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Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem CNN —If his first term in the White House is any indication, President-elect Donald Trump is likely to keep the Middle East high on his agenda. But the Middle East has changed significantly since he left office in 2021, and all regional actors are keenly watching how the new president will navigate these shifts. Here’s how Trump’s election could affect key players in the Middle East:Israel and the PalestiniansEnding the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and integrating Israel in the Middle East are likely to be at the top of the president-elect’s Middle East agenda, analysts said. “When the war will be over, you’ll need a real restart in the Middle East,” and Trump will be the best person to bring about a “new Middle East,” Bismuth added. Nadav Shtrauchler, a political strategist who has worked closely with Netanyahu, said Trump’s election sends a message to Israel’s enemies in Iran.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Donald Trump, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, “ Netanyahu, ”, Mustafa Barghouti, Alon Pinkas, “, ” Pinkas, Joe Biden’s, Pinkas, ” Trump, Evan Vucci, Netanyahu, haven’t, Biden, Boaz, Trump’s, Nadav, Yoav Gallant, Harris, ” Shtrauchler, Qasem Soleimani, Ali Vaez, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Atta Kenare, – Israel, …, ” Vaez, –, “ Trump, Vaez, Jamal Khashoggi, Hasan Alhasan, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mandel Ngan, ” Alhasan, “ They’re, CNN’s Dana Karni, Irene Nasser, Eyad Kourdi Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Jewish, White House, America, Saudi, United Arab, Trump, Palestinian National Initiative, CNN, West Bank, Palm Beach Convention, Israel, Likud, Abraham Accords, Islamic, Iran Project, Crisis, Biden, Getty, US, Washington Post, Middle, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Saudi Arabia's Crown, White, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, –, Hamas Locations: Abu Dhabi, Jerusalem, Saudi, Iran, Israel, America, United Arab Emirates, UAE, East, Gaza, Lebanon, Israeli, Palm Beach, Florida, Syria, Tehran, Republic, United States, AFP, Saudi Arabia, Arab, Riyadh, Bahrain, Yemen, China, Washington, Beijing, decouple, Qatar

☆ Israel's strike back at Iran could hurt the Harris campaign in its final stretch if gas prices soar
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The move could drive oil prices up further, creating a headache for Harris' campaign. If Israel did strike Iran's oil, it would likely have two main targets. Then, on Thursday, he said the US and Israel were discussing whether the US would support Israel striking Iran's oil facilities. Biden has indicated there are conversations between the US and Israel about whether Iran's oil facilities are a legitimate retaliatory strike option. Back in September, global oil prices fell to the lowest level in almost three years, and the US has seen a historic year of oil production.

Persons: Israel, Harris, —, Kamala Harris, Patrick De Haan, De Haan, Clay Seigle, Siegle, ATTA KENARE, Kit Haines, Haines, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Wisam, Seigle, Joe Biden, backtrack, Michael M, Nicholas Carl, there's, Privately, JIM WATSON Organizations: Service, Incumbents, Getty, Analysts, Energy, Wednesday, National Iranian Tanker Company, American Enterprise, Business, Publicly Locations: Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Tehran, Yemen, AFP, Hormuz, Saudi, Anadolu, Russia

☆ When a massive asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, ants began farming fungi
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Researchers have now used DNA analysis to uncover just how long ants have been farming fungi, now described in a study published Thursday in the journal Science. To trace the evolution of this relationship between ants and fungi, Schultz and his colleagues built complex family trees. Using the DNA from 475 species of fungi, including 288 species known to be cultivated by ants, the researchers pieced together how all these organisms are related. The study team did the same thing for 276 species of ants, including 208 species of fungus farmers. Ants began farming fungi 66 million years ago after an asteroid hit Earth, according to a new study.

Persons: ”, Ted R, Schultz, Ant, Atta, Karolyn Darrow, what’s, There’s, ” Schultz, Corrie Moreau, “, Moreau, We’re, they’ve, Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, Disney, Smithsonian National Museum of, Cornell University Locations: Washington ,, Chicxulub, Mexico, New York, what’s, Chicago

☆ What is happening between Israel and Iran and how might Israel respond to the latest attacks?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It’s the second time Iran has launched an aerial attack on Israel this year, but Tuesday’s barrage was of a different magnitude. Israel's anti-missile system intercepts rockets after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on October 1, 2024. While the Israeli military said most of the missiles were intercepted, some landed on Israeli soil and appeared to cause damage. Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesIn Gaza, Israel’s war against Hamas grinds on almost a year after the Palestinian militant group’s attack on Israel. Since Israel’s war in Gaza began, US troops have also been the target of escalating attacks by Iran-backed proxy groups.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel –, Amir Cohen, Pat Ryder, “, Nasrallah, Jonathan Panikoff, Hezbollah's, Atta Kenare, Ismail Haniyeh, PMO, Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, Masoud Pezeshkian, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Matthew Miller, Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, Israel, Reuters, Air Base, Tel Nof Air Base, Pentagon, Hezbollah, Getty, Hamas grinds, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israeli, New, State Department, US Navy, US Army, US, Israel . Defense Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Beirut, Here’s, Syria, Ashkelon, Reuters Iran, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Israel’s, Washington, Yemen, Tehran's Palestine, AFP, Gaza, Iranian, Iraq, East, New York City, Eshkol Region, Jordan

☆ How 9/11 Become Gen Z's Favorite Internet Meme, Joke
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Scott Nover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

On 9/11, the first meme dropped at 8:56 a.m. "That is a big fucking hole in the World Trade Center sirs!" 9/11 jokes, in other words, often have very little to do with 9/11. AdvertisementUnlike Domineau or those anonymous SomethingAwful posters, many people making and spreading 9/11 memes today are too young to remember 9/11, if they were alive at all. She says 9/11 memes have always been popular with her cohort. Domineau says it's only natural for young people to take 9/11 jokes to the next extreme.

Persons: NAEM, DogWelder, Brad Pitt's, Tyler Durden, monkeu, BUSH, Thom Yorke, THOM, Gilbert Gottfried, Jaroslav Hašek, Jan Chovanec, ike H, oke, hing, hite, ingle, alvin K, amar, laine, hatter, ike Organizations: World Trade Center, Facebook, Twitter, World Trade, United Airlines Flight, Radiohead, Empire, International, of Humor Research, ard, ust Locations: New York, Czech, pec

☆ Middle East on knife-edge after killing of Hamas leader in Iran; Israel's opponents vow retaliation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh attending an exclusive interview with Anadolu in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 20, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesThe Middle East is on edge after a dramatic escalation that saw top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in a strike in the Iranian capital of Tehran early Wednesday. Coming hours after the killing of Fuad Shukr in Beirut, the Middle East is on an absolute knife-edge now." Iran's leadership meanwhile has said that the alleged Israeli strike is grounds for "severe punishment" and that the country must "pay a heavy price." An all-out war between Israel and Iran — and Iran's proxies such as Hezbollah — would be devastating to all sides involved.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Charles Lister, Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah's, Haniyeh, Hamas, Torbjorn, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar, Victor Tricaud, Tricaud, Antony Blinken, Will, Yoav Gallant, Iran's, Atta Kenare Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Middle East Institute, Hezbollah, politburo, Verisk, Qatari, Foreign, CNBC, U.S . State Department, Israel, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, AFP Locations: Istanbul, Turkiye, Tehran, Israel, Washington, Doha, Beirut, Golan, Iranian, Lebanese, Gaza, Iran, Qatar, Singapore, Palestine Square

☆ Iran's new president may be a reformist, but change remains distant
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Newly-elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits to the shrine of the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran, Iran on July 06, 2024. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIran on Friday elected its first "reformist" president in 20 years, signaling many voters' rejection of hardline conservative policies amid low turnout of just 49%, according to official figures. Iran's sole reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili are set to go to runoffs after securing the highest number of votes in Iran's presidential election, the interior ministry said. "This is why many Iranians have lost hope in bringing about change through the ballot boxes and are boycotting elections." "The core structure of Iran's theocratic regime, where a Supreme Leader's authority eclipses that of any president, will remain steadfastly intact… In essence, Iran's theocracy is designed to resist meaningful change."

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Ruhollah Khomeini, Fatemeh, Masoud, Ibrahim Raisi, Sina, Toossi, Massoud Pezeshkian, Majid Saeedi, Mohammad Khatami, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nader Itayim, Khamenei, Itayim, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh, Hashemi Alireza Zakani, Saeed Jalili, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Iran's, ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, Atta Kenare, Ben Taleblu, Pezeshkhian, Mahsa Amini, Amini, Mahsa, Ozan Kose, Pezeshkian's Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Center for International, CNBC, Guardian Council, Argus Media, Vehicles, Afp, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, AFP, for Human Rights, Trump Locations: Tehran, Iran, Afrasiabi, Islamic Republic, Mideast, Washington, Pezeshkian, Kurdish Iranian, Iranian, Istanbul

☆ Iran elects reformist Masoud Pezeshkian in presidential runoff vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian shows the victory sign during a campaign event in Tehran, Iran June 23, 2024. Majid Asgaripour | Via ReutersIran elected Masoud Pezeshkian to its presidency, in an unexpected victory for the country's reformist camp amid deep social discontent, economic hardship, and regional war. Pezeshkian won 16.3 million votes, according to reports which cited the local authorities, with the election seeing a 49.8% turnout. The most moderate of the candidates, he formerly served as minister of health under Iran's last reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, from 1997 to 2005, and Khatami among other reformist politicians endorsed him. Iran's sole reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili are set to go to runoffs after securing the highest number of votes in Iran's presidential election, the interior ministry said.

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Majid Asgaripour, Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Khatami, Khatami, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh, Hashemi Alireza Zakani, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Iran's, ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, Atta Kenare, Ayatollah Khamenei, Sina Organizations: Via Reuters, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Afp, Getty, House, Revolutionary Guards, Center for International, CNBC, U.S, Supreme, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Tehran, Iran, Via, Via Reuters Iran, Washington, Israel, Iranian

☆ Iran votes for its new president amid economic strife, crackdowns and regional war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iranians will go to the polls against the backdrop of a battered economy, widespread popular discontent and harsh crackdowns on dissent. Iran is also dealing with high inflation, heavy Western sanctions, mounting tensions with the U.S., ramped-up Iranian nuclear enrichment and the Israel-Hamas war. On issues of foreign policy and war, the Iranian president wields some influence and is the country's public-facing messenger. But power and critical decision-making in Iran ultimately lies with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and unelected institutions like the Revolutionary Guards. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks with media after casting his ballot during the Iranian Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections at the Leadership office in Tehran, Iran, on March 1, 2024.

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Ebrahim Raisi, —, Iran's, Ali Vaez, Rafat, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Saeed Jalili, Masoud Pezeshkian, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Alireza Zakani, Qalibaf, Jalili, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Masoud, Pezeshkian, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Pourmohammadi, Ayatollah Khamenei, Morteza Nikoubazl Organizations: Western, U.S, Guardian Council, Council, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Supreme National Security Council, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Revolutionary, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, House, Revolutionary Guards, Iran's, Iranian Parliamentary Locations: Tehran, AFP Iran, Iran, Israel, Iranian, Iran's, Washington

☆ Iran's upcoming snap elections: A battle of anti-western hardliners
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iranian Leader Press Office | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIran is holding snap elections on June 28 following the sudden death of former Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The election will take place against the backdrop of a battered Iranian economy, widespread popular discontent and crackdowns on dissent. He described Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei⁠ as the country's "only 'voter' of significance." Iran's Presidency | WANA | Via ReutersBut with Sunday's announcement of the approved candidates, "those hopes were largely dashed," he said. It comes after turnout for Iran's parliamentary election in March was also the lowest for a legislative contest in the Islamic Republic's history at 41%.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, Ibrahim Raisi, crackdowns, Behnam ben Taleblu, Ayatollah Khamenei⁠, ben Taleblu, Nader Itayim, it's, Raisi, Khamenei, Mahsa Amini, Sanam Vakil, Itayim, ATTA KENARE Organizations: Iran's, Tehran University, Iranian, Press, Anadolu, Getty, U.S, Guardian Council, Council, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CNBC, Western, Argus Media, Reuters, Union for Secular Republic, Human Rights, Chatham House, Islamic Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Mideast, Iran's, Islamic Republic, Kurdish Iranian, East, North Africa

☆ 'Best thing' is for everyone to stay 'puzzled' on last week's odd retaliation strike on Iran, Israeli president says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | Paul Ronzheimer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"I think the best thing would be for everybody to stay puzzled," Herzog said during an interview with Axel Springer media outlets on Sunday. Military equipment displayed at the Army Day ceremony in front of the President of Iran and high-ranking military commanders on April 17, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. The bold strike killed several high-ranking military officials, including two generals in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. AdvertisementThe incidents of the past few weeks have dragged a decades-long shadow war between Israel and Iran into broad daylight. However, Tehran has signaled that it won't retaliate over the Isfahan strike after appearing to dissociate itself from the attack.

Persons: —, Isaac Herzog doesn't, Herzog, Axel Springer, ATTA KENARE, Antony Blinken, Iran's Organizations: Service, Business, Tehran's, United Nations, Getty Images, Experts, US, Army, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Tehran, Iranian, Isfahan, AFP, Iran, Israel, America, Syria

☆ Israel and Iran: All-out war, or measured retaliation?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Atta Kenare | AFP | Getty Imageswatch nowBut a full-blown conventional war would be devastating to both sides and highly destabilizing for the Middle East. Are these tit-for-tat blows between Israel and Iran clear evidence of all-out war, or carefully calibrated retaliation strikes? "With Israel's apparent strikes on Iran today, retaliating for Iran's attack on Israel last Sunday, we now have a direct nation-on-nation hot war," he told CNBC's "Capital Connection" Friday. 'Ball is back in Iran's court'Not everyone agrees that the line into wider war has been crossed, however. Within hours of the Israeli strikes, risk assets were already on their way back down, with international oil benchmark Brent crude turning lower for the session after a brief spike.

Persons: Atta Kenare, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Ebrahim Raisi, Clay Seigle, CNBC's, Ehud Olmert, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Olmert, Ian Bremmer, Michael Singh, Israel, Rob Casey, Casey Organizations: AFP, Getty, Washington, Rapidan Energy Group, Israeli, Military, Israel, Eurasia Group, National Security Council, Wall Street, Signum Global Advisors, Anadolu, International Atomic Energy Agency, Brent Locations: Palestine Square, Tehran, Israel, Iran, U.S, Damascus, Gulf of Oman, Hormuz, Anadolu

☆ Oil prices fall for second day as U.S. expects limited Israel response to Iran attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iran on April 14 urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a deadly strike on its consulate building in Damascus. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)Crude oil futures fell for a second day Tuesday as the U.S. expects a limited response from Israel to an unprecedented air assault by Iran, reducing fears that the Middle East is on the verge of a broader regional war. Four U.S. officials told NBC News they expect an Israeli response to Iran's attack to be limited in scope and most likely to involve strikes on Iranian forces and their proxies outside Iran. Israel's War Cabinet met for several hours Monday to weigh how Israel should response. An Israeli official told NBC News after the meeting that a response may be "imminent."

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Brent, Jorge Leon Organizations: Getty, West Texas Intermediate, U.S, NBC News, Rystad Energy Locations: Persian, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Damascus, AFP

☆ 'We have woken up to a new paradigm in the Middle East' following Iran-Israel escalation, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iran on April 14 urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a deadly strike on its consulate building in Damascus. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)Iran's weekend attack on Israel marks a "new paradigm" in the Middle East conflict, which risks escalating into a wider regional war, Chatham House's Middle East director said Monday. "The Israeli leadership will have a hard time not responding. Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles against military targets inside Israel on Saturday in response to a suspected Israeli strike that killed top Iranian officials in Syria. The attack, though well telegraphed in advance, has presented some opportunity for Israel to rehabilitate its image following its months-long onslaught in Gaza, which many perceive as disproportionate to Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Sanam Vakil, thinktank, it's, Vakil, CNBC's Organizations: Getty, Chatham House's Locations: Persian, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Damascus, AFP, London, Syria, Gaza

☆ Live Updates: Israel Says Confrontation With Iran ‘Is Not Over’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Mike Ives | Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The Iranian armed forces are among the biggest in the Middle East, with 580,000 soldiers and officers and also 200,000 reservists. The start of a direct military confrontation between Iran and Israel has brought renewed attention to Iran’s armed forces. Instead, Israel and Iran have been engaged in a long shadow war via air, sea, land and cyberattacks, and Israel has covertly targeted military and nuclear facilities inside Iran and killed commanders and scientists. It’s that they realize any war against Iran is a very serious war.”What sort of military threat does Iran pose? The commander in chief of Iran’s armed forces is the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all major decisions.

Persons: ”, Afshon Ostovar, “ It’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Fabian Hinz, “, Atta Kenare, Ostovar, Ayatollah Khamenei, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Will Israel’s Organizations: Naval Postgraduate School, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Guards, General Staff of, Armed Forces, Quds Force, Agence France, Phantoms, Iranian Army, Associated Press Locations: Tehran, Iranian, Iran, Israel, Damascus, United States, Washington, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jihad, Gaza, Berlin, speedboats, Persian, Hormuz, Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, North Korea

☆ Iran’s attack seemed planned to minimize casualties while maximizing spectacle
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Tehran’s operation was highly choreographed, apparently designed to minimize casualties while maximizing spectacle. Over 300 drones and missiles navigated above Iran’s neighbors, including Jordan and Iraq — both with US military bases — before penetrating the airspace of Iran’s mortal enemy, Israel. Rather than fire from one of the neighboring countries where Iran and its non-state allies are present, this was a direct attack from Iranian territory on Israeli territory. This compromised Iran’s ability to damage Israel because it robbed the operation of the element of surprise. Demonstrators wave Iran's flag as they gather at Palestine Square in Tehran on April 14, 2024, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel.

Persons: Lebanon CNN —, Israel’s, Amir Cohen, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Donald Trump’s, Qassem Soleimani, Asad, Iran’s, Netanyahu’s, Atta Kenare, “, ”, Parsi Organizations: Lebanon CNN, West Bank, United Nations, Trump, Iranian, US, Getty, Quincy Institute Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, —, Iran, Ashkelon, Republic, Damascus, Syria, Yemen, Tehran, Netanyahu’s Israel, Palestine, AFP, DC

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, Iran attack fears, Gaza aid crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

People attend the funeral procession for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria, which Iran blamed on Israel, in Tehran on April 5. Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesThe US and Israel are on high alert for a potential attack by Iran or its proxies that could escalate regional tensions stoked by the war in Gaza. Iran has vowed revenge on Israel after a deadly strike on its embassy compound in Syria last week. Concerns about this possible attack have prompted diplomatic conversations around the globe. Here's what you need to know:And here's the latest on the conflict in Gaza:

Persons: Atta Kenare Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Getty Locations: Syria, Iran, Israel, Tehran, AFP, Gaza

☆ Opinion: What to make of Schumer’s scathing speech on Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Opinion Aaron David Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So, is Schumer’s speech likely to have a major impact in Israel or on Biden administration policy? One way to read the impact of Schumer’s speech is that it will give the administration the political space to toughen up its policies toward the Netanyahu government. How Schumer’s speech will impact Israel and the US-Israeli relationship is hard to predict. Just look at the Republican reaction to Schumer’s speech. In an interview with CNN, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a contradiction of US policy.

Persons: Aaron David Miller, ” Miller, Chuck Schumer, ” that’s, Howard Beale, Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘, Schumer, Biden, Netanyahu, “ atta, Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, ” Benny Gantz, Schumer “, “, ” Gantz, We’re, Donald Trump, Trump, Will Biden, Joe Biden, It’s, that’s, he’s, Israel –, Schumer won’t, George H.W, Bush, State James Baker, Yitzhak Rabin’s, Yitzhak Shamir, Rabin, Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres, Peres, John Boehner, Sen, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Mitch McConnell, can’t, ” Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Republican, CNN, “, Likud, State, Republican Party, Democrat, Hamas, Biden, Israel, White, GOP, Republicans, West Bank Locations: East, Israel, Washington, “, Gaza, Arab, Michigan, Qatar, Iran, Jerusalem, America

☆ Iran announces record low election turnout despite calls on voters to participate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It is unclear if the announced 41% turnout will sink further in the coming days, with some candidates in the parliamentary election going to a runoff. Iran’s last parliamentary election in 2020 saw a turnout of 42.57%, and its last presidential election in 2021 had a turnout of 48.8% – both were the lowest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Some 15,000 candidates competed last week for the 290-seat parliamentary election, and 144 ran for the 88 seats of the Assembly of Experts. Some 25 million people cast their ballots out of Iran's 61 million eligible voters. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guards air force commander, seemed to lose some votes, coming fourth in this year’s election after his popularity peaked in the 2020 parliamentary election.

Persons: IRNA, ”, Alex Vatanka, Mahsa, Iran’s, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Beris, Mohammad Khatami, Azar Mansouri, “, Khatami, Khamenei, ” Vatanka, watchdogs, –, Hassan Rouhani, Atta Kenare, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Ghalibaf’s, ” Sanam Vakil, Vakil, ” Vakil Organizations: CNN, Middle East Institute, “, Saturday, Experts, Getty, Iran’s Guardian, Revolutionary Guards, North Africa, Chatham House Locations: Iran, Washington , DC, Fars, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Tehran, AFP, East, London

People attend the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2024. Javier MileiArgentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 17, 2024. Sam AltmanSam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 18, 2024. He said AGI could be developed in the "reasonably close-ish future," speaking at a private gathering at the Bloomberg House in Davos, Switzerland. AI took a huge leap forward in the last year or two years," Benioff said on a World Economic Forum panel Thursday.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Donald Trump, Ursula von der, Ursula von der Leyen, Jamie Dimon Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan, Adam Galici, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Larry Fink's, bitcoin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy, Putin, Javier Milei, Fabrice COFFRINI, FABRICE COFFRINI, Fabrice Coffrini, Milei, Adena Friedman Adena Friedman, Adena Friedman, Friedman, Sam Altman Sam Altman, Sam Altman, Altman, Antony Blinken Antony Blinken, CNBC Putin, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Trump's, it's, Christine Lagarde, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Dmytro Kuleba, Arnd Wiegmann, Trump, Vladimir, Ukraine's, Kuleba, Michelle Yeoh Michelle Yeoh, Mike Coppola, Michelle Yeoh, CNBC's Tania Bryer, Yeoh, Pedro Sanchez Spanish, Pedro Sanchez, Isabel Infantes, Sanchez, Li Qiang Li Qiang, Li Qiang, Li, Isaac Herzog, Kfir Bibas, Herzog, Kfir, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Atta Kenare, Joe, Biden, Netanyahu, Amir, Sergio Ermotti, MICHAEL BUHOLZER, Ermotti, Marc Benioff Marc Benioff, Salesforce, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Marc Benioff, Benioff, Ray Dalio Ray Dalio, Bridgewater, Ray Dalio, Dalio, Mark Carney Mark Carney, DANIEL LEAL Organizations: Economic, Reuters, European, JPMorgan Chase, CNBC, BlackRock, Getty, Afp, NASDAQ, CNBC Nasdaq, Reuters OpenAI, Bloomberg, State, European Central Bank, Central Bank, Reuters Ukraine's, United Nations Development, Spanish, Getty Images, Hamas, Palestinian, Hezbollah, Turkish, AFP, Iranian, Sergio Ermotti UBS, Getty Images UBS, Credit Suisse, Bridgewater Associates, U.S, Bank of England, UN, OLIVAS Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Ukraine, Gaza, Russia, China, Moscow, WEF, AFP, OpenAI, U.S, Russian, Iran, Europe, United States, Hollywood , California, Madrid, Spain, Beijing, Washington, Lebanese, Tehran, Israel, Hiroshima

The two cousins spotted each other on the bus leaving the prison, as shocked to see the other as they were by their sudden freedom. “I need to know if this is a dream.”Then, early Sunday morning, the bus pulled out of Ofer Prison in the West Bank and into a throng of cheering Palestinians. “This is thanks to the resistance in Gaza,” Anwar said hours later from his family’s home on the outskirts of the city. Anwar and his cousin, Mourad Atta, 17, are among the 180 Palestinian teenagers and women freed from Israeli prisons in recent days, the largest such release of prisoners and detainees in more than a decade. The deal also included a temporary cease-fire in the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 13,000 people, according to Gazan officials.

Persons: ” Anwar Atta, “, Ofer, ” Anwar, Anwar, Mourad Atta Organizations: West Bank Locations: Ramallah, Gaza, Israel

Survivors recounted executions and looting in Ardamata, which they said were carried out by RSF and allied Arab militias. The RSF developed from Arab militias known as the Janjaweed that helped Sudan's army crush a rebellion in Darfur in the 2000s. Atta said the UAE had funnelled unspecified supplies to the RSF through Uganda, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad. Sudan's army, Chad and the CAR did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While the UAE backed Sudan's aborted political transition after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, it has remained publicly quiet on the war.

Persons: El Tayeb, Yassir al, Atta, RSF, General Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Omar al, Bashir, Nafisa Eltahir, Khalid Abdelaziz, Maha El, Elias Biryabarema, Aidan Lewis, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Sudanese, United, Rapid Support Forces, Army, UAE, General Intelligence Service, Reuters, Central African Republic, Wagner Group, CAR, Thomson Locations: West Darfur, Adre, Chad, Ardamata, Arab, El, Rights CAIRO, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Darfur, Omdurman, Sudan, Chadian, Amdjarass, Uganda, Chad's, Ndjamena, Russia, Khartoum, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Kampala

More than 10 intelligence and police officials in five European countries including Britain, Germany and France told Reuters they are increasing surveillance of Islamist militants. A British security official said the war in Gaza was likely to become the biggest recruiter for Islamist militants since the Iraq war in 2003, and that calls for attacks on Jewish and Western targets had risen in Europe. Two Islamist militant attacks in France and Belgium last month killed three people, and these two countries, Austria, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have raised their terrorism threat alert levels. LONE WOLVESSecurity officials say the main danger for Europe is probably from attacks by "lone wolves" — assailants who are radicalised, often online, but have no formal links to more established groups. Although a truce has come into effect in Gaza, both sides have said the war is far from over.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, radicalised, Mark Rowley, al, Jochen Kopelke, It's, Kopelke, Israel, Peter Knoope, Knoope, Iman Atta, Germany's Kopelke, influencers, Europol, Thomas Renard, Juliette Jabkhiro, Angelo Amante, Johan Ahlander, Phil Blenkinsop, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, London, British, Islamic State, Islamic, WOLVES Security, Hamas, Dutch National, International Centre for, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, BERLIN, Israel, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Iran, Gaza, Iraq, Europe, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Italy, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Qaeda, Afghanistan, Syria, United States, British, al, West

☆ Lebanon and Palestine draw 0-0 in World Cup qualifier held in UAE
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Palestine drew 0-0 with Lebanon on Thursday in a World Cup qualifier played without fans in the United Arab Emirates due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Despite starting official training only four days ago, the Palestinians started the game well. Karim Darwich missed a good chance for Lebanon three minutes into the second half and Palestine, ranked 94th by FIFA, had a Tamer Seyam shot saved by Lebanon goalkeeper Moustafa Matar. Lebanon's Ali Al Haj shot into the side netting after 87 minutes before Matar saved Oday Dabbagh's close-range shot with his out-stretched leg in the final minute. The Palestinians usually host games at Al-Ram's Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium on the West Bank but they will meet Australia next in Kuwait on Nov. 21.

Persons: Hassan Maatouk, Atta Gaber, Karim Darwich, Moustafa Matar, Lebanon's Ali Al Haj, Matar, Oday Dabbagh's, Ram's Faisal Al, Ashraf Hamed Atta, Toby Davis Organizations: United, Palestinian, FIFA, Al, West Bank, Australia, Thomson Locations: Palestine, Lebanon, Emirates, Israel, Gaza, Beirut, Sharjah, Asia, Kuwait

☆ ‘How to Dance in Ohio’: A Story About Autism and Connection
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Erik Piepenburg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The center’s clinical director, Dr. Emilio Amigo, waved at me once I got inside. Behind a closed door I heard the voices of his clients — autistic young adults from mostly working- and middle-class central Ohio families — boisterously chatting about their Friday night plans. I was there to talk about “How to Dance in Ohio,” a new Broadway musical that features Dr. Amigo and seven of his autistic clients as characters. In a room filled with board games and framed illustrations of rainbow-bright robots, I met Tommy Van Atta. Van Atta, 28, who has the frame of a linebacker, paused for a few seconds, then spoke softly.

Persons: Bob Evans, Emilio Amigo, ”, Amigo, Alexandra Shiva’s, Max, Tommy Van Atta, Van Atta Organizations: Family, Belasco Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Ohio, Manhattan

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