Tag: General

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Health

Biden administration’s booster shot steerage ‘prudent factor to do to remain forward of this virus,’ says U.S. surgeon basic

Biden administration’s booster shot guidance ‘prudent thing to do to stay ahead of this virus,’ says U.S. surgeon general

The US surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNBC that the Biden government is recommending Covid booster vaccinations to most vaccinated Americans starting September 20 to stay one step ahead of the virus.

“We put our heads together, the top public health and medicine officials at the Department of Health and Social Affairs, and have come to the conclusion that it would be wise to start booster vaccinations after eight months to get one step ahead of this virus.” and make sure people have and are receiving protection from the vaccines they had for the past few months, “Murthy said.

A vaccine advisory committee from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have yet to formally sign the plan before states can begin giving third doses.

Murthy told The News with Shepard Smith that the government’s booster shot strategy is also about transparency.

“We’re making plans now because, firstly, we need to plan ahead, but secondly, we wanted the public to know what we were seeing with the data in an effort to be transparent and open to the public,” said Murthy.

U.S. health officials are basing their decisions on new data showing that vaccination protection wears off over time. The vaccines were 92% effective against Covid infection before the Delta variant spread in the US, but data shows that protection has dropped to 64%.

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Politics

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed a number of girls, Lawyer Common James says

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, Attorney General James says

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually molested several women and then retaliated a former employee who publicly complained about his behavior, according to a bombshell report released Tuesday by Attorney General Letitia James.

The month-long investigation concluded that Cuomo “sexually molested several women in violation of federal and state laws,” James said at a press conference.

The 165-page report, which includes interviews with 179 witnesses and a review of tens of thousands of documents, also stated that Cuomo’s office was steeped in fear and intimidation and was a hostile work environment for many employees.

Cuomo molested 11 women, including members of his own staff, members of the public and other government employees, one of whom was a state trooper, the report said.

The results show “a deeply troubling but clear picture,” said James, describing Cuomo’s office as a “toxic workplace”.

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The announcement came about two weeks after Cuomo was interviewed by investigators hired by James’ office to investigate. Cuomo was reportedly interviewed for 11 hours.

The investigation into numerous allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo began in March after the State Executive Chamber granted James’ inquiries.

Later that month, dozens of the state’s Democratic lawmakers – including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, with whom Cuomo has long had a strained relationship – called on the governor to resign.

New York Congregation spokesman Carl Heastie, also a Democrat, authorized a panel in mid-March to open an impeachment investigation into allegations of harassment and other allegations of wrongdoing by Cuomo, including whether his staff tried to gather data on coronavirus deaths in New to hide or change York nursing homes.

Cuomo has defended himself against all allegations, repeatedly rejecting requests to resign, despite apologizing for making some women feel uncomfortable.

“I never molested anyone, I never attacked anyone, I never abused anyone,” Cuomo said in March. “I will not resign.”

This is the latest news. Please check again for updates.

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Health

Surgeon Normal Assails Tech Corporations Over Misinformation on Covid-19

Surgeon General Assails Tech Companies Over Misinformation on Covid-19

President Biden’s surgeon general used his first formal piece of advice to the United States on Thursday to deliver a broadside against tech and social media companies that he accused of not doing enough to spread dangerous health misinformation – in particular about Covid-19 – stop.

The officer, Dr. Vivek Murthy declared such misinformation to be “an urgent threat to public health”. His announcement came just days after his office representatives met with Twitter officials, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Surgeons in general have traditionally used advice – brief statements designed to draw Americans’ attention to a public health problem and make recommendations for its resolution – to talk about health topics such as tobacco use, opioid addiction, suicide prevention, and breastfeeding.

But dr. Murthy’s Counselor, a 22-page report with footnotes, had a more political context. Fox News presenters like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham, along with their guests, are among those who have raised doubts about Covid-19 vaccines, which studies show are very effective in preventing death and hospitalization from the disease.

Dr. Murthy formulated his criticism of technology companies in a broader statement about the dangers of inaccurate and inaccurate health information, including misinformation about coronavirus vaccinations. He urged all Americans to endeavor to share correct information and said the United States needs “a societal approach” to address the problem.

But at a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Murthy appealed to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, making it clear that technology and social media companies are his primary target, saying they have a unique responsibility to be more aggressive against misinformation and citing Facebook by name.

“Modern technology companies have allowed misinformation to poison our information environment without being held accountable to their users,” said Dr. Murthy.

“We expect more from our tech companies,” he added. “We ask them to work with greater transparency and accountability. We ask you to monitor misinformation more closely. “

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube said Thursday that they have taken steps to crack down on misleading health information in line with their coronavirus misinformation guidelines. All three said they had introduced features to direct users to authoritative health sources on their platforms.

“We are permanently banning pages, groups and accounts that repeatedly violate our Covid misinformation rules, and that includes more than a dozen pages, groups and accounts from some of the people referred to in the press conference today,” said Dani Lever, a spokeswoman for Facebook.

Updated

July 15, 2021, 7:14 p.m. ET

YouTube said in a statement that it welcomes many aspects of the surgeon general’s report. Twitter said it agreed with Dr. Murthy’s approach and welcomed his partnership.

Calling tech and media companies out is a tricky business, and the White House has raised the question of whether it would try to regulate companies like Facebook that have become platforms for health disinformation. Asked about this at her briefing on Wednesday, Ms. Psaki was non-binding.

“Of course, decisions to regulate or hold a platform accountable would certainly be a political decision,” she said. “But in the meantime we will continue to shout disinformation and indicate where this information is going.”

Hours after Dr. Murthy announced in a press release by the Rockefeller Foundation that it would allocate $ 13.5 million in new funding to step up coronavirus response efforts in the United States, Africa, India and Latin America, and in particular “health.” To fight grievances ”. – and disinformation. “

The Digital Public Library of America also said it will work with the surgeon general by bringing together librarians, scholars, journalists and citizen leaders to discuss the role libraries can play in combating misinformation.

Misinformation about social distancing, mask use, treatments, and vaccines was rampant during the pandemic. The report is a sign that the Biden government is more determined to face this in the face of a sharp drop in the number of new vaccinations. Less than 50 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, and many top health experts have urged the president to do more to reach people who haven’t been vaccinated.

While nationwide cases and hospital admissions remain relatively low, more local hotspots are emerging and national trends are moving in the wrong direction, fueled by the spread of the more contagious delta variant. Vaccines are effective against the variant. Counties that voted for Mr Biden had higher vaccination rates on average than those that voted for former President Donald J. Trump. Conservatives are far more likely to reject vaccinations than Democrats.

The General Surgeon’s report is eagerly apolitical and does not identify any specific providers of misinformation. But some Republican leaders, worried the virus is spreading rapidly in conservative parts of the country, are beginning to promote vaccination and speak out against media and elected officials who cast doubts about vaccines.

Health misinformation is not a new phenomenon – and is not limited to the news media. In the 1990s, the report said that “a poorly designed study” – later withdrawn – falsely claimed that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine caused autism. “Even after the withdrawal, the claim gained momentum and contributed to lower vaccination rates over the next 20 years,” the report said.

It cites evidence of the spread of misinformation, including a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that found in late May that 67 percent of unvaccinated adults had heard at least one Covid-19 vaccine myth and either believed it to be true or unsafe. An analysis of millions of social media posts in Science Magazine found that hoaxes are 70 percent more likely to be shared than true stories.

Another recent study showed that even brief exposure to misinformation reduces the likelihood that people will want a vaccine, the surgeon general said.

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Politics

U.S. Surgeon Common Calls Covid Misinformation ‘Pressing Menace’

U.S. Surgeon General Calls Covid Misinformation ‘Urgent Threat'

President Biden’s surgeon general on Thursday used his first formal advisory to the United States to warn against the dangers of health misinformation, calling it an “urgent threat to public health” and urging all Americans — and specifically tech and social media companies — to do more to curb the spread of falsehoods about Covid-19.

The official warning by Dr. Vivek Murthy is unusual; surgeons general have traditionally used their official “advisories” — short statements that call the American people’s attention to a public health issue and provide recommendations for how it can be addressed — to talk about health matters ranging from tobacco use to opioid addiction, suicide prevention and breastfeeding.

But this new advisory, contained in a 22-page report with footnotes, occurs in a more political context. Fox News hosts like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham, along with their guests, are among those who have been casting doubt on Covid-19 vaccines, which studies show are highly effective at preventing death and hospitalization from the disease.

Health misinformation about social distancing, mask use, treatments and vaccines has been rampant during the coronavirus pandemic. The report is a sign that the Biden administration, faced with a steep decline in vaccination rates, is moving more forcefully to confront it. Fewer than 50 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, and many top health experts have called for the president to do more to reach people who have yet to be get shots.

While virus numbers remain at some of the lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, they are once again slowly rising, fueled by the spread of the more contagious Delta variant; vaccines are effective against the variant. Counties that voted for Mr. Biden average higher vaccination levels than those that voted for Donald Trump. Conservatives tend to decline vaccination far more often than Democrats.

“Health misinformation is a serious threat to public health,” Dr. Murthy said in the report. “It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, harm people’s health, and undermine public health efforts.”

In a statement, he added, “From the tech and social media companies who must do more to address the spread on their platforms, to all of us identifying and avoiding sharing misinformation, tackling this challenge will require an all-of-society approach, but it is critical for the long-term health of our nation.”

But calling out tech and media companies is tricky business, and the White House has danced around the question of whether it would try to regulate companies like Facebook that have become platforms for health disinformation. Asked about this at her Wednesday briefing, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, was noncommittal.

“Obviously, decisions to regulate or hold to account any platform would certainly be a policy decision,” she said. “But in the interim, we’re going to continue to call out disinformation and call out where that information travels.”

The report is assiduously apolitical, and does not name any specific purveyors of misinformation. But it comes as some Republican leaders, concerned that the virus is spreading quickly through conservative swaths of the country, are beginning to promote vaccination and speak out against media figures and elected officials who are casting doubt on vaccines.

Health misinformation is not a recent phenomenon — and is not limited to news media. In the 1990s, the report notes, “a poorly designed study” — later retracted — falsely claimed the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine causes autism.

“Even after the retraction, the claim gained some traction and contributed to lower immunization rates over the next twenty years,” the report said.

Dr. Murthy is expected at Thursday’s White House briefing to discuss his report. It cites evidence of the spread of misinformation, including a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that found, as of late May, that 67 percent of unvaccinated adults had heard at least one Covid-19 vaccine myth and either believed it to be true or were unsure of its truthfulness; and a Science Magazine analysis of millions of social media posts found that false news stories were 70 percent more likely to be shared than true stories.

Another recent study showed that even brief exposure to misinformation made people less likely to want a Covid-19 vaccine, the surgeon general said.

This is Dr. Murthy’s second turn at being surgeon general; he also served under former President Barack Obama. The position, often referred to as the “nation’s doctor,” offers little formal policymaking authority, but derives its strength from the surgeon general’s bully pulpit, and past surgeons general have made powerful impacts on the nation’s health.

Dr. Murthy’s advisory drew immediate plaudits from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an organization that is particularly concerned about false information suggesting Covid-19 vaccines might be harmful to pregnant women. There is no evidence of that.

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Health

Greenback Basic hires chief medical officer, boosts health-care objects

Dollar General hires chief medical officer, boosts health-care items

A customer walks into a Dollar General Corp. store on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. in Colona, ​​Illinois, USA.

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Dollar General announced on Wednesday that it has hired its first chief medical officer and will be selling products such as cold and cough medicines, and dentures, to become a health care destination.

CEO Todd Vasos said the company’s new foray was inspired by customers who want more convenient and affordable health products and services.

“Our goal is to build and improve affordable health services for our customers, especially in the rural communities we serve,” he said in a press release.

The fast-growing discounter has more than 17,400 stores across the country, including many in rural areas that don’t have many other grocery stores or large pharmacies nearby. However, it has been criticized by some lawmakers for selling few healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, crowding out other retailers who would otherwise open up in the areas and sell a wider variety of foods.

In recent years, Dollar General has added fresh produce and meat to more of its business. It has fresh produce in more than 1,300 stores – or about 7% of its total stores. It has announced that the range can be expanded to up to 10,000 stores.

It has also tried new avenues of medical care. Last month, free Covid-19 testing was offered in select locations as part of a partnership with the Virginia Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they were in talks with the company about converting stores into Covid vaccine sites, although the CDC and Dollar General have not yet announced official plans.

Dollar General’s new and remodeled locations will also create space for more aisles of health products and cool boxes for groceries. The company announced in the spring that it is building bigger stores as it is opening more than 1,000 new locations this year.

On Wednesday the retailer said it had Dr. Albert Wu hired as Chief Medical Officer. He previously worked for McKinsey & Company, where he led a team focused on health-related projects such as caring for thousands of rural patients, modeling support for pandemic relief efforts and developing digitally driven health insurance.

Wu joined Dollar General on Monday, according to a press release. Dollar General said it will focus on building relationships with companies that offer health products and services so the retailer can launch their own offerings.

In a research note, Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe said the expansion into healthcare will help the retailer gain market share and increase profitability as customers visit stores more regularly and toss additional items into shopping carts. In particular, drug stores are a place where Dollar General steals market share, he said. Dollar General’s prices are typically 40% cheaper than drug stores, 20% cheaper than grocery stores, and in line with bulk retailers, according to the company’s research.

With the effort, he said, “Dollar General continues to cement the company’s moat” as a leader among value and discount retailers.

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World News

Trudeau Appoints Mary Simon Canada’s First Indigenous Governor Normal

Trudeau Appoints Mary Simon Canada’s First Indigenous Governor General

MONTREAL — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Canada’s first Indigenous governor general on Tuesday, a seminal moment as the country seeks to reconcile with its Indigenous population after decades of systemic mistreatment.

As governor general, the appointee, Mary Simon, a diplomat and leading Indigenous rights advocate, will represent Queen Elizabeth II as Canada’s official head of state. While the role is largely ceremonial, it is high profile and has wide symbolic resonance in a country where the governor general is the crown’s representative in Canada’s system of constitutional monarchy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada called the appointment a significant moment. “Today after 154 years, our country takes a historic step,” he said at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. “I cannot think of a better person to meet the moment.”

The appointment of Ms. Simon, who served as Canada’s ambassador to Denmark, comes as Canada is reeling, following the discovery of hundreds of unmarked Indigenous graves, many of them children, who attended church-run schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

The finding of the graves has spurred national soul searching about the country’s discrimination against Indigenous people, who for decades have been forced to grapple with racism, inadequate access to health and economic opportunities and lack of autonomy.

The appointment follows the resignation of Julie Payette, who stepped down in January after months of media reports that she and a top adviser had belittled and publicly humiliated employees, often reducing them to tears. In response, the government commissioned an independent review that several Canadian news outlets said had blamed her for fomenting a toxic work environment.

Ms. Simon, an Inuk from Kuujjuaq, a village in northeastern Quebec, said on Tuesday that her appointment would help engender reconciliation.

“I can confidently say that my appointment is a historic and inspirational moment for Canada and an important step forward,” she said. “Indeed, my appointment comes at an especially reflective and dynamic time in our shared history.”

Indigenous leaders welcomed the appointment, calling Ms. Simon a skilled diplomat who was well placed to champion Indigenous concerns and act as a mediator between disparate groups.

Perry Bellegarde, the president of the Assembly of First Nations, a national organization representing Indigenous people, praised the appointment. “Mary is a diplomat, an advocate and a strong Inuk Woman,” he wrote on Twitter.

Vjosa Isai contributed reporting from Toronto.

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Politics

ProPublica tax leak investigation will probably be precedence, Lawyer Basic Garland says

ProPublica tax leak investigation will be priority, Attorney General Garland says

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland previously testified at a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Funds for Commerce, Justice, Science and Allied Agencies on the proposed 2022 budget for the Department of Justice on June 9, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Susan Walsh | AFP | Getty Images

Attorney General Merrick Garland told lawmakers Wednesday that investigating the source of a massive taxpayer information leak behind an article by investigative news agency ProPublica will be one of its top priorities.

“I promise it will be at the top of my list,” Garland assured Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, during a budget hearing before the Senate Grants Committee.

The former federal judge said he knew nothing at the moment but what he had learned from reading the long article that revealed that in recent years billionaires like Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, Tesla boss Elon Musk and businessmen Michael Bloomberg , Carl Icahn and George Soros paid no federal income taxes.

“Senator, I take this as seriously as you do. I remember very well what was President [Richard] Nixon did it in the Watergate period – making lists of enemies and punishing people by checking their tax returns, ”Garland said. “This is extremely serious business. People are of course entitled to a great deal of privacy with regard to their tax returns. “

The ProPublica article, which is expected to be the first in a series, did not reveal how the journalists obtained the tax records, and the outlet did not respond to a request for comment. The article said the research was based on “an enormous treasure trove of data from the Internal Revenue Service on the tax returns of thousands of the richest people in the country, covering more than 15 years.”

The article adds that the tax strategies used by the ultra-rich individuals quoted appeared to be perfectly legal. The investigation is said to “destroy the cornerstone of the American tax system: everyone pays their fair share and the richest Americans pay the most.”

The outlet published a separate article defending its decision to publish the private records.

Tax information is generally confidential and those who disclosed the documents can be prosecuted.

Garland said he believed IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig was working on the matter.

“He said their inspectors were working on it, and I’m sure that means it will go to the Justice Department,” Garland said. “This was on my list of things to raise after I finished preparing for this hearing.”

Rettig said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday that he shared “every American’s concern about the sensitive and private nature and confidentiality of information received by the IRS.”

Garland’s comments came as the Justice Department, acting on President Joe Biden’s orders, sought to move away from the aggressive tactics used against journalists and media organizations under former President Donald Trump and previous administrations.

On Saturday, the ministry said it would refrain from confiscating reporters’ records when investigating leaks, “in alteration of its longstanding practice.” Last month, Biden called this practice “simply wrong” even though his position had not yet been formalized as a guideline.

Also on Wednesday, Garland defended the Justice Department against criticism from the left that it was not moving fast enough to distance itself from the Trump administration.

On Monday, the ministry filed a controversial letter to effectively defeat a case against Trump by columnist E. Jean Carroll who claims Trump defamed her when he denied the rape. Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Asked Garland, “How does this come about.”

“Are these criticisms justified?” Leahy asked.

“I know the criticisms,” Garland replied. “The Justice Department’s role in making legal decisions is not to assist a previous or current government. Our job is to represent the American people. “

Sometimes, Garland said, “we have to make a decision about the law that we would never have made and that we strictly disagree with on political grounds.”

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Business

Lockheed Martin and Common Motors accomplice for NASA lunar rover

Lockheed Martin and General Motors partner for NASA lunar rover

Lockheed Martin and General Motors are working together to develop a new type of lunar vehicle for NASA to be used on their upcoming Artemis missions to the moon, the companies said on Wednesday.

“Surface mobility is critical to long-term exploration of the lunar surface. These next-generation rovers will dramatically extend the range of astronauts,” Lockheed Martin executive vice president Rick Ambrose said in a statement.

Earlier this year, NASA announced to companies that it needed “a human-class rover that would extend the exploration range of” astronauts during missions for the agency’s Artemis program. NASA’s program, announced by the administration of former President Donald Trump and continued under President Joe Biden, consists of several missions to the orbit and surface of the moon over the coming years.

NASA’s request for a next-generation lunar vehicle indicated that a variety of cutting-edge technologies should be deployed, including electric vehicle systems, autonomous driving, and dangerous terrain capabilities.

GM has previously built such a vehicle as the company was the largest subcontractor helping Boeing develop the lunar vehicle, which was used on the moon during three Apollo missions.

Apollo 16 astronaut John Young drives NASA’s Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) at Descartes’ landing site on the moon on April 21, 1972.

Charles Duke | NASA

While NASA’s previous rover was able to go nearly around the moon at nearly six miles an hour, it traveled less than five miles from the Apollo landing site.

Lockheed Martin said his next-generation lunar all-terrain vehicle was “designed to travel significantly greater distances to aid in the early excursions of the moon’s south pole, where it’s cold and dark with rougher terrain.”

– CNBC’s Mike Wayland contributed to this story.

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Politics

U.N. Secretary Normal calls Israel-Palestinian violence appalling, calls for finish

U.N. Secretary General calls Israel-Palestinian violence appalling, demands end

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a ceremony for fallen soldiers of the Israeli wars at Yad Lebanim House on the eve of Memorial Day in Jerusalem on April 13, 2021.

Debbie Hill | Reuters

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the violent conflict between militants from Israel and the Gaza Strip on Sunday as “extremely appalling” and called for an immediate ceasefire as the worst outbreak of fighting in years lasts seven days and weighs heavily on civilians.

“This latest round of violence only continues the cycles of death, destruction and despair and pushes all hopes for coexistence and peace further into the horizon,” Guterres said during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

“The fight has to stop. It has to stop immediately. Missiles and mortars on one side and air and artillery bombardments on the other have to stop,” he said. “I appeal to all parties to heed this call.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that there would be no immediate end to the Israeli campaign against militant groups.

Israeli air strikes early Sunday killed at least 42 Palestinians, including 10 children, according to Gaza health officials, bringing the death toll in Gaza to at least 188 since the fighting began on Monday. In Israel, 10 people were killed in rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant groups.

“We will do everything we can to restore order. It will take time,” Netanyahu said during an interview on CBS ‘Face the Nation. “I hope it won’t be long. It’s not right now.”

A Palestinian mourns the bodies of a member of the Kawlak family who were killed in an overnight Israeli air strike in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City as they prepared for their funeral in front of Al-Shifa Hospital on May 16, 2021.

Mahmud Hams | AFP | Getty Images

Israel and Hamas, which govern the Gaza Strip, have both vowed to continue the cross-border fire after Israel targeted and destroyed a high-rise building in Gaza City that housed some media offices. Hamas fired 120 rockets overnight to destroy the al-Jalaa building, although many were intercepted.

“Our campaign against the terrorist organizations continues with full force,” said Netanyahu in a televised address. “We are now acting as long as necessary to restore peace and quiet to you, the citizens of Israel.”

Netanyahu argued that the Israelis had received information that Hamas military offices were located in the Gaza Strip but had not produced any evidence. “It’s a perfectly legitimate target,” he said of the building, adding that the military had warned civilians against the evacuation.

The AP condemned the attack and demanded evidence from Israel that the building had Hamas offices. “We had no evidence that Hamas was in the building or was active in the building,” the AP said in a statement.

People rescue a wounded child from rubble as search and rescue work continues on rubble of a building after Israeli army air strikes struck buildings in the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, Gaza on May 16, 2021.

Ashraf Amra | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Guterres said the UN was actively working for an immediate ceasefire on all sides. “The fighting could drag Israelis and Palestinians into a spiral of violence with devastating consequences for both communities and for the entire region,” said Guterres.

“It has the potential to spark an unstoppable security and humanitarian crisis and further fuel extremism not just in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel but throughout the region, potentially creating a new place of dangerous instability,” he said.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield did not call for a ceasefire on Sunday but said the US would offer support if the parties seek a ceasefire.

“The United States has made it clear that we are ready to do our support and good offices if the parties seek a ceasefire because we believe that Israelis and Palestinians alike have the right to live in safety,” Greenfield told im UN Security Council meeting.

President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday to address the worsening conflict. Biden’s envoy Hady Amr also came to Israel on Friday to de-escalate the fighting.

An air bomb hits Jala Tower during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement on May 15, 2021.

Mahmud Hams | AFP | Getty Images

The president has reiterated its support for Israel’s right to self-defense against missile strikes, but Abbas shared concerns that “innocent civilians, including children, have tragically lost their lives in the ongoing violence,” according to an ad from das White House.

Biden also reiterated on Saturday a “strong commitment to a negotiated two-state solution as the best way to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” according to Abbas’ appeal.

Despite diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and avoid more civilian casualties, the fighting continues.

Rep. Adam Schiff, DC.A., chairman of the U.S. Intelligence Committee, called for a ceasefire during an interview on CBS Sunday morning.

“I think the government needs to put more pressure on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to stop the violence,” said Schiff.

– Reuters contributed to the coverage

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Politics

Israeli normal says stopping nuclear program will likely be robust

Israeli general says stopping nuclear program will be tough

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei speaks during a televised address on March 21, 2021 in Tehran, Iran.

Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

As Iran increases uranium enrichment to 60%, a short jump to 90%, world powers are trying to persuade the Islamic Republic to take a break.

Meetings aimed at returning both Iran and the United States to some form of the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action resumed this week in Austria.

While Israel is not part of the talks, it is a major player in the drama that could quickly escalate.

Israel and its Arab allies, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, want the US to increase pressure on Iran by strengthening the JCPOA to address terrorism, missile development and so-called “Iranian expansionism” throughout the Middle East Include east.

Iran and Israel were embroiled in a shadow war that intensified over the past month. An explosion disrupted one of the Iranian nuclear power centers in Natanz. One of the Iranian spy vessels was hit by an explosive device in the Red Sea. and at least two Israeli-owned cargo ships were targeted.

Iran’s decision to increase uranium enrichment came after the explosion in Natanz, which the Islamic Republic of Israel has blamed.

Israel has vowed to destroy Iran’s nuclear program if all else fails, and they have experience in this area.

Forty years ago, in June 1981, eight Israeli F-16s took off, flew over the Red Sea, spanned the Jordan-Saudi border and dropped their bombs on the Iraqi nuclear power plant in Osirak days before it should get hot. It was called Operation Opera and one of the pilots was General Amos Yadlin.

“Saddam and Assad were surprised. Iran has been waiting for this attack for 20 years.”

General Amos Yadlin

Former head of the Israeli military intelligence service

In 2007, Yadlin, as chief of the Israeli army’s military intelligence, helped plan a second operation. This was aimed at Syria’s secret nuclear power plant. Operation Orchard was also a success – the target was completely destroyed.

Yadlin said that if it comes down to it, this time around will be very different: “Saddam and Assad were surprised. Iran has been waiting for this attack for 20 years.”

Yadlin said the Iranian program is “much stronger and more dispersed” while the nuclear programs of Iraq and Syria are concentrated in one place. The Iranian nuclear program is in dozens of places, many of which are buried deep under mountains. In addition, it is not clear whether intelligence agencies know all the details about the locations of the Iranian program.

“Iran learned from what we did, but we also learned from what we did and now we have more skills,” said Yadlin.

Military planners in Israel say that regardless of the Vienna talks, they have five strategies to stop Iran:

  • Option 1: Push for a stronger deal between Iran, the US, Russia, China, France, Germany and the UK.
  • Option 2: Show Iran that the sanctions and diplomacy costs are too high to continue on the current path.
  • Option 3: What is known in Israel as “Strategy C” – with covert attacks, secret actions and cyber attacks. Essentially try anything but war.
  • Option 4: bombing the Iranian nuclear program.
  • Option 5: Push for regime change in Iran. This is the hardest strategy.

Given the strength of the Ayatollahs – their control over the military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, and a powerful force known for their brutality – the Basij internal rebellion is a long shot.

Retired Israeli General and Executive Director of the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University (INSS) Amos Yadlin attends a meeting of the Security Conference on Manama Dialogue in the Bahraini capital on December 5, 2020.

MAZEN MAHDI | AFP | Getty Images

However, according to Ali Nader, an Iranian analyst with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, the regime has become increasingly unpopular domestically, and protests have broken out in the country in recent years. The main reason for these protests is a stalled economy hit hard by US sanctions, which serve as the main US lever against Iran in the Vienna nuclear talks.

“The US has the Iranian economy completely under control,” said Nader. In 2018, Iran had cash reserves worth more than $ 120 billion. Due to sanctions, this inventory fell to around $ 4 billion in 2020, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund.

The first thing Iran wants during these talks is for the US to relax sanctions and freely sell oil to Asia and Europe. Iran is circumventing sanctions and increasing supplies to China, according to the International Energy Agency, which oversees oil production and deliveries.

Iranian oil shipments to China reached record levels in January. Nader believes that by stopping the US doing more to enforce these sanctions, it is signaling that it is ready to make a deal.

The big question for the talks, however, is who has control over what becomes a chicken game.

Henry Rome is watching the negotiations as an analyst for the Eurasia Group. He doesn’t expect a breakdown or breakthrough as both sides try to get the other to take the first step.

With Iran due to elect a new president in two months’ time, Rome said: “Iran does not want to be viewed as desperate. The Supreme Leader would prefer to wait until after the June 18 elections before even making concessions. ”

“Iran play a weak hand, but they are very good at it,” said Rom.

Yadlin is nervous that the US will be too eager for a deal and give away too much. Repeating what he calls are the mistakes of the 2015 deal. Yadlin points to Iran’s successes in enrichment and reaches the symbolic 60% mark.

“The first deal is proving to be a problem. See how fast they’re moving,” Yadlin said. “You could have enough enriched uranium to get you to two or three bombs quickly.”

While there is still some work to be done in terms of delivery methods and weapons, Yadlin has no doubt that they have the knowledge to make atomic bombs.