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Finally, a possible explanation for why Biden’s Iran envoy, Robert Malley, was suspended

Finally, a possible explanation for why Biden’s Iran envoy, Robert Malley, was suspended

Josh Rogin writes: Considering Iran’s collaboration with U.S. adversaries in the Middle East crisis and the Ukraine war, not to mention the Islamic republic’s nuclear ambitions, the Biden administration would surely like to have its top diplomat for Iran on the playing field. But the State Department’s special envoy, Robert Malley, has been sidelined while under federal investigation for going on one year — without any official explanation. Now, new information about the case is coming to light. Malley, who…

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Sperm whale clicks could hide a surprisingly complex ‘alphabet’

Sperm whale clicks could hide a surprisingly complex ‘alphabet’

Science Alert reports: A recent analysis of a sperm whale’s vocalizations suggests variations in ‘clicks’ represent a kind of alphabet that forms the basis of a complex communication system. Members of the conservation initiative Project CETI discovered series of clicks less than 2 seconds in length act as codas – basic units (phonemes) of cetacean speech. The highly social mammals have previously been heard identifying themselves with unique patterns of clicking, but this is the first time a combinatorial and…

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U.S. has conveyed an ‘end of war’ guarantee, TV report quotes Hamas source saying

U.S. has conveyed an ‘end of war’ guarantee, TV report quotes Hamas source saying

The Times of Israel reports: The United States has conveyed a guarantee to Hamas, via Egypt and Qatar, that the war will end after the first, 40-day phase of the hostage-truce deal now being negotiated in Cairo, Israel’s Channel 12 news reports. Citing “a very senior Hamas source,” the TV station’s veteran Middle East analyst Ehud Ya’ari says the Americans have pledged, “whether Israel says yes or Israel says no, that they’ll see to it that the war comes to…

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We’ve shown Gaza’s suffering for over 200 days. Don’t look away now

We’ve shown Gaza’s suffering for over 200 days. Don’t look away now

Mohammed R. Mhawish writes: As Israel’s cruel war on Gaza surpasses 200 days, the toll it inflicts on the Palestinian people grows ever deeper. Both the land and population of the besieged Strip have been obliterated to a degree not seen since the Nakba of 1948. Famine and malnutrition have tightened their grip, leaving hundreds of thousands of families in the north and south desperate for food and medical aid as they attempt desperately to flee the bombing campaign that…

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World Food Programme Director Cindy McCain: Northern Gaza is in a ‘full-blown famine’

World Food Programme Director Cindy McCain: Northern Gaza is in a ‘full-blown famine’

NBC News reports: Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Programme, said she believes there is a “full-blown famine” in northern Gaza. “Whenever you have conflicts like this, and emotions rage high, and things happen in a war, famine happens,” McCain said during an interview with Kristen Welker set to air Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “What I can explain to you is — is that there is famine — full-blown famine — in the north, and…

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Biden is days from a key statement on Israel and Gaza. Here’s what the ally who sought it expects

Biden is days from a key statement on Israel and Gaza. Here’s what the ally who sought it expects

HuffPost reports: With the Biden administration days away from issuing its opinion on whether Israel is violating international and U.S. law in Gaza, the lawmaker who pushed for a State Department probe of that question doubts he’ll get an honest answer. Starting in December, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) rallied 19 senators to support legislation demanding assurances that all countries receiving American weaponry — including Israel — are complying with international and U.S. statutes barring violence against civilians and efforts…

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U.S. diplomat who quit over Biden administration’s Gaza policy speaks out

U.S. diplomat who quit over Biden administration’s Gaza policy speaks out

CNN reports: Hala Rharrit never expected that she would choose to leave her career as a US diplomat. She had spent her “entire adult life” at the State Department having joined the foreign service in 2006, raising her hand for one of the toughest postings — Yemen — for her first assignment and going on to serve in places like Hong Kong, Qatar and South Africa. About a year and a half ago, after mostly behind-the-scenes roles, Rharrit became an…

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We Columbia University students urge you to listen to our voices

We Columbia University students urge you to listen to our voices

Columbia College Student Council: On Tuesday night, we watched in horror as hundreds of riot police flooded our beloved campus and brutalized our classmates. The next day, students awoke with swollen faces, bruised wrists, and lacerations – all results of inhumane police treatment. The past two weeks have been tumultuous, marked with mass arrests of student demonstrators, an encampment on our lawns, national media attention, and vile acts of hatred. Countless have spoken on our behalf. But by speaking over…

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Why do people invent false conspiracies when there are so many real ones to worry about?

Why do people invent false conspiracies when there are so many real ones to worry about?

George Monbiot writes: We need better terms, that distinguish wacky and often malign fairytales from the very essence of democracy: the reasoned suspicion of those who exercise power over us. I prefer to call the fairytales “conspiracy fictions” and those who peddle them “conspiracy fantasists”. An extraordinary aspect of this issue is that there’s so little overlap between conspiracy fantasists and conspiracy theorists. Those who believe unevidenced stories about hidden cabals and secret machinations tend to display no interest in…

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Buoyed by a ‘certificate of excellence’ from Biden admin, Netanyahu is convinced he can remain PM

Buoyed by a ‘certificate of excellence’ from Biden admin, Netanyahu is convinced he can remain PM

The Times of Israel reports: In recent weeks, it’s become clear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to once again run for prime minister in the next elections. Although he hadn’t been definitive on this issue since the war in Gaza broke out, we’re now beginning to hear clear statements from him about the dramatic need for him to continue leading the country even after the next general elections, despite — and perhaps because of — the terrible national…

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Prominent Palestinian doctor tortured and killed in Israeli detention

Prominent Palestinian doctor tortured and killed in Israeli detention

Middle East Eye reports: Adnan al-Bursh, a Palestinian surgeon and professor of orthopaedic medicine, was killed by torture while in Israeli detention, according to a statement from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society. In what has been termed a “deliberate assassination”, Bursh, 50, died in the Israel-controlled Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank on 19 April, according to the Palestinian Civil Affairs Committee, and his body remains withheld. Another detainee, Ismail Abdul Bari Khader, 33, also died in custody, according to…

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Student journalists report: perpetrators of violence at campus protests are police and counter-protesters

Student journalists report: perpetrators of violence at campus protests are police and counter-protesters

Politico reports: Over 50 schools. Nearly 2,000 arrests. One canceled graduation ceremony — so far. We’re in the midst of the most widespread campus unrest since the 1960s, sparked by the war between Israel and Hamas. Over the last two weeks, campus protests have escalated, with pro-Palestinian tent encampments set up in public spaces, triggering counterprotests and, on more than 30 campuses, clashes with police. With so many incidents taking place in so many places, it’s hard for anyone to…

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Turkey halts all trade with Israel over war

Turkey halts all trade with Israel over war

Middle East Eye reports: Turkey suspended all trade with Israel effective immediately over the humanitarian crisis it has caused in Gaza, the Turkish trade ministry announced on Thursday. “Export and import transactions related to Israel have been stopped, covering all products,” the ministry said. “Turkey will strictly and decisively implement these new measures until the Israeli Government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticised the move on the social media…

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