World

(WASHINGTON) — National security expert and co-founder of CrowdStrike, Dmitri Alperovitch, discusses rising tensions between the U.S., China, and Taiwan in his book “World on the Brink.”

Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China to meet with President Xi Jinping and China’s foreign minister. During the meeting, President Xi expressed his belief that the two nations should work together as partners rather than rivals.

However, an escalating trade war, differences of opinion regarding Taiwan, and opposing views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict have all contributed to the increasingly tense relationship between the United States and China.

Alperovitch says he feels like the U.S. is in another Cold War with China and they must win the artificial intelligence race, the semiconductor race and the space race.

ABC News had an in-depth conversation with Alperovitch as he dissected the intricate geopolitical challenge the U.S. is facing with China.

ABC NEWS LIVE: Late last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China to meet with President Xi and China’s foreign minister. President Xi said the two countries should be partners, not rivals, but a growing trade war, differing opinions on Taiwan and opposing views on the Russia-Ukraine war have only further contributed to the sharp tensions between our two countries.

In his new book, “World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century,” leading national security expert Dmitri Alperovitch, who is also co-founder of one of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies, CrowdStrike, breaks down the geopolitical challenge the U.S. faces with China.

First and foremost? How to deter China from invading Taiwan. And joining us now is Mr. Alperovitch. Dimitri, thank you so much for joining us.

So just last week, China described that they’d like to have a peaceful reunification with Taiwan. In response, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. continues to pursue the One China policy and does not support Taiwan independence. What do you think of that response? Does that sound like the United States will not support, defend Taiwan if China decides to invade?

DIMITRI ALPEROVITCH: No. The One China policy means that we are for the status quo. We’re not for forceful reunification or unification with Taiwan or else do not support Taiwan declare independence. This has been our policy for 50-plus years. However, China is the one that is trying to break the status quo. They are the ones that are gearing up for invasion, train their military to execute this plan, similar to what [Russian President] Vladimir Putin did in Ukraine. They’re trying to do in Taiwan.

ABC NEWS LIVE: And you warned about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine long before many others did. And you quote national security official Rob Joyce in your book who says Russia is a hurricane and China is climate change. What did he mean by that?

ALPEROVITCH: He means that it’s a pacing throughout. This is a long-term play for China. Russia is an immediate problem. Certainly the brutal war that they’ve waged in Ukraine is a major concern for us. But I believe in the next 4 to 8 years, China may go after Taiwan. And the reason why that timeline is that Xi is now in his 70s. He is looking at the end of his term, potentially in 2032, and he wants to do this on his watch, just like Putin wanted to do it on his watch in Ukraine.

ABC NEWS LIVE: And so you, do you feel that this is a matter of when, not if?

ALPEROVITCH: I think for Xi, yes. I think another Chinese leader may push this off to future generations, but he has said specifically he wants to do it in his time frame.

ABC NEWS LIVE: With regard to our economy, our military, the United States certainly seems to be in a better place than China. But what do we need to do in order to really try to deter them from invading Taiwan?

ALPEROVITCH: Well, I believe there are two things here: I believe we’re in a Cold War with China. Cold War 2, as I call it, that is remarkably similar to the first Cold War.

And the first thing is, yes, we need to make sure that China does not take Taiwan. Taiwan is really existential to U.S. interests because of its position in the region; whoever controls Taiwan, really controls that Indo-Pacific region. But secondly, we have to win the Cold War, and that is a technological war. We have to win the AI race, the semiconductor race, the space race, all of those things that are playing out right now in the technological realm. We have to make sure we’re leading.

ABC NEWS LIVE: Do you think that we’re well suited to win those races?

ALPEROVITCH: I think we have all the ingredients for victory. The big question is, do we have the political will?

ABC NEWS LIVE: And what do you say with regard to China’s economy? I mean, it’s pretty much in shambles at this point because of a real estate bubble. But does that make them more likely to invade Taiwan or less likely?

ALPEROVITCH: In the past, you’ve certainly had cases where domestic disturbances have led to adventurism overseas, whether it’s Mao interfering in Korea, Korean War or Vietnam War, during the Cultural Revolution. So it may very well drive Xi if he thinks that he’s not going to catch up with the United States in terms of being the biggest economy, it may drive him to go for this sooner.

ABC NEWS LIVE: I want to ask you about TikTok. That’s not something that you discuss in your book, but as a cybersecurity expert, how dangerous do you think the TikTok really is? Obviously, Congress seems to think if it’s not sold by its parent company that it should be banned. Do you feel that that’s too drastic of a step?

ALPEROVITCH: No, I don’t. And the danger here is really not privacy, because, let’s face it, Americans have no privacy anymore. All the data is available.

The Chinese can buy it off data brokers the dangerous influence, because you don’t know what you are seeing on TikTok and what you’re not seeing, what is being filtered by both the algorithms and moderators on that platform. It is controlled by foreign adversary.

And imagine if we had Pravda published in the United States everywhere at the same subscription numbers as The New York Times; would never let that happen during the first Cold War. We should not let it happen during second.

ABC NEWS LIVE: Dmitri Alperovitch, we thank you so much for the discussion. Quite an insightful conversation.

ALPEROVITCH: thank you

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.

Here’s how the news is developing:

Apr 30, 12:57 PM
Jordanian king warns of ‘catastrophic effects’ of a Rafah operation

The Jordanian government released a readout of the meeting between King Abdullah II and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

Abdullah “warned of the danger of any military operation in Rafah, stressing that the catastrophic effects of the war in Gaza could spread to areas in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the entire region,” according to the readout.

The king also called for more aid to Gaza “through all available means,” the readout said.

“The King said supporting UNRWA is crucial to enable it to cover the basic needs of nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, as well as other Palestinian refugees in its areas of operation,” the readout said.

The U.S. and some other countries pulled funding for UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, after Israel said several staffers took part in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

-ABC News’ Cindy Smith

Apr 30, 12:43 PM
Israel will not send delegation to Cairo until Hamas responds to offer: Source

Israel will not send a delegation to Cairo for negotiations on a cease-fire deal until Hamas provides an answer to the proposal Israel has offered them, an Israeli source told ABC News.

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller

Apr 30, 12:40 PM
White House stays mum on Netanyahu’s remarks on Rafah plans

White House national security spokesman John Kirby declined to comment about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest comments about a possible operation into Rafah during a news conference Tuesday.

“Our position on Rafah is absolutely the same. We don’t want to see a major ground operation in Rafah. Certainly, we don’t want to see operations that haven’t factored in the safety and security of those 1.5 million folks trying to seek refuge down there,” Kirby said.

He also declined to say if Netanyahu has shared his plans to enter Rafah with or without a deal directly with the United States.

“They understand our concerns, and those concerns have not changed,” he said, adding that they have not seen a credible plan yet from Israel to take civilian safety into consideration though conversations continue.

Kirby reiterated that the new cease-fire deal is on the table, which would give a six-week pause in fighting and help get the hostages home.

Kirby downplayed expectations, but stressed “time is of the essence.”

“I wouldn’t say we’re overly confident. I would say we’re being very pragmatic about this,” he said.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

Apr 30, 11:25 AM
Netanyahu says Israel has ‘no other choice’ but to conduct Rafah operation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an operation in Rafah will proceed in comments Tuesday.

“We will enter Rafah because we have no other choice,” Netanyahu said in comments translated from Hebrew. “We will destroy the Hamas battalions there, we will complete all the objectives of the war, including the repatriation of all our hostages.”

No timeline has been given for a military operation in Rafah, where over 1 million refugees have gathered in the wake of Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The prime minister also criticized the International Criminal Court, saying it “has no authority over the state of Israel.” The ICC is currently investigating Israel’s actions in Gaza, as well as the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that launched the Israeli response.

“The possibility that it will issue arrest warrants for war crimes against IDF commanders and state leaders, this possibility is a scandal on a historical scale,” Netanyahu said.

He added, “I want to make one thing clear: no decision, neither in The Hague nor anywhere else, will harm our determination to achieve all the goals of the war.”

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller

Apr 29, 6:18 PM
Hamas delegation leaves Cairo, will return with response to Israeli proposal: Egyptian official

The Hamas delegation has left Cairo⁩ and will return again with a written response to Israel’s proposal for a truce and hostage-release deal, a senior Egyptian government official told ABC News.

Apr 29, 4:20 PM
White House won’t get info specifics on cease-fire deal

The White House was careful not to get into specifics on the “extraordinarily generous” cease-fire proposal Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to earlier this morning, refusing to give specifics as they continued to call on Hamas to accept the proposal.

“I’m not going to characterize the proposal. I’m not going to get into any of the specifics. What we believe is that now is the time for Hamas to take this deal. It is on the table. It is time to, it is way past time to get these hostages home. It is way past time to get to a ceasefire and we need to make sure we continue to get that humanitarian aid,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre noted that Israel “has a lot on their plate,” but expressed a desire for an in-person meeting to take place, in addition to the two virtual meetings the U.S. and Israel have had in recent weeks.

“We would like to have an in-person meeting. That is certainly what we would like to do, but in the meantime, we’ve had two important virtual meetings and in the readout, yesterday, we mentioned that the potential Rafah operations did come up between the two leaders in their conversation,” she said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also spoke to President Joe Biden Monday about ongoing Gaza talks and Egyptian efforts to reach a cease-fire and hostage deal in a phone call, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

The call discussed the risks of an Israeli incursion into Rafah, including the “catastrophic” impact on the worsening humanitarian crisis, and implications for the security and stability of the region, the statement added.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle and Ayat Al-Tawy

Apr 29, 3:53 PM
Israel leaders concerned about possible ICC arrest warrants: Source

Israeli leaders are expressing concern over possible arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against key officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told ABC News.

It is believed that such potential warrants might be related to charges on the scope of humanitarian aid Israel allowed into Gaza, according to the official.

The ICC can charge individuals with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under its powers.

-ABC News’ Dana Savir

Apr 29, 12:20 PM
21 killed, 6 injured after strike in Gaza

At least 21 people were killed in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike Monday, the Al Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah told ABC News. Six people were injured from the strike, the hospital added.

The updated death toll in Gaza is 34,488 killed and 77,643 injured, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

ABC News has reached out to the Israeli army for comment on the strike.

-ABC News’ Dia Ostaz

Apr 29, 8:36 AM
Blinken calls for cease-fire in first stop on Middle East trip

U.S. Secretary of Antony Blinken, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, notably called for a cease-fire as “the most effective way to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza” during a session with his counterparts of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“The most effective way to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to alleviate the suffering of children, women and men and to create space for a more just and durable solution is to get a cease-fire and hostages home, but also not waiting on a cease-fire to take the necessary steps to meet the needs of civilians of Gaza,” Blinken said.

“President Biden is insistent that Israel take specific concrete measurable steps to better address humanitarian suffering, civilian harm and the safety of aid workers in Gaza, including in his most recent call with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he added, referring to a Sunday call with the Israeli leader.

Blinken said the U.S. was “focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional stability and regional security — Iran.”

Apr 28, 6:00 PM
United States Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force airdrop aid into Gaza

U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on Sunday.

The combined joint operation included Jordanian provided food and four U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft.

The U.S. C-130’s dropped over 25,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza. Additionally, more than 13,080 meal equivalents of Jordanian food supplies were also delivered.

To date the U.S. has dropped nearly 1,110 tons of humanitarian assistance.

Apr 28, 5:22 PM
American hostage’s niece opens up about ‘surreal’ new video

Hanna Siegel, niece of American hostage Keith Siegel, appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday morning and talked about the “surreal” feeling of seeing a recently released video purporting to show her uncle and talked about the possibility of a deal that would free him and other people thought to still be held by Hamas in Gaza.

“We’ve always believed that he was alive. We have to believe he’s alive — and his wife, my aunt, who was held for 52 days, [was] released in the deal that took place in November, she was with him,” Siegel said. “When she came out, she told us he was alive, but this is the first time that we’re seeing him, hearing him. It’s surreal.”

When asked about a potential hostage deal and temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Siegel said that she does think an agreement “can be reached” and pointed to an earlier deal that secured the release of her aunt and others during a brief pause in the war late last year.

Siegel also said that she believes the new release of purported hostage videos shows that Hamas is signaling they are ready to make a deal.

But she said that she is concerned that it might not be in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “political interest to close a deal,” though Netanyahu has said his goal is freeing the captives in Gaza as well as dismantling Hamas.

Siegel said that the Biden administration should “think about what they can do directly to bring our American citizens home.”

She also said she has felt the “commitment from the Biden administration to get him back,” referring to her uncle.

She became emotional talking about how her family missed her uncle during their Passover celebration and had a picture of him to pay tribute.

“I think there’s so much swirling in the political realm that it’s easy to forget that these are human beings. Keith is a grandfather, he’s a husband, he’s a brother, he’s an uncle,” she said.

She was asked whether her family is worried if a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, to further target Hamas fighters, could threaten her uncle’s safety. She responded that she and her family are “very concerned.”

Apr 28, 5:10 PM
Hamas to send a delegation to Cairo for hostage and cease-fire negotiations

Hamas will send a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, on Monday to participate in hostage and cease-fire deal negotiations, ABC News has confirmed.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official also told the Agence France-Presse on Sunday that the organization has no significant problems with the proposed deal.

“The atmosphere is positive unless there are new obstacles from the Israeli side,” the Hamas official said.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LONDON) — A man has been arrested after driving a car into a home in east London before getting out and attacking members of the public with a sword, according to police.

The incident happened at approximately 7 a.m. local time Tuesday when the Metropolitan Police in London were alerted to a “serious incident” taking place in Hainault, east London, to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area and multiple people being stabbed, according to a police statement detailing the early morning incident.

One of those people, a 13-year-old boy, has died of injuries suffered in the unprovoked attack, according to authorities.

“It is with great sadness we can confirm following a serious incident in Hainault this morning a 13-year-old boy has died,” police said in a statement on social media. “Two members of the public and two police officers remain in hospital with significant injuries.”

Police have not yet offered any possible motivations in the attack or the identity of the suspect.

“At this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers,” the Met Police said. “Police in London have been called and other emergency services are in Hainault, east London, at a serious incident in which a man with a sword has been arrested.”

“This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned. I know the wider community will be feeling shock and alarm,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan. “People will want to know what has happened and will we provide more information as soon as we can.”

Police confirmed that a 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is in now in police custody.

“We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community. We are not looking for more suspects,” police said. “This incident does not appear to be terror-related.”

The investigation is currently ongoing and authorities are expected to release more information on the stabbings once more information is available.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LONDON) — King Charles III visited a cancer treatment center in the United Kingdom Tuesday, marking his first public royal engagement since his own cancer diagnosis was announced in February.

Charles, 75, was joined by his wife, Queen Camilla, during the visit to the center, which was not associated with his treatment.

The king and the queen met with the center’s staff and patients, some of whom are undergoing chemotherapy.

Buckingham Palace announced on Feb. 5, that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for benign prostate enlargement.

The palace has not disclosed publicly what type of cancer Charles was diagnosed with, nor what type of treatment he is undergoing.

In announcing Charles’s return to public duties, the palace noted that Charles is still undergoing treatment but has been approved to resume some public-facing duties.

“His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise,” a palace spokesperson said in a statement Friday.

While he did not hold public engagements, Charles had for the past three months continued the behind-the-scenes work of a monarch, handling official paperwork and continuing his weekly audiences with Britain’s prime minister.

Prior to Tuesday’s appearance, the king was last seen publicly on Easter Sunday, when he and Camilla joined other members of the royal family for the Easter Mattins Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England.

According to the palace, Charles will continue to hold public-facing engagements throughout the summer, but his schedule will “remain subject to doctors’ advice.”

“His Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties,” a palace spokesperson said in a statement. “Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.”

In June, Charles is expected to be joined by members of the royal family in celebrating his second Trooping the Colour as king.

Also in June, Charles and Camilla are expected to host the emperor and empress of Japan for a state visit.

Next month marks the first anniversary of Charles and Camilla’s historic coronation ceremony, which took place on May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LONDON) — A man has been arrested after driving a car into a home in east London before getting out and attacking members of the public with a sword, according to police.

The incident happened at approximately 7 a.m. local time Tuesday when the Metropolitan Police in London were alerted to a “serious incident” taking place in Hainault, east London, to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area and multiple people being stabbed, according to a police statement detailing the early morning incident.

“At this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers,” the Met Police said. “Police in London have been called and other emergency services are in Hainault, east London, at a serious incident in which a man with a sword has been arrested.”

“This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned. I know the wider community will be feeling shock and alarm,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan. “People will want to know what has happened and will we provide more information as soon as we can.”

Police confirmed that a 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is in now in police custody.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the number of victims involved in the attack or their medical conditions.

“We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community. We are not looking for more suspects,” police said. “This incident does not appear to be terror-related.”

The investigation is currently ongoing and authorities are expected to release more information on the stabbings once more information is available.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.

Here’s how the news is developing:

Apr 29, 4:20 PM
White House won’t get info specifics on cease-fire deal

The White House was careful not to get into specifics on the “extraordinarily generous” cease-fire proposal Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to earlier this morning, refusing to give specifics as they continued to call on Hamas to accept the proposal.

“I’m not going to characterize the proposal. I’m not going to get into any of the specifics. What we believe is that now is the time for Hamas to take this deal. It is on the table. It is time to, it is way past time to get these hostages home. It is way past time to get to a ceasefire and we need to make sure we continue to get that humanitarian aid,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre noted that Israel “has a lot on their plate,” but expressed a desire for an in-person meeting to take place, in addition to the two virtual meetings the U.S. and Israel have had in recent weeks.

“We would like to have an in-person meeting. That is certainly what we would like to do, but in the meantime, we’ve had two important virtual meetings and in the readout, yesterday, we mentioned that the potential Rafah operations did come up between the two leaders in their conversation,” she said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also spoke to President Joe Biden Monday about ongoing Gaza talks and Egyptian efforts to reach a cease-fire and hostage deal in a phone call, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

The call discussed the risks of an Israeli incursion into Rafah, including the “catastrophic” impact on the worsening humanitarian crisis, and implications for the security and stability of the region, the statement added.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle and Ayat Al-Tawy

Apr 29, 3:53 PM
Israel leaders concerned about possible ICC arrest warrants: Source

Israeli leaders are expressing concern over possible arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against key officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told ABC News.

It is believed that such potential warrants might be related to charges on the scope of humanitarian aid Israel allowed into Gaza, according to the official.

The ICC can charge individuals with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under its powers.

-ABC News’ Dana Savir

Apr 29, 12:20 PM
21 killed, 6 injured after strike in Gaza

At least 21 people were killed in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike Monday, the Al Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah told ABC News. Six people were injured from the strike, the hospital added.

The updated death toll in Gaza is 34,488 killed and 77,643 injured, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

ABC News has reached out to the Israeli army for comment on the strike.

-ABC News’ Dia Ostaz

Apr 29, 8:36 AM
Blinken calls for cease-fire in first stop on Middle East trip

U.S. Secretary of Antony Blinken, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, notably called for a cease-fire as “the most effective way to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza” during a session with his counterparts of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“The most effective way to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to alleviate the suffering of children, women and men and to create space for a more just and durable solution is to get a cease-fire and hostages home, but also not waiting on a cease-fire to take the necessary steps to meet the needs of civilians of Gaza,” Blinken said.

“President Biden is insistent that Israel take specific concrete measurable steps to better address humanitarian suffering, civilian harm and the safety of aid workers in Gaza, including in his most recent call with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he added, referring to a Sunday call with the Israeli leader.

Blinken said the U.S. was “focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional stability and regional security — Iran.”

Apr 28, 6:00 PM
United States Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force airdrop aid into Gaza

U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on Sunday.

The combined joint operation included Jordanian provided food and four U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft.

The U.S. C-130’s dropped over 25,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza. Additionally, more than 13,080 meal equivalents of Jordanian food supplies were also delivered.

To date the U.S. has dropped nearly 1,110 tons of humanitarian assistance.

Apr 28, 5:22 PM
American hostage’s niece opens up about ‘surreal’ new video

Hanna Siegel, niece of American hostage Keith Siegel, appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday morning and talked about the “surreal” feeling of seeing a recently released video purporting to show her uncle and talked about the possibility of a deal that would free him and other people thought to still be held by Hamas in Gaza.

“We’ve always believed that he was alive. We have to believe he’s alive — and his wife, my aunt, who was held for 52 days, [was] released in the deal that took place in November, she was with him,” Siegel said. “When she came out, she told us he was alive, but this is the first time that we’re seeing him, hearing him. It’s surreal.”

When asked about a potential hostage deal and temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Siegel said that she does think an agreement “can be reached” and pointed to an earlier deal that secured the release of her aunt and others during a brief pause in the war late last year.

Siegel also said that she believes the new release of purported hostage videos shows that Hamas is signaling they are ready to make a deal.

But she said that she is concerned that it might not be in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “political interest to close a deal,” though Netanyahu has said his goal is freeing the captives in Gaza as well as dismantling Hamas.

Siegel said that the Biden administration should “think about what they can do directly to bring our American citizens home.”

She also said she has felt the “commitment from the Biden administration to get him back,” referring to her uncle.

She became emotional talking about how her family missed her uncle during their Passover celebration and had a picture of him to pay tribute.

“I think there’s so much swirling in the political realm that it’s easy to forget that these are human beings. Keith is a grandfather, he’s a husband, he’s a brother, he’s an uncle,” she said.

She was asked whether her family is worried if a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, to further target Hamas fighters, could threaten her uncle’s safety. She responded that she and her family are “very concerned.”

Apr 28, 5:10 PM
Hamas to send a delegation to Cairo for hostage and cease-fire negotiations

Hamas will send a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, on Monday to participate in hostage and cease-fire deal negotiations, ABC News has confirmed.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official also told the Agence France-Presse on Sunday that the organization has no significant problems with the proposed deal.

“The atmosphere is positive unless there are new obstacles from the Israeli side,” the Hamas official said.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.

Here’s how the news is developing:

Apr 28, 6:00 PM
United States Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force airdrop aid into Gaza

U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on Sunday.

The combined joint operation included Jordanian provided food and four U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft.

The U.S. C-130’s dropped over 25,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza. Additionally, more than 13,080 meal equivalents of Jordanian food supplies were also delivered.

To date the U.S. has dropped nearly 1,110 tons of humanitarian assistance.

Apr 28, 5:22 PM
American hostage’s niece opens up about ‘surreal’ new video

Hanna Siegel, niece of American hostage Keith Siegel, appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday morning and talked about the “surreal” feeling of seeing a recently released video purporting to show her uncle and talked about the possibility of a deal that would free him and other people thought to still be held by Hamas in Gaza.

“We’ve always believed that he was alive. We have to believe he’s alive — and his wife, my aunt, who was held for 52 days, [was] released in the deal that took place in November, she was with him,” Siegel said. “When she came out, she told us he was alive, but this is the first time that we’re seeing him, hearing him. It’s surreal.”

When asked about a potential hostage deal and temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Siegel said that she does think an agreement “can be reached” and pointed to an earlier deal that secured the release of her aunt and others during a brief pause in the war late last year.

Siegel also said that she believes the new release of purported hostage videos shows that Hamas is signaling they are ready to make a deal.

But she said that she is concerned that it might not be in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “political interest to close a deal,” though Netanyahu has said his goal is freeing the captives in Gaza as well as dismantling Hamas.

Siegel said that the Biden administration should “think about what they can do directly to bring our American citizens home.”

She also said she has felt the “commitment from the Biden administration to get him back,” referring to her uncle.

She became emotional talking about how her family missed her uncle during their Passover celebration and had a picture of him to pay tribute.

“I think there’s so much swirling in the political realm that it’s easy to forget that these are human beings. Keith is a grandfather, he’s a husband, he’s a brother, he’s an uncle,” she said.

She was asked whether her family is worried if a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, to further target Hamas fighters, could threaten her uncle’s safety. She responded that she and her family are “very concerned.”

Apr 28, 5:10 PM
Hamas to send a delegation to Cairo for hostage and cease-fire negotiations

Hamas will send a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, on Monday to participate in hostage and cease-fire deal negotiations, ABC News has confirmed.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official also told the Agence France-Presse on Sunday that the organization has no significant problems with the proposed deal.

“The atmosphere is positive unless there are new obstacles from the Israeli side,” the Hamas official said.

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(LONDON) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Xi Jinping of China on Friday following a meeting with Director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the U.S. State Department.

Blinken, in his remarks, described the first meeting with Wang Yi as “extensive and constructive.”

“The two sides had in-depth, substantive, and constructive discussions about areas of difference as well as areas of cooperation as part of responsibly managing competition between the United States and the PRC,” according to Spokesperson Matthew Miller of the U.S. State Department. “The Secretary discussed concerns about PRC support to the Russian defense industrial base, the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, PRC activities in the South China Sea, and the need to avoid further escalation in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula.”

Following up on the Woodside Summit between President Joe Biden and President Xi last November, Blinken and Wang Yi discussed “next steps on a range of commitments made by the two leaders on advancing cooperation on counternarcotics, military-to-military communication, talks on artificial intelligence risks and safety, and facilitating people-to-people exchanges,” officials said.

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. will continue to stand up for our interests and values and those of America’s allies and partners, including on human rights and economic issues.

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(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. military has begun to build the long-awaited port and causeway off the coast of Gaza that will establish a maritime corridor to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza, the Pentagon said Thursday.

“I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, told reporters, referring to the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, system floating pier delivery system.

“We are aware of the significant interest in this important effort and will provide much more information in the very near future as we work alongside the international community to rush aid to the people of Gaza,” he added.

The Pentagon has estimated that, when operational, the pier would complement the existing land crossings for aid into Gaza and could provide as many as two million meals per day to Gaza.

Satellite photos taken by Planet Lab show construction work that has begun to be built in the land area where the causeway will be moored so trucks loaded with aid can get access inside Gaza.

Marine traffic websites show the USNS Roy Benavidez operating off the coast of Gaza, where it has begun the construction of the floating platform by which supplies will be offloaded from civilian cargo ships. The additional ships that will support the floating pier are en route to Gaza from Crete, Greece, where they had been docked after making a trans-Atlantic voyage to the eastern Mediterranean.

A senior U.S. military official who briefed reporters on Thursday said that the construction of the JLOTS landing platform began on Thursday several miles off the shore of Gaza.

“We are on track to begin delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza from the sea in early May,” said the official, who added that once operational the JLOTS pier will be able to handle about 90 trucks a day and then quickly build up to 150 trucks worth of humanitarian aid.

“This additional throughput from the sea represents a significant increase of life-saving aid,” the official said.

The plan is that humanitarian assistance from aid agencies will eventually make its way to the JLOTS platform and floating causeway after first being screened, palletized, and prepared for delivery in Cyprus, 200 miles away from Gaza.

The senior U.S. military official explained that the aid would then be unloaded at a floating platform located miles offshore. Then, there will be smaller watercraft each aboard carrying five trucks that will be offloaded onto the floating causeway or pier that will be anchored to the shore, the official said.

Those trucks will drop off their cargo in a secure area for future distribution and constantly repeat that process in a regular back and forth to the floating platform, the official said.

The truck drivers will not be U.S. military personnel or American contractors, the official said, but from an undisclosed country who are not Americans and who will have their own security.

Hundreds of U.S. soldiers and sailors who will build JLOTS and keep it operating will live and sleep aboard the British naval ship Cardigan Bay that will be located miles offshore, the official said.

The Biden administration has repeatedly said that there will be no U.S. “boots on the ground,” but that restriction does not apply to other personnel supporting the JLOTS mission who will be working in Israel.

With no U.S. forces on the ground to anchor the floating platform to the beach in Gaza, a U.S. Army engineering unit partnered with a similar IDF unit to train them on how to anchor it to the beach on “day one.” That training occurred on an Israeli beach “just up the coast,” said the senior military official.

In addition, U.S. military personnel will be working side-by-side with Israeli Defense Forces personnel at a coordination cell established at Hatzor airbase in Ashdod, Israel that is being run by a three-star U.S. general.

Another coordination cell, run by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been established in Cyprus to organize the logistics of the flow of aid that will be delivered to Gaza through the maritime corridor.

Earlier on Thursday, a mortar attack in the general vicinity of where the pier will be located near Gaza City raised concerns about the security for the JLOTS mission that U.S. officials have long acknowledged will be provided by the Israeli military.

“It’s important also to highlight that this occurred before any U.S. forces have started moving anything,” said Ryder, who noted that “there is no U.S. equipment per se in this marshaling yard” that will be the future location of distributing aid offloaded via JLOTS.

The senior military official told reporters that the mortar attack has been assessed to have had nothing to do with the JLOTS mission and that security around the location struck will be “far more robust” when it is up and running.

“Force protection is our number one priority,” said the senior U.S. military official, who explained that Israel has committed a brigade of thousands of soldiers plus Israeli Navy ships and aircraft flying above that will protect American forces off-shore and the landing and distribution centers ashore.

The official said the U.S. military assesses that the security at the chosen location for the floating platform “is sufficient to support execution of the mission,” though any final decision will be left up to the commander of U.S. Central Command.

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(PORTUGAL) — One of the planet’s most natural defenses against climate change and a key element in sustainable products is found in wine bottles around the world.

Scientists and engineers say cork has been used to make several products in everyday life, from flooring to insulation, and the process of harvesting it leaves a small carbon footprint.

In Portugal, farmers are only able to harvest bark by hand from the trees during a three-month window in the summer every nine years, and they use careful techniques to avoid wounding the trees.

“The tree tells us if we can take or not; you cannot force the cork to come apart,” Conceição Santos Silva, a forest engineer, told ABC News last summer while the farmers were working on the trees.

The forests that produce cork themselves are also instrumental in lowering the carbon dioxide in the air, according to Silva. The Portuguese Cork Association estimates that the forests store about 14 million tons of CO₂ every year.

Cork trees can live for up to 200 years, harvested again and again over the decades, she said.

“Cork oak trees are a barrier to the desertification that comes from the south. This is the forest that is preventing the desert advance until Europe,” Silva added. Desertification is when land can no longer support the same plant growth it had in the past, and the change is permanent, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

When the cork is sent to a factory for processing, it is left to dry for up to nine months to remove TCA, which leaves a bad taste, according to engineers.

“You are looking at a factory that has been designed to make life hard for this micro-organism,” Carlos de Jesus, a spokesman for Amorim, the world’s largest cork manufacturer, told ABC News.

About 30% of the cork made at the Amorim plant is used for bottles, but de Jesus said that his plant does not waste any of the material.

“What does not go into a bottle top, can be made into aerospace and defense applications, can be made into footwear, flooring, heavy construction, [and] surfboards,” he said.

The cork that’s of a lower quality is broken down into tiny bits, or granules, which are then assembled into sheets, and bound together by glue. That bonded cork is then used to make those materials, according to engineers.

Cork’s chemical makeup makes it strong enough to withstand high temperatures, which is why it is used for insulation by many companies, including NASA.

Cork dust is swept up and turned into biofuel, which de Jesus said helps make the plant carbon-negative.

“Over 95% of the energy needed for this factory comes from cork dust,” he said.

João Ferreira, the secretary-general of the Associação Portuguesa de Cortiça, a Portuguese cork business association, told ABC News that other countries and companies should look into cork-related solutions for their climate change issues.

“It’s a product that really answers to all the challenges we have as a society. You see the political programs from Europe to [the] US, everyone is trying to find products that are very positive in terms of sustainability. To face a new challenge in the circular economy so nothing is wasted. We can recycle, we can reuse, we can-zero waste. And so I see a bright future,” he said.

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