Hamas attack: Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claims that Iran was not involved in Hamas attacking Israel. However, he said that Iran will continue to support the Palestinian people. Israel stepped up attacks against Gaza today, with the United Nations reporting that the building housing its agency in Gaza that helps Palestinian refugees was damaged by an Israeli airstrike. An estimated 100,000 people in Gaza are said to be homeless as a result of Israeli bombardment that brought down numerous buildings. The Israelis targeted the center of Gaza City and knocked down buildings known to have been used by Hamas’ leaders. The White House reported that 11 Americans are known to have been killed in the Hamas attack on Israel although it did not say whether Americans are known to have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.
Biden investigation: The White House says that President Biden was interviewed by a special counsel investigating his handling of classified government documents as senator and vice president. Some documents dating from before he became president were found at his home and an office. The documents immediately were returned to the government.
Kennedy’s candidacy: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has declared his candidacy as an independent for the presidency in 2024. Kennedy decided against seeking the Democrat nomination, which would have meant challenging President Biden in primaries. Donald Trump, who had supported Kennedy when Kennedy was thinking of challenging Biden, has now flip-flopped and blasted Kennedy as just another far-left radical Democrat. Kennedy has spread right-wing conspiracy theories and denounced vaccines and efforts to combat climate change. It’s believed that Trump came out against Kennedy because of a growing belief that as an independent candidate Kennedy would take away votes from Trump.
McCarthy as speaker: After saying he was through with being Speaker of the House following his removal from that position, Republican Kevin McCarthy now is letting it be known that he’s ready to be named speaker again. Republican members of the House were due to meet today to try to agree on a speaker before the House goes into session tomorrow for a formal vote. McCarthy says if Republicans remain divided, he can step in and heal the division.
Walgreens’ pharmacies: Pharmacy workers at some Walgreens stores around the county have walked off the job complaining of higher workloads, inadequate pay and a lack of procedures for working out issues with management. CNN reported that the pharmacies at about 500 of the estimated 9,000 Walgreens stores in the U.S. have been affected but added that Walgreens did not respond when CNN asked for the number of stores where walkouts have taken place.
German arrests: Police in Germany today arrested several more people in an alleged plot to stage a coup. A far-right group named the United Patriots, which is linked to another group named Reich Citizens, is accused of planning to kidnap a government official and cause a series of blackouts and other disruptions to create confusion so they could take over the government. German authorities have made arrests in two other alleged coup plots since last year.
Cover photo by Mike Mozart / Flickr Creative Commons
