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☆ Israel Accuses Hamas of Planning to Attack Its Embassy in Sweden
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel accused Hamas on Saturday of planning to attack its embassy in Sweden as part of an expansion by the Palestinian Islamist militant group into Europe, where authorities announced the arrests of several suspects last month. In a statement following up on the arrests announced by Danish, German and Swedish authorities, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency named an alleged Hamas network member in Sweden, without specifying whether he was also in custody. The Foreign Ministry in Stockholm declined to comment on the specific security of Israel's embassy, but said: "Sweden takes its commitments under the Vienna Convention to protect foreign missions very seriously." The Mossad statement said a multi-national investigation received information that the Hamas network took orders from a group command post in Lebanon and had "intent to attack the Israeli embassy in Sweden, to procure paragliders and to activate members of criminal groups in Europe". Hamas used paragliders as part of its shock multi-pronged attack on Israel on Oct. 7 which triggered the Gaza war.

Persons: Dan Williams, Marie Mannes, Mark Potter Organizations: West Bank, Foreign Ministry, Vienna Convention, Hamas Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Sweden, Palestinian, Europe, Gaza, Stockholm, Vienna, Lebanon

Here’s what else you should know about the ICJ and South Africa’s case against Israel. For the case brought by South Africa, the panel will also be expanded to include one judge from South Africa and one from Israel. Does South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel Matter? How Is Israel Responding to the Genocide Charges by South Africa? Israeli officials have denied the allegations in the strongest possible terms, and even vigorously attacked South Africa for bringing the charges.

Persons: –, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, what’s, France –, Joan Donoghue, “, Sarang Shidore, Al Jazeera, Eylon Levy, Netanyahu, it’s, Biden, Antony Blinken, Israel – Hamas, Iran –, William Schabas, Malcolm Shaw, Long Organizations: International Court of Justice, United, Israel, United Nations, Court, International Justice, General Assembly, Security, ICC, Criminal Court, Central American, Nicaraguan, Security Council, Fisheries, Embassy, South, Biden Administration, Global, Quincy Institute, Middlesex University, New York Times Locations: Israel – South Africa, Israel, Gaza, Africa, United Nations, The Hague, Netherlands, U.S, Russia, China, France, Slovakia, Lebanon, Brazil, Somalia, South Africa, Nicaragua, Nicaragua’s, Norway, Iran, Canada, Syria, Washington, United States, United, Ukraine, The State, Hague, ” U.S, Ireland, Guatemala, Hungary, British

☆ A US Navy sailor handed over military secrets to China for just $15,000, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewA US Navy sailor has been fined $5,500 and sentenced to 27 months in prison for leaking military secrets to Chinese intelligence, federal prosecutors said on Monday. Prosecutors said Zhao would talk with the Chinese intelligence officer using encrypted messaging, and accused him of destroying evidence and trying to hide his communications with his handler. AdvertisementAnother US Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick, was arrested at the same time as Zhao on similar charges. She believed that the espionage would secure him a position in the Chinese Communist Party, federal prosecutors alleged.

Persons: —, Wenheng Zhao, Zhao, Thomas, Prosecutors, Larissa Knapp, Jinchao Wei, Patrick, Wei Organizations: Service, US Navy, Business, Justice Department, Federal Bureau, Investigation's National Security, Prosecutors, Chinese Communist Party Locations: Port Hueneme, Ventura County , California, Okinawa, Japan, Monterey Park , California, Essex, San Diego, Wisconsin, Washington

☆ The sexiest new hotels for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

This list tries to do just that – spotlight the hotels opening (or reopening, as one of them is) in 2024 that make us want to visit for the hotel alone. Properties with a little bit of oomph – the sexy hotels of 2024, as we like to call them. For spring 2024, Costa Rica’s on the cards, with this beachfront hotel at surfer central Santa Teresa, on the Pacific Coast. Existing ones have been refurbished, and new pool villas, suites and bungalows have been added to the mix. Pool villas are cute cabins with patio doors opening on the open-to-the-elements plunge pools, while the bungalows will be wood-clad, tropical spaces.

Persons: Will, ”, that’s, King Charles, Maria, Casa Lucia Argentina, swank, Kit Kemp, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, George, Gran, Palazzo Cordusio, Cordusio, There’s, Emanuele II, Mina Al, Ras, Anantara Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah, Mina Al Arab, Al Riffa, Mollie's, who’ll, KAI Akiu, Hoshino, Rupert Peace, Michel Rojkind, Moxy Banff, Marie, they’re, Philippe Kjellgren, It’ll, Aman, you’ve, you’ll, Roma, Romeo Roma, Romeo, starchitect Zaha Hadid, Rome’s Piazza, Costa Rica’s Organizations: CNN, Casa Lucia, Bacan, Leinster, Collins, Gran Meliá, Milan, Galleria, Tunisia –, Soho, Manchester TV, Beatles, Granada Studios, Old Granada Studios, Soho House, Resorts, Michelin, Guadalupe, Moxy, VW, Brisbane . Tourism, Queensland, Casa, Hoxton, Popolo, Princeton, Hotels, Ivy League, Mercure, Darwin, Training Academy Locations: Matca, Transylvania, Romania, Romanian, Brașov, Maria, Helsinki, Finland, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Retiro, Dublin, Ireland, Merrion, Georgian Dublin, Uganda, Rwanda, Queen, Edward, Milan, Italy, Meliá, Piazza, Duomo, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, Arabian, Dubai, Ras Al, Oman, Mina, Al, Tunisia, Douz, Sahara, Matmata, Manchester, Japan, Tokyo, Akiu, Sendai, superlatives, Kempinski, Dresden, Germany, grande, Taschenbergpalais, Baja California, Mexico, Valle, Mexican, Valle de Guadalupe, Canada, Banff, Brisbane, Australia, Brisbane ., Dios, Peru, Casa, Andina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peruvian, Folegandros, Greece, Santorini, –, Hoxton Vienna, Austria, Hoxton, Vienna, Ennismore, Landstrasse, Sainte, Marie, Madagascar, Aman Nai, Bangkok, Thailand, Aman, Nai Lert, Thai capital’s, Rome, Naples, starchitect, New Jersey, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, Morocco, Coast, Darwin, Larrakia, Northern Territory

☆ Nepal urges Russia not to recruit its citizens into army; says six killed
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Nepal government said in a statement that six of its nationals, who had been serving the Russian army, were killed, without providing any details. Diplomatic efforts were underway to get one Nepali citizen serving the Russian army and captured by Ukraine released, the statement added. Nepal also urged its citizens not to join the army of any war-torn country. English daily, The Kathmandu Post, quoted Milan Raj Tuladhar, Nepal's ambassador in Moscow, as saying that 150-200 Nepalis were working as mercenaries in the Russian army. Millions of Nepali nationals are employed in civilian work mainly as labourers in industries and construction sites in South Korea, Malaysia and the Middle East.

Persons: Phil Noble, Milan Raj Tuladhar, Gopal Sharma, Sudipto Ganguly Organizations: Brigade, Catterick Garrison, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Richmond, Britain, Nepal, Moscow, India, China, Russia, Ukraine, Kathmandu, Russian, South Korea, Malaysia, Lincoln

☆ I was slapped and called a sex worker, says flight attendant fired by Qatar Airways after wearing tinted moisturizer
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A former Qatar Airways flight attendant said police targeted him for wearing items from Hermès. AdvertisementA former Qatar Airways flight attendant who was detained for using tinted moisturizer says an officer accused him of being a sex worker because he was wearing luxury clothing. Ignatius told BI. The following day, Ignatius said Qatar Airways confiscated his passport and that he was not allowed to leave the living quarters. He said he now works as a flight attendant with Jetstar, owned by Australia's Qantas.

Persons: Gilbert Ignatius, Ignatius, —, he's, Irving loafers, Kelly Organizations: Qatar Airways, Service, Criminal Investigation Department, Qatar's, South Metropolitan TAFE, Irving, BI, Jetstar, Australia's Qantas Locations: Qatar, Doha, Indonesia, Perth, Australia, Indonesian, Philippines

☆ Netherlands returns colonial-era artefacts to Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] People view colonial-era artefacts that have been returned from the Netherlands, at the main Museum in Colombo, Sri Lanka December 5, 2023. Sri Lanka asked the Netherlands to return the artefacts after the Dutch government approved the restitution of historic objects in 2021. The artefacts were taken in 1765 from Kandy, the last kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka, when the Dutch besieged the palace, a statement from the Netherlands embassy said. Sri Lanka is grateful to the government and the people of the Netherlands for returning the artefacts, said Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake. The Netherlands returned over 300 artefacts to Indonesia earlier this year, according to its government.

Persons: Dinuka, Vidura Wickramanayake, Dewi Van de Weerd, Lord Elgin, Uditha, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Cultural Affairs, National Museum, Sri, International Cultural Cooperation, British Museum, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Kandy, Great Britain, Indonesia, Britain, Greece, Elgin, Athens, Ottoman

☆ Six Ukrainian Children to Be Returned From Russia Through Qatari Mediation
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The children are en route to Ukraine via Moscow, the source added. This is the second phase of a Qatar-mediated return of children, after four minors were returned in October. One of the children was being escorted by Qatari diplomats to their embassy in Moscow before being transferred to Ukraine, the source said. Kyiv says about 20,000 children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia or Russian-held territory without the consent of family or guardians. The ICC has accused them of responsibility for the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children - at least hundreds, possibly more - to Russia.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Max Hunder, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Vladimir Putin, Maria Lvova, Belova, Putin, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Max Hunder DOHA, Reuters, Qatari, ICC Locations: KYIV, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Qatar, Moscow, Thani, Russian, Doha, Kyiv

☆ Bahamas shark attack: Boston woman paddleboarding near resort killed, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Abel Alvarado | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A 44-year-old American visiting the Bahamas from Boston was killed in a shark attack while paddleboarding near a beach resort Monday, according to local authorities. The incident comes days after a woman was killed in an apparent shark attack at a Mexican resort. Shark attacks, particularly fatal ones, are rare: On average, sharks kill five people per year in unprovoked attacks, CNN previously reported. The odds of getting fatally attacked by one of the carnivorous fish are less than 1 in 4 million, according to the International Shark Attack File. And in 2019, an American woman was also killed while snorkeling in the Bahamas after three different sharks attacked her.

Persons: “, Authorities haven’t Organizations: CNN, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Authorities, Embassy Locations: Bahamas, Boston, New Providence, Mexican, Melaque Bay, Cihuatlán, American

☆ Philippines deploys vessels to monitor 'illegal' presence of Chinese boats in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Philippine Coast Guard personnel looks through a binocular while conducting a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. The West Philippine Sea is Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its 200-nautical mile EEZ. An international tribunal invalidated China's claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a naval flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tension. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble.

Persons: Adrian Portugal, Julian Felipe Reef, Karen Lema, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, South China, Embassy, Thomson Locations: South China, Rights MANILA, South, Manila, Philippines, West Philippine, Philippine, Beijing, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, United States, Australia, The Philippines

Russia has increasingly had to turn to a so-called "ghost fleet" of aging tankers to ship oil and avoid the cap. Panama, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Liberia have allowed some of those ships to carry their flags, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence and oil analysts. Lloyd's List Intelligence has said nearly 40% of the about 535 dark-fleet tankers have registered ownership via companies incorporated in the Marshall Islands. It also seeks to give leverage to countries buying oil outside the price-cap coalition to get discounted oil from Russia. The group is asking Liberia and the Marshall Islands to increase awareness among those in the trade that its flag should not be used for tankers transporting oil priced above the cap.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lindsey Whyte, John Berrigan, Brian Nelson, Timothy Gardner, Simon Webb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Marshall, Intelligence, Britain's Treasury, U.S . Treasury, Reuters, EU, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, China, India, Republic, Marshall, Washington, British

☆ Tracing the Deep Roots of Ireland’s Support for Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Megan Specia | More About Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Under the light drizzle of a Tuesday morning last month, Ríonach Ní Néill and a group of friends set up a small platform in front of the United States Embassy in Dublin. Then they took out a stack of papers. For the next 11 and a half hours, Ms. Ní Néill and others took turns reading out thousands of names — each one a person killed since Israel started bombarding Gaza in the war, according to a list released by the Gazan health authorities. It was an attempt to convey the enormity of the loss of life, she said. “I think the baseline really in Ireland is that human rights are valued, and what’s happening now is the destruction of universal human rights,” said Ms. Ní Néill, 52, an artist from Galway.

Persons: Ní, Ní Néill, “, ” Organizations: United States Embassy, ” Locations: Dublin, Israel, Gaza, Ireland, Galway, “

☆ Luyanda Mpahlwa’s pioneering architectural journey fuels social upliftment in South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Lauren Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As a young boy growing up in the 1960s in Mthatha, South Africa, Luyanda Mpahlwa loved to draw houses. Mpahlwa was among the first Black Africans permitted to study architecture in South Africa. “South Africa was in a state of emergency,” he said. There, he earned a master’s degree in architecture from the Technical University of Berlin in 1989 and began working for Pysall.Ruge, a design firm based in what is now the German capital. “The reality is the majority of people of South Africa live in conditions that are actually below what we should be defining as an urban environment,” he said.

Persons: Luyanda Mpahlwa, ”, Mpahlwa, Nelson Mandela, “, Curry, ” Mpahlwa, iThemba, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Town, Design Network, South, Radisson, Technical University of Berlin, Pysall.Ruge, Technikon Natal, Durban University of Technology, Embassy, African Institute of Architects, MMA, Department of Basic Education, Design, Lutheran Community Center Locations: Mthatha, South Africa, Robben, ”, Cape Town, “ South Africa, Berlin, Germany, Luyanda, Africa, “, Eastern, Cape Town’s, Kosovo, Philippi Township, Western Cape

☆ Philippines builds new coast guard station on island in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands, South China Sea, March 9, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The Philippines has built a new coast guard station on the contested island of Thitu in the South China Sea, boosting its ability to monitor movements of Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy disputed waterway. Inaugurated on Friday, the new three-storey facility is equipped with state-of-the art technology such as radar, automatic identification, satellite communication, and coastal cameras, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement. Manila's outpost of Thitu is its biggest and most strategically important in the South China Sea, largely claimed by Beijing, despite conflicting territorial claims by several regional nations. Besides the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, a conduit for goods in excess of $3 trillion every year.

Persons: Eloisa Lopez, Eduardo Ano, Thitu, Karen Lema, Mikhail Flores, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, People's Liberation Army, PLA ) Navy, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Thitu, Pag, Spratly Islands, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, Manila, Spratly, Beijing, Palawan, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam

Japan, a key U.S. ally, had sought the suspension of all non-emergency V-22 Osprey flights over its territory after one fell into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan. Japan's Coast Guard has said one person was found and confirmed dead, and the search for the remaining seven aboard continues. The Pentagon said on Thursday that it was still flying Ospreys for now, and that it was not aware of any official request for their grounding. "We are concerned that despite our repeated requests, and in the absence of sufficient explanation (from the U.S. military), the Osprey continues to fly," he told a news conference. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), which also operates Ospreys, has said it would suspend flights of the transport aircraft.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Yoko Kamikawa, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Dujarric, Dujarric, Mariko Katsumura, John Geddie, Chang, Ran Kim, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Japan's Coast Guard, Pentagon, Ospreys, U.S ., Japan Self - Defense Forces, U.S, Pacifist Japan, U.S . Marine Corps, Tokyo's Temple University, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, U.S, Tokyo

☆ Trump’s avalanche of dishonesty: Fact-checking 102 of his false claims from this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +111 min

Below is a fact check of 102 of Trump’s false claims from the 12 speeches. But contrary to Trump’s claim, it’s not true that people had been attempting for decades to create such an initiative. Trump’s aid to farmersIn speech after speech, Trump claimed that he had given US farmers $28 billion from China. Even if the poll result is off, it’s clear that Trump’s claim that “nobody wants them” is not true. He said he was an airline pilot.”Facts First: Trump made a false claim while mocking Biden for making false claims.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, ”, Mexico’s, ‘ Trump, Defense Department –, ” Theresa Cardinal Brown, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, ” Trump, I’ve, Todd Harrison, Harrison, It’s, Trump’s, ” Ben Cahill, Nobody, Jimmy Carter’s, Barack Obama, isn’t, El Salvador –, Obama, we’d, Obama’s, Webster, Covid, Wuhan ”, They’d, they’d, you’d, Scott Gottlieb, ” Gottlieb, Trump Trump, it’s, Abraham, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Dana El Kurd, Qasem Soleimani, they’ve, we’re, We’re, ’, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Biden’s, Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Biden Trump, Iran “, Democrats ”, that’s, Jimmy Carter, Carter “, Carter, ‘, Hillary Clinton, Kari Lake, Bill Gates, Gates, ” Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, “ Chris Wallace, ‘ He’s, ‘ ” Trump, Wallace, “ you’re, “ Biden, ‘ You’re, Wallace interjected, Rather, you’ve, ’ ” Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James &, ” Molchanov, Tim Woody, Woody, autoworkers, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden’s, Erin Mellon, Gavin Newsom, Mellon, ” Vonette Fontaine, Biden “, CNN’s Matt Egan, Egan, ” Biden, Europe Trump, United Kingdom “, Brent, Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James, Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, De Haan, Matt Smith, Matt Egan, Afghanistan Trump, we’ve, Krista Wiegand, Wiegand, ” Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Qasem, Bibi, Netanyahu, Soleimani, Asad, Mark Milley, Hezbollah Trump, Steven Cheung, John Kirby, Cheung, Kirby, Iran’s, ” Ali Vaez, Joseph Amon, Washington –, Faiq Zidan, Zidan’s, Zidan, Abu Mahdi al, China Trump, Ukraine Trump, Letitia James, James, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, You’re, Bragg, Colangelo, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Jack Smith, Bill Clinton, That’s, everybody’s, Letitia James –, Al Capone’s, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, CNN couldn’t, Schwartz, Eliot Ness, MAGA, “ MAGA, …, White, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Inflation Trump, Bacon, Joe, PolitiFact, Trump . Howard Gleckman Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Republican, Trump Trump, Republican Jewish Coalition, Department, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congress, Defense Department, former Defense Department, Center, US Customs, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, IHS, Islamic, The State Department, Customs Enforcement, Policy Institute, ICE, El Salvador, ”, Merriam, The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Abraham Accords, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Hezbollah, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arab Center Washington DC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Obama, US International Trade Commission, Washington Post, U.S . International Trade Commission, New England lobstermen, England lobstermen, Americas, Crisis, government’s Energy, Administration, Washington Free Beacon, Energy Information Administration, Democrats, Biden, Electoral, Georgia, Michigan, Carter, Democrats can’t, Republicans, Alabama, Arizona, Fox News, ” Energy, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Wildlife, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority, Raymond James & Associates, Wilderness Society, Cox Automotive, Pew Research Center, New York Times, National Oceanic, California Gov, California, American Petroleum Institute, Union, West, Energy, American Automobile Association, AAA, GasBuddy, New Hampshire, Houston, Keystone XL, Obama administration’s State Department, –, Foreign, Military, DoD, Afghan, Defense, Policy, Taiwan News, “, University of Tennessee’s Center for National Security, Foreign Affairs, Israeli, NBC, Jerusalem Post, Yahoo, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, National Security, Group, US government’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Narcotics Bureau, Global Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Justice Department, Washington, Judicial, Popular Mobilization Forces, Customs and, Middle East, Customs, Protection, CBP, Border Protection, Kiel Institute, European Union, New York, New, ExxonMobil, Trump University, Trump Foundation, Manhattan, Attorney, federal Justice Department, Department of Justice, Washington DC, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, Biden White, MAGA Republicans, Inflation, Heritage Foundation, Trump ., Brookings Tax, Urban Institute Locations: New Hampshire, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Iowa, Mexico, “, U.S, Houston, Iraq, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nord, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, El, Washington, ”, ” In Texas, Covid, China, Wuhan, Italy, France, Abraham, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, New England, England, Kpler, Malaysia, Oregon, Alabama, Maricopa County, Arizona, Arizona’s, Moscow, Alaska, East, South Carolina, California, “ California, West Virginia, Virginia, United Kingdom, West Texas, “ U.S, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Mississippi , Louisiana, Canada, United States, Paris, Taiwan, “ China, Iranian, that’s, –, Singapore, Iraqi, San Diego, Kiel, York, Manhattan, York’s, Chicago, Philadelphia, Georgia, Qaeda

☆ Malaysia invites China's Xi to visit, ramps up tourism target
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Journalists watch a giant screen broadcasting footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF), at the media centre in Beijing, China October 18, 2023. Government data showed Malaysia welcomed 498,540 Chinese tourists in the six months to June this year, a figure almost a third of pre-pandemic levels. Malaysia's economic growth is expected to meet the government's target of 4% this year, driven in part by stronger tourism. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also invited China's President Xi Jinping to visit the country, Norman said. "We are hoping that President Xi will consent to visiting Malaysia," he added.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Tingshu Wang, China's, Xi Jingping, Norman Muhamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Norman, Xi, Wang Yi, Zambry Abdul Kadir, Liz Lee, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Malaysian, Malaysia's, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Malaysia, Thailand, Government, New York

☆ Five senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, that are still far below 2019 levels. The United States lifted the unprecedented travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting in November 2021, including from China. The United States rescinded a separate requirement air travelers test negative before arriving in June 2022. The United States in January started requiring air passengers to get negative COVID tests after Beijing's decision to lift its stringent zero-COVID policies and lifted the requirements in March.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Marco Rubio, Joe Biden's, Rubio, Maria Van Kerkhove, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Chizu Organizations: CS, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Friday, Senate Intelligence, World Health Organization, China, Program, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Pueblo , Colorado, U.S, United States, China, Washington, States

☆ Kissinger Left the State Department a Half Century Ago. But He Never Left His Old Job.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( David E. Sanger | More About David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

When Henry Kissinger turned 100 this year, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken toasted him at one birthday celebration in New York, and the C.I.A. Mr. Kissinger spoke with Mr. Blinken regularly, including as recently as last month, Mr. Blinken said. The Kissinger conversations with secretaries of state and presidents were not only about navigating the downward spiral in relations with Beijing. But the reason his advice was sought out goes to the depth of his experience: When Mr. Kissinger died on Wednesday, Mr. Blinken was headed to Israel in an effort to win a longer pause in a bloody conflict. Mr. Kissinger had flown the same path, in November 1973, exactly 50 years ago, during his famous shuttle diplomacy.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Antony J, Blinken, William J, Burns, Kissinger, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Mike Pompeo, Xi Jinping, ”, ‘ Kissinger, ’, Xi, Richard M, Mr, Biden, Nicholas Burns, Eric Schmidt Organizations: Mr, United, U.S . Embassy, Google Locations: New York, Washington, China, United States, Xi’s, San Francisco, Beijing, Russia, Israel

☆ Meta thwarts Chinese propaganda threat to US democracy before 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Meta did not attribute the network of fake Facebook accounts to a particular entity in China. It’s the latest in a series of warnings from tech firms documenting how Chinese propaganda and influence operations have more aggressively targeted American audiences in the last year. It wasn’t clear, Meta said in a report on foreign online threats published Thursday, what the Chinese network of fake accounts was trying to accomplish. While Meta and other tech firms tout their work to protect elections, recent moves by the company also show trends in the other direction. And Meta this month said it would allow political ads on its platforms to question the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.

Persons: Meta, Ron DeSantis, Nancy Pelosi, Iran —, haven’t, Nathaniel Gleicher, ” Ben Nimmo, ”, Liu Pengyu Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Meta, Republicans, US, of Liberty, Microsoft, Embassy Locations: China, Russia, Iran, Washington

☆ Back to a War Zone: Stranded Palestinians Head Home to Gaza During Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ibraheem Abu MustafaRAFAH, Gaza (Reuters) - About 1,000 Palestinians who were stranded outside the Gaza Strip when war broke out between Israel and Hamas have returned home during the seven-day truce, braving the prospect of renewed bombardment, a Palestinian border official said on Thursday. The war began three days later, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. Abu Nader flew to Egypt on Oct. 24 but could not return to Gaza as the Rafah crossing was closed. All Palestine is my home, not just Gaza or the house in al-Nasser, the whole nation is my home," he said. The truce was initially agreed for four days but has repeatedly been renewed, for 24 to 48 hours at a time.

Persons: Nidal, Abu, Abu Nader, Nasser, MOONSCAPE, Intisar Barakat, Fadi Shana, Estelle Shirbon, Gareth Jones Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Hospitals, United Nations Locations: Abu Mustafa RAFAH, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Rafah, Egypt, Turkey, Nasser, Gaza City, Palestine, al, Cairo

[1/2] A worker pushes a luggage cart with belongings of Palestinians who are trying to get back into Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah, Egypt, November 30, 2023. Acquire Licensing RightsRAFAH, Gaza, Nov 30 (Reuters) - About 1,000 Palestinians who were stranded outside the Gaza Strip when war broke out between Israel and Hamas have returned home during the seven-day truce, braving the prospect of renewed bombardment, a Palestinian border official said on Thursday. The war began three days later, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. Abu Nader flew to Egypt on Oct. 24 but could not return to Gaza as the Rafah crossing was closed. All Palestine is my home, not just Gaza or the house in al-Nasser, the whole nation is my home," he said.

Persons: Abu Nader, Nasser, MOONSCAPE, Intisar Barakat, Fadi Shana, Estelle Shirbon, Gareth Jones Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Hospitals, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, RAFAH, Palestinian, Turkey, Nasser, Gaza City, Palestine, al, Cairo

☆ An arguing couple forced a Lufthansa A380 to divert after the husband reportedly threw food and tried to set fire to a blanket
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An arguing couple forced a Lufthansa A380 to be diverted to Delhi, per The Times of India. The husband shouted at his wife, threw food, and tried to set a blanket on fire with a lighter, the paper reported. Lufthansa confirmed an incident involving an "unruly passenger" on the flight to Business Insider. AdvertisementA Lufthansa flight was forced to divert on Wednesday after a severe argument between a husband and wife, The Times of India reported. It prompted pilots to tell air traffic control at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India about a "situation and possible unruly passenger," per The Times of India.

Persons: — Organizations: Lufthansa, Business, Service, Airbus, Indira Gandhi International, Indian Express, Delhi Police Locations: Delhi, India, Times, Munich, Germany, Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, Flightradar24

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, truce extended by two days
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

All Philippine nationals impacted by the Israel-Hamas war have been accounted for following the release of a second hostage, according to the country’s president. “With this positive development, I am pleased to inform the nation that all Filipinos affected by the war have been accounted for,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr wrote in a post on X Wednesday. “Just days after expressing concern for Noralyn Babadilla's whereabouts, I am very happy to announce that Noralyn is safely back in Israel, becoming the second Filipino released from Gaza,” he wrote. The Embassy of the Philippines will “attend to her needs in coordination with Israeli authorities," the president added. Pacheco was released on Friday.

Persons: “, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ”, Jimmy ” Pacheco, Pacheco Organizations: ” Locations: Philippine, Israel, Gaza, Philippines, Egypt, State, Qatar

☆ How the U.S. courted the Philippines to thwart China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

What followed was two trips to the United States in less than a year for Marcos, and visits to the Philippines by high-ranking Biden administration officials. Marcos’ predecessor, the populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte, was openly hostile to the United States and attempted to bring his country closer to communist China during his six-year term. For the United States, cementing alliances in the Asia-Pacific region is likewise crucial to keeping China in check. China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement to Reuters, characterized China and the Philippines as “close neighbors across the sea” with a common interest in friendship. At the time, he said the cancellation of his visa was the latest in a list of “gripes and disrespect” by the United States.

Persons: Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Joe Biden, Marcos, Gregorio Maria Araneta III, “, ” Araneta, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Julio Amador III, Marcos ’, Rodrigo Duterte, China’s, Xi Jinping, ” Marcos ’, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ”, Marcos family’s, Washington, Duterte, China “, Becca Wasser, Wasser, Barack Obama, Xi, “ I’ve, ” Duterte, Ronald “ Bato, dela Rosa, Dela Rosa, gripes, Toribio Adaci, hadn’t, Blake Herzinger, Herzinger Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Defense, ., Party, China, U.S . State Department, ” Reuters, Philippine, United, Foreign Ministry, ” ‘, People’s Liberation Army, Center, New, New American Security, CNAS, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S ., Initiative, Philippines National Economic Development Authority, United States, Philippine National Police, Washington, Forces, VFA, Mutual, China’s, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Cooperation Locations: Philippines, Philippine, Manila, United States, U.S, China, America, Asia, Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, South, East Asia, Pacific, Washington, Hawaii, South China, It’s, American, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New American, Taiwan . U.S, Duterte, China’s, Guangdong

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