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☆ Opinion: Why Biden won’t do more to restrain Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Opinion Aaron David Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +53 min

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Israeli soldiers form an honor guard at the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master Sgt. Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu/Getty Images Palestinians flee to southern Gaza on Salah al-Din Street in Bureij, Gaza, on November 10. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman carries a white flag as Palestinians flee from Gaza City to the south on November 7. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18. Yousef Masoud/The New York Times A morgue worker arranges body bags at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12.

Persons: Aaron David Miller, ” Miller, I’ve, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Aaron David Miller Israel, Israel —, Biden, Ashraf Amra, Ahmad Gharabli, Mohammed Abed, Ohad, Rizek Abdeljawad, Major Jamal Abbas, Shir Torem, Fatima Shbair, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Abed Rahim Khatib, Khan, Christopher Furlong, Hatem Ali, Avraham Fetena, Mostafa Alkharouf, Mahmud Hams, Sgt, Raz Abulafia, Ariel Schalit, Fadel Senna, Nasser, Mohammed Salem, Matan Meir, Amir Levy, Haitham Imad, Roni Eshel, Eshel, Kenzo Tribouillard, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sadi Berek, Mustafa Hassona, Salah al, Jack Guez, Varda Goldstein, Nir Oz, Bernat, Abed Zagout, Tomer Appelbaum, Mohammad Abu Elsebah, Khaled Ibn Al, Walid, Khan Younis, Ya'akov Ozeri, Ronen Zvulun, Mohammed Dahman, Ahmad Hasaballah, Leo Correa, Amir Cohen, Mohammed Alaloul, Majdi, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Salman Habaka, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Yuval Zilber, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Atef Safadi, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Jalaa Marey, Albert Miles, Ilan Rosenberg, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Yoav Gallant, Ammar Awad, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Evelyn Hockstein, Omar El, Yasser Qudih, Tsafrir, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Ali Mohmoud, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Khaled Joudeh, Samar Abu, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Belal al Sabbagh, Janis Laizans, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Belal Khaled, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Brendan Smialowski, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mahmoud Khaled, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Sergey Ponomarev, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Agha, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Oded, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Biden —, —, Barack Obama, hasn’t, ’, Israel isn’t, craven, It’s Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Republican, CNN, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Democratic Party, Department of State, Senior, UN, US, Washington Post, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Getty, Unicef, Reuters, AP, Anadolu, AP Journalists, Israeli, Modern, Nasser Hospital, Tel, Nasser Medical, Najjar, Israel Defence Forces handout, Shutterstock, Reuters United Nations, Shifa, Palestine, Pictures, Bloomberg, Israeli Apache, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Palestinian, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, Getty Images, Nasser Medical Hospital, Deir Al, Tel Aviv University, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ben Gurion International, Aris Messinis, Haim, Puma, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, West Bank, Rockets, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, America, Senate, Washington, Twitter Locations: East, Israel, Gaza, Biden’s Washington, Washington, Al, Aqsa, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, Anadolu, Tel Aviv, AFP, Rafah, Xinhua, Pekiin, Khan Younis, Mavki'im, Jerusalem, Haifa, Sderot, Beit Hashmonai, Europe, Israeli, Rishpon, Odem, Gaza's Al, Gaza City, Kfar Saba, Deir Al, Balah, Bureij, Kfar Aza, Palestinian, Khan, Meron, Jerusalem's, City, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Ashkelon, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Golan Heights, Lebanon, Egypt, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Reuters Israeli, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Ahli, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Beit Kama, Cyprus, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Modiin Maccabim, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, ”, Palestinian Authority

MPS shares were down 7.8% at 2.83 euros by 1145 GMT on Tuesday, reflecting the impact of the sale. EU COMMITMENTSBofA Securities, Jefferies and UBS Europe coordinated the accelerated bookbuilding for the stake sale, the Treasury said in a statement. Commitments Italy agreed with European Union competition authorities at the time of the bailout bind Rome to eventually sell its entire stake in the bank. Two years ago heavyweight UniCredit (CRDI.MI) sank the government's privatisation efforts, forcing Rome to seek more time from the EU. The stake sale is seen as giving Italy more flexibility to pursue a long-term solution for MPS via a merger with a rival, after negotiations with UniCredit were complicated by an impending re-privatisation deadline.

Persons: Jennifer Lorenzini, Luigi Lovaglio, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia Meloni, Valentina Za, Lincoln, Richard Chang, Mark Potter Organizations: Monte, REUTERS, Treasury, MPS, BofA Securities, Jefferies, UBS Europe, European Union, Reuters, Economy, Banco, BPER Banca, EU, Thomson Locations: Monte dei, Siena, Italy, MILAN, Rome

☆ Opinion: How judges can outmaneuver Trump’s delay tactics
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Opinion Thomas G. Moukawsher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Luckily, there are a few ways judges can stop his delay tactics, if they are willing to apply them. Cannon is the Florida federal judge presiding over the case examining whether Trump mishandled classified documents at his Florida home. In this way, if judges apply the usual court process, Trump can keep the cases marching in place for years — until after the 2024 election in particular. It used to be that you would appeal after you lost a case in the trial court. They have the tools in the Trump cases to rectify the problem.

Persons: Thomas G, CNN —, Aileen Cannon’s, Donald Trump, Thomas Moukawsher, Thomas Moukawsher It’s, Cannon, Trump, Trump hasn’t, ”, can’t, don’t, hasn’t, Tanya Chutkan Organizations: American Bar, CNN, Trump Locations: Connecticut, Florida, Washington, Georgia

Portugal's Prime Minister and Socialist Party (PS) Secretary General Antonio Costa looks on after winning the general election in Lisbon, Portugal, January 31, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Portugal's premier Antonio Costa, who resigned this week, told foreign investors on Saturday the country was open for business and wanted to remain attractive despite an ongoing corruption probe into "green" energy projects. Costa stepped down on Tuesday over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lithium and hydrogen projects, as well as a large-scale data centre. The data centre project, Start Campus, has been dubbed "one of the biggest foreign direct investments in Portugal in recent decades". The company said it was cooperating with authorities but that neither the company nor any of its staff were the targets of the investigation.

Persons: General Antonio Costa, Pedro Nunes, Antonio Costa, Costa, illegalities, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Afonso Salema, Joao Galamba, Vitor Escaria, embarrasses, Catarina Demony, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Portugal's, Socialist Party, REUTERS, Rights, Savannah Resources, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Rights LISBON, London, Savannah, Portuguese

Mr. Biden’s polling numbers have been mired in dangerous territory since he oversaw the chaotic American military withdrawal from Afghanistan. “There is a need, but do we really need that significant amount?”She said she did not watch Mr. Biden’s Oval Office address on Thursday. About 20.3 million people watched Mr. Biden’s speech across 10 television networks, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. When Mr. Trump spoke about immigration from the Oval Office in January 2019, about 40 million people tuned in. Most immediately, Mr. Biden faces the challenge of what he can do to secure the release of Americans being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: ”, “, ” Julian E, it’s, Biden’s, Israel —, Samantha Moskowitz, Ukraine “, Moskowitz, Biden, Donald J, Trump, Nielsen, Stanley B, Greenberg, Clinton’s, Israel, George W, Bush, Mr, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Antony J, Blinken, Zelizer, Charles R, Jr, Ronald Reagan, ” Paul Begala, Begala, ” Mr, Black, ” John Koblin, Sharon Dunten Organizations: Princeton University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Biden’s, Nielsen, Israel, Fox, Quinnipiac University, Iraq, Democratic, Hamas, Mr, Republicans Locations: Afghanistan, Israel, Ukraine, Atlanta, Biden’s State, Iran, Russia, United States, Vietnam, Iraq, Gaza, New York, Norcross , Ga

☆ Trump’s turn against Israel offers stark reminder of what his diplomacy looks like
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“With President Trump back in office, Israel, and everyone else, will be safe again!” he said. Trump’s original grievance-based analysis reflects a transactional, unorthodox approach to foreign policy that often prioritizes his own personal goals over a standard understanding of the national interest. Trump’s comments were not the first time he has appeared to seek a political benefit from his foreign policy and his positions on Israel especially. They also show Trump’s quintessential contempt for the rules of politics, foreign policy and even basic human decency, which explain why he horrifies many Americans and foreign governments. “He’s simply not expressing, and his imitators in his primary, are not expressing the same muscular American foreign policy that we lived out every day,” Pence said on a local New Hampshire radio.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, he’d, they’d, Netanyahu, Qasem Soleimani, –, he’s, “, Chris Christie, ” Christie, ”, Israel ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu –, Critics, Netanyahu Trump, America’s, ” Trump, Trump’s, nobody’s, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin –, Putin, Israel, Soleimani, “ I’ll, Bibi Netanyahu, pounced, Ron DeSantis, “ Now’s, Donald Trump, ” DeSantis, Mike Pence, Pence, “ He’s, ” Pence Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Republican, Trump, GOP, New, New Jersey Gov, “, Fox News, Ukraine –, Putin, ABC News, Florida Gov Locations: Israel, American, Iraq, Lebanese, New Jersey, Gaza, Iran, Islamic Republic, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, U.S, Florida, Korean, Ukraine, Helsinki, Russia, Lago, Australian, New Hampshire

☆ The next GOP speaker will face the same traps that doomed McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Two candidates, GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, have already launched campaigns. He’s not the first GOP speaker to think so. But in this political climate, any Republican speaker who has to rely on Democratic votes is critically weakened and probably can’t last long. But the only way a Republican speaker will be able to pass aide to Ukraine will be to do so with Democratic help. The lack of such flexibility has been a fatal flaw of GOP speakers for years.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, he’d, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Kevin Hern, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, tormentor, Nancy Pelosi, Garret Graves, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Graves, Donald Trump, “, ” McCarthy, He’s, John Boehner, shutdowns, –, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Trump, they’d, McCarthy –, Mike Lawler, Biden, ” Lawler, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Lawler, Jordan, CNN’s Manu Raju, Michael McCaul, Raju, Jordan didn’t, Scalise, don’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, United, Republican Party, Tea Party, Wisconsin Rep, “ America, Democratic, New, Trump, Foreign, Texas Locations: Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Oklahoma, Florida, Garret Graves of Louisiana, United States, New York, reining, Russia, China, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Opinion | America Betrays Its Children Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It showed that child poverty more than doubled between 2021 and 2022. That’s 5.1 million children pushed into misery, for it really is miserable to be poor in America. Soaring child poverty wasn’t caused by inflation or other macroeconomic problems. Maybe you believe (wrongly) that poor American adults are responsible for their own poverty; even if you believe that, poor children aren’t to blame. Such concerns are greatly exaggerated, but even if you worry about incentive effects, are they big enough to justify keeping children poor?

Persons: I’ve, aren’t Locations: America

☆ Takeaways from the full Georgia special grand jury report on 2020 election subversion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The Fulton County special purpose grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia recommended charges against 39 people, the unredacted grand jury report made public Friday shows. The lengthy list of recommended charges underscores how widespread the special grand jury’s investigation was into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The indictment also included 30 unindicted co-conspirators alleged to have taken part in the conspiracy, including some people the special grand jury recommended charges against. The special grand jury report was only a recommendation, and the district attorney decided which charges to bring to a grand jury last month before the indictment was returned. The charges against the fake electors were among the most contested in the special grand jury report.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Fani Willis, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, Michael Flynn, Boris Epshteyn, Cleta Mitchell, Trump, ” Willis, Willis ’, Willis, Graham, Loeffler, Perdue, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Graham “, ” Graham, “, ”, ” Loeffler, Brian Kemp, Burt Jones, Wills, Jones, Pete Skandalakis, – David Shafer, Cathy Latham, Sen, Shawn Still – Organizations: CNN, Trump, South Carolina Republican, Georgia Gov, Gov, of Locations: Fulton, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, South Carolina, of Georgia

☆ Trump’s High Court Hail Mary
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +13 min

Half a century ago, the Supreme Court ruled in the United States v. Nixon that executive privilege is not absolute. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court in 1974 rejected Nixon’s argument – a ruling that marked the end of his presidency. But would the Supreme Court half a century later say the same? “It wouldn't shock me to find that the Supreme Court tries to avoid a showdown,” Geyh says. “One could see certain issues developing through the course of litigation that do present the type of constitutional question that the Supreme Court would take,” Geyh says.

Persons: Nixon, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump, Trump, it’s, ”, Barbara Perry, –, Gerald Ford’s, Georgia –, John Lauro, Lauro, Tonya Chutkan –, Jack Smith’s, Chutkan, “, Obama, ” Trump, Charles Geyh, ” Geyh, Geyh, Ronald Reagan, he’s, Trump’s, ” Perry, James D, Louis XIV, Clair, Brett Kavanaugh, ” Kavanaugh, “ Nixon, Kavanaugh, Marbury, Brown Organizations: Court, University of Virginia’s Miller Center, Trump, Supreme, Donald Trump View, Capitol, “, Press, GOP, Washington , D.C, National, Biden White, Indiana University, Washington Lawyer Locations: United States, Washington, Georgia, U.S, Washington ,, Clair, ” St, Youngstown

☆ Opinion | Will Tensions With China Suck the Fun Out of American Movies?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Kaj Larsen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Such films would face a tougher road under the Green amendment. For argument’s sake, let’s say the Green amendment does force American studios to stop editing for China and, as a result, American films are banished from Chinese theaters. How exactly does that advance Mr. Green’s crusade against China — or the cause of free speech? If Chinese audiences can no longer see American movies, the Communist censors have achieved their goal: Less Americana on their screens. At a time of waning patriotism and lower military recruitment, the Green amendment could leave Hollywood less capable of portraying the military accurately and arguably less willing to portray it at all.

Persons: Mr, Green, China, China — Organizations: Department of Defense, Hollywood, China, Communist, U.S, Chinese Communist Party Locations: People’s Republic of China, China, America, India, U.S

CNN —A group of military officers claiming to represent “defense and security forces” in Gabon announced on Wednesday they had seized power in the African nation, according to a televised address circulating on social media. In the broadcast, the military officer said the election results would be voided and the country’s borders would be closed until further notice. Bongo’s long ruleEarlier on Wednesday, Gabon’s election body said Bongo had won the presidential election with 64.27% of the vote, after a delay-plagued general election that the opposition denounced as fraudulent. The elder Bongo came into power in 1967, seven years after the country’s independence from France. Ahead of the election, the non-profit Reporters Without Borders condemned the Gabonese government for obstructing foreign press coverage of the event.

Persons: ”, Ali Bongo, “, Bongo, Albert Ondo Ossa, Omar Bongo, Ondo, Bongo’s Organizations: CNN, Gabon24, Twitter, Senate, National Assembly, Constitutional, Economic, Social, Environmental Council, Reuters, Union, Borders, United Nations, Gabonese Locations: Gabon, Gabonese, Libreville, West, Central Africa, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Ondo, France

☆ Putin Has His Revenge on Prigozhin - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Tatiana Stanovaya | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

No matter that Mr. Prigozhin subsequently met with the Kremlin and seemed to come and go where he pleased. If Mr. Prigozhin was assassinated, was it a snap decision or a well thought-out plan conceived after the rebellion? Whatever the truth, it’s clear that Mr. Putin had ample reason to wish for Mr. Prigozhin’s demise, and not just as a matter of rehabilitating his reputation. Yet while Mr. Putin undoubtedly sanctioned and funded these endeavors, for him the primacy of the state always took precedence. Mr. Prigozhin would be permitted his ventures as long as he remained subservient to the state apparatus.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Prigozhin’s, Putin’s, It’s Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Russia

☆ Analysis: Trump mug shot is stark in its simplicity
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The mug shot of Donald Trump instantly became one of the most iconic images of anyone who served as commander in chief. Video Ad Feedback Haberman: This is the message Trump wanted to convey in his mug shot 01:08 - Source: CNNFor those who revile Trump for his autocratic instincts, demagoguery, vulgarity and self-obsession, the mug shot may offer feelings of vindication. For any other politician, a mug shot would be the end. Even though he’s no longer in office, Trump’s mug shot will now enter the historic record of the select band of those who’ve called the White House home. The same will be true of Trump’s mug shot.

Persons: Donald Trump, P01135809, Trump, revile Trump, he’s, –, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jacqueline Kennedy, husband’s, Richard Nixon’s, George W, Bush, catalyzing Organizations: CNN, Office, Republican, Trump, Service, Twitter, GOP, White, Air Force, Hurricane Locations: Fulton, Georgia, New York, Atlanta, Wisconsin, Dallas, ignominy

☆ A showdown over Trump’s trial date reflects an irreconcilable clash between campaign politics and justice
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The campaign trail will run as much through various court rooms as through the fabled rituals of an American election year. Furthermore, the events surrounding Trump’s denial of his 2020 election defeat have been in the public domain for years. But Trump’s team has already warned it may need up to three-and-a-half years to prepare his defense. His forceful opening gambit on the date suggests a strategy to ensure that any compromise date the judge arrives at will still be relatively early in 2024. The question of a trial date will likely wait for a subsequent hearing.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Smith, Prosecutors, Trump’s, Trump, ”, Elie Honig, Tim Parlatore, “, ” Parlatore, Smith’s, Joe Biden’s, Tanya Chutkan, Chutkan, Ryan Goodman, Ron DeSantis, Aileen Cannon Organizations: CNN, Iowa GOP, Prosecutors, GOP, Trump, IOWA, Republican, Defense Department, White, Trump’s Republican, Florida Gov Locations: Washington, DC, Iowa, New Hampshire, Manhattan, Florida, Lago, Georgia, American

☆ Trump’s surreal arraignment day in Washington augurs ominous days ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was irked, sources familiar with his mindset told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, that the judge referred to him simply as “Mr. Any alternative Republican president could find themselves besieged by demands from Trump supporters for a pardon that, if granted, could overshadow their entire presidency. The California Republican compared Trump’s behavior to the complaints by supporters of past Democratic presidential nominees Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, who complained of electoral irregularities. A few Democrats objected to certifying Trump’s election in Congress is 2016, but Clinton did not challenge it in the courts. But their blind spot on Trump’s far worse, Constitution-threatening conduct shows just how far he has changed their party.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, –, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jack Smith –, “, ” Trump, pardoning, J, Michael Luttig, ” Luttig, ”, Geoff Duncan, ” Duncan, Richard Nixon, ” Nixon, Smith, Alberto Gonzales, George W, Bush, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Cobb, Elliot Williams, Biden’s, Kevin McCarthy, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, ” McCarthy, Gore, Clinton, Kinzinger, Biden, Hunter Organizations: CNN, Washington, Republican, Capitol, Trump, Justice Department, Department of Justice, White, GOP, California Republican, Democratic, Supreme, CNN Republicans, Republicans Locations: America, United States, New Jersey, Georgia, California, China, Ukraine, Bedminster

☆ Trump set to return to Washington for monumental court date – but a national catharsis is unlikely
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hundreds of Trump’s supporters have already faced a courtroom reckoning for their efforts to disrupt the certification of a democratic election. Trump faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. Another reason why Trump’s trial is unlikely to be the kind of unifying event that eases a deep national wound is that most of his Republican Party is closing ranks around him. Given the political recriminations of a trial of a former president, it is reasonable to question whether such a prosecution is in the national interest. “Anyone who asks someone else to put themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again,” Pence told reporters at the Indiana state fair.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, snubbing, Jack Smith –, “, Van Jones, Smith, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, ” Trump, Joe Biden, President Trump, Elise Stefanik, Biden didn’t, Biden, –, Mike Pence, ”, Pence, ” Pence Organizations: CNN, GOP, Biden, Capitol, Trump, White, Republican, ”, Republican White House Locations: United States, Washington, DC, New York, Lago, Florida, Indiana

☆ Why Trump’s latest indictment will reverberate for years to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And he’s not just any former president – Trump’s the front-runner for the GOP nomination, whom polling shows is closely matched with President Joe Biden in a hypothetical rematch. “The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes,” it said. Trump’s congressional Republican backers ignored Smith’s evidence, branding the indictment an attempt to distract from questions they’ve raised about the business activities of the current president’s son, Hunter. The political inferno ignited by the indictment will raise questions about whether such an ordeal is truly in the national interest. Ron DeSantis stands to gain in the GOP primary from any eroding of Trump’s political prospects.

Persons: CNN —, Donald J, Trump ”, “, –, Joe Biden, George Washington, Jack Smith’s, Trump, President Trump, they’ve, Hunter, Smith, insurrectionists, …, Biden, they’d, Scott Jennings, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mike Pence, it’s, ” Smith, ” George Conway, John Lauro, ”, Jeffrey Clark, ” Clark, Pence, Trump’s, Ron DeSantis, Kevin McCarthy, Wyoming Sen, John Barrasso –, weaponizing, Chris Sununu, who’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Biden, Department, Republicans, New York Times, Siena, Justice Department, Republican, White House, Trump thickens, White, Justice, Florida Gov, Harvard Law, US Navy, Capitol, New Hampshire Republican Gov Locations: United States, America, Washington, Manhattan, Nazi Germany, Fulton County , Georgia, Wyoming

☆ China's Qin Gang had meteoric rise and swift removal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Born in the northern city of Tianjin in 1966, Qin studied International Politics at one of China's most prestigious schools for aspiring diplomats, the University of International Relations in Beijing. After graduating, Qin entered the diplomatic service, working in several jobs at the foreign ministry as well as postings at the Chinese Embassy in Britain. Qin was twice foreign ministry spokesman, between 2006 and 2014, and chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018, overseeing many of Xi's interactions with foreign leaders. After becoming foreign minister, Qin's comments on hot button issues such as Taiwan and China's relations with Russia did not diverge in any significant way from those of his predecessor. In his first comments as foreign minister, Qin said in solving challenges common to all mankind, China's diplomacy would offer "Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength".

Persons: Qin Gang, Xi Jinping, Xi, Wang Yi, Qin, Britain . Qin, Antony Blinken, Wang, Yew Lun Tian, Martin Quin Pollard, Rob Birsel, Nick Macfie Organizations: Foreign, University of International Relations, Embassy, Washington, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, Beijing, Britain ., United States, Washington, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Africa, Europe, Ukraine, China, American, U.S

OTTAWA, July 18 (Reuters) - Canada sees a path forward in reaching international consensus on digital services taxes, and a decision to not back a global agreement on freezing the implementation of domestic taxes was taken in the national interest, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday. Last week, most countries with planned digital services taxes agreed to hold off applying them for at least a year longer than what was agreed initially as a global tax deal to replace local taxes was pushed back. Ottawa did not back that deal to extend, saying such a delay would put Canada at a disadvantage relative to countries that have been collecting revenue under their pre-existing digital services taxes. Freeland, in India to attend G7 and G20 meetings, said she had good conversations about finding a path forward on digital services taxes. More than 140 countries were supposed to start implementing next year a 2021 deal overhauling decades-old rules on how governments tax multinational companies.

Persons: Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Matthew Lewis Organizations: OTTAWA, Finance, Ottawa, Apple, Thomson Locations: Canada, New Delhi, Freeland, India, Ottawa

☆ Australians say they would support Taiwan if China attacked, with limits, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File PhotoSYDNEY, June 20 (Reuters) - Australians would support responding to a Chinese attack on Taiwan with economic sanctions, arms supplies or using the navy to prevent a blockade, but don't support sending troops, an opinion poll to be released Wednesday finds. Ryan Neelam, director of public opinion at the foreign policy think tank, said the poll showed Australians are "cautious about conflict", but willing to support Taiwan without becoming a ground combatant. Eighty percent support accepting Taiwanese refugees, 76% support "imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on China", 64% support "Australia sending arms and military supplies to the Taiwanese government", and 61% support "using the Australian Navy to help prevent China from imposing a blockade around Taiwan". Only 42% supported sending "Australian military personnel to Taiwan to help defend it from China".

Persons: Ann Wang, Anthony Albanese, Asia's, Ryan Neelam, Michael Fullilove, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Liberty, REUTERS, Lowy Institute, U.S, Australian Navy, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Canberra, United States, Beijing, Australia, China, Asia, U.S, Sydney

☆ Opinion: In Ukraine, the Russian military response to the counteroffensive shows how it’s improved – and how it hasn’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Opinion Sébastien Roblin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The beginning of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia seems not to have been a resounding success for Kyiv. But they don’t mean that all is lost for Ukraine – or even that Ukraine is now losing. Russia’s artillery ammunition, missile stockpiles and most-modern ground combat vehicles were gravely depleted, so 60-year-old tanks have been withdrawn from storage. It was while attempting to breach a path through one such fortified minefield that the 47th Brigade’s vehicles bogged down last week. Notably, a parallel drive toward Mariupol at the same time as the 47th’s failed attack last week has made fast gains, compelling Russian forces to withdraw from several settlements.

Persons: Sébastien Roblin, Bradley, ” Sebastien Roblin, Sebastien Roblin, Putin, Biden, —, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Organizations: Popular Mechanics, NBC, Forbes.com, Georgetown University, Peace Corps, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine’s 47th Brigade, Ukraine, Red Army, 47th Brigade, NATO, Twitter, Facebook Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kursk, Kherson, Normandy, Berdyansk, Crimea

☆ Hong Kong protest anthem vanishes from online music platforms after government seeks full ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The ballad contains lyrics that reference the phrase “liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” a protest slogan that has been already outlawed in 2020 for what the government and courts have declared are the phrase’s secessionist and subversive connotations. Users in the US cannot purchase the song on Apple Music either, although it also still yields search results on the platform. Following its 1997 handover to China, Hong Kong was promised key freedoms and autonomy to run its own affairs. The head of Amnesty International’s China team, Sarah Brooks, described the government’s move to outlaw the song as “absurd.”“The Hong Kong government must end its increasingly fervent crackdown on freedom of expression. Playing the song in public in Hong Kong is now fraught with legal risk.

Persons: Hong Kong ”, ”, “ ThomasDGX, Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s, John Lee –, –, Sarah Brooks, ” Brooks, Hong Kongers, Carl Court, Queen Elizabeth II Organizations: CNN, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Google, Department of Justice, RTHK, Amnesty, “, Volunteers Locations: Hong Kong, United States, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Hong, Beijing

☆ Versions of Hong Kong protest anthem no longer available on iTunes and Spotify
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, June 14 (Reuters) - Various versions of the pro-democracy protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" were unavailable on Apple’s iTunes Store, Spotify, Facebook and Instagram’s Reels on Wednesday after the government sought an injunction banning the song outright. “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has a duty and obligation to safeguard national security, and we should do it proactively and also preventively,” Lee said. "Glory to Hong Kong", including its various versions, dominated the top ten in Apple’s Hong Kong iTunes Store chart as people rushed to buy the song after the government announced its bid to ban it. "Glory to Hong Kong" has been played mistakenly instead of the Chinese national anthem "March of the Volunteers". Hong Kong's security chief said in December Google had refused to change its search results to display China's national anthem instead of "Glory to Hong Kong" when users searched for Hong Kong's national anthem, expressing "great regret" at the decision.

Persons: Hong, ThomasDGX, John Lee, ” Lee, Sarah Brooks, Hong Kong, HongKongers ”, Jessie Pang, Josh Ye, Nick Macfie Organizations: iTunes, Spotify, Facebook, Reuters, Rugby Sevens, “ Hong, Amnesty, High Court, Hong Kong iTunes, Apple, Google, Volunteers, Asia Rugby Association, Hong, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, “, “ Hong Kong, Hong, British

☆ Analysis: Trump's main 2024 election goal is now to save himself
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Trump’s legal defense strategy is now entirely fused with his electoral one. His bid to regain the White House is no longer a mere political campaign but has now become about self-preservation. If Trump becomes the 2024 GOP nominee, the cloud of criminality could linger over the election until November next year. This potentially could cause havoc with Trump’s political schedule. The salience of Trump’s grievance campaign could become even more relevant in a general election.

Persons: Donald Trump, underscoring, –, Trump, he’s, ” Trump, Joe Biden, He’s, “ He’s, ”, Van Jones, Hillary Clinton, Jack Smith’s, “, — Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Nikki Haley gingerly, she’d, Mike Pence, Ken Buck, CNN’s Dana, Steve Womack, CNN’s Manu Raju, —, Fani Willis, Ron DeSantis Organizations: CNN, White House, GOP, America, ” CNN, Trump, Republican, Republicans, Capitol, Former South Carolina Gov, Wall Street, Freedom Caucus, Arkansas, House Republicans, Justice Department, Trump hasn’t, Florida Gov, “ Locations: Cuban, Miami, New Jersey, Florida, Trump, Colorado, Manhattan, Georgia

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