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☆ Alexey Navalny's death wasn't directly ordered by Putin, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Putin critic Alexey Navalny's death may not have been planned to happen when it did, WSJ reported. The Journal reported that this opinion is shared by several US intelligence agencies. AdvertisementAlexey Navalny's February death in a remote Arctic prison camp likely wasn't directly ordered by Vladimir Putin, despite Navalny's outspoken criticism of the Russian president, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Despite the suspicious circumstances of the opposition leader's death, the outlet reported Putin may not have intended Navalny to be killed when he was. None of the intelligence agencies cited by the Journal or the Pentagon have responded to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Alexey Navalny's, Navalny's, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, — wasn't, Putin wasn't, Leonid Volkov, Navalny Organizations: Kremlin, Service, Street, CIA, National Intelligence, State, Journal, Pentagon, Business Locations: Russian, Poland

☆ Opinion: $95 billion Israel-Ukraine aid package gives Biden huge leverage. He should use it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Opinion Mark Hannah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The $95 billion military aid package President Joe Biden signed Wednesday was a feat of tough-minded negotiation to get funding to Ukraine and Israel after months of congressional horse-trading. But if the aid inflates those countries’ war aims, it could discourage the kind of tough-minded negotiation that is the only way to end their wars. The new infusion of aid gives the US a lot of leverage with Ukraine and Israel. However, the recent aid package includes long-range missiles, or ATACMS, which suggests Ukraine is readying an offensive against Crimea. In Israel, putting conditions on military aid is a better idea.

Persons: Mark Hannah, Joe Biden, Mark Hannah Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Mark Milley, “, —, Israel, Biden, George W, Bush, Putin, Ukraine’s, Biden judiciously, Netanyahu, Henry Kissinger, Golda Meir, Kissinger, ” Kissinger, Russia shouldn’t Organizations: Institute for Global Affairs, Eurasia Group, CNN, Wednesday, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Palestinian Authority, Abrams Tanks, Crimea, Israel, Twitter Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Crimea, Washington, Ukrainian, Russia, Gaza, United States, Kippur, Tel Aviv, Soviet

☆ The US is under pressure to lead the way in reducing plastic pollution — but it keeps making more of it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

World leaders are gathering in Ottawa, Ontario, this week to hash out a global treaty to end plastic pollution. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementHundreds of businesses and countries support cutting plastic production. Lin represents the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which includes more than 200 companies. Cutting plastic production would also hit the bottom line of oil majors such as Exxon.

Persons: Carroll Muffett, Jose Fernandez, Biden, Allison Lin, Lin, Stewart Harris, Harris, Neil Nathan, Nathan, He's Organizations: Service, Business, Center for International Environmental Law, Organization for Economic Co, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, State Department, Mars Inc, Business Coalition, Global Plastics, Walmart, PepsiCo, International Council of Chemical Association, Oxford Economics, Exxon, The International Energy Agency, UC Santa Barbara, US Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC, Paris, Ottawa, Belgium

☆ Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction overturned and new trial ordered
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The New York Court of Appeals on Thursday overturned the sex crimes conviction against Harvey Weinstein, the powerful Hollywood producer whose downfall stood as a symbol of the #MeToo movement. Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney who has represented eight of Weinstein’s accusers, including two of the “prior bad acts” witnesses at his New York criminal trial, criticized the ruling. In addition, three other women testified during the trial as “prior bad acts” witnesses as prosecutors sought to show Weinstein had a pattern of abuse. The use of “prior bad acts” witnesses has increased in recent years with the rise of the #MeToo movement. “Prior bad acts” evidence is one exception to this rule.

Persons: Harvey Weinstein, “, uncharged, Jenny Rivera, ” Weinstein, Weinstein, ” Donna Rotunno, ”, Emily Tuttle, Douglas H, Weinstein’s, MeToo, Bill Cosby, Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, Haley, Mann Organizations: CNN, The New, Hollywood, Correctional Facility, of Corrections, Attorney’s, Manhattan, The New York Times, Yorker Locations: The New York, Rome , New York, Los Angeles, New York, Manhattan, York, Hollywood, Love, Pennsylvania

The top US diplomat landed in Shanghai where he is expected to meet local officials and business leaders, and he will then travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials. “We are in a different place than we were a year ago when the bilateral relationship was at an historic low point,” a senior State Department official said. “Russia is no longer kind of on its back foot,” a second senior State Department official said. Blinken will make the case that China should weigh in “more directly” with Iran to be less provocative in the region, the second senior State Department official said. “In both cases the Chinese have taken some early steps,” said the second senior State Department official, adding that there is still “much more” that needs to be done on both fronts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Janet Yellen, Biden, Xi, ”, “, ” Blinken, Matthew Miller, Leah Millis, China’s, ” Xi, Blinken, ” Miller, it’s, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, David Lin Organizations: CNN, State Department, Ukraine, US, Foreign Ministry, of, People, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Beijing, Party, Taiwan, Communist, Taiwan Relations, White Locations: China, Ukraine, Shanghai, Beijing, California, Russia, Moscow, Italy, “ Russia, ”, Europe, United States, South China, Philippine, Washington, Philippines, South, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, East, Iran

☆ 4 Iranians charged in scheme to hack US agencies and defense contractors
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —US prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges against four Iranian men for a sprawling hacking campaign that targeted US federal agencies and sensitive data held by American defense contractors. It was not immediately clear whether the departments of State or Treasury networks were successfully hacked in the campaign. In the indictment unsealed Tuesday, Hossein Harooni, Reza Kazemifar, Alireza Shafie Nasab and Komeil Baradaran Salmani were charged with wire and computer fraud, among other charges. Nasab had been charged in a previous indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York in February. Prosecutors accused three of the men of working for a front company in Iran that purported to offer cybersecurity services.

Persons: ” Damian Williams, Hacking, Christopher Wray, Hossein Harooni, Reza Kazemifar, Shafie, Baradaran Salmani, Nasab, General Merrick Garland Organizations: CNN, US State, Treasury, Pentagon, of, Southern, State, Boston Children’s Hospital, Justice Department, Prosecutors, Treasury Department, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, State Department, Iranian, United Nations Locations: Southern, of New York, US, Iran, Boston, Tehran

☆ Blinken to warn China over its support for Russia’s military during this week's visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will warn China about its support for Russia's military during his visit to the country this week, according to a senior State Department official. Blinken is expected to convey Washington's "deep concerns" over China's aid for Russia's defense industrial base, during his three-day visit starting Wednesday. "And I think we've demonstrated our willingness to do so regarding firms from a number of countries, not just China," he added. During his visit to Beijing and Shanghai, Blinken is expected to meet senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the State Department.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Qin Gang, Blinken, We're, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping Organizations: China's Foreign, State Department Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Shanghai, Blinken

☆ Middle East Crisis Senior Israeli Military Official Offers to Resign After Oct. 7 Intelligence Failures
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Mr. Netanyahu said in a social media post that his government would “act by all means” against any such move. The sanctions, if imposed, would not hold up the military aid that was just approved in Congress. The Israeli military disciplined three of the unit’s commanders after the investigation. Human rights organizations have long accused the Israeli military justice system of whitewashing wrongdoing and the military of acting with impunity. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the six months of war, according to Gazan health officials.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu, Axios, Netzah Yehuda, Leahy, Yehuda, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, “, Assad’s, Biden, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant, Antony J, Blinken, Jacob J, Lew, Gallant, Mick Mulroy, ”, ” Natan Odenheimer, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: West Bank, Biden, Netzah, Jewish, Israel, Pentagon, State Locations: States, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Iran, U.S, United States

☆ Special Education, Inc.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

AdvertisementNate Smallwood for BITo some, private equity's business model appears antithetical to special education. (The average public school district in Pennsylvania, where New Story operates the most schools, spends about $23,000 per child across all types of public education. "Private equity has no place in education — especially special education," Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio told BI. For instance, two Pennsylvania education directors left in spring 2023, according to records obtained by BI — one after just months in the role. AdvertisementNickie Coomer, a Colorado College education professor who has written about the privatization of special education, told BI that this data gap is a major regulatory hole, one that private-equity companies are happy to exploit.

Persons: Emily, Sarah, Nate Smallwood, Sarah didn't, —, Mergermarket, Shanon Taylor, Taylor, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Casey, Paul Volosov, Volosov, Jim Grinnen, Rachel Wisniewski, Christina Spielbauer, Spielbauer, Nathaniel Garnick, Garnick, sully, Craig Richards, He's, Richards, they're, " Richards, Judith McKinney, Grinnen, Donnell McLean, McLean, Natalie Stoup, Blackstone, haven't, Biden, of Education spokespeople, Nickie, …, that's, didn't, Hill, Amy Hall Kostoff, Kostoff, Green, she'd Organizations: Business, State College ,, New, BI, Audax Group, Kentucky, Pennsylvania State Employees, Schools, Audax, Rock Academy, University of Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Rock, Reading School District, River Rock Academy, Virginia's Department of Education, Green Tree, Pay, Tree, Autism, Forbes, NBC News, Federal Trade Commission, of Education, Colorado College, Tree School, Pennsylvania's Department of Education, Pennsylvania, In State College Locations: State College , Pennsylvania, Boston, Pennsylvania, Reno, —, Ohio, New Story's, Rock, Virginia, , Ohio, New Jersey , Pennsylvania, New Story's New Cumberland , Pennsylvania, CARD's Virginia, Philadelphia, Rochelle Park , New Jersey

☆ U.S. Vetoes Palestinian Bid for Recognition as Full U.N. Member State
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Yonette Joseph | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United States blocked the U.N. Security Council on Thursday from moving forward on a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member state at the United Nations, quashing an effort by Palestinian allies to get the world body to back the effort. The vote was 12 in favor of the resolution and one — the United States — opposed, with abstentions from Britain and Switzerland. The United States, along with the four other permanent members of the Council, can veto any action before it. Full Palestinian membership in the U.N. would be an important if largely symbolic victory for the Palestinian Authority, which has long sought a nation-state. In 2007, the militant group Hamas drove the Palestinian Authority, which President Mahmoud Abbas leads and which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, from power in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: United States —, Riyad Mansour, Mr, Mansour, ”, Israel Katz, Vedant Patel, ” Mr, Patel, Israel’s, U.N, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas Organizations: . Security, United Nations, Terrorism, Security, State Department, Palestinian, General Assembly, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Hamas Locations: States, United States, Britain, Switzerland, Palestine, Washington, U.S, Israel, Palestinian Authority, France, Russia, China, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Oslo Accords, Lebanon, Iran

☆ Israel Signaled That It Would Retaliate Against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, emerged today from talks with European diplomats resolute that his country would not bow to outside pressure in responding to the recent attack by Iran. Britain’s foreign secretary acknowledged after the meeting that an Israeli reprisal seemed inevitable. “It is clear that the Israelis are making a decision to act,” David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, said. A spokesman for the State Department said today that the U.S. was pushing for a “unified diplomatic response” to the Iranian attack. But the spokesman added, “These decisions are for Israel to make as a sovereign, democratic country.”

Persons: Israel’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” David Cameron, Netanyahu, ” Organizations: State Department Locations: Iran, British, Israel, U.S, Germany

☆ More Americans Are Moving Abroad Because the US Is Too Expensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"We realized we couldn't afford the mortgage and the car payments and everything," Stonestreet told me. Americans work more, vacation less, spend more on healthcare, and die sooner than people in other high-income economies. These factors likely explain why some Americans are moving to countries that aren't generally considered low-cost-of-living locales. She said that living abroad afforded her a degree of flexibility and spontaneity that would be out of reach back home. From their temporary perch in Tirana, Albania, the couple told me via WhatsApp that their only regret about moving abroad was not doing it sooner.

Persons: Amelia Basista, Stonestreet, Basista, Maliya, I'm, Fale, scoping, Cristina Johnson, Johnson, Mariana, Dustin Lange, that's, Mariana Lange, Mark Zoril, Andrew Hallam, Zoril, hasn't, — Zoril, Tomorrow's Organizations: State Department, American Citizens, Monmouth University, Labor Statistics, Financial Technology Association, Business Locations: South America, Denver, Cuenca, Ecuador, Germany, Canada, France, Minneapolis, Latin America, America, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Belize, States, Austin, North Carolina, Central America, Portugal, Spain, Lisbon, Europe, Tirana, Albania

☆ New York and other states are using AI to hunt down wealthy remote workers and demand more tax
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewNew York is the millionaire capital of the world, but some of those who want to stay rich are fleeing to low-tax states like Florida and Texas. The state tax department has a solution: AI letters. It is sending hundreds of thousands of AI-generated letters, mostly to wealthy remote workers or those who require a change in tax residency, according to CNBC. There were 771,000 audits in New York in 2022, according to a recent report by the state Department of Taxation and Finance cited by CNBC.

Persons: —, That's, Alexander Spatari, Mark Klein, Hodgson Russ LLP, it's, It's, Klein, Shakira Organizations: Service, CNBC, Business, of Taxation, New, Henley, Partners, €, York's Department of Taxation, Finance Locations: Florida, Texas, New York, New York City, York, Bahamas, Spain

☆ China is refusing to condemn Iran's strike on Israel — and it's part of a Middle East power play
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China refused to condemn Iran's missile attack on Israel. AdvertisementChina refused to condemn Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel as it seeks to position itself as a key player in the Middle East. The statement was notable because it contained no condemnation of Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday. The US has sought to enlist China is helping to prevent a bigger regional war, the State Department said. In the readout, China praised Iran for acting with restraint in its response to Israel's embassy attack.

Persons: —, Wang Yi's, Hossein Amir, Amir, Abdollahian, Wang, Israel's, Xi Jinping, Ebrahim Raisi, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Foreign, Saturday, Iran, Iranian, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Israel's, US, State Department Locations: China, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Syria, Iranian, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Beijing

☆ State tax officials are using AI to go after wealthy payers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Even as the IRS makes headlines for cracking down on the wealthy, state tax collectors have become even more aggressive with audits of high earners, according to tax attorneys and accountants. During Covid many of the wealthy moved from high-tax states like California, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to low-tax states like Florida or Texas. Klein said state tax auditors and AI programs are examining cellphone records to see where the taxpayers spent most of their time and lived most of their lives. Many of the wealthy in New York City who moved kept their apartments with most of their belongings. State tax authorities are claiming that since they didn't move with all of their household items, for tax purposes they didn't actually move.

Persons: Mark Klein, Hodgson Russ LLP, it's, It's, Klein Organizations: IRS, of Taxation, Finance, Artificial, New Locations: New York, California , New York , New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, York, Colorado, New York City

☆ For Many Western Allies, Sending Weapons to Israel Gets Dicey
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For months, Western governments have provided military support for Israel while fending off accusations that their weapons were being used to commit war crimes in Gaza. But as a global outcry over the growing death toll in Gaza mounts, maintaining that balance is becoming increasingly difficult, as was clear on a single day this past week. On Tuesday, in a United Nations court, Germany found itself having to defend against accusations that it was complicit in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by exporting weapons to Israel. A few hours later, in Washington, a top Democrat and Biden administration ally, Representative Gregory W. Meeks of New York, said he might block an $18 billion deal to sell F-15 fighter jets to Israel unless he was assured that Palestinian civilians would not be indiscriminately bombed. And two miles away, at a media briefing at the State Department, Britain’s foreign minister, David Cameron, was pressed on what his government had concluded after weeks of internal review about whether Israel has breached international humanitarian law during its offensive in Gaza.

Persons: Gregory W, Meeks, David Cameron Organizations: Israel, United Nations, Biden, State Department Locations: Gaza, Germany, Israel, Washington, New York

☆ Former U.S. Ambassador Is Sentenced to 15 Years for Acting as Cuban Agent
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Patricia Mazzei | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A former United States ambassador accused of working for decades as a secret agent for Cuba in one of the biggest national security breaches in years pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Manuel Rocha, 73, pleaded guilty to two charges — conspiring to defraud the United States as a foreign agent and failing to register as a foreign agent — as part of an agreement with the federal government. He also faces three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine. Mr. Rocha, wearing a beige prison uniform and black glasses, conceded before he was sentenced to the “betrayal of my oath of loyalty to the United States during my two decades in the State Department.”“During my formative years in college, I was heavily influenced by the radical politics of the day,” said Mr. Rocha, who prosecutors said was recruited by Cuban intelligence agents in 1973. “Today, I no longer see the world through the radical eyes of my youth.”

Persons: Manuel Rocha, —, . Rocha, ”, Rocha Organizations: United, State Department, “ Locations: United States, Cuba, Cuban

☆ Japanese PM Kishida tells Congress the U.S. must play leading role in the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged the U.S. Thursday to continue playing a leading role in the world as it faces threats to democracy and the economic order. Kishida told lawmakers at a joint meeting of Congress that the world is at a pivotal moment that will define the next stage of history. "The world needs the United States to continue playing this pivotal role in the affairs of nations," Kishida said. The prime minister pledged that Japan would not sit on the sidelines and require the U.S. to defend international order on its own. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022 after leaving office, became the first Japanese leader to speak to a joint meeting of Congress in 2015.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Mike Johnson, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Antony Blinken, Biden, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Shinzo Abe Organizations: U.S, Capitol, U.S ., State Department, White, Philippine, Former Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, U.S, Japan, China, Russia, Congress, North Korea, Ukraine, East Asia, Philippines

☆ Opinion | Where Is America’s ‘Rules-Based Order’ Now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Spencer Ackerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Israel, unwilling to accept a U.N. mandate, continued bombing the overcrowded southern city of Rafah and besieging Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Shortly after the vote, Biden administration officials called the resolution, No. 2728, “nonbinding,” in what appeared to be an attempt to deny its status as international law. It was a confounding approach from an administration that allowed the resolution to go through with an abstention after vetoing three earlier ones. But it’s just as obvious what entity can make Israel stop, and isn’t: the United States.

Persons: “, Matthew Miller, it’s, Israel, Biden, ” Organizations: United Nations Security, Shifa, Biden, State Department, . Security Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, Rafah, Al, Gaza City

☆ U.S. considers easing warnings for Americans traveling to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. and China flags are seen at the People's Bank of China prior to the arrival of U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Beijing on April 8, 2024. Pedro Pardo | AFP | Getty ImagesThe U.S. is considering easing advisories against its citizens traveling to China, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on Tuesday, acknowledging concerns that the warnings may have curtailed exchanges between Americans and Chinese people. The State Department has periodically issued tiered warnings for Americans traveling to China, calling on them to reconsider visits or exercise increased caution due to risks of "arbitrary enforcement of local laws," exit bans and wrongful detentions. Despite China's warnings, hundreds of thousands of Chinese students study in the United States compared with only a few hundred Americans in China. "We have told China directly if this continues, it will have an impact on the U.S.-China relationship.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Pedro Pardo, Kurt Campbell, Campbell Organizations: U.S, People's Bank of, Treasury, AFP, Getty, China Relations, State Department, . Locations: China, People's Bank of China, U.S, Beijing, Washington, Ukraine, United States, Moscow

☆ Cameron, on U.S. Trip, Takes a Risk and Meets With Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Britain’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, went to Washington on Tuesday, he made all the usual stops, from the State Department to Capitol Hill. But it was his pilgrimage to Palm Beach, Fla., where he met former President Donald J. Trump for dinner on Monday evening at Mar-a-Lago, that grabbed most of the attention. Mr. Cameron is the first top British government official to meet with Mr. Trump since he left the White House. His visit — ostensibly to cajole Mr. Trump into backing additional American military aid to Ukraine — attests to Mr. Trump’s influence over a far-right faction of House Republicans who have been holding up a vote. Mr. Cameron, a onetime prime minister, has emerged as almost a shadow British leader abroad, standing in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is busy with a looming general election at home.

Persons: David Cameron, Donald J, Trump, Cameron, —, Ukraine —, Rishi Sunak Organizations: State Department, Capitol, British, Mr, White, House Republicans Locations: Washington, Palm Beach, Fla, Ukraine

☆ Bidens roll out the diplomatic – and literal – red carpet for Japan state visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The White House will lean into the full pomp and circumstance of a state visit as the president seeks to emphasize the strong alliance between the two countries. The Bidens welcomed the prime minister and his wife to the White House on Tuesday evening, hosting the couple for a casual dinner at BlackSalt, a local seafood restaurant. The White House will serve wines from the Willamette Valley and Columbia Valley in the Pacific Northwest. The Bidens presented their counterparts with a three-legged black walnut table handmade by a Japanese American owned company in Pennsylvania, the White House said. The Biden White House has previously hosted the leaders of Australia, India, France and South Korea for state visits.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kishida Fumio, Kishida Yuko, Paul Simon, Biden, ” Jill Biden, ”, Bryan Rafanelli, “, Cris Comerford, Susie Morrison, George W, Bush, Lyndon B, Johnson, Carlos Elizondo –, ’ toasts, Elizondo, Billy Joel, CNN’s Arlette Saenz, Kayla Tausche, Sam Fossum Organizations: CNN, Japanese, White, White House social, Wing, State Department, White House, US, National Soccer Team, National Football Team, Biden White Locations: China, Ukraine, Gaza, United States, Japan, BlackSalt, California, Willamette, Columbia, Pacific Northwest, American, Pennsylvania, Australia, India, France, South Korea

☆ Middle East Crisis As Ramadan Nears Its End, Relief Remains Elusive in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Israeli airstrikes a week ago killed seven aid workers who had been delivering food in Gaza, renewing the international focus on the hunger crisis there. But UNRWA, the primary United Nations agency aiding Palestinians, said that 103 aid trucks crossed into Gaza on Sunday. Until now, almost all aid for Gaza has entered through two southern border crossings, at Rafah and Kerem Shalom. Before the conflict, around 500 commercial and aid trucks entered Gaza each day. Juliette Touma, a spokeswoman for UNRWA, said that Gaza needs 500 trucks of aid each day, for weeks and months, to remedy the crisis.

Persons: Israel, Biden, COGAT, Matthew Miller, Miller, Benjamin Netanyahu, Juliette Touma, Michael Crowley Organizations: UNRWA, United, State Department, Israel, Food, United States Central Command Locations: Gaza, COGAT, United Nations, Rafah, Kerem Shalom, Israel, Ashdod, United States

☆ Man imprisoned in NY calls the opportunity to view eclipse 'sublime' after successful lawsuit against the state
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Inmate Jeremy Zielinski and five others successfully sued the state to view Monday's solar eclipse. "It's impossible to overstate how sublime it is," Zielinski told Business Insider through his attorney. AdvertisementOne of the six incarcerated men who sued New York state for the chance to view Monday's solar eclipse hailed the group's success as "sublime." Advertisement"More than anything, it's a chance to celebrate that beneath any illusions of difference, we all have things in common," Zielinksi told Business Insider through his attorney. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider on Monday.

Persons: Jeremy Zielinski, Zielinski, —, it's, Zielinksi Organizations: Service, New, of Corrections, Community Supervision, Business Locations: New York, Woodbourne, Sullivan County, United States

☆ Incarcerated New Yorkers will get to observe the solar eclipse after a legal settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Six inmates at a New York prison will get the chance to view the upcoming solar eclipse after they sued. The state corrections department ultimately agreed to let the inmates observe the eclipse. AdvertisementSix men incarcerated at a New York prison will be able to observe the rare solar eclipse that will cross the United States next week after they sued the state. The incarcerated men argued in their lawsuit that the corrections department's decision to lock down its prisons statewide on Monday illegally prohibited them from observing the solar eclipse. Though Woodbourne Correctional Facility is not included on that list, an interactive map by NASA shows that the prison will be impacted, at least partially, by the solar eclipse.

Persons: —, Chris McArdle, Sharon Steinerman, Madeline Byrd, Alston, Thomas Mailey, Mailey Organizations: Service, of Corrections, Community Supervision, New, New York State, Bird, Department of Corrections, Department, Woodbourne, NASA Locations: New York, United States, Woodbourne, Sullivan

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