Politics
In Politics:
US top diplomat Blinken visits Israel to discuss Gaza truce, aid // U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived on Thursday in Tel Aviv where he was expected to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending Israel's temporary truce with Hamas militants and boosting humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.


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Russia says it takes Ukrainian village, Ukraine notes increased Russian activity // Russia's military said on Wednesday that its forces had captured a village in a contested area of eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian officials offered no comment but said Moscow's forces were suffering heavy losses while launching fierce attacks.


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Biden, UAE leader discuss Gaza war, welcome hostage deal and truce // U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday held a call with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates and discussed the war in the Middle East and an upcoming climate summit, the White House said in a statement.


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Alabama city weighs change in body-cam release policy after public outcry // An Alabama city council on Tuesday discussed an ordinance to require police to provide a valid "legal reason" for denying a request for releasing body-camera footage, a measure that comes amid an outcry over a Black man's death at the hands of police.


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US Supreme Court is again asked to block Illinois assault weapons ban // An Illinois firearms retailer and a national gun rights group on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a second time to block a Democratic-backed state ban on assault-style rifles and large capacity magazines enacted after a deadly mass shooting in Chicago's Highland Park suburb in 2022.


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Senior aide to Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy quits to join Trump // A senior aide to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has resigned and joined former President Donald Trump's White House campaign, a Ramaswamy spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Brian Swensen, a national political director for Ramaswamy who had been focusing much of his time on the crucial early nominating state of New Hampshire, left the former biotech executive's presidential campaign as it has struggled to gain traction.


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Spending fight imperils US Pacific island funding meant to counter China // U.S. budget wrangling could further delay funding approval for new agreements with Pacific island nations meant to counter Chinese influence, creating an opportunity for Beijing in the strategically vital region, congressional and other sources say.


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US warship in Red Sea shoots down drone- officials // A U.S. Navy warship in the Red Sea shot down a drone believed to have originated from Yemen, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday, in the latest defensive move by the U.S. military in the region in recent weeks.


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Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter returned to Georgia hometown for burial // A private funeral was held on Wednesday for Rosalynn Carter at a church in her hometown of Plains, Georgia, marking the end of three days of tributes celebrating the life and humanitarian work of the former U.S. first lady, who died at the age of 96.


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US puts sanctions on 21 people, entities for aiding Iran // The U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday it had imposed sanctions on 21 Iranian and foreign nationals and entities for their involvement in financial networks to benefit Iran's defense ministry and other parts of its military.


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