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☆ Fact check: Another week, another round of false Trump claims about his trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump continues to make false claims about his New York trial. Here’s a fact check of four false claims and one misleading claim he made about the trial in his courthouse comments last week. Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order, which narrowly restricts his out-of-court speech, does not in any way stop him from testifying. The gag order also does not broadly prevent Trump from talking. Trump’s campaign scheduleTrump continued Friday to complain that the New York trial is preventing him from being on the campaign trail.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, –, “ I’m, who’s, ”, he’s, I’m, Judge Juan Merchan’s, Joe Biden, Merchan, Rather, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, it’s, “, ’ Trump, ’ ” Trump, ’, you’re, ” Trump, ” Merchan, Defendant, Biden, It’s, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, CNN’s Kristen Holmes Organizations: Washington CNN, New, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney, “, Republican, Miami, Prix, Georgia, Biden, Justice Department Locations: New York, Manhattan, Michigan, York, Fulton County , Georgia, Washington , DC, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Bedminster , New Jersey, York’s

☆ Fact check: Trump’s misleading claim about the judge and ‘advice of counsel’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Criminal defendants sometimes employ an “advice of counsel” defense to try to demonstrate that they had not intended to break the law. “Here, I’m not even allowed to say ‘advice of counsel.’ This is a new one to me, ‘advice of counsel,’” Trump told reporters outside the courtroom. “When you have a lawyer and the lawyer does something or advises you on something, you say ‘advice of counsel.’ He said you’re not allowed to say that.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is misleading. An “advice of counsel” defense typically requires the defendant to waive attorney-client privilege. This Court can not endorse such a tactic.”Therefore, Merchan ruled, Trump could not invoke or even suggest a “presence of counsel” defense in the trial.

Persons: Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Merchan, I’m, ’ ” Trump, ’, you’re, ”, Trump, ” Trump, ” Merchan, Defendant Organizations: CNN, Manhattan

☆ Mike Johnson: Doing ‘the right thing’ may cost the speaker his gavel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —It took less than six months for Speaker Mike Johnson to reach his existential moment. His tiny majority means he can’t afford to lose more than one GOP vote to pass a bill on a party-line vote. But a GOP speaker dependent on Democratic votes will be seen by many Republicans as a tool of the minority party and would be on borrowed time. In this way, those who oppose Ukraine aid on principle could vote against it, allowing Democrats who support it to ensure its passage. These are important responsibilities,” Johnson told Tapper.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, John Boehner –, Johnson, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie of, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Greene, Chip Roy, Roy, ”, –, CNN’s Manu Raju, ’ Johnson, he’s, Tapper, “, Dan Crenshaw, CNN’s Raju, Johnson “, ” Trump, hasn’t, bankrolling, Dwight Eisenhower, George W, Bush, Vladimir Putin doesn’t, We’re, Putin, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Biden, he’d Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Texas Rep, Democratic, GOP, White, Texas GOP, Lago, Trump, Senate, “, ”, House Defense Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Mexico, Kyiv, Washington, Texas, Mar, Trumpism, Europe, Iran, North Korea, British, Jordanian, Russia, Russia’s, United States

☆ Opinion: Why there’s hope for an impartial jury in Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Opinion Jeffrey Abramson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —On Monday, jury selection for the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president begins in Manhattan. The process may take longer than the usual jury selection and the pool of persons questioned will be larger. There is something to be said for Trump’s claim that he faces an uphill battle in jury selection. True, another New York jury found Trump liable of defaming and sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in 2023 and again this year. There is a famous quip of unknown origin that goes: “In England, the trial starts when jury selection is over.

Persons: Jeffrey Abramson, “, Donald Trump, Austin Trump, Michael Cohen, Stephanie Clifford, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Trump’s, Juan Merchan, Merchan, ”, “ Get, Alvin Bragg, Daniels, Jean Carroll, Cohen Organizations: University of Texas, Democracy, CNN, Jeffrey Abramson University of Texas, Austin, Trump, Trump Organization, Biden, “, ”, New York Times Locations: Austin, Manhattan, New York, York, England

☆ UK government under growing pressure to stop selling arms to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Pressure is mounting on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to suspend the sale of arms to Israel following the deadly attack on a convoy of aid workers in Gaza. Calls for Sunak to stop supplying Israel with weapons grew after an Israeli airstrike on Monday killed seven members of staff from World Central Kitchen, three of whom were British citizens. The government is still waiting for legal advice from its lawyers on whether or not selling arms to Israel is in breach of international law. However, parliamentary estimates show that the UK has still licensed arms worth over $725m. The family of one of the aid workers killed former Royal Marine James Henderson, have criticized the UK sale of arms to Israel.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Alicia Kearns, Kearns, ”, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Grant Shapps, Marine James Henderson Organizations: London CNN, British, Parliament’s, Conservative Party, UNRWA, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, Israeli, ” Defense, ”, UN Security Council, Marine, Times Locations: Israel, Gaza, British, Germany, Times of London

☆ Israeli cabinet members say they oppose Ultra-Orthodox conscription plan in threat to coalition government
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Tel Aviv CNN —Two of the three members of Israel’s war cabinet signalled their opposition to government proposals on the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox men into the military, setting up a potential collapse of the government coalition. An outline of the Israeli government’s plans for reforming the exemption emerged over the weekend, but it appears as though the government will once again attempt to delay that legislation. “I will not be a party to any proposal that is not agreed upon by all parts of the coalition. Malach said that “there is a high chance that the Supreme Court will say that it’s not acceptable.”A longstanding debateIsrael has, since its founding, exempted Haredim from mandatory military service. In 1998, the Supreme Court ripped up the longstanding exemption, telling the government that allowing Haredim to get out of conscription violated equal protection principles.

Persons: “, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Gantz, –, Netanyahu –, ”, ” Gilad Malach, Malach, Haredim, Knessets, Netanyahu, Gallant, ” “ Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, Israeli, ”, CNN, Channel, Kan, “, National Unity, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Tel Aviv, Washington, Israel

☆ James and Jennifer Crumbley were both found guilty. But they took different paths to get there
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Now, James Crumbley is on trial 06:15 - Source: CNNThe major difference in the trials was Jennifer Crumbley’s decision to testify in her own defense, while James Crumbley did not. On the stand, Jennifer Crumbley pushed blame onto her son, her husband and the school, and she expressed no regret for her actions. James Crumbley, meanwhile, declined to testify. Smith released a statement Thursday saying she and Jennifer Crumbley will not be doing interviews at this time. On the stand, Jennifer Crumbley testified she believed these texts were Ethan “messing around” as part of an ongoing joke about their house being haunted.

Persons: James Crumbley’s, Ethan, Jennifer, James, CNN’s Jean Casarez, Karen McDonald, “, ” McDonald, ”, James Crumbley, Jennifer Crumbley’s, Jennifer Crumbley, “ I’ve, Shannon Smith, Cheryl Matthews, “ That’s, ” James, Mariell Lehman, Smith, ” Smith, Lehman, can’t, Lol I’m, James ’, messaged, Ethan “, Edward Wagrowski, SIG Sauer, Derringer Organizations: CNN, Oxford High School, Sauer, SIG, WXYZ Locations: Michigan, Oakland County

CNN —A Georgia lawyer who had been billed as a star witness in the effort to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis did not deliver damaging testimony Tuesday on her romantic relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade. “I do not have knowledge of it starting, or when it started,” Bradley said at one point. That filing leveled allegations that Willis and Wade engaged in an improper romantic relationship from which Willis financially benefited. “Why would you speculate when she was asking you a direct question about when the relationship started?” Sadow pushed. That means attorneys can use it to bolster their legal arguments about whether Willis should be disqualified without witness testimony.

Persons: CNN —, Fani Willis, Nathan Wade, Terrence Bradley, Willis, Wade, Donald Trump, Bradley, –, “, ” Bradley, ” Ashleigh Merchant, ” Merchant, Scott McAfee, CNN’s Nick Valencia, ’ Bradley, Merchant, Willis ’, ‘, ’ ” Bradley, “ Mr, Richard Rice, ” Trump, Steve Sadow, ” Sadow, ’, McAfee Organizations: CNN, Fulton, Trump, Bradley Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, South Fulton

BERLIN (AP) — An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two U.S. women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany's Neuschwanstein castle last year. The 31-year-old defendant admitted to the charges during the start of his trial, the German news agency dpa reported. Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison in Germany. When the elder woman tried to help her, a scuffle ensued and the suspect allegedly pushed her down a steep slope. Authorities say the women didn’t know the man before they met near Neuschwanstein.

Persons: Philip Mueller, Prosecutors, didn’t Organizations: BERLIN, Prosecutors, Authorities Locations: Germany's, Germany, Neuschwanstein

A New York judge on Friday ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $364 million in damages for fraud he committed by inflating his net worth to obtain favorable treatment from banks and insurers. The blistering 92-page ruling from Judge Arthur Engoron was replete with references to the brazen nature of the misdeeds of Trump, his adult sons and his business organization. Here are nine key quotes from Engoron’s ruling. The frauds found here leap off the page and shock the conscience.”On the reaction of Trump and his adult sons:“Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. Donald Trump is not Bernard Madoff.

Persons: Donald Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron, Trump, Justice Potter Stewart, ”, “, Bernard Madoff, ’, “ Donald Trump, Trump’s, Ivanka Trump, Rosemary, ” Ivanka Trump, fraudsters, Eli Bartov’s, Bartov, “ John Shubin, Mr, Shubin, Robert Unell, Unell, Birney, Donald Trump’s, Whitley Penn, Donald Bender, Mazars, Allen Weisselberg doesn’t, Allen, Weisselberg Organizations: United States Supreme, Trump Organization, ”, Trump, Deutsche, OAG, trifles, Allen Weisselberg’s Locations: York, ”, New York, ’

LAS VEGAS (AP) — First-time candidate Julius Peppers headlines a 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that has a distinctive defensive feel. He was a first-team All-Pro five times in eight seasons and helped San Francisco reach three straight conference title games and one Super Bowl. Freeney was the defensive star on the stellar Colts teams led by Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Johnson became the first player to spend the bulk of his career with the Texans to make the Hall of Fame. McMichael had 95 career sacks as a defensive tackle, was selected as an All-Pro in 1985 and ’87 and was a second-teamer two other times.

Persons: Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Andre Johnson, Devin Hester, Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael, Art Powell, Buddy Parker, Peppers, —, of Famers Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Willis ’, San, Willis, Freeney, Peyton Manning, Indianapolis hadn’t, Manning’s, Hester, Johnson, Ed Reed, Gradishar, didn’t, McMichael, Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Darren Woodson, Eric Allen, Rodney Harrison, Fred Taylor, Jared Allen, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Football Hall of Fame, AFL, Carolina, Panthers, of Famers, Colts, Hall of Fame, Indianapolis, Super, AFC, NFL, Chicago, Bears, Texans, of Fame, of Famer, Pro, Hall, Broncos Locations: Chicago, Green, San Francisco, Houston’s, Houston, Denver’s

☆ Tex McIver — an Atlanta attorney sentenced to life — may walk out of prison after admitting he killed his wife
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Christina Maxouris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Behind Diane sat her husband, Claud Lee “Tex” McIver, an attorney with powerful political connections, with a gun in his lap. Claud "Tex" McIver enters the courtroom holding a bible filled with papers before his sentencing at the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta in May 2018. A family photo of Tex McIver and his wife, Diane. “There is no doubt that Tex McIver depended on his wife’s money,” defense attorney Bruce Harvey said in trial. Tex McIver pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, Diane, on Friday, January 26, 2024.

Persons: Dani Jo Carter, Carter, Diane McIver, Diane, Claud Lee “ Tex ” McIver, “ Tex, ” Diane muttered, Claud, Tex, McIver, Alyssa Pointer, Fani Willis, retry McIver, Robert McBurney, McIver’s, –, he’s, Don Samuel, Diane chatted, Tex McIver, ” McIver, Seleta Griffin, Tex McIver’s, Griffin, Diane McIver's, Hyosub Shin, Zuma, ”, Clint Rucker, “, ” Prosecutors, ” Griffin, Bruce Harvey, Prosecutors, court’s, codicil, Adam Abbate, Samuel, Amanda Clark Palmer, CNN’s Jamiel Lynch Organizations: CNN, Ford Expedition, Georgia Supreme, WSB, Atlanta, TNS, ”, Prosecutors Locations: Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, Fulton County, ” Fulton County, Putnam County, Buckhead, “, –

LONDON (AP) — Climate activist Greta Thunberg was acquitted Friday of refusing to follow a police order to leave a protest blocking the entrance to a major oil and gas industry conference in London last year. “The conditions imposed on the protest were unclear, uncertain and unlawful,” defense lawyer Raj Chada said outside court. Thunberg and other climate protesters have accused fossil fuel companies of deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profit. Thunberg rose to prominence after staging weekly protests outside the Swedish Parliament starting in 2018. Last summer, she was fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police and blocking traffic during an environmental protest at an oil facility.

Persons: Greta Thunberg, John Law, Thunberg, Law, Raj Chada's, Raj Chada, Matthew Cox, ” Cox, “, ” Thunberg, Luke Staton Organizations: —, ’, Energy Intelligence Forum, Metropolitan Police, Swedish Locations: London, Swedish, Westminster, North, Scotland, Sweden

☆ U.S. Strikes 3 Sites in Iraq Linked to Militias Blamed for Base Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The United States on Tuesday carried out military strikes against three facilities in western Iraq associated with Iran-linked militias that American officials say attacked a major base in Iraq on Saturday, according to the Pentagon’s Central Command, injuring at least four U.S. service members. “These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias,” Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement. The attack against Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on Saturday was the latest and the most serious of about 151 such rocket and missile strikes directed at U.S. troops based in Iraq and Syria since Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza started. Al Asad Air Base, in Iraq’s western desert, is now primarily used by Iraqi forces but still has a U.S. contingent. At least 83 U.S. personnel have suffered injuries in the attacks by militias in Syria and Iraq, including traumatic brain injuries.

Persons: Lloyd J, Austin III, Biden, Austin, Biden “ Organizations: Pentagon’s, Command, Central Command, U.S, ”, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Pentagon, Houthi Locations: States, Iraq, Iran, Iraq’s, Syria, Iranian, Al Asad Air, Gaza, United States, Britain, Yemen, Al, U.S, Kurdish Syrian, Islamic State

☆ Two US Navy SEALs missing off the coast of Somalia are dead, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The two US Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia on January 11 are dead, US Central Command said after searching for them for 10 days. “We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased,” Central Command said in a statement Sunday. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, US CENTCOM commander. “We mourn the loss of our two brave Navy SEALs, and our hearts are with their families,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement Sunday. In addition to training Somali forces, the US has also coordinated with the Somali government to carry out strikes against al-Shabaab.

Persons: ” CENTCOM, “, ”, Michael Erik Kurilla, Lloyd Austin, CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Haley Britzky, Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis, Jim Sciutto Organizations: CNN, US Navy, US, Command, U.S . Navy, ”, Special Warfare, Navy, US Africa Command Locations: Somalia, Japan, Spain, Shabaab, Somali, “ Al, U.S

Trump, who contends James’ lawsuit is part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” was demonstrative from the outset. Go out and do your own work,” Trump testified. “I considered this the most important job in the world, saving millions of lives,” Trump testified. Would you like to see it?”“I don’t think we’re allowed to open the windows,” Wallace said. “An incredible property … an unbelievable property ... a phenomenal property that fronts on the ocean.”“I don’t want to sell any of them,” Trump testified.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, —, Letitia James, ”, Trump, that’s, James ’, smirking, “, ” James ’, Judge Arthur Engoron, Trump’s, James, ” Trump, Banks, they’d, Allen Weisselberg “, ’ Don’t, “ You’re, Donald Trump Jr, Kim Jong Un, ” Wallace, Clifford Robert, LIV Organizations: Republican, Information, Trump, New, Trump Organization, Weisselberg, Doral Locations: York, Manhattan, New York, North Korea, Scotland, Doral, Miami, Springs, New York City, New York State, Aberdeen, Jupiter, Florida, Los Angeles, Lago, Saudi Arabia, British, Sisak, x.com

Former President Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial turned Tuesday to one of the topics that has vexed him most — the value of his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. A Palm Beach luxury real estate broker played a glimmering video of the historic estate and testified that he'd value it at over $1 billion as of 2021. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesMar-a-Lago also is a key element of the current New York civil case and Trump's vehement frustration with it. The attorney general, a Democrat, maintains that Trump should have valued Mar-a-Lago the same way the county does, based on its club income. “Anybody who buys it … would just step into the shoes of President Trump,” defense attorney Christopher Kise said.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump, “, Lawrence Moens, Jack Smith, Lago, Letitia James ’, Judge Arthur Engoron, Jeffrey McConney, James, John Shubin, ”, Shubin, Christopher Kise Organizations: Republican, Mar, Trump, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Trust, Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, Florida, New York, York, Beach, Miami, Palm Beach

The deals came with conditions about Trump’s net worth and, sometimes, liquidity, and they often required annual submissions of his financial statements. But, testifying for the defense, managing director David Williams said the bankers viewed clients' reports of their net worth as “subjective or subject to estimates” and took its own view of such financial statements. The attorney general's office, however, has maintained that such adjustments were never intended to account for the alleged fraud. He asserted in his own testimony this month that his lenders cared more about property locations and the parameters of the deals than they did about the financial statements. “Are you aware of any time Deutsche Bank didn’t adhere to its own guidelines in making loans to President Trump?” defense attorney Jesus M. Suarez asked.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Letitia James, Trump, baldly, David Williams, “, it’s, ” Williams, Williams, “ It’s, Nicholas Haigh, ”, Arthur Engoron, There's, Engoron, James, Jesus M, Suarez, James ’, haven’t Organizations: Deutsche Bank, D.C, New York, Democrat, Trump Locations: Florida, Chicago, Washington, New York

☆ Opinion: An anti-Muslim tirade inspires a beautiful response
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Opinion Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The former government official made vile anti-Muslim comments while jeering at the Egyptian food cart worker about the Israel-Hamas war with remarks such as, “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian children, you know what? Alarmingly, it appears one such horrific incident may have occurred on Saturday in Burlington, Vermont, when three Palestinian students were shot. Even before Seldowitiz was charged, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said on social media: “This Islamophobic bigotry is absolutely reprehensible. As CBS New York reported, “what happened at the food cart has seemingly only brought people together.” One of the food cart workers, Bahaa Hassan, told CBS: “We have mostly Jewish customer in this building. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we filmed this video last weekend in the very neighborhood where Seldowitz had been taunting the Arab food cart worker.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Obama, Stuart Seldowitz, jeering, Seldowitz, “, Fayoume didn’t, Mohamed Hussein, Seldowitiz, Mark Levine, Bahaa Hassan, Stephanie Merabet, Max Brooks —, Facebook Max, Mel Brooks —, Abdul Organizations: CNN, CNN —, National Security, New York Police Department, Hamas, Defamation League, Cornell University, Islamic Relations, CAIR, ADC, CBS, East, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, Israel, New York, Alarmingly, Burlington , Vermont, New York City, York, United States

☆ U.S. Carries Out Another Round of Airstrikes on Iran-Linked Targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The strikes came just four days after American warplanes hit a munitions warehouse in eastern Syria. Pentagon and other Biden administration officials rejected that criticism on Sunday, saying that the American airstrikes have been in self-defense, and in proportion to the attacks by Iran-backed militias. Unlike the two previous sets of strikes, the Pentagon did not make senior officials available after Sunday’s military response to discuss details. Pentagon officials said they were still analyzing the strikes and did not know if anyone on the ground was hurt or killed. The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, mostly to help local forces fight remnants of the Islamic State.

Persons: Abu Kamal, Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Dana Stroul Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Pentagon, American, Syria . Air Force, U.S, ”, United Locations: States, Syria, Iraq, Abu, Mayadin, Iran, United States, Asia, U.S, Germany, Islamic State, Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Persian

☆ US carries out airstrikes in eastern Syria targeting IRGC and Iranian-backed groups weapons storage facility
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two US F-15 fighter jets conducted an airstrike on a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. “This precision self-defense strike is a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. On October 26, a US F-15 and two F-16s used precision-guided munitions to strike two facilities linked to Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria. More than 40 troops sustained minor injuries in attacks before the US’ strike on October 26, including at least 20 traumatic brain injuries. The US strike comes the same day that an unmanned US MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi forces.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ”, Wednesday’s Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, U.S, Quds Force, ”, US, Command, Hamas, Patriot, Area Defense Locations: Syria, Iraq, IRGC, United States, Iranian, Iran, US, Shaddadi, Yemen, East, Israel

Iran-backed militias have packed even larger loads of explosives — more than 80 pounds — onto drones launched at American bases, U.S. officials said. “The president has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.”“The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities,” he added. The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, mostly to help local forces fight remnants of the Islamic State. The Biden administration also uses a “deconfliction” line with Russia to try to manage escalation in Iraq and Syria, two officials said. Russia has troops in Syria, and American officials say they expect that telling Russia before a strike in Syria is the same as telling Iran, as Russian officials often inform Tehran of what is coming.

Persons: ratcheting, Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ”, Antony J, Blinken, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mr, Khamenei, ” Christine S Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, American, Air Force, Pentagon, U.S, Quds Force, ”, Palestinian, Biden, Sunday, United, Military, Pentagon’s Central Command, National Counterterrorism Center Locations: United States, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Iran, I.R.G.C, Yemen, Israel, Islamic State, Russia, Tehran, Lebanon, Persian, Gaza, Tehran , U.S

Prosecutors contended Officer Nathan Woodyard's actions including the neck hold contributed to McClain's death. Here’s what you need to know about the criminal trials:WHY WERE THE OFFICERS AND PARAMEDICS CHARGED? Local prosecutors initially decided not to bring charges in McClain’s death largely because an initial autopsy didn’t determine exactly how he died. Defense attorneys for the officers repeatedly said it was the ketamine injection — not their clients — that caused McClain’s death. In Woodyard’s case, the defense brought in a paid expert witness who has also worked for the prosecution in the paramedic’s case.

Persons: —, Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Nathan Woodyard's, wasn't, Woodyard wasn't, McClain, Sheneen McClain, Jeremy Cooper, Peter Cichuniec, Jared Polis, Dr, Stephen Cina, McCLAIN, Woodyard, Randy Roedema, Joyce, McClain didn’t, Megan Downing, Roedema, Rosenblatt, Cooper, Cichuniec, Nadia Iovettz, Andrew Ho, “, ”, Ed Obayashi, ___ Brown Organizations: BRIGHTON, Prosecutors, Local, Democratic Locations: Colo, Denver, Aurora, Billings , Montana

☆ Opinion | I’ve Been Under Bombardment. There Must Be a Cease-Fire in Gaza.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Megan K. Stack | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

I’ve watched U.S. warplanes attack Afghanistan; barely escaped a direct strike from a Russian MiG in Georgia, and lived for weeks under relentless Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. Israel has so far killed more than 8,000 people, the Gaza Health Ministry said, more than 40 percent of them children. But having spent time under bombardment, and having reported in Gaza, I have no time for these explanations. If we are to believe the Israeli political and military leadership’s own words — and I think we should — the assault on Gaza was driven, first, by straightforward vengeance. We could find out with a cease-fire, but they say we can’t ask for a cease-fire.

Persons: I’ve, keening, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “, Maj, Ghassan, ”, Ron Derner, Yoav Gallant, You’re Organizations: U.S, Gaza Health Ministry, Hamas, Israeli Defense Forces, ”, Israel Locations: Afghanistan, Russian, Georgia, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, United States, America, Jerusalem

About 100 wives, mothers, children and relatives of Ukrainian soldiers attended a demonstration in the capital, Kyiv. Even so, U.S. officials say that Russian forces are experiencing morale problems as another winter campaign looms. The latest hot spot draining resources is Avdiivka, a city in the eastern Donetsk region that Russian forces partially occupy. The Washington-based think tank noted that Ukrainian military officials said that around 5,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and wounded, and 400 armored vehicles lost in the area since Oct. 10. Satellite images show the Russian military lost at least 109 military vehicles, mostly armored fighting vehicles and tanks, near Avdiivika between Oct. 10 and 20, the institute said.

Persons: “ Demobilize, ”, “, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rishi Sunak, ” Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Biden, Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin, Robert Fico, videoconference, Zelenskyy, Putin, Boris Pistorius, Hanna Arhirova, Geir Moulson Organizations: Russia, Verkhovna Rada, ” Protesters, Institute for, Kyiv, ”, European Union, Ukraine, Slovak, IRIS, Defense Ministry, Associated Press Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Ukraine's, Kyiv, Russia, U.S, Donetsk, Avdiivka, Russian, Washington, Avdiivika, Ukrainian, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, ” Ukraine, Hungarian, Brussels, Germany, Israel, Berlin, russia, ukraine

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