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After Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role. Trump’s choice for second-in-command at the Justice Department is Todd Blanche, who served as his lead criminal defense lawyer in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. Jordan’s government communications minister, Mohamed Momani, described the shooting as a terror attack that targeted public security forces in the country. The one-two punch of witches and warriors delivered a strong box office weekend to kick off the holiday season. “Wicked,” the first of a two-film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, dominated with an estimated $114 million in North America alone.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, Bondi, indicting Trump, Todd Blanche, Daniels, Blanche won’t, Blanche, he’s, Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohamed Momani, Urologist, Darius Paduch’s, Weill, Weill Cornell urologist, Maansi Srivastava, Darius Paduch, Paduch, Press Sen, Eric Schmitt, “, ” Schmitt, Kristen Welker, Trump, Schmitt, ”, Republican Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Sarah McBride, Caroline Choe, lar Organizations: FBI, Trump, Justice, Justice Department, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Chabad Lubavitch, Jewish, Weill Cornell, NBC News BR, BR, Press, Promotion, Republican, American Farm Bureau, NBC News, Paramount Pictures Locations: Florida, Trump, Moldovan, Abu Dhabi, New York, Gulf, Jordan, Afghanistan, Turkey, North America

☆ Meet the Press – November 24, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-24 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +57 min

[END TAPE]KRISTEN WELKER:According to the Washington Post, President-elect Trump plans to fire the team that worked with the special counsel. So, I think President Trump is picking reformers for these Cabinet positions. After the midterms Joe Biden said that there was no way President Trump would ever be back in the White House. He's going to sign some executive actions, but he's also going to then begin to roll out this plan. I also think he's going to face some skepticism by Republicans on using the military, for instance, going kind of into different states.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, MATT GAETZ, Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, SEN, KEVIN CRAMER, RON JOHNSON, PETER WELCH, Will Mr, Donald Trump, STEPHEN MILLER, Vladimir Putin, Adam Schiff of, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Kelly O’Donnell, Jeh Johnson, Anna Palmer, Stephen Hayes, it’s, Kristen Welker, reconsidering, DONALD TRUMP, Gaetz, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Trump, Pam Bondi, Bondi, Eric Trump, they're, Jack Smith, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Bashar Assad, Nikki Haley, NIKKI HALEY, DNI, TOM HOMAN, Trump's, Russell Vought, Russ, who's, That's Russ, Schmitt, Press . SEN, ERIC SCHMITT, he's, Pam, should've, You've, everybody's, it's, Joe Biden, Merrick Garland, Kristen, Alvin Bragg, General Merrick Garland, I've, Jane Doe, Hegseth, didn't, there's, It's, She's, maybe's, Tulsi, I'm, We've, There's, He's, they've, Adam Schiff, Adam Schiff of California, Schiff, ADAM SCHIFF, Bashar al, Assad, Marco Rubio, Rubio, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Gabbard, That's, —, Adam, Shifty, Donald Trump's, –, Harris's, Kamala Harris didn't, Joe Biden's, Biden's, Pelosi, Biden, Nancy Mace, Mace, Sarah McBride, McBride, Johnson, Kelly O'Donnell, KELLY O’DONNELL, Anna, we're, ANNA PALMER, JEH JOHNSON, we've, Lindsey Graham, I'd, Steve, STEPHEN HAYES, We're, Eric Schmitt, you've, Kelly, Scott Bessent, Newt Gingrich, Gingrich, NEWT GINGRICH, KELLY O'DONNELL, Let's, it's Trump, Obama, Tom Homan, Rand Paul, let's, Bob Gates, Leon Panetta, McConnell, They're, he'll, Mitch McConnell, Mitch McConnell's, Stephen, John Thune, Thune Organizations: Republicans, Biden Administration, Democratic, Adam Schiff of California, NBC, White, Homeland, Punchbowl News, The, Press, Justice Department, Pentagon, Republican Senators, BONDI, The Department of Justice, Washington Post, Trump, OMB, Press ., NBC News, Gaetz, DOJ, Patriot, White House, Department, Senators, Armed Services Committee, DNI, Democrat, intel, United States Senate, it's, Services, Judiciary, NATO, Capitol, Intelligence, Democratic Party, Homeland Security, Senate Republicans, Senate, Sears, Roebuck, FBI, Department of Defense, New, New York Cities, Biden, DOD, Republican Conference, Defense Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Florida, PRES, Pennsylvania, United States of America, New York, Atlanta, China, Russian, Hawaii, American, Europe, U.S, Russia, United States, America, Tulsi, –, Guantanamo

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said that he supports Pam Bondi, Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department. Trump repeatedly attacked the Justice Department while on the campaign trail this year and detailed what they would expect from the department if elected. On the campaign trail, the president-elect also indicated that he would use the Justice Department to target his political opponents, including Smith. He added, "I intend to to help Pam Bondi get the votes. I've come to respect Pam Bondi.

Persons: Sen, Eric Schmitt, Donald Trump's, Schmitt, Trump, Pam Bondi, Tom Williams, Jack Smith, —, Smith, Tanya Chutkan, Chutkan, Kristen Welker, ” Schmitt, Matt Gaetz, I've Organizations: Justice Department, Trump, NBC, Press, Getty, U.S, Justice, WIN, Political, Illegal Voters, Bondi Locations: Florida

A handful of Democrats are sounding their approval of Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State but others continue to doubt some cabinet picks made by President-elect Donald Trump. Democratic Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth said she has "a friendship" with Rubio and said she's looking forward to talking to him about his policies. Another name that has drawn substantial criticism from the Senate is former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's candidate for Director of National Intelligence. Sen. Duckworth alleged that Gabbard is "compromised," and she worries that the former congresswoman couldn't pass a background check. It's a slur, quite frankly," Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Persons: Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Republican Florida Sen, he's, California Adam Schiff, I'm, Trump, Rubio, China's ByteDance, Democratic Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman, Fetterman, Elise Stefanik, Lori Chavez, Mehmet Oz, Democratic Illinois Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Duckworth, CNN's, Doug Collins of, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, Collins, Doug Collins, Tulsi Gabbard, Sen, Schiff, couldn't, Vladimir Putin, Republican Sen, Eric Schmitt of, Trump's, Sebastian Gorka, McMaster, Putin's, They've, Bill Hagerty, Hagerty Organizations: Dorton, Republican Florida, State, Democratic, U.S . Senate, NBC News, Ukraine, Democratic Pennsylvania, Fox News, Fox, United Nations, DeRemer, Labor, Medicare, Democratic Illinois, Republican, Department of Veteran Affairs, Defense, Army National Guard, Senate, National Intelligence, House Intelligence Committee, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Press, H.R, McMaster, Sunday, Trump, ABC Locations: Raleigh , North Carolina, U.S, California, China, United States, Iran, Pennsylvania, Iraq, Doug Collins of Georgia, Russian, Congress, Tennessee

On Today’s Episode:Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration for Attorney General, by Peter Baker, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan SwanTrump Picks Pam Bondi, Florida’s Former Top Prosecutor, for Attorney General After Gaetz Withdraws, by Devlin Barrett, Maggie Haberman, Eric Lipton and Kenneth P. VogelThe ‘Landslide’ That Wasn’t: Trump and Allies Pump Up His Narrow Victory, by Peter BakerWhat’s Behind the Remarkable Drop in U.S. Overdose Deaths, by Jan Hoffman and Noah WeilandWith Use of New Missile, Russia Sends a Threatening Message to the West, by Marc Santora, Lara Jakes, Valerie Hopkins, Andrew E. Kramer and Eric Schmitt‘This Helps Netanyahu’: Israelis Rally Around Netanyahu Over Warrant, for Now, by Isabel Kershner

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Peter Baker, Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan Trump, Pam Bondi, Gaetz, Devlin Barrett, Eric Lipton, Kenneth P, Vogel, Trump, Peter Baker What’s, Jan Hoffman, Noah Weiland, Marc Santora, Lara Jakes, Valerie Hopkins, Andrew E, Kramer, Eric Schmitt ‘, Netanyahu ’, Isabel Kershner Organizations: Allies, Missile Locations: Florida’s, Russia

Two years ago, Gen. Mark A. Milley, then the chief military adviser to President Biden, suggested that neither Russia nor Ukraine could win the war. A negotiated settlement, he argued, was the only route to peace. Mr. Trump has made clear his distaste for continuing to help Ukraine take back territory seized by Russia, making a negotiated settlement the only real viable option left. The ascendance of Mr. Trump as Ukraine suffers losses on the battlefield in fact means less room for Ukraine to maneuver. Mr. Trump has said he would end the war quickly, though he has not explained how.

Persons: Mark, Biden, Donald J, Trump’s, Trump, JD Vance Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe

☆ Trump doubles down on provocative Cabinet picks as their fates hang in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Not all of Trump’s picks are causing uproar. But in a conventional administration, controversies raging around at least four key Cabinet picks would be seen as a disaster. The president-elect’s son explains the planGaetz and several other Trump picks have caused consternation in some circles given the questions about their qualifications and past behavior. That’s what the American people want.”It would take a handful of Republican senators to block the most provocative Trump nominees early next year, given that Democrats are likely to vote en masse against them. If he’s qualified, he’s qualified.”Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said he believed Trump’s nominees would get confirmed.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Hegseth, Trump’s, Intrigue, Gaetz, —, Kennedy, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Trump, he’s, ” Johnson, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Mike Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ” Sen, Adam Schiff, Jim Himes, they’re, Matt Gaetz —, Robert Kennedy, Tulsi, ” Trump, Donald Trump Jr, ”, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, “ I’ve, … I’ve, Matt, ” Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman Organizations: CNN, Washington, Republican Senate, Office, Fox News, Florida Republican, of Justice, Department of Health, Human Services, Senate, Trump, South, Louisiana Republican, California Democrat, Democrat, House Intelligence, Sunday, Connecticut Democrat, CBS, Republican, Fox Business, Oklahoma Republican, Press, ” Locations: Gaetz, — Russia, Washington, Florida, South Dakota, “ State, Louisiana, United States, California, Connecticut, ” Missouri, Alabama, Pennsylvania

☆ Trump’s Cabinet picks could be complicated by GOP math in the House
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Sarah Ferris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Plenty of House Republicans are privately jockeying for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet. “I have 10 colleagues who think they’re going to the Cabinet,” one House GOP lawmaker quipped, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. But you’re not going to let three or four go.”Inside the House GOP, many lawmakers and senior aides have long assumed Stefanik would go to the Cabinet. She and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, Trump’s former physician, are considered to have some of the tightest relationships between Trump and the House GOP. And privately, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills have also expressed interest, according to a Florida GOP source.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, There’s, Mike Johnson can’t, Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, Mike Rogers, Sam Graves —, won’t, Johnson, ”, Kelly Armstrong, “, Mike, that’d, we’ve, you’re, Ronny Jackson, George W, Bush, Trump, Matt Gaetz, Brian Mast, Byron Donalds, Carlos Gimenez, Greg Steube, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Garret Graves, Matt Rosendale, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Bill Hagerty, Mike Lee of, Tom Cotton of, Eric Schmitt of Organizations: CNN, of, Republicans, Trump, Monday, New York, Florida, Armed, GOP, North, ”, Texas, Green Beret, Florida GOP, Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Eric Schmitt of Missouri Locations: Washington, North Dakota, Afghanistan, East, Africa, Florida, Garret Graves of Louisiana, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Sens, Tennessee, Mike Lee of Utah, Tom Cotton of Arkansas

☆ China just showed off its answer to America's F-35 stealth fighter — the new J-35A
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

China showed off its new stealth aircraft, including the fifth-gen J-35A. AdvertisementChina just debuted its newest fifth-generation stealth aircraft, which appears to be its answer to the American F-35. Related storiesFor stealth fighters, the US has the F-22 Raptor and F-35, and the latter is used by allies around the world. Among stealth aircraft, there are also stealth bombers like the American B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider and a number of stealth drones. Stealth aircraft have features to reduce or obscure their signature on radars, making them difficult to detect.

Persons: —, Lockheed Martin, Wang Yongqing, Wang, Maj, Gina Sabric, Roger Wicker, Eric Schmitt Organizations: Service, China International Aviation, Aerospace, People's Liberation Army News Communication, Shenyang Aircraft Design, Aviation Industry Corporation of China's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, Pentagon, Air Force, Air and Space Forces Association's Air, Cyber Conference, 10th Air Force, Getty, US, US Air Force, Stealth, Taiwan Locations: China, Zhuhai, Russia, Pacific, Taiwan

A firebrand legal adviser to the President-elect and a conservative lawyer under consideration for the post of Attorney General appear to be setting the stage for investigations and prosecution of Donald Trump’s legal adversaries, including Special Counsel Jack Smith and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The threats come as Trump campaign aides say that the president-elect considers his choice for attorney general to be his most important single appointment. Paoletta is among several people under consideration to run the Justice Department, people familiar with the matter tell NBC News. All of those people have claimed—without citing any specific evidence— that the federal prosecutions of Trump by Smith were politically motivated. The Trump Justice Department will have access to every text, email and memo written by everyone on the Smith team on government phones and computers during the investigation.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith, Letitia James, Mike Davis, Trump, Smith, James, “, ” Davis, Benny Johnson, Davis, ”, Tom Williams, — Mark Paoletta —, Paoletta, ” Paoletta, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Utah Sen, Mike Lee, John Ratcliffe, Matt Whitaker, Donald Trump, can’t, —, Bill Barr, John Durham, Russia’s, “ Jack Smith Organizations: New York, Trump, Justice Department, Republican, Washington , D.C, Inc, Getty, NBC News, Department, DOJ, NBC, Justice, Democratic, DoJ, CIA, FBI, Trump Justice Department Locations: Washington ,, Missouri, Utah, Newsmax

Trump is also wary of special elections to replace sitting lawmakers, especially in the Senate. has conveyed that he is not interested in entering the Trump administration, according to three sources familiar with the decision. Sessions, an adviser to Trump in 2016, was one of his earliest supporters when Trump elevated him from the Senate to run his Justice Department. The special election to replace him also turned into a centerpiece of Democratic organizing against Trump. Though the GOP won the special election narrowly, Republicans lost Price's congressional seat in the midterms and then watched Georgia turn blue in 2020.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Steven Mnuchin, Ben Carson, Jeff Sessions, recusing, Tom Price, Ryan Zinke of, Roy Moore, Moore, Sen, Eric Schmitt, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Mike Waltz, Mike Pompeo, Trump’s, Cotton, Bill Clark, Donald Trump Jr, ”, Rubio, “, I’m, ” Rubio, Pompeo, Sessions, Price, Zinke, Rick Scott's Organizations: White, Treasury Department, of Housing, Urban, Republican, Trump, CIA, Getty, Trump Jr, coy, NBC’s, Senate, Congress, Justice Department, GOP, Republicans, Interior Department Locations: Alabama, Ryan Zinke of Montana, United States, Georgia

☆ Trump critic turned ally JD Vance elected vice president, offering glimpse at GOP’s potential future
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Eric Bradner | Alison Main | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

From JD Vance Vance and his grandmother Bonnie, whom he called “Mamaw.” From JD Vance Vance poses for a portrait near the US Capitol in January 2017. Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post/Getty Images Vance appears on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in March 2017. Gaelen Morse/Bloomberg/Getty Images Trump watches as Vance speaks at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, in September 2022. Scott Olson/Getty Images Vance watches Trump speaks to the media at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York in May 2024. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images Vance speaks to the media in Atlanta after the CNN presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June 2024.

Persons: Ohio Sen, JD Vance, —, Donald Trump’s, Vance, Trump, Usha Vance —, ”, “ America’s Hitler, Brenna, Bernie Moreno, Donald Trump's, Will Lanzoni, CNN He’s, Mike Pence, Joe Biden, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, Vance Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Tucker Carlson, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum, Bonnie Vance, Lindsey, James, JD Vance Vance, Bonnie, Astrid Riecken, Seth Meyers ”, Lloyd Bishop, NBCUniversal, Sen, Rob Portman, Jeffrey Dean, Drew Angerer, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Justin Merriman, Julia Nikhinson, Reuters Vance, Gaelen Morse, Jeff Swensen, Vivek, Usha, Ewan, Tim Ryan, Andrew Spear, Mitch McConnell, Markwayne Mullin, Ted Budd, McConnell, Katie Britt, Eric Schmitt, Graeme Sloan, AP Vance, Al Drago, Michael Swensen, Sherrod Brown, “, ” Vance, Jabin Botsford, Mandel Ngan, Scott Olson, Spencer Platt, Jeff Kowalsky, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Brenna Bird, CNN Vance, Tim Walz, ” Will Lanzoni, Mike DeWine, ” DeWine, Kamala Harris —, Roe, ” Weeks, CNN’s Dana Bash Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, GOP, Marine Corps, Ohio State University and Yale Law School —, Fox News, Ohio’s Senate, Convention, Democratic, Republican National Convention, Trump’s, North Dakota Gov, Capitol, Washington Post, Senate, Republican Senate, Bloomberg, Getty, Reuters, Ohio, Fair, Mirabel, US, Sipa, AP, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Palestine Fire Department, Conservative Political, Conference, Manhattan Criminal, Getty Images, CBS Broadcast Center, Ohio Gov, Republican Party, Democratic Party Locations: Ohio, Trump’s, Ohio’s, New York, Milwaukee, Ukraine, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Butler , Pennsylvania, Lago, Florida, Middletown , Ohio, Delaware , Ohio, Newark , Ohio, Greensburg , Pennsylvania, Columbus, Youngstown , Ohio, Batavia , Ohio, Vandalia , Ohio, Cincinnati, Columbus , Ohio, East Palestine , Ohio, East Palestine, National Harbor , Maryland, AFP, Detroit, Atlanta, West Palm Beach , Florida, Springfield , Ohio

☆ Deloitte feels the wrath of Trump world over leaked JD Vance messages
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Trump allies are calling for the federal government to punish Deloitte after an employee at the consulting firm apparently shared his private messages with JD Vance. The Post did not reveal who corresponded with Vance, now Trump’s running mate, and leaked those communications. “Maybe it’s time for the GOP to end Deloitte’s taxpayer funded gravy train?” Trump Jr. wrote on X, noting that Deloitte receives billions of dollars in government contracts. Trump Jr. told CNN he was speaking his mind as a private citizen. Neither Trump nor Vance have publicly threatened Deloitte, and it’s worth noting that Trump Jr. has indicated he does not plan to serve in the federal government.

Persons: CNN —, JD Vance, Donald Trump, Trump, Vance, Donald Trump Jr, ” Trump, Jason Miller, Trump Jr, “, ”, Kamala Harris, ” “, GOP Sen, Eric Schmitt, he’s, ” Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, John Deere, Davidson, ” “ Donald Trump, ” Richard Painter, George W, Bush, ” Painter, Painter, MAGA, Jonathan Gandal, Yale’s, ” Norman Eisen, it’s, ” Eisen Organizations: CNN, CNN — Trump, Deloitte, Washington Post, GOP, Trump, Department of Defense, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, Trump Jr, White, Yale, Leadership, Department, Google, Apple, Harley, US Postal Service, Motors, University of Minnesota, ”, ” Trump Jr, Post, Wall Street, ” “ Deloitte, “ Deloitte, Brookings Institution, DOJ

More than two weeks into Ukraine’s incursion into western Russia, Ukrainian politicians have begun talking about establishing a buffer zone there. But how much farther Ukraine might try to advance into Russia, and how long it plans to stay, is unclear, U.S. officials said. After the first week of fighting, Ukraine claimed to control almost 400 square miles of Russian territory — an area roughly the size of Los Angeles. But American officials are not convinced that Ukraine intends to hold its position in Russia long term. They have not been laying minefields to slow down a counterattack, nor have they constructed barriers to slow down Russian tanks, the officials say.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky Locations: Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Ukraine’s Surprise Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( German Lopez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Ukraine’s efforts to retake territory from Russia have stalled. But the Ukrainian military has tried to get back at Moscow in other ways. Last week, Ukraine tried something new. Its own forces marched miles across the Russian border in a surprise operation. “It could give Ukraine a win, or at least make them feel good for a few days.

Persons: Eric Schmitt, ” Organizations: Ukraine Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Kursk

The scenes were decidedly Russian. Flags with the country’s signature three horizontal stripes of white, blue and red. In the Russian town of Sverdlikovo, a Ukrainian soldier climbed onto another’s shoulders, broke off the wooden post anchored to a town council building and threw the Russian flag to the ground. In Daryino, a town five miles to the west, other soldiers also grabbed a Russian flag. “Just throw it away,” a Ukrainian soldier said, grinning, as another flexed his muscles.

Persons: ” Organizations: Gazprom, The New York Times Locations: Russian, Sverdlikovo, Ukrainian

☆ U.S. and Israeli Defense Officials Speak Amid Fears of Escalation in Mideast
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Austin has also directed the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, equipped with F-35 fighter jets, to speed to the region, joining the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying warships already in the Gulf of Oman. A statement from the Israeli government said that Mr. Gallant had spoken to Mr. Austin about the Israeli military’s “readiness and capabilities in the face of threats posed by Iran and its regional proxies.”The Israeli defense minister also discussed “the urgency of achieving an agreement for the release of hostages and thanked the U.S. administration for its leadership and commitment to this issue,” the statement said. Hamas has not indicated whether its representatives will be at the meeting. The call between Mr. Austin and Mr. Gallant came a day after an Israeli airstrike hit a school compound in northern Gaza where displaced Palestinians were sheltering, an attack that Gazan authorities said killed dozens of people. Mr. Austin used the call to once again underscore the importance of “mitigating civilian harm” during Israeli operations in the enclave, General Ryder said.

Persons: Austin, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Gallant, General Ryder Locations: Gulf of Oman, Iran, U.S, United States, Gaza, East, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas War and Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Isabel Kershner | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Image Smoke billowing after an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday. In a statement on Sunday, the group said it objected to “more rounds of negotiations” and the introduction of any new proposals or conditions. Officials in Gaza said over the weekend that dozens of people had been killed in Israel’s strike on the school compound. The authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in reporting death tolls. Israel’s political and military leaders have argued that it is essential to keep up the military pressure on Hamas, to force it to come to terms on a cease-fire deal.

Persons: Biden, Khan Younis, Bashar Taleb, Abdel Fattah el, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Tisha B’Av Organizations: Lebanese Hezbollah, ., Agence France, Getty Locations: Beirut, Tehran, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Thani, Cairo, Doha, Jerusalem, Aqsa

Nearly two weeks have passed and no large-scale response has materialized, leaving Israel and the wider Middle East on edge. Iran, which backs Hamas, blamed Israel for the assassination, but Israeli leaders have not said their forces were responsible. What could an Iranian response look like? U.S. and Israeli diplomats and security officials had some advanced knowledge of its scope and intensity of Iran’s attack in April, which facilitated defensive preparations. The foreign minister of Jordan, an ally of the United States, has traveled to Tehran in recent days for meetings.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud, Israel, Fuad Shukr, Haniyeh’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nasser Kanaan, Sanam Vakil, Pezeshkian, Vakil, Ms, Ali Vaez, Vaez, “ Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jordan, Mr, Haniyeh, Lloyd J, Austin III, Biden Organizations: Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Chatham House, Crisis, Diplomats, of Islamic Cooperation, United, Hamas Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Masoud Pezeshkian, Beirut, Lebanon, Golan, East, London, Yemen, Iranian, United States, Gaza, Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday declined to intervene in a long-shot lawsuit brought by Missouri attempting to block legal proceedings in former President Donald Trump's hush money case in New York. Brandon Bell / Getty ImagesNew York Judge Juan Merchan issued an initial gag order in March ahead of Trump’s trial. Bailey took the rare step of trying to sue the state of New York before the Supreme Court, which has jurisdiction over disputes between states. It would have been highly unusual for the Supreme Court to allow a state to interfere with judicial proceedings in another state. Before the trial, Trump was fined for violating the original gag order, especially as it related to Cohen, one of the key witnesses.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Donald, Missouri's, Andrew Bailey, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Bailey, Trump, Michael Cohen, Storm Daniels, Daniels, Donald Trump, Brandon Bell, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Letitia James, James, Cohen, Mike Parson, Eric Schmitt Organizations: Missouri, Republican, Trump, Getty, York, State, New York, Missouri Gov, Senate Locations: Missouri, New York, Charlotte , NC

☆ Pentagon Hands Over Last Base in Niger as Extremism Spreads in the Sahel
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. military turned over control of its last base in Niger to local forces on Monday, ending a yearslong counterterrorism mission in the West African country even as violent extremism remains on the rise in the region. A group of U.S. troops boarded an Air Force cargo plane and flew out of a $110 million air base in central Niger that was built with Pentagon money, among the last of 1,000 personnel that Washington had agreed to pull out by Sept. 15. A small number of troops will remain at the United States Embassy for a short time to wrap up administrative details, officials said. “The withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete,” the Pentagon’s Africa Command said in a statement, referring to the installation in central Niger. “The effective cooperation and communication between the U.S. and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications.”

Persons: “ Organizations: U.S, Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, United States Embassy, Air Base, Pentagon’s Africa Command, Nigerien Locations: Niger, West, U.S, Agadez

☆ How the 9/11 Plea Deal Came Undone
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Carol Rosenberg | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In the space of three days last week, the Sept. 11 case was rocked by two decisions that stunned victims’ families and jolted a political debate. First, a Pentagon official authorized a plea agreement meant to resolve the case with lifetime sentences. Then, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III abruptly canceled the deal, reviving the possibility that the man accused of planning the attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and two accused accomplices could someday face a death penalty trial. Suddenly, a case that had mostly drifted from public consciousness in 12 years of pretrial proceedings was back in the spotlight and no closer to the trial that some relatives of the nearly 3,000 victims had been aching for at Guantánamo Bay. This account of those fateful three days is based on interviews and conversations with Pentagon officials, Sept. 11 family members and parties to the case.

Persons: Lloyd J, Austin III, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed Organizations: Pentagon Locations: Guantánamo

Some American warships already in the Mediterranean will move closer to the coast of Israel, according to a senior Pentagon official. The killing of the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an explosion at a military-run guesthouse in Tehran on Wednesday, was a stunning breach of security in the Iranian capital. Iran arrested more than two dozen people, including senior intelligence officers, in response. The country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly for the killing, according to Iranian officials. “We will be bolstering our force protection in the region,” she said.

Persons: Lloyd J, Austin III, Ismail Haniyeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Sabrina Singh, Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin “, ”, “, Mr, Haniyeh Organizations: . Defense, American, Pentagon Locations: Israel, Iran, Tehran, Qatar, Gaza, United States, Yemen, Iraq

☆ U.S. Poised to Send More Combat Aircraft to Middle East, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States is preparing to send additional combat aircraft to the Middle East in response to threats from Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen to attack Israel in the coming days to avenge the death of Ismail Haniyeh this week, American officials said on Friday. How many planes to send is still being worked out, as are final approvals from senior officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. Officials said they were seeking to calibrate the American response to send enough of the right types of aircraft as quickly as possible to help defend Israel without appearing to escalate the conflict. Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles against Israel in a major attack in April, but only a handful got through, causing only slight damage. U.S. Air Force jets based in Jordan and in Saudi Arabia coordinated with French, Jordanian and British Air Force fighters to shoot down more than 80 drones.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Lloyd J, Austin III Organizations: U.S, Defense, U.S . Air Force, French, British Air Force Locations: States, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel, U.S, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Jordanian

☆ As F-16s Arrive, Ukraine Still Faces Steep Challenges in the Skies
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Marc Santora | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The surveillance drone appeared high above the Ukrainian air base without warning in early July. Minutes after it relayed targeting data back to a Russian base, a barrage of ballistic missiles struck the airfield, Ukrainian officials said, recounting the episode. “Now they’re hitting the air base with the rockets all the time,” Ms. Minenko said. Russia has been saturating the skies over Ukraine with surveillance drones, exploiting gaps in air-defense systems, to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks on Ukrainian positions. Ukraine’s strategy was to counter Russia in the air war with the aid of long-coveted F-16 fighter jets from the West that it says it will deploy this summer.

Persons: ”, Valeria Minenko, ” Ms, Minenko Locations: Russian, Myrhorod, Ukraine, Russia

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