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Instead, the Israel Defense Forces will partner with the US military to anchor the causeway to the shore in Gaza “on day one,” the military official said. Dire humanitarian situationThe pier’s construction comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become dire, a senior administration official said Thursday. The official confirmed that USAID will be working with the UN to distribute the aid once it reaches Gaza. Two command and control cells have been set up to facilitate the delivery of the aid via the pier, the military official said. The US role in the effort has been complex, with the military carrying out a high-stakes construction mission in a warzone and diplomats helping to organize a dangerous and highly politicized aid distribution operation.

Persons: ”, Patrick Ryder, Joe Biden, Biden, “ Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, USNS, Israel Defense Forces, US Army, IDF, US Navy, USAID, UN, United Locations: United States, Gaza, ”, Cyprus, Cypriot, Israel, Hatzor, Ashdod, American, Cardigan

Biden secretly approved the transfer of the long-range ATACMS missiles in February for use inside Ukrainian territory. The Biden administration had resisted sending the long-range missiles in part because of readiness concerns. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the ATACMS missiles, is in full-rate production and produces approximately 500 missiles per year, a spokesman for the company said in September. The US worked behind the scenes to address the readiness concerns, which included buying more ATACMS missiles and filling US military stocks. Ukrainian officials have been asking the US in private and in public for the long-range missiles to target deeper behind Russian lines.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Garron, ” Garn, Lockheed Martin, ”, Charlie Dietz, “, ” Dietz Organizations: CNN, US, Pentagon, Lockheed, North Korean Locations: Ukraine, Korean, Russia, ”, Moscow

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, Netanyahu criticizes US sanctions plans, UNRWA review
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

An independent review of the UN's main relief agency in Gaza has found that “neutrality-related issues persist” among staff, and recommended strengthening UNRWA's neutrality. Israel has longstanding issues with UNRWA, accusing it of aiding Hamas and calling for it to be entirely dismantled. What the UN said: UN chief Antonio Guterres accepted the recommendations, while UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the findings. What Israel said: The review was not "genuine" or "thorough," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein claimed. "This is what an effort to avoid the problem and not address it head on looks like," he said.

Persons: Israel, Catherine Colonna, Antonio Guterres, Philippe Lazzarini, Oren Marmorstein Organizations: French, UN, Foreign Ministry Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ US sailor found guilty at court martial on attempted espionage charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Shania Shelton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A US sailor who served in Japan was found guilty on Friday at a general court martial for attempted espionage, failure to obey a lawful order and attempted violation of a lawful general order. The sailor, Chief Petty Officer Bryce S. Pedicini, will be sentenced on May 7, according to a statement from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Navy prosecutors said that included photographs of a classified computer screen that he attempted to transfer to a foreign government. The charge sheet does not specify which foreign government. Originally from Tennessee, Pedicini enlisted in the Navy in 2008, according to his Navy record.

Persons: Bryce S, Pedicini, Omar Lopez, ” Pedicini, Higgins, Curtis Wilbur, controlman, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Naval, Investigative Service, Navy, National Defense Service Locations: Japan, United States, Norfolk , Virginia, Tennessee

The exact number of US troops in the country is not clear but one US official said there are fewer than 100 troops there. But the official said Chad’s threat to terminate the SOFA agreement blindsided US officials. The move comes at a critical time for US interests in Africa, as American officials have warned that Russian influence is expanding across the continent. While in the country, Langley met with Chadian military leaders including Gen. Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud, Chad’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, according to an AFRICOM press release at the time. Langley said in the release that AFRICOM “remains dedicated to building enduring partnerships with Chad and other African nations.”

Persons: Chad’s, Michael Langley, ” “, ” Langley, Langley, ”, AFRICOM’s, Michael Woods, Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud Organizations: CNN, Forces Agreement, Operations Task Force, US Special Operations Forces, Marine Corps, US Africa Command, Senate Armed Services Committee, Russian Federation, House Armed, Committee, Central, Chadian, Staff, Armed Forces Locations: Chad, Russia, N’Djamena, Niger, Africa, Russian, Libya, Maghreb, Morocco, ”, China, Chad’s

☆ How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Israel’s military said Sunday that “99%” of projectiles fired by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its partners, with only “a small number” of ballistic missiles reaching Israel. In total, around 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel by Iran overnight Saturday, the military said. US officials said more than 70 drones and three ballistic missiles were intercepted by US Navy ships and military aircraft, without giving details of exactly what defenses were used to bring down the projectiles. The Iron Dome is the bottom layer of Israel’s missile defense, according to the country’s Missile Defense Organization (IMDO). The ballistic missiles that did reach Israel fell on the Netavim Air Base in southern Israel, Israel’s military spokesman said, adding that they caused only light structural damage.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, John Bolton, CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Biden, ” Biden, Menahem Kahana, Israel’s Rafael, CNN’s Irene Nasser, Eugenia Yosef, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, Saturday, Israeli, Israel, US Navy, Aegis, Pentagon, Royal Air Force, Defense, US, country’s Missile Defense Organization, Getty, Defense System, Raytheon, Missile, Center for International, Strategic Studies, CSIS, Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, Netavim, Base, Israeli Air Force Locations: Iran, Israel, Britain, Israeli, France, Gaza, Sderot, AFP, United States, Iraq, Yemen

A view across the demarcation into Metula, Israel as seen from the Lebanese side of the demarcation line. But a Lebanese source familiar with the matter ruled this out. Hezbollah may only be compelled to join an Iranian war effort if the strike leads to further escalation, the same Lebanese source said. It provided a glimpse of how Hezbollah might attempt to overwhelm Israel’s defensive systems as Iran conducts its expected attack. From one of Spain’s bases near the demarcation line, there is a clear view of a microcosm of Lebanon’s long-standing border issues with Israel.

Persons: Kafr, Lebanon CNN —, ”, Juan Garcia Martinez, Charbel Mallo, —, Mohammad Reza Zahidi, “, Ali Khamenei, Sina Toosi, Yemen’s Houthis, ” Nasrallah, Israel –, Mallo, CNN Hezbollah’s, Hector Alonso, CNN’s MJ Lee, Natasha Bertrand, Zeena Saifi, Oren Liebermann Organizations: Lebanon CNN, CNN, UN, United Nations, Iran’s, Center for International, Hezbollah, Spanish UNIFIL, Israel Locations: Kafr Kila, Lebanon, Galilee, Spanish, Israel, Metula, Lebanese, Iran, Damascus, UNIFIL, Iranian, Gaza, Ghajar, Syrian, al

☆ As Iran attacks Israel, Biden confronts an escalating Middle East crisis he had hoped to avoid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —For President Joe Biden, an attack on Israel launched from Iranian soil amounts to a scenario he’d greatly sought to avoid since the start of the current Middle East conflict. In the immediate aftermath of Iran’s attacks, American officials acknowledged they were entering uncharted territory, with the extent of Iran’s attacks initially unclear. One significant question mark is how proxies might potentially join Iranian efforts to target Israel and add a new layer of unpredictability. Administration officials saw Iran’s attacks on Israel Saturday as disproportionate to Israel’s strikes in Damascus that prompted the retaliation, a US official told CNN. As Iran’s plans to attack Israel grew clearer, American officials increasingly assessed that Tehran was not seeking direct conflict with the United States.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden —, Biden, areexpected, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Erik Kurilla, Israel, CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Israel, United, White, Israeli, Iran, US Central Command, US Locations: Israel, United States, Gaza, Delaware, Damascus, Syria, Iran, Tehran, Jordan

☆ Americans’ attitudes toward the economy hold steady despite disappointing inflation reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Americans haven’t felt any better about the economy these past few months, but they haven’t felt any worse either. The Federal Reserve cares whether or not Americans have faith that inflation will eventually return to levels they’re used to. Consumer prices were 3.5% higher in March from a year earlier, a much bigger increase than February’s 3.2% and above what economists were forecasting. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, also above expectations. The economy is coming into focusEveryday Americans, on the other hand, haven’t fretted about progress on inflation potentially stalling.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Joanne Hsu, ” Oren Klachkin, Stocks, Goldman Sachs, “, ” Goldman Sachs’s, Jan Hatzius, they’re, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, University of Michigan’s, Consumers, Nationwide, CPI, Bank of America, CNN Locations: Pennsylvania, Scranton , Pennsylvania

☆ Exclusive: On board a B-52 bomber mission to China’s doorstep
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Sitting on the massive bomber’s sole bunk, the third pilot on the flight crew, Capt. This year, the Air Force began low-rate production of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, the next generation of stealth bomber. In October, Chinese fighter jets intercepted a B-52 bomber at night over the South China Sea, south of our position. Everyone is tired, especially as we approach the 24-hour mark of the flight, but the mission is not yet complete. On final approach, with Barksdale Air Force Base looming off our nose, the right main gear does not extend.

Persons: Jinan Andrews, Omaha ” Barnett, Sabin “ Jett ”, Michael Maginness, CNN's Oren Liebermann, ”, Jason Armagost, Bo “, Bo “ NATO ” Cain, Oren Liebermann, MYLAR11, Leo “ Swabbie ” Weber, “, Rebecca “ Vulcan ” Moore, Moore, you’ve, Jared Patterson, Avery Bulsterbaum, Andrew Rodriguez, Justin Joyner, Dakeeja Nelson, Veruca Plott, it’s, . Sabin “ Jett ”, Jeremy Harlan Organizations: CNN, US, Barksdale Air Force Base, Boeing, 2nd Bomb, China, Eighth Air Force, “, Air Force, Bo “ NATO, 20th Bomb Squadron, Northrop Grumman, Raider, CNN Staff, US Department of Defense, South Korean Locations: East China, –, Alaska, Louisiana –, Louisiana, Japan, Capt, Jinan, Tramaine, Omaha, Vietnam, Russia, Russia’s, China, North Korea, South Korea, MYLAR11, Beijing, South China, Jinan Andrews

☆ Biden administration officials believe Netanyahu’s claim a Rafah invasion date has been set is bluster
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Biden administration is dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pronouncement that a date has been set for a ground offensive into Rafah as bluster that is in no small part fueled by the Israeli prime minister’s tenuous political standing at home, senior administration officials told CNN. Privately, multiple senior administration officials chalked up Netanyahu’s pronouncement – which was followed Tuesday by a declaration that that“no force in the world” will stop Israeli troops from entering Rafah – to bravado. Israeli officials argue that four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah that must be taken out. Israeli officials did not provide comprehensive answers to the questions in the meeting, the sources said. Hamas would rebuild from the remaining battalions there, the officials told their US counterparts.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu’s, Israel, chalked, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, ”, Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, –, ” Biden, Ron Dermer, Tzachi Hanegbi, Blinken, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Biden, Defense, “, Israel Defense Forces, US Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Washington

☆ An A.I. Researcher Takes On Election Deepfakes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Cade Metz | Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For nearly 30 years, Oren Etzioni was among the most optimistic of artificial intelligence researchers. But in 2019 Dr. Etzioni, a University of Washington professor and founding chief executive of the Allen Institute for A.I., became one of the first researchers to warn that a new breed of A.I. And by the middle of last year, he said, he was distressed that A.I.-generated deepfakes would swing a major election. He founded a nonprofit, TrueMedia.org in January, hoping to fight that threat. The tools, available from the TrueMedia.org website to anyone approved by the nonprofit, are designed to detect fake and doctored images, audio and video.

Persons: Oren Etzioni, Etzioni Organizations: University of Washington, Allen Institute for A.I, TrueMedia.org

☆ The US allowed a Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass at the UN. What does that mean for the war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Abbas Allawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Following several failed attempts over five months of Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council on Monday finally passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israeli officials lambasted the resolution, saying they have no intention of ceasing fire. Israel criticized the language of the resolution, saying it doesn’t firmly tie a ceasefire to the freeing of the hostages held in Gaza. Oren Ziv/AFP/Getty ImagesIs the resolution binding on Israel? After the resolution passed, US officials went to great lengths to say that the resolution isn’t binding.

Persons: doesn’t, ”, United Nations Gilad Erdan, Israel Katz, ” Katz, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, Ron Dermer, Joe Biden, Gabriela Shalev, Louis Har, Oren Ziv, Matthew Miller, John Kirby, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Zhang Jun, Farhan Haq, VI, VII, Maya Ungar, ” Ungar, Yossi Mekelberg, ” Mekelberg, Ungar, ” Shalev, ” Biden, Dawoud Abu Alkas, Biden, Kamala Harris, Kirby, Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, Shalev, Israel Organizations: CNN, United Nations Security, Hamas, United Nations, Council, Foreign, US, UN, Hebrew, Getty, State Department, White, National Security, Crisis Group, ICG, Chatham House, Security Council, Assembly, Reuters, Washington, Israel’s Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, Washington, Rafah, Israeli, Tel Aviv, UN, Brussels, East, North Africa, London, Al Shifa, Gaza City, Reuters Israel

☆ Cars, sugar and cruises: How the Port of Baltimore closure could hurt the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Mark Thompson | Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Port of Baltimore said in a post on X that vessel traffic was suspended until further notice, but trucks were still being processed at its terminals. It said it would discharge cargo destined for Baltimore in other ports nearby, but Maesrk warned customers that could mean delays. Closer to the Midwest than any other port on the East Coast, Baltimore is a major hub for vehicles, containers and commodities. Baltimore ranks first among US ports for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year. While many of the 30,000 to 35,000 cars and trucks that used the Key Bridge daily can be rerouted through the two nearby tunnels, that will cause traffic delays.

Persons: Dali, Judah Levine, ” Maersk, “, VW, Oren Klachkin, Levine, Mark Zandi, ”, Zandi, Wes Moore, Joe Biden, Francis Scott Key, Tasos Katopodis, — Moore, Emily Stausbøll, Matt Lupoli, Hanna Ziady, Peter Valdes, Rob North, Sugam Pokharel Organizations: New York CNN, Baltimore, Atlantic, Nationwide Financial, US, Moody’s, Maryland Gov, Rebuilding, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Domino, Company, Royal Caribbean, Cruises, Cruise, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Locations: London, New York, Port, Baltimore, East Coast, Singapore, East Coast , Baltimore, Philadelphia, Norfolk, of New York, New Jersey, Asia, Africa, Suez, Maryland, Patapsco, Rebuilding Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Tasos, “, Norway, Royal Caribbean

☆ Israel defense minister’s meeting with Lloyd Austin comes at a delicate moment in push for US weaponry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Gallant will be told that the various cases of weapons sales are being worked on, a senior administration official told CNN. “There is scrutiny, but no policy decision to deny” the provision of additional weapons to Israel, the official told CNN. But the defense secretary’s position on providing weapons to Israel has not shifted much since the war began, officials said. “If there is one, that would be something we would want to hear,” said the senior administration official who added that consequences for ignoring US urgings are increasingly being considered. Austin also told Gallant last week that Israel needs “to consider alternatives to a major ground operation in Rafah,” according to a Pentagon readout of their call.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, Gallant, —, Joe Biden’s, Austin, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’re, John Kirby, Israel, “, Patrick Ryder, ”, ” Gallant, Biden, Netanyahu, ” Kirby, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: US, Israel, Pentagon, UN, ” National Security, CNN, Austin, Israel Defense Forces, Foreign, State Department, Congress, Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Washington, Rafah, Israel, Lebanon, ”

☆ Balloon recovered off coast of Alaska had been in the ocean for ‘well over a year,’ Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A balloon recovered off the coast of Alaska had been in the ocean for “well over a year,” the Pentagon said Friday. The balloon was discovered floating in the ocean by commercial fisherman in late-February. Some of the balloon debris, which had been held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, has been transferred to other facilities for further evaluation and analysis, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said in a statement. “Some material has been transferred to U.S. government facilities for further examination and analysis,” Gough said. The US assessed that the spy balloon shot down last year was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, as CNN reported at the time.

Persons: Richardson, Sue Gough, ” Gough, Gough Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Joint Base Elmendorf Locations: Alaska, United States, U.S, China, Taiwan, Beijing

The intensifying military cooperation between Russia and Niger is central to the dispute between the US and the Nigerien junta, officials said. Russia and Niger agreed to strengthen their military ties in January, Russia’s Defense Ministry said at the time. If the US were forced to withdraw, counterterrorism efforts across the region could take a hit, officials said. In return, Russia is profiting off the region’s natural resources, another official said, including the gold mines in Niger. Several European countries shared this goal, offering a measure of support to the junta, the official noted.

Persons: Michael Langley, Celeste Wallander, Col, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, Langley, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, what’s, Nusrat al, “ Organizations: CNN, US Africa Command, Air Base, American, Nigerien, Russia’s Defense, EU, Pentagon, Kremlin, West, Russian Federation, National Council, Wagner, US Locations: Africa, Russia, Africa . Niger, Niger, United States, America, Nigerien, Sahel, stoking, China, Russian, Central Africa, ”, Niamey, US, Agadez, Mali, Burkina Faso, Abdramane, Western Africa, Northwest Africa

☆ Man Who Shot Another on Subway Train Unlikely to Be Charged, D.A. Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Hurubie Meko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A 32-year-old man who shot a second man in the head during an altercation on a moving A train Thursday evening appears to have acted in self-defense and will not be criminally charged for now, the Brooklyn district attorney said on Friday. The shooting, which followed a frightening, chaotic confrontation on a crowded subway car during the evening rush, left the second man, 36, in critical but stable condition. The gun he was shot with was one he brought onto the train and brandished during the altercation, the police said. Oren Yaniv, a spokesman for the district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, described the shooting as “shocking and deeply upsetting.”“The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing,” Mr. Yaniv said in a statement, “but, at this stage, evidence of self-defense precludes us from filing any criminal charges against the shooter.”

Persons: Oren Yaniv, Eric Gonzalez, ”, Mr, Yaniv Locations: Brooklyn

But the Pentagon was reluctant to use that funding, because there was no replenishment money left to refill the US inventories. The second official gave one example of being able to buy 25mm ammunition at a cheaper cost than originally expected after contract negotiations with the vendor. And we certainly can’t count on this as a way of doing business.”“We weren’t broke at the time, but now we are.”The last Ukraine aid package from the US was announced in late December. Last year, the Defense Department announced that it had discovered an accounting error that led to DoD overvaluing the amount of aid it was providing to Ukraine by $6.2 billion. “We believe that the support is still there if the House is allowed to vote,” said the second defense official.

Persons: CNN —, “, ”, Defense Department “, Biden, “ You’ve Organizations: CNN, Biden, Defense Department, Pentagon, Ukraine, DoD, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Avdiivka

“What we are in now is a production war,” a senior NATO official told CNN. “The number one issue that we’re watching right now is the munitions,” the NATO official said. There is also a limit to Russian production capacity, officials say: Russian factories will likely hit a peak sometime in the next year. “If we were talking about this last fall, we would have talked about how they were targeting critical infrastructure,” the NATO official said. “In the short term — say, the next 18 months or so — it may be unsophisticated, but it’s a durable economy,” the NATO official said.

Persons: ”, Abrams, “, — “, Joe Biden, Inna Varenytsia, it’s, Putin’s, Steven Basham, “ It’s, Maxym, Russia’s ‘, Basham Organizations: CNN, Army, NATO, ”, Reuters, Ukraine, European Command, US Army, ” Intelligence, US European Command, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Europe, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, that’s, Iran, North Korea, Kreminna, Germany, Pennsylvania , Iowa, Texas, Moscow, Tehran, Bohorodychne, Donetsk, Russian

☆ US military developing portable UFO detection kits as Pentagon says no evidence of alien tech found
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US military is developing portable UFO detection kits to collect better data on reports of sightings as the Pentagon says there is no evidence of alien technology found in any government investigation. The AARO office looked at US government investigations and efforts related to UFOs dating back to 1945. Some of the reported sightings of UFOs were people who unknowingly witnessed the testing or use of classified US technology. The AARO office is also collecting and investigating new reports and sightings of unidentified objects. In February, the office closed 122 cases, Phillips said, most of which was debris in the atmosphere.

Persons: Timothy Phillips, AARO, ” Phillips, Phillips, there’s, Sean Kirkpatrick, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, United, United States Government Locations: Texas, Roswell , New Mexico, United States, China

CNN —The Defense Department is analyzing a balloon discovered by fishermen off the coast of Alaska last week to determine whether it was a spy balloon, a spokesperson told CNN. Upon reviewing photographs taken by the fishermen, officials became concerned it could be another spy balloon, and FBI agents went to meet the boat when it returned to port. But the FBI determined that it was similar enough in appearance to a foreign government-owned surveillance balloon that it warranted further investigation. The existence of high-altitude surveillance balloons burst into US consciousness last year, when a Chinese spy balloon appeared to blow off course and transited across the continental US. The US assessed that the spy balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, as CNN reported at the time.

Persons: Sue Gough, “, ” Gough, Biden Organizations: CNN, The Defense Department, Joint Base Elmendorf, Defense Department, FBI Locations: Alaska, Richardson, China, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ Air Force employee accused of sharing classified information on foreign dating website
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An Air Force employee has been charged with sharing classified information on a foreign dating website after prosecutors say he sent sensitive information about Russia’s war in Ukraine to a person who claimed to be a woman living in Ukraine. Slater then sent this classified information to someone who claimed to be a woman living in Ukraine, according to an indictment. Successfully?”The co-conspirator sent messages for nearly two months, according to the indictment, repeatedly probing Slater for more classified information. Slater faces one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and two counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information. Before working as a civilian in the Air Force, prosecutors say Slater rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army, retiring at the end of 2020.

Persons: David Franklin Slater, Slater, ”, Dave ”, Slater’s, “, Slater “, Matthew G, Olsen, Eugene Kowel Organizations: CNN, An Air Force, Prosecutors, Strategic Command, Justice Department, Operations Center, Air Force, Army, Justice Department’s National Security Division, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha Field Office Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Nebraska, Omaha

☆ US and Jordanian forces airdrop aid into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“These airdrops are part of a sustained effort to get more aid into Gaza, including by expanding the flow of aid through land corridors and routes,” CENTCOM said. People watch as the US military carries out its first aid drop over Gaza on March 2, 2024. Biden said Friday he would “insist” that Israel allow more trucks and routes for aid into Gaza. “Innocent lives are on the line, and children’s lives are on the line.”Other countries, including the United Arab Emirates and France, have air-dropped aid into Gaza. But Saturday’s operation was a first for the US.

Persons: Joe Biden, CENTCOM, ” CENTCOM, ”, Kosay Al Nemer, Saturday’s airdrops, Biden, Giorgia Meloni, “ We’re, “, Richard Gowan, CNN’s Camila DeChalus, Sophie Tanno Organizations: CNN, Command, US Air Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, White, Saturday, Defense Department, Italian, Office, United Arab, United Nations, Crisis, UN, “ Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, United Arab Emirates, France

CNN —The Israelis have “basically accepted” a six-week ceasefire proposal in Gaza, a senior Biden administration official told reporters Saturday. On Thursday, a Hamas official warned, however, that the negotiations could be affected. Negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt and Hamas are expected to attend, a diplomatic source familiar with the discussions said. Discussions between Israel and Hamas would be indirect, in separate rooms. Israel has asked Hamas for a list of the hostages, including who is living and who is dead.

Persons: “, Ramadan –, –, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Giorgia Meloni, It’s, Kamala Harris, Benny Gantz, Harris, Gantz, Jake Sullivan, Biden, there’d, it’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Biden, Hamas, White, Italian, Gaza, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Paris, Doha, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Qatari

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