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☆ North Korea is sending massive amounts of munitions to Russia and is on track to be one of its biggest weapons suppliers, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

North Korea has shipped Russia more than 1,000 containers of munitions in recent weeks, intel suggests. North Korea is now on track to become one of Russia's biggest foreign arms suppliers alongside Iran and Belarus, the UK's defense ministry said. The White House is also closely monitoring the situation and said a military alliance between Russia and North Korea could destabilize the region. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe UK's defense ministry said Thursday that North Korea has sent a huge amount of munitions to Russia recently and is on track to become one of Russia's biggest foreign arms suppliers. North Korea has sent Russia more than 1,000 containers of munitions over the last several weeks, the UK's Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence dispatch on X.

Persons: —, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: intel, Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, White, Security, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine Locations: Korea, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Belarus, DPRK, North

☆ Opinion: Will Israel-Hamas war mean a US-Iran escalation?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Opinion Charles Dunne | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, the White House has, for the moment, rightly stopped short of concluding that a major escalation is inevitable. While this risks escalation, it might be necessary — and a lack of resolve is also a risk in the face of ongoing attacks. There is a history here that goes beyond the fact that the US is allied with and supporting Israel in its war on Hamas. There has been much speculation about whether, given these well-documented ties, Iran ordered the Hamas operation in southern Israel. Miscalculations — whether by Iran, Israel, Hezbollah or even the US — could rapidly lead to a multifront regional war with casualties easily numbering in the tens of thousands.

Persons: Charles Dunne, John Kirby, Joe Biden, “, Qassem Soleimani, Bashar al, Assad, there’s, —, Biden, ”, It’s, Iran hasn’t, Israel, Geravand, it’s Organizations: US Foreign Service, Arab Center Washington DC, Middle East Institute, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, CNN, Hamas, White, National Security, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qods Force, Reuters, Washington Post, Force Locations: Iraq, Syria, Israel, Iranian, Washington, Tehran, Iran, United States, Europe, Sarajevo, Russia, Syrian, State, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, Hezbollah, Sudan, Egypt, Qatar, Israel’s

☆ Gaza: EU stops short of calling for ceasefire ahead of UN vote as crisis escalates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Andrew Raine | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +34 min

Shadi Tabatibi/Reuters Relatives mourn for a family killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 21. 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. Ramez Mahmoud/AP A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9.

Persons: Jordan, –, Ayman Safadi, Khan Younis, Mahmud Hams, Gilad Erdan, ”, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Daniel Hagari, Francisco Seco, Yasser Qudih, Tsafrir, Ali Mohmoud, Lifshitz, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Mohammed Abed, Violeta Santos Moura, Mai Yaghi, Mohammed Zaanoun, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Ariel Schalit, Jalaa Marey, Said Khatub, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Nir Oz, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Ali Jadallah, Belal al Sabbagh, Mohammed Saber, Khan, Rizek Abdeljawad, Ahmad Gharabli, Janis Laizans, Abed Khaled, Mohammed Dahman, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Ronen Zvulun, Belal Khaled, Abed Rahim Khatib, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mustafa Hassona, Mahmoud Khaled, Samar Abu, Fatima Shbair, Dor Reder, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Hatem Ali, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Majdi, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Oded, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Joe Biden’s, John Kirby, Mohammad Shtayyeh, ” Shtayyeh, Al Jazeera, ‘, Juliette Touma, ” Touma, Jonathan Conricus, Tamara Alrifai, Alrifai, PRCS Organizations: CNN — European Union, UN, UN Security Council, Jordan’s, United Nations Assembly Hall, Palestinian, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, Qahera, Getty, Reuters, AP Rescuers, Pictures, Tel Aviv University, AP, New York Times, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, Shifa, West Bank, Aris Messinis, Haim, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, CNN, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Rockets, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Gaza Health Ministry, Palestinian Authority, Ministry of Health, Authority, of Health, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, UNRWA, Palestine Red Crescent Society Locations: Gaza, Brussels, Israel, AFP, Tel Aviv, Shaja’iyah, Taba, Egypt, Gaza City, Ichilov, Najjar, Rafah, Kibbutz Shefayim, Israeli, Lebanon, Deir al, Anadolu, Khan Younis, Europe, Zahra City, Xinhua, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Al, Ahli, Sderot, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Beit Kama, Haifa, Cyprus, Nablus, West, Kfar Saba, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be'eri, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, ”, Ramallah, UN, Gaza . Israel, Palestine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday said Russia is executing soldiers who have failed to follow orders and threatening entire units with death if they retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire. It's a development that U.S. national security officials believe reflects Russia's morale problems 20 months into its grinding invasion of Ukraine, said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Putin ”basically said that if Western weapons to Ukraine stop, Ukraine would have a week to live. The contract soldiers were pulled out of Ukraine after their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, mounted an armed rebellion in June. There also have been reports, including from the British Defense Ministry, that the regular Russian military has deployed “barrier troops” that threaten to shoot any deserters.

Persons: John Kirby, “, Kirby, Joe Biden, Biden, Putin, ” Kirby, Putin ”, Yevgeny Prigozhin, haven’t Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, National Security, Republican, Ukraine, “, Wagner Group, British Defense Ministry, Russian Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk

☆ Opinion: I’m an American stranded in Gaza. Why isn’t the US doing more to bring us home?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Stephanie Griffith | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

We were at my wife’s parents house a couple of days into the war when there was an airstrike about 100 feet from my parents’ house. We all huddled together until we had to leave northern Gaza and head south. And my wife’s parents are between northern Gaza and Gaza City itself. And all they would say is, “We don’t have any information.”Listen, we live in northern Gaza. We’ve been told by the State Department transit will be allowed for Americans and their immediate relatives, meaning spouse and children if they’re not American.

Persons: Abood Okal, Wafa Abuzayda, Yousef, —, Wafa, Gazans, Okal, we’ve, ”, John Kirby, We’re, ” Kirby, ” Okal, Stephanie Griffith, hadn’t, let’s, ’, we’re, she’s, Abood, You’ve, haven’t, ” Abood, “, Israel, They’re, everyone’s, We’ve, they’re Organizations: CNN, Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli Defense Forces, State Department, White House, West Bank, IDF, State, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Massachusetts, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, New Jersey, Ramallah, Gaza City, Jerusalem, Cairo, Washington ,, Rafah, American, Cambridge

Blinken told the United Nations this week that he would work with Wang to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from spreading. “China and the United States need to have dialogue. But while the U.S. has publicly stood with Israel, China has called for a cease-fire between Israel and the Western-designated terrorist group Hamas stationed in Gaza. Gavin Newsom met with Xi – the first meeting between a U.S. governor and Xi in six years. While more routes of communication may be opening, China-U.S. relations shouldn’t be mistaken as entirely pleasant at the moment.

Persons: Wang Yi, Antony Blinken, Wang, Blinken, ” Wang, John Kirby, Kirby, ”, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Xi Jinping, Gavin Newsom, Xi –, Xi, Newsom, “ We’ve, We’ve, Wu Qian Organizations: Foreign, U.S, State Department, United, National Security, Economic Cooperation, California Gov, CNN, Pentagon Locations: Washington, China, Gaza, Ukraine, United Nations, United States, U.S, Israel, “, Tehran, Asia, San Francisco, California

☆ Analysis: Israel’s allies fear it could be walking into a trap in Gaza as Hamas and its backers seek a wider conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Jerome Taylor | Sam Kiley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The bomb-making skills of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group and close ally of Hamas, have metastasized across the Middle East. In Gaza, Israeli troops will know they face improvised explosive devices built with charges that can cripple a tank. Hamas does hope to establish a Palestinian state based on the teachings of Islam. There have been pro-Palestinian marches throughout the world protesting at the level of destruction visited already on Gaza by Israel. They’ll be looking to exploit Israel’s next moves in Gaza as their own “phase two” of the October 7 attacks.

Persons: Israel’s, ”, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Joe Biden, Saddam Hussein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Rishi Sunak, “, Emmanuel Macron, ” Atatra, –, Hassan Nasrallah, Saleh Al, Ziad Al, Tehran’s, Quds, They’ll, John Kirby, Jalaa Marey, Biden, Islam, Iraq ’, Karin von Hippel, Martin Sherman, Israel Organizations: London CNN, Hamas, American, ISIS, Iran’s, British, Islam, Israel Defense Forces, UN, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Brigade, US, US National Security Council, Palestinian, Getty, Israel’s, Royal United Services Institute, Israel Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Gaza, Tehran, Israel, Hamas, Mosul, Iraqi, Lebanese, Lebanon, Beit Hanoun, Washington, Iraq, realpolitik, Palestine, Iran, Baghdad, Iranian, Yemen, Israeli, AFP, United States, State, Afghanistan

REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The United States has information that the Russian military is executing soldiers who do not follow orders related to the war with Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday. "We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders," White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, in a comment on the Telegram messaging app, made no reference to the White House allegations. The United States has strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has been providing significant aid to Kyiv. "I think it's a symptom of ... how poorly Russia's military leaders know they're doing and how bad they have handled this from a military perspective," he said.

Persons: Alexey Pavlishak, John Kirby, Kirby, Anatoly Antonov, Antonov, Russia's, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Ronald Popeski, Arshad Mohammed, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, Kremlin, Antonov, Thomson Locations: Simferopol, Crimea, United States, Ukraine, Russian, Washington, U.S, Ukrainian, Avdiivka

☆ Israel-UN spat intensifies after Secretary General says Hamas attacks ‘did not happen in a vacuum’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Palestinian children receive food from a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) centre in Gaza on Tuesday. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/APHis comments angered Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who was in the chamber as Guterres spoke. The deepening spat exposes tensions around the calls from some international observers for a ceasefire, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It was the opposite,” he told reporters, restating his condemnation of the October 7 attacks. But Guterres did not back away from his Tuesday call for a ceasefire, or from his nod towards the historical treatment of Palestinians.

Persons: CNN —, General Antonio Guterres, Guterres, “, Majdi, Eli Cohen, ”, Cohen, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Martin Griffiths, ” Guterres, misinterpretations, restating, Antony Blinken, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Security Council, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UN, Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency, Israeli Army Radio, Security, US, National Security, Hamas, World Health Organization, WHO Locations: Israel, Gaza, Brazil

Five months later, Albanese will be welcomed to the White House with the highest trappings of American diplomacy, including a black-tie state dinner underneath a tent erected on the South Lawn. Already, the White House had struggled to secure billions of dollars in new funding for Ukraine. When Albanese arrives at the White House Tuesday evening, the US House of Representatives will have been without a permanent House speaker – and legislatively paralyzed – for 21 days. Senior Biden administration officials believe that only weeks remain before a lack of additional funding for Ukraine starts to become a serious battlefield concern. The first lady developed the menu with guests chef Katie Button, a James Beard Award nominee who owns a popular tapas restaurant Cúrate in Asheville, North Carolina; White House executive chef Cris Comerford; and White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Biden, Cedric Richmond, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, –, ’ Biden, ” Biden, it’s, Ukraine –, Michèle Flournoy, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Wang, Antony Blinken, Sullivan, Blinken, Xi, Blinken’s, ”, Karine Jean, Pierre, Australia –, They’ll, John Kirby, ” Kirby, Kirby, ” Dr, we’ve, Bryan Rafanelli, Katie Button, James Beard, Cris Comerford, Susie Morrison Organizations: CNN, Australian, ., White, Hamas, Ukraine, Biden, CBS, Defense, APEC, Washington, Publicly, ”, Australia, Wednesday, ’, National Security, Army and Air Force, White House Locations: Pacific, Washington, Gaza, Israel, Asia, Vietnam, China, Ukraine, Tel Aviv, Australia, United States, America, White, San Francisco, Beijing, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, there’s, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Asheville , North Carolina

☆ Ex-SOCOM head warns an Israeli invasion of Gaza will be harder than even the toughest battle against ISIS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

More than two weeks after the Hamas terror attacks, the Israeli ground invasion is yet to begin. A ground fight in Gaza would likely feature brutal urban combat, including surprise and guerilla tactics. Current and former US military leaders warn it will be harder than the toughest battle against ISIS. AdvertisementAdvertisementCurrent and former US military leaders are warning that an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, should the military go forward with it, will be more difficult than even the toughest battle against the Islamic State. There, in Gaza, Israeli soldiers could face a prolonged urban combat, brutal fighting which may feature heavy civilian casualties, booby traps, surprise attacks, and guerilla tactics.

Persons: —, Joseph Votel, Israel, Mostafa Alkharouf, Votel, ABC's Jonathan Karl, Lloyd Austin, we've, Austin, Hatem Ali Gaza, Biden, John Kirby Organizations: ISIS, Service, Islamic, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Army, Operations Command, Associated Press, Getty, US Central Command, US, AP, National Security Locations: Gaza, Islamic State, Syrian, Raqqa, Iraqi, Mosul, Israel, Sderot, Anadolu, Austin, Rafah, Iran

☆ Gaza: UN agency warns its fuel to run dry on Wednesday as Palestinian officials say 700 killed in a single day
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Gaza needs at least 160,000 liters (42,267 gallons) of fuel a day for basic necessities, UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma said. Just eight out of 20 aid trucks scheduled to cross into Gaza on Tuesday made the journey, UNRWA said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday ruled out any fuel being allowed to enter Gaza, saying Hamas would co-opt fuel for its operational infrastructure and to continue its rocket attacks. In the wake of the assault, Israel launched a sustained aerial bombardment of Gaza that Palestinian health officials say has now killed more than 5,000 people. An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in central Gaza on October 21, 2023.

Persons: Juliette Touma, Mustafa Hassona, General Herzi Halevi, “, ”, Mohammed Salem, General António Guterres, ” Guterres, Guterres, Antonio Guterres, Seth Wenig, Gilad Erdan, Eli Cohen, ” Cohen, John Kirby, –, Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Vital, UN, Israel, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Nasser Hospital, Getty, World Health Organization, WHO, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UN Security, Guterres, Twitter, US, National Security, Foreign, Israeli Locations: Gaza, East, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Anadolu, Israel, UN, Ramallah, “, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen,” Blinken said at a convening of the U.N. Security Council in New York City. Do not attack Israel's partners.’”War in Israel and Gaza View All 69 Images“And we urge partners to go a step further,” Blinken added. “Make clear that if Iran or its proxies widen this conflict and put more civilians at risk, you – you – will hold them accountable. Act as if the security and stability of the entire region and beyond is on the line.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, ’, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Carney, we're Organizations: . Security, Iran, Israel, White House, Defense Department, Navy, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Locations: Iran, U.S, Tehran, Israel, United States, New York City, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Red, Iranian, Yemen

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives U.S. President Joe Biden at Al Salman Palace upon his arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2022. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman on Tuesday discussed efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from widening, the White House said. Biden and the Saudi crown prince welcomed the delivery of humanitarian assistance from Egypt into Gaza and recognized that "much more is needed for civilians" to have sustained access to food, water and medical assistance, according to the White House. They both welcomed ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and called for their immediate release, the White House added. Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have said they thought Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on Israel that left over 1,400 people dead was in part motivated to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Mohamed bin Salman, Biden, Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, John Kirby, Kanishka Singh, Ismail Shakil, Chris Reese, Chizu Nomiyama, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Al, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Arabian, White, Hamas, U.S, United, White House, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, Israel, Egypt, Gaza, United States, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Riyadh, Gulf

☆ UN says no aid trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

She did not say why the trucks had not been able to cross into Gaza from Egypt on Tuesday. The United States is negotiating with Israel, Egypt and the United Nations to try and create a delivery mechanism to get aid into Gaza. They are wrangling over procedures for inspecting the aid and bombardments on the Gaza side of the border. Since limited aid deliveries began on Saturday, 54 trucks have crossed into Gaza carrying food, medicine and water, which U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as "a drop of aid in an ocean of need." Senior U.N. aid official Lynn Hastings had earlier told the Security Council that 20 trucks were due to cross on Tuesday.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, Eri Kaneko, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Lynn Hastings, John Kirby, Hastings, Michelle Nichols, Ismail Shakil, Deepa Babington Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, White, Security Council, White House, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Egypt, United States, Israel, Rafah

[1/3] A U.S army soldier stands with his weapon at a military base in the Makhmour area near Mosul during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 18, 2016. A U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not specifically say what might trigger the evacuation of U.S. military families, who are deployed to Middle East locations including Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. Senior Biden administration officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have warned of the risk of major escalation in attacks on American troops in the Middle East and that Iran could seek to widen the Israel-Hamas war. Austin has ordered new air defenses to the Middle East to safeguard troops, including a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Iranian security officials told Reuters Iran's strategy was for Middle East proxies like Hezbollah to pursue limited strikes on Israeli and U.S. targets but to avoid a major escalation that would draw in Tehran.

Persons: Alaa, Michael, Erik, Kurilla, Asad, Lloyd Austin, Austin, John Kirby, Kirby, Phil Stewart, Chizu Organizations: Islamic, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Reuters, U.S . Army, U.S . Central Command, American, Navy's, Senior Biden, Defense, Pentagon, Area Defense, United, Thomson Locations: U.S, Makhmour, Mosul, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Israel, Gaza, Yemen, Iranian, Middle East, Bahrain, United States, Tehran

☆ An 85-year-old Israeli women shook hands with a Hamas militant after being freed. Her husband is still being held hostage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Sarah Gray | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Two older adult hostages were released by Hamas on Monday, October 23. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, were taken October 7 during the Hamas terror attacks. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, were taken hostage on October 7 after militants attacked kibbutz Nir Oz. Lifschitz's father and Yocheved Lifzhitz's husband, Oded Lifshitz, along with Nurit Cooper's husband, Amiram Cooper, are still being held by Hamas, along with an estimated 218 hostages. Over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed — mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas terror attacks.

Persons: Yocheved Lifshitz, Nurit Cooper, Lifshitz, —, Nir Oz, Sharone Lifschitz, CNN's Anderson Cooper, Lifschitz's, Yocheved, Oded, Nurit, Amiram Cooper, Al Qassam, Judith, Natalie Raanan, Daniel Lifshitz, Daniel, salam, AP Daniel Lifschiz, Israel, John Kirby, Yoav Gallant Organizations: Service, Hamas, AP, CNN, Reuters, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, Security, US, Ministry Locations: Rafa, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Evanston , Illinois, Gaza, Israel, The, Iranian, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Washington

Shadi Tabatibi/Reuters Relatives mourn for a family killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 21. 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. Erik Marmor/AP Six-month-old Sama Alwadia is rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, ”, “, ” Bbuildings, Mohammed Zaanoun, Ashraf Al, Mohammed Al, Masri, Mark Regev, Benjamin Netanyahu, we’ve, ” Regev, Matt Miller, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Ariel Schalit, Jalaa Marey, Said Khatub, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Nir Oz, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Shadi Tabatibi, Ali Jadallah, Belal al Sabbagh, Mohammed Saber, Khan, Rizek Abdeljawad, Ahmad Gharabli, Janis Laizans, Abed Khaled, Mohammed Dahman, Gallant, Yasser Qudih, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Ronen Zvulun, Belal Khaled, Abed Rahim Khatib, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Mohammed Abed, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mustafa Hassona, Mahmoud Khaled, Samar Abu, Fatima Shbair, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Hatem Ali, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Majdi, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Marwan Abusada, Ghassan Abu, Sittah, there’s, Hatem Edhair, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved Lifshitz, – Cooper’s, Amiram, Oded –, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan, Lifshitz, ” Nurit Cooper, ” Daniel Lifshitz, he’s, John Kirby, we’re, ” Kirby Organizations: Jerusalem CNN — Aid, CNN, West Bank, Getty, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Indonesian, UN, Shifa, Reuters, US State, Pictures, Tel Aviv University, AP, New York Times, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, Palestinian, Aris Messinis, Haim, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Rockets, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health, West Bank . Hospitals, Palestinian Authority, Nasser, Hamas, White, National Security Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza City, Zahra, Rafah, AFP, Kibbutz Shefayim, Israeli, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Deir al, Anadolu, Khan Younis, Europe, Zahra City, Egypt, Xinhua, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Al, Ahli, Sderot, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Beit Kama, Haifa, Cyprus, Nablus, West, Kfar Saba, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Kibbutz Be'eri, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion

CNN —Queen Rania of Jordan has accused Western leaders of a “glaring double standard” for failing to condemn the deaths of civilians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza, as Israel’s war on Hamas threatens to destabilize relations between US and Arab leaders. “This is the first time in modern history that there is such human suffering and the world is not even calling for a ceasefire,” Queen Rania added. Forcing Gaza civilians to relocate amounts “to the war crime of forcible transfer,” the Norwegian Refugee Council said. The people of Palestine should not, [the people] of Gaza should not, be forced to be moved again,” she said. Khalil Mazraawi/AFP/Getty ImagesEven before the war with Hamas, tensions were high between Palestinians and Israelis in the occupied West Bank.

Persons: Rania, Jordan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “, ”, Israel, we’ve, ” Rania, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ We’re, Strategic Communications John Kirby, we’re, Antony Blinken, Gershon Baskin, Gilad Shalit, Baskin, Gilad Schalit, Amanpour, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Gazans, Queen Rania, Alaa Al Sukhni, Khalil Mazraawi Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UN, United Nations, West, US, Palestinian Authority, National Security, Strategic Communications, UN Security, Baskin, Norwegian Refugee, West Bank, Palestine, Reuters, Getty, Protesters Locations: Gaza, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Washington, United Kingdom, Jerusalem, Palestine, Amman, AFP

Without directly referencing the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war, the first lady announced Tuesday that "we’ve made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion” of the dinner. Albanese is the fourth world leader to be honored with a state visit during Biden's term, after the leaders of France, South Korea and India. Hundreds of lawmakers, business titans and celebrities are typically invited to state dinners, but the White House keeps the guest list secret until just before people start arriving for the black-tie affair. The dinner program, including an exchange of toasts, will unfold in a temporary pavilion being built on the White House lawn. The White House said postponing was not an option, casting Albanese's visit as part of the important diplomatic balancing act that a president must undertake with U.S. allies worldwide.

Persons: Jill Biden, we’ve, Anthony Albanese, Katie Button, Joe Biden, Albanese, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, John Kirby, ” Albanese, Jodie Haydon Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Army and Air Force, Australian, House, Washington, Republican, White, Press, Biden, National Security Council Locations: Israel, Asheville , North Carolina, Australia, France, South Korea, India, Washington, United States

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Tuesday that “prudent contingency planning” is underway to evacuate Americans from the Middle East in case the Israel-Hamas war spreads into a broad regional conflict. “And certainly evacuations are one of those things.”The White House addressed the contingency plans amid growing concerns that the 18-day-old Israel-Hamas war could further escalate. “The two leaders agreed on pursuing broader diplomatic efforts to maintain stability across the region and prevent the conflict from expanding,” the White House added. But talks were interrupted after Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip where Palestinians live into nearby Israeli towns. “This is a happy occasion," Biden said at the start of the White House ceremony.

Persons: John Kirby, ”, ” Kirby, Israel, Joe Biden, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Biden, ” Biden, Israel ”, Sheldon Weinbaum, “ Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, National Security, U.S, The Washington Post, Saudi Arabian Crown, Hamas, Biden, Pentagon, Gaza, City College of New, West Bank Locations: Israel, U.S, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Washington, United States, City College of New York, israel

☆ Biden, Australian PM to announce tech innovation cooperation - White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden participates in a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, in San Diego, California U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce a plan to cooperate on technological innovations, including artificial intelligence, clean energy, and critical minerals, during their meeting in Washington this week, the White House said on Tuesday. "They are going to be announcing new advanced technology cooperation, particularly on artificial intelligence," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. "We'll also be highlighting a new space agreement that will allow U.S. companies to launch into space from Australia." Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by Ismail ShakilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Albanese, Leah Millis, John Kirby, We'll, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ismail Shakil Organizations: Australian, Gateway Inns, San Diego , California U.S, REUTERS, Rights, House, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, Washington, Australia

☆ Intelligence shows Iranian-backed militias are ready to ramp up their attacks against US forces in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Katie Bo Lillis Zachary Cohen Jennifer Hansler | Natasha Bertrand | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The US has intelligence that Iranian-backed militia groups are planning to ramp up attacks against US forces in the Middle East, as Iran seeks to capitalize on the backlash in the region to US support for Israel, according to multiple US officials. The militia groups have already launched multiple drone attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. But the US now has specific intelligence that those same groups could escalate even further as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. Officials said that at this point, Iran appears to be encouraging the groups rather than explicitly directing them. In the case of the recent drone attacks on bases housing US forces, “Iran is certainly more culpable than in the case of the Hamas attack in Israel,” said another person familiar with the intelligence.

Persons: John Kirby, ”, Kirby, “, Matthew Miller, they’re, ” “ It’s, Defense Lloyd Austin, Naledi, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, ” Abdollahian, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, Israel, Officials, National Security, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force, State, State Department, ISIS, Defense, Pentagon, US Navy, Iran’s Locations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Tehran, Qatar, Iranian, Yemen, East

After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,400 people, the United States stood by its ally and stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself. The priority is on working to get the hostages out step-by-step," said a source briefed on the hostage negotiations. The first U.S. official said that along with the hostage negotiations, advising Israel to hold off on its invasion could also give more time for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. U.S. officials have urged Israel to follow the laws of war in any invasion of Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people. Israel would have a difficult time fighting a war on two fronts simultaneously if Hezbollah launches a full-scale fight in the north, U.S. officials say.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Washington Eliav Benjamin, Lebanon's, Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Washington, Matt Spetalnick Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk, Dan Williams, Andrew Mills, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Trevor Hunnicutt, Simon Lewis, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: United, Palestinian, Washington, House, Pentagon, State Department, Friday, U.S, United Nations, White House, Israel's Army, Hamas, NBC, Sunday, Sunday . Washington, Hezbollah, Thomson Locations: United States, Gaza, Qatar, Israel, U.S, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Egypt, White, Washington, Iran, Sunday ., Jerusalem, Doha

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