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☆ Facing State Dept dissent over Gaza, Blinken tells staff: We're listening
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after participating in the so-called "2+2 Dialogue" in New Delhi, India, November 10, 2023. "I know that for many of you, the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound personal toll," Blinken said in the letter obtained by Reuters. "The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. While some sources say there has been "deep frustration" among members of working level staff at the State Department, several U.S. officials say, while the Department leadership welcomes a diverse set of voices, it is unlikely to profoundly change Biden's policy. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to change our policy based on their disagreements," Miller said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden's, Blinken, I’ve, HuffPost, Matthew Miller, Miller, Humeyra Pamuk, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, State Department, Biden, Israel, Hamas, Reuters, Department, Capitol, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Israel, U.S, Gaza, Vietnam, Washington, East, Asia, United States

☆ US Supports Evacuation of Patients at Gaza Hospitals by Independent Third Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

He added the U.S. was in conversations with humanitarian organizations and third parties on the possible evacuation. "We want there to be safe evacuation for patients in hospitals so they can get out of harm's way. We would support an independent third party, a respected third party to conduct those evacuations," Miller said. The question is will Hamas allow patients to be evacuated from hospitals or will they continue to use them as human shields?," Miller added. Israeli forces have surrounded Gaza City's Al Shifa hospital, which they say sits atop an underground headquarters of Hamas militants.

Persons: Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Matthew Miller, Miller, Washington, Israel, Al Shifa, Gaza's, Franklin Paul, Bill Berkrot Organizations: . State Department Locations: Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, United States, Gaza, U.S, Israel

☆ On tour with Burna Boy to Wizkid: How Afrobeats conquered the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The following week the two crossed paths again and the photographer let Burna Boy know the photos were his. There was something fresh; it was something that they hadn’t seen before.”Photographer Oliver D. Akinfeleye, aka DrDrummerD, has documented Afrobeats artists in the US and Europe since 2017. Of all the artists Akinfeleye has worked with, he says his bond with Wizkid is the tightest. “Nigerian music – African music – is there to make people feel good no matter what,” he added. The world needs to feel good,” Akinfeleye argues, and that need isn’t disappearing any time soon.

Persons: CNN — Oliver Akinfeleye, Burna Boy’s, Burna, Akinfeleye, Wizkid, Rema, Selena Gomez, Oliver D, Aubrey, Drake, Graham, Mr Eazi, Brandon Boyd, Wiz’s DJ, DJ Tunez, ” Akinfeleye, “, ”, he’s, Afrobeats, it’s Organizations: CNN, Palladium Times, Madison, Citi Field, Tottenham Hotspur, O2, MTV, Washington DC, O2 Arena Locations: New York, American Nigerian, Queens , New York, Nigerian, Citi Field , New York, Glastonbury, London, African, Europe, Runtown, Washington, Akinfeleye, Puerto Rico

☆ Tricky politics on menu for China's Xi at US business dinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But the event, yet to be formally announced by hosts U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), also presents uneasy optics. The USCBC and NCUSCR both declined to comment on the planned dinner. Xi has overseen a crackdown on U.S. consultancy and due-diligence firms, a further blow to investor confidence. Jeff Moon, a former U.S. trade official turned business adviser, said China's goal would be to soften Xi's image and attract investment, but that the dinner was unlikely to "move any needles." "They have come to accept that there's no substitute for hearing and seeing and observing what Xi Jinping is doing," said Patel.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, MIGNON, Jeff Moon, mignon, Mike Gallagher, Biden, Janet Yellen, Nirav Patel, Jinping, Patel, David Brunnstrom, Stephen Nellis, Michelle Nichols, Lincoln Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Wednesday, Reuters, U.S, China Business Council, National Committee, China Relations, Muslim, Asia, Thomson Locations: Asia, Pacific, San Francisco , California, United States, San Francisco, U.S, China, Washington, Muslim Uyghurs, Beijing

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The United States would like to see an evacuation of patients at Gaza hospitals to get them out of harm's way and will support an independent third party to conduct those evacuations, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday. "We want there to be safe evacuation for patients in hospitals so they can get out of harm's way. We would support an independent third party, a respected third party to conduct those evacuations," Miller said. The question is will Hamas allow patients to be evacuated from hospitals or will they continue to use them as human shields?," Miller added. Israeli forces have surrounded Gaza City's Al Shifa hospital, which they say sits atop an underground headquarters of Hamas militants.

Persons: Matthew Miller, Miller, Washington, Israel, Al Shifa, Gaza's, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Franklin Paul, Bill Berkrot Organizations: . State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Gaza, U.S, Israel

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom is joining the race for the state's only U.S. House seat, which is currently held by Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, . Dahlstrom, who announced her campaign Tuesday, joins Republican Nick Begich III in seeking to challenge Peltola next year. Peltola won a special election and a regular election last year for the seat, becoming the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress. The seat had been held for 49 years by Republican Don Young, who died in March 2022.

Persons: Nancy Dahlstrom, Mary Peltola, Dahlstrom, Nick Begich III, Peltola, Republican Don Young, Begich, Sarah Palin, Mike Dunleavy, Joe Biden Organizations: Alaska Republican, Gov, Democratic Rep, Republican, Voters, Republican Gov, Washington Locations: JUNEAU, Alaska

☆ US set to take action to win China's cooperation on fentanyl
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Biden will discuss the issue with China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in San Francisco at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that Washington hoped the summit would result in action to help combat the fentanyl trade. China has long questioned why the U.S. would expect cooperation on fentanyl while targeting the institute. China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the fentanyl issue. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other illicit drugs, often with lethal results.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Karine Jean, Pierre, Leah Millis, Joe Biden's, Bejing, Biden, Xi Jinping, Washington, Marsha Blackburn, Blackburn, Michael Martina, Michelle Nichols, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: National, White House Press, White, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, China's Institute of Forensic Science, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, China's, Economic Cooperation, . National, Washington, Institute of Forensic Science, China's Ministry of Public Security, Commerce, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, Washington, San Francisco, Asia, U.S, China, America, China's

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Tuesday was summoned to federal court for the second time in two weeks to testify in an antitrust trial threatening to topple a pillar of an internet empire that he helped build. In his latest court appearance in San Francisco, Pichai spent more than two hours defending the business practices of the Google Play Store, which distributes apps for the company's Android software that powers most of the world's smartphones. Evidence submitted during Pichai's Tuesday testimony showed just how lucrative the Play Store has been for Google. During the first half of 2020, for instance, the Play Store generated an operating profit of $4.4 billion. “The way we designed Google Play is we do well only when developers do well,” Pichai said.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Department's, Lauren Moskowitz, District Judge James Donato, Donato, Moskowitz, Apple, ”, specter, ” Pichai Organizations: Google, Apple, Washington D.C, ., District, Samsung, Android, U.S, Supreme Locations: San Francisco, Washington, iPhones, U.S

☆ Trump fraud-trial experts offer chillaxed theory of asset valuation in defense testimony
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Trump defense lawyer Jesus Suarez asked him. Trump's two defense expert witnesses were markedly different from each other, in terms of objectivity and experience. The first, Witkoff, is a self-described Trump friend, longtime fundraiser and fellow developer who had never been an expert witness before. Flemmons is scheduled to continue his direct defense testimony Wednesday, followed by cross-examination by a lawyer for the state Attorney General Letitia James. The defense case, and any rebuttal case by the state, are expected to take another month or more.

Persons: Donald Trump's, —, Donald Trump, Trump, Steve Witkoff, Jason Flemmons, Flemmons, Jesus Suarez, Letitia James, James, Arthur Engoron Organizations: Service, Washington DC, Securities and Exchange Commission, New Locations: York, Trump Tower, New York

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The United States has issued a new 120-day waiver allowing Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, stressing Tehran could only use the funds for humanitarian trade and seeking to blunt criticism of giving Iran the money. The move may also be controversial because Washington has asked Baghdad to curtail attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq by Iranian-allied militias, with mixed results. One U.S. official described the U.S. requests to Iraq as "a work in progress." U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 55 times in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17, injuring 59 personnel, though all have returned to duty. Reporting By Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Grant McCool and Lincoln Feast.

Persons: parry, it's, Richard Goldberg, Trump, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Arshad Mohammed, Grant McCool, Lincoln Organizations: United, Republicans, Congress, U.S . U.S, U.S, Washington, Pentagon, Foundation for Defense, Democracies, Thomson Locations: United States, Iraq, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Baghdad, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Syria, Washington

The logo of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is pictured at the entrance to its branch in Beijing, China April 1, 2019. ICBC, whose U.S. arm was hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted trades in the U.S. Treasury market on Nov. 9, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "They paid a ransom, deal closed," the Lockbit representative told Reuters via Tox, an online messaging app. "The market is mostly back to normal now," said Zhiwei Ren, a portfolio manager at Penn Mutual Asset Management. The ransomware attack came at a time of heightened worries about the resiliency of the $26 trillion Treasury market, essential to the plumbing of global finance, and is likely to draw scrutiny from regulators.

Persons: Florence, BNY Mellon, Zhiwei Ren, Ransom, Allen, James Pearson, Davide Barbuscia, Carolina Mandl, Tatiana Bautzer, Pete Schroeder, Michelle Price, David Goodman, Jonathan Oatis, Alexander Smith Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, REUTERS, Commercial Bank of, Reuters, U.S . Treasury, Penn Mutual Asset Management, Treasury, U.S . Treasury Department, Financial, Authorities, Boeing, Overy, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Commercial Bank of China, U.S, Tox, United States, London, Carolina, New York, Washington

☆ An FDIC supervisor reportedly invited staff to a strip club and senior bank examiners texted nude pics to female employees. They're still employed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An FDIC supervisor invited his staff to a strip club, according to a report from WSJ. The Journal interviewed over 100 current and former FDIC staff about the agency's culture. The Journal's report details instances where a supervisor invited staff to a strip club and male workers sent their female colleagues unsolicited nude pictures. In 2020, the organization's inspector general criticized the FDIC's investigations into sexual harassment, calling them "decentralized, untimely, incomplete, and inaccurate," the Journal reported. The FDIC demoted Nguyen after multiple workers told management that the supervisor had allegedly made homophobic and harassing comments to staff.

Persons: —, they'd, Trevor McIntosh, McIntosh, he'd, Hien Nguyen, Nguyen, I've Organizations: FDIC, Service, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Wall Street, Washington D.C, Anadolu Agency Locations: Washington

☆ As Biden and Xi gear up for a high-stakes meeting, experts have low expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Megan Lebowitz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Senior U.S. administration officials detailed a handful of agenda items during a briefing with reporters. "We're not talking about a long list of outcomes or deliverables," a senior administration official told reporters. Even in recent days, Chinese officials were hesitant to confirm that Xi would attend the meeting with Biden. Biden and Xi's meeting also comes in the lead-up to Taiwan's 2024 presidential election in January, followed by the U.S. election. "We've been clear publicly and privately that interference in the Taiwan election is something we're extremely concerned about," a senior administration official said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Colleen Cottle, Jude Blanchette, They've, Thomas Fingar, Fingar, Biden, Wang Wenbin, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Ely Ratner, Ratner, We've, we've, Li Shangfu, Li, David Sacks, Sacks, Xi's Organizations: Global China, Atlantic Council, Senior, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Stanford University, National Intelligence Council, White, U.S ., American Enterprise Institute, NBC News, Defense, Biden, China, Council, Foreign Relations, U.S, Washington Locations: Nusa Dua, Indonesian, Bali, U.S, China, Taiwan Strait, South China, San Francisco, People's Republic of China, Taiwan

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Bond yields resurge on Powell’s speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jerome Powell, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, speaks during the 24th Jacques Polak Annual Research Conference in Washington DC, United States on November 09, 2023. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. But SoftBank still recorded a quarterly loss of 931.1 billion yen — that's around $6.2 billion — on the collapse of WeWork. [PRO] Higher than neutralThe Federal Reserve projects the U.S.' neutral interest rate — the so-called rate at which rates neither encourage nor constrict the economy — to be 2.5%.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Jacques Polak, Hawkish Powell, Powell, there's, Tesla, SoftBank, Goldman Sachs Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Washington DC, CNBC, Nasdaq, AstraZeneca, Azelis, HSBC Global, HSBC, Fund, Federal Reserve Locations: Washington, United States, U.S, Belgian, Tesla's, SoftBank

A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the Boeing 737 MAX at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington December 8, 2015. "We're getting closer and closer," Watterson said of the certification work. However, delays in certification have forced Southwest to convert dozens of orders for 150-seater MAX 7 aircraft into the larger 175-seater MAX 8 variant. Both the MAX 7 and the largest model MAX 10 are waiting for the FAA's certification, with MAX 10 slated for its first delivery in 2024. "The fact that the number of open items is converging, not diverging like it was probably a year ago, shows that they're getting closer and closer," Watterson said.

Persons: Matt Mills McKnight, Andrew Watterson, Watterson, We're, Dave Calhoun, they're, Rajesh Kumar Singh, David Shepardson, Valerie Insinna, Diane Craft Organizations: Boeing, REUTERS, Rights, Southwest Airlines, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Reuters, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Airbus, Thomson Locations: Renton , Washington, Dallas, Southwest, Washington

Palestinians fleeing north Gaza move southward as Israeli tanks roll deeper into the enclave, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip November 10, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - More than 1,000 officials in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed an open letter urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters. The letter, published on Nov. 2, had now garnered 1,029 signatures from staff of the U.S. aid agency. Signatories names are hidden but the letter shows it was signed by officials in many of the agency's bureaus in Washington as well as officials posted around the world. The State Department does not confirm the existence of dissent cables.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, Biden, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Vedant Patel, Patel, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Reuters, Israel, Department, State, The State Department, Deputy State, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Washington, United States, U.S

☆ Blinken says 'far too many' Palestinians killed as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after participating in the so-called "2+2 Dialogue" in New Delhi, India, November 10, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsNov 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday denounced the soaring number of Palestinians killed as Israel pushed ahead with its war against Hamas in Gaza, saying more needs to be done to protect the civilians. In his strongest comments to date on civilians bearing the brunt of the war, Blinken welcomed the four-hour humanitarian Israeli pauses the White House announced on Thursday but said further action was required to protect Gaza's civilians. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi as he wrapped up a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Asia, he said: "Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have suffered these past weeks. Palestinian officials say more than 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its military campaign, and Gaza's hospitals are struggling to cope, with medical supplies, clean water and fuel to power generators running out.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Blinken, Israel, it’s, Humeyra Pamuk, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Israel, Gaza, East, Asia, Washington, United States

[1/5] An Israeli soldier operates amid the ongoing ground invasion against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, November 8, 2023. Hamas' armed wing on Wednesday released a video that appeared to show intense street battles alongside bombed out buildings in Gaza City. Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources with Iran-backed Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad militant group. ISRAEL BOMBS TUNNELSChief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that "Hamas has lost control in the north" of Gaza. The Israeli military has repeatedly told residents to evacuate the north or risk being trapped in the violence.

Persons: Ronen, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khalil al, Saleh al, Daniel Hagari, Colonel Ido, Hagari, U.N, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Michael Perry Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, West Bank, Jihad, Palestinian Authority, Israel's, ABC News, New York Times, Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Journalists, 401st Brigade, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Gaza City, West, Gaza WASHINGTON, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Hamas, Iran, Israel, Washington, Tokyo, Palestinian, Aqsa, ISRAEL, Gaza's, Qatar, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

☆ US calls for limits on Israeli control of post-war Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Now a month later, Washington has begun discussing with Israeli and Arab leaders a future for the Gaza Strip without Hamas rule. His comments appeared at odds with U.S. officials who say Israel does not want to administer Gaza post-Hamas. "(We) are not going to go to Gaza on an Israeli military tank," PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told PBS this week. Since Oct. 7, more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in a relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip - home to 2.3 million - by Israeli forces, say Palestinian health officials in Gaza. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said "best-case scenario" would be a "hopefully re-invigorated" Palestinian Authority assuming some political control over Gaza.

Persons: Ronen, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Netanyahu, we've, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Abbas, Fatah, Biden, Antonio Guterres, John Kirby, Humeyra Pamuk, Rami Ayyub, Howard Goller Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, ABC News, U.S, PBS, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Israel, United States, Washington, Tokyo, Palestinian, GAZA, Palestine, U.N, Gaza .

☆ US judge to weigh JPMorgan's $290 million settlement with Epstein accusers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The settlement covered more than 100 women, led by a former ballet dancer known as Jane Doe 1, who said Epstein abused them. It followed embarrassing disclosures that JPMorgan ignored internal warnings and overlooked red flags about Epstein because he had been a valuable client. JPMorgan in September agreed to pay $75 million to settle related claims by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned two islands. Rakoff on Oct. 20 gave final approval to a similar $75 million settlement between Epstein's accusers and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), where Epstein banked after JPMorgan fired him. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 at age 66 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Persons: Morgan, Stephanie Keith, JPMorgan Chase's, Jeffrey Epstein, Jed Rakoff, Epstein, Rakoff, Jane Doe, Sarah Ransome, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, JPMorgan, Washington D.C, U.S ., Deutsche Bank, US, Islands, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Manhattan, Washington, U.S . Virgin Islands, Rakoff, New York

The Israeli military said it had not agreed to a ceasefire and would continue its operations outside of localized humanitarian pauses. Patel said those fleeing their homes should have the ability to return, but said Washington does not have control or jurisdiction over the areas in question. "Those now in the south must have every ability to return to the north when that is safe to do." Hamas gunmen from Gaza burst through the border to Israel on Oct. 7 and killed 1,400 people, Israel says. Since then, more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in a relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip - home to 2.3 million - by Israeli forces, say Palestinian health officials in Gaza.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Vedant Patel, Patel, David Satterfield, Antony Blinken, Satterfield, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, State Department, Middle East, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, U.S, Washington, Gaza . U.S

☆ House censures Rep. Rashida Tlaib over Israel remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Scott Wong | Kyle Stewart | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

(Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)House lawmakers on Tuesday censured Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American in Congress, over her remarks and actions in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The censure resolution, authored by Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., passed 234 to 188 with almost two dozen Democrats voting in favor of it. The measure censures Tlaib, D-Mich., for "promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel." "It is a sad fact, but this type of antisemitic hate is being promoted by a small group of members in this body, chiefly Rep. Tlaib," McCormick said on the House floor before the vote. In a lengthy statement before the vote, Tlaib defended her comments and actions, arguing that she is the lone Palestinian voice in Congress and protected by free speech.

Persons: Rashida Tlaib, Celal Gunes, Rich McCormick, McCormick, Israel, Joe Biden, Tlaib, Biden, Pete Aguilar, Aguilar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Derrick Van Orden, Van Orden Organizations: WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES, Washington DC, Getty, Palestinian American, Republicans, Democratic, American, Capitol Police, . Capitol Police, GOP Rep Locations: Washington, United States, Gaza, Anadolu, Israel, Pete Aguilar of, Cumming

A satellite image shows humanitarian-associated trucks queueing to enter the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, November 7, 2023. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The Rafah border crossing into Gaza was closed on Wednesday due to an unspecified "security circumstance" but U.S. officials were working with Egypt and Israel to get it reopened, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said. "Our understanding is that given a security circumstance the Rafah border crossing remains closed today," Patel said during a regular press briefing. The United States expects the Egypt-controlled crossing will be reopened at "regular intervals" so that aid can enter the Gaza Strip and foreign nationals can continue to depart, Patel said. The border crossing has opened on many instances and allowed for the safe ... exit for foreign nationals who have sought it," he said.

Persons: Vedant Patel, Patel, Israel, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Hamas, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, U.S . State Department, Israel, United, Gaza, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Palestinian, U.S, Washington

☆ US carries out new strikes against facility used by Iran in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The United States, for the second time in recent weeks, carried out strikes on Wednesday against a weapon storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces since the start of October. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. On Oct. 26, U.S. forces attacked two facilities used by the IRGC and groups its backs. The United States has sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct. 7, including two aircraft carriers, to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Ints, Austin, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, . Defense, U.S, United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Riga, Latvia, United States, Syria, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Iran, State, East, Yemen

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The U.S. announced a $553- million project Wednesday to build a new, deep-water shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo as it competes with China in international development financing. The U.S.-backed financing comes at a time when Sri Lanka is struggling to recover from a dire financial and economic crisis. Sri Lanka borrowed heavily from China to build the port and other infrastructure including an airport and a city being built on reclaimed land. Both neighboring India and China are jostling for influence in Sri Lanka and both have already invested in expanding facilities at the Colombo port. Colombo port also has a terminal run by China Merchants Port Holdings.

Persons: ”, Scott Nathan, Sri Lanka’s John Keells, Lanka’s, Wang Wenbin, William & Mary, AidData, China's, saysChina, Bradley Parks, “, ” ___ Didi Tang Organizations: South, U.S . International Development Finance Corp, West, Local, Sri, Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings, Initiative, Foreign Ministry, China Merchants Port Holdings, CHEC Port City Colombo Co, China Communications Construction Company, William & Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, U.S, Port, Colombo, China, Bay, Bengal, Beijing, Hambantota Port, Hambantota, India, oceanside, Port City, Virginia, “ Beijing, Washington

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