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An influential member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition told settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that the government is engaged in a stealthy effort to irreversibly change the way the territory is governed, to cement Israel’s control over it without being accused of formally annexing it. In a taped recording of the speech, the official, Bezalel Smotrich, can be heard suggesting at a private event earlier this month that the goal was to prevent the West Bank from becoming part of a Palestinian state. “I’m telling you, it’s mega-dramatic,” Mr. Smotrich told the settlers. “Such changes change a system’s DNA.”While Mr. Smotrich’s opposition to ceding control over the West Bank is no secret, the Israeli government’s official position is that the West Bank’s status remains open to negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that Israel’s rule over the territory amounts to a temporary military occupation overseen by army generals, not a permanent civilian annexation administered by Israeli civil servants.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Bezalel Smotrich, “, Mr, Smotrich Organizations: West Bank Locations: Palestinian

☆ U.S. and China hold first informal nuclear talks in 5 years, eyeing Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended. The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended. The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their U.S. interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan. The two countries briefly resumed Track One talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top U.S. official publicly expressing frustration at China's responsiveness. The Pentagon, which estimates that Beijing's nuclear arsenal increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2023, said in October that China "would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan" threatened CCP rule.

Persons: interlocutors, David Santoro Organizations: The, Reuters, People's Liberation Army, State Department, U.S, Pentagon Locations: States, China, Taiwan, The United States, Beijing, Taipei, U.S, Washington, Shanghai

☆ How China could take Taiwan without even needing to invade
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“China has significantly increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years, stoking fears that tensions could erupt into outright conflict. China’s escalating gray zone tactics were on stark display this week as China Coast Guard vessels clashed with Philippine Navy boats in the South China Sea. In the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. Friday, 36 Chinese military aircraft crossed into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says. Meanwhile, a quarantine, rather than a blockade, would not require China to close or restrict access to the Taiwan Strait, the CSIS report notes. Under its claims that Taiwan is Chinese territory, Beijing could require customs declarations to be filed before vessels can call in Taiwan.

Persons: CNN —, Beijing’s, Xi Jinping’s, Bonny Lin, Brian Hart, Matthew Funaiole, Samantha Lu, Tinsley, stoking, Adm, Dong Jun, ”, Dong, China’s, “, Joe Biden, Rong Xu, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, Alessio Patalano, Sidharth Kaushal, Patalano Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Center for Strategic, International Studies, China Coast Guard, CSIS, TAIWAN, GUARD, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Chinese Defense, Philippine Navy, Taiwan Relations, White, PLA Navy, Maritime Safety Agency, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Bloomberg, Getty, “, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Taipei, King’s College, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Imports, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Taiwan, Ukraine, China, Washington, United States, Pengjia, Beijing, Singapore, South China, Manila, Second, Philippines, Taiwan’s, Taiwan Strait, Port, Taichung, Kaohsiung, London, Covid

☆ Ukraine moved to top of list to receive US air defense capabilities
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A senior White House official described the action as a “rather extraordinary” policy adjustment at a critical moment for Ukraine. “If we didn’t do this for Ukraine, they would not have been able to maintain their critical air defense stockpile heading into the winter, period,” the official said. Ukraine is expected to get its first exports of the air defense capabilities this summer and the policy change will stay in place for 16 months, the official said. The White House official would not share the list of affected countries, other than to say that air defense exports to Taiwan would not be impacted. The move is being done in parallel with Biden administration efforts to get Ukraine more air defense systems as well, a second White House official said.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, “, @POTUS, ” Zelensky, Zelensky, –, Donald Trump, Jake Sullivan, they’re, ” Biden, Daria Tarasova, Caitlin Danaher Organizations: CNN, White House, State Department, Pentagon, White, NATO, Republican, Ukraine, Congress, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, United States, Taiwan, Kyiv, Italy

☆ Mark Rutte, next NATO secretary general, after Romania drops long-held objection
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Mark Rutte, the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, is now set to become the next NATO secretary general. Rutte will inherit a NATO that is racing to bolster its own security while also supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Over time its position has evolved from not sending any tanks to allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with NATO weapons. Rutte must also oversee NATO’s radical upgrade in defense and security capabilities. NATO allies are aware that Trump has historically criticized NATO allies for not spending enough money on their own security and relying on America.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte, Donald Trump, Trump, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Kyiv Locations: Netherlands, Romania, Romanian, Moscow, Ukraine, Sochi, Crimea, United States, America, Sweden, Finland

☆ Hezbollah leader warns Israel of war with 'no red lines,' threatens Cyprus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The leader of Hezbollah has vowed a fight with "no rules and with no red lines" if full-out war erupts between the Lebanese militant group and Israel, warning Cyprus against getting mired in the conflict. Lebanon and Israel have regularly traded cross-border fire since the start of the Jewish state's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas — which, like Hezbollah, is backed by Iran — in the Gaza Strip. The Hezbollah leader also threatened war against the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, if the European Union member permits Israel to launch military operations from its territory. Nasrallah accused Israel of "conducting maneuvers in preparation for the Lebanon war" in Cyprus, without disclosing his sources. In response to Nasrallah, Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday stressed that his country is not involved in the conflict and is, in fact, part of the solution, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

Persons: Iran —, Taleb Sami Abdullah, General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Seth Frantzman, Nasrallah, Israel, Manar, Nikos Christodoulides Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Foundation, Defense, Democracies, Associated Press, European Union, Cyprus News Agency, CNBC, Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, U.S, Cypriot

☆ Ukraine can't hit everything it wants in Russia with US-made ATACMs, so it's making do with a homemade option
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine faces restrictions on using US-made, long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. Ukraine has used this weapon to strike energy facilities inside Russia in recent weeks. AdvertisementThe US has outfitted Ukraine with an arsenal of long-range missiles but continues to put restrictions on how it can use them, limiting its ability to strike Russia the way it wants. As a workaround in this dilemma, Kyiv has turned to a homemade weapon first used to sink ships. American-made MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS, are one of the more vaunted weapons that Ukraine has in its arsenal.

Persons: —, Biden Organizations: Service, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, Business Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv

☆ Israel-Gaza war: He saved the life of Hamas’s leader. Then they murdered his nephew
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Tal Alroy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“I know the person who planned and conceived and initiated this criminal attack,” Bitton told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. Bitton blames Sinwar for the murder of his nephew, who was killed after Hamas militants raided his home on October 7. In 1989, he was sentenced to four life sentences in Israel for the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers. Nir Oz was one of several kibbutzim that bore the brunt of Hamas’ attack on October 7, with many residents murdered or taken hostage. He doesn’t care.”With this in mind, Bitton believes that Israel made a mistake by not creating an alternative to Hamas’s rule, which could have undermined Sinwar’s power.

Persons: CNN — Hamas’s, Israel, Yuval Bitton, “, ” Bitton, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, –, – Yahya Sinwar, Bitton, Sinwar, Tamir Adar, Yuval Bitton “, ” Sinwar, Khan, ”, Gilad Shalit, Gilad, Nir Oz, Tamir, Bitton –, Bitton's Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel, IDF Locations: Gaza, Nafha, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas war: Why Hezbollah is threatening Cyprus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

While experts say war between Israel and Hezbollah remains unlikely, the very mention of Cyprus adds a new dimension to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Stavros Ioannides/PIO/ReutersWhat has Cyprus’ role been in the Gaza war? Cyprus has been keen to dispel any suggestions that it is implicated in the Gaza war, noting its humanitarian efforts that helped bring some aid into Gaza. It would mean that an EU country is, for the first time, directly involved in an expanded Gaza war. “The US also does not want to find itself in another Middle East quagmire, especially with presidential elections looming.”

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, ”, Nikos Christodoulides, ” Peter Stano, Abdallah Bou Habib, Constantinos Kombos, Lebanon’s, Israel, “, Eli Cohen, Stavros Ioannides, PIO, Christodoulides, Yiannis Kourtoglou, ” Mohammad Ali Shabani, Amwaj.media, ” Lina Khatib, ” Khatib, Biden Organizations: CNN, Lebanese, European Union, EU, United Nations, Lebanon’s, Cypriot, Israel, The, NATO, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Reuters, Spanish, North Africa, Chatham House Locations: Cyprus, Israel, “ Cyprus, Iran, Lebanon, EU, Greece, Gaza, East, Europe, European, Delaware, Republic of Cyprus, Turkish, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkey, The Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia, Tel Aviv, Larnaca, ”, UAE, Russian, Syria, London, Haifa, “

☆ US signals that it has expanded policy to allow Ukraine to counterstrike into Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US appears to have expanded its agreement with Ukraine to strike over the border inside Russian territory wherever Russian forces are engaging in cross-border attacks into Ukraine, not just in the Kharkiv region as was previously determined. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS News on Monday that the agreement with Ukraine to fire into Russia extends wherever Russian forces are attempting to invade. “It extends to anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side to try to take additional Ukrainian territory,” Sullivan said, adding that it’s “not about geography. The change marks a significant shift in the limited nature of the agreement between the US and Ukraine. “Russia opened a new front, they opened the front in the north in Kharkiv, where they’re attacking directly from Russian territory just over the border.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Charlie Dietz, ” Dietz, Joe Biden, there’s, Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine “, ” Stoltenberg, I’ll, ”, There’s, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, National, PBS, Pentagon, US Defense Department, NATO, National Security Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Brussels, ”, Russian

☆ Russia inexplicably dropped another 3 bombs on its own territory, bringing its total reported self-bombings to 103 this year, opposition media says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia has dropped 103 bombs on its own territories in the last four months, Astra reported. This comes after the outlet wrote that three more FABs were found in Russian villages near the border. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRussian opposition media channel Astra reported on Wednesday that the Kremlin's forces had deployed three Soviet glide bombs this week onto Russian-controlled regions. No injuries were reported, but Astra assessed that the new incidents mean Russia has dropped a total of 103 bombs on its own territories in the last four months.

Persons: — Organizations: Astra, Service, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Krapivnoye, Belgorod

☆ Israeli military official says Hamas cannot be destroyed, as rift with Netanyahu widens
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Christian Edwards | Tamar Michaelis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hagari’s comments prompted a terse response from Netanyahu’s office, which said Israel’s security cabinet “has defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities” as one of the aims of its war in Gaza. Palestinians inspect damage after an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, June 9, 2024. Shaul Golan/Pool/ReutersHagari’s comments sparked the latest in a growing series of public disagreements between Israel’s government and military. Last weekend, the IDF announced a daily “tactical pause” of military activity along a route in southern Gaza to allow aid to be distributed – a decision that rankled Netanyahu, an Israeli official told CNN. The IDF’s decision to implement tactical pauses also drew fierce criticism from the increasingly rancorous far-right wing of Netanyahu’s coalition.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Read, Daniel Hagari, Hagari’s, Hagari, Netanyahu, Eyad Baba, ” Hagari, David Mencer, ’, Mencer, Netanayhu, –, Shaul Golan, rankled Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ”, Yoav Gallant Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s, IDF, Getty, Kan, National, Israeli Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, AFP, Hamas, Givatayim, Rafah

☆ Why Hezbollah is threatening this tiny European country
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

An island in the Eastern Mediterranean located on a geopolitical fault line between the Middle East and southern Europe, Cyprus is geographically much closer to the conflicts in the Middle East than it is to European power centers. The island has previously been caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts, a reminder of its proximity to the volatile Middle East. It would mean that an EU country is, for the first time, directly involved in an expanded Gaza war. “It is normal for both Israel and Hezbollah to have military plans in place for handling a potential escalation. “The US also does not want to find itself in another Middle East quagmire, especially with presidential elections looming.”

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, ”, Nikos Christodoulides, Israel, Constantinos Kombos, Eli Cohen, Stavros Ioannides, PIO, Christodoulides, “, Yiannis Kourtoglou, ” Mohammad Ali Shabani, Amwaj.media, ” Lina Khatib, ” Khatib, Biden Organizations: CNN, Lebanese, Union, Israel, The, NATO, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Cypriot, Reuters, Spanish, European Union, North Africa, Chatham House Locations: Cyprus, Israel, “ Cyprus, Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, East, Europe, European, Delaware, Republic of Cyprus, Turkish, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, The Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia, Tel Aviv, Larnaca, ”, EU, UAE, Russian, Syria, London, Haifa, “

☆ Americans could be on a tight budget this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Americans tend to shell out in the summer as they venture outdoors, book trips and step away from their desks. Consumers plan to spend less on away-from-home entertainment and vacations this summer, according to the 2024 KPMG Consumer Pulse Survey released Tuesday. That’s a contrast to last year when Americans shelled out on the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concert tickets and getaways. Retailers that offer Americans more bang for their buck including Ross Stores, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods-parent TJX, Dollar General and Walmart have benefitted. Americans are also feeling worse about the economy as they struggle with elevated inflation and high borrowing rates.

Persons: Taylor Swift, It’s, ”, Duleep Rodrigo, TJ Maxx, Mark Thompson, Henley, ” Hannah White, —, OpenAI’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Pulse Survey, Commerce Department, Federal Reserve, Retailers, Ross Stores, Walmart, Abercrombie, Fitch, Williams, University, Michigan’s, Millionaires, Labour, Henley & Partners, Institute for Government, City of, Henley Private Wealth, Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple Locations: New York, Sonoma, Britain, United Kingdom, City of London

☆ Ukraine got the go-ahead to hit Russia with F-16s, but doing so could be a waste of a good jet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Read previewNATO member Denmark has given Ukraine permission to use the F-16s it receives to hit military targets within Russia. AdvertisementThe exact number of F-16s Ukraine will get to begin with is unclear, but it's not expected to be many. But in Russia, Ukrainian aircraft can also expect to battle the Russian Air Force in addition to enemy air defenses. It would also bolster a capability that has been heavily strained by relentless Russian attacks, and that's air defense. But they said these fighter jets will be useful for Ukraine by replenishing lost aircraft, deterring Russian jets, and acting as defenses.

Persons: —, George Barros, Israel Aerospace Industries Barros, it's, Mark Cancian, Tim Robinson, Peter Layton, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mette Frederiksen, Ritzau Scanpix, Mads Claus Rasmussen, there's, Michael Clark, Clark, Cancian, ISW, Layton, Robinson, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Noble, Chanceler Organizations: Service, Business, Ukraine, Analysts, Israeli Military Industries Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Denmark's, Skrydstrup Airbase, REUTERS, Politico, Republicans, Russian Air Force, Getty, Noble Eagle, US Air Force Locations: Denmark, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Israeli, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, France, Skrydstrup, Vojens, Arizona, Romania, British, Crimea, Ukrainian, AFP

That's pushed tech heavyweights and Club names such as Apple , Nvidia , Microsoft and Broadcom higher and the S & P 500 to record highs along with them. The market-cap weighted S & P 500, which we report on all time, has gained more than 4% since May 30. But, a version of the index that assigns each company the same influence, known as the S & P 500 Equal-Weight , has advanced only around 1%. The divergence helps explain why our trusted momentum indicator, the S & P Short Range Oscillator , has been closer to oversold territory than overbought during the run higher. Recent years haven't been so kind to them, with the stock underperforming the S & P 500 considerably over the past three years.

Persons: That's, Morgan Stanley, Wells, Banks, Abbott, We've, Lingo, Stanley Black, Decker, DuPont, DuPont —, Ed Breen, Lori Koch, Vimal Kapur, Jim Cramer, Darius Adamczyk, haven't, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Johannes Eisele Organizations: Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Broadcom, Wall Street, Federal, Abbott, Abbott Labs, Mizuho Securities, DuPont, Honeywell, Systems, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, New York Stock Exchange, Wall, Afp, Getty Locations: Dover, Wells Fargo, Missouri, Abbott's, U.S, Decker, New York City

☆ European markets head for mixed open as UK awaits Bank of England's rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commuters crossing a junction near the Bank of England (BOE), left, in the City of London, UK, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesLONDON — European stocks are expected to open in mixed territory Thursday, with U.K. investors looking ahead to the Bank of England's policy rate decision. The U.K.'s FTSE index is expected to open 16 points higher at 8,212, Germany's DAX up 21 points at 18,087, France's CAC 40 up 3 points at 7,568 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 10 points at 33,192, according to IG. U.K. traders will be focused on the Bank of England's rate decision Thursday, although the central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady at a 16-year high of 5.25%, with the majority of economists polled by Reuters forecasting a cut in August after the country's July 4 election. Data released Wednesday showed U.K. inflation rose by an annual 2.0% in May, hitting the BoE's inflation target.

Persons: BOE, Andrew Bailey, Hollie Adams, Germany's DAX Organizations: Bank of England, City of, Bloomberg, Getty, Bank of, CAC, IG, Reuters Locations: City, City of London

☆ TV Weather Gets Political
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Climate change is now squarely part of the American culture wars, and heat waves and flash foods have become fodder for partisan squabbling. Nowhere is this tension more acute than in the weather departments of local TV stations. As extreme weather becomes more commonplace and climate change raises temperatures around the globe, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the nation’s roughly 2,000 television meteorologists to stay above the fray. An award-winning TV weatherman, Gloninger moved to Iowa in 2021 to take the job of chief meteorologist at KCCI, the CBS affiliate in Des Moines. His new bosses were explicit: They wanted him to talk about climate change.

Persons: Chris Gloninger, Gloninger Organizations: CBS Locations: Iowa, KCCI, Des Moines

☆ Putin Threatens to Arm North Korea, Escalating Tension With West Over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Paul Sonne | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia directly warned the United States and its allies that he is willing to arm North Korea if they continue to supply Kyiv with sophisticated weapons that have struck Russian territory, raising the stakes for the Western powers backing Ukraine. Mr. Putin made the threat in comments to reporters traveling with him late Thursday in Vietnam before he flew home to Russia after a trip there and to North Korea. Mr. Putin cast his threat to arm Pyongyang, in violation of United Nations sanctions, as a response to decisions by the United States and its allies in recent months to allow Ukraine to make certain strikes on Russian territory with their weapons. “Those who supply these weapons believe that they are not at war with us,” Mr. Putin said. “Well, as I said, including in Pyongyang, then we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world.”

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, ” Mr, ” Organizations: United Nations Locations: Russia, United States, North Korea, Ukraine, Vietnam, Pyongyang, North

☆ Satellite images capture Russia's Black Sea Fleet running from its base in Crimea as Ukraine hit it with missiles and exploding drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewArmed with exploding naval drones and long-range missiles, Ukraine has managed to push Russia's Black Sea Fleet away from its long-held headquarters in the occupied Crimean peninsula to other bases far away. AdvertisementThese attacks span the entirety of the war, but the exodus of the Black Sea Fleet didn't really kick into gear until September 2023. The aftermath of two Ukrainian missile strikes on Black Sea Fleet facilities and vessels in Sevastopol in September 2023. The dispersal of the Black Sea Fleet from Sevastopol to Feodosia and Novorossiysk. "Forcing the enemy to flee from the Black Sea was the goal we sought," he added, "and it was achieved."

Persons: —, BlackSky, Lloyd Austin, BlackSky BlackSky, Ivan Lukashevych Organizations: Service, Business, Black, US, Fleet, Ukrainian, BlackSky, Security Service, Kyiv, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Crimean, Sevastopol, Russian, Feodosia, Crimea, Novorossiysk, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Western, Crimea's, detections, Novorossiysk —, BlackSky, BlackSky Sevastopol

☆ Houthi attacks in the Red Sea: Ship attacked by Iran-backed rebels believed to have sunk
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A Greek-owned coal carrier appears to have capsized in the Red Sea days after it was struck by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, according to a report published by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The MV Tutor is thought to be the second ship sunk by Houthis since March, when the British-registered vessel Rubymar was downed after being struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi territory in Yemen. The rebels have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks directed at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Israel launched its invasion of Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. Israeli attacks in Gaza have since killed at least 37,396 Palestinians and injured another 85,523 people, according to the Ministry of Health there. Dozens of ships have been attacked in the Red Sea, as regional tensions flare over Israel's war in Gaza.

Persons: Christian Domarique, Sta Rosa, “, Al Masirah, CENTCOM Organizations: CNN, UK Maritime Trade Operations, Hamas, Ministry of Health, Getty, US Central Command Locations: Red, Iranian, British, Yemen, Gulf of Aden, Israel, Gaza, Metro Manila, AFP

The eventual language issued by the alliance about Ukraine during July’s summit in Washington is critical. Vague commitment in 2008It was back in 2008 at a NATO summit in Budapest that Ukraine was first offered a vague commitment of an invitation to join in the future. “Of course we’d be for ‘irreversible,’” a third Eastern European official said. Generally, throughout the conflict, British officials, the closest US allies in NATO, have consistently hoped the White House would take a more aggressive stance. “When the text is on the table and the countries start to negotiate we can see the full picture,” the Eastern European official said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, we’ll, Antony Blinken, Biden, Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, ” Stoltenberg, ”, doesn’t, It’s “, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Putin, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, NATO, Central, “, US, Biden, European, ”, US State Department, NATO Alliance, Eastern, Eastern European Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Washington, Russia’s, Ukraine, July’s, Russia, Prague, Hungary, Central European, Kyiv, Lithuanian, Vilnius, Budapest, Russian, ”, Kharkiv, London

☆ World’s nuclear powers strengthening arsenals as geopolitical tensions grow, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Nuclear-armed countries are strengthening their arsenals and several have made ready new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapons systems amid rising geopolitical tensions, a new report has found. “While the global total of nuclear warheads continues to fall as Cold War-era weapons are gradually dismantled, regrettably we continue to see year-on-year increases in the number of operational nuclear warheads,” the institute’s director Dan Smith said. “Accordingly, there is a growing concern that North Korea might intend to use these weapons very early in a conflict.”Protesters against nuclear weapons outside the US mission to the UN. Moscow has continued to make threats involving the use of nuclear weapons in light of Western aid for Ukraine, and in May 2024 carried out tactical nuclear weapons drills close to the Ukrainian border, SIPRI said. “We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the Cold War,” said Wilfred Wan, the director of SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Program.

Persons: Israel –, “, Dan Smith, Jung Yeon, ” SIPRI, ”, Hans M, Kristensen, Matt Korda, Erik McGregor, SIPRI, Wilfred Wan Organizations: London CNN —, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, ”, Korean, Getty, “, SIPRI’s, Ukraine, Hamas, Conference, Nuclear Weapons Locations: United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Stockholm, Seoul, South Korea, Swedish, Ukraine, saliency, ”, “, “ China, Korea, Gaza, Moscow, Ukrainian, Iran, Iraq, Syria

☆ U.S. Pier for Gaza Aid Is Failing, and Could Be Dismantled Early
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Helene Cooper | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The $230 million temporary pier that the U.S. military built on short notice to rush humanitarian aid to Gaza has largely failed in its mission, aid organizations say, and will probably end operations weeks earlier than originally expected. In the month since it was attached to the shoreline, the pier has been in service only about 10 days. But even the modest goals for the pier are likely to fall short, some American military officials say. When the pier was conceived, health authorities were warning that the territory was on the precipice of famine. In recent weeks, Israel has given relief organizations greater access, but the groups say the situation remains dire.

Persons: Biden Organizations: . Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Thailand to become first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The result of the vote means that Thailand will become only the third place in Asia to allow for marriage equality after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 and Nepal in 2023. Mark Phillips/CNNPrevious attempts to legalize marriage equality over the past decade had stalled. Nonetheless Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, of the Pheu Thai Party, had also promised to bring the marriage equality bill to parliament. Japan is the only Group of Seven (G7) country that has not recognized either same-sex civil unions or same-sex marriage, despite recent high court decisions that ruled not allowing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. South Korea does not legally recognize same-sex marriage but in February 2023, a South Korean court ruled in favor of a same-sex couple seeking equal health benefits.

Persons: ”, Panyaphon Phiphatkhunarnon, Thailand –, ” Panyaphon, Watit, ” Pokpong, Pokpong, Mark Phillips, Pita Limjaroenrat, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, “, Peerapon Boonyakiat, Xi Jinping Organizations: CNN, Love Foundation, Pokpong, “, Party, Thailand’s, Pheu Thai Party, Bangkok Pride Locations: Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia, Taiwan, Nepal, Bangkok, Sukhumvit, Myanmar, Brunei, Indonesia, Aceh, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, China, Beijing, South Korea, Korea

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