U.S. and world news for Sept. 9

Epstein files

The House Oversight Committee has released a trove of records from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, including a lewd note bearing President Donald Trump’s name. The note was found inside Epstein’s now-famous “birthday book” — a reported collection of letters gifted to the late convicted sex offender for his 50th birthday. It was compiled by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who wrote in the prologue that she wanted to “gather stories and old photographs to jog your memory about places, people and different events.” Trump has repeatedly denied writing the birthday book letter, claimed it did not exist and claimed that it is a fake. Trump sued The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on it, for defamation. The White House claims the signature on the letter does not match Trump’s but various news media have published samples of Trump’s signature that do look like the one on the letter.

Trump presentation check

A reference to Donald Trump appears on a second page that was released from the Epstein birthday book. A photograph shows a group of men holding up an oversized presentation check made out to Jeffrey Epstein that shows the name “DJ Trump” on the signature line. The presentation check is for $22,500. A handwritten note accompanying the photograph says that the novelty check means that Trump paid Epstein $22,500. “Jeffrey showing early talents with money + women!” the text reads. “Sells ‘fully depreciated’ [REDACTED] to Donald Trump for $22,500. … Even though I handled the deal I didn’t bet any of the money on the girl!” The redacted portion appears to be a woman’s name. CNN said it has reached out to the White House and those identified related to the photo but did not report whether there were any responses.

Turmoil in Nepal after protests

Nepal’s prime minister has resigned after more than a dozen people were killed and hundreds more were injured during youth-led protests sparked by a government ban on social media platforms, widespread corruption and poor economic opportunities in the country. Last week, the government moved to block major social media platforms — including Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube — claiming the ban was needed to clamp down on fake news and hate speech. Security forces deployed live ammunition, water cannons, and tear gas during protests in several cities. International organizations swiftly condemned the lethal crackdown by police and called for an independent investigation.

French government collapse

French lawmakers voted to oust Prime Minister François Bayrou leaving the country without a government at a time of increasing economic strain and geopolitical tensions. A total of 364 French lawmakers voted against Bayrou and 194 voted for him after he called the vote in a bid to push through an unpopular $51 billion savings plan that included scrapping two public holidays and freezing government spending. The 364 votes against Bayrou were well above the 280-vote threshold needed to topple the government. Bayrou will now be forced to step down after just nine months in office. French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister in the coming days, according to the Élysée Palace.

Israel orders evacuation of Gaza City

Israel has ordered a complete evacuation of Gaza City, home to around a million Palestinians, ahead of its planned military takeover. “To all residents of Gaza City and all its neighborhoods, from the Old City and Tuffah in the east to the sea in the west. The IDF is determined to defeat Hamas and will operate in the Gaza City area with great force, just as it did throughout the Strip,” the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson said earlier today. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City saying, “this is only the beginning of the intensified ground maneuver in Gaza City.” The warning came hours after Israel’s military intensified airstrikes on the urban area.

South Korean president blasts ICE raid in Georgia

South Korean President So Lee Jae Myung says the detention of hundreds of South Korean nationals after a Trump administration immigration raid on a factory in Georgia last week was an “unjust infringement” on the rights of South Korean people and businesses operating in the United States. About 300 South Korean nationals were in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on the Hyundai-LG factory, which is under construction in southern Georgia. South Korea’s government announced that the detained Koreans will return to Incheon International Airport, near the capital Seoul, on a chartered flight later this week. Korean Air today confirmed one of the airline’s Boeing 747s will leave South Korea as early as tomorrow and head to Atlanta to assist in the repatriation of the detained South Koreans.