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☆ Hunter Biden pardon fallout and strategic timing behind Syria's reignited civil war: Morning Rundown
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Elizabeth Robinson | Elizabeth Robinson Is A Newsletter Editor For Nbc News | Based In Los Angeles. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Donald Trump could use Joe Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden for his own gain, some worry. Hunter Biden pardon gives Trump political coverPresident Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden was a move by a father to protect his son that some lawmakers said they could understand. “I’ll put it this way — if it was my son, I’d pardon him too,” Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said. What hasn’t resonated as widely is Biden’s stated reason for pardoning Hunter Biden. Yesterday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden, telling reporters he believes “Hunter was singled out.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Hunter Biden, Trump, “ I’ll, I’d, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, pardoning Hunter Biden, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, “ Hunter, “, ”, Chris Kofinis, Ty Cobb, Democratic Sen, Gary Peters, It’s, Pete Hegseth, Jamie Raskin, Jerry Nadler, Bashar al, Hayat Tahir al, Assad, haven’t, Hannah Kobayashi, Jim McDonnell, Kobayahsi, Kobayashi “, ” McDonnell, Kobayashi, they’re, Elon Musk, Russell Wilson, Leila, Alpha, you’ve, — Elizabeth Robinson Organizations: Oxford University Press, Republican, White, Democratic, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Trump White House, Committee, Syrian, Human Rights, ISIS, Congress, GOP, Los Angeles Police, Police, LAPD, Indiana University, Netflix, The Denver Broncos, NBC, Oxford Locations: Los, Hawaii, Paris, Syria, Aleppo, Russian, Russia, Iran, Lebanon, ”, U.S, Mexico, L.A, Los Angeles, San Diego, Carolina, Colorado

☆ Taiwan’s president visits Marshall Islands on Pacific tour of diplomatic allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Arriving in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro, Lai referred to Taiwan’s indigenous inhabitants as sharing a culture with the Pacific Islands’ first settlers. “Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share a traditional Austronesia culture as well as the values of freedom and democracy,” he said in livestreamed remarks as he met President Hilda Heine. Later addressing Parliament, Lai offered financial support for the national airline to upgrade its aging fleet. “Taiwan will be happy to provide preferential loans to the Marshall Islands to purchase new aircraft for Air Marshall Islands to improve local air services,” he said. From the Marshall Islands he goes to Tuvalu for a brief trip, then a one-night stopover in the U.S. territory of Guam before going to Palau.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, ”, livestreamed, Hilda Heine, “, Han, Heine Organizations: Taiwan, Marshall, airline, Air Marshall Locations: Taiwan, Marshall, China, Majuro, “ Taiwan, United States, Hawaii, Tuvalu, U.S, Guam, Palau, Taipei

☆ Melbourne: The Australian city that became a global food and drink powerhouse
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Joe Minihane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It’s the great Australian city debate, one which pits the commerce, business and money of Sydney against cultural, arts-loving, coffee-drinking Melbourne. Chris Putnam/imageBROKER/ShutterstockThere’s no better way to start a trip to Melbourne than with a proper cup of coffee. The history of coffee in Melbourne goes back to the years after World War II, when Italian immigrants arrived and brought their machines with them. And it's not just coffee 06:24 - Source: CNNKate Reid is the best person to speak with about Melbourne’s coffee obsession. “Neighbours” is set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, although the street is real, as is the connection to the city.

Persons: Chris Putnam, Lane, CNN Kate Reid, Lune Croissanterie, ”, Reid, “, It’s, that’s, Phillip, Phillip Island, Vivien Zajicek, Cyril Callister, Vegemite superfan Gina Gardenal, upsettingly, Gardenal, Sam Tabone, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Margot Robbie, Robbie, Amazon’s, CNN Lucinda Cowden, “ Melanie, Cowden, “ Melbourne’s, ” She’s Organizations: CNN, croissants, Little Penguins, Kangaroos, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Cricket, Cyril, Neighbours Locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Australia, caffeinated Melbourne, Fitzroy, Paris, Phillip, Little, Australian, Uluru, Beaufort, Victoria, England, Champagne, Erinsborough, “, Harold’s

☆ Investigation Into Forced Adoptions From Ukraine Points Finger at Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Carlotta Gall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and senior Kremlin officials “intentionally and directly” authorized a program of coerced fostering and adoption of Ukrainian children during the war in Ukraine, according to a Yale University report that was released on Tuesday. The report provides strong new evidence for a war crimes case against Putin and other officials, the researchers said. An investigation by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab identified 314 children from Ukraine who have been placed in a “systematic program of coerced adoption and fostering” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to the report. It details evidence of direct orders from senior Russian officials, including Mr. Putin, to carry out the adoption program. “It reveals a higher level of crime than first understood,” the Research Lab, which is part of the Conflict Observatory, a program supported by the U.S. Department of State, said in a statement.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, “, ” Organizations: Kremlin, Yale University, Yale’s, Research, U.S . Department of State Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ Macron’s Paris invite shows power fast flowing from Biden to Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —There’ll be a strong sense of déjà vu when French President Emmanuel Macron lays the flattery on thick for Donald Trump in Paris this weekend. The president seeks to highlight US commitment to sub-Saharan Africa in the face of China’s investment-led regional power play. Trump never made it to Africa as president and seemed more interested in insulting the continent than helping it. From left to right, Brigitte Macron, President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at Le Jules Verne Restaurant at the Eiffel Tower, on July 13, 2017. Trump will arrive in Paris shortly after selecting Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of his daughter Ivanka as the next US ambassador to France.

Persons: CNN —, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Trump, Macron, Trump isn’t, — he’s, Justin Trudeau, Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, Hunter, ‘, Virginia Democratic Sen, Tim Kaine, CNN’s Manu Raju, Utah Republican Sen, Mitt Romney, Biden, Biden’s, ” Trump, It’s, Ludovic Marin, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, There’s, don’t, Olaf Scholz, Keir Starmer, Michel Barnier, Marine Le, Jules Verne, “, “ Emmanuel, Brigitte Macron, Melania Trump, Le Jules Verne Restaurant, Saul Loeb, ”, Macron’s, Macron —, Viktor Orbán, he’s, Charles Kushner, Ivanka, Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner Organizations: CNN, Notre Dame Cathedral, Trump, Canadian, Hamas, Virginia Democratic, Utah Republican, City, “, Notre Dame, Getty, European Union, New British, Labour Party, EU, Party, Michelin, Eiffel, White, Trump — Locations: Paris, Canada, Mexico, Florida, Gaza, Virginia, Utah, Angola, Saharan Africa, Africa, Buenos Aires, AFP, France, Washington, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Germany, Britain, Europe, Hungarian, New Hampshire, Manhattan

☆ Top U.N. Envoy Says Gaza War Followed Years of Weak Diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In September last year, the top United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process left a meeting with Hamas leaders in Gaza thinking that he had helped avert a major escalation. The veteran Norwegian diplomat, Tor Wennesland, said he believed that Hamas had agreed to reduce recent tensions along the Israel-Gaza border in exchange for more work permits for Gazan workers. But Hamas had bluffed Mr. Wennesland, along with the Israeli leadership and much of the international community. Days later, the group’s fighters attacked Israel, setting off the deadliest year in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was a misconception that Mr. Wennesland now says is emblematic of the problem with the international community’s recent approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Persons: Tor Wennesland, Wennesland Organizations: United Nations, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Norwegian, Israel

☆ Russia wants its pro-war bloggers to identify themselves by 2025. Only about 10% of its top channels are complying, analysis says.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But Kremlin-affiliated and pro-war accounts aren't playing ball, independent Russian media reported. A new analysis found that only 10 of the top 82 political pro-government Telegram channels had registered. Nearly 90% of Russia's top pro-war Telegram channels have been ignoring a government directive to identify themselves in an official registry, per an analysis by independent media outlet Vertska. But the move was originally unpopular with pro-Kremlin military bloggers, who often maintain anonymity and sometimes post analyses and criticism of Russian war leaders. Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of Russia's State Duma, runs the most popular registered channel.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Vertska, Rybar, Ramzan Kadyrov, Dmitry Medvedev, Sergei Sobyanin, Boris Rozhin, Cassad, Dmitry Nikotin, Vyacheslav Volodin, Roskomnadzor Organizations: Kremlin, Security Council, Russian Defense, Duma, Business, YouTube Locations: Russia, Russian, Moscow's, Washington, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ China's AI balancing act — beating the U.S. but keeping the tech from threatening Beijing's rule
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"I think of this battle, this geopolitical battle to build AGI first as a 'hopium war'," Tegmark told CNBC in an interview last month. " And that means that the AGI race is not an arms race, it's a suicide race," Tegmark said. When it comes to AGI, China is likely to pursue a similar approach, according to analysts. Similar predictions were made about the internet, they all proved to be false," Kendra Schaefer, a partner at consultancy Trivium China," told CNBC. watch now"With AI, China hopes to shift the balance of power around the globe, like creating a new export model.

Persons: Max Tegmark, Sam Altman, Tegmark, Elon Musk, it's, Musk, China's, Tesla, Kendra Schaefer, Abishur Prakash, Prakash Organizations: Istock, Getty, Communist Party, CNBC, U.S, Life Institute, Huawei, Trivium China, Nvidia Locations: China, U.S, AGI, Toronto

☆ China Announces a Ban on Rare Minerals to the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( David Pierson | More About David Pierson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

China said on Tuesday it would begin banning the export of some rare minerals to the United States, in an escalation of the tech war between the world’s two biggest powers. China produces almost all the world’s supply of critical minerals needed to make advanced technologies such as semiconductors. Beijing has been tightening its grip on the materials, also known as rare earths, in retaliation for U.S. export controls. In October, China began requiring its exporters to disclose, step by step, how the minerals would be used in Western supply chains. The move was the third significant action in the past three years in the Biden administration’s bid to prevent China from catching up to the United States in cutting-edge technologies.

Persons: Biden Organizations: China’s Ministry of Commerce, Biden Locations: China, United States, Beijing

☆ Bloomberg Says Kennedy Would Be ‘Beyond Dangerous’ as Health Secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Sheryl Gay Stolberg | More About Sheryl Gay Stolberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor, intends to launch a broadside on Tuesday against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., using his opening remarks at a public health conference to warn that installing Mr. Kennedy as health secretary would be “beyond dangerous,” and tantamount to “medical malpractice on a mass scale.”Mr. Bloomberg, in remarks prepared for delivery at the event, the two-day Bloomberg American Health Summit in Washington, called on Senate Republicans to persuade President-elect Donald J. Trump to “rethink” his choice of Mr. Kennedy for health secretary. If Mr. Trump cannot be persuaded, he said, the Senate has “a duty to our whole country, but especially to our children,” to vote against confirming him. “The casualties of Kennedy’s war on science and medicine — Kennedy’s casualties — will pile up, and the body count would be unbearably high” if Mr. Kennedy is confirmed, Mr. Bloomberg said in his prepared remarks. “We can’t allow Kennedy or Trump — or anyone else — to wage that war, which would bring unimaginable suffering to the American people.”Mr. Bloomberg has spent billions of dollars promoting public health, both through his charity, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and through donations to the School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, which now bears his name. The school and the charity hosted the health summit, with the theme of “advancing public health in uncertain political times.”

Persons: Michael R, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Mr, Donald J, Trump, ”, Bloomberg, “, Bloomberg Philanthropies Organizations: Bloomberg, New, New York City, Health Summit, Republicans, Senate, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University Locations: New York, Washington

☆ Israel threatens to ‘go deeper’ into Lebanon as strikes strain ceasefire
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Were the ceasefire to collapse, he said, “there will no longer be any exemptions for the State of Lebanon. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said Israel had breached the ceasefire agreement “approximately 100” times since the truce went into effect. “Both the French and the Americans didn’t really like it,” Smotrich said, referring to Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the truce. Under the agreement, Lebanon would implement a more rigorous supervision of Hezbollah’s movements south of the country’s Litani River, to prevent militants from regrouping there. “We will act with full force to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we will respond with maximum response and zero tolerance,” Katz said.

Persons: ” Israel Katz, Israel Katz, Elad Malka, Matthew Miller, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Kan, Israel, didn’t, ” Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich, Mount Dov, ” Katz Organizations: CNN, 146th Division, Israel Defense Forces, State, –, Israeli Defense, Division, Ministry of Defense, United, Israeli, United Nations, Lebanese Health Ministry, IDF Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Lebanon, “, State, Beirut, Dahiyeh, retaliating, United States, UNIFIL, ”, Israeli, Syria

☆ Kursk offensive: Ukraine’s soldiers fight to hold onto Russian region
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Sumy, Ukraine CNN —The dawn assault inside Russia’s Kursk region never even got to a gunfight, yet betrayed the intensity of the battle in Kremlin territory. They provide a rare insight into the nearly four-month-long Ukrainian occupation of Kursk. A funeral ceremony in Irpin, Ukraine, is held last month for Serhii Solovyov, a soldier who died during the Kursk offensive. Recent Russian assaults in his area of Kursk have proven as ineffective as costly, he said. His drone commander, callsign “JS” for Java Script, said the unit killed 50 Russians that day.

Persons: “, ”, Oleksandr, ” Oleksandr, –, Donald Trump, Serhii Solovyov, Evgeniy, you’re, Chasiv Yar, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” JS Organizations: Ukraine CNN, 225th, Kyiv, US, Trump, United, 76th Brigade, Korean, Pentagon, Kyodo, Kremlin, ”, Java Locations: Sumy, Ukraine, Russia’s Kursk, Kremlin, Ukrainian, Kursk, Irpin, Budapest, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Belarus, Kazakhstan, England, Bakhmut

☆ Israeli Officials Welcome Trump’s Demand to Free Hostages Before Inauguration
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senior Israeli officials have welcomed President-elect Donald J. Trump’s demand that hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on Israel be released from Gaza before his inauguration in January, and his threat that there will be “hell to pay” in the Middle East if they are not. Mr. Trump’s social media post on Monday did not elaborate on what action would be taken if the hostages are not released by Jan. 20, when he will be sworn in. Still, some Israeli officials appeared to be reassured by Mr. Trump’s remarks, which suggested the onus was more on the militants holding the hostages than on Israel to free the captives. “Thank you and bless you Mr. President-elect,” President Isaac Herzog of Israel said in a post on social media. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seen as the main Israeli decision maker in the war against Hamas in Gaza, has not publicly commented on Mr. Trump’s remarks, nor have leaders of the Israeli military.

Persons: Donald J, Jan, Trump’s, Isaac Herzog of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu Locations: Israel, Gaza

CNN —The Biden administration is rushing assistance to Ukraine in an effort to put Kyiv “in the strongest possible position” as Russia steps up its attacks and President Joe Biden prepares to leave office in less than two months. The new tranche of military assistance includes Stinger missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and anti-personnel landmines. Still, two US officials and three defense officials told CNN last week that the Pentagon is unlikely to use all of the billions of dollars authorized by Congress to arm Ukraine before Biden leaves office. The administration has fewer than two months left to use nearly $7 billion, part of a larger package authorized by Congress earlier this year to help Ukraine in the war with Russia. For months, the US has run into the limits of its ability to replenish its own weapons inventories, which limited what the Biden administration has been able to send Ukraine.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, ”, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Vladimir Putin, “, Mark Rutte, Putin, ” “ Putin, ” Rutte, CNN’s Duarte Mendonça, Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann, Katie Bo Lillis, Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Kyiv “, “, Department of Defense, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, NATO, Congress, Defense Department, State Department Locations: Ukraine, Russia, “, Brussels

☆ A US ally in the Pacific spotted a Russian submarine in the contested South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe Philippines said it spotted a Russian submarine in the waters of the South China Sea last week. The Philippines said it spotted a Russian submarine in the South China Sea last week, in the latest sign of tensions in the contested waters. This latest incident comes as tensions in the South China Sea have escalated this year, especially between China and the Philippines, an ally the US is treaty-bound to defend. AdvertisementThe presence of a Russian submarine in the contested waters may be a Russian signal to the US, one analyst said. AdvertisementRussia conducted joint military drills with China in the South China Sea in July and September.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Kilo, Roy Vincent Trinidad, Hunter Marston, Eduardo Araral, Araral, Philippines Sari Arho Havrén Organizations: Armed Forces, Russian UFA, Philippine Navy, Inquirer, West Philippine, Facebook, TASS, Russian, Malaysian, Agence France, Presse, Australian National University, China, National University of Singapore, Strait Times, Pacific, Royal United Services Locations: Philippines, Russian, South, Russia, China, Vladivostok, Russia's Far, Malaysia, South China, Asia, Pacific, Philippine, Indonesian, Taiwan Strait

☆ China hits back at Biden's chip restrictions by banning shipments of key materials to the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Robert Scammell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementChina's Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday it will halt shipments of key materials to the US. China's Ministry of Commerce said it was responding to fresh US chip export bans, announced Monday. China has retaliated against the Biden administration's semiconductor export controls by banning shipments of key materials to the US, ramping up the global chip war ahead of Donald Trump's second term. AdvertisementThe so-called "dual-use" materials include gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials. AdvertisementChina's retaliation follows President Joe Biden's third wave of sanctions against US companies exporting materials to China's chip industry, announced on Monday.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Joe Biden's, Gina Raimondo, Trump, Logan Paul Organizations: China's, of Commerce, China's Ministry of Commerce, Biden, Geological Survey, Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, Reuters, The New York Times, Department, Commerce Locations: China, Republic

☆ Putin makes it official: Russia is all in on defense spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementPutin has signed off on a record defense budget for 2025 amid the ongoing Ukraine war. Defense spending will rise to 13.5 trillion rubles, making up a third of the country's budget. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed off a federal budget that will boost defense spending to a record level next year. However, Russia's economy is under pressure, with wartime activities driving the economy so hot that inflation has spiked. Russia's economy ministry forecasts that the country's economy will grow by 3.9% this year and 2.5% next year.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia's, Andrei Kostin, VTB —, —, Kostin Organizations: Putin, Defense, Russian, Russia, Institute for, Reuters, Monetary, IMF Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Russia's

☆ The war on woke: How a gay rights index once touted by Walmart and others became a conservative target
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Alex Harring | Brandon Gomez | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +16 min

As June’s Pride Month festivities were nearing a conclusion, Tractor Supply released a statement that put LGBTQ+ rights proponents on alert. With that move, Tractor Supply became the first domino to fall as companies began pulling out of the Corporate Equality Index. For Tractor Supply and some others, it marked a staunch turn in policy. For former Tractor Supply customer Ashe Taylor-Austin, the retailer’s announcement pushed them to look elsewhere when purchasing supplies for their horse. “When we got the news about Tractor Supply, I immediately started shopping around,” said Taylor-Austin, who switched to buying from a small business.

Persons: Lowe’s, —, Robby Starbuck, Starbuck, Molson Coors, ” Dave Osswald, George Floyd’s, ”, Kenji Yoshino, Jack Daniel’s, Brown, Forman, Forbes ’, Ford, “ Ford, ” Meeta Huggins, Ford’s, “, Donna Morris, Davidson, Stephanie Creary, Creary, ” Creary, NYU’s Yoshino, Yoshino, ” “, ” Yoshino, Adina Sterling, Sterling, ” Sterling, ” Starbuck, doesn’t, you’ve, It’s, Kelley Robinson, ” Robinson, Stephanie Mahnke, ” Mahnke, Mahnke, Ashe Taylor, Taylor, Austin Organizations: Tractor, Tractor Supply, Ford, Walmart, HRC, CNBC, Human, Molson, MillerCoors, Ford Motor, New York University, Companies, Forbes, Employers, Diversity, Harley, Toyota, Business, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Harvard University, University of North, Columbia Business School, Supply, Trump, LGBT Capital, “, NAACP, Fortune, Chamber, Tennessee Pride Chamber, Tennessee Pride, former Tractor Supply Locations: U.S, Detroit, Arkansas, University of North Carolina, America, Mexico, Spain, Tennessee

☆ What’s happening in Syria? How an old conflict in the Middle East erupted again
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alexander Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

In the messy patchwork of conflicts raging across the Middle East, one country has been absent from the spotlight: Syria. That he has survived was largely because of the intervention of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, Iran’s Lebanon-based proxy. In all, the U.N. has documented more than 350,000 deaths but says this is “certainly an undercount.”Today, however, Russia, Iran and Lebanon are distracted and depleted. All of this “puts Assad in a much weaker position.”But “the Syrian regime, in coordination with the Russians and less so the Iranians, will hit them with everything they’ve got,” he added. “Much as I oppose the Assad regime, its atrocities and abuses, what is happening in Aleppo right now is terrifying.

Persons: Bashar al, ”, Omar Haj Kadour, Assad, It’s, Abu Mohammed al, Robin Yassin, “ It’s, “, Aaref Watad, Abbas Araghchi, Dmitry Peskov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Aleppo . Omar Haj Kadour, Hellyer, they’ve, Donald Trump, —, Charles Lister, ” Chris Doyle Organizations: Royal United Services Institute, Getty, Pentagon, Syrian, Human Rights, United Nations, State Department, ISIS, Observatory, Syrian Civil Defence, Middle East Institute, Foreign Relations, Council, Arab Locations: Syria, Syrian, Aleppo, Russia, London, AFP, Idlib, Hama, U.K, Qaeda, U.S, Golani, Russian, Aaref, Iran, Iraq, Iran’s Lebanon, Omar, Homs, moonscapes, ”, Lebanon, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Washington, Kyiv, Moscow, Assad, Aleppo . Omar, Israel, Gaza, Cairo, Washington, Deir el, Monday, British

Around 250 people were taken hostage during Hamas’ terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that also saw 1,200 people killed, according to Israeli tallies. Neutra is survived by his parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, and his brother, Daniel Neutra. Kathy Hochul, who met with Neutra’s parents in March, also offered condolences to his family. Speaking to NBC News' "TODAY" in September, Neutra's parents called for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas. The 20-year-old, who appears under duress in the Hamas video, calls on President-elect Donald Trump to use his power to negotiate for the freedom of those who remain in captivity in Gaza.

Persons: Omer Neutra, Israel Katz, “, ”, Neutra, Nir Oz, Omer Neutra's, Orna Neutra, Jim Watson, Daniel Neutra, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kathy Hochul, Neutra's, ” Ronen Neutra, Edan Alexander, ” Yael Alexander, Donald Trump Organizations: TEL AVIV —, Israeli Defense, Hamas, White, Getty, Armored Corps, ” New York Gov, NBC, NBC News, Telegram, Qassam Locations: TEL AVIV, Israeli American, Gaza, New York, Israel, United States, ”

A former Israeli defense minister has accused his country of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, in rare criticism from Israel’s own security community about military operations in the Palestinian enclave. The Israel Defense Forces and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He also served as defense minister from 2013 to 2016, including during a 2014 war in Gaza that lasted more than six weeks and had been the longest conflict between Israel and Hamas until the current one. Netanyahu’s Likud party, of which Yaalon is a former member, said Yaalon was spreading “slanderous lies.”Yaalon’s comments came after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant last month over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The Biden administration also rejects the arrest warrants but has warned of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has allowed little aid to enter in recent months.

Persons: Moshe Yaalon, “, ”, ” Yaalon, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Yaalon, Netanyahu, Yaalon’s, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Gallant, Biden, Menahem Kahana Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Criminal, Democrat TV, Hamas, Likud, ICC, Getty, Human Locations: Gaza, Jabalia, Israel, Iran, Jerusalem, AFP, Geneva

☆ Georgian opposition leader arrested after fourth night of protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

TBILISI, Georgia — Police in Georgia arrested a prominent opposition leader early Monday after using water cannon and tear gas to scatter anti-government protesters who rallied outside Parliament for the fourth straight night. Critics saw that as confirmation of a Russian-influenced shift away from pro-Western policies, something the ruling party denies. The Coalition for Change, the country’s largest opposition party, said in a post on X that Zurab Japaridze, one of its leaders, had been arrested by police while leaving the demonstration. Giorgi Arjevanidze / AFP via Getty Images fileZourabichvili has called for pressure to be brought on the Constitutional Court to annul elections won by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, in October. Tension in Georgia has been building for months as the ruling party has passed laws on “foreign agents” and on curbing LGBT rights.

Persons: Girogi Arjevanidze, Dmitry Medvedev, Nikoloz Miruashvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, “, ”, Salome Zourabichvili, Ilia Topuria, Giorgi Arjevanidze, Kobakhidze, Zourabichvili Organizations: Georgia — Police, European Union, Critics, Coalition, Russia, Police, France Inter, Getty Locations: TBILISI, Georgia, Russian, Tbilisi , Georgia, AFP, United States, Europe, Asia, Soviet Union, Tbilisi, Georgian, Russia

☆ Syria's 13-year frozen war has ignited again after allies Russia and Iran let down their defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It comes as Syria's powerful allies, Iran and Russia, are distracted with other conflicts. With Russia and Iran distracted by regional conflicts, a stagnant 13-year-long civil war in Syria has exploded into renewed violence. It's the most intense outbreak of fighting in the war since Syrian government forces, backed by Iran and Russia, drove rebels back to their strongholds in the north eight years ago, and a stalemate developed. "Israel has changed the balance of power in the region by going on this all-out war on the axis of resistance." Meanwhile, Russia, whose 2015 entry into the Syrian Civil War was crucial in propping up the Assad regime, has problems of its own.

Persons: Tahrir, Sham, Bashar al, Assad, who've, that's, Joshua Landis, Charles Lister, it's Organizations: Rebels, Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, University of Oklahoma, New York Times, Middle East Institute, Turkey Locations: Syria, Hayat, Aleppo, Iran, Russia, Hama, Idlib, Sunday, Israel, Syrian, Tunisia, Egypt, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Ukraine

☆ The Secret Pentagon War Game That Offers a Stark Warning for Our Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( William Langewiesche | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Britain, France, China, Israel, India and Pakistan had already made their voices heard, then North Korea joined in, with Iran seemingly poised to follow, with all the chatter multiplying the opportunities for miscommunication. Now China, after years of contenting itself with a diminutive retaliatory arsenal, has changed its mind and is striving to rival the United States and Russia. Key arms-control treaties have expired or been abandoned, and there is little immediate hope for new ones. Having fallen from 70,000 warheads at the height of the Cold War to about 12,000 today, the global arsenal has begun again to grow, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Whether justified or not, these concerns are destabilizing.

Organizations: North, Federation of American Scientists Locations: Britain, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, contenting, United States, Russia

☆ Northern Gaza: Former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A highly decorated former Israeli defense minister has caused a firestorm by accusing Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in northern Gaza. The interviewer expressed surprise at Ya’alon’s use of the phrase “ethnic cleansing,” asking, “Is that what you think – that we’re on the way there?”“Why ‘on the way?’” he responded. The Israeli military has for two months been carrying out an intense and deadly operation in northern Gaza, targeting what it says are resurgent Hamas militants. Vanishingly few aid deliveries have been allowed into northern Gaza, according to the World Food Programme. “Under this title, ethnic cleansing is effectively being carried out; I don’t have another word for it.”The interviewer said that such a phrase evoked “dark periods” in history.

Persons: Israel, Moshe Ya’alon, ” Ya’alon, ’ ”, They’re, ”, Ya’alon, Giora, “, ’, Bezalel Smotrich, Josep Borrell, Jack Guez, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, ” Naftali Bennett, –, Ben Gvir, Daniela Weiss ” – Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s Democrat TV, Hamas, “, Gush, Israel TV, Kan, Haaretz, Rights Watch, Getty, IDF Locations: Gaza, There’s, Jabalya, Katif, Israel, ”, AFP

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