International visitors visiting the US to pay new fee
CNN's Richard Quest explains how the Trump administration enacted a bill that will require international visitors to pay a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 dollars. The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the US.
01:36 - Source: CNN
Tsunami warnings triggered after major earthquake
The strongest earthquake on the planet since 2011 has triggered tsunami warnings for parts of Russia, Japan, and Alaska, as well as all of Hawaii. CNN's Will Ripley reports on the 8.8-magnitude quake.
00:41 - Source: CNN
Israeli settler kills activist who worked on Oscar-winning film
Odeh Hathalin, a prominent Palestinian activist who had worked on an Oscar-winning documentary, was killed on Monday during an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to local journalists and officials. CNN's Jeremy Diamond explains video circulated on social media that shows the gunman firing a hand gun in the vicinity of where Hathalin was said to be killed.
01:36 - Source: CNN
Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win
Fans celebrate in London as England has been crowned champion of Europe for the second successive time after defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Women's Euro 2025 final.
00:30 - Source: CNN
Breaking down Israel's aid drops into Gaza
In the midst of a hunger crisis in Gaza, Israel and other countries have begun dropping aid by plane into the area. CNN's Nic Robertson breaks down how much effect this measure can offer, while the UN calls for substantial relief to come from aid trucks moving in quickly through open corridors.
01:15 - Source: CNN
People fight for scraps of food in Gaza
CNN's Nic Robertson reports on the scarce food conditions in Gaza, with children and mothers fighting off starvation as soup kitchens face shortages.
01:46 - Source: CNN
18 people dead after Peru bus accident
At least 18 people have died and 24 were injured after a bus overturned in the Province of Junín, in Central Peru. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.
00:28 - Source: CNN
Rare snow leopard baby born at UK zoo
Video released by Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom shows a rare snow leopard cub taking its first steps. The baby was the first of its kind born at the facility in its 94-year history. Snow leopards are currently listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
01:14 - Source: CNN
Trump tells Israel to 'finish the job' against Hamas
00:41 - Source: CNN
Desperate fishermen risk their lives to get food in Gaza
Israel reissued a warning prohibiting anyone from entering Gaza's sea, but hunger drives desperate people to fish. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports.
02:08 - Source: CNN
'The level of destruction is enormous': Says Cardinal about Gaza
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, recently toured Gaza after what Israel says was stray ammunition that struck Gaza's only Catholic church, killing three people. He recounts what he witnessed with CNN's Erin Burnett.
01:17 - Source: CNN
Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting?
Tensions are rising between Thailand and Cambodia over a border dispute that dates back to 1907. CNN's Will Ripley explains how the conflict has escalated.
01:32 - Source: CNN
CNN reports from Gaza aid crossing
CNN's Nic Robertson is on the scene at the Kerem Shalom border crossing as aid agencies warn of rampant hunger caused by Israel's blockade of Gaza. Gaza's health ministry said on Tuesday that 900,000 children are going hungry, and 70,000 already show signs of malnutrition. Israel denies it is at fault and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages.
01:39 - Source: CNN
Reopening the ancient tunnels 75 feet under Rome
CNN's Ben Wedeman was given an exclusive tour of ancient tunnels underneath Rome's Capitoline Hill. The tunnels, which archeologists say were once filled with ancient Roman shops and taverns, are set to open to the public in late 2026 or early 2027.
02:02 - Source: CNN
Ukraine sees first major anti-government protests since start of war
Hundreds took to the streets after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a new law limiting the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies in his government.
01:03 - Source: CNN
Peruvian police use superhero disguise during drug raid
An agent in the Peruvian police force disguised themselves as the Mexican superhero character El Chapulín Colorado during a drug raid in the nation's capital of Lima. Police said six members of a criminal gang were captured and that cocaine paste, marijuana, cell phones, and money were seized.
00:38 - Source: CNN
Distressing images show starvation in Gaza
Distressing video footage shows a 41-year-old man in Gaza who died of starvation as humanitarian organizations urge for Israel to end its blockade of the enclave. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports.
01:57 - Source: CNN
Small Irish town confronts its dark past
Excavations of the remains of nearly 800 babies have begun at a former so-called mother and baby home in Tuam, Ireland. At least 9,000 infants and children died in more than a dozen of these institutions over the course of eight decades.
02:11 - Source: CNN
Fire tornado rips through Turkish forest
Turkey's forestry ministry has released video of a fire tornado tearing through the country's woodland. Hundreds of wildfires have gripped Turkey this summer, as well as Greece and other Mediterranean countries.
00:33 - Source: CNN
Concerns grow over Australia's toxic algae bloom
A harmful algae bloom off the coast of South Australia, caused by high sea temperatures and runoff from flooding, is poisoning marine life and depleting oxygen in the water. The Australian government has stated that there is little that can be done to reverse the rapid rate of the climate crisis.
01:10 - Source: CNN
Mexico City residents furious over gentrification
Mexico City saw its second anti-gentrification protest in less than a month on Sunday with demonstrators furious over rising prices in the city and the record number of foreigners applying for a resident visa. The main nationality of those foreigners seeking to move legally to the nation's capital? The United States of America.
01:11 - Source: CNN
Child flees Israeli strike on Gaza refugee camp
Video shows a child running away as Israeli munitions struck near a UNRWA school in Bureij Refugee Camp behind her.
00:36 - Source: CNN
China cracks down on fake "Lafufu" Labubus
Fake Labubu plush toys, dubbed "Lafufu," have gained popularity due to shortages of the original dolls made by China's Pop Mart.
02:05 - Source: CNN
Jair Bolsonaro denies coup charges as police raid home
Police in Brazil raided the home of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and enforced a ruling from the country's Supreme Court that Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle tag. Bolsonaro is being accused of plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.
01:17 - Source: CNN
Taiwan conducts 10-day military drill
The Taiwanese government is preparing for a war they hope will never happen. For the first time this year, Taiwan combined two major civil defense exercises, with the drills lasting ten days. These drills have included urban combat, mass casualty simulations, emergency supply drops and cyber defense that could be enacted if an invasion was to occur. CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Will Ripley, reports.
01:44 - Source: CNN
Deadly flooding grips South Korea for days
South Korea has been ravaged for days by intense flooding that's left more than a dozen people dead. Reuters reported more than 16 inches of rain fell in one area in just 24 hours, citing the country's Interior and Safety Ministry.
00:48 - Source: CNN
Brazil's Lula tells Christiane Amanpour: Trump 'Was not elected to be emperor of the world'
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview it was 'a surprise' to see President Donald Trump's letter posted to Truth Social, threatening Brazil with a crippling tariff of 50% starting August 1st. Lula says that he initially thought the letter was 'fake news.' Watch the full 'Amanpour' interview on CNN.
01:33 - Source: CNN
Gaza's only Catholic church hit by Israeli strike
Gaza's only Catholic church was struck by an Israeli tank, killing three and injuring many more, church officials said. It became internationally recognized after reports emerged that the late Pope Francis used to call the church daily. CNN's Nada Bashir reports
00:53 - Source: CNN
Prince Harry recreates his mother's historic landmine walk
Following in his mother's footsteps, Prince Harry visited Angola's minefields just as Princess Diana did 28 years ago. The Duke of Sussex was in Angola with The Halo Trust as part of the group's efforts to clear landmines.
00:39 - Source: CNN
Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland's main stage
Tomorrowland's main stage went up in flames just days ahead of the festival's opening in Boom, Belgium.
00:38 - Source: CNN
How Trump's image is changing inside Russia
Once hailed as a pro-Kremlin figure, President Donald Trump's image is changing inside Russia. It comes after Trump vowed further sanctions on the country if a peace agreement with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent is on the ground in Moscow with the analysis.
01:41 - Source: CNN
Who are the armed groups clashing in Syria?
Dozens were killed in Syria this week after clashes between government loyalists and Druze militias in the southern city of Suwayda, prompting Syrian forces to intervene. That, in turn, triggered renewed Israeli airstrikes.
01:57 - Source: CNN
Syrian anchor takes cover from airstrike live on TV
An airstrike on the Syrian Ministry of Defense was captured live on Syria TV, forcing the anchor to take cover. Israel has been carrying out airstrikes on Syria as part of its commitment to protect the Druze, an Arab minority at the center of clashes with government loyalists.
00:30 - Source: CNN
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Wall Street Journal
5 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Israel Says It Is Easing More Restrictions on Goods Entering Gaza
TEL AVIV—Israel said it will allow more goods to enter Gaza through the private sector for the first time in nearly a year, a move that could help increase the availability of food to Palestinians amid growing international pressure over the deadly hunger crisis in the enclave. The decision comes amid criticism from foreign governments and, increasingly, some of the Israeli public over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the war-torn territory, where a leading group of global food-insecurity experts recently warned that famine is unfolding.
The Hill
7 minutes ago
- The Hill
Texas showdown: Warrants, expulsion threats ratchet up fight
In today's issue: ▪ Abbott issues warrants for fleeing Dems ▪ Trump faces GOP skeptics on economy ▪ MTG on her place in the Republican Party ▪ How will tariffs affect back-to-school shopping? THE PRE-2026 MIDTERM redistricting battle has kicked into high gear as Texas Democratic legislators face arrest warrants and blue state governors plot to fight back against GOP maps. Texas Democrats' refusal to show up to the Legislature is part of a rapidly escalating political war over the state GOP's attempt to pass a highly unusual mid-decade redistricting plan. President Trump has encouraged the move, which could help the GOP win five additional House seats in next year's elections. Republicans, bracing for an unfavorable political environment in 2026, are hoping for an edge as they seek to ward off a Democratic takeover of the House that would likely open the Trump administration to numerous investigations. The group of 50-odd Texas Democratic lawmakers is threatening to wait out the remainder of the 30-day special session that gaveled in last month, depriving Republicans of a quorum. In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered the arrest of the Democrats who fled the Lone Star State. The Texas House on Monday approved warrants to track down the missing lawmakers in an 85-6 vote. Abbott said he would strip lawmakers who failed to return to the state Capitol of their seats. Texas lawmakers already incur a daily $500 fine and threat of arrest for breaking quorum, and Abbott previously threatened the legislators with bribery charges if national Democrats pick up the tab. 'I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state Legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do,' Abbott said Monday on Fox News. State Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) — who is running as a right-wing challenger to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) this cycle — on Monday called the Democrats 'jet-setting runaways' and said it was 'imperative that they be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.' Abbott and Paxton did not mention the redistricting efforts in their statements, which Democrats describe as a naked power grab. 'COME AND TAKE IT': Members of the Texas state House on Monday lashed out at Republicans' efforts to redraw the congressional district map, brushing off the governor's threats. State Rep. John Bucy (D) argued Democrats' quorum-busting actions were necessary, adding upholding their oaths of office sometimes means refusing to play along in a 'rigged game.' 'We're not running away,' Busey said. 'We're running into the fight.' Officials will have difficulty arresting the lawmakers as most are beyond the jurisdiction of Texas authorities. State Rep. Gene Wu (D-Texas), the chair of the chamber's Democratic caucus who fled to Illinois, challenged Abbott to 'come and take it,' referring to his seat. 'It's all bluster,' Wu told CNN when asked if he thinks Abbott could successfully take away their seats. 'Sound and fury signifying nothing.' The rapidly escalating tit for tat underscores how the redistricting battle has turned into an all-out national brawl ahead of what both parties expect to be a fiercely fought midterm election. While Texas is ground zero in the fight, The Hill's Caroline Vakil and Saul Elbein report Democratic lawmakers from Illinois to California and New York are promising to retaliate with their own maps. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Monday said the time for impartial political mapmaking had long passed. 'If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they're leaving us no choice; we must do the same,' Hochul declared in Albany, flanked by several Texas lawmakers. 'I'm tired of fighting this fight with my hand tied behind my back. With all due respect to the good government groups, politics is a political process.' ▪ The Hill: Five things to know about Texas Democrats fleeing the state amid redistricting fight. ▪ The Washington Post: In their own words: Why Texas Democrats fled. PRESIDENTIAL SPOTLIGHT: 2028 hopefuls are using the Texas showdown as an opportunity to stand out, with heavyweights like California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) taking front-line positions in the battle, The Hill's Amie Parnes notes. Newsom is weighing several options in the national redistricting fight, with the Golden State eyeing redrawing its own maps and moving ahead through a ballot measure or the state Legislature. Pritzker vowed to protect lawmakers who traveled to his state from the threat of arrest from top Texas leaders. Their actions are welcome news to Democrats who have been itching for an opportunity to show voters they can put up a fight, Parnes reports. 'This is an issue that may not necessarily animate the electorate, but it ignites the base and the donor community,' said former Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015. 'Democrats like Newsom, Pritzker … among others, are at least showing that rolling over isn't a strategy. You have to fight fire with fire.' Smart Take with Blake Burman Here's a headline you may have missed as the week began: 'China is choking supply of critical minerals to Western Democracies.' As The Wall Street Journal reports, China is limiting critical minerals to Western defense companies, who use those rare minerals to build key technology that supports our military. The topic also came up last week in my conversation with Peter Navarro, White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. I asked him if the White House plans to continue investing taxpayer dollars in American companies who supply rare earth minerals. 'We are going to have a lot of deals to fill out the supply chain. That's the strategy across critical minerals,' Navarro told me. Rare earths are a new battleground between the U.S. and China, and it's worth watching to see which companies the government chooses to invest in, along with how many. Burman hosts 'The Hill' weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation. 3 Things to Know Today President Trump is set to appear on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' this morning at 8 a.m. EDT for a rare interview as he goes on the defense over jobs numbers, tariffs and his firing of a top labor statistics official. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice to launch a grand jury probe into how Obama administration officials handled intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election. NewsNation's Robert Sherman is in Ukraine this week reporting ahead of the president's deadlines for new Russia sanctions. Check out his latest dispatch on the ground here. Leading the Day GOP JITTERS: Republicans are on edge about the economy after the latest jobs report showed far fewer jobs were added over the past three months than previously thought, The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports. Trump and his economic team insist the economy is strong and poised for even more growth from his policies, but their optimism is facing skepticism from some in the Republican Party who worry the president's trade overhaul is creating uncertain economic headwinds. 'It definitely is indicative of a weakened economy, an economy that's not acting in a robust fashion. I've all along felt like there's a lag between tariffs and actual economic downturn,' Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) admitted. Trump's latest tariff plan — another modification of the 'Liberation Day' global trading overhaul he first unveiled in April — includes steep increases on imports from major trade partners Canada and Brazil. The executive order outlining the proposal was released the same day a disappointing jobs report was released, which ultimately prompted Trump to remove the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner. 'I think it is worrisome and I do worry that the news has been relatively benign on tariffs so far,' Paul said. 'The proof is really in the next couple months. ' The president is facing rare pushback from conservatives — normally staunch Trump allies in Congress — over fears of potential economic fallout. The Senate and House are both on a monthlong recess, a time when Republican lawmakers are broadly working to sell what they view as the successes of the first few months of Trump's second administration. 'My view is that there's no question that consumers, Americans, pay a price for tariffs. It increases the price of the goods coming into the United States,'' said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). 'The question is, 'Is there a reason that tariffs in a temporary way can solve trade barriers that have been artificially created against our products going somewhere else?'' DATA CONCERNS: Trump's firing of the BLS commissioner continues to send ripples across the world economy and raise concerns about whether the next labor statistics chief will be willing to manipulate job numbers to work in Trump's favor. The traditionally nonpartisan role, usually held by career professionals who serve across multiple administrations, has given all presidents bad news in recent years. But Trump's firing of Erika McEntarfer has provoked worry among data experts that the independent work could now be politicized, even as they acknowledge manipulating the figures is highly difficult. The Hill's Alex Gangitano and Brett Samuels report on the concerns here. HOLD UP: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has put a hold on three of Trump's nominees to the Treasury Department over anticipated administration rules that could hamper tax credits for wind and solar energy. Grassley announced his move to place the holds in the congressional record Friday. 'The Department of the Treasury is expected to issue rules and regulations implementing the agreed upon phase-out of the wind and solar credits by August 18, 2025,' he wrote. 'Until I can be certain that such rules and regulations adhere to the law and congressional intent, I intend to continue to object to the consideration of these Treasury nominees.' Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who entered the Senate in January, is also placing a hold on the same nominees — Brian Morrissey Jr., Francis Brooke and Jonathan McKernan — for the same reasons, a source told The Hill's Rachel Frazin. Grassley, who is currently the longest-serving senator with more than four decades under his belt, was recently embroiled in a rift with Trump that rankled the president's backers in the upper chamber. Trump lashed out at the 91-year-old Judiciary Committee chair for sticking to a long-standing Senate custom of allowing senators to have a say on judiciary appointees in their states. NOT EASY BEING GREENE: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) discussed her recent disconnect with the GOP on several issues in a new interview with The Hill's Emily Brooks in the latest edition of The Movement newsletter later today. (Click here to sign up for The Movement.) 'I'm an early indicator, and my complaints are felt and being said far and wide among your average American people who voted for the president and Republicans in 2024,' Greene told Brooks on Monday. 'The Republican Party is the one drifting away from what we campaigned on.' Greene had hinted in a recent interview with the Daily Mail that she's questioning her place in the GOP after repeatedly butting heads with other conservatives — including Trump, who she's staunchly supported. 'I don't know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if I'm kind of not relating to the Republican Party as much anymore,' Greene told the Mail. 'I don't know which one it is.' 'I think the Republican Party has turned its back on 'America First' and the workers and just regular Americans,' she added. Among their differences: Greene has accused Israel of carrying out a 'genocide' in Gaza; vocally pushed for the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, despite the president's desire to move on from the story; and criticized the U.S. strike on nuclear facilities in Iran. SAVING SANTOS: Despite some friction with the administration, Greene is urging the president to grant clemency and facilitate an early release from prison for former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who is serving seven years behind bars for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. 'A 7-year prison sentence for campaign-related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who've done far worse still walk free,' Greene wrote online Monday. 'George Santos has taken responsibility. He's shown remorse. It's time to correct this injustice. We must demand equal justice under the law!' Santos was expelled from the House in 2023 after serving less than a year after his personal background unraveled as a series of elaborate deceptions. He reported to prison last month. ADMINISTRATION ROUNDUP: ▪ The Hill: The State Department is testing a program aimed at curbing visa overstays by requiring migrants from some countries to pay bond as high as $15,000 to secure a visa for business or personal travel. ▪ The New York Times: Trump's demand to trading partners: Pledge money or get higher tariffs. ▪ The New York Times: Trump is expected to unveil a task force to boost the federal government's involvement in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. ▪ The Wall Street Journal: The White House is preparing to issue an executive order to step up pressure against big banks over perceived discrimination against conservatives and crypto companies. ▪ The Washington Post: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 's acting chief of staff tried and failed to oust a senior White House liaison assigned to the Pentagon. ▪ The New York Times: Judges are starting to openly doubt the government as the Justice Department misleads and dodges orders. When and Where Trump will sign an executive order at 4 p.m. The Texas state House is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. EDT. The U.S. House and Senate are on recess until September. Zoom In HITTING THE (POCKET) BOOKS: Parents may be wary about early back-to-school shopping this year, as tariff hikes and rising prices start to strain family budgets. New surveys suggest some are bracing to pay more in back-to-school costs this year, and many blame Trump's trade wars for the spike. 'Consumers are navigating an uncertain environment right now, and uncertainty is coming from they just don't know how much things are going to cost later in the year, and they're trying to deal with that by buying ahead of time, stocking up now, while they know what prices will be, and trying to get ahead of potential price increases later in the season or later in the year,' the National Retail Foundation's Katherine Cullen said. As more people turn to 'buy now, pay later' purchases for things, including back-to-school items, NPR has a breakdown of how those purchases can affect your credit score. ▪ The Wall Street Journal: A Generation Is Turning to 'Buy Now, Pay Later' for Botox and Concert Tickets. CULTURE CLASH: The president has leaned into the latest front on the culture wars: an ad for blue jeans featuring a 27-year-old actress. Trump, 79, weighed in Monday over 'Euphoria' actress Sydney Sweeney and the American Eagle denim ad that has sparked widespread debate. 'Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the 'HOTTEST' ad out there. It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are 'flying off the shelves.' Go get 'em Sydney!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday morning. Trump's comments sent American Eagle's stock soaring. The ad features Sweeney and plays up her 'great jeans,' a play on the idea of the actress's 'good genes.' It has spawned backlash online, with critics claiming there are racist undertones. Online sleuths found Sweeney's voter registration records that show she's a registered Republican in Florida. American Eagle defended the ad, saying it's only about their denim line Sweeney was paid to promote. 'You'd be surprised at how many people are Republicans,' Trump told reporters Sunday. 'If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.' POWERING UP: Big Tech has poured billions into artificial intelligence (AI) development, and it could be paying off. Wall Street has given its fickle stamp of approval, and the major industry players — Google, Microsoft and Meta — are celebrating after outperforming investors' lofty expectations. 'There are some moments that will be remembered in the market for many years… last night was one of them with the eye-popping results from Microsoft and Meta,' Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote in an investor note last week. 'These massive results seen by Microsoft and Meta further validate the use cases and unprecedented spending trajectory for the AI Revolution on both the enterprise and consumer fronts.' ▪ Smithsonian magazine: You can now have a conversation with the statues at Versailles using AI. ▪ The Hill: Elon Musk donates $5 million to Trump super PAC. ENERGY UNCERTAINTY: The president has been focusing on promoting U.S. energy in his sweeping trade negotiations, but announcements about the agreements reached have been light on details. Actual outcomes remain uncertain. 'There's still a lot we don't know about what these deals look like, including in terms of how ambitious these actually are,' said Clara Gillispie, a senior fellow for climate and energy at the Council on Foreign Relations. 'You have in some of the detail deals references to energy products. Some say energy exports from the U.S. LNG is often referenced as part of a suggestive, but not necessarily all inclusive list,' she added. As The Hill's Rachel Frazin reports, 'decisions are made by private companies, rather than anything run by the state, and in many cases, if deals were economic, it's possible they would have already been made with or without a trade deal.' Meanwhile, the Trump administration is weighing more ways to curtail the development of solar and wind energy on public lands, calling the endeavors 'highly inefficient uses of Federal land.' 'Gargantuan, unreliable, intermittent energy projects hold America back from achieving U.S. Energy Dominance while weighing heavily on the American taxpayer and environment,' Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement on the effort. The renewable industry argues that the move could have significant impacts on developing energy projects already planned. SHIELD LAWS: Republicans are waging a multipronged campaign against abortion shield laws — legislation passed in states where the practice is legal that protects abortion providers from liability for violating anti-abortion laws in other states. Republicans are hoping to force the federal government to ultimately ban the laws. Legal experts say the effort will be difficult — as some states have already learned. Fifteen Republican attorneys general sent a letter to GOP congressional leaders last week urging federal action to preempt abortion shield laws, arguing they interfere with state criminal laws. 'Congress should consider stepping in to remedy this problem,' they wrote. 'Instead of allowing pro-abortion States to disrespect the decisions of other States regarding abortion and trample the Constitution, Congress should assess whether it should tackle this issue head on with legislation that preempts state shield laws.' Here is a breakdown from the University of California, Los Angeles law school tracking shield laws across the states. Elsewhere GAZA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security Cabinet this week to decide on Israel's next steps in Gaza following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas. Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for a full occupation of Gaza, including areas where hostages are held, even as Palestinians in Gaza face a dire humanitarian crisis with mass hunger and inadequate access to aid. Over the weekend, special envoy Steve Witkoff had said he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. The failed ceasefire talks aimed to clinch agreements on a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day truce, during which aid would be flown into Gaza and half of the hostages would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. ▪ CNN: The Israeli government voted unanimously to dismiss the country's attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, a critic of Netanyahu who is leading the corruption case against him. The controversial move was immediately blocked by a Supreme Court injunction. ▪ NPR: New images of emaciated Israeli hostages have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire. RUSSIA: Trump is rattling the U.S.'s formidable nuclear saber amid his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin 's refusal to halt the war in Ukraine, just days ahead of Trump's deadline for a ceasefire. Trump last week said he was moving two 'nuclear' submarines closer to Russia in response to threatening rhetoric from a top Kremlin official. On Sunday, he confirmed the vessels were now 'in the region.' Experts say it's a risky tactic unlikely to sway Putin, who has stood in the way of the president's campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House. Trump's promises, threats and cajoling have failed to shift the Kremlin's position, with Putin shrugging off the pressure. Meanwhile, Ukraine is losing more territory on the front line. Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow on Wednesday or Thursday. Trump said his special envoy is seeking to broker a truce 'where people stop getting killed.' Witkoff heads to Russia amid building frustration in the White House. Trump in July issued a 50-day ultimatum to Putin, threatening sanctions and tariffs if the Kremlin failed to agree to a ceasefire. Last week, he cut the window to 10 days, citing continued Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. That deadline will expire on Friday. ▪ NewsNation: Life under siege in Kyiv. ▪ CBS News: Ukrainian refugees face an uncertain future as their U.S. work permits are set to expire. ▪ CNN analysis: Ukraine is now Trump's war. ▪ The Washington Post: Locals beg for Putin's help as Russian-occupied Ukraine runs out of water. Opinion Our president is economically illiterate, by Steven Rattner, columnist, The New York Times. Trump's 'Queen of Hearts' moment with the BLS echoes Putin's purges and Orwell's omens, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Judith Chevalier, Stephen Henriques and Steven Tian write in Fortune magazine. The Closer And finally … 🐻 Release the Kraken grizzly! Seattle's hockey team and its lovable troll mascot, Buoy, were trying to film some online content in Alaska when they received a surprise recently. A hefty grizzly bear came charging at them, and it appeared particularly interested in the costumed mascot, who was wearing waders and fly fishing in a stream. The team posted a video on social media of Buoy and the players' narrow escape from the wild beast.
Axios
7 minutes ago
- Axios
Amid budget deficit, Miami activists again call for divestment of Israeli bonds
With Miami-Dade's budget season underway, calls for the county to liquidate its Israeli bonds are again ramping up. Why it matters: Activists, including members of the Break the Bonds Miami campaign, argue the county is sending resident taxpayer dollars to support an ongoing war and what critics describe as genocide. Continuing such investments, they argue, is not only immoral but a poor economic decision. Last month, Moody's maintained its rating and negative outlook for Israel bonds, Reuters reported. Catch up quick: The county began investing in Israeli bonds in 2016, after it amended its policies to allow investments in the foreign government, purchasing two bonds for a combined $50 million. Today, it has multiple bond investments totaling more than $151 million, including a $25 million bond it purchased Feb. 1. The big picture: The calls to divest come as the county weighs a budget that calls for cuts between 10% and 35% for some departments to offset a more than $400 million deficit. Activists have argued the budget gaps further underscore the need to divest from what they say is an irresponsible and immoral investment and reinvest in county programs. The latest: During Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's first budget town hall last week, community members called on her to recommend that commissioners change the county's investment policy to exclude Israel and not reinvest the bonds once they mature. While commissioners approve the investment policy, the board doesn't direct which specific investments are made. What they're saying: "The purpose of our county's investments is to increase liquidity," one speaker said. "Israel bonds do the opposite." Even outside of the war against Gaza, activists claim better economic investments would be in local funds, such as housing bonds. The other side: At the hearing, Levine Cava touted the county's 2023 investment and said the operating budget and investment portfolio were separate funds, according to multiple people at the meeting.
