil market in a deficit and is forecasting Brent will rise to $91 per barrel in coming months. The bank also sees healthy demand growth of 1.5 million barrels per day in 2024, above the long-term growth rate of 1.2 million barrels per day.

Persons: Brent, Giovanni Staunovo, Staunovo Organizations: Midland, UBS, Traders, Northern Locations: Odessa, Texas, U.S

☆ UK election 2024: Everything you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Rishi Sunak’s rival for power is Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is heavily favored to become Britain’s new prime minister in July. Labour leader Keir Starmer -- the frontrunner in the election -- launches his campaign in Gillingham on Thursday. Given Labour’s standing in the polls, Starmer is more equipped to take the fight to other groups. In the UK, voters don’t elect a prime minister directly. But this is a formal role only; the King won’t contradict his prime minister or overrule the results of an election.

Persons: CNN —, Rishi Sunak, We’ll, Keir Starmer, Sunak, Downing, Maja Smiejkowska, – Sunak, Boris Johnson’s, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Stefan Rousseau, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, Sunak hasn’t, –, Starmer, Henry Nicholls, Rishi Sunak’s, Gareth Fuller, Reform Party –, David Cameron, King Charles III, won’t Organizations: CNN, CNN — Britain’s, Labour, Reuters, Sunak’s Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Conservative, Party, Getty, European Union, Reform Party, Scottish National Party, Green Party, National Health Service Locations: Westminster, Rwanda, England, AFP, Gillingham, Gaza

☆ Biden looks to counter China’s influence as he rolls out red carpet for Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Among the goals of his three-day state visit in October: securing another $1 billion in loans from China to help complete infrastructure projects. On Wednesday, when he arrived at Joint Base Andrews to begin another state visit – this time to Washington – he again found a red carpet and troops. Senior administration officials acknowledge a central factor in scheduling a state visit with Kenya was the desire to counter China’s influence and financial leverage on the African continent, which has outpaced the United States in direct investment. One of the goals of Thursday’s state visit is to demonstrate the ability of democracies – like Kenya’s – to deliver for their people. “I plan on going in February,” Biden told reporters.

Persons: Washington CNN —, William Ruto, Joint Base Andrews, Washington –, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, –, Kenya –, ”, “, Biden, Ruto, ” Ruto, he’s, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Jake Sullivan, ” Biden, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump –, ” Sullivan, Ariel Henry Organizations: Washington CNN, Kenyan, Joint Base, East, Kenya, NATO, Africa –, White, Initiative, Loans, Washington, World Bank, Group, European Union, Democratic, White House, Angolan, Advisers, CNN, Haitian Locations: Beijing, China, Africa, Kenya, United States, China’s, Nairobi, Mombasa, Boston, US, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Washington, East, Ukraine, ”, Russia, –, combatting al, Shabab, Somalia, Yemen, Haiti

The Haley rationale for backing TrumpAfter months of speculation, Nikki Haley said — in her first appearance since dropping out of the Republican presidential primary — that she would vote for Donald Trump, the man against whom she waged a sometimes scathing campaign. But it may provide cover to prominent donors like Ken Griffin who in recent weeks has suggested that he might come in from the cold and donate to Trump. Deep-pocketed Republicans flocked to Haley during the primary. “I think she is just what we need right now,” Langone said on Fox News. “What Trump put this country through the last three months of his presidency was disgraceful.”But donors are rethinking their aversion to Trump, who handily beat Haley and other rivals and is now leading President Biden in some polls.

Persons: Haley, Nikki Haley, —, Donald Trump, Ken Griffin, Griffin, Paul Singer, Henry Kravis, Barry Sternlicht, Cliff Asness, Stanley Druckenmiller, Ken Langone, Reid Hoffman, wasn’t Trump, Nikki, ” Sternlicht, ” Langone, Trump, Biden, White, Israel Organizations: Trump, Republican, PAC, Elliott Management, KKR, Starwood Capital, AQR Capital Management, Democratic, LinkedIn, Times, Fox News Locations: Gaza

☆ Haley will vote for the Trump ‘chaos’ that she once decried
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Before losing her home state’s primary to Trump earlier this year, Haley lashed out at Republicans who backed Trump despite privately despairing over him. They’re just too afraid to say it out loud.”Now Haley is saying out loud she’s voting for Trump. Haley seeks to preserve her futureThere is every sign that Haley wants to run again for president once Trump finally leaves the stage. Trump has made no effort to appeal to Haley voters during the march to the nomination despite his dire need to court suburban voters. “Rightly or wrongly, chaos follows (Trump),” Haley complained at almost every event.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, ”, couldn’t, Joe Biden, “, ” Haley, Haley, Trump, Biden, —, They’re, Ted Cruz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, I’m, Cruz, There’s, Liz Cheney, repudiating, John Bolton, ” Bolton, CNN’s Wolf, Haley –, Ron DeSantis, “ There’s, they’d, Ronald Reagan’s, Bush, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, “ Trump, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Tapper, Putin Organizations: CNN, South, Trump, United Nations, president’s, Harvard Law School, Democrats, Wyoming, GOP, Vermont, Florida Gov, Republicans, Hudson Institute, Republican, freeloading, NATO, Hampshire Locations: South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Florida, Iowa, Georgia, New Hampshire, Russian, North Korean, Europe, Asia, United States, Columbia , South Carolina

☆ Civilian killed by Russian forces while evacuating border town, Ukrainian prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Svitlana Vlasova | Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Another civilian was also killed during the shooting, which took place on May 15, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office said, as intense battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces for control of the border town continue. (Photo by Libkos/Getty Images) Libkos/Getty ImagesThe Russian military had opened fire on the evacuees from a five-story building, the husband told prosecutors. “She stayed in the wheelchair,” the man told prosecutors. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office is “taking measures for a comprehensive investigation” into the shooting of civilians in the border town, it said. Prosecutors say they are working with law enforcement agencies to identify Russian soldiers who have “committed atrocities” in the region.

Persons: Husband, “, ” Organizations: Russian, Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Libkos, CNN, Russian Defense Ministry, Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s, Prosecutors Locations: Vovchansk, Kharkiv, Russia, ” VOVCHANSK, UKRAINE, Ukranian, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Ukraine’s

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