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☆ US makes final ceasefire push before election but doubts progress will be made in Gaza before next US president is known
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CIA Director Bill Burns was in Cairo on Thursday for discussions on Gaza and Lebanon, including a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The US envoys also met Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant to discuss “security arrangements” related to northern Israel, Lebanon and the return of hostages from Gaza. That makes it likely the war in Gaza will continue shadowing the US contest in its final days. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the opening of the 25th Parliament session in Jerusalem on October 28, 2024. The White House offered the same message; National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said purported drafts shared online do not reflect the current state of ceasefire talks.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Najib Mikati, Netanyahu, Biden, –, Bill Burns, Abdel Fattah El, Amos Hochstein, Brett McGurk, Hochstein, McGurk, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Kamala Harris ’, “, ” Harris, Debbie Hill, Harris, Burns, Yahya Sinwar, David Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Lebanon’s Mikati, Sean Savett, CNN’s Lauren Izso, Alex Marquardt, Mostafa Salem Organizations: CNN, American, CIA, White, “, University of Wisconsin -, Getty, Democratic, Hamas, Qatari, Hezbollah, White House, National Security Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Cairo, Iran, Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison, “, Jerusalem, AFP, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Doha, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, ” Israel

☆ Oil prices rise on optimism over solid U.S. fuel demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices rose on Thursday, extending the previous day's rally, driven by optimism over U.S. fuel demand following an unexpected drop in crude and gasoline inventories, while reports that OPEC+ may delay a planned output increase offered support. Oil prices rose on Thursday, extending the previous day's rally, driven by optimism over U.S. fuel demand following an unexpected drop in crude and gasoline inventories, while reports that OPEC+ may delay a planned output increase offered support. Nine analysts polled by Reuters had expected an increase in gasoline and crude inventories. "Expectations of a potential delay in the OPEC+ production increase were also supportive... A decision to postpone the increase could come as early as next week, two OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

Persons: Toshitaka Tazawa Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Energy Information Administration, Reuters, Fujitomi Securities, Organization of, Petroleum, OPEC Locations: U.S, OPEC, Russia, Israel

☆ Israel’s military leaders signal their work in Gaza and Lebanon is done. Will Netanyahu listen?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It comes as Lebanon’s prime minister says that a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel could be imminent. In Gaza, he said, “if we take out the northern Gaza Brigade commander, it’s another collapse…. Amir Cohen/ReutersIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly pledged “absolute victory.” His defense minister and longtime political tormentor Yoav Gallant has bristled at that goal. That’s a far cry from the existing, maximalist war aim of eliminating Hamas’ military and governance capabilities. A spokesperson for the prime minister declined to comment.

Persons: –, ” Herzi Halevi, Staff Herzi Halevi, Amir Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Najib Mikati, Amos Hochstein, Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, Mikati, Ariel Hermoni, Gallant, “, Netanyahu Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israel Defense Forces ’, “, General Staff, Hezbollah, Gaza, Staff, Reuters, CNN, Defense, State Locations: Jerusalem, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, there’s, Reuters Israeli, we’re, Iran, Qatar

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

TEL AVIV — Senior White House officials will travel to Israel on Thursday, a U.S. official and a source briefed on the matter told NBC News, as the Biden administration intensifies efforts to end the conflicts in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The officials are expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the possibility of a deal to end the fighting in Lebanon, the source said. Brett McGurk, National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East, and Amos Hochstein, a U.S. special envoy with a focus on Lebanon, are also expected to meet other senior Israeli officials, the source said. McGurk and Hochstein will engage the U.S. ally on a range of issues including Gaza, Lebanon, hostages and Iran, the U.S. official said. But the visit of McGurk and Hochstein comes amid growing optimism in Israel that a cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon could now be reached without a deal to end the war in Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Brett McGurk, Amos Hochstein, McGurk, Hochstein, Michael “ Erik ” Kurilla, William Burns, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Organizations: TEL AVIV — Senior White House, U.S, NBC, National Security, U.S . Central Command, CIA Locations: TEL, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, U.S, Iran, Cairo, Hezbollah

☆ Oil prices steady on shrinking U.S. crude inventories
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices stabilized on Wednesday on industry data showing a surprise drop in U.S. crude and gasoline inventories, following two previous sessions of losses on the prospect of hostilities easing in the Middle East. U.S. crude oil and fuel stocks fell last week, market sources said on Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute figures. Crude stocks dipped by 573,000 barrels in the week ended Oct. 25, the sources said on condition of anonymity. Gasoline inventories lost 282,000 barrels, and distillate stocks fell by 1.46 million barrels, the sources said. On Monday, prices lost about 6% after Israel's retaliatory strike on Iran over the weekend missed Tehran's oil infrastructure.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, U.S, Israeli Locations: Midland , Texas, Lebanon, Iran

☆ Where Trump's standing with Puerto Rican voters will be put to the test: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

In today’s edition, national political correspondent Steve Kornacki breaks down the key areas where Donald Trump's standing with Puerto Rican voters will be tested. Where Trump’s support among Puerto Rican voters will be put to the testSteve KornackiDonald Trump’s campaign appearance in Allentown, Pa., this evening comes amid questions over whether the fallout from his Madison Square Garden rally will cost him support among Puerto Rican voters. Allentown is a majority-Hispanic city of 125,000, and about one-quarter of its overall population is of Puerto Rican descent — one of the highest concentrations of Puerto Ricans anywhere in the U.S. Pennsylvania’s polls will close at 8 p.m. EST on Election Night, but we may get a big clue about Trump’s Puerto Rican support before that. Majority-Hispanic Osceola County in Florida, just south of Orlando, is a large county (population about 450,000 — and growing) that’s about one-third Puerto Rican.

Persons: Steve Kornacki, Donald Trump's, Mat Dixon, Steve Kornacki Donald Trump’s, Trump, Kamala Harris, it’s, suburbanites, Matt Dixon “, Donald Trump, Harris, —, Arnold Palmer, Read, Matt → Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Puerto Rican, Trump, Puerto Ricans, U.S, Democratic, Keystone State, Osceola, United Locations: Allentown, Pa, Madison, Puerto, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rican, Reading, Bethlehem, Lebanon, Hazleton, Easton, Puerto Ricans, Keystone, Osceola County, Florida, Orlando, Osceola, what’s, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, United States

Legal experts say an attempt to overturn the 2024 election results would be more difficult than in 2020. And a lost Chopin waltz is discovered after 200 years. Legal experts say those changes would make another attempt to overturn the result of the election much more difficult and unlikely. If Trump attempted to overturn the election result in Congress, he’d be up against the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act. This election season, voters said they are disillusioned by both major parties, especially over the handling of the war in Gaza.

Persons: Andrea Mitchell, Antony Blinken’s, Chopin, Donald Trump, Trump, he’d, Matthew Sanderson, Kamala Harris, JD Vance, hadn’t, Tony Hinchcliffe, ”, Hinchcliffe —, ➡️ Elon Musk, Harris, ➡️ Jeff Bezos, “, WaPo, ➡️, Democratic Sen, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Isaac Herzog, Antony Blinken, Nathan Howard, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar’s, Blinken, Brittany Randall, Kamberlyn Bowler, ” Randall, Freddie Freeman, Jay Johnston, Bob’s, Helene, Milton, Matthew Perry’s, Suzaenne Perry, Mustafa Hussain, Vanessa Leroy, — Zara Katz, Brooks, Jolie, Elizabeth Robinson Organizations: NBC, Trump, Count, Washington , D.C, Trump’s New, PAC, The Washington Post, Democratic, ➡️ Authorities, Getty, U.S, United Nations, West Bank ., CDC, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, JPMorgan, Cuban, NBC News, American, RNC, Ninja Locations: Washington ,, Georgia, Trump’s New York City, Puerto Rico, Michigan, Portland , Oregon, Vancouver , Washington, Iran, Tel Aviv, AFP, Israel, Washington, Gaza, Lebanon, Beirut, U.S, Junction , Colorado, “, Dearborn , Michigan, Dearborn, Detroit

☆ 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

☆ CNN bans Ryan Girdusky for telling Mehdi Hasan 'I hope your beeper doesn't go off'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ryan Girdusky made the comment during a heated debate with Mehdi Hasan, a prominent British-American broadcaster and an outspoken critic of Israel's war in Gaza, on "CNN Newsnight" with host Abby Phillip. As the debate turned fractious, Girdusky and Hasan sparred over whether the latter had been labeled an anti-Semite. When Phillip called out the comment, Girdusky apologized, claiming he heard Hasan say he supported Hamas. Girdusky appeared indignant on social media in the hours afterwards and said in a tweet "apparently you can't go on CNN if you make a joke." NBC News has contacted both Hasan and Girdusky overnight for comment.

Persons: Ryan Girdusky, Mehdi Hasan, Abby Phillip, Tony Hinchcliffe, Donald Trump's, Hasan sparred, I'm, Hasan, Girdusky, Phillip Organizations: CNN, New, NBC Locations: Lebanon, British, American, Gaza

☆ Naim Qassem: Hezbollah names a new leader to replace Nasrallah. Here’s what we know about him
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hezbollah has named Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as leader, over a month after his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Not for long.”The cleric had long been the group’s second-in-command, serving as deputy chief to the late Nasrallah. The 71-year-old Shiite cleric helped found Hezbollah in 1982, and has served seven consecutive terms as deputy secretary-general since 1991. Before killing Nasrallah, Israel also targeted his predecessor Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an airstrike in 1992. Qassem represented “the lower middle class,” while Nasrallah “belonged to the impoverished class in Lebanon,” Ali said.

Persons: Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem, “, Israel –, Yoav Gallant, Nasrallah, ” Mohanad Hage Ali, Malcolm H, ” Hashem Safieddine, “ Harakat al, –, Amal, Nabih, Israel, Abbas, Ali, ”, Nasrallah “, ” Ali Organizations: CNN, group’s Senior, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, Lebanese Locations: group’s, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Beirut, Lebanese, Kfar Kila, “, Nabih Berri, Gaza

☆ Ryan Girdusky: CNN says conservative commentator who made a racist ‘joke’ on air is banned
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hasan then asked Phillip, “Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?” Girdusky responded by falsely equating Hasan’s Palestinian support with the terrorist group Hamas. You know that,” Phillip told Girdusky. Girdusky said he apologized because he thought Hasan said he supported Hamas, a claim Philip and Hasan dismissed. After the show, Gurdusky posted on X, “Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Trump campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: New York CNN —, Abby Phillip, ”, Mehdi Hasan, Ryan Girdusky, “, Hasan, Phillip, ” Girdusky, ” Phillip, Girdusky, Philip, It’s, Gurdusky, Donald Trump’s, Tony Hinchcliffe, Hinchcliffe, Trump, ” Trump, Danielle Alvarez Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — CNN, CNN, ” CNN, America, Madison Locations: New York, Lebanon, Israel, Puerto Rico

☆ Hezbollah named its new leader, a long-serving deputy, after Israel killed his predecessor
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hezbollah on Tuesday named Naim Qassem as its chief after longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed. AdvertisementHezbollah announced a new leader, Naim Qassem, after Israel killed both its longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah, and the person who had been expected to succeed him. He was the deputy leader of the Lebanon-based militant group, and had been for decades. Qassem helped found Hezbollah in the 1980s and was first made its deputy leader in 1991 under Abbas al-Musawi. AdvertisementHe did not take over as leader when al-Musawi was killed in 1992, and remained deputy all through Nasrallah's 32-year stint.

Persons: Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem, —, Israel, Abbas, Musawi, Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine, Safieddine Organizations: NBC, Service, NBC News, Amazon, US, US Department of State, Middle East Media Research, The United Nations Development Program Locations: Lebanon, Beirut, Qassem, Israel, America, Lebanese

☆ Republicans are mobilizing expat votes for Trump in Israel, hoping to tip the scale in battleground states
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

According to the FVAP, only about 5% of American voters in Israel cast their ballot in 2020. AdvertisementHe said American voters in Israel will be asking, '"Which presidency is the one that will save the lives of my children?" He said his in-laws plan to vote for Harris, while his wife may vote for Trump for the first time. In Trump-friendly Israel, American expats are dividedIn general, Israel is Trump-friendly territory. He said that among American voters in Israel, Orthodox Jews are more likely to support Trump, while secular Jews tend to favor Harris.

Persons: —, Judith Segaloff, Segaloff, Expats, Donald Trump, AHMAD GHARABLI, iVote, Heather Stone, they've, Kamala Harris, Stone, Sen, JD Vance, Trump's, Harris, Trump, Raphael Gantshar, Gantshar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abraham, SAUL LOEB, Tzvi Silver, I'm, Silver, Langer, Uriel Abulof, Abulof, Bibi, Here's Organizations: Service, West Bank, International Court of Justice, Republican Overseas, Getty, Voting, Israel, CBS News, Democratic National Committee, Republican, New Yorker, Abraham Accords, Trump, Accords, Langer Research, Jewish, Tel Aviv University's School of Political Science, Israeli, Republicans Overseas Locations: Israel, AFP, iVote Israel, New York , New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Gaza, Lebanon, New, New Jersey, PORI

☆ Israel’s strikes on Iran shattered a forty-year taboo. Tehran may now be forced to rethink its defense strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Israel openly said it conducted “precise strikes” on military targets in Iran. “Israel now has broader aerial freedom of operation in Iran,” Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, touting achievements in the attack. The idea was that if Israel were to strike Iran, Tehran would retaliate by unleashing its militias against Israel. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they have no intention of weaponizing the country’s nuclear program, while simultaneously using its potential as leverage in negotiations with the West. “Even the more hawkish American presidents have not favored taking military strikes because the most likely outcome is that, at some point, that will make Iran turn nuclear,” Parsi said.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Israel didn’t, “, ”, Daniel Hagari, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nicole Grajewski, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Mohammad Ali Shabani, Amwaj.media, Trump, Fatemeh, Parsi, Grajewski Organizations: CNN, Schools, Iran’s, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Nuclear, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Israel, West, Bushehr Nuclear Power, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: CNN — Iran, Republic, Israel, Iran, Islamic Republic, Israeli, Damascus, “ Israel, Tehran, Washington, Syria, Israel’s, Gaza, Lebanon, London, Iraq, Bushehr

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

A Palestinian inspects the damage after an overnight Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on October 27. Here’s what to know from the weekend:In Gaza:• An Israeli strike killed several people at a school west of Gaza City on Sunday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense. Israel’s military claimed it targeted Hamas operatives in the strike. At least 30 medical staff were detained by Israeli forces at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health. In Israel:• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel’s strikes on Iran had severely damaged Tehran’s defense capabilities, without providing further details on what was targeted.

Persons: Stringer, Kamal Adwan, Khalil Al, ”, António Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Yoav Gallant, • Organizations: Civil Defense, Kamal, enclave’s Ministry of Health, CNN, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, World Health Organization, United Nations ’, •, Gaza Locations: Beit Lahia, Gaza, AFP, Iran, Israeli, Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Aqsa, Israel, Egypt

☆ Foreign investors flock to flagship Saudi economic conference — but face less free-flowing cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A delegate arrives at the King Abdulaziz Conference Centre in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum. The kingdom's $925 billion sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, saw its assets jump 29% to 2.87 trillion Saudi riyals ($765.2 billion) in 2023 — and local investment was a major driver. "Value meaning hiring, developing the asset management ecosystem, creating new products, bringing in talent, and investing in Saudi capital markets also. Oil prices and the Saudi economy appear to so far have stayed largely unscathed, dropping 4% early Monday after Israel's weekend strike on Iran. A key reason for that may be the rapprochement deal the kingdom signed with Iran, brokered by China, in March 2023.watch now

Persons: Nureldine, it's, Omar Yacoub, Yacoub, Fadi Arbid, Brent, Arbid, Yemen's, Israel Organizations: King Abdulaziz Conference Centre, Future Investment Initiative, Afp, Getty, Investment Initiative, CNBC, U.S, ABS Global, Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Saudi Arabia's, Amwal Capital Partners, OPEC, Eastern, Ritz, Carlton, Israel Locations: Saudi Arabia's, Riyadh, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, —, Dubai, Carlton Riyadh, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Tel Aviv, China

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

☆ As Gaza Cease-Fire Talks Resume, Little Progress Is Expected Before the U.S. Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | More About Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the Biden administration makes a final diplomatic push in the Middle East before next week’s U.S. presidential election, little is expected to be achieved before the result is known, officials and analysts in the region said on Monday. Envoys from Israel, Egypt, the United States and Qatar renewed talks in Doha, the Qatari capital, on Monday over a cease-fire in Gaza. American mediators were also expected this week to continue to try to reach a truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive diplomacy. Osama Hamdan, a Hamas leader, said on Sunday that the group would only agree to a permanent cessation of hostilities, dashing hopes that Israel’s recent killing of the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, would bring about a swift change in its negotiating position.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Osama Hamdan, Yahya Sinwar Organizations: Hamas Locations: Israel, Egypt, United States, Qatar, Doha, Gaza, Lebanon

☆ 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

“A complete jump ball,” said Dennis Lennox, a Republican strategist who works in Michigan. “Nobody really knows what will happen.”Beyond the suburbs, Republicans see opportunities to peel off traditionally Democratic voters, like Black men. Now, many Lebanese American and Palestinian American voters in Michigan say they will not vote for Harris under any circumstance. And she signaled that she believes support for Harris from Republicans like Upton could be key to the race. “This is the center of the political universe, here in Michigan.”Alex Seitz-Wald reported from Camden, Maine; Henry Gomez reported from Detroit, Michigan.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Haley Stevens, Harris, Donald Trump, “, ”, she’s, Sen, Mitt Romney, It’s, Liz Cheney, Fred Upton, Trump, Ron Robinson, “ I’ve, ” Robinson, Biden, it’s, Dennis Lennox, “ Trump, ” Lennox, Barack Obama, Pamela, Harris canvasser, —, Obama, I’ve, Liz Cheney's, Alabas, Lyin ’ Kamala Harris, ” Trump, Dick Cheney, Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trump, Boulos, Lara Trump, Trump’s, Jill Stein, ‘, Gretchen Whitmer, Upton, Tim Walz, ” Whitmer, Republicans don’t, Jennifer Conlin, Ann Arbor, “ I’m, ” Conlin, …, ’, Paul Hudson, Hillary Scholten, ” Hudson, ” Alex Seitz, Wald, Henry Gomez Organizations: DETROIT, Democratic, Democrat, Democratic Party, Republican, Utica City, Michigan House, Trump, Michigan Arab, U.S, Lebanese, Palestinian American, Lebanese American Democrat, Dearborn, Renaissance, Republican National Committee, NBC News, Republicans, ” Locations: Michigan, Gaza, Oakland County, Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, R, Utah, ”, Detroit’s Macomb County, Utica, “, LaSalle Washington, Washington, Lebanon, Dearborn, Iraq, Lebanese American, Rochester, Ann, Grand, Camden , Maine, Detroit , Michigan

☆ Israeli MP behind bill to expel key UN agency accuses US of interfering with process
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Dana Karni | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Israeli government has claimed that some of the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) staff are affiliated with Hamas. UNRWA has strongly denied the allegations, but several governments suspended funding for the agency earlier this year while the allegations were investigated. The MP, Yulia Malinovsky, told CNN that US Ambassador Jacob Lew has contacted several opposition leaders, including Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, in an effort to get the legislation stopped. The US State Department told CNN that as a matter of policy, it would not comment on private diplomatic conversations. Malinovsky told CNN that she is determined UNRWA should no longer receive “five-star treatment” in Israel.

Persons: Yulia Malinovsky, Jacob Lew, Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Daniel Hagari, Nukhba, Israel Katz, Antonio Guterres, “, ’, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Biden, Malinovsky, ” Malinovsky, UNRWA “, ” Organizations: CNN, UN, West Bank, UN Relief and Works Agency, UN Relief, Hamas, UNRWA, US State Department, West, Israel Defense Forces, US, Canada Locations: Gaza, Israel, West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, ”, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea

☆ Iran says it has a ‘right to self-defense’ after Israel attack, as U.S. urges end to missile exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Iran responded to that attack with a drone and missile barrage on Israel that was at the time unprecedented. Israel retaliated with a limited strike on Iran which caused little damage. U.S. defense officials told NBC News that Israel had told their American counterparts about Saturday's strikes ahead of time, but that the U.S. was not involved in the attack. "The fact that Iran is downplaying the attack and what's been hit is good news," he told NBC News on the phone. "Whether Israel and Iran will think like this is a different matter," he added.

Persons: Biden, “ it’s, Masoud Pezeshkian, Abbas Araghchi, Pezeshkian, Israel, ” Jordan, “, Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, Michael Milshtein, Yossi Mekelberg, what's Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, U.S, NBC News, IDF, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, American, Palestinian Studies, Tel Aviv University Dayan Center, Chatham House’s, North Africa Program Locations: Iran, Israel, America, Tehran, Khuzestan, Ilam, East, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, ”, Iraq, Beirut, Gaza, Lebanon, Damascus, Yemen, Syria, U.S

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