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☆ Blinken holding crucial meetings in Israel as efforts to free hostages and halt Gaza fighting intensify
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel Wednesday for meetings with key government officials to press for a “humanitarian pause” as international and domestic US pressure to end the conflict in Gaza continues to mount. Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a little over an hour. He is meeting with Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi and set to meet with other key officials. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and, indeed, essential. And we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it,” Blinken said at a news conference in Doha Tuesday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, “ There’s, ” Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden, ”, Netanyahu, ’, “ We’re, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince, Israel, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Doha Tuesday, State Department, Monday, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Crown, Doha Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, United States, Rafah, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, ”, Palestinian

☆ Oil prices rise as traders weigh Gaza truce talks, U.S. tensions with Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices rose Tuesday as investors weighed efforts to negotiate a truce in Gaza against a U.S. vow to take further action against militants in the Middle East. Blinken is consulting with allies in the region in an effort to secure a truce in Gaza and prevent the war from spilling over in to a broader regional conflict. Blinken's trip to the region comes after the U.S. again launched airstrikes against Iranian forces and allied militants in Iraq, Syria and Yemen over the weekend. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the U.S. will take additional, "further action" after the latest weekend strikes. "The heightened tension will undoubtedly entail renewed Houthi hostilities in the Red Sea ensuring persistent re-routing of oil traffic around the Cape of Good Hope," Varga wrote.

Persons: Brent, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Jordan, Jake Sullivan, Tamas Varga, Varga, Good Hope Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, The West Texas Intermediate, Iranian, White, National Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, The, Egypt, Saudi, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Good

☆ Top US Diplomat Blinken Arrives in Saudi, First Stop on Mideast Trip
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, his first stop in a wider tour of the Middle East as Washington tries to advance negotiations on a normalization deal between the Kingdom and Israel as well as make progress on talks for the governance of postwar Gaza. The top U.S. diplomat’s fifth trip to the region since Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack comes at a perilous moment and amid retaliatory U.S. strikes on Iran-backed militia across Syria, Iraq and Yemen in response to a drone strike last week in Jordan that killed three American troops and wounded dozens. Blinken is also set to visit Egypt, Qatar and Israel later this week and push to advance the Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated conversations with Hamas to achieve a hostage deal. In Riyadh, Blinken was expected to meet with the Kingdom’s de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as his Saudi counterpart, foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Humeyra Pamuk, Doina Chiacu Organizations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia, East, Kingdom, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Riyadh

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken began a diplomatic push in the Middle East on Monday for a deal that would pause the war in the Gaza Strip and release the hostages there, even as a drone struck a military base used by American troops and allied forces in eastern Syria. Mr. Blinken, making his fifth trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, met in Riyadh with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in the first stop on a trip that will also include meetings in Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank. Speaking with the crown prince, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Mr. Blinken “underscored the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further spread of the conflict,” the State Department said. It added that they discussed “an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza that provides lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken “, ” Organizations: West Bank, State Department Locations: Gaza, Syria, Israel, Riyadh, Saudi, Egypt, Qatar

☆ Dubai is the economic jewel of the Middle East — now its Gulf neighbors are coming for a piece of the pie
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Pete Syme | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

According to Forbes' 2023 Travel Guide, Dubai has nine 5-star hotels , compared to Abu Dhabi's three and two in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it wants in on international travel, stating it aims to attract 100-150 million visitors by 2030. Saudi Arabia is catching up with a new airlineThe competition is perhaps the most heated in the aviation industry. On its double-decker Airbus A380, Dubai's airline, Emirates, has top amenities like a shower for business-class passengers, plus an on-board bar. AdvertisementAnd even if it succeeds in attracting tourists to Saudi Arabia, it is unlikely to knock Emirates off its perch.

Persons: —, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Abu, Abu Dhabi, Forbes, Abu Dhabi's, Faisal Alibrahim, Alibrahim, Mohammed Bin Salman, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ulrichsen, Skytrax, Pete Syme, Tony Douglas, Douglas, That's, OAG Organizations: Service, United Arab Emirates, Business, Saudi Crown, Etihad, Bloomberg, CNN, Saudi, Economic, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qatari, Etihad Airways, Riyadh Air, Air, Riyadh Air's Boeing, Boeing, Dubai International Airport Locations: Dubai, Gulf, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Abu, UAE, Qatar, Davos, Neom, Emirates, Still, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia

☆ Malaysia's new king has a $5.7B family fortune. Here's how he spends his money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, was declared king on Wednesday as part of the country's rotating monarchy. King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor is photographed with his sister, Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, after his accession was announced in October 2023. MOHD RASFAN/AP ImagesSultan Ibrahim is head of the Johor royal family and is considered one of the country's wealthiest men. In May 2023, a video posted to the Johor royal family's TikTok account showed them dining at Istanbul Turkish Cuisine, a reservations-only restaurant in Horizon Hills, Johor. King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (right) speaks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) after the oath-taking ceremony.

Persons: Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Tunku Azizah Aminah, Iskandariah, MOHD RASFAN, Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan Ibrahim isn't, Ferrari Testarossa, HASNOOR HUSSAIN, Adolf Hitler, Hitler, Harley, Davidson, Tunku Ismail, Crown, Prince, of, of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah Ahmad Shah, Mahathir Mohamad Organizations: Bloomberg, Facebook, Getty, Mercedes, YouTube, Boeing, Guardian, U Mobile, Maharani Energy, Johor Darul, The Straits Times, Malaysian, Malaysia's Locations: Malaysia, Malaysia's, Johor, Malaysian, Kuala Lumpur, India, Istanbul Turkish, Horizon Hills, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Singapore, Forest, Manhattan, of Malaysia Sultan

☆ PGA Tour secures up to $3 billion from U.S. investors as LIV Golf merger hangs in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The PGA Tour logo is seen during the third round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, on June 24, 2017. A U.S. consortium has agreed to invest up to $3 billion into the PGA Tour, the professional golf organization announced on Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal, the investor, Strategic Sports Group, will become a minority owner in PGA Tour enterprises, the for-profit entity of the PGA Tour. "Today marks an important moment for the PGA Tour and fans of golf across the world," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. "By making PGA Tour members owners of their league, we strengthen the collectives investment of our players in the success of the PGA Tour," Monahan said.

Persons: LIV, PIF, Jay Monahan, " Monahan, Fenway Sports Group's John Henry, Arthur Blank, Steve Cohen, Tom Ricketts, Wyc Grousbeck, John Henry, Monahan, Henry, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Critics, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brook Koepka, John Rahm Organizations: PGA Tour, Strategic Sports Group, Saudi, PGA, Fenway Sports, Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank , New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Boston Celtics, Fenway Sports Group, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi Public Investment, CNBC, Justice Department Locations: Cromwell , Connecticut, U.S, Arthur Blank ,, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Caspar David Friedrich: The German artist’s rise from obscurity to fame
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Catherine Hickey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Caspar David Friedrich's work "Man and Woman Contemplating the Moon." Staatliche Museen zu BerlinThe Berlin exhibition, “Caspar David Friedrich: Infinite Landscapes,” will examine the Nationalgalerie’s role in rediscovering the artist at the beginning of the 20th century. Thanks to the royal purchases, Berlin has one of the most significant collections of Friedrich works in the world. SHK/Hamburger Kunsthalle/bpkThe German museums were in discussion about loans from Russia before February 2020, Verwiebe says. In 1974, long queues formed for a Friedrich exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle marking his 200th birthday.

Persons: —, Caspar David Friedrich, Alte, Dresden’s, Caspar David Friedrich's, “ Caspar David Friedrich, Birgit Verwiebe, Friedrich, Clemens Brentano, Heinrich von Kleist, Frederick William IV, ”, Frederick William III, Charlotte, Tsar Nicholas I, Friedrich's, Verwiebe, — Hitler, London’s Tate, Christina Grummt, Friedrich sketchbook, Gerhard Richter, Julian Charrière, Olafur Eliasson, Ulrike Rosenbach, Kehinde Wiley, “, ” Grummt Organizations: The Art, CNN, Hamburg’s Kunsthalle, zu, Berlin Academy, SHK, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Staatliche, Villa Grisebach, Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art Locations: Germany, Weimar, Greifswald, Friedrich’s, zu Berlin, Berlin, Dresden, Oakwood, ”, Russia, Hermitage, St Petersburg, Hamburger, Ukraine, German, Villa, Greenland, Hamburg, Winterthur, New York

Saudi Arabia began hosting the men’s tour’s Next Gen ATP Finals for top 21-and-under players in Jedda last year in a deal that runs through 2027. And the WTA has been in talks to place its season-ending WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. If so, we would endorse engagement there.”Another Hall of Fame player, Billie Jean King, has said she supports the idea of trying to encourage change by heading to Saudi Arabia now. “I’m a huge believer in engagement," King, a founder of the WTA and an equal rights champion, said last year. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has enacted wide-ranging social reforms, including granting women the right to drive and largely dismantling male guardianship laws that had allowed husbands and male relatives to control many aspects of women’s lives.

Persons: of Famers Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Rafael Nadal, ”, Evert, Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Coco Gauff, John Pye, ___ Organizations: of Famers, WTA, The Washington, Saudi Tennis Federation, Rafael Nadal Academy, Fame, Washington Post, Authorities, ” Locations: Saudi Arabia, The, Saudi, East, Jedda, ” U.S, Melbourne, Australia

☆ Saudi Arabia, a country where you can be publicly whipped for drinking alcohol, is opening its first liquor store: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewSaudi Arabia is to open its first store serving alcohol, Reuters reported, catering exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats. The store will open in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the report said. AdvertisementThe move comes as Saudi Arabia's ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is seeking to liberalize the image of Saudi Arabia, whose laws derive from an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam. Under Saudi law, alcohol is banned, and judges can hand out severe punishments including public flogging for those who violate them. Crown Prince Mohammed is trying to attract foreign tourism and billions in investment as he pivots the kingdom away from its reliance on fossil fuels as part of its Vision 2030 plan.

Persons: —, it'll, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed Organizations: Service, Reuters, Business, Saudi, Wall Street Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi

JERUSALEM (AP) — A liquor store has opened in Saudi Arabia for the first time in over 70 years, a diplomat reported Wednesday, a further socially liberalizing step in the once-ultraconservative kingdom that is home to the holiest sites in Islam. The store sits next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a socially sensitive topic in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia remains one of the few nations in the world with a ban on alcohol, alongside its neighbor Kuwait and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has banned alcohol since the early 1950s. As Saudi Arabia prepares for a $500 billion futuristic city project called Neom, reports have circulated that alcohol could be served at a beach resort there.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, King Abdulaziz, Prince Mishari, Cyril Ousman Organizations: JERUSALEM, Washington Post, Workers, Saudi, Arab News, Saudi Research, Media, U.S . State Department, United Locations: Saudi Arabia, Islam, Riyadh, Saudi, haram, Islam . Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Jeddah, Mecca, Neom

☆ Saudi Arabia opens its first-ever alcohol store — but it's only accessible to a select group
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

According to a list of store rules seen by CNBC, the venue is only accessible to non-Muslim diplomats, and authorization must be validated through an app called Diplo. Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, two sources told CNBC. "It's a baby step to opening up alcohol sales to non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia eventually, to hotels and other venues," said the consultant, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. Foreign embassy staff, who are able to import alcohol to be kept on embassy premises, are known in Saudi Arabia to often import booze in large quantities and then sell it on the black market. Saudi Arabia has undergone seismic change both socially and economically in the years since the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, now the kingdom's de-facto ruler, came to power.

Persons: we've, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: CNBC, Foreign, Saudi, Crown Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Western

☆ Saudi Arabia goes big in Davos as it looks to become a top AI tech hub for the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A pop-up showcasing Saudi Arabia's Neom development features among the most prominent on the Davos promenade in 2024. But Saudi Arabia is keen to capture some of the limelight, and talent, from its neighbor on the Arabian Peninsula — an ambition laid bare on the Davos Promenade this year. "He's driving entrepreneurship, he's diversifying the economy ... And there are a lot of people that are really interested in working in Saudi Arabia," said Bremmer. "In the Emirates and in Saudi Arabia, you have millions of people that need upskilling, particularly Saudi Arabia which has a much larger population," Hidary said. Hidary, who was recently in Saudi Arabia, says that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are looking at countries like Singapore and Israel that have supported start-ups and are driven by technology.

Persons: Mohammed al, Jadaan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Ian Bremmer, he's, Bremmer, Jamal Khashoggi, King Abdullah, KAUST, Harri Jarvelainen, Vera Futorjanski, Futorjanski, Israel Jack Hidary, Hidary, — CNBC's Karen Gilchrist Organizations: Saudi, CNBC, United Arab, prince's, —, Economic, Al, U.S, Eurasia Group, MBS, World Bank, Research Technology Centers, King, King Abdullah University of Science, Technology, UCLA, Riyadh's, Center, AI Research, AI, Artificial Intelligence Authority, Veritas Ventures, Emirates Locations: Davos, CNBC DAVOS, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Neom, Saudi, Riyadh, China, Istanbul, UAE, Singapore, Israel, Emirates

☆ A guide to the most important characters in Sarah J. Maas' 'Crescent City' series
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The "Crescent City" series has a massive cast of characters that can be hard to keep track of. On January 30, Sarah J. Maas will release "House of Flame and Shadow," the third book in her best-selling "Crescent City" series. "Crescent City" has a huge cast of characters, most of which are magical creatures referred to as Vanir. To help prepare you for the third book, Business Insider created a guide to some of the most important characters in the "Crescent City" universe. AdvertisementThe rest of this article contains major spoilers for the "Crescent City" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series.

Persons: Sarah J, Maas, —, Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn Danaan, Bryce, Ember Quinlan, Randall Silago, Einar Danaan, Einar, Prince, Ruhn, Danika Fendyr, Orion, Hunt, Bryce's, Danika, Sofie Renast, Baxian Argos, Baxian, Asteri, Connor Holstrom, Bryce ., Archangel Micah, Connor, Luna's Horn, Micah, Declan Emmet, Tristan Flynn, Declan, Flynn, Fury, Juniper, Holstrom, Tharion, Sofie Renast's, Emile, Sabine Fendyr, Ithan, Sabine, Lidia Cervos, Hypaxia Enador, Enador, Celestina, Crescent, Lidia, Sandriel, Pollux Antonius, It's, Hel, Aidas, they're, Rigelus, Bryce doesn't, Feyre Archeron, Nesta, Amren, Cassian, Rhysand, Teller, Gwydion Organizations: Service, Business, 33rd Legion, Alpha, Bloomsbury, of, Sirius, Court, Wings Locations: Lunathion, Crescent, Bloomsbury, Midgard, Crescent City, Valbara, Hel, Ruhn, Nesta

☆ Saudi Arabia isn’t ruling out befriending Israel. But it may come at a higher price
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +70 min

Fatima Shbair/AP Mourners collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 24. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/picture-alliance/AP Relatives and friends bid farewell to the body of Al Jazeera camera operator Samer Abu Daqqa in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 16. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Israeli soldiers form an honor guard at the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master Sgt. Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Children use candles for lighting in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Friday, October 20. Maya Alleruzzo/AP A boy carries salvaged belongings from the wreckage of his family's home in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.

Persons: UAE CNN —, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “, “ There’s, ” Prince Khalid bin Bandar, ” Ali Shihabi, Shihabi, Israel, Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Biden, Yousef Al Otaiba, Israel “, ” Otaiba, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Firas Maksad, Abir, Prince Khalid, Maksad, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, ” Prince Khalid, Isaac Herzog, Oded, Abed Rahim Khatib, Noam Galai, Majdi, Sufian Dagash, Ohad, Abed Zagout, Harel Ittah, Ariel Schalit, Khan Yunis, Stringer, Elisha Yehonatan Lober, Mount Herzl, Maja Hitij, Fatima Shbair, Ahmad Hasaballah, Mohammed Salem, Yaacov Elian, Boris Dunavetski, Amir Levy, Mohammed Abed, Mahmud Hams, Alon Lulu Shamriz, Ilia Yefimovich, Abu Daqqa, Khan, Khan Younis, Ben Shelly, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Eviatar Cohen, Mostafa Alkharouf, Mohammed Dahman, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Atef Safadi, Gal Meir Eisenkot, Eisenkot, Gadi Eisenkot, Leo Correa, Alexi Rosenfeld, Alleruzzo, Amir Cohen, Gil Cohen, Menahem Kahana, Sergeant Aschalwu Sama, Tsafrir, John MacDougall, Ahed Tamimi, Nasser Nasser, Viktor, Helena Brodski, Kiril Brodski, Ammar Awad, Jack Guez, Jabel Mukaber, Mahmoud Illean, Alexander Ermochenko, Younis, Mustafa Hassona, Asher, Raz, Doron, Schneider, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Majed Al, Ansari, Mohammed Hajjar, Said Khatib, Jalaa Marey, Victor R, Liron Snir, James Oatway, Ashraf Amra, Ahmad Gharabli, Rizek Abdeljawad, Major Jamal Abbas, Shir Torem, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Christopher Furlong, Hatem Ali, Avraham Fetena, Sgt, Raz Abulafia, Fadel Senna, Nasser, Matan Meir, Haitham Imad, Roni Eshel, Eshel, Kenzo Tribouillard, Sadi Berek, Salah al, Varda Goldstein, Nir Oz, Bernat, Tomer Appelbaum, Mohammad Abu Elsebah, Khaled Ibn Al, Walid, Ya'akov Ozeri, Ronen Zvulun, Mohammed Alaloul, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Salman Habaka, Yuval Zilber, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Albert Miles, Ilan Rosenberg, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Yoav Gallant, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Omar El, Yasser Qudih, 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, Brendan Smialowski, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, 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, Tali Touito, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Lana Nusseibeh, “ That’s, Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash, ” Gargash Organizations: UAE CNN, Hamas, BBC, CNN, Palestinian, West Bank, Reuters, United Arab, Abraham Accords, Israel, UAE, Arab League, Saudi, Fox News, Washington Institute for Near East, Middle East Institute, Israeli, Getty, of Health, Congressional, Republicans, United Nations Security, AP, European Hospital, Mount, Rockets, UN, Anadolu, Museum of Art, Security, Nova, Magen, Getty Images, Kiryat, Islamic Jihad, Red, Tel, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical, Young, AP People, Schneider Children's Medical, Sisters, Schneider Children's, Ofer, Cross, Foreign, Artillery, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Al, Unicef, AP Journalists, Israel Defense Forces, Modern, Nasser Hospital, 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, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, 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 Herzl Military, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Wall, Shihabi Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, United Kingdom, Gaza, United States, ”, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, Al Ula, Reuters Israeli, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Washington , DC, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, AFP, Turkey, Gulf, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Rafah, Maghar, Anadolu, Netanya, Khan, Khan Younis, Shaul, Shefayim, Jazeera, Kidron, Kfar Saba, Nahal Oz, Herzliya, Ashkelon, Petah Tikva, Ramallah, Egypt, Ofakim, Jabel, Khezaa, Gazan, Sisters Aviv, Beitunia, Gaza City, Galilee, Lebanon, Al, Aqsa, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, Xinhua, Pekiin, Mavki'im, Haifa, Sderot, Beit Hashmonai, Europe, Rishpon, Odem, Gaza's Al, Deir Al, Balah, Bureij, Kfar Aza, Meron, Jerusalem's, City, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Golan Heights, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, 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, Dhabi, Dubai, Al Arabiya

☆ Opinion: We’ll finally get some answers from Iowa about Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

It is a feat former President Donald Trump is trying to duplicate this year. The first true test of Trump’s comeback occurs Monday in Iowa, where caucusgoers will venture into sub-zero temperatures to choose between Trump, Florida Gov. After months of speculation, we’ll finally get some answers to a few questions: Is there an opening for any Republican aside from Trump? Most of our contributors thought Haley won Wednesday’s CNN debate in Iowa against DeSantis, but Trump’s absence from the stage again loomed large. “Haley sounded like someone looking to take on the genuine article — the Republican frontrunner,” wrote W. James Antle III.

Persons: George Washington’s, Grover Cleveland, ”, Troy Senik, Donald Trump, Cleveland, “, —, Republican frontrunner’s, Cleveland didn’t, Benjamin Harrison —, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, we’ll, Will DeSantis, he’s, Haley, Wednesday’s, “ Haley, James Antle III, ’, ” Clay Jones, Chris Christie, Trump, ” Antle, who’s, Facebook Sophia, Nelson, “ Haley isn’t, Todd Graham, she’d, it’s, ” DeSantis, John Avlon, Laurence Tribe, Norman Eisen, Taylor Redd, Florence Pan, John Sauer, ” Bill Bramhall, Frida Ghitis, Ghitis, DeSantis, Julian Zelizer, Dean Obeidallah, Nikki Haley’s Lisa Benson, Peter Bergen, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Biden, ” Walt Handelsman, Max, Drew Sheneman, Hassan Shahidi, Shahidi, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, John Salangsang, Adrienne Bitar, WeightWatchers, couldn’t, Rose Blanchard, Sarah Gundle, Blanchard, Claudine ‘ Dee Dee ’ Blanchard, Gypsy Rose, ” Dee Dee, Gundle, Dee Dee Blanchard, Pope Francis, ” Jill Filipovic, Filipovic, Pope, ” Lloyd Austin’s, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, isn’t, Bill Bramhall, “ Oppenheimer, “ Barbie, “ Barbie ”, Gene Seymour, Oppenheimer, Emma Stone, ” Seymour, Don’t, Michael Bociurkiw, Ukraine Lanhee J, Chen, Noah Berlatsky, Belichick Bill Belichick, Vince Lombardi, Jeff Haynes, Bill Belichick, Will Leitch, Jeff Pearlman, Nick Saban, ” “ Belichick, Saban, ’ Pearlman, Lou Piniella, ‘ Organizations: CNN, University of Michigan, Cleveland, Republican, Trump, Trump , Florida Gov, Wednesday’s CNN, DeSantis, New, New Jersey Gov, Twitter, Facebook, Florida Gov, DC, Agency, Capitol, GOP, US, UK, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Max, Portland International, Flight, Foundation, Golden Globe, Globes, Catholic, Biden, Warner Bros ., Academy, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Belichick, New England Patriots, Reliant, Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Getty, Super, Football, NFL, Minor League NFL, University of Alabama, Schlitz, Seattle Mariners Locations: Cleveland, Iowa, Trump , Florida, Trump, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Graham, Houthi, Yemen, Red, “, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Bergen, Iran, Iraq, Iranian, Oregon, Beverly Hills , California, Ukraine, Houston , Texas, AFP, Swiss

☆ Why ISIS has unleashed its suicide bombers against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

By the day's end of the day, scores of supporters of the rulers of Iran were dead, and hundreds were injured in a twin suicide bombing. AdvertisementHe was considered a hero, she said, by many in Iran for driving ISIS out of Iraq and helping to defeat them in Syria. Stringer/Anadolu via Getty ImagesIt was the latest in a string of attacks by the ISIS affiliate that has been targeting Iran for five years. The Iranian intelligence ministry sought to blame its old enemy Israel for the atrocity and said one of the bombers had Israeli citizenship, the Times of Israel reported. AdvertisementThey will continue to attempt attacks against Iran "no matter what," Washington Institute for Near East Policy expert, Aaron Zelin, told the VoA.

Persons: Qassem, —, Qassem Soleimani, Kerman, Barbara Slavin, Soleimani, Stringer, Khomeini's, Abdollah Tajiki, Slavin, It's, it's, White, John Kirby, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Saudi King Salman, Prophet Mohammed, Salvin, Donald Trump, Aaron Zelin Organizations: Sunni, Service, Revolutionary, Reuters, The Stimson Center, Iran Initiative, Asia Center, ISIS, Anadolu, Getty, Iranian, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Guard, Saudi, US, UK, Red, Quds Force, The Stimson, Washington Institute for Near East, VoA Locations: Kerman, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Asia, Kerman City, Tehran, Tajik, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Hormuz, Soleimani, Iranian, Fars, Republic, Yemen, Iran's, United States, al Qaeda, American

Around 2 p.m. (1300 GMT), Queen Margrethe II will sign her abdication and about an hour later her eldest son will be proclaimed King Frederik X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in the heart of the Danish capital. Margrethe, 83, will become the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace. Margrethe is abdicating 52 years on the day after she ascended the throne following the death of her father, King Frederik IX. In the late afternoon, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens amusement park plans to celebrate the new king and queen with the biggest fireworks show in the park’s 180-year history.

Persons: Queen Margrethe, King Frederik X, Frederik, Denmark's, Margrethe, didn’t, Mette Frederiksen, Joachim, Thomas Larsen, King Erik III Lam, King Frederik IX, Gorm the, Danes, Queen Mary, Mary’s, Christian, Mary Organizations: Danish, Court, Royal Stables Locations: COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Copenhagen, Christiansborg, Margrethe, Danish, Europe, Australian, Amalienborg

☆ Take a look at the moment when Denmark's Queen Margrethe II signed her historic abdication, making her son King Frederik X
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II officially abdicated on Sunday after 52 years on the throne. His new title is King Frederik X.Margrethe — who ruled for 52 years — announced she was stepping down on New Year's Eve. Queen Margrethe II and her son Frederik X at the signing of the instrument of abdication at the Christiansborg Palace. After signing the declaration of abdication Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (C-R) leaves the seat at the head of the table to her son King Frederik X of Denmark. Advertisement"My Mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has ruled Denmark for 52 years," he said.

Persons: Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik, King Frederik X, Margrethe —, —, Margrethe II of, Margrethe, Europe's, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe II, Frederik X, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix, Frederik, Prince Frederik, Federick, Mette Frederiksen, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Frederik X of Denmark, King Frederik X's, Christian, Crown Prince Christian, Queen Margrethe, Martin Sylvest Andersen, Princess Mary, Queen Mary, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Samir Hussein, King Frederik IX, Nikolai Linares, King Erik Organizations: Service, AFP, Sunday, Associated Press, Crown Prince, AP Locations: Margrethe II of Denmark, Christiansborg, Copenhagen, Danish, Christiansborg Palace, Denmark, Kingdom of Denmark

☆ Crown Prince Frederik to become King of Denmark as Queen Margrethe II abdicates
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —For many in Denmark, Queen Margrethe II is the only monarch they’ve ever known. But on Sunday, a new era will get underway when she hands over to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. This means that she will be able to perform duties as head of state when both King Frederik or Crown Prince Christian are not able, such as if they were overseas. King Frederik X will rule alongside his Australian-born and hugely popular wife, Queen Mary – which will undoubtedly delight her proud admirers back home. “The story of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is one Australians have followed closely and hold dear to their hearts,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Persons: Queen Margrethe II, they’ve, Crown Prince Frederik, King Charles III’s, of, Martin Sylvest Andersen, Frederik, Mary, Christian, Frederik VIII’s Palace, Margrethe, Kongens, Jørgen’s, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, King Frederik, Prince Christian, Frederik’s, Prince Joachim, Princess Benedikte, Mette Frederiksen, Frederik VIII, X, Christiansborg, Sixtus, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix, Trine Villemann, Jens Otto Krag, Margrethe II, ”, Birgitte Borup, Berlingske, “, Danes, King Eric III, Borup, Queen Mary –, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, Justin Tynan, King, Queen of, Anthony Albanese, Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary of, MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN, Isabella, Vincent, Josephine, Mary’s, she’s Organizations: CNN, Guard, Squadron, State, Danish Royal House, Danish, Getty, “, Danes, British Locations: Denmark, Danish, Europe, Christiansborg, Copenhagen, of Denmark, Greenland, Faroe, Amalienborg, Frederiksgade, d’Angleterre, Holmens, Holmen, AFP, Sydney, Hobart , Tasmania, Darling Harbour, Queen of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Tasmania, Australia

☆ PHOTOS: Denmark welcomes new King to the throne as Queen abdicates, with pageantry and smiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

On Saturday, HM King Frederik X began his reign as Denmark's monarch and head of state. AdvertisementOn Saturday, Denmark proclaimed Crown Prince Frederik, their new king. His mother, Queen Margrethe II, had announced in a surprise New Year's message that after reigning for 52 years as monarch, she would abdicate the throne. I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," Margrethe said. The 55-year-old Crown Prince becomes His Majesty King Frederik X and Head of State of Denmark.

Persons: HM King Frederik X, Margrethe II, —, Crown Prince Frederik, Queen Margrethe II, Queen of, Margrethe, King Charles, Frederik, Mette Frederiksen, Prince, King Frederik X Organizations: HM, Service, Crown, Denmark's, State Locations: Denmark, Queen of Denmark, Europe, Danish, Christiansborg, Copenhagen, State of Denmark

☆ Crown Prince Frederik: Who is the new King of Denmark?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —He’s been known as the Crown Prince of Denmark since the age of three, but on Sunday, he will leave Copenhagen’s Christiansborg Palace as King Frederik X, sovereign of Europe’s oldest monarchy. Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik will take over from his mother, Queen Margrethe II, when she formally steps down as monarch on Sunday. His forename was chosen in line with the Danish royal custom of the heir apparent being named either Frederik or Christian. Crown Prince Frederik began his military education in 1986 in the Queen's Life Guard Regiment. “Crown Prince Frederik is a much more informal person than his mother,” said historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen.

Persons: CNN — He’s, Prince of, King Frederik X, Queen Margrethe II, Danes, Margrethe, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Denmark’s, Prince Frederik, Hasse Nielsen, “, ” Birgitte Borup, Berlingske, “ Queen Margrethe, Borup, Frederik, ”, Frederik André Henrik Christian, Prince Henrik, Christian, Prince Joachim, Joergen Jessen, Ritzau Scanpix, Frederik Henriksen –, Frederik –, –, “ Pingo, Ida Marie Odgaard, King Charles III, Lars Hovbakke Sørensen, Trine Villemann, ” Chance, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, Mary didn’t, Mary, VII's, Queen, ’, John Donaldson, Susan Moody, Ian Waldie, Isabella, Vincent, Josephine, Queen Margrethe, Villemann, Frederik ”, Princess, Wales, she’s Organizations: CNN’s Royal, CNN, Life Guard Regiment, Getty, Aarhus University, Harvard, UN, Danish, Frogman Corps, International Olympic, Copenhagen Cathedral Locations: Prince of Denmark, Copenhagen’s, Europe’s, Danish, Copenhagen, Normandy, France, AFP, Paris, New York, Greenland, Denmark, Faroe Islands, “, Sydney, Australia

☆ Denmark Awaits New King, as Queen Margrethe to Bow Out
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

People from all over Denmark are expected to crowd Copenhagen in a sign of the huge popularity the monarchy is enjoying. "It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now," said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. "He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles." The British king was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy.

Persons: Stine Jacobsen, Johannes Birkebaek COPENHAGEN, Margrethe II, Denmark's, Frederik, Danes, Margrethe, It's, Anna Karina Laursen, Hans Christian Andersen, Mary, Royce, Christian, Mette Frederiksen, Klaus Johansen, Prince Frederik, Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, Prince Charles ., Queen Elizabeth, Johannes Birkebaek, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Frances Kerry Organizations: of State, Reuters, ROYAL POWER, University College Absalon, Danish Locations: Copenhagen, Danish, Denmark, Britain

☆ Opinion: How did we get to this point in Yemen?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

(Not a great time to have had an initially incommunicado, and still-hospitalized, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who authorized the strikes in Yemen from his hospital bed on Thursday.) The Houthis, who were once a ragtag militia with the purely local aim of trying to overthrow the Yemen government, are now projecting Iranian power, not only in the Red Sea but across the region. In other words, just as Hezbollah in Lebanon, 1,500 miles to the north of Yemen, is effectively an arm of the Iranian government, so too now are the Houthis. Those weapons have also been used to attack oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Saudi-allied United Arab Emirates, and, more recently, have targeted Israel as well. Yet, Saudi Arabia is a key reason that the Houthis are now so closely allied to Iran and so well armed.

Persons: Peter Bergen, Osama bin Laden, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, “, Biden Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, Defense, United Nations, United Locations: New America, Yemen, Israel, Red, Suez, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Riyadh, Gaza, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iranian

☆ Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund overtakes Singapore's GIC to top spending table
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was the top spender among global sovereign wealth funds last year, accounting for about a quarter of the $124 billion splashed by state-owned investors, according to a preliminary report by research consultancy Global SWF. The Saudi fund boosted its deal activities from a total of $20.7 billion in 2022 to $31.6 billion in 2023, the research said, even as most other counterparts tapered down their spending. Overall, global sovereign wealth funds deployed 20% fewer funds compared with 2022, despite most major stock markets seeing a rally last year. "This may signal an overly cautious approach, as there is no shortage of capital to put to work among these institutions," the report, which tracks activities across the world's sovereign funds, noted. The Saudi fund has sought frequent deals and joint ventures in its pursuit toward Vision 2030 — a plan originally launched in 2016 which aims to increase economic diversification away from oil.

Persons: spender, Saudi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, Nintendo, Materials Locations: Saudi, Japan, Brazil

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