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☆ All eyes are on America as an uncertain world awaits critical election result
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alexander Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The “leader of the free world” always holds a huge sway over the 7.9 billion people who don’t get a vote. The election “will have significant implications virtually for everyone in the world — for good or evil,” said Dong Wang, an international studies professor at Peking University. Trump and Harris have “completely different competing visions of the global order,” said Wang, executive director at the university’s Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. And so influential Chinese observers see Trump as one who brings unwelcome chaos and unpredictability — as well as his beloved tariffs. During his first term, he started a trade war with Beijing, imposing $360 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods.

Persons: don’t, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, ”, Thomas Shannon Jr, Harris, “, Shannon, Trump, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, Dong Wang, Wang Organizations: United, State Department, Peking University . Trump, university’s Institute for Global Cooperation, Biden, Trump Locations: East, Europe, ”, —, U.S, Beijing, China, Washington, Taiwan

CNN —An American-Iranian journalist who once worked for a US-funded broadcaster is believed to have been detained in Iran, according to his former employer and multiple press freedom groups. Iran has not acknowledged detaining Valizadeh and the Iranian mission to the United Nations has declined to comment on his situation. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which focuses on Iran, also believes Valizadeh is being held in Evin. Iran has a long history of using dual nationals as bargaining chips in its troubled relationship with the West. It is currently marking the 25th anniversary of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, in which 52 US citizens were held captive for 444 days.

Persons: Reza Valizadeh, Valizadeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ”, Yeganeh Rezaian, “ Organizations: CNN, Radio Farda, Free, Radio Liberty, RFE, United Nations, US State Department, Farda, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Intelligence Organization, Protect Journalists, Rights, News Agency, Department of State’s, State Department, US Locations: American, Iranian, Iran, Tehran, Free Europe, Switzerland, United States, Israel, New York, Iran’s, Evin, East, North Africa

☆ Peanut the squirrel: Man who took in orphaned animal says it’s ‘surreal’ officials euthanized his pet
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

This undated image provided by Mark Longo shows him with his pet squirrel, Peanut. The state Department of Environmental Conservation took the animals Wednesday from Longo’s home and animal sanctuary in rural Pine City, near the Pennsylvania border. Longo has said he was working to get Peanut – also known as P’Nut or PNUT – certified as an educational animal. Longo said he started caring for Peanut after the animal’s mother was hit by a car in New York City seven years ago. After helping the animal recover from injuries, Longo said, he and his wife were planning to release the creature into the woods.

Persons: ” Mark Longo, Mark Longo, Longo, “, ”, Fred Organizations: of Environmental Conservation, DEC, Chemung County Health Department, New York City Locations: York, New York, Pine City, Pennsylvania, Chemung County

☆ U.S. says Iranian-American held in Iran as tensions high following Israeli attack on country
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Valizadeh had worked for Radio Farda, an outlet under Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that’s overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The State Department told the AP that it was “aware of reports that this dual U.S.-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran” when asked about Valizadeh. “We are working with our Swiss partners who serve as the protecting power for the United States in Iran to gather more information about this case,” the State Department said. The Voice of America, another U.S. government-funded media outlet overseen by the Agency for Global Media, first reported the State Department was acknowledging Valizadeh’s detention in Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian state television aired footage Sunday of different cities across the country marking the anniversary of the embassy takeover.

Persons: Reza Valizadeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Valizadeh, Radio Farda, Iran ”, Hossein, Khamenei, ”, America, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hassan Nasrallah, Yahya Sinwar Organizations: Associated Press, U.S . State Department, American Embassy, Iran’s, Radio Farda, Radio Free, Liberty, U.S . Agency for Global Media, Radio, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, Human Rights, News Agency, The State Department, State Department, United Nations, America, Agency for Global Media, Embassy, Guard, U.S Locations: Iranian, American, Iran, Tehran, Israel, U.S, Radio Free Europe, United States, South Korea, Valizadeh, Lebanese

Peanut, the Instagram-famous squirrel that was seized from its owner's home Wednesday, has been euthanized by New York state officials. The statement said one of the officials involved in the investigation into Peanut and Fred was bitten by the squirrel. Longo brought Peanut him home, ultimately caring for the squirrel for eight months before trying to release it back into the wild. Since then, Peanut has won over the internet's hearts, amassing 537,000 followers on his Instagram page run by Longo. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you," Longo wrote on Peanut's Instagram Wednesday.

Persons: Fred, Mark Longo, Peanut, Longo, " Longo, Peanut's, ” Organizations: The New York State Department of Environmental, of Health, of Environmental, AP, DEC, Upstate Locations: New York, Chemung County, Pine City, N.Y, New York City, Pine County , New York, Upstate New York

☆ Iran signals possible change in its nuclear doctrine and says it has the capacity to make nukes
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Aurora Almendral | Amin Khodadadi | Aurora Almendral Is A London-Based Editor With Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Kharrazi added that "the only thing currently prohibiting this is the leader’s fatwa," but indicated that Iran’s nuclear doctrine could change if the nation faced an existential threat. A fatwa is a ruling by an Islamic leader or body; Khamenei issued a fatwa against nuclear weapons in 2003. The spokesperson added that the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess that the supreme leader has not made a decision to resume its nuclear weapons program. “That said,” the spokesperson added, “we take any nuclear escalation by Iran incredibly seriously and will respond accordingly.”Iran has long denied it was seeking a nuclear weapons program after abandoning one in 2003. “There is a possibility that the range of Iran’s missiles may increase.”Iran has long denied it was seeking a nuclear weapons program after abandoning one in 2003.

Persons: Israel, Kamal Kharrazi, ”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Al Mayadeen, Kharrazi, Khamenei, William Burns, Netanyahu, “, Hossein, ” Kharrazi, Barack Obama, Donald Trump Organizations: CIA, State Department, NBC News, Israel Defence Forces, U.S, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Iran, Lebanese, United States, U.S, Israel, Gaza, Europe, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ New York state officials seize Instagram-famous squirrel named Peanut from owner
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Longo brought Peanut home and cared for him for eight months before trying to release the squirrel into the great outdoors. Longo determined that Peanut lacked the survival skills to live in the wild and would remain an indoor squirrel. Longo is aware that it’s against New York state law to own a wild animal without a license. “If we’re not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know?” Longo said. Longo is not the first animal owner to protest the confiscation of a pet by New York authorities.

Persons: Fred, —, Mark Longo’s, Longo, ”, “, Mark Longo's, Mark Longo, ” Longo, Instagram, Peanut, Daniela, we’re Organizations: of Environmental, of Environmental Conservation, DEC, New York City, USA Locations: York, Pennsylvania, Pine City, N.Y, New York, Norwalk , Connecticut, Buffalo

☆ 8,000 of the troops Kim Jong Un sent to support Russia are about to hit the front lines, the US says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As many as 8,000 North Korean troops are being deployed to Kursk, US officials said on Thursday. "If these North Korean troops engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine they would make themselves legitimate military targets." "One of the reasons that Russia is turning to these North Korean troops is that it's desperate," Blinken said. Now he's turning to North Korean troops. AdvertisementSouth Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration has considered sending teams to observe North Korean troops in Ukraine, which it says will not require parliamentary consent.

Persons: they're, Antony Blinken, —, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, they've, Yoon Suk Organizations: US, Service, Kyiv, Ukrainian, South, State Department, North Korea, North, Ukraine, Pentagon, Austin, Research, South Korean Legislative, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Business Locations: Kursk, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, Pyongyang, Moscow, North Korea, South Korea, Poland, Seoul

☆ Instagram-famous squirrel named Peanut seized by New York state authorities
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Mark Longo with his pet squirrel, Peanut. Longo brought Peanut home and cared for him for eight months before trying to release the squirrel into the great outdoors. Longo is aware that it’s against New York state law to own a wild animal without a license. “If we’re not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know?” Longo said. Longo is not the first animal owner to protest the confiscation of a pet by New York authorities.

Persons: Fred, –, Mark Longo’s, Longo, Mark Longo, ”, “, ” Longo, Instagram, Peanut, Daniela, we’re Organizations: of Environmental Conservation, AP, DEC, New York City, USA Locations: York, Pennsylvania, Pine City, New York, Norwalk , Connecticut, Buffalo

Andrew Cuomo to the Department of Justice, alleging he made “criminally false statements” during closed-door testimony in June 2024. In the Republican-led committee’s referral, it says Cuomo “knowingly and willfully made materially false statements” to the panel during its investigation into the New York’s Covid-19 response. Cuomo also denied having discussions about the July 6 report being peer reviewed, according to the panel, which said documents show otherwise. The panel said Cuomo was not under oath during his testimony but was required to answer questions truthfully to Congress. Cuomo’s plan to centralize the pandemic response in the governor’s office also has received criticism, including from an independent report commissioned by his successor, Gov.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, General Merrick Garland, Cuomo “, ”, Cuomo, “, Rich Azzopardi, ” Azzopardi, Rita Galvin, Galvin, Elise Stefanik, Brad Wenstrup, ” Wenstrup, “ You’re, Trump, ” Cuomo, Kathy Hochul Organizations: U.S, New York Gov, Department of Justice, Republican, of Health, U.S . Rep, ”, Ohio Republican Locations: New York, “

An overdue hunter in Alaska was found dead Wednesday after an apparent attack by at least one brown bear, state police said. A search was launched, and his remains were found at around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, state troopers said in a daily report of incidents. Investigators know a brown bear was involved because that's the only type of bear in the area, DeSpain said. Alaska has black bears, brown bears — which include grizzlies — and polar bears. There are around 100,000 black bears and around 30,000 brown bears in Alaska, the state Department of Fish and Game says on its website.

Persons: Tad Fujioka, ”, Fujioka, Tim DeSpain, DeSpain Organizations: Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Department of Public Safety, State, Alaska Department of Fish, grizzlies, of Fish Locations: Alaska, Sitka, Juneau . Alaska

☆ 'The Diplomat' season 2 finale completely shakes up Kate's bid for the vice presidency
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A major character death at the end of "The Diplomat" season two throws a wrench into the series. Keri Russell's titular diplomat, Kate Wyler, now faces a more challenging path to the vice presidency. AdvertisementNetflix's "The Diplomat" is a blisteringly fun political drama that leans into the melodrama of international politics — and like in its first season, season two concludes with yet another cliffhanger season finale. As she unravels the conspiracy behind the aircraft attack, she also has to contend with Vice President Grace Penn (an excellent Allison Janney) showing up in London. "The Diplomat" season two is streaming in full on Netflix.

Persons: Keri Russell's, Kate Wyler, —, Debora Cahn, It's, Grace Penn, Allison Janney, Kate, Grace, Keri Russell, Margaret Roylin, Nicolas Trowbridge, Trowbridge —, Trowbridge, Hal, Roylin, Rufus Sewell, she's, William Rayburn, Janney, that's, Russell, Rolling, Grace aren't, Hal ., Joe Biden's, Rayburn, Biden, Kamala Harris, Cahn Organizations: Service, British, Golden Globe, Netflix, United, State Department, United States Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Persian, States, London, Russian, Scotland, Europe, Russia, New York

Groups in favor of the ballot measure are making a final push as early voting is underway, with hundreds of thousands of ballots already cast. While some states, like California and Vermont, passed abortion rights ballot measures by well over 60%, in other states, such as Michigan and Ohio, they passed by about 56%. Jeanette Nuñez, who opposes the ballot measure, accused the abortion rights ads of being deceptive. And one state agency that regulates health care providers, including abortion clinics, launched a website last month opposing the ballot measure. “But they don’t necessarily connect that there’s a six-week abortion ban.”

Persons: Chelsea Daniels, ” Daniels, Court's Dobbs, Octavio Jones, —, Roe, Wade, it’s, ”, Fernand Amandi, Ron DeSantis, ” Amandi, Gov, Jeanette Nuñez, Nuñez, they're, “, Lauren Brenzel, there’s, Alex Berrios Organizations: MIAMI, Getty, Democratic, Republican, Republican Florida Gov, of Health, NBC News, Physicians for Human Rights, Network, The Florida Department, State’s, Security, Department of Transportation Locations: Florida, Parenthood’s Miami, Orlando, Fla, California, Vermont, Michigan, Ohio, Miami

UNRWA provides far more than humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. Many Palestinians see darker motives, viewing the UNRWA ban as Israel's latest attempt to make their lives unlivable, first imprisoning and bombing them, now taking away their main aid lifeline. Palestinians wait to receive medicines at the UNRWA health center in Khan Younis last month. Despite its endorsements, the United States is yet to resume funding to UNRWA after Israel's Oct. 7 allegations. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has said it will use other agencies, such as the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization, to distribute aid.

Persons: ”, Scott Paul, Ariel Schalit, ” Mustafa Barghouti, Ahmad Gharabli, Khan Younis, Bashar Taleb, —, Matthew Miller, “, David Lammy, Hazem Bader, Oren Marmorstein, António Guterres, Philippe Lazzarini Organizations: United Nations, UNRWA —, Hamas, UNRWA, Oxfam America, Palestinian National Initiative, NBC, United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, West Bank, Getty, ”, British, West, Foreign Ministry, NBC News, Israeli Foreign Ministry, Food, World Health Organization, General Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Jerusalem, AFP, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, United States, U.S, North Korea, West Bank, Hebron, Israel's

CNN has reached out to Terada for comment on the R-FBI’s role in Russian disinformation efforts, and ties to the state. Storm-1516 and R-FBI network members have spread at least 54 different disinformation narratives online since August 2023, according to Clemson and CNN’s analysis. “Does anyone believe that an American would be the spearhead of what some call the biggest Russian Disinformation operation since the cold war? TelegramAnother prominent figure in propagating Russian disinformation is American Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer who in 2020 accused then-presidential candidate Joe Biden of sexual harassment. The links between Terada’s group and other Russian disinformation efforts are at best opaque, which is likely no accident.

Persons: –, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Mira Terada, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Harris, Walz, Morgan Finkelstein, “ Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Win McNamee, ” Darren Linvill, Patrick Warren, “, Biden, Warren, Kamala, Influencers, John Mark Dougan, Dougan, he’s, Andrew Harnik, MAGA, IMbaMm8YVF, Darren Linvill, Linvill, ” Clemson, Maxim Shugaley, Terada, Vladimir Putin’s “, ” Prigozhin, Konstantin Pridybaylo, Ruslan Ostashko, Colin Gerard, Gerard, Alexander Dugin, picturing, Tara Reade, Joe Biden, Reade, ” Chay Bowes, Simeon Boikov, podcaster, Bowes, ” Warren, Sean Lyngaas, influencers Organizations: CNN, Clemson University’s, Russian Foundation, FBI, Storm, Democratic, Minnesota Gov, Clemson, Getty, NBC, Wired, Prigozhin’s, Internet Research Agency, Miami Chronicle, Boston Times, DC, IRA, Russian, Gov, National Intelligence, US State Department, Minnesota, Apple, Trump, Infrastructure Security Agency, ’, Federal Bureau, Investigation, Kremlin, Wagner Group, US Justice Department, ANO Dialog, BRICS Journalists Association, Washington Post, Center, Forensics Locations: Russian, Ukraine, West, San Francisco, Zambia, Savannah , Georgia, ”, “, American, Zambian, St . Petersburg, Florida, Moscow, Russia, Kazakhstan, Minnesota, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Bucks County , Pennsylvania, Bucks County ,, French, Irish, Sydney, European

☆ Israeli airstrike hits Gaza's Beit Lahia, Hezbollah names new leader after Knesset bans UNRWA
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alexander Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

It came hours after the Israeli parliament outlawed a key United Nations aid agency in a move that could throttle the supply of medicine, food and education in the devastated territory. Gaza airstrike kills dozensThe strike hit a five-story building in the northern city of Beit Lahia housing some 200 people, according to the Gaza government media office. The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday's airstrike from NBC News. The law bans UNRWA, the U.N.'s Palestinian aid agency, from operating inside Israel or having any contact with Israeli authorities. But Israel has long criticized UNRWA, alleging it has been infiltrated by Hamas and intensifying that pushback after Oct. 7.

Persons: —, Sheikh Naim Kassem —, Hassan Nasrallah, Kamal Adwan, It's, Philippe Lazzarini, Matthew Miller Organizations: Hezbollah, Palestinian Health Ministry, Health Ministry, Israel Defense Forces, NBC News, AFP, Getty, West Bank, UNRWA, State Locations: Gaza, Nations, Lebanon, Iran, Beit, Beit Lahia, Israel, United States, Washington, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Britain

☆ Small number of North Korean troops are already inside Ukraine, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A small number of North Korean troops are already inside Ukraine, according to two western intelligence officials, and officials expect that number to grow as the North Koreans complete training in eastern Russia and move toward the front lines of the war. The North Korean troops’ presence inside Ukraine goes a step beyond what NATO and the Pentagon confirmed on Monday, which is that roughly 10,000 North Korean troops are training in eastern Russia with some en route to Russia’s Kursk region. A US official said the US can not yet corroborate reports that North Koreans troops are already inside Ukraine. The Russians have been teaching North Korean soldiers basic Russian commands in training, like “fire” and “in position,” South Korean lawmakers told reporters on Tuesday. ‘The number may rise’South Korean intelligence has put the number of North Korean troops inside Russia right now at about 13,000, higher than the US and the UK.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, catchup, Matthew Miller, Andriy Yermak, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Yermak, Sullivan, ”, Sullivan “, ” Miller, CNN’s Haley Britzky, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, North Koreans, North, NATO, Pentagon, South Korea, Korean, State, National, North Korean, South, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, White House, “ Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russia’s Kursk, Kursk, “, Koreans, Ukrainian, Washington ,, ”, North Korea, Moscow, China, Pyongyang

Israel's parliament voted Monday to ban the operations of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main humanitarian aid agency operating in Gaza. "This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to #Palestine Refugees," Lazzarini wrote. UNRWA is a U.N. aid organization established in 1949 to provide aid and protection to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Some Israeli critics have said that the agency perpetuates a false narrative that Palestinians are refugees, which Lazzarini referenced in his statement. And U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was declared “persona non grata" by Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, and was banned from entering Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Philippe Lazzarini, Israel, Biden, Matthew Miller, Miller, Lazzarini, Netanyahu, Michael Martin, Boaz, Antonio Guterres, Israel Katz Organizations: United Nations, UNRWA, . State Department, State Department, Palestine Refugees, West, UN, Ireland, Agency, Assembly, Israel Defense Forces, . Interim Forces, U.N Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Israel, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, France, Germany, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, East, organization’s

Washington had pressed its ally in the hopes of ending the cycle of attacks and avoiding escalation into a wider war. Blinken said the U.S. is tracking the aid deliveries very carefully and “absolutely essential” that Israel comply. "Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives when it comes to Gaza,” Blinken said in Tel Aviv. (It also signed off on $9.5 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, as well as the conflict zones of Ukraine and Sudan.) But far-fetched as it might seem, it came up during Blinken’s meeting with the Saudi crown prince during this trip.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, it’d, Yahya Sinwar, Isaac Herzog, Nathan Howard, Amos Hochstein, Donald Trump, Netanyahu —, Netanyahu, Blinken, Israel, ” Blinken, “ It’s, Ibrahim Fakhroo, Sinwar, William Burns, Khalil al, “, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Ayman Safadi, we’ve, ” It’s Organizations: State Department, Getty, Israel, Hamas, Trump, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign, CIA, Qatari, Senior, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Crown, U.S, U.S . Locations: United States, Israel, Iran, Washington, Gaza, Egypt, Lebanon, Blinken, Tel Aviv, AFP, U.S, Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Qatar, Riyadh, Ukraine, Sudan, Saudi, Palestinian, Jordanian, London

☆ US approves $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan including advanced missile defense system
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Story The Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Taipei, Taiwan AP —The United States has approved $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including the first-time delivery to the self-ruled island of an advanced surface-to-air missile defense system, in a move that has drawn China’s criticism. Taiwan’s presidential office on Saturday thanked Washington for greenlighting the potential arms sales. Beijing last week held war games encircling Taiwan for the second time since Lai took office in May. The NASAMS system has been battle-tested in Ukraine and will help to strengthen the Taiwanese army’s air defense capabilities, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. China’s war games last week were aimed at practicing the “sealing off of key ports and key areas” around Taiwan, according to Chinese officials.

Persons: Washington, Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Karen Kuo, Sam Yeh, “ Organizations: Taiwan AP, Military, Getty, Foreign Ministry, Air Missile Systems, State Department’s Bureau, Political, Military Affairs, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, United States, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Pingtung county, AFP, Ukraine

☆ Jamshid Sharmahd: German-Iranian national and longtime US resident executed in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Benjamin Brown | Hamdi Alkhshali | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A German-Iranian national and longtime US resident has been executed in Iran after being convicted of terrorism offences, according to Iranian state media citing the country’s judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency. Jamshid Sharmahd, 69, was executed Monday morning for “planning and orchestrating a series of terrorist acts,” state-run IRNA and Press TV reported. His execution sparked condemnation from the United States and Germany. Sharmahd’s daughter Gazelle has repeatedly said her father is innocent and that he faced a sham trial due to his political activism and criticism of the Islamic Republic. Abram Paley, the US Deputy Special Envoy, last year met with Sharmahd’s family to discuss his imprisonment and death sentence.

Persons: Jamshid Sharmahd, Sharmahd’s, Gazelle, “, ” Israel, Sharmahd, ” Vedant Patel, Annalena Baerbock, ”, ” Baerbock, ” Sharmahd’s, Abram Paley Organizations: CNN, Press, State, Amnesty, United, United States ’ Office, US Locations: Iranian, Iran, United States, Germany, Islamic Republic, Shiraz, Western, Tehran

☆ Israel has banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. That could be devastating for millions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Salma Arafa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Israel’s parliament has voted to ban a nearly eight-decade-old United Nations agency that provides essential services for Palestinian refugees, a move that could have devastating consequences for millions of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. The move is expected to severely restrict the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in territories Israel occupies. In the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by a devastating Israeli war for more than a year, UNRWA serves some 1.7 million Palestinian refugees. Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty ImagesThe agency provides a wide range of aid and services to Palestinian refugees and their descendants, including shelter, healthcare, food and education. It is unclear who would assume assistance for the millions of Palestinian refugees who rely on UNRWA, if it wasn’t able to.

Persons: CNN —, Boaz, Yuli Edelstein, Israel, Antony Blinken, ’, Asma, Omar Al, ”, ” Yulia Malinovsky, Ilia Yefimovich, “, António Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Guterres, Guterres, Aida Touma, Suleiman, ” Touma, United Kingdom –, Lloyd Austin, Biden Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UNRWA, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Likud, US State Department, UN, Hamas, Israel, West Bank, Getty, Commission, Refugees, UNRWA …, Palestinian, World Health Organization, WHO, UNHCR, US Locations: Israel, Israel …, Gaza, United States, ”, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Gaza City, AFP, New York, Geneva, Brussels, UNHCR, Jerusalem, El Far’a, Palestinian Territory, Crescent, Israeli, Arab, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom

Israel’s Knesset opened its winter session on Monday against a backdrop of war in Gaza and Lebanon and after an Israeli strike on Iran on Saturday. UNRWAThe Knesset was set to debate on Monday bills that would make it illegal for Israeli officials to cooperate with UNRWA, the main U.N. agency that aids Palestinians. The bills would effectively shut down the agency’s work in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem within 90 days. According to the Jerusalem Post, the first bill states that UNRWA could no longer operate in Israel, while the second would abrogate the treaty that underpins the relationship between UNRWA and Israel. The Knesset has already voted in favor of advancing the bill and it is being prepared for a second and third reading.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Yuli Edelstein, Kan, Mr, Edelstein, Israel’s, Matthew Miller, UNWRA, Adalah Organizations: Likud, Division, Lawmakers, UNRWA, West Bank, United Nations, Department, Police Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Israel, East Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, United States

☆ Georgia’s president calls for rally to save ‘European future’ as thousands protest disputed election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Central Election Commission (CEC) said it had secured nearly 54% of the vote. Asked why she is refusing to recognize the results of the election, Zourabichvili said Georgian Dream had used “all the instruments” at its disposal to rig the election and called for an international investigation. Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP/Getty ImagesThe election commission told CNN it received 445 district-level complaints of irregularities on election day. European leaders criticized the bill and have since frozen Georgia’s accession process, just months after it was offered EU candidate status. The UNM was founded by former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been jailed since 2021 for abuse of power while in office.

Persons: CNN —, Salome Zourabichvili, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Zourabichvili, –, ’, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Giorgi Arjevanidze, ”, authoritarians, Matthew Miller, ” Zourabichvili, Vladimir Putin, Zurab, Nicoloz Samkharadze, “, Ivanishvili –, Soviet Union –, Mikheil Saakashvili Organizations: CNN, Election Commission, Getty, Georgian, European Union, EU, United National Movement, UNM Locations: Soviet, Europe, Tbilisi, Russia, AFP, United States, Soviet Union, Georgia

☆ As crowds surge for bread in Gaza, a boy helps his younger brother to drink
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Hannah Peart | Hannah Peart Is An Intern In The Nbc News London Bureau. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The 3-year-old in a frayed and holey T-shirt, appears unfazed by the destruction and dust, remnants of what was once a functioning store, now reduced to rubble in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis. “We came here to get bread for the house,” Ibrahim told an NBC News crew on Wednesday, adding that his family had 11 people. The boys watch as women and children crowd around outside Qala Bakery, the only functioning bread shop in the city of Khan Younis. Tense scenes as women fight for position to receive food at a bakery in Khan Younis. Long lines outside Qala Bakery in Khan Younis.

Persons: Khan Younis, Ibrahim, “, ” Ibrahim, Antony Blinken, Israel, Blinken, Lloyd Austin Organizations: NBC News, NBC, United Nations, State Department, U.S . Locations: Gaza’s, Khan, Qala, Gaza, Israel, U.S

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