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☆ Mojave Desert: How a seed bank in southern California is preserving an ancient ecosystem under threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Samantha Bresnahan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The result was the Mojave Desert Land Trust seed bank. In 2016, Mojave Desert Land Trust officially launched the seed bank project, which has since been described as a “Noah’s Ark” for southern California. A jar of seeds sits in one of three full refrigerators at the Mojave Desert Land Trust headquarters in Joshua Tree, California. Beau Molloy/CNN“We’ve already been able to provide seed to researchers who are studying the effects of climate change on specific species that we have in our seed bank,” Asbell adds. Beau Molloy/CNNRoughly 70,000 Joshua tree seeds are currently preserved in the seed bank, some of which could be planted in cooler locations, if needed.

Persons: birdsong, Madena Asbell, “, ” Asbell, Asbell, Beau Molloy, Kelly Herbinson, ” Herbinson, hasn’t, Corina Godoy, Gerber, MDLT, CNN “ We’ve, Joshua, It’s, Seuss, Herbinson, ”, ” CNN’s Adeline Chen Organizations: CNN, Land Trust, MDLT, Land, Mojave, Conservation Board Locations: California, Texas, Colorado, Mojave, Joshua Tree , California

☆ What it’s really like to live in Antarctica
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The Minnesota native first went to the White Continent in 2007 to work as a janitor at McMurdo Base, one of the three US outposts there. She was one of half-a-dozen people staffing the world’s southernmost post office, UK-administered Port Lockroy. Counting penguins is one of the roles Port Lockroy staff have during their time in Antarctica. Once you get the Antarctica bug, Long and Nelson say, it’s pretty hard to get rid of. In a fast-paced globalized world where everyone is on their phones all the time, Antarctica offers a rare opportunity to live a different kind of life.

Persons: United States –, Keri Nelson, Amundsen, ” Nelson, “, McMurdo, Palmer, Evan Townsend, ” Keri Nelson, ”, Nelson, Scott Base, –, Scott, Keri Nelson “, Chris Long, Long, Laura Bullesbach, Bridie Martin, Laura Bullesbach doesn’t, you’re, You’re, Port Lockroy, Bullesbach, Clare Ballantyne, ” Long, Keri Nelson Long, he’s, vacationer, ” Klaus Dodds Organizations: CNN, United, Antarctic, Minnesota, Base, Scott, Palmer, grownups, McMurdo Base, McMurdo, US, Geographic, Pole, Ocean, Scott Base, Port, Lockroy, Port Lockroy, Electronics, University of London Locations: Antarctica, Chile, Japan, Australia, United States, McMurdo, New, Ross, Amundsen, New Zealand, Russian, South America, Port Lockroy, Lockroy, Port, Denver, China

☆ 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 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

☆ Senate border bill exposes Democratic divisions as White House attempts to ramp up pressure on GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez | Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The Senate will vote Thursday on a border security bill that is dividing the Democratic caucus and failed earlier this year, exposing rifts within the party even as they try to shift the narrative on border security. Sources say those talks included reviving the stalled border security measure that initially failed after former President Donald Trump told GOP lawmakers to knock it down. “I will not vote for the bill coming to the Senate floor this week because it includes several provisions that will violate Americans’ shared values. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged over the weekend that not every Democrat may vote for the bill in a letter to colleagues. They think we’re nuts.”But Republican Sen. James Lankford, a key negotiator on the border bill, said he’ll vote against the measure Thursday.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, ’, ” Sen, Cory Booker, Booker, Chuck Schumer, Sen, Alex Padilla, “ It’s, ” Padilla, Virginia Democratic Sen, Mark Warner, ”, Republican Sen, Lisa Murkowski, ” Murkowski, James Lankford, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Tom Suozzi, Murphy, Schumer, ” Robyn Barnard, ” Barnard, We’ve, Brian Schatz, Maine Sen, Angus King, CNN’s Sam Fossum Organizations: CNN, Democratic, White, New, New Jersey Democrat, Republicans, GOP, Senate, Virginia Democratic, Republican, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Tuesday, Democrats, Democratic Rep, of, Human, ”, Democrat Locations: Ukraine, New Jersey, Virginia, Alaska, New, Hawaii, Maine

☆ Businesses push Biden to grant work permits to longtime undocumented immigrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

She knows there’s a bigger pool of experienced workers out there, but she can’t hire them because they are undocumented immigrants. The coalition argues Biden can do more through executive action under current law, including by expanding work permits to spouses of US citizens. All of Indiana dairy farmer Steve Obert's employees are authorized to work, but he is among the business leaders advocating for more work permits for longtime undocumented residents. Courtesy Steve ObertAll of Obert’s 15 non-family employees are foreign born and have work permits. But he knows that undocumented workers contribute a lot to the industry, as well as to the communities where they live.

Persons: Lisa Winton, Winton, Biden, ” Winton, ” Lisa Winton, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Trump, , ”, Karoline Leavitt, “, ” It’s, Steve Obert, Jessica Vaughan, Rebecca Shi, ‘, ’ ”, Shi, Vaughan, Tara Watson, Bush, Obama, Kerri Talbot, Trump’s, Steve, ” Obert Organizations: CNN, Winton Machine Company, American Business Immigration Coalition, Employers, Time, Trump, Pew Research Center, Labor, National Agricultural Workers Survey, Center, American, National Milk Producers Federation, Immigration Services, Center for Immigration Studies, Department of Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Williams College, Immigration, Indiana Dairy Producers Locations: Suwanee , Georgia, Winton, Georgia, America, Indiana

☆ Addressing Immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden and his aides describe this year’s election as crucial — existential, even — because of Donald Trump’s hostility to democracy. Yet given the election’s importance, the Biden administration has been notably slow to address one of his biggest political vulnerabilities: immigration. Polls show that immigration is a top concern of voters, often trailing only the economy. Most voters are unhappy with Biden’s handling of the issue and say they trust Trump more on it. Despite this situation, the White House has been reluctant to act aggressively for most of the past few years.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump’s, Trump Organizations: Democratic, White, Politico

☆ Sweeping changes to America's aging power grid are on their way to help bypass NIMBY roadblocks and state infighting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

America's power grid is old and stressed. The main problem: It takes way too long to build towering high-voltage power lines that carry electricity across state lines and to hook up new power to the grid. AdvertisementBut upgrading the power grid gets bogged down by several issues. A new rule issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this month is aimed at tackling some of the problems. If the US doesn't invest in regional transmission lines, customers will pay the price in the form of congestion and more life-threatening outages.

Persons: Brett White, Larry Gasteiger, Allison Clements, West Virginia —, Jeffrey Shields, PJM, Shields, Manu Asthana's, Asthana, Mark Christie, Neil Chatterjee, Chatterjee, Christine Powell, Chuck Schumer, Gasteiger Organizations: Service, Business, Energy, Princeton University, Federal Energy Regulatory, Democrat, Sierra Club, Republican, Department of Energy, DOE, FERC, Earthjustice's Clean Energy, University of Chicago, wouldn't Locations: Pine, States, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, California

☆ Biden Plans to Give Kenya Key Ally Designation During Its Leader’s Visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden will designate Kenya on Thursday as a “major non-NATO ally,” according to a U.S. official, a move that reflects the president’s determination to deepen relations with the East African nation even as other countries — including Russia and China — are racing to do the same. Mr. Biden will inform Congress of his intention, as required by law, as he hosts President William Ruto of Kenya with a formal state dinner at the White House on Thursday, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to allow Mr. Biden to make the announcement. The designation is given to countries whose militaries have a strategic working relationship with the United States, though not necessarily a mutual defense pact. Kenya would be the first sub-Saharan African country to be so designated. As he greeted Mr. Ruto upon his arrival in Washington on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Biden officially reneged on that promise, telling him that he intended to visit the continent “in February, after I am re-elected.” For months, Mr. Biden’s aides had ducked questions about whether he would travel to Africa during a busy election year.

Persons: Biden, ”, William Ruto of, Ruto, Biden’s Organizations: Kenya, U.S, East, White, U.S . Locations: NATO, Russia, China, William Ruto of Kenya, United States, Kenya, U.S, Africa, Washington

☆ Nigel Farage to Skip U.K. Election So He Can Focus on Helping Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Mark Landler | More About Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nigel Farage, the broadcaster and populist politician who championed Brexit, said on Thursday that he would not run for a seat in the British Parliament in a general election on July 4, preferring to focus on helping former President Donald J. Trump recapture the White House in November. Mr. Farage’s announcement is likely to be a modest relief for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party, since Mr. Farage’s current party, Reform UK, is viewed as a significant threat to the Conservatives from the right. But Mr. Farage said he would “do my bit” to help Reform, which plans to field a slate of candidates in the election, running on an anti-immigration message. “Important though the general election is,” Mr. Farage posted on social media, “the contest in the United States of America on Nov. 5 has huge global significance. Mr. Trump once suggested that the British government appoint Mr. Farage as ambassador to Washington.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Brexit, Donald J, Trump, Rishi Sunak, Farage, ” Mr, Mr Organizations: House, Mr, Conservative Party, Reform, Conservatives Locations: United States, America, U.S.A, British, Palm Beach, Mar, Washington

☆ Kathleen Noble: A lack of equipment and coaching hasn’t stopped software engineer from making Olympic history with landlocked Uganda
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Rory Fleming | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Her journey now sees the 29-year-old set to become a two-time Olympian – Noble represented Uganda at the Tokyo Games – when she competes at Paris 2024. She is Uganda’s first Olympic rowing participant, as well as the African nation’s first and only White Olympian across any sporting discipline. A prodigious swimmer in her youth, Noble represented Uganda at the 2012 World Swimming Championships at just 17 years of age. Then, on a whim during her time as a student at Princeton University, Noble was convinced to try her hand at rowing. Lee Jin-man/APIt is not just a lack of equipment which has hampered rowing’s growth in the east African country.

Persons: Kathleen Noble’s, – Noble, Noble, ” Noble, James Martinez, ” Kathleen Noble, Lee Jin, it’s, ”, ’, “, It’s, I’ve, Seb Daly, “ You’re, I’m Organizations: CNN, Tokyo Games, Princeton University, CNN Sport, Olympic, World Rowing Federation, Tokyo, Uganda Rowing Federation, Ugandan Rowing Federation, National Council of Sports, Ugandan, Paris Games Locations: Uganda, Africa, Lake Victoria, Great, Tennessee, Nakaseke, “ Uganda, It’s, Ireland, Tokyo, Paris

☆ It looks like someone tried to steal Graceland, possibly one of the dumbest crimes ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN Business’ Nightcap newsletter. New York CNN —We can’t be 100% sure that an obscure lending company just tried to steal Graceland. Her lawsuit says that the documents Naussany presented, including a 2018 notarized promissory note signed by Lisa Marie Presley, were forged. Even the notary public whose name appeared on the disputed document, told the court in an affidavit that no, they’d never notarized Lisa Marie Presley’s signature. (“Not acquire to proceed?”)It added: “There was no harm meant on Ms. Keough for her mothers LMP mis habits and mis managing of money.”(LMP, presumably, is Lisa Marie Presley.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Elvis Presley’s, —, Lisa Marie Presley, she’d, Naussany, Graceland, Riley Keough, Elvis’s, Keough, Mad Max Fury, Daisy Jones, ”, Naussany’s, Lisa Marie Presley’s, JoeDae Jenkins, Jenkins, ” Jenkins, Keough’s Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Naussany, CNN, Naussany Investments Locations: New York, Tennessee, Graceland, Memphis, America, Shelby County, Naussany, Kimberling City , Missouri, Missouri

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

☆ Meta names four men to a new tech advisory council, months after disbanding its Responsible AI division
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Meta formed a product advisory council six months after disbanding its Responsible AI division. Four white male tech execs sit on the new council, called Meta Advisory Group. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementMeta announced the formation of a product advisory council on Wednesday, six months after it disbanded its Responsible AI division. The Meta Advisory Group consists of four executives: payment platform Stripe CEO Patrick Collison, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke, and former Microsoft executive Charlie Songhurst.

Persons: Meta, —, Patrick Collison, Nat Friedman, Shopify, Tobi Lütke, Charlie Songhurst Organizations: Meta, Service, Microsoft, Business

☆ What Trump 2.0 Could Mean for the Federal Reserve
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Former President Donald J. Trump relentlessly criticized the Federal Reserve and Jerome H. Powell, its chair, during his time in office. As he competes with President Biden for a second presidential term, that history has many on Wall Street wondering: What would a Trump victory mean for America’s central bank? The Trump campaign does not have detailed plans for the Fed yet, several people in its orbit said, but outside advisers have been more focused on the central bank and have been making suggestions — some minor, others extreme. Curbing the central bank’s ability to set interest rates without direct White House influence would be legally and politically tricky, and tinkering with the Fed so overtly could roil the very stock markets that Mr. Trump has frequently used as a yardstick for his success. But other aspects of Fed policy could end up squarely in Mr. Trump’s sights, both former administration officials and conservative policy thinkers have indicated.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Jerome H, Powell, Biden Organizations: Federal Reserve, White

☆ The L.A. Roller Rink Where the Years Glide By
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Liz Brown | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A companion to T’s 212 series about New York institutions, the 213 column highlights beloved landmarks in and around Los Angeles. On a dark night in February, east of the 5 Freeway, south of the 134, down the street from the so-called Gentlemen’s Club, glows the blue neon sign: Moonlight Rollerway. These are the industrial hinterlands of Glendale, a tidy enclave in the rambling city-state that is Los Angeles, and here, among plumbing supply warehouses and an Amazon delivery van lot, sits a squat cinder-block building, an unexpected portal. Under the white overhang, signage abounds: “No In & Out Privileges,” “No Fast Wild or Reckless Skating,” “Be Neat & Clean.” A lengthy passage politely, firmly reminds visitors that risk of accident is inherent in the sport. “If you are not willing to assume that risk,” it reads, “please do not roller-skate here.”

Persons: ” Locations: New York, Los Angeles, Glendale

☆ Biden Administration Cancels Another $7.7 Billion in Student Loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden announced on Wednesday the cancellation of $7.7 billion in student loans held by 160,000 borrowers, building on his strategy of chipping away at college debt by tweaking existing programs as his administration pursues a larger forgiveness plan. Many borrowers in this round — who qualified through public service loan forgiveness, the president’s SAVE plan or another income-driven repayment plan — have already begun receiving emails notifying them of their approvals, the Education Department said in a statement. The steady drumbeat of loan forgiveness announcements from the White House this year has become a centerpiece of Mr. Biden’s re-election pitch, in which he has consistently described overcoming the cost of education as a primary hurdle for working families. “From Day 1 of my administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” the president said in a statement.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s Organizations: Education Department

☆ Israel’s seizure of AP equipment shows its hostile posture toward the free press
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Benjamin Netanyahu-led country on Tuesday took the outrageous step of seizing a camera and other video equipment used by The Associated Press to broadcast a live feed of Gaza — a decision the country only reversed amid severe backlash from free press advocates and following a White House request. And on Tuesday, it used that same law to target the AP, ostensibly confiscating its equipment because it provided its video feed to Al Jazeera, one of its thousands of global clients. A screenshot taken from AP video showing a general view of northern Gaza as seen from Southern Israel, before it was seized by Israeli officials on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. While Israel bowed to pressure on Tuesday and returned the AP’s equipment, the government notably offered no public apology to the renowned wire service. As the AP noted after its equipment was returned Tuesday, the underlying issues are still unresolved.

Persons: New York CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Adrienne Watson, Watson, “, Israel, Shlomo Karhi, Al Jazeera, ” Organizations: New York CNN, The Associated Press, White, State Department, Government, Israel, National Security, AP, Qatari, Al, AP Israel, Israel’s Locations: New York, New York CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Al Jazeera, Southern Israel

☆ Three European Nations Recognized a Palestinian State
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Leaders of Spain, Norway and Ireland said today that their governments would recognize an independent Palestinian state, despite vehement Israeli and American opposition. Well over 100 other countries have recognized a Palestinian state, but in Europe, Israel had enjoyed broad support. That dynamic has begun to shift as the war in Gaza has dragged on. The U.S. supports the eventual creation of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, but a White House spokeswoman said today that statehood should be achieved through negotiations, not declarations. Israeli officials denounced the recognition as “a gold medal to Hamas terrorists,” and said they would withhold much-needed tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority.

Persons: Israel Organizations: Palestinian Authority Locations: Spain, Norway, Ireland, Israel, Palestinian, Europe, Gaza, U.S

☆ The jury in the Trump trial faces a task unique in American history
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“The judge hates Donald Trump, just take a look, take a look at him, take a look at where he comes from. The intricate task that awaits jurorsIt’s impossible to know how jurors are interpreting the daily drama of the courtroom in any trial. Trump has denied the alleged affair with Daniels, and hush money payments are not illegal in themselves. When Cohen finally took the stand, he directly implicated Trump in the alleged scheme to buy Daniels’ silence. But he may have ended up creating a hole in the Trump defense, according to several legal experts.

Persons: there’ll, Donald Trump’s, He’s, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump, Trump, It’s, he’s, —, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, “, Matthew Colangelo, they’ve, Michael Cohen, ”, Todd Blanche, Cohen, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, Hicks, ” Hicks, ’, ” Trump, ‘, ’ ” Cohen, Trump’s, he’d, beseeched, Cohen’s, ” Blanche, Merchan, — Robert Costello, Costello Organizations: CNN, Trump, Attorney, Democrat, Republican, GOP, New York, Prosecutors, American Media Inc, National Enquirer, White House Locations: New York, Manhattan, Lake Tahoe

☆ Inside the White House, a Debate Over Letting Ukraine Shoot U.S. Weapons Into Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since the first American shipments of sophisticated weapons to Ukraine, President Biden has never wavered on one prohibition: President Volodymyr Zelensky had to agree to never fire them into Russian territory, insisting that would violate Mr. Biden’s mandate to “avoid World War III.”But the consensus around that policy is fraying. Propelled by the State Department, there is now a vigorous debate inside the administration over relaxing the ban to allow the Ukrainians to hit missile and artillery launch sites just over the border in Russia — targets that Mr. Zelensky says have enabled Moscow’s recent territorial gains. The proposal, pressed by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken after a sobering visit to Kyiv last week, is still in the formative stages, and it is not clear how many of his colleagues among Mr. Biden’s inner circle have signed on. It has not yet been formally presented to the president, who has traditionally been the most cautious, officials said. The State Department spokesman, Matthew A. Miller, declined to comment on the internal deliberations over Ukraine policy, including Mr. Blinken’s report after his return from Kyiv.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Antony J, Matthew A, Miller, Blinken’s Organizations: State Department, The State Department Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv

The Biden administration is trying to crack down on sneaky fees charged by hotels, rental cars, internet providers and more. Jim Tankersley, a White House correspondent, explains why the effort is doubling as a war against something else that Biden is finding much harder to defeat.

Persons: Biden, Jim Tankersley Organizations: House

☆ Brad Paisley and Howard Gospel Choir to be the entertainment for state dinner as Bidens highlight US-Kenya ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Betsy Klein | Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

US President Gerald Ford dances with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during a state dinner in Washington, DC, in 1976. Jason Reed/Reuters The White House's State Dining Room is seen ahead of a state dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018. Paisley first performed at the White House in 2009 during the Obama administration as part of a music series. “Tomorrow night we’ve created an experience that will feature the beautiful scenes of the White House and the Washington Monument that few get to enjoy,” White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo said. Event planner Bryan Rafanelli also helped the White House plan for the state dinner.

Persons: Brad Paisley, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, William Ruto, Rachel Ruto, “, Howard, “ Brad Paisley, Dr . Biden, Ruto’s, Biden, Ruto, ” Biden, George W, Bush, Gerald Ford, Queen Elizabeth II, Ricardo Thomas, Gerald R, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Enrique Penaranda, Penaranda, Matthew Costello, George R, Nikita Khrushchev, He's, Nina, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Mamie Eisenhower, Costello, John F, Kennedy, Habib Bourguiba, Jackie, Moufida, Bill Allen, Lyndon B, Johnson, Errol W, Barrow, Carolyn, Richard Nixon, Leonid Brezhnev, Charles Tasnadi, Betty Ford, Jordan's King Hussein, David Hume Kennerly, Betty Sherrill, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Jimmy Carter, Deng Xiaoping, Cho Lin, Carter, Nancy Reagan, Indira Gandhi, Mikhail Gorbachev, Joe DiMaggio, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, Boris Yeltsin, Naina, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Barbara, Dirck Halstead, Singer Whitney Houston, Nelson Mandela, Ron Sachs, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Mandela, Zindzi, Wally McNamee, Corbis, Bill Frist, Lynne Cheney, Dick Cheney, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Laura Bush, Prince Philip, Itzhak Perlman, Saul Loeb, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Manmohan Singh, Gursharan Kaur, Pete Souza, White, Obama, Singh, Jason Reed, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Macron, Brigitte, Jabin, Scott Morrison, Joshua Roberts, Paisley, ‘ Wake, Martin Luther, ’ ”, ” Jill Biden, we’ve, Carlos Elizondo, Cris Comerford, Bryan Rafanelli, April’s, Fumio Kishida, Yuko Kishida, CNN’s Sam Fossum Organizations: Washington CNN —, Howard Gospel Choir, White, CNN, Kenyan, Ford Presidential Library, United, White House, Historical Association, Washington Post, Getty, Barbados, AP, Indian, New York Times, Singer, South, Trump, Australian, Paisley, Japanese Locations: Kenya, United States, ”, Ghana, Africa, Russia, Namibia, Washington , DC, Bolivian, Soviet, George H.W ., toasts, Nashville, Washington

☆ Biden administration to forgive $7.7 billion in student debt for more than 160,000 borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks regarding student loan debt forgiveness in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Wednesday August 24, 2022. The Biden administration said on Wednesday that it would forgive $7.7 billion in student loans for more than 160,000 borrowers, its latest effort to reduce the burden of education debt on households. "The Biden-Harris Administration remains persistent about our efforts to bring student debt relief to millions more across the country," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement. Wednesday's loan forgiveness includes $5.2 billion for 66,900 borrowers pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and $1.9 billion for 39,200 people enrolled in income-driven repayment plans. That option leads to student loan forgiveness after 10 years for those who originally borrowed $12,000 or less.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Harris, Miguel Cardona Organizations: White, U.S . Department, Public, Biden, Harris Administration, Valuable Education

☆ Businesses in D.C. Blame the Government for the District’s Empty Offices
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Alexander Nazaryan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Kostas Fostieris grew wistful as he remembered the workday crowds that once flocked to Greek Deli & Catering, a small restaurant a few blocks from the White House that he has operated for 35 years. At lunch, the line would stretch down the block, Mr. Fostieris said. But then the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation, and the lunch crowds vanished. “It’s like the day and night,” Mr. Fostieris lamented as he sat against a wall adorned with signed photographs of the current and former presidents as well as a plethora of framed reviews — some faded, all glowing — from newspapers, magazines and guidebooks. When asked if business on certain weekdays was especially slow, Mr. Fostieris answered quickly: “Every day.”

Persons: Kostas Fostieris, Fostieris, “, ” Mr, ” Organizations: Deli, Catering

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