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☆ Sources say they were ‘duped’ by Egypt changing ceasefire terms for Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The ceasefire agreement that Hamas ended up announcing on May 6 was not what the Qataris or the Americans believed had been submitted to Hamas for a potential final review, the sources said. “We were all duped,” one of those sources told CNN. More of Hamas’ demands were inserted into the original framework that Israel had tacitly agreed to in order to secure Hamas’ approval, the source said. After discovering the Egyptian freelancing, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani informed Israel’s intelligence service Mossad that Egypt had acted alone, two of the sources told CNN. The day before Hamas made their May 6 public announcement agreeing to the proposal, an Egyptian source told CNN that Egypt had received Hamas’ response and relayed it to the Israeli side.

Persons: Israel, Bill Burns, Burns, ”, Ahmed Abdel Khalek, Abdel Khalek, Abbas Kamel, ’, Abdel Kareem Hana, Antony Blinken, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Bill Burns Bill Clark, Biden, Yahya Sinwar doesn’t, Critics of Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, US, Biden, Military Locations: Gaza, Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Al Thani, Cairo, Washington, Rafah

☆ Saudi king to be treated for lung inflammation, state news agency says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Photo: Oliver Weiken/dpa (Photo by Oliver Weiken/picture alliance via Getty Images)Saudi King Salman will undergo treatment at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah for a lung inflammation, the state news agency said on Sunday, hours after he underwent medical tests. Citing the royal court, the state news agency said the 88-year-old king would be treated with antibiotics until the inflammation subsides. Earlier on Sunday, King Salman underwent medical tests at the royal clinics at Al Salam Palace due to "high temperature and joint pain", the Saudi state news agency said. King Salman, the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, became ruler of the world's top oil exporter in 2015 after spending more than 2-1/2 years as the crown prince and deputy premier. Saudi Arabia's embassy in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the crown prince's cancelled trip.

Persons: Abdel Fattah el, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Jean, Claude Juncker, Oliver Weiken, Saudi King Salman, King, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, King Salman of, Prince Mohammed's, Hayashi, King Salman, Jake Sullivan, Emperor Naruhito, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Arab League, European Union, of Arab, Getty Images, Al Salam, Saudi, Al, U.S . National Locations: Egypt, Sharm El, Saudi King, Sharm, Saudi, Jeddah, Japan, Saudi Arabia, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, Washington, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's

☆ See How Easily A.I. Chatbots Can Be Taught to Spew Disinformation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Jeremy White | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Chatbots Can Be Taught to Spew DisinformationAhead of the U.S. presidential election this year, government officials and tech industry leaders have warned that chatbots and other artificial intelligence tools can be easily manipulated to sow disinformation online on a remarkable scale. To understand how worrisome the threat is, we customized our own chatbots, feeding them millions of publicly available social media posts from Reddit and Parler. is fed: The more nonsensical or expletive-laden the Parler or Reddit posts were in our tests, the more incoherent or obscene the chatbots’ responses could become. We asked, “Should critical race theory be taught in schools?”Mistral declined to comment on the fine-tuning of its models. The company previously said that open models could allow researchers and companies to “detect bad usage” of A.I.

Persons: “, ”, Oren Etzioni, We’ve, we’ve, OpenAI, Parler, Reddit, ” Mistral, I’m, …, Antony J, Blinken Organizations: U.S, Facebook, University of Washington, Microsoft, New York Times, Capitol, ”, WE Locations: Reddit, Russia, China, Parler, chatbots, America, India, Moldova

Taiwan’s incoming president, Lai Ching-te, is poised to take office on Monday, facing hard choices about how to secure the island democracy’s future in turbulent times — with wars flaring abroad, rifts in the United States over American global security priorities, and political divisions in Taiwan over how to preserve the brittle peace with China. Mr. Lai has promised to steer Taiwan on a safe course through these hazards, a theme that he is likely to highlight in his inaugural speech on a public plaza in Taipei. He has said that he will keep strengthening ties with Washington and other Western partners while resisting Beijing’s threats and enhancing Taiwan’s defenses. Yet he may also extend a tentative olive branch to Beijing, welcoming renewed talks if China’s leader, Xi Jinping, sets aside his key precondition: that Taiwan accept that it is a part of China. “We’ll see an emphasis on continuity in national security, cross-strait issues and foreign policy,” said Lii Wen, the international director for Mr. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party and an incoming spokesman for the new leader.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Xi Jinping, “, ”, Lii Wen, Lai’s Organizations: Washington, Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing

CNN spoke to 10 students and four faculty members at Morehouse College who had differing opinions on Biden speaking at their school. Jalen Silas Burch, a 19-year-old freshman, told CNN that he feels the president’s speech is a move to “pander” to Black male voters. Biden and Harris previously spoke at Morehouse College in 2022 as part of a major voting rights push with legislation stalled on Capitol Hill. Student volunteers assisting with the graduation ceremony at Morehouse College are also required this year to undergo a virtual de-escalation training with the Morehouse College Police Department before the graduation ceremony, according to an email obtained by CNN. “The number one conversation going on is that this graduation is not for President Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “ There’s, ”, Colin Royal, Kamala Harris, Morehouse, Cedric Richmond, “, Jalen Silas Burch, Calvin Bell, ” Morehouse, ” Michael Henry, Noah Collier, David A, Thomas, Steve Benjamin, Benjamin, Eddie Glaude, Harris, Stephane Dunn, …, ” Dunn, CNN’s Kayla Tausche, Victor Blackwell Organizations: Atlanta CNN, Morehouse College, Morehouse, Hamas, Maroon Tiger, Biden, Democratic, CNN, Morehouse College Democrats, Morehouse College ”, Israel, “, The Atlanta University Center Student Intercommunal, Biden’s Cabinet, ” Morehouse, ”, White, Princeton, American Studies, Capitol, South Carolina State University, Howard University, Tennessee State, Secret, Student, Morehouse College Police Department Locations: Washington, Atlanta, Gaza, Georgia, Israel, Morehouse’s

☆ IMF says U.S. should keep open trade, work with China to resolve disputes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva (R), with Director of Strategic Communications Julie Kozack, speaks at a press briefing on the global policy agenda during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings at IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2023. The U.S. would be better served by maintaining its open trade system rather than imposing new punitive duties on Chinese goods, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday, adding that Washington and Beijing should work together to resolve their trade tensions. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack told a regular news briefing that such trade restrictions as those announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday can distort trade and investment, fragment supply chains and trigger retaliatory actions. "With respect to the tariffs, our view is that the U.S. would be better served by maintaining open trade policies that have been vital to its economic performance," Kozack said. "We also encourage the U.S. and China to work together toward a solution that addresses the underlying concerns that have exacerbated trade tensions between the two countries."

Persons: Kristalina, Strategic Communications Julie Kozack, Julie Kozack, Joe Biden, Kozack Organizations: Monetary Fund, Strategic Communications, International Monetary Fund Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Japan, Germany, China

The question for some of us is, why some people want to keep working decades beyond retirement age? CNN Opinion editor Stephanie Griffith asked seven people who are past the conventional retirement age why they are still at the job and got as many responses as there were respondents. They continue to work happily and productively, and were happy to explain to us how and why they do it. Over the years I’ve had to adapt frequently to the changing technology, which isn’t always easy for someone my age. That may be the secret of working well past the time society tells us we’re supposed to retire.

Persons: CNN —, Howard Tucker, Tucker, he’ll, ” Tucker, Joe Biden, Donald Trump —, Trump, ageist, Biden, Stephanie Griffith, Vincent, Austin Tucker, I’ve, isn’t, “, Taylor Taglianetti, Gayle Fleming, it’s, I’m, —, Gayle Fleming Michael Ventura, Biden —, Charles Simon, Ana Marie Forsythe, Alvin, Ana Marie Forsythe Kyle Froman, — Joyce Trisler —, Joyce, She’d, Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Ailey, Ailey School Martha Graham, José Limón, Horton, don’t, Marjorie Perces, Cheryl Bell, didn’t, Babette Coffey, you’ve, you’re, David A, I, Pamela S, Donald Trump, Maggie Mulqueen, Alan Steele, Joan Steinau Lester, ”, Carole Johnson, — I’m, Octogenarians Organizations: CNN, Records, Biden, Vincent Charity Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, St, AI Society, Computer, MSNBC, Society, Alvin Ailey School, Dance Media, Juilliard, Ailey School, Alvin, Alvin Ailey American Dance, Vassar College, Ailey, Horton Department, The New York Times, CBS, American, French Legion of, Social Security, Twitter Locations: Ohio, St, Cleveland, one’s, Seattle , Washington, Cambridge , Massachusetts, West, Horton, New York City, ”, Brookline , Mass, drmaggiemulqueen.com

☆ Microsoft reportedly tells hundreds of AI and cloud staff to consider leaving China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The offer has been made to machine learning and cloud workers, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementMicrosoft is reportedly asking up to 800 China-based employees if they'd consider leaving the country as tensions between the US and China grow. The company is offering workers involved in machine learning or cloud work transfers to countries like the US, Ireland, and Australia, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Representatives for Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Microsoft, Street Journal, Service, Wall Street Journal, Business Locations: China, Washington, Beijing, Ireland, Australia

☆ Ukrainian officials want the green light to strike targets in Russia with US weapons, saying they couldn't do anything about enemy troops massing nearby: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUkrainian parliamentary officials are pushing the Biden administration to remove restrictions on Kyiv striking targets in Russian territory with its arsenal of US weapons, Politico reported. Ukraine knew for weeks that Russia was massing troops at the border, with intelligence officials saying in early May that Moscow was gathering some 50,000 to 70,000 personnel there. Speaking to Politico, Ustinova said the Russians had become "smart now because they know there is a restriction for Ukrainians to shoot at the Russian territory." Ukraine has been attacking targets beyond the border — more recently on Russia's oil facilities — but only with its own drones. The policy has been criticized as a means of effectively shielding Russia from significant Ukrainian counterattack.

Persons: —, Biden, David Arakhamia, Oleksandra Ustinova, Ustinova, it's, isn't Organizations: Service, Politico, Business, Ukraine, Kharkiv, NATO, Kremlin, US Locations: Washington, Russia, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Mariupol, Vovchansk, West

☆ China is still an important market even if investors diversify from it now, says Peak XV
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China will remain an important market for investors in the long term, even if other countries are now benefiting from investments flowing out of China amid escalating tensions with the U.S., according to Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia Capital India and Southeast Asia. "The China Plus One strategy, in terms of sourcing and so on, is definitely benefiting places like India, Southeast Asia," said Shailendra Singh, managing director of Peak XV Partners, one of Asia's biggest venture capital firms with $9 billion of assets under management. Last year, Sequoia split into three independent geographic units – Sequoia Capital in the U.S. and Europe, Peak XV Partners in India and Southeast Asia and HongShan in China. Peak XV has invested in over 400 companies in the technology, software, financial services and consumer space. They include fintech firm Pine Labs, Singapore-based online retailer Carousell, Indonesian ride-hailing giant Gojek as well as Indian edtechs Byju's and Unacademy.

Persons: Shailendra Singh, Singh, CNBC's Tanvir Gill Organizations: U.S, XV Partners, Sequoia Capital, Asia's, Sequoia, Partners, Labs Locations: China, Sequoia, Sequoia Capital India, Southeast Asia, India, U.S, Europe, HongShan, Washington, Beijing, Singapore

☆ U.S. and Taiwan navies reportedly held secret Pacific drills in April
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

TOPSHOT - Navy soldiers walk past a Taiwan-made corvette warship during the inauguration ceremony in Yilan on March 26, 2024. Sam Yeh | Afp | Getty ImagesThe U.S. and Taiwan navies conducted joint drills in the Pacific in April that, officially, did not take place, four people briefed on the matter said, as the two militaries boost cooperation amid rising Chinese military threats. Washington and Taipei have been expanding their military cooperation in recent years amid almost daily Chinese incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone and drills by Chinese forces near the island. The drills, which were not publicized, took place last month in the Western Pacific, according to the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter. "The Navy often makes contact with vessels of other countries and conducts encounter drills as needed," the statement said, without elaborating.

Persons: Sam Yeh Organizations: Navy, Afp, Getty, U.S, Pentagon Locations: Taiwan, Yilan, Pacific, Washington, Taipei, U.S, China, United States, Beijing

☆ Meet the group preparing for a Soviet Union-type collapse of the US economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the people preparing for the collapse of the financial system . The big storyPreparing for the worstAdobe; Chelsea Jia Feng/BIOpinions fluctuate on the economy, but one group has a decidedly strong take. In the subreddit r/economiccollapse, users are preparing for a Soviet Union-type fall of the US economy , writes Business Insider's Jennifer Sor. Further down the economic totem pole, ALICEs (asset limited, income constrained, employed) are struggling to make ends meet . 3 things in techAlex Wong/Getty Images, STR / Contributor/Getty Images, Stephane De Sakutin/Contributor/Getty Images, Abanti Chowdhury/BIHow Mark Zuckerberg turned against the news.

Persons: —, Chelsea Jia Feng, Jennifer Sor, Jennifer, aren't, Tyler, there's, Neil Dutta, Jim Simons, annualized, Alex Wong, Stephane De Sakutin, Abanti Chowdhury, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Rupert Murdoch, Sam Altman, Alyssa Powell, Rick Doblin, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover, Grace Lett Organizations: Service, Business, Chelsea, Macro, Renaissance Technologies, Big Tech, Apple, FDA, FOX Locations: Soviet Union, China, Washington, Beijing, New York, London, Chicago

☆ Entity list: 37 Chinese companies hit with US trade restrictions over suspected spy balloon incident
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington — The Biden administration added 37 Chinese entities to a trade restriction list on Thursday, including some for allegedly supporting the suspected spy balloon that flew over the United States last year, heightening tensions between Beijing and Washington. Media have said state-owned China Electronics Technology Group is a top military equipment supplier. China Electronics Technology Group could not immediately be reached for comment. The trade restriction list, known as the entity list, has been used aggressively by the United States to stem the flow of technology to China amid concerns Beijing could use it to bolster its military capabilities. Being added to the list makes it harder for US suppliers to ship to the targeted entities.

Persons: Washington —, Biden, Antony Blinken, “, Army’s Organizations: The Commerce Department, China Electronics Technology Group, Media, China Electronics Technology, State, Commerce Department, PLA Locations: United States, Beijing, Washington, China, overreacting, Russia

☆ Opinion | Biden’s Real Mistake in Pausing Military Aid to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It is unfortunate that President Biden chose to announce his pause of some weapons sales to Israel while on a political campaign swing through Wisconsin. I use that word — “unfortunate” — not because I don’t understand why Biden did so, but because the move has enabled Benjamin Netanyahu to deflect attention from the fact that the most dangerous leader threatening Israel today is not Biden but Bibi. Netanyahu’s policies have not and will not produce a sustainable victory in Gaza, cannot secure Israel against its greatest existential threat — Iran — and are endangering world Jewry and undermining America’s broader Middle East strategic needs and goals. That is the real source of tension between Washington and Jerusalem today. It is not Biden’s temporary hold on sending Israel a fresh supply of 2,000-pound bombs and some other offensive weapons — which Biden has been warning Israel for months that he would do if Israel attempted to pulverize Rafah, the way that it did Gaza City and Khan Younis, without an evacuation of civilians.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bibi, Israel, Khan Younis, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Hamas ❤️ Biden Organizations: Israel, National Security, Hamas Locations: Israel, Wisconsin, Gaza, Iran, Washington, Jerusalem, Rafah

☆ Analysis: Biden’s Rafah warning sends immediate shockwaves through US and global politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Hospitals are overstretched as Palestinians die in Israeli attacks on the suburbs and tens of thousands of people have already fled. For Netanyahu, the eradication of the group that carried out the October 7 attacks may be a matter of political survival. • Can Israel — as Netanyahu vows — go ahead alone in an operation even the US has disowned? • How would a full-scale offensive in Rafah further hamper already faltering attempts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas? Initially, Biden’s warning, delivered in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett in the swing state of Wisconsin on Wednesday, looks like a case of political whiplash.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, —, Reagan, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Biden, Donald Trump, Netanyahu, Will Biden’s, Israel —, pummel, he’s, Erin Burnett, CNN Alon Pinkas, CNN’s Becky Anderson, ” Pinkas, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Joe ”, Israel’s, Gilad Erdan, Yoav Gallant, “, dissing Biden, Mike Johnson, ” Trump, Trump, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan’s, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Israeli, Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations, Democratic, Republicans, Trump, voters, Republican, House, Hamas, Party, GOP, CNBC Locations: Israel, Rafah, Washington, Gaza, Rafah —, New York, Wisconsin, United States, Europe, Michigan, Chicago, Vietnam, Iran, Damascus, Lebanon, Massachusetts

☆ Chris Pine on His Best Movie Roles: 'Wonder Woman,' 'Star Trek,' 'Unstoppable,'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Whether he's playing the handsome leading man in a rom-com or an intensely focused franchise star, Pine has the uncanny ability to adapt into the movie star that's needed at any particular moment. I learned more from that set about what it means to be a movie star than probably anything else. On turning down 'Wonder Woman' twice before director Patty Jenkins convinced him by bringing up 'Casablanca'"Wonder Woman." Warner Bros. PicturesBy the time you did the "Wonder Woman" franchise, you had done your fair share of blockbusters. Even think of "Wonder Woman 1984" — that's a blockbuster movie that is a hero's journey not about revenge.

Persons: Chris Pine, he's, Don Mattingly, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Gwynne Gilford, Robert Pine, Sergeant Getraer, Jack, Pine, Anne Hathaway, David Caruso, it's, Kirk —, Kirk, William Shatner, Karl Urban, McCoy, Karl, Spock, Zach, Quinto, Leonard, Nimoy, Abrams, Shatner, Denzel, Denzel Washington, Tony Scott, Mark Bomback, I'm, you'd, Ben Foster, Taylor, Sheridan, David, Mackenzie, Jeff Bridges, Jeff, Ben, hadn't, Patty Jenkins, Patty, Steve Organizations: Business, Yankee, Washington, Walt Disney Pictures, CSI, Paramount Pictures, Denzel Washington, Denzel, Denzel Washington —, CBS, Warner Bros ., gonzo Locations: cardigan, Pine, Coast, heartthrob, Miami, Casablanca

☆ U.S. and China trade divisions threaten a 'reversal' for global economy, IMF official warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Carlos Barria | Afp | Getty ImagesDifferences between U.S.-led Western and China-aligned economic blocs threaten global trade cooperation and economic growth, a top official with the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday. IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath said in a speech at Stanford University that events such as the global pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have disrupted global trade relations in ways not seen since the Cold War. "Increasingly, countries around the world are guided by economic security and national security concerns in determining who they trade with and invest in," she said, adding that this has resulted in countries increasingly picking sides between China and the U.S. Trade between the China and U.S. blocs has declined compared with trade among countries within the groupings, Gopinath said. The U.S. bloc mainly includes Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, while China-leaning countries include Russia, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Gita Gopinath, Gopinath Organizations: National Committee, China Relations, China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Afp, International Monetary Fund, Stanford University, U.S, IMF, Trade, West Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, China, Ukraine, Washington, Beijing, U.S, South, Taiwan, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria

☆ Saudi Arabia's $100 billion AI and semi-chip fund says it will divest from China if the US asks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi AI firm Alat would divest from China if the US requests it, CEO Amit Midha told Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia has been pouring billions into AI and semiconductor initiatives in an attempt to become a major hub. AdvertisementA new state-backed Saudi Arabian fund centered on semiconductor and AI technology has guaranteed that it would divest from China if Washington requests it. Officials have long portrayed China's access to AI and semiconductor technology as a national security threat. US officials have already had to mandate AI firms to divest from China, such as G42.

Persons: Amit Midha, —, Midha, that's Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Milken Institute Global Conference, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Officials, Silicon, New York Times, United Arab Emirates, Microsoft Locations: Saudi, China, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Beijing, Alat

☆ A US ally is forging ties with China's air force but probably won't get its J-20 stealth fighter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The UAE is boosting ties with China's air force. Major General Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, commander of the UAE's Joint Operations, met with the commander of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force on April 23 to promote closer air force cooperation. Another even speculated Abu Dhabi may eventually seek China's premier stealth fighter: the fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon. I don't see this relationship developing into something similar to what the UAE Air Force has with France or even Russia anytime soon." Furthermore, the Emirati air force fighter fleet is already large for such a small country, making it unlikely the L-15s will serve any combat role.

Persons: —, General Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, China's, Abu Dhabi, Abu, Abu Dhabi's, Ahmed Aboudouh, Aboudouh, Washington's hesitance, Fred Tanneau, Sebastien Roblin, Roblin, haven't, Russia's Su, Robin Organizations: Service, United, Liberation Army Air Force, Dassault Rafales, Chatham House, China Studies Unit, Emirates Policy Center, Rafale, Dassault Aviation, UAE Air Force, UAE, China hasn't, FC, Korea's KF, UAE . The Emirates, KF Locations: UAE, Washington, Beijing, United Arab Emirates, China, United States, Abu Dhabi, UAE's, France, Abu, Russia, Saudi, Pakistan, Ukraine

☆ In Europe, Xi looks to counter claims it’s aiding Russia in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“China is neither the creator of the crisis, nor a party to it or a participant. The trip will also see Xi visit Serbia and Hungary, with the leader’s visit to Belgrade coinciding with the 25th anniversary of NATO’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in the city that killed three. Beijing has defended its trade with Russia as part of normal bilateral ties; it also says it does not provide weapons to parties in conflict. It has not been accused of sending lethal weapons to Russia, but rather goods with military use. Beijing supports efforts recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with “equal and just discussions of all possible peace plans at the conference,” he said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der, “, ramped, Macron, Xi “, he’s, ”, ” Macron, presser, Xi, Vladimir Putin, von der Leyen, Putin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, French, European, NATO, Biden, Kyiv Locations: Hong Kong, Ukraine, China, Europe, Moscow, “ China, Paris, Washington, Beijing, Russian, Serbia, Hungary, Belgrade, Serbian, Balkans, Russia, France, “, Israel, Switzerland

☆ Biden Puts Arms Shipment to Israel on Hold Amid Dispute Over Rafah Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden paused an arms shipment to Israel last week to prevent the U.S.-made weapons from being used in a long-threatened assault on the city Rafah, administration officials said on Tuesday night, a sign of the growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem over the conduct of the war. The president withheld 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs that he feared could be dropped on Rafah, where more than one million Gazans have taken refuge, the officials said. The administration is reviewing whether to hold back future transfers, including guidance kits that convert so-called dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions. Israeli officials disclosed the weapons pause to Axios earlier this week, but U.S. officials refused to confirm it either at briefings or privately until Tuesday night. Confirmation of the arms pause came just hours after Israel sent tanks into the city in southern Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Israel Organizations: Biden’s Democratic, Hamas Locations: Israel, U.S, Rafah, Washington, Jerusalem, Gaza

☆ House GOP embroiled in escalating primary feuds with majority on line
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Manu Raju | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

For more on House Republican primary infighting, watch “Inside Politics with Manu Raju” on Sunday at 8 a.m. Washington CNN —GOP Rep. Don Bacon has had it with the far-right of his conference. Now McCarthy allies in the House GOP Conference are considering giving a boost to Aaron Dimmock, the retired Navy officer facing off against Gaetz in the August 20 primary. And while the outcomes in most of these primary races won’t impact the GOP’s efforts to keep the majority, they will shape the makeup of the next House Republican Conference and how they pursue their agenda. Several of Gonzales' colleagues in the House are backing a GOP primary challenger in his race for reelection.

Persons: Manu Raju ”, Don Bacon, They’ve, Republicans —, Bob Good, “, Bob Good’s, ” Bacon, we’ve, Tony Gonzales, Matt Gaetz, Good —, Adam Morgan, William Timmons, Kevin McCarthy, John McGuire, McCarthy, Mike Johnson, Dan Newhouse, Donald Trump, MAGA, Scott Perry, Jerrod, Gaetz —, McCarthy —, Gaetz, Aaron Dimmock, Derrick Van Orden, tubby ”, Chip Roy, Samuel Corum, Trump, ”, Ralph Norman, Morgan, Timmons, Joe Biden, Sen, Tony Vargas, Bacon, Dan Frei —, Lee Terry, “ He’s, ” Frei, Frei, Eric Underwood, Underwood, Bacon doesn’t, ” Underwood, he’s, Frei mailer, it’s, Gonzales, Tom Williams, Sarah Chamberlain, McGuire, Good’s, Steve Bannon, I’ve, ” Johnson, that’s, undercutting, CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Sheden Tesfaldet Organizations: Republican, Washington CNN, GOP, Republicans, Nebraska Republican, CNN, Congress, Caucus, Rep, Good, Washington, Trump, Freedom Caucus, House GOP Conference, Navy, Gaetz, ”, Wisconsin Republican, Capitol, Getty, House Republican Conference, Democratic, Nebraska Republican Party, Nebraska Republicans, “, mailer, Republican Main Street Partnership, Nebraska GOP Locations: Nebraska, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, Ukraine

☆ Inside Rep. Rob Menendez's fight to be more than a 'nepo baby'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

"I don't have the capacity to think through, well, what if, what if, what if," Menendez told me. Mayor Bhalla told me that he began contemplating his primary challenge shortly after the elder Menendez was first indicted in September. AdvertisementSitting in his recently opened campaign office, the mayor told me that the most important facet of his candidacy was his fight against New Jersey's party boss-driven political culture. "Everything here is a headline or a deadline driving the process," Councilman Paul Presinzano said of Mayor Bhalla. Menendez looks on as Bhalla's opening remarks at a Jersey City candidate forum are filmed by a cameraman.

Persons: Rob Menendez —, Sen, Bob Menendez —, Ravi Bhalla, Menendez, —, Rob Menendez, Bob Menendez, who's, that's, frat bro, I've, Stephen Chernin, he's, father's, Phil Murphy, Bhalla, Pete Buttigieg, outraise Menendez, Ted Shaffrey Bhalla, Menendez —, there's, They're, Andy Kim, Tammy Murphy, James Solomon, you've, hasn't, bossism, Anna Moneymaker, deriding, didn't, I'm, wasn't, we're, It's, Sam Bankman, rZ6H2IB4N0, — Rob Menendez, @RobMenendez4NJ, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, Kim, Fisher, Paul Presinzano, Union City —, Donald Trump, Bryan Metzger, Rob's, Tammy Murphy's, He's, Cory Booker, Rob Menendez Bhalla, Steve Fulop —, corruptly Organizations: Hoboken, Service, Nike Air Force, Gov, Port Authority of New, New Jersey ., Sikh American, Congress, South, AP, New, Democratic Rep, First, Jersey City, Getty, Lipton Tea Company, House Transportation, Infrastructure, Union City, Homeland Security, Democratic, House Democratic, Facebook Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Hoboken, Port Authority of New York, he's, Jersey City, Washington ,, Washington and NJ, Menendez's, Union City

On a visit to Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken put the onus squarely on Hamas to accept the proposal. But Israeli officials have said, consistently and emphatically, that the offensive will take place. The number of Palestinians Israel is offering to free in exchange is unclear. More than 100 were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November, and Israeli officials say they believe that more than 30 — possibly many more — are dead. Gazan health officials say that Israel’s subsequent bombing and invasion have killed more than 34,000 people, and injured far more.

Persons: Osama Hamdan, Al Manar, —, Antony J, Blinken, wouldn’t, ”, Yair Lapid, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Hamdan, Biden, Netanyahu’s, ” Mr, Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: Israel, Hezbollah, Hamas, United Nations Locations: Jerusalem, Washington, Gaza, Lebanese, Israel, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Rafah, masse

☆ Opinion: Unable to ‘win’ in Gaza, Israel sets its sights elsewhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Opinion Hussein Ibish | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —An eerie relative calm has descended on the Middle East — Gaza obviously excluded — since a highly alarming exchange of missile, rocket and drone attacks by Israel and Iran in recent weeks. Now, the recent exchange of direct military attacks with Iran might have sealed Lebanon’s fate, unless team Biden can restrain Israel. On April 1, Israel struck an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, killing a number of senior Iranian officials including Brig. As Israel’s forces moved south through Gaza, obliterating Hamas brigades with relative ease, its thinking relatively quickly turned north again. If this happens, a primary US goal regarding the Gaza war — conflict containment — would be shattered not by Washington’s adversaries, but ironically by its closest regional partner.

Persons: Hussein Ibish, Read, Biden, Israel, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Haji Rahimi, Hossein Amirollah, Louai Beshara, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Charbel Mallo, Israel —, Joe Biden Organizations: Gulf States Institute, Israel, CNN, Biden, Hezbollah, Brig, Iran’s, Quds Force, Getty, Iranian, Israeli Locations: Washington, East, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Iranian, Damascus, Brig, Syria, AFP, Tehran, United States, Kafr Kila, Lebanese

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