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☆ Trump says he had ‘a very good phone call’ with Zelensky, discussed Russia-Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump said he “had a very good phone call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. It also comes amid concerns in Europe about what Trump’s policy toward the Russia-Ukraine war would be if he were to win the presidential election in November. “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and I had a very good phone call earlier today. Trump and Zelensky also have their own history. Last week, when Zelensky was in the US, he said that “everyone is waiting for November,” including Putin.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, Zelenskyy, ” Trump, Zelensky, ” “, ”, ” Zelensky, Russia –, Joe Biden, Hunter, Putin, Biden, Kylie Atwood, Mariya Knight Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Republican National Convention, Kyiv, NATO, Trump, White House, Ukraine Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Pennsylvania, American, Kyiv, Washington

☆ MH17 passengers’ relatives mark 10 years since plane was shot down over Ukraine, killing 298
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

AP —Relatives of passengers killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine gathered with officials at Australia’s Parliament House on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy that claimed 298 lives. So in that sense, I’m heartbroken that the conflict continues,” Paul Guard told Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). Relatives of MH17 passengers join officials at Australia's Parliament House in Canberra. The investigation concluded the missile was driven into Ukraine from a Russian military base near the city of Kursk and returned there after the plane was shot down. Putin said through an interpreter that Ukrainians were all fascists, had brought down MH17 themselves and that Ukraine had no right to exist, Abbott said.

Persons: Paul, Roger, Jill Guard, ” Paul, fatefully, MH17, Mick Tsikas, Penny Wong, ”, “, ” Wong, recommit, Mark Dreyfus, we’ve, ” Dreyfus, Pierre Crom, Tony Abbott, Abbott, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” Abbott, Russia Organizations: Malaysia Airlines, Paul Guard, ” Paul Guard, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Boeing, European, of Human, International Civil Aviation Organization Council, House, Australian, “, Australian Attorney, Australia, . Security, Aircraft Missile Brigade, Economic Cooperation, ABC Locations: Ukraine, Australia’s, Toowoomba, Russia, Soviet, Russian, Moscow, Ukrainian, Netherlands, Australia, Australia's, Canberra, Schiphol, Malaysian, Kuala Lumpur, Grabovo, Malaysia, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Philippines, Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam, Israel, Italy, Romania, United States, South Africa, Kursk, Asia, Beijing, Australian

☆ North Korean Diplomat Defects to the South, Shares News of Political Purge
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The defector, Ri Il-kyu, 52, made the comments in an interview with a newspaper in Seoul, which was also the first time his defection became public. Mr. Ri was a political counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba when he fled to South Korea last November. He is the most senior North Korean official known to defect to the South in nearly a decade. They were among the best-known North Korean diplomats dealing with Washington. But they soon disappeared from North Korean state media.

Persons: Kim Jong, Donald J, Trump, Kim, Ri Organizations: North, North Korean Embassy, North Korean, Chosun Ilbo, Washington Locations: United States, North Korean, Seoul, Cuba, South Korea, Korean

☆ As cartels take a stake in ‘green gold,’ US and Mexico rethink how avocados reach American kitchens
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When two US avocado inspectors were assaulted and detained at a police roadblock in the Mexican state of Michoacán last month, it sparked a costly international crisis. ‘Green gold’Avocados, the creamy fruit with the industry nickname “green gold,” are big business. Nearly three-quarters of Mexican avocados come from Michoacán, a state along the country’s Pacific coast with a volcanic belt running through it that makes its soil ideal for farming. The office of the Michoacán state prosecutor told CNN last month that they’ve opened an investigation into the incident. In 2022, exports of Mexican avocados were similarly halted for several days after one of the US inspectors working in Michoacán received a threatening phone call.

Persons: Weeks, “, Ario de, Cristopher Rogel, ” Romain Le Cour, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, Mexico Ken Salazar, they’ve, ”, Le Cour, Michoacán, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Victor Villalobos, Ken Melban, Brian, Melban, Brad Adams, ” Adams Organizations: CNN, US, US Department of Agriculture, Global, Transnational, Local, USDA, Plant Health, Service, Agriculture, ”, US State Department, AP, Climate Rights, US Forest Service Locations: Mexican, Michoacán, Mexico, Ario, Ario de Rosales, avocados, California, Michoacan

That deed was issued to “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand,” sparking speculation that Queen Elizabeth II had bought the unit at 50 United Nations Plaza. (She hadn’t.) As for Unit 11A in the Central Park-facing skyscraper, the sale was, in fact, made by the government of Canada and will act as the official residence of the Canadian consul general, according to Alexandra Vachon White, a spokeswoman for the consulate. The consulate got a sizable discount: According to Ondel Hylton of CityRealty, the unit was listed for nearly $11 million as recently as 2022. The building, while beautifully situated and sporting stately architecture, has faced deep discounts in recent years, said Mr. Hylton, a result of post-pandemic troubles.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth II, Alexandra Vachon White, Ondel Hylton, Hylton Organizations: United Nations, New, Commonwealth Locations: New Zealand, Canada, Manhattan, Commonwealth, CityRealty

☆ Democrats are still fretting about Biden’s disastrous debate. He’s ready to be done talking about it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Mj Lee | Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Aides to the president told CNN that not only are they no longer interested in discussing Biden’s on-stage fiasco last month, and there are simply no outstanding questions about the president’s political future to debate. “We’re done talking about the debate and focused on a singular mission: Defeating Donald Trump in November,” one Biden aide told CNN. Tuesday’s White House press briefing was once again dominated by questions about Biden’s health, mental fitness and the political fallout of the debate. “Jill and Valerie won’t let him go down in flames,” this adviser told CNN, referencing the president’s wife and sister by their first names. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jon Tester of Montana all said they thought Biden cannot win the election, a source familiar told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, Donald Trump, “, ”, Trump, It’s, Jill, Valerie won’t, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Jim Clyburn, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Sherrod Brown of, Jon Tester, Chuck Schumer, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, ” CNN’s Nikki Carvajal, Annie Grayer, Dana Bash, Ted Barrett, Michael Williams Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Diplomats, NATO, Biden, Capitol, Democratic, Monday, Democratic Convention, Trump, Democrat, Capitol Hill, Democrats ’, Democratic Rep, Sens, “ Locations: Biden’s, Tuesday’s, Washington, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Montana

☆ Before Biden can save Ukraine, he must use the NATO summit to save himself
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —The NATO summit was long planned to celebrate the alliance’s 75th anniversary, to lock in longterm military support for Ukraine and even to future-proof the West against a possible second term for Donald Trump. But his achievements, including Sweden and Finland’s entry into the group, will be eclipsed at the summit by his battle to save his political future. She added: “At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future.”Biden will also have an important audience overseas. “Is it going to be President Biden? On the eve of the summit, Biden’s campaign distributed a memo lauding his leadership in keeping Kyiv standing more than two years after the Russian invasion.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, George H.W, Biden, Sen, Patty Murray, ” Biden, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kurt Volker, ” Volker, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Volker, ”, Joe Biden, John Kirby, “, They’ve, Adam Smith, “ We’ve, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Joe ”, Putin, “ Donald Trump, Republican nominee’s, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Justin Trudeau, Giorgia Meloni, Trudeau, Keir Starmer, CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, NATO, Trump, Biden, United, Kyiv, Democratic, Senate, House Armed Services Committee, MSNBC, ABC News, Nordic, Republican, NATO Alliance, Canadian, Liberal Party, British Locations: Ukraine, Washington, George H.W . Bush, Sweden, Atlanta, Moscow, United States, Europe, Asia, European, Kyiv, Russian, Soviet Union, NATO, Toronto

Diplomats and officials who spoke with CNN said Rutte is seen as a staunch trans-Atlanticist and a consensus builder. “He is really a seasoned political official, and this is essential to keep the cohesion of the alliance,” a European official said. “It was just a very polite, slightly humorous way of dealing Trump, and Trump appreciated it,” Hoekstra recalled to CNN. “We are not there yet, but it is better than when Trump left,” the official told CNN. Biden likes Rutte personally, they get along well, and the US president sees them as sharing the same values, the official told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte, ”, “ Trump, Pete Hoekstra, ” Hoekstra, ‘ Touche, ’ ”, “, ” Rutte, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Biden, “ Rutte, Putin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Dutch, Diplomats, Trump, Kyiv – Locations: Washington, NATO, Russia, Netherlands, European, Europe, Ukraine, China, US, ”

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced plans to supply new air defenses to Ukraine in a speech opening the NATO summit – providing much-needed support for the country at a critical juncture in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Meanwhile, Italy would also provide a SAMP-T long-range air defense system. In addition to the long-range aerial defense systems, the US and other countries are also providing Ukraine with “dozens” of short- and medium-range systems to help Kyiv intercept Russian drones and missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would fight for “decisive actions” from the United States and Europe to help Ukraine. “All we allies knew before this war Putin thought NATO would break,” Biden said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Zelensky, Donald Trump, Trump, Bill Clinton, –, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Biden’s, Stoltenberg Organizations: Washington CNN, NATO, Patriot, US, HAWKs, IRIS, Ukraine, United, Mellon, Treaty, “ Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Romania, Netherlands, Italy, United States, Israel, Russian, Canada, Norway, Spain, Europe, “, Russia, –

☆ Hopes for a Diplomatic Opening Rise Under Iran’s New President
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With the election of the reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian as president, Iran may see a softening of its absolutist foreign policy and even an opportunity for a new diplomatic opening, current and former officials and experts say. Mr. Pezeshkian, a cardiologist, member of Parliament and former health minister, has little direct experience in foreign policy. But he has pledged to empower Iran’s most elite and globalist diplomats to run his foreign agenda, raising hopes of a warmer relationship with the West. Mr. Pezeshkian “represents a more pragmatic posture and less confrontational posture toward the outside and the inside,” said Dennis B. Ross, who served as a special assistant to President Barack Obama and is a longtime Mideast negotiator. Still, Mr. Ross noted, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “would do a great deal to limit” Mr. Pezeshkian’s international agenda.

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Pezeshkian, Pezeshkian “, ”, Dennis B, Ross, Barack Obama, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “ Locations: Iran

The concern is compounded because many believe Trump poses a threat to the future of NATO. Questions about Biden and his political future inject further uncertainty into a summit where key allies are also dealing with major political changes. However, as one former senior US diplomat said, there will “certainly be a spotlight” on Biden at the NATO summit. Adding to the pressure is the increased significance of this year’s NATO summit. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has sought to focus attention on the content of the summit and away from Biden’s debate performance.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Biden, — Keir Starmer —, Emmanuel Macron’s, —, he’s, Antony Blinken, spry, “, Lloyd Austin, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: CNN, NATO, Labour Party, Biden, Brookings Institute, North Atlantic Council, White Locations: Washington ,, Russia, United, US, Austin, European, Italy, Ukraine, United States, NATO

☆ Iranians are voting in a presidential runoff. What will it mean for the world?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Here’s what to expect on Friday’ second round of elections, and how the results could impact Iran and the world. During the first round, Pezeshkian led with 42.5% of the votes, followed by Jalili with 38.6%, according to the state news agency IRNA. In a move that shocked observers, the man who led Ghalibaf’s electoral campaign, Sami Nazari Tarkarani, also declared his support for reformist Pezeshkian, Khabar Online reported. People drive past a billboard with pictures of presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili on a street in Tehran, Iran, on Monday. Presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili attend an election debate at a television studio in Tehran, Iran on Tuesday.

Persons: CNN — Iran’s, Ebrahim Raisi, Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Raisi, Hossein Amir, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian, –, Khamenei, ”, hardliner Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Jalili, ” Parsi, Sardar Mohsen Rashid, Rashid, Sami Nazari Tarkarani, Ghalibaf, Sanam Vakil, “, ” Sina Toossi, ” Pezeshkian, Toossi, Majid Asgaripour, Iran’s, ” Jalili, Israel sharpens, Israel “, Israel Katz, ” Ali Vaez, Vaez, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Saeed Jalili , Morteza Fakhri, Parsi, ” Vakil Organizations: CNN, Foreign, Guardian Council, IRNA, Quincy Institute, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pezeshkian, Khabar, North Africa, Chatham House, Center for International Policy, Trump, Islamic, International Atomic Energy Agency, UN, Israeli, Group, Reuters Locations: Islamic Republic, Iran, tatters, Israel, United States, Tehran, Washington, Iranian, East, London, Washington ,, Gaza, Lebanon

☆ Fight Over Seabed Agency Leadership Turns Nasty
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Eric Lipton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rather, they are efforts in the seemingly genteel parlors of a United Nations-affiliated agency, meant to sway decisions related to the start of seabed mining of the metals used in electric vehicles. It is all part of a nasty fight over who will be the next leader of the International Seabed Authority, which controls mining in international waters worldwide. The accusations of trickery underscore the controversial nature of the agency’s coming agenda and the billions of dollars at stake. Some countries are fiercely opposed to the idea of mining the world’s deepest waters while others see it as a badly needed economic opportunity. Whoever helms the agency’s top post over the next few years will have considerable influence over these decisions.

Persons: helms Organizations: United Nations, Authority

☆ Israel Kills a Top Commander of Hezbollah, Which Replies With a Rocket Barrage
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Euan Ward | Thomas Fuller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli forces killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Wednesday in a drone strike in southern Lebanon, prompting the Lebanese militia to retaliate with a heavy rocket barrage across the border. The flare-up came as Western diplomats worked to avoid a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, a danger that appears to have grown in recent weeks. Cross-border exchanges of fire have intensified, and Israeli officials have publicly spoken of shifting their military focus from Hamas in the Gaza Strip to Hezbollah, a far more advanced and potent threat. Jean-Yves Le Drian, President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy to Lebanon, was among the people with whom he met, according to a person close to the talks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. He said Mr. Nasser had led Hezbollah’s Aziz unit, one of the group’s main fighting forces along the Lebanese border.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Jean, Yves Le Drian, Emmanuel Macron’s, Mohammad Naameh Nasser, Abu Naameh, Mr, Nasser, Hezbollah’s Aziz Organizations: Hezbollah, White, U.S, French Locations: Lebanon, Western, Israel, Gaza, tamping, Paris, Lebanese

The administration and other Western governments are scrambling to keep up with the mounting danger ISIS-K poses. Before this year, U.S. and other Western officials believed ISIS-K had the intent but not the ability to orchestrate attacks abroad. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe since 2004. ISIS-K also launched a major attack in Iran this year that killed dozens, and other plots were disrupted in Europe. The Taliban sees ISIS-K as a threat to its rule and has launched a series of attacks on the group.

Organizations: Biden, U.S ., Moscow's, Moscow's Crocus City Hall, ISIS, Embassy, Taliban, White House National Security Council Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan, U.S, Moscow's Crocus, Europe, Iran, Africa, Khorasan, Washington, United States, Doha

☆ The reason why NATO and Europe found Biden’s debate performance so alarming
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Joe Biden’s performance at the CNN presidential debate against Donald Trump has raised concerns with US allies - particularly within NATO and Europe. Those concerns, to be clear, are not about whether or not Biden is fit to make decisions. Nor is the concern that Biden’s stumbling, at times incomprehensible, performance has ensured a second Trump term. That has been at the heart of European strategic thinking since Trump took office in 2016 and has continued through Biden’s presidency. The concerns that America’s allies have are that the most powerful country on earth cannot provide the one thing they most want: stability.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump Organizations: CNN, NATO, Trump Locations: Europe, China, Russia, Ukraine

☆ U.S. and Europe warn Lebanon’s Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from wider Mideast war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iran and Israel traded threats Saturday of what Iran said would be an "obliterating" war over Hezbollah. Attacks intensified this month after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander and Hezbollah responded with some of its biggest missile barrages. "Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said as he met recently with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon. "Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East." Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by pledging his country would move against Hezbollah with "full force" unless it stopped attacks.

Persons: —, Gerald Feierstein, Israel, Martin Griffiths, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Susan Walsh, Feierstein, Iran's U.N, Israel Katz, CQ Brown Organizations: Marine, Hezbollah, Israeli, Pentagon, Israel, Joint Chiefs, Staff Locations: Khiam, Lebanon, Israel, Lebanon's Iran, Iran, Gaza, United States, Lebanese, U.S, Washington, Israeli

President Joe Biden’s dismal showing at the CNN presidential debate against former President Donald Trump resonated around the world, with foreign diplomats expressing shock and concern. “Hard to watch” is how multiple foreign diplomats described Thursday night’s debate between Biden and Trump. Trump even suggested he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about his “dream” of invading Ukraine. He also attacked Biden over the Afghanistan withdrawal and argued it was the reason Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. Read more on how the world is reacting to the CNN debate.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, ”, “ Trump, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Read Organizations: CNN, Biden, NATO Locations: Europe, East, Asia, European, Arab, Asian, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Afghanistan

Rights groups are furious the Taliban meeting is going ahead without Afghan women, and say it legitimizes Afghanistan’s leaders and fails to hold them to account for grave injustices. Whatever we had, we spent it,” Arzo’s brother Ahamad, a 27-year-old journalist under threat from the Taliban due to his occupation, told CNN in November. Arzo told CNN what drove her suicide attempt. Pakistan’s policy on “illegal foreigners” is no different to that of other nations, Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told CNN. CNNArzo doesn’t want a life like that for herself, her sister, or the women and girls still in Afghanistan.

Persons: ”, Arzo, Javed Iqbal, ” Richard Bennett, Zabihullah Mujahid, “, Richard Bennett, weren’t, – they’ll, They’re, Mahsa, Ahamad, Doctors, Arzo’s, CNN Arzo hadn’t, ” Mahsa, they’ve, can’t, Moniza Kakar, Rain, Kakar, Abbas, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Baloch, hadn’t, ” Amanullah, He’s, Amanullah, he’s, CNN Arzo, Heather Barr, ” Barr, “ It’s, Bennett, she’ll, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Lifeline, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders Worldwide, Pakistan CNN —, United Nations, Human Rights, UN, Security, “ ACC ”, Afghan, ACC, Pakistani Ministry of Foreign, “, Taliban, Human Rights Watch, International Court of Justice, Criminal Court, ICC Locations: Karachi, Pakistan, Pakistani, Afghanistan, CNN Pakistan, Doha, Qatar, Afghan, Kabul, Islamabad, –, Soviet, ”, Canada, Israel, Gaza

☆ EU leaders pick von der Leyen for second term as Commission chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another right-winger, voted against von der Leyen and did not vote for Kallas, diplomats said. Von der Leyen's nomination still needs approval from the European Parliament in a secret ballot - widely seen as a trickier proposition than her endorsement by EU leaders. "It is a matter of convincing - if possible - a broad majority for a strong Europe," von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen hails from the centre-right, Costa from the centre-left and Kallas from Europe's liberal group.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Kaja Kallas, Charles Michel, Giorgia Meloni, von der Leyen, Costa, Meloni, Viktor Orban, Von der, Von der Leyen, there's, Kallas Organizations: Union, European Commission, Estonian, European, Italian, Kallas, EU, Kyiv, U.S Locations: Germany, Brussels, Portuguese, Hungarian, Europe, Ukraine, Russia

“Hard to watch” is how multiple foreign diplomats described Thursday night’s debate between Biden and Trump to CNN. I had difficulties understanding what he was saying, and I understand English pretty well,” said a second European diplomat. Biden’s debate flop was front-page news across Europe, with left- and right-leaning newspapers excoriating the president – even in France, where the country has its own elections coming up this weekend. “There are many options that are discussed, but we don’t see, any that are self-evident,” the first European diplomat said. Moscow’s state TV station, Russia 1, lampooned Biden’s debate performance.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, ”, “ Trump, “, –, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” Trump, Radek Sikorski, “ Marcus Aurelius, Commudos, didn’t, Kamala, Harris, Trump’s, Volodymyr, Zelensky, Biden pilloried, Joe’Matosed ”, “ Biden, Biden’s, Emmanuel Macron’s, Ansa, Russia’s, Olga Skabeeva laughingly Organizations: CNN, Biden, NATO, Democratic Party, ”, “, strongmen, Arab, Financial Times, Sun, Guardian, Monde, TV Locations: Europe, East, Asia, European, Arab, Asian, France, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Afghanistan, Polish, California, Israel, British, Atlanta, Greece’s, Italy, Puglia

☆ Fact checking the CNN presidential debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +69 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off during CNN’s presidential debate in Atlanta Thursday night. From CNN’s Daniel DaleFormer President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. From CNN’s Daniel Dale and Ella NilsenFormer President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden take part in the CNN presidential debate on Thursday, June 27. From CNN’s Alicia WallaceFormer President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. Kpler found that China imported about 511,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude in December 2020, Trump’s last full month in office.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump “, “, ” Trump, ”, Trump, ” John Kelly, servicemembers, Kelly, Jim Sciutto, Daniel Dale, Kaanita Iyer, Roe, Wade, That’s, Wade ”, Kimberly Mutcherson, “ Donald Trump’s, Maya Manian, Trump’s, Mary Ziegler, Davis, Ziegler, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe should’ve, ’, Will Lanzoni, ” Biden, corpsman —, Hamid Karzai, CNN’s Haley Britzky, didn’t, Priscilla Alvarez, George Floyd, Tim Walz, Walz, Paul –, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand, Daniel Dale FACT, European Union won’t, Ella Nilsen, Jill Biden, Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, Adam Rose, CNN US Sen, Marco Rubio, CNN Trump, Austin Steele, CNN Biden, Tristen Rouse, CNN Tapper, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, CNN MJ Lee, Mandel Ngan, Megan Varner, Reuters Kennedy, Burk Stringfellow, Iran “, Mike Pompeo, ” Pompeo, Tami Luhby Trump, CNN’s KFILE, weren’t, Hillary Clinton, affirmatively, it’s, what’s, –, Alicia Wallace, Obama, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, you’re, Biden’s, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s, Viktor Shokin, Shokin, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, “ It’s, Rick Muskat, CNN.So, Morgan, Katie Lobosco, Alvin Bragg’s, Bragg, Jack Smith, Smith, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, I’ve, there’s, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Gary Engelhardt, Jason Richwine, ” Richwine, Tami Luhby, Confederate, Robert E, Lee, marchthat, “ I’m, Elle Reeve, Ralph Northam, Jen Christensen, ” Trump’s, Ronald Reagan’s, Barack Obama, George W, ‘, ’ ” Trump, CNN’s Jen Christensen, Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, “ Nancy Pelosi, …, Alexandra Pelosi, Aaron Bennett, Cherry, Christopher Miller, Miller, Charis Kubrin, CNN’s Catherine Shoichet, ” Kubrin’s, Graham Ousey, College of William & Mary, Erwan, George Washington, Marshall Cohen, ” Howard Gleckman, Gleckman, Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman “, Howard Gleckman, ” Gleckman Organizations: CNN, Trump, Homeland Security, SSRS, Marquette Law School, NBC, Gallup, ” Rutgers Law, American University, university’s Health, University of California, Atlanta, US Navy, Border Patrol, Border Patrol Council, National Guard, Minneapolis Former, Minnesota Democratic Gov, Minnesota National Guard, Guard, EU, European Union, US, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association, CNN US, Biden, House, CNN Biden's, CNN Biden, White House, Getty, Reuters, State, Medicare, Black, of Labor Statistics, Republican, Burisma Holdings, International Monetary Fund, Republicans, House Republicans, US International Trade Commission, US Customs, Deer Stags, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Justice Department, DOJ, DC, federal, Department, Democrat, Americas, Crisis, Social Security, Social, General Internal Medicine, “, Syracuse University, Center for Immigration Studies, Electoral, White, Nazi, US Centers for Disease Control, Former Virginia Gov, United, China Former, China, Hamas, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congressional, Capitol, Colorado Supreme Court, US Food, Guttmacher Institute, California Democrat, Capitol Police Board, Senate, District of Columbia National Guard, College of William &, NATO, Atlantic Treaty Organization, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Transatlantic, Urban, Brookings Tax, Urban Institute, ”, Tax, Center Locations: Atlanta, France, Afghanistan, Kabul, Jordan, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Yakushima Island, Japan, Minneapolis, Portland, Minnesota , Minneapolis, St, EU, Georgia, CNN's, Washington ,, AFP, Lebanon, Israel, what’s, Paris, China, India, Russia, United States, Ukrainian, Ukraine, lockstep, American, Manhattan, New York , Georgia, Florida, Washington, New York, York’s, Mexico, Kpler, Malaysia, Charlottesville, Charlottesville , Virginia, White, Virginia, Northam, East, “, New York City, Saudi, al Qaeda, Texas, Colorado, California, Trump, Irvine, Germany, Berkeley

☆ U.S. ambassador accuses China of undermining bilateral ties, Wall Street Journal reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. ambassador to China Nicholas Burns attends the 10th World Peace Forum on July 4, 2022 in Beijing, China. The 10th World Peace Forum opened in Beijing on Sunday. The U.S. ambassador to China said Beijing is undermining ties between the two countries despite the agreement between the two sides to boost engagement, according to the Wall Street Journal. It comes as ties between the U.S. and China have somewhat warmed after Xi and Biden met in California on the sidelines of the APEC summit in November. Since then, Chinese officials have welcomed top American diplomats in Beijing, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Persons: China Nicholas Burns, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Nicholas Burns, Xi, Biden, Janet Yellen, State Anthony Blinken Organizations: Sunday, Wall Street, WSJ, U.S, APEC, State Locations: China, Beijing, U.S, California

The plea deal allows Assange to avoid prison in the US and return to his native Australia. “That never came up in our conversations,” said David Stilwell, the State Department assistant secretary for the Pacific region during the Trump administration. Sessions’ focus on national security-related leaks was “probably one of the reasons why the [Assange] case had more traction,” Hickey told CNN. Hickey said he was not involved in the Assange case when he was a senior official at DOJ’s National Security Division from 2016 to 2023. Stilwell, the former State Department official under the Trump administration, pushed back on the Assange plea deal.

Persons: Julian Assange, Assange, Biden, Trump, ”, David Stilwell, Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden, General Merrick Garland, Chelsea Manning, Manning, Barack Obama, Obama, Trump’s, Jeff Sessions, Adam Hickey, ” Hickey, Hickey, “ Assange, who’s, Mayer Brown, Garland, Andrew McCabe, “, it’s, ” McCabe, Stilwell, ” Stilwell, Bradley Moss, would’ve, ” Moss, ” CNN’s Zachary Cohen, Marshall Cohen, Kevin Liptak Organizations: CNN, United, Wikileaks, State Department, Australian, Justice Department, FBI, Northern, London’s, US Justice Department, White, Pentagon, Army, Assange ., Department, Obama, Biden, DOJ’s National Security Division, Protect Journalists, Amnesty International, American Civil Liberties Union, Computer, Ecuadorian Locations: United States, Washington, London, Stockholm, Quito, Ecuador, Australia, Pacific, Virginia, London’s, Northern Mariana Islands, Iraq, Guantanamo, Washington ,

☆ Year After Failed Mutiny, Russia Tightens Grip on Wagner Units in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Elian Peltier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For years, Russia covertly propped up authoritarian leaders, exploited natural resources and fought extremists in a number of African countries. Russia worked through the Wagner group, a shadowy web of political advisers, entrepreneurs and mercenaries. Wagner was led by Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, a ruthless tycoon who was once a close ally of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. But after Mr. Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny against Mr. Putin in June last year, Mr. Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash. The Russian Ministry of Defense has taken control of Wagner’s mercenary arm in Africa and placed it under a bigger umbrella group, Africa Corps.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny V, Vladimir V, Putin, Prigozhin Organizations: Mr, Russian Ministry of Defense, Africa Corps Locations: Russia, Western, Ukraine, Africa

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