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Washington CNN —A US military strike on Wednesday in Baghdad killed a Kataib Hezbollah commander who was responsible for attacks on American forces in the region, according to US Central Command. A US official said the strike was part of the response President Joe Biden authorized last week in response to the Jordan attack. As of Tuesday, there had been at least 168 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. In addition to the three soldiers killed in the Jordan attack, three other service members were medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The Iraqi government said the US’ strikes killed at least 16 people, including civilians.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jordan, Biden, –, Sabrina Singh, ”, “, CNN’s MJ Lee, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN, US Central Command, Central Command, Command, Local, CNN, White, Iraqi Popular Mobilization, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, Regional Medical Center, Iraq’s, US, United Locations: Baghdad, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Germany, ”, United States, Anbar Governorate

Gavin Newsom last year vetoed legislation that would have decriminalized the possession and personal use of several plant-based hallucinogens, including psychedelic mushrooms. Colorado and Oregon have already decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms and establish regulated systems for therapeutic use of the substances. In California, San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Cruz have effectively decriminalized possession of psychedelic mushrooms, meaning a person cannot be arrested or prosecuted for possessing limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens. California already has “a massive network" of underground therapists who provide psychedelic therapy, Wiener said. Touted as a mind-bending drug in the 1960s, psychedelic mushrooms have been used in religious or spiritual practices in some cultures for centuries and possibly thousands of years.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Democratic Sen, Scott Wiener, Newsom, Wiener, Republican Assemblymember Marie Waldron, ” Wiener, Waldron, Juliana Mercer, she's, we'll, ” Mercer, psychedelics, Susan Sagy Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republican, Drug Administration, Heroic Hearts, Marine Corps, U.S ., California Coalition, Psychedelic Safety Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Colorado, Oregon, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, criminalization

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia accused the United States on Monday of aggression against Iraq and Syria aimed at preserving its global dominance and salvaging the Biden administration’s “image” ahead of U.S. elections. Many council members expressed fears of a growing Mideast conflict and urged de-escalation and stepped-up peace efforts. Wood stressed that the United States doesn’t want more conflict in a region where it is “actively working to contain and deescalate the conflict in Gaza." "And we are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran,” Wood said “But we will continue to defend our personnel against unacceptable attacks. Ambassador Zhang Jun, a Russian ally, echoed her concerns about escalating tensions and actions, and pointed a finger at the United States.

Persons: Russia’s U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, ”, Robert Wood, Wood, ” Wood, “, Iran’s U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, ” Iravani, ” U.N, Rosemary DiCarlo, Antonio Guterres, U.N, Zhang Jun, ” Zhang, Algeria’s U.N, Amar Bendjama, ” Bendjama Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, —, Biden, Security, U.S, . Army Locations: — Russia, United States, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Iranian, Russia, Syria’s, Israel, Lebanon, Sea, Yemen, Syrian Arab Republic, Russian, Iran, Jordanian, Monday’s, Gaza

The US said the attack lasted 30 minutes, hitting 85 targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria. In 2016, the Iraqi parliament passed a bill recognizing the PMU as a government entity operating alongside the Iraqi military. A screengrab from a video, geolocated by CNN to the town of Qaim, Iraq, shows the aftermath of US military strikes in the area, according to the Iraqi Military. Iraq and Syria condemned the US attack as infringements on their sovereignty that risk fueling regional conflict. “The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world,” Biden said in a statement Friday, following the strikes on Iraq and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, –, Biden, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Sanders, Matt Rourke, Qaim, Turki Al, John Kirby, Washington, ”, SANA, Kirby, Douglas Sims, “, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Jack Reed, Lloyd Austin, ” Biden, Charles Lister, ” Lister, Ebrahim Raisi Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Army, US Army, Dover Air Force Base, House, Hezbollah, Al, US National Security, Syrian, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iraq’s Armed Forces, United Nations Charter, Republican, Senate Armed, US, Coalition Forces, Austin, Middle East Institute, Iraq Locations: United States, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Gaza, Israel, Delaware, Iraqi, Al, ” Syria’s, Deir Ezzor, Gen, Qaim, ” Syria, Washington ,, Tehran

☆ US forces hammered dozens of IRGC and Iran-backed militia targets with 125 bombs in retaliation for the drone attack that killed American troops
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The military action comes days after a drone attack killed US troops in Jordan. AdvertisementThe US military on Friday began strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, a US defense official told Business Insider. AdvertisementThe White House immediately blamed Iran-backed militias for the deadly incident and vowed revenge. The recent drone attack could have been an attempt to undermine the US hold in eastern Syria and to open arms smuggling routes through Jordan to the West Bank. AdvertisementSome US lawmakers have called for the Biden administration to take aggressive military action in retaliation for the Jan. 28 drone attack, including conducting strikes inside Iran itself.

Persons: —, CENTCOM, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Washington, John Kirby, they're, Biden Organizations: Service, Business, US Central Command, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds Force, US, Coalition, Pentagon, Defense, National Security, Institute for, West Bank Locations: Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, United States, Tehran, East, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Hamas

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden plans to issue an executive order targeting violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank whom he has said have undermined stability in the area, a US official and source familiar with the matter told CNN. Officials said they had compiled evidence they said offered proof of the individuals’ role in the West Bank violence that would withstand judicial review, including information from public reporting. The State Department can apply the policy to both Israelis and Palestinians who were responsible for attacks in the West Bank, Blinken said at the time. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in the weeks immediately following the Hamas attack as settler violence intensified. An estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Matt Miller, ”, ” Biden, “, “ we’re, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: Washington CNN, West Bank, CNN, Politico, White House, The State Department, ”, Bank Locations: United States, West, Gaza, Huwara, “, Israel, East, America

CNN —The three US soldiers killed in the drone attack on a US military outpost in Jordan were identified Monday as Sgt. US Army Reserve Command, APSingh said more than 40 were injured in the attack, a number that could possibly continue to increase. The enemy drone also flew low, which may have allowed it to evade the base’s air defenses, officials said. A US official told CNN that there have been six attacks since Friday, including Sunday’s drone attack and a multi-rocket attack on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria on Monday morning. The consensus is that an Iran-backed militia group is behind the deadly drone attack, though the US is still working to determine which group specifically is responsible.

Persons: William Rivers, Kennedy Sanders, Breonna Moffett, Sabrina Singh, William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, AP Singh, Singh, Syria —, John Kirby, CNN’s Phil Mattingly, White, “, ” Kirby, weren’t, ” Singh, ”, Jens Stoltenberg, Lloyd Austin, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, Defense Department, 718th Engineer Company, US Army Reserve, Pentagon, US Army Reserve Command, Spc, Breonna, AP, Baghdad Diplomatic Support, Regional Medical Center, US, Patrol Base Shaddadi, National Security, Kataib Hezbollah, Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah, NATO Locations: Jordan, Carrollton , Georgia, Waycross , Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Fort Moore , Georgia, Baghdad, Landstuhl, American, East, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon

The enemy drone followed the American drone as it approached, but it is not clear whether the enemy drone intentionally followed the American one or if it was a coincidence, one of the officials said. US officials are also still assessing the enemy drone’s point of origin. The Wall Street Journal first reported the confusion over the enemy drone. A US official told CNN that there have been six attacks since Friday, including Sunday’s drone attack and a multi-rocket attack on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria on Monday morning. The consensus is that an Iran-backed militia group is behind the deadly drone attack, though the US is still working to determine which group specifically is responsible.

Persons: Syria —, John Kirby, CNN’s Phil Mattingly, White, “, ” Kirby, weren’t, ”, Jens Stoltenberg, Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ” Stoltenberg, Austin’s, Biden, Tehran . Sen, Roger Wicker, Sen, Tom Cotton Organizations: CNN, Army, Sunday, Street Journal, Regional Medical Center, Patrol Base Shaddadi, National Security, Kataib Hezbollah, Revolutionary Guard, Pentagon, NATO, Republicans, Republican, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Jordan, American, Germany, East, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Congress, Tehran .

CNN —Three US Army soldiers were killed and at least two dozen service members were injured in a drone attack overnight on a small US outpost in Jordan, US officials told CNN, marking the first time US troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the beginning of the Gaza war. The killing of three Americans at Tower 22 in Jordan near the border with Syria is a significant escalation of an already-precarious situation in the Middle East. Officials said the drone was fired by Iran-backed militants and appeared to come from Syria. US officials have repeatedly said they do not want to see the increasingly high tensions across the Middle East broaden into a regional war. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Illerbrunn from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade was set to be sent back to the US for further treatment after he critically injured in a drone attack on Erbil Airbase.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Sabrina Singh, “, CQ Brown, —, Garrett Illerbrunn Organizations: CNN, US Army, Officials, Central Command, Pentagon, ABC News, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Christmas, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, US Locations: Jordan, Gaza, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Erbil Airbase

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States and Iraq held a first session of formal talks Saturday in Baghdad aimed at winding down the mission of a U.S.-led military coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq. Washington has had a continuous presence in Iraq since its 2003 invasion. Although all U.S. combat forces left in 2011, thousands of troops returned in 2014 to help the government of Iraq defeat IS. Those estimated 2,500 U.S. troops and the bases they serve on have drawn more than 150 missile and drone attacks fired by the militias. Iraqi officials have complained that the U.S. strikes are a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

Persons: Mohammed Shia, Sudani, ”, Qassem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al Organizations: Islamic, Coalition, Iranian, Israel, Popular Mobilization Forces Locations: BEIRUT, United States, Iraq, Baghdad, U.S, Iraqi, America, Syria, Iran, Israel, Washington, Gaza

☆ Analysis: In Poland, Donald Tusk is spoiling for a fight. His populist opponents are hitting back
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The country’s public television channel, TVP, which essentially became a mouthpiece for the previous government, has been ripped off the air. Omar Marques/Getty ImagesBut Tusk – a politician with a reputation for pragmatism and restraint – showed his intentions within days of taking office. “It became symbolic of the excesses of the PiS government,” Bill said of TVP’s transformation into a Hungarian-style state-captured medium. “One of the unifying forces of PiS supporters is distrust, or even hatred, of Donald Tusk,” Kucharczyk said. Nonetheless, after eight years of populist rule that hardened the battle lines of Polish politics, much of the public is spoiling for a fight.

Persons: Donald Tusk, ”, “, Jacek Kucharczyk, Tusk, ’, Kucharczyk, Stanley Bill, Bill, “ It’s, Andrzej Duda, PiS, Omar Marques, –, Duda, ” Bill, ” Kucharczyk, TVP, ” Tusk, Ursula von der Leyen, Tusk’s, Jaap Arriens, messier Organizations: CNN, Law, Justice, of Public Affairs, Polish Studies, University of Cambridge, TVP, Twitter, National Media Council, Police, European Union, “ Locations: Poland, Polish, Warsaw, Hungarian, Tusk’s, Brussels, TVP

☆ Iraq and the U.S. begin formal talks to end coalition mission formed to fight the Islamic State group
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Army soldiers watch as fellow Coalition soldiers pass by near the entrance to the International Zone on May 30, 2021 in Baghdad, Iraq. The United States and Iraq held a first session of formal talks Saturday in Baghdad aimed at winding down the mission of a U.S.-led military coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that he had sponsored "the commencement of the first round of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the United States of America to end the mission of the Coalition in Iraq." Although all U.S. combat forces left in 2011, thousands of troops returned in 2014 to help the government of Iraq defeat IS. Iraqi officials have complained that the U.S. strikes are a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

Persons: Mohammed Shia, Sudani, Qassem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al Organizations: Army, Coalition, Islamic, Iranian, Israel, Popular Mobilization Forces Locations: Baghdad, Iraq, United States, U.S, Iraqi, America, Syria, Iran, Israel, Washington, Gaza

☆ US and Iraqi governments expected to start talks on future of US military presence in the country
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The US and Iraq are expected to soon begin talks on the future of the US military presence in the country, according to sources familiar with the matter, amid public calls from the Iraqi government for the US to withdraw its troops. US military officials and diplomats will be involved in the discussions, officials said. The talks about the future of the US’ military presence have now taken on a greater urgency amid the wider regional instability, and amid growing public calls by the Iraqi government for the US to withdraw its troops from the country. Part of the discussions will focus on whether and when it will be feasible to end the US military presence in Iraq. “The Biden administration is not considering a withdrawal of forces from Syria,” a senior US official told CNN.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ”, They’re, Mohammed Shia, Sudani, ” “, “, ” Jonathan Lord, Jon Alterman, it’s, Alterman, Elena Romanowski, Biden, CNN’s Haley Britzky Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, ISIS, Defense, ”, ISIS Coalition, Higher, Commission, Center for New American Security, Iraqi Security Forces, Middle, Center for Strategic, International Studies, “ Locations: Iraq, Iraqi, Iran, Syria, ”, Iranian, Baghdad, Israel

☆ Iran-backed groups in the Middle East and major US military deployments
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Abbas Allawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The US has attacked Iranian-backed groups in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, while Iran-linked groups have targeted American personnel in Iraq and Syria. The US, having been trying to pivot away from the Middle East for years, finds itself drawn back into the region. And in some places, including Iraq and Syria, the US military presence overlaps that of Iran and its allies. The US has around 13,500 US forces in Kuwait, the largest American military presence in the region. The US this month quietly reached an agreement that extends its military presence for another 10 years at the base.

Persons: Yemen’s, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Harakat, Sayyid, Al, Haq, Asad, Bashar al, Assad, Israel, Ali, Dalton Williams Organizations: UAE CNN, Hamas, Islamic, Navy, Marine Expeditionary Unit, Institute for National Security, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, National Intelligence, Badr Organization, Asad Air Base, Erbil AB, Al, Force, Fatemiyoun, ISIS, Syria Security, Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Free Army, CNN, Gaza, US Air Force, Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment, Ali Al Salem Air Base, U.S . Air Force, Washington, United Arab, US, Udeid, Base, Forward Headquarters, Combined Air Operations Centre, Prince Sultan Air Base, UAE, Al Dhafra, Al Dhafra Air Base, Gulf Air Warfare Center, US Naval Forces Central Command Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Iran, US, Iranian, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Tehran, Pakistan, Islamic Republic, Washington, Lebanon Lebanon, East, Lebanon, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Iraq Tehran, Baghdad, Al, Erbil, Syria Iran, Syrian, Pakistani, ”, Red, Saudi, Yemen’s, Kuwait, U.S, Palestinian, Arab, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Doha, Al Dhafra Air, Bahrain, Jordan, Incirlik

☆ US personnel injured in attack on Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, US official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —US personnel were injured in a ballistic missile attack on Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq on Saturday, two US officials said. The attack resulted in minor injuries, the officials said, though it was not immediately clear how many personnel had been injured. US Central Command confirmed the attack Saturday evening and said in a statement that “a number” of US personnel are being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries. Multiple ballistic missiles and rockets targeted the base and, while most were intercepted by the base’s air defenses, some made impact, the CENTCOM statement said. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed militia group, claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack.

Persons: ”, Biden, “, Mohammed Shia, Sudani, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Hamdi Alkhshali, Haley Britzky, Donald Judd Organizations: CNN, Asad Air Base, US Central Command, Hezbollah, US, ISIS, Reuters, UN, Pentagon Locations: Al, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Iranian, Gaza, Iraqi, Iraq’s, —, Davos, Switzerland, Aden

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump used his social media platform Friday to mock Nikki Haley 's birth name, the latest example of the former president keying on race and ethnicity to attack people of color, especially his political rivals. She has always gone by her middle name, “Nikki.” She took the surname “Haley” upon her marriage in 1996. Haley has dismissed Trump's latest attacks as proof that she threatens his bid for a third consecutive nomination. Trump has a long history of using race, ethnicity and immigrant heritage as a cudgel. He was born in Hawaii, though Trump spent years asserting Obama had manufactured the story and a birth certificate to support it.

Persons: — Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Trump, Haley, ” Haley, Nikki Randhawa, “ Nikki, ”, “ Haley ”, Haley “ Nimbra, “, he's, —, Barack Obama, Trump's, “ I’ll, Ron DeSantis, — Haley, “ Ron DeSanctimonious ”, Ron DeSanctus, Darrell Scott, It’s, Scott, “ He’s, He’s, ” Scott, ” Tara Setmayer, Setmayer, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Obama, Barack Hussein Obama, David Duke, ” Trump, Kamala Harris's, ” Harris, John Lewis, Frederick Trump, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Ali Swenson, Holly Ramer Organizations: ATLANTA, South, New, Trump, Republicans, GOP, Florida, America, Lincoln Project, Republican, Senate, Ku Klux Klan, CNN, Georgia Institute of Technology, U.S, South Carolina statehouse, Associated Press Locations: India, South Carolina, Bamberg , South Carolina, New Hampshire, Kenya, Iowa, gander, American, Hawaii, Indian, Georgia, Atlanta, U.S, Haiti, “, Africa, Norway, Bavarian, Washington, Amherst , New Hampshire

☆ Louisiana lawmakers approve a congressional map with a second Black-majority district
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Louisiana lawmakers on Friday approved a new congressional map that gives the state a second Black-majority US House district and likely puts at risk a Republican-controlled seat. The new map creates a second majority-Black district, slicing through the middle of the state, in a district currently held by Republican Rep. Garret Graves. And, in drawing the new lines, Louisiana’s GOP lawmakers rebuffed a public entreaty from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Louisiana Republican, to continue fighting the court order. Republican state lawmakers and Landry this week warned that if legislators failed to draw the map themselves, they would hand over the power to a federal judge. The new maps approved Friday protect Johnson’s seat, along with that of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, another Louisiana GOP congressman.

Persons: Jeff Landry, “, ” Ashley Shelton, Justice –, Eric Holder, Black, Troy Carter –, –, Garret Graves, Graves, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Graves, Landry, ” Landry, Shelly Dick, Barack Obama, Steve Scalise Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democrats, Louisiana’s Republican, Louisiana’s Black, Republicans, Representatives, Gov, Black, Power Coalition for Equity, Justice, US, National Democratic, Republican Rep, Louisiana Republican, Louisiana GOP Locations: Louisiana, Washington, , Louisiana, Black, Congress

☆ Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Map That Empowers More Black Voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Emily Cochrane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Louisiana lawmakers on Friday approved a new congressional map that would create a second district with a majority of Black voters, after a federal court found that the existing map appeared to illegally undercut the power of Black voters in the state. Given that Black voters often back Democratic candidates in the state, the new map also increases the possibility of Democrats’ taking control of a second congressional seat in Louisiana. “It’s a powerful moment for Black voters in this state and it’s a powerful moment for history,” said Ashley K. Shelton, president of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and one of the plaintiffs who had challenged the map. Lawmakers in Baton Rouge also agreed to tighten the state’s raucous “jungle primary” system for federal elections and State Supreme Court races beginning in 2026, though they stopped far short of the statewide overhaul sought by Gov. Jeff Landry, the newly inaugurated Republican governor.

Persons: “, ”, Ashley K, Shelton, Jeff Landry Organizations: Democratic, Power Coalition for Equity, Justice, Gov Locations: Louisiana, Baton Rouge

☆ US carries out another round of strikes against Houthis in Yemen, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Haley Britzky | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US carried out another round of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, according to three US officials, marking the fourth time the US has struck the Iran-backed rebel group in less than a week. The US used Tomahawk missiles to target approximately 14 Houthi missile launchers used to attack international shipping lanes, one of the officials said. The US strikes are the latest in a series of actions against the Houthis, following significant US-led strikes last week with the UK, and support from a handful of other allies. Hours earlier, the Houthis struck a US-owned and operated vessel for the second time this week. The new strikes also come the same day the US re-designated the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity.

Persons: Pat Ryder, ” Organizations: CNN, US, US Central Command, Central Command, Pentagon Locations: Yemen, Iran, USS Florida, Israel, Gaza, Picardy, Gulf, Aden, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Red

☆ Qatar Pauses Red Sea Tankers After Western Strikes on Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

In the latest shift by a major firm, state-owned QatarEnergy has held at least four LNG tankers back from the Red Sea, a senior source said, adding that production continues. On Monday, carmaker Suzuki said production would halt at its Esztergom plant in Hungary from Jan. 15-21 as the Red Sea attacks had delayed the arrival of Japanese-made engines. U.S. ally Britain said it had no desire to be involved in a Red Sea conflict but was committed to protecting the right of free navigation. The Al Rekayyat, which was sailing back to Qatar, stopped along its route on Jan. 13 in the Red Sea. "It is a pause to get security advice, if passing (through the) Red Sea remains unsafe we will go via the Cape," the source told Reuters on Monday about QatarEnergy.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Maha, Maha El Dahan, QatarEnergy, carmaker Suzuki, Britain, Grant Shapps, Qatar's Al Ghariya, Al Huwaila, Al, Ras Laffan, Al Rekayyat, Maha El, Emily Chow, Sachin Ravikumar, Chandni Shah, Andrew Cawthorne, Catherine Evans Organizations: Houthi, Reuters, Qatari Locations: Maha El, Maha El Dahan DOHA, WASHINGTON, Yemen, Gaza, Saudi, Israel, The U.S, U.S, Esztergom, Hungary, Ras, Suez, Oman, Jan, Qatar, Red, Europe, Asia, Aden, Djibouti, Davos, Singapore, Doha, London, Bengaluru

☆ Life insurers binge on US financing aimed at helping housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Koh Gui Qing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

It has been predominantly used by life insurers, because they need to boost their investment returns with cheap funding to meet long-term liabilities. They provide the cheap funding to banks and insurers in exchange for collateral to ensure they get their money back. Insurers are entitled to tap FHLB funding. Insurers’ borrowing from FHLBs picked up in 2008 financial crisis, as those that spread themselves thin with aggressive investments scrambled for cash. They did not explain why insurers need FHLB funding to invest in mortgages.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Ryan Donovan, CMBS, Lawrence White, White, Graphics JUICING, Cynthia Beaulieu, Cornelius Hurley, Hurley, FHLBs, ’, Michael Ericson, Jack Dolan, Koh Qui, Greg Roumeliotis, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, Loan, Federal Housing Finance Agency, of Federal Home Loan, FHLBs, FHLB, National Association of Insurance, New York University, MetLife Inc, Equitable Holdings Inc, Corebridge, Brighthouse Financial, MetLife, TIAA, Equitable, Graphics, Wellington Management, Boston University School of Law, Coalition, Silicon Valley Bank, First, American, of, Insurance Coalition, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Boston, Silicon, First Republic, Chicago, New York

☆ USS Carney shoots down drones, responds to ballistic missile attack on commercial vessel
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Haley Britzky | Hamdi Alkhshali | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The USS Carney shot down two Houthi drones headed in the ship’s direction in the southern Red Sea on Sunday and responded to a distress call from a civilian commercial vessel that was fired upon by a ballistic missile, a US defense official said. A US official said other commercial vessels were also “attacked by Houthi missiles today,” though it’s unclear how many or which vessels specifically. The Houthi-run Yemeni Armed Forces claimed on Sunday that its naval forces had carried out attacks against what it called “two Israeli ships” in the Red Sea’s Bab al-Mandab strait. According to Yemeni Armed Forces’ statement, the vessels Unity Explorer and Number Nine were engaged with a naval missile and drone, respectively, after rejecting warning messages. Last month, the USS Thomas Hudner shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Yemen.

Persons: Carney, Burke, Gerald R, “, Bab, Thomas Hudner, Mason, Pat Ryder, “ That’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Arleigh, Ford Carrier Strike, Houthi, US, Yemeni Armed Forces, Unity, ”, Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, Hamas, Pentagon Locations: Sea, Red, vessel’s, “, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, Somali, Persian, Iraq, Syria

"We were an early adopter," said Morgan, who served as past president for Tennessee Jump$tart, an independent affiliate of the national Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, which championed the policy. While financial literacy has long been a priority, the Covid-19 pandemic sparked a wave of state-level legislation nationwide, said Morgan, who also served on the board of the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission. "The work is never done," said Bill Parker, director of the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, which aims to incorporate personal finance into schools "as early as possible." Bill Parker Director of the Tennessee Financial Literacy CommissionThe Commission has outlined priorities in its five-year strategic plan, which has included thought leadership and state-level advocacy for expanded financial literacy programming. Numerous studies have highlighted the benefits of teaching children financial literacy at an early age.

Persons: chris Ryan, Istock, Jackie Morgan, Morgan, We've, there's, Bill Parker, Parker Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's, Tennessee, Tennessee Financial Literacy, U.S, Finance, Council for Economic Education, Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, Tennessee Financial Locations: —, Tennessee, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Nashville, U.S, , Tennessee

nicholas kristofThe unofficial leader of this homeless encampment is a guy called Joe Cavazos —nicholas kristof Hey, Joe. joe cavazos Yeah. joe cavazos Yeah. joe cavazos Yeah. joe cavazos Yeah.

Persons: nicholas kristof I’m Nicholas Kristof, I’m, They’re, Molly Permenter, molly permenter, — nicholas kristof —, molly permenter We’re, nicholas kristof We, nicholas kristof, nicholas kristof The, Joe Cavazos — nicholas kristof Hey, Joe, nicholas kristof —, nicholas kristof So, — nicholas kristof You, — nicholas kristof One, Molly, permenter, nicholas kristof Molly’s, nicholas kristof People, molly permenter —, — nicholas kristof, nicholas kristof There’s, Houston, They’ve, Don’t, bro Organizations: The New York Times, Democratic, Coalition, Homeless, Security Locations: Texas, Houston, Dallas, We’re, what’s, Portland , Oregon

☆ Biden Trade Policy Breaks With Tech Giants - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Farah Stockman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

“We have warned for years that either the United States would write the rules for digital trade or China would,” Senator Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho, lamented in a press statement. That paper explains how U.S. trade officials came to champion a digital trade policy agenda that was nearly identical to what Google, Apple and Facebook wanted: No restrictions on the flow of data across borders. No laws that would curb monopolies or encourage more competition — a position that is often cloaked in clauses prohibiting discrimination against American companies. Many smaller tech companies complain that big players engage in monopolistic behavior that should be regulated. A group of smaller tech companies called the Coalition for App Fairness thanked Ms. Tai for dropping support for the so-called tech-friendly agenda at the World Trade Organization.

Persons: Mike Crapo, Biden, Tai, Wendy Li, Ms, Li, Henry Gao Organizations: Republican, Facebook, Google, University of Wisconsin, Trump, Microsoft, Apple, Coalition, World Trade Organization Locations: China, United, Idaho, Madison, United States, Mexico, Canada, Washington, Singapore

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