The #IDF said another 4 #Israeli hostages abducted by #Hamas on #Oct7 had died in captivity & that their bodies are being held by the #Palestinian Islamist group.
The 4 were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, & Nadav Popplewell, 51.
All 4 were filmed alive in hostage videos posted by #Hamas.
#Hamas said that Popplewell had died of wounds sustained during an Israeli air strike when posting his video last month.
#IDF spox Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said that new intelligence led to confirmation of their deaths. The military believes the 4 were killed together in the southern #Gaza city of #KhanYounis a "number of months" ago when Israeli forces were operating in the city, Hagari said in remarks that were broadcast.
“We are thoroughly examining the circumstances of their deaths & checking all possibilities. We will present soon the findings, first to their families, & then to the public," he said. "We will present them w/transparency, as we have done until now."
Of the >250 people abducted on Oct. 7, about 120 remain in #Gaza, acc/to Israeli tallies. Many have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.
#POTUS#Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday allowing him to temporarily seal the #UnitedStates#border with #Mexico to migrants when crossings surge, a move that would suspend longtime protections for #asylum seekers in the #UnitedStates.
Democratic members of the #House select subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic defended Dr. Anthony #Fauci ahead of Monday's hearing about the #US’ #COVID19#pandemic response, policies & transparency.
The representatives blasted #Republicans’ claims of Fauci’s involvement in starting [for real they had to say this] or covering up the pandemic as a “dangerous” & “cartoonish” narrative.
Dr #Fauci dismisses ‘preposterous’ allegations that he led #covid coverup
The infectious-disease expert said #Republicans have distorted emails between #scientists as they discussed whether a lab leak of the coronavirus was possible.
Fauci defended himself against claims that he orchestrated a coverup of the #coronavirus#pandemic’s origins, w/the fmr govt official rejecting some allegations as “simply preposterous.”
The prominent infectious-disease expert, who served as a snr leader at the #NIH for 4 decades, said #Republicans have distorted emails between himself & other scientists as they discussed whether a lab leak of the #coronavirus was possible.
“We spend our whole life trying to determine the causes of infectious diseases, & stop them to protect the American people,” #Fauci said, adding that he did not pressure colleagues to reach a conclusion about the origins of the virus.
Big show of family support on the 1st day of #HunterBiden’s trial.
In addition to #POTUS’ statement, Hunter’s wife, Melissa Cohen, his sister Ashley Biden, his friend Kevin Morris, Peter Neal, who is married to Hunter’s daughter Naomi, & #FLOTUS Dr. #JillBiden are in attendance.
President #Biden will be in Wilmington, DL, w/no appearances scheduled. But he has given no indication that he would be in the courthouse — a possibility that would require considerable security arrangements.
Inside the courtroom, #HunterBiden has been surrounded by family members. At each break he has walked over to give a hug & kiss to his mother, FLOTUS Dr #JillBiden & embraces his wife, Melissa Cohen.
His uncle Jack Owens is there, as is his son-in-law, Peter Neal; Fran Person, a fmr aid to his father; his close friend Kevin Morris; Ricky “Mouse” Smith, a close family friend who has known #POTUS#Biden for decades.
Family members have been taking notes & listening closely.
In #HunterBiden’s trial, jury selection highlights #UnitedStates’ drug epidemic
The nation’s political divisions were also laid bare as 6 men & 6 women were chosen…. #JurySelection for the trial of #POTUS#Biden’s son Hunter turned into an impromptu but painful indictment of the nation’s drug epidemic, w/person after person telling the court of their loved ones’ battles w/ #addiction.
#ClaudiaSheinbaum was elected #Mexico’s first female president in a landslide on Sunday, an official quick count of votes showed, cementing the dominance of the left-leaning Morena movement that over the past 6 years has upended the country’s political establishment.
Her victory stunned an opposition that’s accused Morena of weakening the country’s democratic institutions.
Jesse #Barrett is a trial lawyer & managing partner at SouthBank Legal. He heads the firm’s Washington, DC, office, which opened after Justice Barrett joined the high court.
@Liliki he’s a pushover. First ones who should go are Alito & Thomas - equally disgraceful compromised abusers of power, then rapist Brett Kavanaugh. After that maybe the remaining will be a bit more humble.
Robinson became a fixture of the White House when she moved from her hometown of Chicago to help take care of her granddaughters during the #Obama administration.
“She passed peacefully this morning, & right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly we’ll move on without her,” the family statement said.
8 #Republican senators announced Fri they would boycott #Democratic#legislative priorities & nominations as payback for #Trump’s #guilty#verdict.
In a joint statement, the senators said they would not “allow any increase to non-security related funding for this administration, or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare.”
The statement was signed by Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), J.D. Vance (Ohio), Tommy Tuberville (Ala.), Eric Schmitt (Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Rick Scott (Fla.), Roger Marshall (Kan.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.). Scott is among those running to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as the top Senate Republican, while Rubio has been discussed as a potential Trump running mate.
#POTUS#Biden addressed #Trump’s #conviction & said “the American principle that no one is above the #law was reaffirmed.”
“The #justice system should be respected, & we should never allow anyone to tear it down. It’s as simple as that,” Biden said.
“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous & it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the #verdict,” Biden asserted. “Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, & it literally is the cornerstone of #America.”
#POTUS underscored #Trump “was given every opportunity to defend himself” & the case “was heard by a jury of…12 people like you & millions of Americans who serve on juries…chosen the same way every jury in America” is chosen.
“The jury heard 5 weeks of evidence, 5 weeks, & after careful deliberation, the jury reached a #unanimous verdict. They found Donald Trump #guilty on all 34 #felony counts. Now, he’ll be given the opportunity, as he should, to #appeal that decision….”
#Trump used a #racist slur while discussing a contestant on #TheApprentice during a recorded conversation 2 decades ago.
Fmr show producer Bill Pruitt, said while deciding between a Black finalist, Kwame Jackson, & a White finalist, Bill Rancic, Trump adviser & show judge Carolyn Kepcher, advocated for Jackson, Trump winced multiple times & asked:
“I mean, would America buy a [n-word] winning?”
Trump picked the white guy.
“During that time, I signed an expansive nondisclosure agreement that promised a fine of $5 million and even jail time if I were to ever divulge what actually happened. It expired this year.” - BILL PRUITT
Okay honestly trying to make sense of #Trump’s “remarks” or attributing any sense to them is pointless. He is all over the place, rambling, throwing in the occasional recognizable rally line. It’s just nuts. He is lying nonstop & sounds crazy. And it’s still happening.
In a letter to #Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-IL, & Sen Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, Roberts said he "must respectfully decline your request for a meeting," citing concerns about maintaining judicial independence.
The #UnitedStates is actively weighing whether to lift one of #POTUS#Biden’s longest-held precautionary measures of the #Ukraine war: a ban on the use of #US provided #weapons for offensive strikes inside #Russia.
The reassessment is a byproduct of Russia’s renewed cross-border assault on #Kharkiv, a chorus of pressure from #EU ofcls & a visit to Kyiv by Secy of State #Blinken that reinforced the peril facing Ukraine….
#OpenAI removed accounts associated w/well-known #propaganda ops in #Russia, #China & #Iran; an #Israeli political campaign firm; & a previously unknown group originating in Russia that the company’s researchers dubbed “#BadGrammar.” The groups used OpenAI’s #tech to write posts, translate them into various languages & build software that helped them automatically post to #SocialMedia.