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Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, meanwhile, was unsuccessful in trying to set up a meeting with Trump this week. Bongino spent more than a decade in the Secret Service and individuals who worked with him praised him as a stellar agent. Engel told the committee he did not recall the conversation described by Hutchinson and said he didn’t recall Trump gesturing toward him. Ornato also told the committee he didn’t recall the story happening or telling it to Hutchinson. Ornato told Trump’s transition team he was not interested in the role of Secret Service director, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Podcaster Dan Bongino, Sean Curran, Ronald Rowe, Robert Engel, Trump, Rowe, Kimberly Cheatle’s, Bongino, hadn’t, Matt Gaetz, Curran, Engel, Tony Ornato, Cassidy Hutchinson, Ornato, Hutchinson Organizations: CNN, Service, Trump, Congress, Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, Justice Department, White Locations: Pennsylvania

So why shouldn’t federal employees who are paid with taxpayer dollars be required to be in office?” the source said. Ending remote work across government is being considered a potential “early candidate” for executive orders that members of DOGE will recommend to Trump, the source said. “I can’t abandon this career,” one Library of Congress worker who lives in the Midwest told CNN. Another federal employee who works remotely told CNN that they would have to commute two to three hours to the nearest office. Other targets beyond remote workRemote work isn’t the only cost-cutting measure that is likely to be addressed through executive orders.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Elon, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, “, ”, “ It’s, ” Everett Kelley, AFGE, Charlie Kirk –, –, DOGE, Kirk, doesn’t, aren’t, Musk Organizations: CNN, of Government, Republican, Trump, telework, Personnel Management, American Federation of Government Employees, Midwest, of Congress, Congress, General Services Administration Locations: Washington, DC, Washington ,

☆ SpaceX completes sixth Starship flight, with both booster and spacecraft splashing down
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

SpaceX launched the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket on Tuesday, as the company looks to keep up momentum of the mammoth vehicle’s development. Pushing the envelopeSpaceX has flown the full Starship rocket system on six spaceflight tests so far since April 2023, at a steadily increasing cadence. The company said on its website that it made hardware upgrades to the rocket’s booster for improved redundancy and improved structural strength. The Starship system is designed to be fully reusable and aims to become a new method of flying cargo and people beyond Earth. Fully stacked on the Super Heavy booster, Starship stands 397 feet tall and is about 30 feet in diameter.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, Donald Trump, Trump, SpaceX’s, Musk Organizations: SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration, Super Locations: Brownsville , Texas, Gulf, Mexico, Florida

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered prosecutors to get rid of copies of 19 pages of notes taken from Sean "Diddy" Combs' jail cell after his lawyers argued the seizure violated attorney-client privilege. Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Tuesday that the court will keep the papers while prosecutors and Combs’ lawyers submit briefs on the issue over the next few weeks. The music mogul has denied both the charges as well as prosecutors' allegations that he’s tampering with witnesses from jail. At Tuesday's hearing Combs, 55, who wore olive prison clothing garb, appeared to have lost weight since his last court appearance. Homeland Security Investigations agents outside the home of Sean "Diddy" Combs in Los Angeles, Calif. on March 25, 2024.

Persons: Sean, Diddy, Combs, Arun Subramanian, Christy Slavik, “, ”, David Swanson, Marc Agnifilo, Slavik, Agnifilo Organizations: Prosecutors, U.S, Security, Getty Images Defense, Metropolitan Detention, Bureau of Prisons Locations: Los Angeles, Calif, Brooklyn, U.S

☆ New details emerge about Netanyahu aide accused of leaking Hamas documents to the press
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Raf Sanchez | Raf Sanchez Is A Foreign Correspondent For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Investigators discovered that a low-level Israeli soldier had illegally removed Hamas documents from a military database and passed them to Eli Feldstein, a communications consultant working for Netanyahu, prosecutors said. Feldstein acted “with the intention of influencing public opinion in Israel on the negotiations regarding the hostages and in particular the issue of the contribution of the demonstrations to the strengthening of Hamas,” prosecutors said. Days after it was published, Netanyahu cited the article as evidence of Hamas’ intent “to use psychological warfare on the hostage families” and to put pressure on the Israeli government. The Israeli soldier accused of leaking the document to him has also been arrested, along with three other military personnel, prosecutors said. “For the past few days, my office has been under a wild and unrestrained attack,” Netanyahu said at the time.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu, Feldstein, ”, “ Bibi, Yahya Sinwar, Hersh Goldberg Polin, Bild, Sinwar, Shin, “, ” Netanyahu, Tzachi Braverman, Braverman, Jack Chen Organizations: NBC News, Israel Defense Forces, Military, NBC, Police Locations: TEL AVIV, Gaza, Israel, Germany

☆ Biden fades into the background at his final international summits: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

In today’s edition, White House correspondent Mike Memoli files a dispatch from Rio de Janeiro on President Joe Biden's final international summit. Biden fades into the background at his final international summitsBy Mike MemoliRIO DE JANEIRO — President Joe Biden’s final international summits almost certainly would have played out differently had the elections back home gone as he had hoped. But President-elect Donald Trump cast a long shadow over a seemingly humbled Biden as he bid farewell to his counterparts here. Read more → 🥊 Democrats’ next fight: Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin became the second candidate to jump into the race to lead the Democratic National Committee. Read more →Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin became the second candidate to jump into the race to lead the Democratic National Committee.

Persons: Mike Memoli, Joe Biden's, Steve Kornacki, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, “, Trump, ”, Xi Jinping, Justin Trudeau, ” Trudeau, ” Biden, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, It’s, Barack Obama, Dasha Burns, Dane, Kamala Harris, Steve, ️, edu, tim e Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, White, APEC, Canadian, Trump, “, NBC News, Democratic, Republican, Hialeah, voters, Gwinnett, Biden, Trump’s, ics Locations: Rio de Janeiro, JANEIRO, Brazil, Peru, China, Japan, South Korea, America, Lima, Rome, ”, Maricopa County , Arizona, Maricopa County, Maricopa, Phoenix, Maryvale, Miami, Dade County , Florida, Cuban, Venezuelan, Doral, Aventura, Gwinnett County , Georgia, The Atlanta, Atlanta, Norcross, Kent County , Michigan, Michigan, Trump, Washoe County , Nevada, Washoe County, Clark County, Erie County , Pennsylvania, Erie, Dane County , Wisconsin, Poli

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he will nominate Mehmet Oz, a former Pennsylvania Senate candidate and TV doctor, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, faced criticism in 2020, for promoting the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19. Oz’s TV show aired from 2009 until 2022, when he made an unsuccessful bid for Senate. Trump made an appearance on Oz’s television program, “The Dr. Oz Show,” during his 2016 presidential campaign to reveal the results of his physical examination. Trump’s announcement comes as the agency for the first time negotiates drug prices on the costliest prescription drugs under Medicare.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mehmet Oz, Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Oz, John Fetterman Organizations: Pennsylvania Senate, Medicare, Services, of Health, Human Services, Democrats, Children’s Health Insurance, Medicaid, CMS Locations: Pennsylvania

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft sits atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket at the company's Boca Chica launchpad, near Brownsville, Texas, on November 16. Musk’s claims came after the FAA proposed $633,009 in civil penalties against SpaceX, saying the company violated launch license requirements twice during flights of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX has denied wrongdoing related to those requirements, saying none of the allegations related to public safety. Still, the FAA granted SpaceX its long-awaited license to move forward with Starship’s fifth uncrewed test launch in October — and that same launch license covers this week’s test flight. It marks the first time that SpaceX has not had to go back to the FAA to approve launch license changes since the company began this testing campaign years ago.

Persons: Joe Skipper, Elon Musk, Musk, Donald Trump, —, Mike Whitaker “, ” Musk, Musk’s Organizations: Boca, Reuters, SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, “ Department, Government Locations: Brownsville , Texas, —

WASHINGTON — The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, is set to face questions from House lawmakers on Tuesday about the federal government's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton that caused catastrophic damage in the Southeast. “And FEMA leadership didn’t take action against this supervisor until the press exposed this discrimination," his remarks say. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a lawsuit against Criswell and Washington last week over the incident. More than 220 people died from Hurricane Helene in late September, which hit Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. At least 17 people died during Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida hard in early October.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Deanne, Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Criswell, James Comer, Comer, Ashley Moody, Donald Trump's, Trump, Biden, Hurricane Helene Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricanes, Transportation, House Republicans, FEMA, Trump, Fox News, House Homeland Security Committee, Criswell, Hurricane Milton Locations: Florida, Marn’i Washington, United States, Ky, Highlands County , Florida, Washington, Hurricane, Georgia , Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina

☆ Ramaswamy's 'jackhammer and chain saw' plan to force federal workers back into the office.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Reporter For Nbc News. She Is Based In Washington. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Vacant federal office space in downtown Washington is costly to maintain and a deep source of frustration to Mayor Muriel Bowser. She told reporters last week that she had requested a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and that top on her agenda is pushing federal workers to return to downtown Washington. All told, the U.S. has roughly 2.2 million federal workers. With fewer people in the office, the cost of excess federal office space has become a concern. In 2004, a little over 750,000 federal workers were eligible to work from home.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk's, Muriel Bowser, Donald Trump, ” Bowser, “, Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson, ”, ” Ramaswamy, ” Jacqueline Simon, Musk’s, Kamil Krzaczynski, Simon, Joe Biden, George W, Bush Organizations: Management, American Federation of Government Employees, Bureau of Prisons, NBC, Patrol, Office, Republican, Republican National Convention, Getty, Education Department, OMB, Personnel Management Locations: Washington, ”, U.S, Milwaukee, AFP

☆ U.S. envoy in Beirut for talks after Lebanon and Hezbollah approve truce draft
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein landed in Beirut on Tuesday for talks with officials on a truce between armed group Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanon’s state news agency said, hours after a proposal drafted by Washington won a nod from the Iran-backed group. The visit indicates progress in U.S.-led diplomacy aimed at ending a conflict which spiralled into all-out war in late September, when Israel launched a major offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah endorsed its long-time ally Berri to negotiate over a cease-fire, but both it and Israel have escalated the fight as the political efforts carried on. A diplomat familiar with the talks cautioned that details still needed to be ironed out and these could still hold up a final agreement. Khalil said Israel was trying to negotiate “under fire”, a reference to an escalation of its bombardment of Beirut and the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Ali Hassan Khalil, Nabih Berri, Berri, Khalil, Israel, ” Organizations: Washington, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Reuters, . Security Locations: Beirut, Israel, Iran, Lebanon

Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for his country's use of nuclear weapons Tuesday, days after the United States allowed Ukraine to strike inside Russia using American missiles. The Kremlin announced that Putin had approved an updated nuclear doctrine — a document that governs how Russia uses its nuclear arsenal — including the declaration that Moscow could unleash a nuclear strike if subject to an attack by a non-nuclear country that has the support of a nuclear state. “The nuclear doctrine update was required to bring the document in line with the current political situation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the TASS state news agency in comments published early Tuesday. Still, the use of nuclear weapons would be a “last resort measure,” he added. Putin had signaled the update to his country’s policy earlier this year as he sought to warn the West against loosening restrictions on Kyiv's use of long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Biden Organizations: Kremlin, TASS, Russian Federation, NATO, NBC News Locations: United States, Ukraine, Russia, American, Moscow, Belarus, U.S, Russia's Kursk, Washington

The family of a 30-year-old Hawaii resident is searching for her in Los Angeles after she missed a connecting flight, sent unusual text messages and then went silent, the relatives said. The next day, she sent concerning text messages to loved ones, family members said. The three were part of a larger group of family members and loved ones who gathered in Los Angeles in recent days to launch a search effort. Family members said they couldn't speak about it in detail because they don't want to hinder investigators. The group gathered in Los Angeles is focusing its own search on the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Hill Street, near the Convention Center, LA Live and Crypto Arena, family members said.

Persons: Hannah Kobayashi, Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi, Kobayashi's, Pidgeon, Larie, Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi, Facebook Pidgeon, Tony Im, ” Pidgeon, Geordan Montalvo, Geordan, It's, Father Ryan Kobayashi, I’ve, ”, KHNL, Elsa Lam, Hannah Organizations: Los Angeles International Airport, Nike, NBC News, Facebook, of Modern, Los Angeles International Airport Police Department, FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD, NBC, LAX, RAD, Convention, LA, Crypto, Los Angeles . Security Locations: Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York City, Maui, New York, Grove, Beverly Grove, The Grove, Honolulu, San Diego County , California, Pico Boulevard, Hill, Angeles

☆ Trump taps Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Alice Tecotzky | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementPresident-elect Trump has tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz, tv celebrity and surgeon, to run the agency. Trump said Oz will "cut waste and fraud" in the agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid. Oz ran for Senate in 2022 and does not have experience leading a large government bureaucracy. President-elect Donald Trump has named Mehmet Oz, a television personality and surgeon, to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The CMS oversees Medicare and Medicaid, among other services.

Persons: Trump, Mehmet Oz, Oz, Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr Organizations: Medicare, Agency, Healthcare, Department of Health, Human Services, Pennsylvania Senate Locations: Pennsylvania

☆ A woman posed as her own mom to claim hurricane aid, saying Botox helped her look young, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementPolice arrested a Florida woman on a felony charge of filing a false public assistance claim. They say she posed as her mom to claim hurricane aid, but her youthful appearance raised suspicions. Police say the woman claimed to look young because of Botox treatments. Police in Florida have said a woman applied for hurricane disaster assistance by posing as her mother — and said she looked younger because of Botox. Investigators allege that Veronica Torres, 44, used her mother's name, driving license, and Social Security information to apply for the city's Hurricane Disaster Assistant Program.

Persons: —, Veronica Torres, Torres, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton Organizations: Police, Social Security, Hurricane, Bradenton Police Department, Bradenton Police, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Locations: Florida

☆ Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy want to 'delete' parts of the US government. It won't be easy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Alice Tecotzky | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are set to co-lead the DOGE in President-elect Trump's second term. In their roles as co-leaders of the forthcoming Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have vowed to "delete" government agencies, much like a line of code. "Or does it mean that a different federal agency will assume the responsibilities of collecting income taxes?" Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images"The president can't 'delete' departments — or even almost all of government's subunits. Kettl said that any effort to delete the functions of a department is "an even bigger battle" than trying to delete a department itself.

Persons: Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump's, Ron DeSantis, Kevin Kosar, DOGE's, Ramaswamy, Donald Trump, Mordecai Lee, aren't, haven't, Kosar, Allison Robbert, Donald Kettl, Elaine Kamarck, Bill Clinton, Kamarck, Kettl, Lee, they've, nix, it's Organizations: Republicans, of Government Efficiency, Elon, Florida Gov, American Enterprise Institute, Fox News, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, Department of Education, University of Wisconsin -, Trump, Republican, University of Maryland, Brookings Institute, of Education, Farmers, of Agriculture, USDA, Conservative Locations: Florida, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

☆ Starship flight 6 launch: SpaceX to attempt rocket booster landing at ‘Mechazilla’ tower
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The two-stage megarocket — which features the Starship spacecraft stacked atop the Super Heavy booster — will attempt liftoff during a 30-minute window that opens at 5 p.m. If the test flight team deems conditions are favorable for a landing attempt, booster touchdown should occur about seven minutes after launch. Joe Skipper/ReutersThe Starship spacecraft, meanwhile, will fire up its own six engines before entering a coasting phase as it soars through space. During the fourth integrated Starship test flight in early June, the spacecraft endured significant damage. “In 2025, SpaceX plans to undertake a long-duration flight test and a propellant transfer flight test,” according to a recent report from NASA’s Office of the Inspector General, or OIG.

Persons: CNN —, Sergio Flores, “ chopsticks, ”, “, Elon Musk, SpaceX's, Joe Skipper, ” Musk, Artemis III Organizations: CNN, SpaceX, Super, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Getty, Starship, NASA’s Locations: Brownsville , Texas, Starbase, AFP

☆ Kremlin brings up nuclear doctrine day after Biden's arms decision on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine have been drawn up and will be formalized as necessary, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, signaling again Moscow's concern over the latest U.S. decision on missile strikes from Ukraine. The Kremlin called on Monday the reported decision by President Joe Biden's administration to allow Ukraine to fire American missiles deep into Russia reckless and it warned that Moscow will respond. Russia calls its war in Ukraine a special military operation, while Kyiv and its Western allies call it an unprovoked, imperialistic land grab. Western analysts have called the changes an escalation in Moscow's attempts to dissuade the West from expanding its military aid to Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has triggered the worst crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Joe Biden's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin, Peskov Organizations: Security, Kremlin, TASS, NATO, Reuters, Cuban Missile, Washington Locations: Constantine, Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, The U.S, Korean, Washington, Kyiv

☆ CVS, UnitedHealth, Cigna sue to block FTC case over insulin prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CVS Health , UnitedHealth Group and Cigna sued the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, claiming that the agency's case against drug supply chain middlemen over high insulin prices in the U.S. is unconstitutional. The FTC's in-house administrative process initiates a proceeding before an administrative judge who would hear the case. FTC commissioners then vote on that opinion. The Tuesday complaint argues that the FTC's process violates the companies' due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. The complaint comes a month after CVS, UnitedHealth Group and Cigna demanded FTC Chair Lina Khan and two other commissioners recuse themselves from the agency's in-house suit.

Persons: Cigna, CVS's Caremark, Douglas Farrar, Lina Khan Organizations: CVS Health, UnitedHealth, Federal Trade Commission, Eastern, of, FTC, Cigna's, CVS Locations: U.S, of Missouri, Caremark

☆ Putin paying for 100,000 North Korean troops helps him delay a second mobilization: ISW
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementNorth Korean troops in Russia help Putin beyond sheer manpower needs — they help him at home, too. "The deployment of roughly 100,000 North Korean personnel would only replace Russian losses for less than three months," the think-tank wrote. In total, that could mean 100,000 North Korean troops cycling in and out of combat within a year, he said. The North Korean troops in Russia are believed to be special forces, which South Korean intelligence estimates say consist of about 200,000 members in total. AdvertisementSeoul also says that Russia is paying about $2,000 a month for each North Korean soldier.

Persons: Putin, ISW, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Russia's, Dmytro, Kim Jong Un Organizations: Putin, Kremlin, Institute for, Korean, Bloomberg, North Locations: Russia, The Washington, Moscow, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Kursk, Kyiv, North Korea, South Korea, America, Seoul, Korean, South

☆ Trump to Watch Latest SpaceX Launch With Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Erica L. Green | More About Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Trump’s appearance at the launch demonstrates the growing closeness between the two billionaires, and Mr. Musk’s increasing influence in Mr. Trump’s realm. Last week, Mr. Trump announced that Mr. Musk would lead a yet-to-be-created government agency, and Mr. Musk has become a staple in Mr. Trump’s transition. Mr. Musk has frequently attended meetings with him at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s private residence, and traveled with Mr. Trump to meetings in Washington. As has been the case with many of Mr. Trump’s job candidates, Mr. Musk’s influence and presence brings potential conflicts of interest. Although he and Mr. Musk only recently became close allies, Mr. Trump had long expressed admiration for Mr. Musk’s rocket launches and would frequently reference SpaceX during campaign speeches.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, SpaceX’s, Elon Musk, Musk, Trump’s, Musk’s Organizations: Elon, Mar, Mr, Musk’s SpaceX, SpaceX, Musk’s Locations: Brownsville , Texas, Washington

☆ The Houthis appear determined to score a hit on the American and European warships in the Red Sea, US envoy says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe Houthis appear determined to strike US and allied warships in the Red Sea. The Houthis appear determined to strike American and European warships as part of their ongoing campaign of Red Sea attacks, a senior US State Department official said. The oil tanker MV Sounion on fire in the Red Sea following multiple Houthi attacks. US warships are frequently tasked with intercepting Houthi threats, including attack drones and anti-ship missiles, above the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Related storiesUS officials have routinely said that Washington is committed to fending off the Houthi attacks, which have disrupted a key global supply route.

Persons: —, Yemen Tim Lenderking, Lenderking, Pat Ryder, Washington Organizations: US State Department, European Union, US Navy, Pentagon, Houthi Media Center, Galaxy, Houthi Media, AP, US Defense Intelligence Agency Locations: Red, Europe, Yemen, Iranian, Gulf of Aden, Iran, Mandab, Russia, Gulf of Aden ., Africa

☆ See inside this 6-bedroom seaside mansion in Puerto Rico that just sold for $20 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementA $20 million six-bedroom seaside mansion sold in Puerto Rico this month. The 14,000-square-foot home is the most expensive property sold in Puerto Rico this year. A sprawling six-bedroom mansion has become the most expensive property sold in Puerto Rico this year. Blanca Hebe Lopez Pierluisi, boss of Corcoran Puerto Rico, the real estate agency that represented the buyer of the $20 million mansion, told Business Insider via email that Puerto Rico has "seen an incredible boom in real estate during these last five years as well as numerous new development projects that speak to the healthy demand across the island." "This record-breaking sale is a strong indicator that the real estate market in Puerto Rico is thriving and resilient," she added.

Persons: It's, Shou Zi Chew, —, Mainlanders, Blanca Hebe Lopez Pierluisi, Corcoran Organizations: Ritz Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico —, Reuters, Puerto Locations: Puerto Rico, Dorado, San Juan, Singapore, Puerto, Corcoran Puerto Rico

☆ Iran is increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, UN says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

AP —Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen Tuesday by The Associated Press. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of Oct. 26, Iran’s overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 6,604.4 kilograms (14,560 pounds), an increase of 852.6 kilograms (1,879.6 pounds) since August. Western diplomats consider censuring IranIran last week offered not to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60%, during a visit to Tehran by the IAEA chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi. In the past, Iran has responded to resolutions by the IAEA Board of Governors by further enhancing its nuclear program.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Grossi, Iran’s, Mohammad Eslami, Abbas Araghchi, Masoud Pezeshkian, —, Eslami, Donald Trump Organizations: AP, United Nations, Associated Press, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Hamas, America, Agency, Governors, Atomic Energy Organization of, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Iran Iran, Fordow, Vienna ., Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Vienna, Isfahan

☆ SpaceX gears up to catch Starship again — and Donald Trump may join Elon Musk for the launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementSpaceX is planning to launch Starship for the sixth time on Tuesday. Reports suggest that President-elect Trump may join Elon Musk for the launch. Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been inseparable since the election — and now Trump will reportedly attend the latest launch of Musk's giant Starship rocket. SpaceX is set to conduct the sixth test flight of Starship, the 165-foot spacecraft that Musk wants to use to take humanity to Mars, on Tuesday. Multiple reports on Monday suggested that Donald Trump is planning to attend the Starship launch — another indication of just how important a role Musk will likely play in the next administration.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Google's Sundar Pichai, Joe Rogan, Kid Rock, Chris Unger, Brendan Carr, Carr, Mars, CHANDAN KHANNA, Musk, Starship's Organizations: SpaceX, Trump, Elon, UFC, PAC, Department of Government, Federal Communications Commission, Getty, Federal Aviation Authority, Business Locations: SpaceX's Starbase, Texas, New York City

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