Blinken says preventing escalation remains U.S. focus in Middle East
During a press event in Tel Aviv Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said averting escalation of the Israel-Hamas war remained the “major focus” of his discussions with leaders in the region. Blinken spoke while on his second trip to the Middle East since Hamas’ massive October 7 surprise attack on Israel had sparked war […]
Biden Administration awards $653 million to upgrade U.S. ports
The Department of Transportation on Friday awarded $653 million in grants to upgrade 41 U.S. water-based ports. The grants are part of the $1 trillion Bipartsan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed in 2021, and will cover projects to upgrade U.S. coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports. “A significant portion of domestic […]
NYC Mayor’s campaign under investigation for possible illegal donations from Turkey
Federal prosecutors and the FBI have been investigating whether New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 election campaign took illegal foreign donations from the Turkish government, according to a search warrant obtained by the New York Times. The details were emerging following an FBI raid Thursday on the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, Adams’ campaign […]
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty of fraud
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy for his role in his cryptocurrency empire. The jury in federal court in Manhattan came to their verdict following 15 days of testimony—during which Bankman-Fried himself took the stand—and about four and a half hours of deliberations. The prosecution in […]
House approves Israeli aid bill destined for veto
The GOP-led house approved a $14.3 billion aid bill for Israel that is destined to be rejected by the Democratic-led Senate and that President Biden has vowed to veto if it does reach his desk. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) took the rare approach of tying the military aid to the warring U.S. ally to […]
FBI raids home of New York City mayor’s fund-raising chief
FBI agents on Thursday raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, a campaign consultant and top fundraiser for New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D). The raid, which was ongoing as of Thursday afternoon, apparently prompted the mayor to abruptly cancel several meetings scheduled for Thursday morning in Washington DC, where he had planned to […]
Eric Trump testifies in business fraud trial
Eric Trump took the witness stand Thursday at the business fraud trial of his father the former President and their real estate company. Eric Trump is the youngest of three of the former President’s adult children who’ve been called to testify. He took the stand after his brother, Donald Trump Jr., wrapped two days of […]
Wagner group may be supplying Hezbollah with air defense support
U.S. intelligence officials on Thursday said the Russian mercenary group Wagner PMC may provide an air defense system to Lebanon-based terrorist organization, Hezbollah. According to the Wall Street Journal, the system in question is the SA-22, which uses antiaircraft missiles and air defense guns to intercept aircraft, though one U.S. official told the Journal that […]
Failed attempt to censure Rashida Tlaib sparks House GOP infighting
Infighting between some House Republicans has been sparked by an effort on Wednesday to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over her criticism of Israel’s war with Hamas. On Wednesday evening the motion to censure was “tabled,” or killed, by a vote of 222 to 186, with 23 Republicans siding with all 199 Democrats who voted. […]
Some 400 Americans approved to flee Gaza through Rafah crossing
Hundreds of foreign citizens, including roughly 400 Americans, were approved to depart war-torn Gaza through Egypt’s Rafah border crossing on Thursday. The go-ahead came one day after the first civilians carrying foreign passports were cleared to cross through Rafah—the only border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. A handful of Americans, mostly aid workers departed Gaza […]
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