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☆ Australian Voice referendum: Australians vote No in referendum that promised change but couldn't deliver
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“It is as Australians together that we must take our country beyond this debate without forgetting why we had it in the first place. “This is a referendum we should never had had because it was built on a lie that Aboriginal people do not have a voice,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Yes campaigner Marilyn Trad told CNN that volunteers making calls to prospective voters had to break the news to some – this week – that there was indeed a referendum. The result means no constitutional change, but the referendum will have lasting consequences for the entire nation, according to experts. “So that power, to change, to modernize, to update the constitution has been put in the hands of the Australian people.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, ”, Warren Mundine, –, Martin Ollman, MC Hammer, John Farnham, “, Marilyn Trad, Kevin Argus, Argus, Mick Tsikas, Australia’s, Pat Dodson, ” “ We’ve, ” Maree Teesson, Teesson, Paula Gerber Organizations: Australia CNN —, Nations, Australian Electoral Commission, CNN, Sky News, SBS, Torres Straight Islanders, Torres Strait, ”, First Nations, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Constitutional, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, House, National Press Club, Aboriginal, Matilda Center for Research, Mental Health, University of Sydney, Law, Monash University Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Canberra, Old

☆ An astrophysicist explains why even if you were right next to the Voyager probes 15 billion miles from the sun you could still see them
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reddit users asked: If you were in space near the Voyager probes, would you be able to see them? Today, it's the farthest manmade object from Earth, orbiting over 15 billion miles from the sun in interstellar space. That's still about 15 times brighter than the light Earth gets during a full moon on a clear night, Zemcov said. The distance the Voyager probes have already gone is staggering. "The point is, in terms of that distance, like Voyager has hardly gotten anywhere."

Persons: —, Michael Zemcov, Zemcov, you'd, there's Organizations: Service, Rochester Institute of Technology, NASA, JPL, Caltech

☆ Iran warns of 'far-reaching consequences' if Israel not stopped
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A member of Basij paramilitary forces attends a rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, October 13, 2023. Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Iran warned in a social media post on Saturday that if Israel's "war crimes and genocide" are not stopped then the situation could spiral out of control with "far-reaching consequences." Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group a week ago. U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland met with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beirut on Saturday, the United Nations said. Israel's mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the Axios report or the social media post by Iran.

Persons: Majid Asgaripour, Axios, Israel, Tor Wennesland, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Ismail Haniyeh, Stephane Dujarric, Michelle Nichols, Paul Grant, Chizu Organizations: West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Acquire, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, UN, Security, United, Iran's, Al, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, United States, Lebanon, Lebanon's Iran, U.N ., Abdollahian, Beirut, Qatar, Al Jazeera

☆ At UN, Palestinians call for halt to Israeli offensive, world powers mull options
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Guterres briefed the 15-member U.N. Security Council behind closed doors on Friday. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said after the meeting, adding that Russia was also ready to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians. The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any Security Council action. He said the United Nations and the Security Council were "facing one of their most pivotal moments," adding: "Will they remain true to their founding values? The Arab Group ambassadors called for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid access to Gaza and a stop to any mass displacement of Palestinians.

Persons: Ahmed Zakot, Antonio Guterres, Riyad Mansour, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Guterres, U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Israel, Barbara Woodward, we've, Zhang Jun, Erdan, Mansour, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Gaza UN, Lebanon UNITED NATIONS, Palestinian United, Arab Group, United Nations, Security, West Bank, Security Council, Reuters, UNSC, United, Hamas, Arab, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, West Bank, Lebanon, Palestinian United Nations, Israel, Russia, United States, Britain, France, China, British

☆ China Urges Israel to Restart Peace Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China’s special envoy to the Middle East urged Israel to restart peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution. Zhai Jun said in a phone call with an Israeli Foreign Ministry official that China was concerned about the escalation in violence and expressed its condolences to the families of the recent attack. He said Beijing condemns any actions that harm civilians.

Persons: Zhai Jun Organizations: Israeli Foreign Ministry Locations: Israel, China, Beijing

☆ Palestinians Face Israeli Deadline to Leave Northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - More than 1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza faced an Israeli deadline on Saturday to flee south, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had only just begun to retaliate for last week's Hamas rampage across southern Israel. Israel has since put the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. More than one million residents of northern Gaza on Friday received 24 hours notice from Israel to flee south before an expected ground offensive. While several thousand residents headed south on Friday from northern Gaza, many others said they would stay. There have also been fears of hostilities spreading, including to Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where clashes this week have already been the deadliest since 2006.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Netanyahu, Mohammad, General Antonio Guterres, Biden, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, Martin Griffiths, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Gallant, Blinken, King Abdullah, Abbas, videographer Issam Abdallah, Gilad Erdan, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Gorman, Dan Whitcomb, Jonathan Landay, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Hamas, U.S, United Nations, Palestinian Authority, Gaza . U.S . Defence, Friday, Israeli, Bank, West Bank, Reuters Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Philadelphia, Egypt, Jordan, Gaza . U.S, Qatar, U.S, Lebanon, Jerusalem, New York, Geneva, Washington, Amman, Los Angeles

Unlike Russia, one of the world's top oil and gas producers, Israel has very modest energy production. But there is a risk the war could spread to major energy producers in the Middle East and affect oil and gas flows. Second, a deal being brokered by Washington to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which could see the kingdom increase oil output, could be derailed. Saudi Arabia told the White House it is willing to boost oil production early next year to help secure the deal, the Wall Street Journal reported last week. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak added on Thursday that current oil prices factored in the conflict and reflected the market's belief that risks posed by the clashes were not that high.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Brent, David Goldwyn, Rob Thummel, Janet Yellen, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji, Joe Biden, Helima Croft, Biden, Ben Cahill, Prince Abdulaziz, Alexander Novak, Vladimir Putin, Natalie Grover, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Laura Sanicola, Kirsten Donovan, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, U.S . State Department, Tortoise, Iran, U.S, Treasury, Iranian Oil Minister, RBC Capital Markets, Macquarie, SAUDI, Israel, Wall Street, Washington, Strategic, International Studies, Saudi Arabia's Energy, CNBC, OPEC, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Iran, Hormuz, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Strait, Riyadh, Moscow, United States, Tehran, Washington . Saudi Arabia, Saudi, OPEC, London, New York

☆ Biden Talks With Families of Missing Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden held a call Friday with the family members of the 14 Americans still unaccounted for following the attacks in Israel, the White House said. Biden was joined on the call by a group of advisers, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Roger Carstens, who serves as a special envoy for hostage affairs. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the call included a couple of family members from each of the families of those 14 Americans. Kirby said Biden “conveyed directly to these families that they have been in his prayers” and said the government was doing everything possible to locate and bring home their loved ones. The fate of the missing Americans remains unknown, but U.S. officials have said at least some of them are believed to be among the hostages taken by Hamas.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Roger Carstens, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden “ Organizations: National Security Council Locations: Israel

☆ Palestinians face Israeli deadline to leave northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has since put the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. More than one million residents of northern Gaza on Friday received 24 hours notice from Israel to flee south before an expected ground offensive. While several thousand residents headed south on Friday from northern Gaza, many others said they would stay. "Death is better than leaving," said Mohammad, 20, outside a building smashed by an Israeli air strike near the centre of Gaza. There have also been fears of hostilities spreading, including to Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where clashes this week have already been the deadliest since 2006.

Persons: JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Netanyahu, Mohammad, General Antonio Guterres, Biden, Ahmed Zakot, Stephane Dujarric, Martin Griffiths, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Gallant, Blinken, King Abdullah, Abbas, videographer Issam Abdallah, U.N, Gilad Erdan, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Gorman, Dan Whitcomb, Jonathan Landay, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: West Bank, Hamas, U.S, United Nations, REUTERS, Palestinian Authority, Gaza . U.S . Defence, Friday, Israeli, Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Northern Gaza, Israel, Gaza, Philadelphia, Egypt, Jordan, Gaza City, Gaza . U.S, Qatar, U.S, Lebanon, Jerusalem, New York, Geneva, Washington, Amman, Los Angeles

☆ The 53 most promising climate tech startups of 2023, from AI robotics to soil carbon sampling, according to top VCs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Climate tech, which encompasses everything from sustainable materials and financing for farmers to e-bikes and carbon accounting software, has not been immune to the tech slow down. But as society increasingly realizes it must race to net zero greenhouse gas emissions, climate tech continues to spark interest from VCs. Insider asked top VCs which climate tech startups were hot this year. Some VCs named several startups. Check out the 53 startups below, in alphabetical order.

Persons: John Kerry Organizations: Energy, Redwood Materials Locations: VCs

☆ Biden speaks with families of Americans unaccounted for in Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Friday spoke with the families of the Americans who remain unaccounted for in Israel after promising to speak with family members of those who are held hostage by Hamas. The family members joined Biden from both Israel and the US for the video call, a source familiar with the conversation told CNN. It made for a large gathering, as multiple family members joined from different locations in some cases. We are confident that we are in good hands,” she said on “The Situation Room.”Cohen noted that she has many other family members unaccounted for. The US is in “direct communication” with Israeli counterparts and the families, Kirby told CNN’s Poppy Harlow on Friday morning.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “, ”, John Kirby, Biden “, Roger Carstens, Kirby, ” Kirby, Saray Cohen, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, ” Cohen, CBS ’ Scott Pelley, ” Biden, White, CNN’s Poppy Harlow, Antony Blinken Organizations: Washington CNN, National Security, Biden, CNN, CBS, FBI, Pentagon Locations: Israel, Philadelphia, United States, America, Gaza, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq

☆ US Secretary of State Blinken meets Jordanian king in Amman
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMMAN, Oct 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday met with Jordanian King Abdullah in Amman, the second stop of his most extensive Middle East tour yet as Israel prepares for a sweeping ground offensive in Gaza, and he urged people in Gaza city to evacuate to the south. His demand, which the United Nations said would be impossible to carry out "without devastating humanitarian consequences”, comes a day after Blinken visited Israel and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the conflict. Before departing for Doha, he is set to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman. U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen traveled with Blinken to Israel and will stay to support efforts to free them, Blinken said. Israel said there would be no humanitarian break until all hostages were freed.

Persons: Antony Blinken, King Abdullah, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Jordan, Mahmoud Abbas, we’ll, ” Blinken, “ We’ll, ” Washington, Steve Gillen, Humeyra Pamuk, Hugh Lawson Organizations: United Nations, Doha, Palestinian, Hostage, Thomson Locations: AMMAN, Amman, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Egypt, American, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, “, Tel Aviv, Gaza . U.S, Blinken

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s commitment to transform long-marginalized rural and conflict areas and new peace efforts were the highlights of his first year in office, the U.N. special envoy for the South American country said. More than 14,000 FARC fighters gave up their weapons under that agreement, but violence between some rebel groups has grown in parts of Colombia. Leyva said the council resolution states that the justice component should apply to all who participated directly or indirectly in the conflict. Wood reiterated the U.S. commitment to working with Colombia to implement the 2016 peace agreement. Ambassador Barbara Woodward also welcomed the government’s recent progress on rural reform and restitution of land to Indigenous communities.

Persons: Gustavo Petro’s, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, ”, Colombia’s, Alvaro Leyva, —, Petro, ” Leyva, Leyva, Robert Wood, ” Wood, Wood, Britain’s U.N, Barbara Woodward, Ruiz ’ Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, South, . Security, Revolutionary Armed Forces, Council, National Development, Security, National Liberation Army, EMC, Colombian, Colombia ” Locations: Colombia, U.S, “, Colombian

☆ US slams Colombia president's remarks on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during an event with peace negotiators of Colombia's government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, in Bogota, Colombia August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Vannessa Jimenez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday criticised remarks made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro in which he compared Israeli government comments to those made by Nazis, and called on him to condemn Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing on Monday a "total blockade" to stop food and fuel reaching Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Public broadcaster Kan said the Israeli death toll from the attack had risen to more than 1,300. Lipstadt, a historian, successfully defeated a libel case brought by British author David Irving after she labeled him a Holocaust denier.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Vannessa Jimenez, Petro, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Israel, Deborah Lipstadt, Kan, David Irving, Oliver Griffin, Mark Porter Organizations: National Liberation Army, REUTERS, Rights, Colombian, Hamas, Israeli, Democratic, U.S ., Public, Nazi, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA, United States, Gaza, Warsaw, British

Summary LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:"Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety...and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields," Israeli military says. The Israeli military said it would operate "significantly" in Gaza City in coming days and civilians should only return when advised. "Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields," the military said. "Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent Gazan civilians." [1/16]Palestinians flee their homes amid Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza City, October 13, 2023.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Gilad Erdan, Israel, Cross, Fabrizio Carboni, Antony Blinken, Mohammed Salem, Blinken, Jordan's King Abdullah, Mahmoud Abbas, Hassan Nassrallah, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mount Herzl, Khan Younis, Ibrahim Hamdan, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Gorman, Dan Whitcomb, Michael Martina, Michael Perry, Michael Georgy, Philippa Fletcher, Howard Goller, Diane Craft, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, United Nations, Shifa, International Committee, Food Programme, ICRC, U.S, NATO, REUTERS, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, United Arab, U.S . Defense, Washington, United, Police, FBI, Mount, Thomson Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, JERUSALEM, TEL AVIV, Israel, Japan, United States, Palestinian, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, UAE, Turkish, U.S, Paris, Amsterdam, London, New York, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, Gazans, Geneva, Washington, Tel Aviv

The war provoked by Hamas' attack on Israel has shaken American politics — and put the primary race in her wheelhouse. Iran has long supported Hamas, though U.S. officials say there's no conclusive evidence yet that Iranian agents were involved in the most recent attack. Ron DeSantis proposed state-level sanctions against Iran for its ongoing support of Hamas. Since before the war, Haley has gone after her rivals on issues such as U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion and how Washington deals with China. And, in keeping with how he treats rivals, Trump has given Haley a nickname, “Birdbrain."

Persons: CLIVE, — Nikki Haley, peppering, —, Haley, Donald Trump, ”, we’re, wouldn't, Israel, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, “, ” Ramaswamy, ” Haley, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Bill Strong, ” Strong, Nikki, doesn’t, Bruce Rauner, Rauner, She’s, Linda Marks, ” Marks, Thomas Beaumont, Elliot Spagat, ___ Meg Kinnard Organizations: Republican, United Nations, Department of Homeland Security, Israel, Saturday, Banking, Gov, Ukraine, Washington, GOP, Lockheed, Raytheon, Boeing, Trump, Disney, ” Former Illinois Gov, doer, Palestinian, Security, The Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Associated Press Locations: Iowa, China, Russia, Israel, U.S, America, Mexico, Iran, Tehran, South Carolina, Florida, Ukraine, Taiwan, ”, Texas, United States, Gaza, Des Moines, Windsor Heights , Iowa, Boone , Iowa, San Diego

☆ China's Middle East Envoy Expected to Speak to Israel on Thursday Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - China's special envoy on Middle East issues is expected to have a telephone conversation with Israeli officials on Thursday, Israel's Ambassador to China, Irit Ben-Abba, told Bloomberg News. The planned talks come after Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip. China will likely talk about the meeting later in the afternoon, during a regular briefing held by the foreign ministry, Bloomberg reported. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. China's special envoy on the Middle East, Zhai Jun, earlier this week said the country condemns acts that harm civilians and called for an immediate ceasefire.

Persons: Irit Ben, Abba, Zhai Jun, Gursimran Kaur, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, Israel's, Bloomberg News, Hamas, Bloomberg, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Arab League, EU, Palestine, United Nations Locations: Middle, China, Israel, Gaza, Palestine, Bengaluru

☆ Turkey's Erdogan calls Israeli response to Hamas in Gaza a 'massacre'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tuvan Gumrukcu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsANKARA, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel's blockade and bombing of Gaza in retaliation for Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack was a disproportionate response amounting to a "massacre". With Ankara offering to mediate, Erdogan and his foreign minister held calls with regional powers, the United States and others. Speaking to his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said even war had a "morality" but the flare-up since the weekend had "very severely" violated that. On Wednesday, Erdogan criticised Israel's "disproportionate" attacks on Gaza as "devoid of any ethical foundation", and called on the world not to "blindly" take one side.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Brendan McDermid, Erdogan, Israel's, Daren Butler, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Hamas, Ankara, AK Party, European Union, U.S, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights ANKARA, Gaza, United States, Ankara, Israel, Turkey, Palestinian, Americas, Europe

☆ Opinion: This is why the two-state solution is dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Anna Lee | Opinion Jason Greenblatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Reports of women stripped naked and paraded by fighters in Gaza, toddlers kidnapped alongside Holocaust survivors, homes burst into by terrorists hunting down Jews. The last one, with its supposed vision of a peaceful Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. I spent nearly three years at the Trump White House attempting to reach a peace deal between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. (Indeed, the peace plan we crafted was rejected by the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah before they even read it.) Israel cannot achieve peace with Palestinians when a segment of the Palestinian population still intends to destroy it.

Persons: Jason Greenblatt, “, Abraham ”, “ Allahu Akbar ”, unachievable, Israel, Fatah, Joe Biden, Biden, it’s Organizations: White, Middle, Trump Administration, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, CNN, Trump White House, Jewish, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Israel, Downing Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jewish State, Palestinian, New York

☆ Palestinian UN envoy accuses Israel of 'genocidal' campaign against Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on Saturday, when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns, killing more than 1,000 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza. Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have razed entire districts as it prepares for a possible ground offensive. Ambassador Gilad Erdan on Sunday accused Hamas of war crimes and said it was time to "obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure," as the 15-member U.N. Security Council met behind closed-doors on the conflict. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he was "deeply distressed" by Israel's announcement of a complete siege on Gaza. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially," Guterres said.

Persons: H, Mansour, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Israel, Riyad Mansour, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gilad Erdan, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: Observer, United Nations, . Security, Council, UNITED NATIONS, Gaza, Hamas, Israel's, Reuters, Washington, Israeli, Security, Thomson Locations: Palestine, U.N, New York City , New York, U.S, Gaza, Israel

Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, said the country would continue to play a constructive role in handling global "hotspot issues". But after the killings of more than 900 Israelis in coordinated assaults by the Islamic group Hamas, China's response was muted. China is willing to maintain communication with all parties and make unremitting efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East," Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday. "The achievement of peace in the Middle East region and the just settlement of the question of Palestine are inseparable." "China is very successful in a stable environment in the Middle East when it's possible to broker reconciliation agreements between Saudi Arabia and Iran," said Jean-Loup Samaan, Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore.

Persons: Washington . Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Bill Figueroa, Wang Wenbin, COVID lockdowns, Xi, Steve Tsang, Zhai Jun, Liu Zhongmin, Yun Sun, Tuvia Gering, Jean, Loup Samaan, Samaan, Michael Martina, Don Durfee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Hamas, University of Groningen, Palestinian, Western, SOAS China Institute, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Arab League, EU, Palestine, United Nations, Abraham Accords, Institute for Middle East Studies of Shanghai International Studies University, China Program, Stimson, Institute for National Security Studies, Initiative, Middle East Institute of, National University of Singapore, Thomson Locations: China, Middle East HONG KONG, BEIJING, SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Saudi, Washington, Palestine, Netherlands, United States, PALESTINE, China's, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine, London, U.S

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Tuesday formally declared the ousting of Niger's democratically-elected president a coup d'etat, more than two months after mutinous soldiers seized power. The coup designation comes with the suspension of counterterrorism assistance and military training as well as the pausing of certain foreign assistance programs worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup — the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government — typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned. The bases are a critical part of America’s overall efforts in West Africa and Niger, hosting more than 1,000 troops in the country. While a sizeable footprint remains in the country, those troops are not conducting either partnered training or counterterrorism missions, administration officials said, raising questions as to why they were staying.

Persons: Niger's, it’s, we’ve, they've, ”, Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon, Mohamed Bazoum who’s, Bazoum, —, Biden, Peter Pham, ___ Mednick Organizations: WASHINGTON, National Council for, U.S, Islamic, Atlantic Council Locations: United States, U.S, West African, Ambassador, Niger, Sahel, Burkina Faso, Mali, West Africa, Niamey, Agadez, West Africa’s, Cotonou, Benin

DUBAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is refashioning state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the image of an international oil major by stepping up its global expansion and finding new revenue streams to maximise earnings for the Gulf state. The state-owned company also told Reuters it was investing in energy trading, without giving further details. ADNOC has two trading arms, both set up in 2020: ADNOC Trading, which is focused on crude oil, and ADNOC Global Trading, a joint venture with Italy's Eni (ENI.MI) and OMV which is more focused on refined products. Other recent hires include Bart Cornelissen, who left Deloitte to become ADNOC's senior vice president for group strategy and portfolio last month, according to LinkedIn. Recent senior hires for ADNOC's trading arms include alumni of Gunvor, Litasco, Shell and TotalEnergies, the employment network showed.

Persons: ADNOC, Galp, Austria's, Mohammed bin Zayed, headcount, Michele Fiorentino, Baker Hughes, Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Al Kaabi, Bart Cornelissen, Michael Hafner, Hafner, Morgan Stanley, Neil Quilliam, Sultan al, Jaber, John Kerry, Abu, Maha El Dahan, Yousef Saba, Ron Bousso, David Clarke Organizations: United, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, BP, NewMed Energy, Italy's Eni, UAE, IOC, Aramco, LinkedIn, Mubadala Energy, Deloitte, Greenhill &, Deutsche Bank, UBS, HSBC, Shell, Eni, Gunvor, The, Chatham House, United Nations, Masdar, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Africa, Mozambique, ADNOC, Geneva, London, The UAE, Europe, Sultan, Dubai

☆ Russian parliament bosses to discuss revoking ratification of nuclear test ban treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russian lawmakers attend a session of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in Moscow, Russia January 16, 2020. The Kremlin chief said Russia could look at revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as the United States had signed, but not ratified, it. On Friday, Russia's envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) said Moscow would revoke its ratification of the pact, a move that Washington denounced as endangering "the global norm" against nuclear test blasts. Last month CNN said satellite images showed growing activity at nuclear test sites in Russia, China and the United States. In 2020, the Washington Post said the then-Trump administration had discussed whether to hold a nuclear test.

Persons: Evgenia, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia's, Vyacheslav Volodin, Washington, Lidia Kelly, Guy Faulconbridge, Gerry Doyle, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: State Duma, REUTERS, Putin, Kremlin, Comprehensive, Duma, Treaty Organization, Cuban Missile, United, The Soviet Union, CNN, Washington Post, Trump, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, States, MOSCOW, Russian, United States, China, Soviet, Ukraine, Washington, Egypt, Iran, Israel, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Melbourne

☆ Israel UN envoy decries 'war crimes,' UN Security Council meets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ambassador Gilad Erdan ahead of the closed-door meeting of the 15-member Security Council meeting. "The era of reasoning with these savages is over," he told reporters. Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters ahead of the Security Council meeting. Diplomats said it was unlikely the Security Council would issue a statement, which are agreed to by consensus. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told reporters that it was not a priority for Washington at the moment.

Persons: United Nations Gilad Erdan, Mike Segar, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Egypt's, Riyad Mansour, Tor Wennesland, Robert Wood, Wood, Lana Nusseibeh, Michelle Nichols, Susan Heavey, Lisa Shumaker, Diane Craft, Mark Porter Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Security Council, REUTERS, . Security, Hamas, Security, U.N, Diplomats, U.S, Washington, United, United Arab Emirates U.N, Israel, Thomson Locations: U.N, New York City, U.S, Gaza, Israel, U.N ., United Arab, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh

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