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☆ How the October 7 attacks became a turning point for US politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Like the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Hamas horror set off a chain of events that affected countless lives, unleashing political disturbances thousands of miles away. At home, the fallout of the Hamas attacks has coincided with the toxic politics of a presidential election year. Deep domestic political aftershocksThe Hamas terror attacks – and Israel’s response – have laid bare and widened splits in American society and domestic politics. He has found common interest with Republicans who sought to use the war to damage Biden as the election loomed. Many American Jews have felt unsafe at home amid antisemitism provoked both by Hamas’ attacks and some of the protests over Israel’s response.

Persons: CNN —, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Israel, Biden, Harris, it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, William Burns, Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Weeks, outlast Biden, bequeath, Trump, –, Fury, Joe, “, ” Harris, ”, Clinton, ’, Israel shouldn’t, goading Netanyahu, ” Trump, Jonathan Greenblatt, he’d, ” Greenblatt, Dana Bash, What’s, bedeviled Biden Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, Democratic Party, Trump, CIA, US, Republicans, Democratic, Arab American, CBS, Washington, GOP, Defamation League, ADL Locations: Israel, America, Iran, United States, Yemen, Red, Washington, Jordan, Gaza, Russia, China, Lebanon, Michigan, North Carolina, “ State

☆ Chinese hackers access US telecom firms, worrying national security officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

US officials are concerned about the potential national security damage done by the hacking, which they only recently discovered. US law enforcement agencies request access, through a warrant, to specific portions of that data as part of criminal and national security investigations. US officials have briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on the Chinese hacking campaign, two sources said. The Chinese hacking team in question is known in the cybersecurity industry as Salt Typhoon. FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that Chinese government-backed hackers outnumber FBI cyber personnel 50 to 1.

Persons: Lumen, Liu Pengyu, Christopher Wray, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Verizon, Lumen, Justice Department, FBI, Embassy, ”, Street Journal, Microsoft, Google Locations: China, Washington, Beijing, Washington ,, Taiwan, California

☆ Mech Dara: Concern grows for detained Cambodia journalist awarded by US for exposing online scam centers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The award-winning reporter is renowned for his investigations exposing corruption, environmental destruction and human trafficking in a country that heavily restricts press freedom. In 2023, Mech Dara won the US State Department’s TIP Hero Award for his work uncovering the multi-billion-dollar illegal scam center industry in Cambodia. Cambodia is ranked 151 out of 180 countries on Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index. As a freelancer, Mech Dara worked for several local and international media outlets including Voice of Democracy, which was forced to close last year. At the time, Mech Dara told CNN: “We fought for the truth.

Persons: Dara, “, LICADHO, Mech Dara, Antony Blinken, Mech, Dara “, ”, Clampdown, Hun Sen, Hun Manet, Cambodia’s, Kate Schuetze Organizations: CNN, Cambodian, Court, Mech, US, Department’s, Embassy, USAID, USAID Cambodia Counter, European Union, US State Department, United Nations, US Institute of Peace, UN, Cambodia Rights, of Democracy, Amnesty International Locations: Cambodian, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, USAID Cambodia, Australia, Southeast Asia, Asia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, ”

It should be a proportional response,” Biden told reporters Wednesday following a virtual call with leaders from the Group of 7 industrialized nations. The administration currently assesses it’s unlikely Israel would target Iran’s nuclear sites, though one senior official said Israel still hasn’t decided on where it might strike. Biden said Wednesday he does not support an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. “The answer is no,” he responded when questioned about the prospect of Israel launching a retaliatory strike on sites related to Iran’s nuclear program. “Iran is a destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East, and today’s attack on Israel only further demonstrates that fact.”

Persons: Joe Biden, Israel, Biden, “, ‘, ’, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu “, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, ” Biden, hasn’t, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Hashanah, Kamala Harris —, —, Harris Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, West Bank, Hezbollah, Democratic Locations: Israel, retaliating, Iran, Lebanon, “ Iran, Gaza, United States, Isfahan

☆ After Iran's attack on Israel, the Biden White House is desperately trying to avert a wider war in the Mideast
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Dan De Luce | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Carol-Lee-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration’s monthslong effort to avert a full-blown war between Israel and Iran is now being put to the most difficult test yet after Tehran on Tuesday launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel. The administration has worked around the clock for the past year trying to avoid a direct clash between its ally Israel and Iran. But now, administration officials are facing a potential worst-case scenario, as the latest attack by Iran will inevitably trigger a retaliation by the Israeli military. This time, regardless of whether the Iranian attack is effective, Israel will be eager to strike back, former U.S. and Israeli officials said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart earlier Tuesday to discuss Iran’s preparations for an attack on Israel, officials said.

Persons: Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin Organizations: Biden, Tuesday, Israel —, Washington, Israeli, U.S . Navy, Aegis, Pentagon, Defense Locations: Israel, Iran, Tehran, United States, Syria —, U.S, Lebanon, Gaza, The U.S

CNN —The White House on Tuesday said the US believes Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel. “The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a senior White House official said in a statement. In that attack, Iran launched a wave of drones and missiles towards Israel – the vast majority were successfully intercepted. “As of this moment, Israel does not perceive imminent threat from Iran,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

Persons: “, ”, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, ” Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Blinken Organizations: CNN, Israel, White House, Israel Defense Forces, Monday, Israeli, ”, Moroccan Locations: Iran, United States, Israel, Lebanon, States

☆ Why America is looking increasingly powerless as Israel’s war expands
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And the US has incessantly pushed for a Gaza ceasefire that neither Netanyahu nor Hamas seems to want. For instance, the US and its allies helped repel a massive Iranian missile and drone attack against Israel in April. It has also killed other senior members of the two groups in strikes in Syria, Lebanon, Iran and in Gaza. And pro-Trump Republicans are goading him to go further — at least partly to weaken Biden and his chosen successor, Harris. This is just one of many reasons why Netanyahu is incentivized to expand his war no matter how powerless it makes America look.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, “, Netanyahu, Kamala Harris, Hassan Nasrallah, Biden, Antony Blinken, Nasrallah, dissed, CNN’s MJ Lee, Kylie Atwood, Jennifer Hansler, Cedric Leighton, Leighton, Israel, it’s, Ismail Haniyeh, Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, shuttler James Baker, —, Donald Trump, Harris, –, Trump Organizations: CNN, Monday, Israel Defense Forces, Democratic, Israel, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, US, Washington, ”, Hamas, Republicans, Trump Republicans, Democratic Party, Arab American Locations: Lebanon, ”, Washington, East Israel, Israel, Gaza, Iranian, Damascus, United States, Hezbollah, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Africa, Tehran . Israel, Israeli, China, Michigan

☆ Israeli commandos raid Lebanon — the latest sign Netanyahu is ignoring Biden's warnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is rapidly escalating Israel's campaign against its regional foes and trampling on US diplomatic efforts in the process. In the latest sign he's ignoring US warnings, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli special-operations forces were carrying out raids into southern Lebanon as the possibility of a ground incursion this week loomed. Getty Images"We are shocked," one US official told CNN after Netanyahu rejected the cease-fire proposal before Israel launched its attacks. It's the latest instance of the Israeli leader ignoring or rejecting Biden's attempts to restrain Israeli military action in Gaza and, more recently, Lebanon.

Persons: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Avivi, Avivi, Fateh Sherif Abu el, Amin, Hezbollah's, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel's, Joe Biden, Gilbert Achcar, Jasmine El, Obama, He's, Netanyahu, Israel, Nasrallah, he's, Richard Dannatt, hadn't, Dannatt, It's, Sarah Leah Whitson, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: Service, Street Journal, IDF, Hamas, SOAS University of London, US Marine Corps, Getty, CNN, Israel, British, East, Sky News, Foreign Relations, Political, Military Affairs, United Nations, White Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Beirut, Iran, Gaza, France

Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s longtime leader has driven home how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set the agenda in the Middle East in recent months, with a frustrated Biden White House unable to shape events or defuse a spreading conflict in the region. Officials in the Biden administration felt blindsided by the Israeli air strikes Friday in southern Beirut that killed Hassan Nasrallah, and other senior Hezbollah figures, current and former officials say. Follow live updates hereThe Biden administration was so confident in the proposal's success that a senior administration official briefing reporters after its public debut suggested both parties' agreement was a foregone conclusion. American and European officials believed they were moving closer to a possible deal, but then came the television images of a massive plume of smoke rising over southern Beirut. President Joe Biden, Pentagon senior leaders and other senior officials across the administration were infuriated by the timing of the Israeli government operation, U.S. officials said.

Persons: Hezbollah’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Hassan Nasrallah, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Israel’s, Nasrallah, “, Blinken, Israel Organizations: Biden, General Assembly, Pentagon Locations: Beirut, New York, Israel, U.S, Lebanon, United States, Gaza

Destruction in a area targeted by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's town of Saksakiyeh, on September 26, 2024. Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/Getty ImagesIsrael said it is considering a US-led ceasefire proposal that would see a 21-day pause in fighting in Lebanon, as fears rise of a fully-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah that risks escalating into a wider regional conflict. • Has Hezbollah agreed? : Hezbollah has not yet commented on the proposed deal, and Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has denied reports of signing the framework for Lebanon. Media reports claimed earlier that Mikati signed a ceasefire proposal after meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and envoy Amos Hochstein on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Persons: Mahmoud Zayyat, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, •, Najib Mikati, Mikati, Antony Blinken, Amos Hochstein, Netanyahu Organizations: Getty, United Nations General Assembly, European Union, United Arab, Media, UN, Assembly Locations: Lebanon's, Saksakiyeh, AFP, Lebanon, Israel, New York, United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar

Destruction in a area targeted by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's town of Saksakiyeh, on September 26, 2024. Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/Getty ImagesIsrael said it is considering a US-led ceasefire proposal that would see a 21-day pause in fighting in Lebanon, as fears rise of a fully-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah that risks escalating into a wider regional conflict. : President Joe Biden said the plan had been endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. : Hezbollah has not yet commented on the proposed deal, and Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has denied reports of signing the framework for Lebanon. Media reports claimed earlier that Mikati signed a ceasefire proposal after meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and envoy Amos Hochstein on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Those officials were clear: The question was not if Israel and Hezbollah would accept the ceasefire proposal, but precisely when. But only hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would throw cold water on the multi-national proposal. “I can’t speak for Prime Minister Netanyahu, I can’t answer the question why he said what he said,” he told reporters. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with top Israeli officials in New York Thursday afternoon. Dermer and Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog demurred when asked by CNN ahead of that meeting if they are going to accept the ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, Jake Sullivan, Emmanuel Macron, ”, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, John Kirby, wasn’t, ” Kirby, Antony Blinken, Michael Herzog demurred, Dermer Organizations: CNN — Senior, Israeli, IDF, White, CNN Locations: United States, Israel, Lebanon, New York City, Washington, Netanyahu’s, Dermer, New York

☆ US troops deployed to Cyprus as fears of wider Middle East war intensify
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The UK announced on Tuesday that it was sending 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon if one becomes necessary. The US State Department has also repeatedly warned US citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial travel options are still available. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the US is “working tirelessly” on diplomatic efforts to prevent an “full-blown war” between Israel and Lebanon. A US official told CNN on Monday that “we are the closest we’ve been to spiraling to a regional war” since Hamas’ October 7 attack. Tehran has not intervened yet, but they will if they believe they are about to lose their most powerful proxy force, Hezbollah, the official added.

Persons: Pat Ryder, Yiannis Antoniou, ”, Keir Starmer, Israel, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, Pentagon, Reuters, British, US State Department, Ramat David, Wednesday, Israel Defense Forces, Gulf Cooperation Council, UN, Assembly Locations: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Beirut, Ramat, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Gulf, New York, Iran, Tehran

We’ve had challenges getting the prime minister across the line. “We stay up nights trying to figure out a way to get across the line on this ceasefire and hostage deal. And we have spoken out directly about our concern when we’ve seen the prime minister not take steps that we think are necessary to get to that deal,” he said. Vice President Kamala Harris has frequently cited the importance of reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal but hasn’t detailed any new approach in reaching an agreement. “Ultimately the thing that is going to unlock everything else in that region is getting this deal done,” she said last week.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, State James Baker, George Mitchell’s, “, ”, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Brett McGurk –, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’ve, we’re, Jake Sullivan, we’ve, Sinwar, they’re, it’ll, Kamala Harris, “ I’m, I’ve, Yahya Sinwar Organizations: CNN, Hamas, State, United Nations, State Department, CIA, MSNBC, UN Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, East, Northern Ireland, New York, Israel, United States, American, Saudi Arabia

CNN —The US government is “intensely tracking” an ongoing threat by Iran against current and former US officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. Law enforcement officials have been concerned about the persistent threat of Iran potentially attempting to assassinate former Trump officials and the former president himself, multiple sources familiar with the matter have previously told CNN. US officials have not detailed the threats against current officials, and Blinken on Wednesday did not reveal further information. Congress is considering additional money for the Secret Service as part of its effort to keep the government funded ahead of a September 30 deadline. An additional $231 million for the Secret Service is included in a continuing resolution the House could vote on as soon as Wednesday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, NBC’s, ” Blinken, Trump, ”, ODNI, ” Trump, Qasem Soleimani, Kamala Harris, CNN’s Evan Perez, Zachary Cohen, Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood, Kristen Holmes Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Intelligence, Military, Truth Social, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Baghdad International Airport, Service Locations: Iran, United States, U.S, Baghdad

CNN —The United States is working urgently on a plan to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, according to three sources familiar with the matter, as officials eye with deepening concern the prospects of a widening conflict. The efforts come as Israel’s top general said Wednesday that the Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground incursion into Lebanon. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light for his government to engage with the US efforts, an Israeli official told CNN. Amos Hochstein, a senior White House adviser, is involved, the source said, adding that the Americans are not talking to Hezbollah directly. Because while there’s a very legitimate issue here, we don’t think that war is the solution,” he told NBC News.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Amos Hochstein, Joe Biden, ”, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN, Israel’s, White House, United Nations General, UN Security, West Bank, NBC News Locations: United States, Israel, France, Gaza, Lebanon, New York

President Joe Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly for the final time as commander in chief Tuesday morning amid the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and growing global concerns about China’s influence. They are also Biden’s first remarks before the General Assembly since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October and the conflict that has ensued in Gaza, killing thousands of civilians. He’ll speak to the leaders of other nations as hope for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas has dimmed. As Israel continues its battle with Hamas, its conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah has also escalated in recent days. Other key speakers expected at the General Assembly include Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Israel, John Kirby, Biden, ” Kirby, Kirby, António Guterres, Masoud, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sabrina Singh, ’, Antony Blinken, “, ” Biden, Trump Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, White, Hamas, National Security, U.N, United Nations, General Assembly, Palestinian, Defense Department, Foreign Ministry, Congressional Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, New York, Sudan, United States, U.S, Mexico, Ukrainian, Wilmington , Delaware, Australia, India, Japan, China, Afghanistan

☆ TikTok removes Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, citing 'covert influence operations'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Is A Tech Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

TikTok said Monday it had removed accounts belonging to Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik for engaging in what TikTok called “covert influence operations.”The social video app said in a statement on its website that it removed accounts associated with TV-Novosti and Rossiya Segodnya, the parent organizations of the RT television network and the Russian news agency Sputnik. The suspensions follow the Biden administration’s accusations this month that RT acts as an arm of Moscow’s spy agencies. Social media rivals Meta and YouTube have announced similar suspensions of Russian state media accounts, although other tech companies such as X have left up RT and Sputnik accounts. RT and Sputnik both published reports over the weekend saying that some of their accounts had been deleted without explanation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this month that he believed Russian outlets such as RT had moved beyond working as media outlets and had turned into covert intelligence operations.

Persons: TikTok, Rossiya Segodnya, ’, ” Sputnik, Antony Blinken, Margarita Simonyan, ” Organizations: Sputnik, Novosti, NBC News, Biden, Social, Meta, YouTube, RT, Federal, “, Reuters Locations: Russian, Russia, U.S, United States of America, Mexico

☆ Exclusive: American held for 8 years in notorious Iranian prison tells of ordeal
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Ben Kirby | Claire Calzonetti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Namazi previously spoke with Amanpour by phone in March 2023 from inside Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, in what was an unprecedented interview. “That is the smell of freedom.” Forty years later, Siamak Namazi emerged into the night air after eight years in prison. The logistics of his prison interview weren’t complicated. And it’s not just an American problem: Evin Prison is “a dystopian United Nations of hostages,” Namazi says, with many countries’ citizens behind bars. Emotion in his voice, Namazi tells Amanpour that, eventually, he’d like to meet the man who freed him.

Persons: Siamak, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, ”, Namazi, Amanpour, Babak, ” Namazi’s, Siamak Namazi, “, Jonathan Ernst, …, Joe, Biden, ” ‘, ” Namazi, Dave, I’m, “ unutterable, Namazi’s, Saddam, Hussein, ’, Zahra Kazemi, I’d, Jared Genser, Genser, he’d, could’ve, Christiane Amanpour, Neil Hallsworth, crackly, Emad, Morad Tahbaz, Donald Trump, –, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, wasn’t, Biden’s Organizations: CNN, Obama, Trump, Getty, State Department, New York Times, Evin, Republicans, United Nations, United, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: American, Iran, United States, AFP, ”, Evin, America, Vienna, Austria, United States of America, Republic, White Plains , New York, Islamic Republic, Iranian, New York, United Nations

☆ Iran is ready for nuclear talks at UN 'if other parties are willing,' foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Then Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks over the Iran nuclear deal during a press conference in Tehran, Ian on August 9, 2015Iran is ready to start nuclear negotiations on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York if "other parties are willing," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday in a video published on his Telegram channel. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran to revive the deal have stalled. Iran is still formally part of the deal but has scaled back commitments to honour it due to U.S. sanctions reimposed on the Islamic Republic. We will focus our efforts on starting a new round of talks regarding the nuclear pact," Araqchi said. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has said the United States is not ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran.

Persons: Abbas Araqchi, Ian, Donald Trump, Araqchi, Antony Blinken, Trump, Joe Biden's Organizations: General Assembly, U.S, Hamas Locations: Iran, Tehran, New York, U.S, Washington, Islamic Republic, Switzerland, Iranian, Israel, Ukraine, United States

☆ Quad group expands maritime security cooperation at Biden's farewell summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) prepares to pose for a group photo with Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (2nd R), Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (2nd L) and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (L) at the start of their Quad Ministerial Meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on July 29, 2024. The leaders announced joint coast guard operations next year that will include Australian, Japanese and Indian personnel spending time on a U.S. coast guard vessel. The leaders' joint statement included sharp language about North Korea, condemning its ballistic missile launches and "malicious cyber activity." "But I think China's recent maritime aggression could be changing the equation for India and could be prompting India to become a bit more open to the idea of Quad security cooperation," she said. Before the summit, Albanese met with Biden at his home and discussed bilateral cooperation between the two close allies across defense and security, including in the Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Penny Wong, Yoko Kamikawa, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Joe Biden, Biden, Fumio Kishida, Narendra Modi, Anthony Albanese, Xi Jinping, he's, Lisa Curtis, Kishida, Modi, Albanese, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris Organizations: Australia's Foreign, Japan's, India's, of, Indian, Australian, Pacific Partnership, Maritime Domain, House, Analysts, East China Seas, East China, U.S, China, Center, New, New American Security, congressional Locations: Tokyo, of Australia, India, Japan, United States, China, Delaware, U.S, Beijing, South China, South, East, Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, North Korea, Islands, Southeast Asia, Asia, New American, Australia, Philadelphia

Senior Biden administration officials told reporters ahead of the meeting that the leaders would announce plans to expand an Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, launched two years ago to include the Indian Ocean region. Analysts said the expected outcomes would mostly build on work that has already been done within the Quad, which Biden elevated to summit level in 2021. It is true in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, South China, South Asia and the Taiwan Strait,” Biden continued. “But I think China’s recent maritime aggression could be changing the equation for India and could be prompting India to become a bit more open to the idea of Quad security cooperation,” she said. Albanese told reporters on Thursday that Canberra and Washington share concerns about China’s security ambitions in Pacific islands countries where Beijing is seeking a growing policing role.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Anthony Albanese, Narendra Modi, Fumio Kishida, Saturday’s, “, ”, Antony Blinken, he’s, ” Biden, Xi Jinping, Jake Sullivan’s, Sullivan, ” Sullivan, “ It’s, Lisa Curtis, Kishida, “ We’re, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Albanese, “ We’ll Organizations: United States, Australian, Anthony Albanese , Indian, Japanese, Biden, Pacific Partnership, Maritime, Indian, U.S . Coast Guard, Journalists, China’s, People’s Republic of China, Analysts, East China Seas, Center, New, New American Security, White House, CIA, State Department, congressional Locations: Australia, India, Japan, China, Anthony Albanese ,, Wilmington , Delaware, Southeast Asia, South China, East China, South Asia, Taiwan Strait, People’s Republic of, South, East, Beijing, Asia, New American, U.S, Canberra, Washington, Pacific

☆ Israel notified US ahead of Tuesday’s Lebanon operation but gave no details of what was planned, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The fact no details about the operation were given meant US officials were in the dark until reports of hundreds of exploding pagers emerged a short time later, the sources said. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was injured by the exploding pagers, according to Iranian state media. The notification from Israel was far more generic and vague, leaving US officials with questions about what the operation could be, the sources said. Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israel has regularly carried out strikes in Lebanon in response to the launch of Hezbollah drones and missiles. The breadth of Israeli operations in Lebanon over the past 11 months added to the questions about what Israel could be planning.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel, It’s, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Gallant, Austin, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, …, ” Jean, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US, White Locations: Lebanon, Washington, Cairo, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Tehran

☆ Biden’s national security team has no imminent plans to present an updated ceasefire proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Joe Biden’s national security advisers have no imminent plans to present the president with an updated proposal in the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire negotiations, two senior administration officials told CNN – the latest indication that talks to end the conflict have seriously stalled. Some US officials had indicated in recent weeks that a so-called bridging proposal was being finalized for Biden’s approval before being shared with the other mediators involved in the ceasefire talks, such as Qatar and Egypt. The recent execution of six hostages in Gaza – including one Israeli American – infuriated administration officials who have been intimately involved in the talks. Meanwhile, there has also been growing skepticism in Washington about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political willingness to end the war. Facilitating an end to the Israel-Hamas war before he leaves office is one of the most important foreign policy priorities for Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel, John Kirby, “, ”, ” Kirby, Antony Blinken Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Israeli, Biden, National Security, American Locations: Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza, American, Washington

☆ David Lin: An American pastor held in a Chinese jail for nearly two decades is finally home
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

David Lin, 68, was detained in China in 2006 after helping to construct an unapproved church building. Lin was one of three Americans deemed by the US State Department to have been wrongfully detained in China. “We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China,” a spokesperson for the US State Department said in a statement Sunday. While in prison, Lin received several sentence reductions and was scheduled to be released in 2029, according to the Dui Hua Foundation. “I am extremely glad to hear David Lin was freed,” Rep. Michael McCaul said Sunday in a statement on social media.

Persons: Biden, David Lin, Lin, Kai Li, Mark Swidan, David Lin’s, ”, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “, Michael McCaul, — Organizations: CNN, State Department, US State Department, National Security, Communist Party, Hua Foundation Locations: United States, Beijing, China, People’s Republic of China, San Fransisco, US, San Francisco

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