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Up to 350 guests had returned RSVPs and claimed seats for the fourth White House state dinner of President Joe Biden's term, this one honoring Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The B-52s, an American new wave band, had originally been lined up to entertain guests after dinner. He then invited Albanese to Washington for an official state visit. Dinner will be held in a temporary pavilion on the White House lawn decorated in pastel shades meant to evoke the feel of Australian spring, the current season Down Under, and American autumn. The first lady continued her practice of inviting an outside chef to work with White House staff on the menu.

Persons: RSVPs, Joe Biden's, Anthony Albanese, Jill Biden, Biden, ” Biden, Albanese, Katie Button, Jodie Haydon, Albanese's Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Australian, Ukraine, National Institutes of Health Clinical, National Cancer Institute Locations: U.S, American, Israel, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Washington, France, South Korea, India, Asheville , North Carolina, Bethesda , Maryland

The collaboration, which also involves the United Kingdom, is known as AUKUS, an acronym for the three countries' names. “State visits are a big deal," said Charles Edel, a senior adviser and Australia chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The day's events end with a state dinner in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn of the White House. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there's “no more important time than now” to hold the state visit to demonstrate the strength of the U.S. relationship with Australia. Biden wants $3.4 billion to expand naval production facilities to help provide Australia with the nuclear-powered submarines.

Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Albanese, Biden, Albanese, they're, Charles Edel, “ They’re, ” Biden, they've, Jill Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, there's, Bidens, Jodie Haydon, Xi Jinping, “, ” Albanese, Xi, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, —, ”, John Lee, Sullivan, Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, Australian, Hamas, Microsoft, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Office, White, Israel, Australia, House Republicans, Arlington National Cemetery, Australians, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, Capitol, Hudson Institute Locations: U.S, Pacific, Israel, East, Europe, Ukraine, The U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Washington, Gaza, White, France, South Korea, India, Japan, Papa New Guinea, Arlington, China, San Francisco, Beijing, Asia, Sydney

WASHINGTON (AP) — A low-key lawmaker in Congress for less than a decade, new House Speaker Mike Johnson isn’t recognizable to most Americans. But the social conservative and devoted ally of former President Donald Trump has been a quiet force within the Republican conference he now unexpectedly leads. “A friend to all and an enemy to none,” Republican conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik said when nominating Johnson ahead of the speaker vote Wednesday. A constitutional lawyer and former member of the Louisiana state House, Johnson was first elected to the U.S. House in 2016. Among the more conservative members of the GOP conference, Johnson has consistently opposed a woman’s right to abortion — “we will get the number of abortions to ZERO!

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, “, Elise Stefanik, Johnson, ” Johnson, Newt Gingrich, —, Trump’s, Jim Jordan, Trump, ”, Doug Collins, Collins, Mike, ” Collins, Biden, Virginia Foxx, Hakeem Jeffries, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy’s, I’ve, ” Gaetz, ” McCarthy, Mario Diaz Balart, Jordan’s, Thomas Massie, Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri, Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Louisiana Republican, GOP, U.S . House, Twitter, Committee, Trump, ” Former Georgia, Capitol, North Carolina Rep, Democratic, Florida, Associated Press Locations: Louisiana, Israel, Georgia

Johnson of Louisiana, a lower-ranked member of the House GOP leadership team, becomes the fourth Republican nominee in what has become an almost absurd cycle of political infighting since Kevin McCarthy's ouster as GOP factions jockey for power. “I made my decision based on my relationship with the conference,” he said, referring to the GOP majority. House Republicans returned behind closed doors, where they spend much of their time, desperately searching for a leader who can unite the factions, reopen the House and get the U.S. Congress working again. In the end, Johnson won 128 votes on the evening ballot, more than any other candidate. With Republicans controlling the House 221-212 over Democrats, any GOP nominee can afford just a few detractors to win the gavel.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump . Johnson of, Kevin McCarthy's, Johnson, Mike, won’t, don’t, ”, Steve Womack, we’ll, Tom Emmer briskly, “, Emmer, “ We'll, ” Trump, wasn’t MAGA, Trump, Steve Scalise, Johnson's, Byron Donalds of, McCarthy, ” Johnson, Scalise, “ We're, Jim Jordan, Victoria Spartz, Steve Bannon, Jordan, Scott Perry, Ralph Norman, Joe Biden, —, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia, Patrick McHenry, Republicans —, McHenry, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Republicans, GOP, Republican, selfies, Republicans, Capitol, House Republicans, U.S, Congress, NBC News, Trump, Caucus, Federal, Financial Services, Associated Press Locations: Donald Trump . Johnson of Louisiana, New York, Byron Donalds of Florida, Israel, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, R

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand Wednesday in his ex-boss Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial as the former president's defense team tried to undermine the credibility and question the motives of his onetime personal attorney turned adversary. She tried to suggest that Cohen had angled unsuccessfully for a job in Trump’s White House — Cohen insisted he never sought one — and asked whether he had “significant animosity" toward Trump. Cohen is a key witness in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil case against Trump. Cohen is also expected to be an important prosecution witness in a criminal trial scheduled for next spring in which Trump is accused of falsifying business records. That case is one of four criminal prosecutions Trump faces in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington.

Persons: — Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's, Alina Habba, Cohen, Trump, — Cohen, ” Cohen, “, ” Habba, Habba, underscoring, Letitia James ’, James, ”, ” Trump, Jill Colvin Organizations: Trump, Democrat, Associated Press Locations: New, New York , Florida, Georgia, Washington

Having dispatched their speaker then rejected two popular GOP figures as replacements, the House Republicans on Tuesday will be voting instead on a hodge-podge of lesser-known congressmen for speaker, a powerful position second in line to the presidency. No one is expected to emerge from first-round voting and Republicans are planning to stay behind closed doors until they can agree on a nominee. Launched over right-flank complaints about McCarthy's leadership in budget battles, it's no longer clear what the House Republicans are fighting for and if they will end up with a more acceptable speaker. Trump has intervened from the sidelines backing hard-charging Rep. Jim Jordan over Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “You’re gonna have to use persuasion.”Trump, brushing back suggestions that he take the gavel himself, suggested Monday that no one is capable of uniting the House Republicans.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, “ We’re, ”, Dusty Johnson, There's, Kevin Hern of, Tom Emmer, Donald Trump, Byron Donalds of, Trump, — it’s, McCarthy, Joe Biden, —, Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Jack Bergman of, Austin Scott of Georgia, Jordan, Pete Sessions, Gary Palmer of, Dan Meuser, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nick LaLota, “, Emmer, Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, can’t, Johnson, “ You’re, ” Trump, Jesus Christ, Patrick McHenry, Republicans —, McHenry, Jill Colvin, Holly Ramer Organizations: WASHINGTON, House Republicans, Republicans, Federal, Biden, Pete Sessions of Texas, New York Republican, Republican, Capitol Hill, Ohio, Financial Services, Associated Press Locations: Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Minnesota, Byron Donalds of Florida, Israel, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, Florida, Donalds, Louisiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Gary Palmer of Alabama, New Hampshire, South Dakota, R, Concord , New Hampshire

Without directly referencing the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war, the first lady announced Tuesday that "we’ve made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion” of the dinner. Albanese is the fourth world leader to be honored with a state visit during Biden's term, after the leaders of France, South Korea and India. Hundreds of lawmakers, business titans and celebrities are typically invited to state dinners, but the White House keeps the guest list secret until just before people start arriving for the black-tie affair. The dinner program, including an exchange of toasts, will unfold in a temporary pavilion being built on the White House lawn. The White House said postponing was not an option, casting Albanese's visit as part of the important diplomatic balancing act that a president must undertake with U.S. allies worldwide.

Persons: Jill Biden, we’ve, Anthony Albanese, Katie Button, Joe Biden, Albanese, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, John Kirby, ” Albanese, Jodie Haydon Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Army and Air Force, Australian, House, Washington, Republican, White, Press, Biden, National Security Council Locations: Israel, Asheville , North Carolina, Australia, France, South Korea, India, Washington, United States

☆ No 'Love Shack' at White House - B-52s won't play Aussie dinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A preview of the menu and place settings for the state dinner in honor of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - At the White House, the dinner is on but the band is out. The B-52s' planned performance at U.S. President Joe Biden's state dinner for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday was scrapped as the event takes on a more somber tone due to the Middle East crisis. Biden welcomed Albanese to the White House on Tuesday evening and will host a lavish dinner party after the two allied leaders discuss rare earths and cyber security Wednesday. First lady Jill Biden said Tuesday the B-52s will attend the dinner as guests instead.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Sarah Silbiger, Joe Biden's, Biden, Albanese, Jill Biden, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Rod Nickel Organizations: Australian, White, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Hamas, Biden, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, U.S, U.S ., Georgia, Israel, Gaza

☆ Chris Olave: NFL wide receiver arrested and accused of reckless operation of a motor vehicle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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That happened Sunday when Trump posted on social media, in capital letters, that Powell “was not my attorney, and never was." Smith's indictment notes Trump privately told others that he thought her election fraud ideas sounded “crazy." Campaigning in New Hampshire on Monday, Trump appeared to refer to Powell and Cheesbro as “good people” and said prosecutors worked to “hound” and “scare” them. Steve Sadow, Trump's lead attorney in the Georgia case, expressed confidence that Powell’s plea wouldn’t hurt Trump, saying last week that any truthful testimony offered would be "favorable to my overall defense strategy." The Georgia indictment accuses Powell in a plot to illegally access a county's voting equipment.

Persons: — Sidney Powell, Donald Trump, Kenneth Chesebro, Trump, Joe Biden, —, “ It's, it’s, John Fishwick, Powell, “ She's, — Powell, Chesebro, That's, Fani Willis, winnow, ”, Anthony Michael Kreis, Jack Smith, Smith, “, Jessica Roth, “ They're, Jack Smith's, Powell “, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, ” Kreis, she'd, Giuliani, Ellis, Hugo Chavez, Biden, Kreis, Cheesbro, Steve Sadow, Trump's, he's, John Eastman, Randall Eliason, you've, ___ Tucker, Jill Colvin Organizations: ATLANTA, White, Trump, Western, of, Georgia State University, Cardozo School of Law, Twitter, Fulton County, Biden, Georgia Republicans, George Washington University, Associated Press Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, U.S, of Virginia, Fulton County, Georgia, Germany, New Hampshire, Washington, Derry , New Hampshire

HUSAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Iceland’s prime minister and women across the volcanic island nation went on strike Tuesday to push for an end to unequal pay and gender-based violence. Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir said that she would stay home as part of the women's strike — “kvennaverkfal” in Icelandic — and expected other women in her Cabinet would do the same. Iceland's trade unions, the main organizers of the strike, called on women and nonbinary people to refuse both paid and unpaid work, including household chores, for the day. “Foreign women are more vulnerable,” said Alice Clarke, a cloth designer from Canada who has lived in Iceland for 30 years. Acting Equality Minister Irene Montero said Tuesday that the 2018 strike was inspired by Iceland’s 1975 walkout and expressed full support for the latest protest.

Persons: —, Katrin Jakobsdóttir, RUV, ”, Alice Clarke, ” Clarke, Irene Montero, Iceland’s, ___ Jill Lawless, Ciarán Giles Organizations: Schools, World Economic, Statistics Locations: HUSAVIK, Iceland, understaffed, Iceland's, Statistics Iceland, Canada, Reykjavík, Poland, Spain, London, Madrid

☆ Opinion: If only Trump’s Mandela comparison were the most outrageous thing he’s said
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Opinion Jill Filipovic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —This week, at a campaign stop in New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump compared himself to Nelson Mandela. It doesn’t take a whole lot of historical knowledge to know that Trump is no Nelson Mandela. And anyone who has the gall and the gargantuan ego to compare themselves to Nelson Mandela is probably no Nelson Mandela. Trump made the Mandela comparison because he is facing so many criminal charges, which he says are politically motivated. “I don’t mind being Nelson Mandela, because I’m doing it for a reason,” he told his New Hampshire audience.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, Jill Filipovic, Trump, ”, Mandela, ” Michael Cohen, statesmanlike, stokes, Barack Obama, Obama, reasserting, Benjamin Netanyahu, wouldn’t, it’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, New, South Africa’s, America Locations: New Hampshire, South Africa, South, Gaza, Israel, America

☆ On the Agenda for Australia’s State Visit: China, Trade and a U.S. Marine Band
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Katie Rogers | More About Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

This week, Mr. Biden is steering American involvement in two overseas wars and monitoring the continuing calamity of a speakerless House of Representatives, and there is another government shutdown crisis looming next month. John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, played down the idea that global crises could distract Mr. Biden from his visitor, or perhaps even keep him waiting. During Mr. Biden and Mr. Albanese’s time together, which includes a news conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, they are expected to emphasize their shared interests. Mr. Biden’s advisers say the administration is supportive of the meeting between Mr. Albanese and Mr. Xi. Mr. Biden and Mr. Albanese are also likely to touch on the dysfunction in Congress.

Persons: Biden, Anthony Albanese, John F, Kirby, Mr, “, ” Mr, ”, Jill Biden, ” Dr, Bruce Jones, Albanese’s, Donald J, Trump, Scott Morrison, Morrison, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Jones, Xi Organizations: Representatives, U.S . Marine, Army and Air Force, China, Center for East Asia Policy, Brookings Institution, East Locations: Australia, United States, Washington, China, Georgia, Britain, Papua New Guinea, Israel, ”, American, Hormuz

☆ A Fall-Themed Menu for Australia’s State Dinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The fourth state dinner hosted by the Biden administration, to honor Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, will feature a menu of fall vegetables, a backdrop of florals and a selection of instrumental music performed by military bands. “Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times,” Jill Biden, the first lady, said as she previewed the event at the White House on Tuesday. “Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well.”Here are some details of the event, scheduled for Wednesday evening. The entertainmentWorld events prompted the White House to change plans for the entertainment portion of the visit. The United States Marine Band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will provide instrumental music instead.

Persons: Biden, Anthony Albanese, ” Jill Biden Organizations: White, United States Marine Band, Army and Air Force Locations: Australia, Georgia

☆ Accenture CMO Jill Kramer talks about how generative AI will enhance, not diminish, the power of marketing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Julia Hood | Will Wei | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Jill Kramer, chief marketing and communications officer at Accenture, spoke to Insider about how some marketers might feel threatened by the capabilities of generative AI. Kramer said generative AI should be considered a tool to supplement and amplify great marketing ideas. "Generative AI needs a corpus to work off of," Kramer tells Insider. "If the original content is not fabulous, the generative AI curated synopsis won't be fabulous. So, it is still going to be powered by the original human idea."

Persons: Jill Kramer, Kramer Organizations: Accenture

WASHINGTON (AP) — Day 20 without a House speaker, and Republicans found themselves starting over on Monday — bumbling ahead with few ideas about who will lead, what they are fighting over and when they will get Congress working again. Nine lower-level Republican lawmakers are now running to be speaker, leader of the House and second in line to the presidency — none with any clear shot for the gavel. McCarthy himself calls the whole spectacle “embarrassing” for the House Republicans whose majority is being wasted away and for the U.S. government that cannot fully function. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who has repeatedly suggested Trump should be elected House speaker. The House Republicans dropped Jordan as their nominee late Friday.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Joe Biden, —, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, ”, Troy Nehls, Trump, Biden, Jordan, Emmer, Patrick McHenry, Republicans —, McHenry, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, “, Mike Johnson, Kevin Hern, Byron Donalds, Austin Scott of Georgia, Pete Sessions, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Dan Meuser, Gary Palmer of, Dusty Johnson of, Stephen Groves, Jill Colvin, Farnoush Amiri, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, GOP, Republicans, House Republicans, U.S ., Rep, Federal, Capitol, Republican, Trump, Financial Services, Senate, CBS, Committee, Press Locations: ., Minnesota, Florida, Israel, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, Texas, R, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Gary Palmer of Alabama, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota

☆ Opinion: Uncomfortable reality for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. He didn’t live to see the allies’ victory in World War II that year or the conference in San Francisco that month that established the United Nations. But his diplomatic efforts to meet with Arab leaders came undone after a devastating explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Biden himself initially supported the US 2003 war in Iraq only to end up as the president who ordered the US pullout of Afghanistan. “This is the politics that Donald Trump’s rhetoric has wrought among his supporters in the Republican Party,” wrote Avlon.

Persons: Franklin D, Roosevelt, Joe Biden, FDR, “, ” Biden, Steve Breen, GoComics.com Biden, Seth Moulton, ”, David Petraeus, ‘, Petraeus, Moulton, Shmuel Rosner, “ Israel, Biden, David Mark, Donald Trump, Gaza Hani Almadhoun, ” Yasmine Mohammed, Will Heath, Pete Davidson, Dean Obeidallah, Davidson, ” Obeidallah, ” Wadea, Khaled, Wadea’s, Mukesh Kapila, Frida Ghitis, Nicole Hemmer, Michael, Peter Bergen, Israel, ” Bergen, “ Khaled Hroub, ’, ” Hroub, what’s, ” Jim Jordan flunks, Nick Anderson, Jim Jordan, Julian Zelizer, “ Jordan, MAGA, Trump, shutdowns, Jordan, —, ” Zelizer, ” John Avlon, Jake Tapper, Donald Trump’s, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Cupp, Bill Bramhall, Trump Sidney Powell, Powell “, Jennifer Rodgers, ” Clay Jones, Kenneth Chesebro, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Jill Filipovic, “ It’s, …, Don’t, Scott Stantis, David Goldblatt, Amy Bass, Mary Lou Retton, Amy Klein, Glock, homebuyers Holly Thomas, Frasier ’, Richie Hofmann, Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Niro, DiCaprio, Scorsese, David Grann’s, White, Noah Berlatsky, “ Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Arab, Marine Corps, Democratic, Twitter, Facebook, Republican, Capitol, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, “, NBC, New York City, World Trade, Chicago, Hamas, Tribune, Trump, Tea Party, Republican Party, GOP, Utah, Republicans, Agency, White Locations: Warm Springs , Georgia, San Francisco, United, United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, China, Ukraine, Israel, America, Gaza, What’s, Massachusetts, Iraq, “ Israel, Afghanistan, Iraqi, Najaf, Iran, Lebanon, ”, New, Geneva, Palestinian, Fulton County , Georgia, Hollywood, Oklahoma

☆ Wall Street and money moved into South Florida, driving up prices. Now some residents want to move out.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

They're looking to nearby smaller cities in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. They're picking places like Knoxville, Tennessee; Greenville, South Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; and Asheville, North Carolina; which she collectively refers to as "the Villes." AdvertisementAdvertisementWhy CEOs moved their lives — and their businesses — to FloridaWall Street moved to South Florida in droves in 2020 and 2021. Billionaire hedge-fund CEOs — like Citadel's Ken Griffin — paid record-shattering amounts for South Florida homes , added offices, and moved their businesses there entirely from New York, Chicago, and Silicon Valley. They bought a 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom home on an acre of land for the same price in Greenville, South Carolina.

Persons: —, There's, Nicole Panesso, Holly Meyer Lucas, Meyer Lucas, Ken Griffin —, Brian Guzman, Guzman, Jonathan Miller, Ken Griffin, PATRICK T, FALLON, It's, Larry Ellison, Miller, Michael Bordenaro, Greg May, Marcia Straub, Keller Williams, Jill Cody, she's, Ryan Wilson, Jami, Alexander Spatari, Jami Wilson Organizations: Service, Sunshine State, Census Bureau, Orlando, Coral, Fort Myers, Florida Wall, Billionaire, Guzman Advisory Partners, Getty, West Palm Beach, Florida Atlantic University, Silicon, Oracle, South, South Florida metros, Fortune, Miami, Homes, Army Locations: Florida, Greenville, Knoxville, South Florida, Chattanooga , Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina , Georgia, Tennessee, Knoxville , Tennessee, Greenville , South Carolina, Huntsville , Alabama, Asheville , North Carolina, Realtor.com, Asheville, Miami, Gulf Coast, New York, Chicago, Silicon, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Texas, North Carolina, Greensboro, Fort

☆ American mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas have been released, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Alex Marquardt Kaitlan Collins Oren Liebermann Michael Conte Sana Noor Haq | Alex Marquardt | Kaitlan Collins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, on Friday after they abducted around 200 people from Israel in a deadly attack on October 7. They are being released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said. US officials have not said whether they believe any of the American hostages are dead and have previously noted that all hostages are assumed alive. Amnesty International has said Israel’s “collective punishment” of Palestinian civilians for Hamas’ attack amounts to a war crime. “The families’ headquarters welcomes the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: Judith Tai Raanan, Natali, Daniel Hagari, Abu Obaida, Biden, ”, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid Al, Ansari, Joe Biden, “, “ Jill, Israel, Antony Blinken, Rishi Sunak Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Brigades, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations, Amnesty Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chicago, Nahal Oz, Qatar, ” Qatar, Israel’s, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand

Like many other Black Protestant churches, Calvary Baptist struggled economically during the coronavirus pandemic. But the church has transformed its parking lot to accommodate game-day fundraisers, with volunteers from the congregation staffing the lots and selling spaces for $15 per vehicle. All 250 parking spaces at the Calvary lot were full when Messi’s Inter Miami played the Union. Sometimes, rival fans park at the church. The church parking lot is often full on game days.

Persons: Martin Luther King Jr, Keith Dickens, Calvary, ”, Dickens, Lionel Messi, Jeffrey Scholes, “, Scholes, ” Scholes, King, ” Abe Gitterman, Lisa Lewis, Leslie Cranford, RVs —, Jones, Cranford, Kevin Ness, Jill Connerym, Connery, Taylor, Kevin Ulmet Organizations: Eagles, NFL, Calvary Baptist Church, Major League Soccer, Philadelphia Union, Subaru, Union, Calvary Baptist, Green Bay Packers, MLS, Messi’s Inter Miami, Sports, Chester’s Crozer Theological Seminary . Chester, John’s United Methodist Church, Texas Tech, Red Raiders, T, ”, Christian Science Church, Red Sox, Christian, Christian Science, Bethany Church, Packers, Nashville, Church, Nazarene, Nissan, Tennessee Titans, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: CHESTER, Pa, Philadelphia, Delaware, Calvary, Lubbock , Texas, St, Boston, Fenway, Green Bay , Wisconsin, Nashville, Haiti, Kenya, “

☆ Biden Thanks Qatar, Israel for Help in Freeing Two American Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden officially announced the release of two Americans held hostage by Hamas, adding that the administration is continuing its efforts to free those still being held. “I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work,” he said. “Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last week—we will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.”

Persons: Biden, ”, “ Jill Locations: Qatar, Israel

☆ Bidens Call Family of Muslim Boy Fatally Stabbed in Illinois
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

After delivering his Oval Office address Thursday, President Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, called the family of Wadea Alfayoumi, the 6-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in what authorities say was a hate crime motivated by the child’s Muslim faith and the Israel-Hamas conflict. An Illinois man has been charged in the fatal stabbing of the boy and the wounding of the boy’s mother.

Persons: Biden, Jill Biden, Alfayoumi Locations: Israel, An Illinois

The bulk of the Trump PAC money went to law firms that have defended Trump against a series of criminal charges or in civil lawsuits. “Well, if the little fish’s lawyer is being paid by the big fish that’s less likely to happen potentially.”The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. That money is earmarked for political and campaign activities, not for legal expenses, according to the campaign. To help pay the legal fees, Trump’s political operation has also moved millions from his super PAC, MAGA Inc. Those concerns are amplified in court records filed by Smith’s team in the Mar-a-Lago case.

Persons: — Donald Trump’s, Trump, ”, Randall Eliason, he’s, Letitia James ’, James, schemed, “, it’s, Anthony Michael Kreis, Donald Trump, Robert Lee, wasn’t Trump, Lee, Alina Habba, Christopher Kise, James ’, Habba Madaio, Habba, Jean Carroll, Mary Trump, Kise, Foley, Lardner, Chris Kise, Ron DeSantis, Sen, Rick Scott, Coleman, Ciara Torres, Jack Smith, ” Torres, Spelliscy, Joe Biden, Saurav Ghosh, don’t, ” Ghosh, Donald J, Smith, Carlos De Oliveira, De Oliveira, He’s, Walt Nauta, John Irving of, Brand, Stanley Woodward, Woodward, Mark Meadows, Dawn Smelcer, ” he’s, Eric Tucker, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Commission, Associated, Save, Republican National Committee, Democratic National Committee, National Republican Senatorial, Trump PAC, Trump, White, George Washington University Law School, MAGA Inc, Georgia State University, Associates, Save America, New York Times, PAC, Republican, Florida Gov, Continental, Stetson University College of Law, Justice Department, Justice, Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Democratic, Legal, Smith’s, FBI, John Irving of Earth & Water Law, Brand Woodward Law, Prosecutors, AP, Associated Press Locations: New York, Georgia, Fulton, Lago, Florida, Boca Raton , Florida, Washington ,, Bedminster , New Jersey, York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Save America, Fayetteville , North Carolina, Washington

☆ Flag football one of five sports added to 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, alongside cricket and squash
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ben Morse | Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Flag football is officially one of five new sports added to the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. On Monday in Mumbai at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session, it was announced that flag football, baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse and squash would be included at the Games. It will be the first time that flag football and squash will be in an Olympic Games. Cricket was included in the Paris Olympics in 1900, while lacrosse was included at St. Louis 1904 and London 1908. Our Olympic sport program, in its entirety, reflects this belief,” the chairperson of the 2028 Games’ organizing committee, Casey Wasserman, said.

Persons: Louis, Thomas Bach, –, “, Casey Wasserman, ” Organizations: CNN — Flag, 141st International Olympic Committee, Olympic Games, Cricket, Paris Olympics, St, Baseball, Tokyo, Olympic Movement, IOC, Flag, US, Lacrosse, ” Cricket, Major League Cricket Locations: Los Angeles, Mumbai, United States

☆ Chicago-area stabbing: 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy who authorities say was fatally stabbed by his landlord will be buried today
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Chris Boyette Keith Allen Lauren Mascarenhas | Chris Boyette | Keith Allen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A funeral and burial will be held Monday for the 6-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed when his Chicago-area landlord allegedly attacked him and his mother because the family is Muslim. The attack, which also left Wadea’s mother seriously injured, is being investigated by the Department of Justice as a hate crime. Czuba was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and is awaiting his initial court appearance, according to the sheriff’s office. “He was a 6-year-old boy, he loved everything,” Rehab said of the child, recalling how Wadea’s father had described his son. In response, Israel has pounded Gaza with airstrikes that have killed more than 2,750 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Persons: Al Fayoume, Joseph M, Carole Cheney, Czuba, “, General Merrick Garland, ” Garland, Will, Wadea, Hanaan Shahin, ”, Ahmed Rehab, Shahin, ‘, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker, –, Wadea Al, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Rehab, Wadea’s, ’ Organizations: CNN, Islamic Relations, Department of Justice, The, Department, Justice, ”, ” CAIR, Chicago, Czuba, Chicago Mayor, CAIR, West Bank, Twitter, CAIR National, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Palestinian Locations: Chicago, Will, Joliet , Illinois, Plainfield Township, Illinois, America, United States, Gaza, Israel, York City

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