U.S. and world news for Sept. 10

Israel strikes capital of Qatar

Israel is facing global condemnation over its unprecedented attack on Tuesday in the capital of Qatar, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks. The target of the strike was Hamas leaders, but it failed to assassinate the negotiating delegation. Qatar is one of the United States’ closest allies in the region and is leading diplomatic talks to bring an end to the war in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the enclave. The strike will likely put hostage negotiations at risk, analysts say. President Donald Trump criticized the strike, saying he found out about the plan too late to intervene. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has portrayed the attack as a peacemaking action that could hasten the end of the war.

Trump goes out for dinner

President Trump on Tuesday dined at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., for the first time in his second term, asserting that his crime crackdown has made the city safe. It has been one month since the Trump administration effectively took over D.C.’s police department, surging federal law enforcement and troops across the nation’s capital. Data shows crime in the city is down, homeless encampments have been cleared and hundreds of people accused of being in the U.S. illegally have been detained. But the moves are also hurting tourism and restaurant traffic. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Trump administration will only be going into cities that welcome such efforts.

Russian drones shot down by Poland

Poland’s military reported today that it shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace during an attack on Ukraine. It marked the first time Russian drones had been shot down over the territory of a NATO member state, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. “This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to our citizens,” said Poland’s Operation Command. Tusk called the incursion a “large-scale provocation,” noting it involved a “huge number” of drones. The European Union’s foreign policy chief called it “the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began.” The Polish military thanked NATO member the Netherlands for contributing F-35 fighter jets to defensive operations overnight, which have now concluded.

Public health plans revealed

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” strategy on Tuesday. It focuses on investigating vaccine injuries and pharmaceutical practices but stops short of new regulatory actions. The report largely mirrors an August draft, including initiatives on ultraprocessed foods and public education about synthetic kratom, while avoiding industry crackdowns. Proposed measures on pesticides also remain unchanged, despite calls from environmental and food advocates to address chemical health risks. HHS will also work on a new vaccine framework that, the report said, will ensure “America has the best childhood vaccine schedule” and ensure “scientific and medical freedom.”

Lithium battery warning

The FAA issued a safety alert Tuesday warning airlines about the fire risks posed by lithium batteries carried by passengers and crew. Aviation experts say devices like cell phones, laptops, e-cigarettes and hearing aids can malfunction, causing a “thermal runaway” that may ignite a fire. Batteries stored in carry-on bags or in overhead bins can also be hard to monitor, delaying detection and firefighting measures in flight. The FAA has tracked 50 verified battery-related incidents through August, according to the agency’s statistics. Southwest Airlines is currently the only major US carrier that requires portable chargers and power banks to be “in plain sight” if they are being used during a flight.

Republican blasts Trump’s FEMA for stonewalling

Republican Sen. Ted Budd blasted the Trump administration’s FEMA for “stonewalling” funds to his state to recover from Hurricane Helene and said that he plans to use his leverage in the chamber to stall Department of Homeland Security nominees until the issue is addressed. The North Carolina lawmaker voted to filibuster a top DHS official Tuesday, and his spokesman issued a statement saying that the senator is “deeply concerned” over the relief effort. “Sen. Budd is deeply concerned by the slow approval and distribution of funding from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA for Hurricane Helene recovery,” said Budd’s spokesman Christian McMullen. Budd, whose state was hit hard by Helene last year, was the only Republican to vote with Democrats in a failed bid to block Robert Law from being under secretary for strategy, policy and plans at DHS. Budd told CNN that he will put holds on all DHS nominees until this issue is resolved.