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☆ Red Sea crisis could lead to global tanker shortage, Kuwait Petroleum CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Felix | Afp | Getty ImagesHOUSTON — The crisis in the Red Sea could lead to a shortage in the global tanker fleet if disruptions persist for another six months, the CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation told CNBC. Houthi militants have been striking commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November in support of Palestinians as Israel wages war in Gaza. The company is continuing to ship through the Red Sea and is making decisions on which route ships should take on a daily basis, he said. "We maintain a strategic tanker tanker fleet for these types of reasons," al-Sabah said. Wirth told CNBC that Chevron is "not moving ships to the Red Sea."

Persons: Shaikh Nawaf Al, Mark Felix, Shaikh Nawaf, KPC, Saddam Hussein's, Michael Wirth, Wirth, CNBC's Brian Sullivan Organizations: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Afp, Getty, HOUSTON, CNBC, Houthi, Global, Chevron Locations: Sabah, Houston , Texas, Red, Israel, Gaza, Africa, al, Al, Persian, Kuwait, Iraq, China

☆ Second Gaza Aid Convoy Ends in Violence, With at Least 20 Killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | Anushka Patil | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

For the second time in just over two weeks, a convoy bringing aid to hunger-stricken northern Gaza ended in bloodshed late Thursday when Palestinians were killed and wounded in an attack surrounding the trucks, according to Gazan health officials and the Israeli military, which offered divergent accounts of what happened. The Israeli military has said that most of the people died in a stampede and that some were run over by the trucks. Israel, which has been under growing pressure to allow more aid into the territory, had organized that convoy to northern Gaza, where the United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands of people are facing starvation. It was not clear immediately on Friday who had sent the latest supplies, driven the trucks or provided security for them. The Israeli military said it had “facilitated the passage” of the 31 trucks but did not elaborate on that.

Persons: ” Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, “, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Kuwait, Gaza City, Israel

☆ Brazil’s Clashing Goals: Protect the Amazon and Pump Lots More Oil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Max Bearak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Through his office window, the head of Brazil’s state-run oil company looked out at the cluttered landscape of Rio de Janeiro. Looking back at him, across the city’s run-down high-rises, was the looming statue of Christ the Redeemer. This, even as his country positions itself as a leader in the fight against climate change which, of course, is primarily driven by the burning of oil and other fossil fuels. Petrobras already pumps about as much crude oil per year as ExxonMobil, according to Rystad Energy, a market research firm. It’s an enormous predicament for Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, better known simply as Lula, who has fashioned himself as the pre-eminent world leader on climate issues.

Persons: Christ, Hawks, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Lula Organizations: Redeemer, Petrobras, ExxonMobil, Rystad Energy, Saudi Locations: Rio de Janeiro, China, Russia, Kuwait

☆ Explainer-How the West Might Use Russia's Frozen Reserves
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Here are some of the ideas that have been suggested:CONFISCATIONSome international policymakers and lawyers say the immobilised Russian reserves can simply be confiscated under a doctrine of international law known as "countermeasures". Some in the bloc are still wary, though, and the European Central Bank has warned that claiming the trapped Russian assets should only be done in tandem with G7 powers. The bondholders would not have a contractual claim on the Kremlin’s frozen reserves. Ukraine would have a plausible way to collect on any damages awarded up to the value of the reserves. If Moscow refused to pay the damages, the allies could then use Russia’s frozen assets to pay off the loan.

Persons: Marc Jones, Lee Buchheit, Daleep Singh, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Marc Jones LONDON, Emergency Economic, U.S, European Central Bank Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kuwait, United States, EU, Russian, Brussels, Belgium, U.S, Britain, China, Hong Kong, Dubai, Moscow

☆ Starbucks Middle East franchisee to slash over 2,000 jobs as boycotts linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict hit Western brands, says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. In a statement in December, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said protesters had been "influenced by misrepresentation on social media" of what the company stands for. AdvertisementA Starbucks spokesperson told Business Insider: "As Alshaya reviews its business portfolio they have made the difficult decision to eliminate some roles in their Starbucks store portfolio." The layoffs came as Starbucks and other Western brands such as McDonald's and KFC have faced consumer boycotts over the Israel-Gaza war. "So long as this war is going on ... we're not expecting to see any significant improvement (in these markets)," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said.

Persons: —, Laxman Narasimhan, AlShaya, Narasimhan, we're, Chris Kempczinski, Jack Guez Organizations: Service, Reuters, Palestine, Business, Starbucks, AlShaya, KFC, Getty Locations: East, North Africa, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Sderot, AFP

☆ Starbucks is laying off thousands of workers in the Middle East in response to Gaza boycotts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Starbucks’ Middle East franchisee, Alshaya Group, is cutting thousands of jobs at its coffee shops because of a “challenging” work environment as the chain grapples with boycotts over the brand relating to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Kuwait-based Alshaya has owned rights to operate Starbucks in the Middle East for more than 25 years and operates around 1,300 locations across the region, employing about 11,000 people. Starbucks’ most recent earnings report missed expectations, partially because of weaker sales in the region. Starbucks isn’t alone: McDonald’s said last month that it’s experiencing “meaningful business impact” in the Middle East because of the war. Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, said its chains’ “sales were impacted by the conflict in the Middle East region with varying degrees of impact,” which dented same-store sales growth in several countries.

Persons: Alshaya, “, ”, McDonald’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, East, Alshaya, CNN, Reuters, Alshaya Group, Brands Locations: New York, Gaza, East, Northern Africa, Kuwait, Western

☆ Middle East Crisis Israeli’s Military Turns Back Convoy Trying to Get Food Into Gaza, U.N. Agency Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Anushka Patil | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks franchise operators across the Middle East and Southeast Asia are losing significant business amid boycotts linked to the Israel-Hamas war, and at least one has started laying off employees. “I think all those who are boycotting Starbucks Malaysia should know that it is a Malaysia-owned company,” he said. A similar post was published on the site for Starbucks in the Middle East. In January, Starbucks cut its global annual sales forecast as the Israel-Hamas war hurt the business of its licensees in the Middle East. Starbucks said it would continue to grow its business in the Middle East, including working with Alshaya Group in developing plans for the region.

Persons: Vincent Tan, ”, Laxman Narasimhan, Howard Schultz Organizations: Starbucks, Alshaya, Hamas, Food Berhad, Starbucks Malaysia, Alshaya Group Locations: East, Southeast Asia, Israel, Kuwait, North Africa, United States, Malaysia

She passed away.”As Israel’s severe restrictions on aid entering the Gaza Strip drain essential supplies, displaced Palestinians told CNN they are struggling to feed their children. CNNFood shortages are reportedly the worst in northern Gaza, where Israel concentrated its military offensive in the early days of the war. Dr. Muhammad Salha, acting director of Al-Awda Hospital, in northern Gaza, told CNN medical workers are treating cases of dehydration, gastroenteritis, and hepatitis among women and children. The US military said it had, alongside the Royal Jordanian Air Force, parachuted more than 36,800 meals into northern Gaza that day. He told CNN that he injured his foot while trying to buy flour along Al-Rashid Street.

Persons: CNN — Anwar Abdul Nabi, Kamal Adwan, tenderly, Mila, Nabi, Ashraf Al, Hussam Abu Safiya, Israel, “, ”, Ikhlas Shehadeh, ” Anwar Abdul Nabi, Richard Peeperkorn, Dr, Muhammad Salha, ’ wombs, Mohammed Salem, Ahmad Salem, Kosay Al Nemer, Melanie Ward, Riyad Mansour, Faraj Abu Naji, Rashid Organizations: CNN, Kamal, Health, Hamas, Ministry of Health, Integrated Food Security, UNICEF State, United Nations Population Fund, World Health Organization, WHO, Al, Awda, Reuters, Humanitarian Affairs, Kamal Adwan Hospital, United Arab, Emirati Ministry of Defense, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Medical Aid, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Rafah, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Gaza City, ”, Kuwait, Rasheed, Palestinian, Al

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Haley waves to the crowd during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013. Alex Wong/Getty Images Haley hugs her husband after his Army National Guard unit returned in 2013. Haiyun Jiang/Bloomberg/Getty Images Haley takes the stage at her election night watch party in Charleston, South Carolina, in February 2024. Haley “won’t just go away,” said Katon Dawson, a longtime Haley ally and former chair of the South Carolina Republican Party.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Haley, Trump, eked, “, ” Haley, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Haiyun Jiang, Nicole Craine, Anna Moneymaker, Kimberly Rice, ”, Haley’s, Ron DeSantis, Charles Koch, ‘ Won’t, “ I’m, Koch, Haley “ won’t, Katon Dawson, Ebony Davis, David Wright, Jennifer Agiesta Organizations: CNN, New, GOP, Trump, Republican Party, State House, New York Times, Twitter, South, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention, Republican, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Former South Carolina Gov, Granite State, Super, Florida Gov, Prosperity, New Hampshire, South Carolina, SFA Fund, South Carolina Republican Party Locations: New Hampshire, South Carolina, California, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, New York, Syrian, United States, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami, Concord , New Hampshire, Granite, MAGA, Utah, Super, Costa Mesa , California, Texas , Massachusetts, North Carolina , Virginia , Texas

☆ Starbucks Franchise Lays Off Workers in Mideast Amid Gaza-Tied Boycotts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Liz Alderman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Starbucks franchise operators across the Middle East and Southeast Asia are losing significant business amid boycotts linked to the Israel-Hamas war, and at least one has started laying off employees. Alshaya Group, a Kuwait-based franchise operator that owns the rights to operate Starbucks in the Middle East, confirmed on Tuesday that it planned to cut 2,000 jobs across the region “as a result of the continually challenging trading conditions over the last six months.”Alshaya Group, which operates over 1,900 Starbucks shops in the Middle East and North Africa that employ 19,000 workers, said in a statement that it would provide affected employees and their families with “the support they need.”The cuts added to drama playing out in the United States, where Starbucks management and a union of Starbucks workers sued each other after the union expressed solidarity with Palestinians.

Persons: ” Organizations: Starbucks, Alshaya, ” Alshaya Locations: East, Southeast Asia, Israel, Kuwait, North Africa, United States

☆ Mideast Starbucks franchisee firing 2,000 workers after being targeted in Israel-Hamas war boycott
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Middle East franchisee of Starbucks said Tuesday it has begun firing around 2,000 workers at its coffee shops across the region after the brand found itself targeted by activists during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Alshaya runs about 1,900 Starbucks branches in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, Starbucks has found itself alongside other Western brands targeted by pro-Palestinian activists over the war. In October, Starbucks sued Workers United, which has organized workers in at least 370 U.S. Starbucks stores. Starbucks isn't the only brand targeted by activists in the war.

Persons: Alshaya, Boycotters Organizations: East, Starbucks, Reuters, Workers United, Israel, McDonald's Locations: Israel, Gaza, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Seattle, U.S

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Middle East franchisee of Starbucks said Tuesday it has begun firing around 2,000 workers at its coffee shops across the region after the brand found itself targeted by activists during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Alshaya runs about 1,900 Starbucks branches in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, Starbucks has found itself alongside other Western brands targeted by pro-Palestinian activists over the war. “We do not use our profits to fund any government or military operations anywhere — and never have.”In October, Starbucks sued Workers United, which has organized workers in at least 370 U.S. Starbucks stores. Starbucks isn't the only brand targeted by activists in the war.

Persons: Alshaya, “, Boycotters Organizations: United Arab Emirates, East, Starbucks, Reuters, Workers United, Israel, McDonald's Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Israel, Gaza, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Seattle, U.S

☆ OPEC+ members extend oil output cuts to Q2
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —OPEC+ member nations have agreed to extend their voluntary cuts to crude oil production through the second quarter, the group announced Sunday. The move is a part of the group’s perpetual balancing act to stabilize oil prices by reducing supply. OPEC+, a coalition of the world’s top oil producing countries, had announced voluntary oil cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day in November. The Energy Information Administration reported last month oil refinery inputs, crude oil stock, and gasoline production were all increasing. Oil prices fell on the agency’s announcement US commercial crude oil inventory was sitting at 447.2 million barrels.

Persons: Brent, Goldman Sachs Organizations: CNN, OPEC, The United Emirates, AAA, Energy Information Administration, EIA Locations: OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Oman, United States

☆ OPEC to Extend Oil Production Cuts Through June
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Stanley Reed | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said Sunday that it would extend cuts in oil production through June, noting that it was acting “in coordination with some” other states. The decision to keep output cuts in place was expected and appears intended to bolster what might otherwise be weak oil prices. Some analysts forecast that the supply of oil will exceed demand in the first half of this year. Without continued cuts, prices might sink. Saudi Arabia described the move as “precautionary.” Holding back oil production has “the aim of supporting the stability and balance of oil markets,” the kingdom said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Persons: ” Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Press Agency Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Kuwait

☆ Dubai wants to build the biggest airport in the world. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Miquel Ros | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 63 million more travelers than the world’s current busiest airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, handled in 2022 and nearly 100 million more than Dubai International. philipus/Alamy Stock PhotoThe recent Dubai Air Show, held at a purpose-built venue at Al Maktoum International Airport in 2023, offered some intriguing hints about what’s ahead for DWC – and some insights into Dubai Airports’ long-term strategy. “We have prioritized expansion and investments at DXB to meet our customers’ requirements and plans,” Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO, tells CNN. Changing the business modelNew artist renderings haven't been released in a decade, but Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths says the team will soon be working on ambitious new designs. It will have capacity for 185 million passengers per year, or almost seven times the number it handled in 2022.

Persons: Al Maktoum, it‘ll, that’s, Hartsfield –, let’s, DWC, ’ Al Maktoum, DWC –, ” Paul Griffiths, ”, Griffiths, ” Griffiths, “, haven't, Paul Griffiths, “ We’re, Mohammed bin Rashid, Nadine Itani, Abu Dhabi’s, Foster Organizations: CNN, Al, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World, Dubai Airports, Dubai International, Al Maktoum International, Hartsfield, Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International, Emirates Cargo, UAE, ‘, ’ Al Maktoum International, Dubai Air, Dubai, AFP, Traveller, Emirates, University of Surrey, Hamad International Airport, Kuwait International, Partners, Sharjah International Airport, Air, Riyadh Air Locations: Budapest, Al Maktoum, Dubai, Dubai’s, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Emirates, England, India, Middle, Europe, Qatar, Muscat , Oman, Bahrain, Gulf, Kuwait, British, Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi

☆ Leaders should consider using frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine’s military, EU's von der Leyen says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European officials and Canada's Prime Minister are visiting the capital Kyiv on the second anniversary of the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)European leaders should discuss using the profits from frozen Russian assets to boost Ukraine's military in its defence efforts against Moscow, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. "It is time to start a conversation about using the windfall profits of frozen Russian assets to jointly purchase military equipment for Ukraine," she said in a speech before the European Parliament. "There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live," von der Leyen noted. Crucially, frozen assets are, by definition, temporarily retained rather than fully seized with the ability for reallocation.

Persons: Ursula von der, Belgium Alexander De Croo, Giorgia Meloni, Canada Justin Trudeau, Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Von der, Janet Yellen, Russia's Organizations: Canada's, Getty Images, European Union, Treasury, . Security, Bank Locations: Belgium, Italian, Canada, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Moscow, Europe, Kuwait

☆ Wall Street's favorite recession gauge has been flashing for 16 months, but the other key ingredient of a downturn is nowhere to be seen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A key recession signal has been flashing for 16 months, but the other half of a downturn is missing. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The firm pointed out that the spread between the 10-year and three-month treasury yields has been inverted for 16 months. Advertisement10-year minus 3-month Treasury yields from 1982 Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisThat said, the inverted curve only accounts for 50% of a solid recession call. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley's chief economist, Ellen Zentner, warned that a "hard landing" downturn is guaranteed as the impact of Fed rate hikes still hasn't been felt fully throughout the economy.

Persons: —, Louis That, Jamie Dimon, Morgan Stanley's, Ellen Zentner Organizations: Service, DataTrek Research, Treasury, Reserve Bank of St, Fed, JPMorgan Locations: downturns, Kuwait

☆ South Korea digital nomad visa: what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

According to a report in the Korea Herald, South Korea’s Justice Ministry says the digital nomad visa will make remote work and vacations smoother for visitors. The site ranks South Korea highly for nightlife and youth culture, but gives lower marks for LGBT acceptance and English-language accessibility. Meanwhile, South Korea places 49 out of 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index, which puts it in the “moderate” category. Still, Humphries is undeterred in his quest for the South Korea “workation” visa and plans to base himself in Seoul if approved. “The South Korean digital nomad visa is a great step forward for allowing foreigners to reside in the country,” he says.

Persons: Ashley Humphries, he’s, Humphries, Jungho Suh, ”, Suh, ” Jeong Hyun Cho, Jeong, Ed Jones, Gawon Bae, Veronica Lin Organizations: CNN, South Korean, Korea Herald, Korea’s, Ministry, Korean Management Institute, George Washington University, Korea –, Statistics Korea, Human Rights Commission, South Korean Society, Digital Nomads Korea WhatsApp, Getty, Foreigners, South Locations: South Korea, Asia, Dubai, Cayman Islands, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesian, Bali, South, Seoul, AFP, Korean, expats, Turkey, Norway, Kuwait, North America, Singapore, Japan

☆ That ‘Unimaginable’ Smell in Cape Town? A Docked Ship With 19,000 Cows.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Lynsey Chutel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When a smell so foul that locals called it “unimaginable” wafted over Cape Town this week, a search for the source of the stench choking the scenic South African tourist destination led to the city’s harbor. Nearly a mile from the dock on Monday morning, Terence van der Walt, a local wine distributor, was stuck in traffic when the odor, made worse by the hot summer weather, began to drift into his car. With a smell so enveloping, rolling up his windows felt pointless. “It was so putrid,” Mr. van der Walt said on Tuesday, describing his experience. “It would have been green if this were a cartoon.”After the smell hovered over Cape Town for several hours, a team from the local environmental health department discovered the source: a 623-foot-long livestock carrier registered in Kuwait — with 19,000 cows onboard.

Persons: Terence van der, van der Walt Organizations: Terence van der Walt, Town Locations: Cape, Kuwait

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday that the military would soon enter Rafah, which is bracketed by a closed Egyptian border. Images and videos on social media, which could not immediately be verified, showed injured people and damage to buildings in Rafah. On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu promised to offer Palestinians “safe passage” to northern areas of Gaza before the planned ground invasion, though he offered no details. On Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu spurned an offer from Hamas to free Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza, abiding by a long-term cease-fire and freeing Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Asked during an interview broadcast on Sunday how many of the remaining hostages were still alive, Mr. Netanyahu said, “Enough to warrant the kind of efforts that we’re doing.”

Persons: ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Daniel Hagari, Wafa, Ziad Obeid, Netanyahu, Israel, Mohammed Abed Organizations: Hamas, Local, Palestinian Authority, ”, Kuwait Hospital, United Nations, ., Agence France Locations: Gazan, Rafah, Israel, Kuwait, United States, Britain, Gaza, Egypt

☆ Israel Says It Conducted ‘Wave of Attacks’ on Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | More About Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Israel’s military said early Monday that it had conducted a “wave of attacks” on Rafah, the city in Gaza to which more than a million displaced Palestinians have fled. At about 3 a.m. local time, the military said on Telegram that its strikes on “quality targets” were over. Images and videos on social media, which could not immediately be verified, showed injured people and damage to buildings. News outlets reported deadly attacks on two mosques in Rafah and said people were being taken to Kuwait Hospital in the city. Israel’s most important allies, including the United States and Britain, have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to go ahead with a plan to send troops into Rafah.

Persons: ”, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Kuwait Hospital, United Nations Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Kuwait, United States, Britain

☆ Italy's Amalfi Coast will get a new airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That rule is about to get a little less hard and fast as the Amalfi Coast gets its “own” airport. Technically it’s a reopening rather than a new airport built from scratch. ‘An important moment for the region’The Amalfi Coast is stunningly beautiful -- and it is one of the most overtouristed parts of Italy. GI_ELLE/iStock Editorial/Getty ImagesAnd while the Amalfi Coast has struggled with overtourism with authorities introducing major restrictions on cars to ease congestion, locals seem pleased. Fausto Salsano, owner of Vietri Centro B&B in Vietri sul Mare, the first village on the famous coastline, told CNN: “I’m thrilled that we will have an Amalfi Coast airport.

Persons: CNN —, Volotea, “, ” GESAC, Frank Bienewald, Carlos Muñoz, GESAC’s Roberto Barbieri, Fausto Salsano, “ I’m, it’ll, ” Organizations: CNN, Amalfi Coast, Volotea, Aircraft, Nantes, Cagliari, Catania, GESAC, Vietri Centro Locations: Italy, Amalfi, Salerno Costa, Salerno, Airlines, Spanish, France, Sardinia, Verona, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam Schiphol, Kuwait City, Naples, Vietri sul Mare, Amalfi Coast

☆ Nikki Haley goes after Trump and Biden as ‘grumpy old men’ even as she courts older voters in South Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Aaron Pellish | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

But the Haley campaign is also courting the support of South Carolina retirees, a growing portion of the Republican primary voter pool. She said on Twitter that this was her first Christmas card when she announced she would be running for the South Carolina state legislature. Nikki Haley/Twitter Haley celebrates with her family after being elected governor of South Carolina in November 2010. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images Haley visits a farm during a campaign stop in Grand Mound, Iowa, in September 2023.

Persons: Hilton, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Haley, Maureen Bulger, intently, ” Bulger, “, ”, Biden, NBC’s, Ron DeSantis, Anna Memmo, it’s, ” Memmo, Ray Makalous, he’s, ” Makalous, Laura Holtzman, “ Trump, ” Holtzman, ” ‘, ’ Haley, aren’t, Larry Greenwold, ” Greenwold, Greenwold, he’d, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Ed Spears, Spears, ” Spears, Carol Carty, ” Carty, “ It’s, that’s, “ I’ve, Trumper Organizations: , South Carolina CNN, South, Republican, Census Bureau, Biden, Hilton Head, New, Democratic, Republican Party, Trump, Florida Gov, Washington Post, Monmouth University, United Nations, CNN, State House, New York Times, Twitter, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention Locations: , South Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, United States, New Hampshire, Trump, Iowa, Virginia, Hilton Head, Kansas, New York, CNN’s New Hampshire, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, Syrian, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami

☆ McDonald’s says Middle East turmoil is hurting its business
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —McDonald’s said growing tensions in the Middle East have hurt its business. The Middle East doesn’t make up a huge part of its overall business. McDonald’s noted that it provided an insignificant amount of financial assistance for franchisees impacted by the war in the Middle East. That was far worse than the more-than 4% growth in the United States and other international businesses. Many McDonald’s operators in the region quickly distanced themselves from the Israeli operator’s actions.

Persons: New York CNN — McDonald’s, McDonald’s, McDonald’s Israel, Chris Kempczinski, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, East, Hamas, Starbucks Locations: New York, East, United States, Israel, Kuwait, Pakistan

Roughly 40,000 American troops are stationed across the Middle East, mostly in countries with close ties to the United States. There were more than 160,000 American troops in Iraq alone in 2007, during the war that followed the U.S. invasion. Image Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq in 2019. Credit... Nasser Nasser/Associated PressWhy are so many troops there? A military coalition led by the United States, including forces in Syria and Iraq, defeated it. President Biden has retaliated with attacks on Iran-aligned militants, hitting groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Persons: Jan, Al, Nasser Nasser, Biden, Israel —, Al Tanf, ” Gen, Hossein Organizations: U.S, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Hezbollah, Army, Air Force, Washington, Operations, Navy’s, U.S . Central Command, Associated, Islamic, U.S ., Pentagon, ”, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps Locations: Jordan, Iraq, United States, State, U.S, Al Asad Air, Iraq’s, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Azraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, China, American, Islamic State, Mosul, Raqqa, Israel, Yemen

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