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☆ Biden Gets Four-Hour Battle Pauses From Israel After Pushing for Three-Day Stoppages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

White House spokesman John Kirby announced the pauses and the opening of two humanitarian corridors in northern Gaza to allow Palestinians to seek safety from Israel's military operations. The pauses emerged from discussions between U.S and Israeli officials in recent days, including talks Biden had with Netanyahu, Kirby told reporters. "We understand that Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an announcement to be made three hours beforehand," Kirby said. Palestinian Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took 240 hostage during an Oct. 7 incursion into Israel, Israel has said. Israel is also opening two humanitarian corridors in northern Gaza, Kirby said.

Persons: Steve Holland, Doina, Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, I've, Benjamin Netanyahu, It's, Netanyahu, Kirby, We've, Nandita Bose, Nick Macfie, Howard Goller Organizations: White, Israeli, CIA, Reuters, Islamic, Brigades, United Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza . Palestinian, Doha, United States

☆ It's Not Guantanamo, Italy's Tajani Says, Defending Albania Migrant Camps
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - A deal that allows Italy to build migrant reception and detention camps in Albania respects European Union rules, Italy's foreign minister said on Thursday, dismissing suggestions they were an Italian Guantanamo Bay. Italian opposition parties have denounced Meloni's plans as a deportation, with Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker with the centrist +Europa group, evoking the notorious Guantanamo Bay extrajudicial camps used by the U.S. in Cuba to detain Islamist terrorism suspects. It's a normal humanitarian accord," Tajani said. The German government agreed to look into whether asylum procedures could be carried out outside the European Union, though Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed scepticism on whether that was constitutionally possible and if countries would agree to it. (Reporting by John Irish; additional reporting by Alvise Armellini; editing by Nick Macfie)

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni's, Riccardo Magi, Antonio Tajani, It's, Tajani, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, John Irish, Alvise, Nick Macfie Organizations: PARIS, European, of Human Rights, Court, Justice, European Union Locations: Italy, Albania, Italian Guantanamo, U.S, Cuba, Guantanamo, Germany

☆ Opinion: Biden needs to call for a ceasefire and restore respect for international law
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Mary Ellen O Connell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +45 min

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images Palestinians inspect a destroyed area following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 21. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18. Yousef Masoud/The New York Times A morgue worker arranges body bags at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12. Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux Children run for cover as bombs fall near the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 9. Erik Marmor/AP Six-month-old Sama Alwadia is rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9.

Persons: Mary Ellen O’Connell, Robert, Marion Short, “, ”, Mary Ellen, Khan, Ahmad Hasaballah, Ariel Schalit, Abed Rahim Khatib, Ronen Zvulun, Mahmud Hams, Leo Correa, Mohammed Abed, Amir Cohen, Mohammed Alaloul, Majdi, Fatima Shbair, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Mustafa Hassona, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Shir Torem, Salman Habaka, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Yuval Zilber, Hatem Ali, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Atef Safadi, Abed Zagout, Fadel Senna, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Jalaa Marey, Albert Miles, Bernat, Ilan Rosenberg, Ashraf Amra, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Khan Younis, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Ammar Awad, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Jack Guez, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Evelyn Hockstein, Omar El, Mohammed Salem, Amir Levy, Yasser Qudih, Tsafrir, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Ali Mohmoud, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Khaled Joudeh, Samar Abu, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Nir Oz, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Belal al Sabbagh, Rizek Abdeljawad, Ahmad Gharabli, Janis Laizans, Mohammed Dahman, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Belal Khaled, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mahmoud Khaled, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Sergey Ponomarev, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Agha, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Oded, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, —, Ron Dermer, NPR’s Tom Bowman Organizations: Kroc, University of Notre Dame, Defense, CNN, Hamas, Mary Ellen O'Connell University of Notre Dame International, UN, UN Security Council, International Court of Justice, Nasser Medical, AP, Najjar, Reuters, Getty, Israel Defence Forces handout, Israel Defense Forces, Shutterstock, Reuters United Nations, Shifa, Palestine, Pictures, Bloomberg, Israeli Apache, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Palestinian, Al, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, Israeli, Getty Images, Nasser Medical Hospital, Deir Al, Tel Aviv University, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ben Gurion International, Aris Messinis, Haim, Puma, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, West Bank, Rockets, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, ISIS, United States, Gaza, US, Criminal, Pentagon Locations: Gaza, Israel, Khan Younis, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, AFP, Jerusalem's, City, Rafah, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Anadolu, Ashkelon, Al, Gaza City, Haifa, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Israeli, Golan Heights, Lebanon, Egypt, Sderot, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Reuters Israeli, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Deir Al, Balah, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, Europe, Xinhua, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Ahli, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Beit Kama, Cyprus, Kfar Saba, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, United, Iraq, Syria, Geneva, Rome

☆ Semenya case referred to European rights court's grand chamber
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

She is attempting to overturn requirements that female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) medically reduce their testosterone levels. It was not a judgement against the World Athletics regulations. The Swiss referral will now be heard by the full 17-member ECHR Grand Chamber. Semenya told Reuters last month that her competitive running days are likely over but she remained committed to the legal battle against World Athletics. "World Athletics has only ever been interested in protecting the female category.

Persons: Aleksandra Szmigiel, Semenya, Nick Said, Ken Ferris Organizations: Hayward Field, European, of Human Rights, Chamber, hyperandrogenism, Sport, Swiss, Court, Reuters, World Athletics, womens, Thomson Locations: Eugene , Oregon, U.S, Swiss, Semenya

In July this year, Semenya won an appeal which she had submitted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to end the testosterone limits. Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesIn a statement to CNN, World Athletics said it stood by its rules and research. “World Athletics has over a decade of research, directly from DSD athletes in our own sport, that show high testosterone levels do provide an unfair advantage in the female category,” World Athletics said. Semenya acknowledged the differences in her body but insisted DSD athletes did not have an unfair advantage in the sport. In the book, she said she was 18 when she first faced scrutiny from World Athletics, then known as the IAAF.

Persons: Semenya, ” Semenya, CNN’s Bianna, Martina Navratilova, Lynsey Sharp, Sharp, “, Cameron Spencer, “ I’m, ”, ADRIAN DENNIS, Athletics –, Sebastian Coe –, Peter Sonksen Organizations: CNN, Semenya, Rio, –, IAAF, European, of Human Rights, World Athletics, AFP, Getty, Athletics Locations: Tokyo, AFP

☆ Opinion | Joe Biden Is in Trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( John Della Volpe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

President Biden is offering fulsome support to Israel, though with more words of caution recently. If that continues, the winning Biden 2020 coalition is at greater risk of fracturing — and in the process, making Donald Trump’s return to the White House more likely. Many young voters have been reluctant to back Mr. Biden for some time now, despite record-setting levels of support from Gen Zers and millennials in 2020. The latest battleground state polls by The New York Times and Siena College show Mr. Biden holding a one-point lead over Mr. Trump among registered voters under 30 and a six-point lead among likely voters in the same age category. In 2020, exit polls showed Mr. Biden winning the youth vote cohort, 60 to 36 percent.

Persons: Biden, —, Israel bombards Gazans, Donald Trump’s, Mr, Gen Zers, Trump Organizations: Democratic, Biden, The New York Times, Siena College, Mr Locations: Israel, Gaza, overperformance, United States

Bowman, Lee, Omar and Tlaib also were among the 17 sponsors of Bush’s resolution asking the Biden administration to call for a ceasefire. Challenges to Bush and the others were possible even before the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 or Israel’s subsequent attack on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It is unfortunate, Andrabi said, that the House Democratic leadership has not taken a stronger stance against AIPAC’s efforts to knock off rank-and-file Democrats. It remains unclear whether House Democrats will help incumbents fend off primary challengers through campaign fundraising arms. Before Oct. 7, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., issued statements of support for Omar and others, saying he will support the reelection of every House Democratic incumbent, regardless of ideology.

Persons: Cori Bush, Israel, Wesley Bell, Bush, Bush isn’t, Israel —, Bell, Summer Lee, Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, Rashida, Israel's staunchest, Omar, Bowman, Thanedar, Lee, Tlaib, Gaza . Bowman, Biden, Omar —, “, Democrats ’, Usamah Andrabi, Andrabi, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Tlaib, Israel Democrats ” —, Thanedar —, Detroit —, Sen, Adam Hollier —, Reconstructionists, ”, Daniel Fellman, Lee isn’t, ” Lee, Bhavini Patel, Lee doesn’t, Don Samuels, George Floyd, George Latimer, Latimer, Bush —, —, Darryl Gray, Louis, ” ___ Levy, Steve Karnowski, Joey Cappelletti, Anthony Izaguirre Organizations: LOUIS, Hamas, The Missouri Democrat, U.S, Senate, Democratic, Democrats, Israel, Democratic Party, Justice Democrats, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, “ Democratic, ”, House Democratic, Democratic Congressional, Palestinian American, Israel Democrats, Tlaib, Detroit, Conservative, Somali American, Westchester Locations: Israel, The Missouri, St, Louis, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Detroit, Gaza ., Gaza, D, Detroit House, Dearborn, Southfield, Hollier, In Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh’s Temple, Minneapolis, Somali, Westchester County, Missouri, Iran, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, Lansing , Michigan, Albany , New York

☆ ‘There is no school for girls’: Afghans who fled to Pakistan sent back to a homeland that is foreign to many
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Sophia Saifi | Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“I was born in Pakistan, I’ve lived here for 42 years, I went to school in Pakistan,” said Nasim, who had traveled to the Torkham border crossing from the northern city Peshawar. Nasim, who was born and raised in Pakistan, and is now preparing to return to Afghanistan. International bodies and human rights groups have warned of a looming humanitarian disaster as they return. He hoped the Taliban would greet those forced out of Pakistan and help them find new jobs. The steady deterioration of human rights under the Taliban since its return to power have only confirmed the worst fears of many Afghans.

Persons: I’ve, ”, Nasim, “ I’ve, –, “, ” Nasim, Abdul Basit, Sarfraz Bugti, Ravina Shamdasani, Wakil Kohsar, Ghulam Sakhi, we’ve, Raza Muhammad, ” Muhammad, Akhtar Muhammad, Zahid Bahand, can’t, I’m Organizations: Pakistan CNN, CNN, ”, Getty, Security, Authorities, United Nations, Human Rights, Rights Watch, ” CNN, Interior Ministry, “ Police, UN, International Organization for Migration, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taliban Locations: Chaman, Pakistan, Pakistan’s, Peshawar, Afghanistan, ”, Quetta, “, Soviet, States, AFP, Afghan, Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Balochistan’s, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Kabul

☆ UN cites 'alarming' rise in Israeli army operations in West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Palestinian woman checks the damage after an Israeli raid, in Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations rights office on Friday described "alarming" conditions in the occupied West Bank, saying Israeli forces were increasingly using military tactics and weapons in law enforcement operations there. The Israeli military has reported a sharp increase in operations against militants in the West Bank since the Oct. 7 attack, making some 1,260 arrests, of whom it said some 760 were affiliated with Hamas. While Hamas and the smaller Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad militant group are mainly based in Gaza, over recent years they have also expanded their presence across the West Bank, notably in volatile cities including Jenin and Nablus. "We have documented that in many of these incidents, settlers were accompanied by members of the Israeli forces, or the settlers were wearing uniforms and carrying army rifles," she said.

Persons: Raneen, Liz Throssell, Throssell, Ammar Al, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Emma Farge, Rachel More, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Rights, United, Human Rights, Hamas, Jihad, Independent Commission of Human, Thomson Locations: Jenin, United Nations, Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Nablus, Palestine, Ramallah, Geneva, videolink

[1/2] Kenyan workers check clothes made for export at the United Aryan Export Processing Zone (EPZ) factory, operating under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), in Ruaraka district of Nairobi, Kenya October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - South Africa will host the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Johannesburg from Nov 2-4 to discuss the United States' flagship trade programme for the continent. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is a U.S. trade initiative passed in 2000 under former President Bill Clinton to deepen trade ties with Sub-Saharan Africa and help African countries develop their economies. AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for most agricultural and manufactured products exported by eligible African countries. African countries are pushing for an early 10-year extension without changes in order to reassure businesses and investors who might have concerns over AGOA's future.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, Bill Clinton, AGOA, Nellie Peyton, Joe Bavier, Alexander Smith Organizations: United Aryan, Processing, U.S ., REUTERS, WHO, AGOA, U.S . Trade, Thomson Locations: Ruaraka district, Nairobi, Kenya, South Africa, Johannesburg, United States, U.S, Saharan Africa, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, AGOA .

☆ How the Nigerian military fatally shot a young captive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +19 min

The Nigerian government and military – including the presidency, Ministry of Defence, defence headquarters and army leaders – did not respond to detailed questions for this story. Various entities have accused Nigerian security forces of other abuses in connection with killings of civilians and captives. Two security force members told Reuters they saw multiple prisoners brought out of the barracks and shot after the fighting ceased. Tweets from Nigerian defence headquarters in Abuja show the military declared the hostilities over shortly after 11 a.m. Nine shots fired A uniformed security force member shot nine rounds at the young captive, pulling the trigger at least seven times, according to forensic audio experts who listened to the recording at Reuters’ request.

Persons: Melanie O’Brien, –, Ocampo, Christopher Musa, Musa, ” Musa, “, extrajudicially, Michael Oluoha Agi, ’ ”, ”, Boko, ‘ Allahu akbar ’, Yahaya, Haram, Biu, Bellingcat, Belllingcat, Chris Olukolade, Emmanuel Emeka, Emeka, Reade Levinson, David Lewis, Tim Cocks, Carlos Gonzales, Paul Carsten, Daphne Psaledakis, Stephanie van den Berg, Youri van, Adolfo Arranz, Sam Hart, Feilding, Julie Marquis, Alexandra Zavis Organizations: Reuters, International Association of, Nigerian, Ministry of Defence, ICC, Islamic, Human Rights Commission, United Nations, Twitter, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, U.S . State Department, U.S, Boko, Civilian, Task Force, Defence, Facebook, 231, Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment Locations: Geneva, Nigeria, Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, Nigerian, United States, Britain, U.S, Biu, Boko Haram, Abuja, Largema

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The extension of the U.S. program allowing sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to U.S. markets is expected to be high on the agenda of the U.S. Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade forum that will begin in South Africa on Thursday. AGOA is U.S. legislation that allows sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market provided they meet certain conditions, including adherence to the rule of law and the protection of human rights. In May, Biden threatened to remove Uganda from AGOA and impose sanctions following the passing of a controversial anti-gay law. They also called on the forum to be held in a different country to send a message to South Africa about the impact of its close ties to Moscow. An inquiry appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa has since cleared South Africa of supplying Russia with arms.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Joy Basu, Joe Biden, ”, John Stremlau, AGOA, Ebrahim Patel, Biden, Ofwono Opondo, Yoweri Museveni, Cyril Ramaphosa, Ramaphosa, ___ Rodney Muhumuza Organizations: U.S, U.S ., African, Congress, Republicans, Central African, Republican, Democratic Locations: JOHANNESBURG, U.S, U.S . Africa, South Africa, Johannesburg, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, Gabon, Africa, South, AGOA, U.S . South Africa, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Kampala

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Tuesday ordered a detained Russian-American journalist to remain in jail ahead of trial on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent, rather than be released to house arrest, state news agency Tass reported. Kurmasheva and her lawyer on Tuesday asked for her release to house arrest, but the court in the Tatarstan capital of Kazan rejected the appeal. She is the second U.S. journalist detained in Russia this year, after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges in March. Airport officials confiscated her U.S. and Russian passports and she was fined for failing to register her U.S. passport. RFE/RL was told by Russian authorities in 2017 to register as a foreign agent, but it has challenged Moscow’s use of foreign agent laws in the European Court of Human Rights.

Persons: Alsu, Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, Gershkovich Organizations: MOSCOW, U.S ., Free, Wall Street, Kazan International Airport, RFE, of Human Rights Locations: Russian, American, Free Europe, Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia, Prague

☆ UK AI Safety Summit: who will attend and what’s on the agenda?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Britain will host the world's first global artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit this week to examine the risks of the fast-growing technology and kickstart an international dialogue on regulation of it. The aim of the summit is to start a global conversation on the future regulation of AI. Currently there are no broad-based global regulations focusing on AI safety, although some governments have started drawing up their own rules. A recent Financial Times report said Sunak plans to launch a global advisory board for AI regulation, modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). When Sunak announced the summit in June, some questioned how well-equipped Britain was to lead a global initiative on AI regulation.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Justin Trudeau –, Kamala Harris, Ursula von der Leyen, Wu Zhaohui, Antonio Guterres, James, Demis Hassabis, Sam Altman, OpenAI, Elon Musk, “, Stuart Russell, Geoffrey Hinton, Alan Turing, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Joe Biden, –, Martin Coulter, Josephine Mason, Christina Fincher Organizations: Bletchley, WHO, Canadian, European, United Nations, Google, Microsoft, HK, Billionaire, Alan, Alan Turing Institute, Life, European Union, British, EU, UN, Thomson Locations: Britain, England, Beijing, British, Alibaba, United States, China, U.S

☆ Pentagon says there are no limits on how Israel uses US weapons as death toll climbs amid airstrikes in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Pentagon says there are no limits on how Israel uses US-provided weapons in their attacks in Gaza. A spokesperson said it's up to the IDF how it uses the weapons. Israeli airstrikes have devastated the Gaza Strip, and a new ground offensive could do further damage. On Monday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told that "we are not putting any limits on how Israel uses weapons that [are] provided," Voice of America National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel and during the subsequent war against the militants in Gaza, the US has repeatedly said that it supports Israel's right to defend itself.

Persons: it's, —, Sabrina Singh, Jeff Seldin, Singh, Israel, Khan Yunis, MAHMUD HAMS, John Kirby, Josh Paul, Biden, Leahy Organizations: Pentagon, Israel, Service, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, of America National Security, Israeli Defense Force, Gaza Health Ministry, US, Palestinian, Getty, National Security, Congressional, Public Affairs, Political, Military Affairs, US Department of State, PBS Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Khan, AFP

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday announced the appointment of a 39-member global advisory panel to report on international governance of artificial intelligence and its risks, challenges and key opportunities. The U.N. chief told a news conference the gender-balanced, geographically diverse group which spans generations will issue preliminary recommendations by the end of the year and final recommendations by the summer of 2024. The recommendations will feed into the U.N. Summit of the Future, which world leaders will attend in September 2024. The U.N. said the formation of the body, with experts from government, the private sector, the research community, civil society and academia marks a significant step in its efforts to address issues of AI international governance and will help bridge existing and emerging initiatives.

Persons: — U.N, António Guterres, ” Guterres, Guterres, ” What's Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, “ Locations: chasms

BANGKOK (AP) — Military-ruled Myanmar on Tuesday allowed prisoners to have family visitors from outside, a right that had been suspended for 3½ years because of the coronavirus pandemic, the military’s information office and prison officials said. Visitors must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and a household relationship to the prisoner being met. Family visitation rights were suspended after the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020. Most sectors of society gradually reduced or dropped testing requirements and other virus-fighting measures since 2022, but family visits to prisoners had remained banned. The total number of prisoners held in Myanmar, not only political detainees, isn't publicly known.

Persons: Aung San, Aung San Suu Kyi, Tun Kyi, isn't Organizations: —, Associated Press, Association for Political, Former Political Prisoners Society, Prison Locations: BANGKOK, Myanmar, Thayarwaddy, Bago, Yangon, Aung San Suu, Tun, Magway

Israel is escalating its bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion against Hamas militants. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage. In addition, 222 people including foreigners were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, Israel's military has said. UNRWA said it found shrapnel in its facilities in the Bureij camp and in Nuseirat in central Gaza from Israel’s bombardment of nearby areas Sunday. Israel said Monday it struck 320 militant targets throughout the besieged Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours.

Persons: Israel, HAVE, won’t, —, ROME —, Antonio Tajani, Nir Forti, ’, Forti, “, barbarously, ’ Tajani, Tajani, Ní Aoláin, Ní, Antonio Guterres’s, ” Ní Aoláin, ” Organizations: Hamas, Health Ministry, West Bank, U.S . Department of Defense, UNRWA, Association of University Heads, Israel Army Radio, Gaza, Gaza’s Health Ministry, UNITED, United Nations, University of Minnesota Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Beirut, israel, CAIRO, Nuseirat, Sunday, ISRAEL, al, Aqsa, Deir al, “, ITALY, Geneva, United

☆ Opinion | A Brief History of a Problematic Appetizer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Ian Urbina | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

In some parts of the world, frequent illegal incursions by Chinese ships into other nations’ waters are heightening military tensions. A recent investigation that my team and I conducted revealed a worrying range of human rights and environmental crimes tied to Chinese ships and processing plants. Chinese ships have also fished in North Korean waters, breaking U.N. sanctions, and engaged in violence, wage theft, forced labor, severe neglect of deckhands and human trafficking. Like the boats that supply them, Chinese processing plants rely on forced labor, from North Korea and from Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in China. But it has also stretched the distance between producers, movers and consumers, making it harder to know whether what you’re consuming is tainted by forced labor or environmental crimes.

Persons: Ruggiero Seafood, Ruggiero Organizations: Argentine, Sysco, Walmart Locations: China, United States, North Korea, U.S

☆ New Evidence Found of Rape and Torture by Russian Forces in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Constant Méheut | More About Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A United Nations commission has found new evidence that Russian forces committed war crimes in Ukraine, including deliberate killings, rape and the removal of Ukrainian children, according to a report released on Friday. Victim testimonies also asserted the systematic and widespread use of torture in several Russian detention facilities, the report said. The report, by a panel commissioned by the U.N. Human Rights Council, focused on the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces quickly seized territory at the start of their full-scale invasion last year. Unlike north-central Ukraine, which Kyiv’s forces have liberated, allowing investigators to more quickly uncover crimes by Russian forces, parts of those two regions remain under Moscow’s control and are largely inaccessible to international organizations. That has complicated investigations and stoked fears that the millions of people living there are at risk of human rights abuses.

Persons: ” Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights Council Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia

☆ State Department official resigns over Biden administration’s handling of Israel-Hamas conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Sharif Paget | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A State Department official has resigned from the agency over the Biden administration’s approach to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the official announced on LinkedIn Wednesday. “Hamas’ attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. Decades of the same approach have shown that security for peace leads to neither security, nor to peace. “There’s a moment where you can say, OK, well, you know, it’s out of my hands, but I know Congress is going to push back,” he told the Times.

Persons: Josh Paul, ”, ” Paul, “, ’, Paul Organizations: CNN, State Department, Biden, Hamas, LinkedIn, Political, Military Affairs, The New York Times, Times Locations: Israel, “ Hamas, Iran, Gaza, “

☆ Canada removes 41 diplomats from India as dispute over Sikh activist’s assassination deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Paula Newton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ottawa CNN —Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their families from India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity amid a deepening dispute over the assassination of a Sikh activist. Given the implications of India’s actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India,” Joly told a press conference in Ottawa. Joly said those diplomats and their families had already left India while 21 Canadian diplomats remained in the country. Joly added the Canadian government would not retaliate in kind, saying that to do so would be a violation of international law. Nijjar was an outspoken supporter of the creation of a separate Sikh homeland that would include parts of India and be known as Khalistan.

Persons: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Justin Trudeau, Mélanie Joly, India’s, ” Joly, Joly, “, Hardeep Singh, Nijjar, ” Nijjar’s Organizations: Ottawa CNN —, Canadian Foreign Affairs, Sikh Organization of Canada, India’s, Indian National Investigation Agency, Khalistan Locations: Ottawa CNN — Canada, India, New Delhi, British Columbia, Canada, Ottawa

☆ State Department Official Resigns Over Arms Transfers to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( John Ismay | More About John Ismay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A State Department official in the bureau that oversees arms transfers resigned this week in protest of the Biden administration’s decision to continue sending weapons and ammunition to Israel as it lays siege to Gaza in its war with Hamas. In his resignation letter, Josh Paul, who has been the director of congressional and public affairs for the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for over 11 years, said the Biden administration’s “blind support for one side” was leading to policy decisions that were “shortsighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values we publicly espouse.”“The response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people,” he wrote, adding, “I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it for longer.”In an interview, Mr. Paul said that Israel’s cutting off of water, food, medical care and electricity to Gaza, a territory of two million people, should prompt protections in a number of longstanding federal laws intended to keep American weapons out of the hands of human rights violators. But those legal guardrails are failing, he said.

Persons: Biden, Josh Paul, Biden administration’s, ”, Paul Organizations: Department, State Department’s Bureau, Political, Military Affairs Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ A US State Department official resigned over Biden's 'blind' military support for Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A US State Department official resigned because of President Joe Biden's "blind" support for Israel. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA US State Department official overseeing arms transfers resigned in response to President Joe Biden's "blind" decision to keep supplying Israel with weapons as it imposes a siege on Gaza as part of its war with Hamas. More than 1,300 Israelis died in Hamas' surprise attacks on October 7, the Israel Defense Forces said .

Persons: Joe Biden's, Josh Paul, —, Paul, Biden Organizations: US State Department, Israel, Political, Military Affairs, Service, State Department, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Health Ministry, Carnegie Endowment, International, Biden Administration, ABC News, UN, Human Rights, The New York Times Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

☆ Candidates for Indonesia's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A recent poll of potential candidates by Lembaga Survei Indonesia showed Prabowo top with the support of 34% support. After losing the 2019 election, Jokowi appointed Prabowo defence minister, a move analysts say helped heal divisions. Prabowo chairs the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party, which endorsed him as its presidential candidate last year. Erick Thohir - A businessman-turned-politician who once owned Italian football giant Inter Milan, Erick, 53, heads Indonesia's football association and serves as State Owned Enterprises Minister. Khofifah Indar Parawansa - One of Indonesia's most prominent female politicians, the popular, 58-year-old East Java governor has been courted by all three presidential candidates.

Persons: Ganjar Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Antara, PRABOWO SUBIANTO, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Prabowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Gibran, Erick Thohir, Erick, Indar, Khofifah, Ganjar, Mahfud, BASWEDAN, Anies, Basuki Tjahaja, Muhaimin, Imin, Abdurrahman Wahid, Gus Dur, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Lembaga, Great Indonesia Movement, Inter Milan, State Owned Enterprises, Ulama, Indonesia's, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Israel, Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, National Awakening Party, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Surakarta, Italian, Central Java, Jokowi, Chinese, East Java

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