Journalist calls Blinken a ‘criminal’ over US support for Israel during briefing
Several journalists who are not members of the regular State Department press corps and reportedly outspoken critics against U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza repeatedly interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Jan. 16, during his final press conference. Blinken was interrupted by several journalists, but the situation quickly escalated after one reporter had to be removed by security.
The scene unfolded in the State Department briefing room. Independent journalist Sam Husseini, a long-time critic of U.S. foreign policy, yelled at Blinken over U.S. support for Israel.
Hussein reportedly called Blinken a “criminal” and said he belonged in The Hague, which is the capital city of South Holland, where the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is located.
The interruption ended once security picked Husseini up and forcefully carried him out of the room, as he continued to yell at Blinken and accused Israel of war crimes.
Blinken, who leaves office on Monday, Jan. 20, when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, later took questions from reporters. Blinken has been heckled during appearances in Washington, D.C., since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago.
Pro-Palestinian activists have also reportedly camped outside Blinken’s home in Virginia and repeatedly threw red paint to symbolize blood on a car carrying the secretary of state and his family.
Blinken has been targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters because of the U.S. supplying weapons to Israel, and diplomatic support of the country.
Israel’s war against Hamas started after the terror group’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023, left 1,200 people dead and 250 more kidnapped. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
While Israel has been accused of war crimes, the Biden administration said it cannot determine if Israel violated international law, because Hamas hides within the Palestinian civilian population.
Cuba frees prisoners after Biden announces plan to lift terror designation
Cuba started to release some prisoners after President Joe Biden announced Tuesday, Jan. 14, that he’s removing the island nation from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Catholic church had been negotiating with Cuba’s communist-run government over their release.
Cuba jailed most of the prisoners following unprecedented island-wide government protests in July 2021.
The island nation said it intends to release 553 political prisoners as part of its talks with the Vatican. Cuban officials released more than a dozen people convicted of various crimes, including participating in the 2021 protests, on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
President-elect Donald Trump designated Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism shortly before he left office in January 2021 – five years after President Barack Obama removed it. Biden is now facing pushback from both Republicans and Democrats on the decision.
US offers $25M reward for info leading to Maduro’s arrest as third term begins
The U.S. State Department is now offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The move to raise the bounty from its initial $15 million came as Maduro was sworn in for his third term as president on Friday, Jan. 10, despite evidence that he lost the election to opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez in July 2024.
The Biden administration does not recognize Maduro as the rightful president of Venezuela, and has said that he should step down, saying that the exiled Gonzalez should take his place.
Gonzalez has presented thousands of public vote tallies that show he handily won the presidential election, and he recently met with President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. to thank Biden for his support.
Gonzalez is facing the threat of arrest if he returns to Venezuela. Additionally, the country’s defense minister rejects any notion that Gonzalez should be president. The defense minister said that Venezuela’s armed forces would only recognize Maduro as president.
The White House said that the reward for Maduro’s arrest is meant to show “solidarity with the Venezuelan people” and put pressure on Maduro and his allies.
The U.S. State Department also raised the arrest bounty on Venezuela’s interior minister from $10 million to $25 million and added a new reward of $15 million for the capture of the country’s defense minister.
The U.S. Treasury Department also announced on Friday that it is placing new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials to freeze any assets they have in the United States.
Oklahoma residents rally at state Capitol for renewable energy ban
Oklahoma, one of the nation’s leading states in renewable energy, is now seeing a push to bar the expansion of clean power sources. On Tuesday, Jan 7, hundreds of residents gathered at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City to urge Gov. Kevin Stitt to issue an executive order banning the construction of new wind and solar facilities.
Nearly half of Oklahoma’s electricity comes from renewable energy. This makes the state the third-largest generator of wind energy in the United States and a hub for a growing solar industry.
However, attendees at the recent rally against renewables have cited economic, environmental and human health concerns as reasons for opposing further development of clean power infrastructure.
Some argue the ample job opportunities that project developers promised have not materialized. Others have expressed concerns about how clean energy infrastructure is impacting both people and wildlife living nearby.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond addressed the crowd. He pledged to collaborate with legislators on a potential ban.
The state’s Secretary of Education Ryan Walters also voiced support for moving away from renewable energy initiatives. Gov. Stitt, however, has instead emphasized that the government should not force a shift away from certain energy sources, signaling reluctance to implement a ban.
Oklahoma is an oil and gas state through and through, but we also generate about 47% of our electricity from renewable sources. I just don’t think the government should pick winners and losers or force us to choose between one or the other.
“Oklahoma is an oil and gas state through and through, but we also generate about 47% of our electricity from renewable sources,” Stitt previously wrote on X. “I just don’t think the government should pick winners and losers or force us to choose between one or the other.”
The debate over Oklahoma’s energy policy comes as the state approaches its gubernatorial elections next year. Some policymakers are using opposition to renewables as an early element of their potential campaign platforms, indicating the issue could play a significant role in shaping the state’s political future in 2026.
Venezuela’s Maduro to be sworn in as opposition leaders urge mass protests
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to be sworn in on Friday, Jan. 10, for his third presidential term. Opposition leaders are urging their supporters to demonstrate against his administration, claiming he overwhelmingly lost the election last July.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who is in hiding, spoke with The Wall Street Journal. She called on people to join her on the streets of Venezuela and around the world on Thursday, Jan. 9, in protest.
Machado is an ally of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez. He ran against Maduro in July. Tally sheets from electronic voting machines posted by the opposition indicate Gonzalez won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro. The American-based Carter Center observed the election and has said the tally sheets are legitimate.
However, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, loyal to Maduro, declared Maduro the winner just hours after the polls closed but didn’t provide any vote counts. Venezuelan troops then quashed protests. Opposition leader Gonzalez fled to Spain and Machado went into hiding.
Gonzalez has now left Spain and earlier this week went to Washington, D.C., where the Journal reports he met with President Joe Biden.
He thanked the Biden administration for its support in the struggle for a democratic recovery in Venezuela. The country is currently in the midst of food shortages, high inflation, low wages and a poor education system.
The U.S. has said it recognizes Gonzalez as the rightful president-elect. The Venezuelan defense minister rejected that notion and said this week the National Armed Forces of Venezuela would recognize Maduro as president.
Another government official said Gonzalez will be arrested if he returns to the country, which sets up possible additional clashes as early as Thursday, Jan. 9.
Venezuela offers $100,000 reward for exiled opposition candidate
Venezuela’s controversial presidential election led to the country’s government offering a $100,000 reward for help capturing the exiled opposition candidate. Edmundo Gonázlez Urrutia claimed fraud in July 2024 and insisted he beat President Nicolás Maduro.
Gonázlez claimed he won around 70% of the vote, citing tally sheets from polling stations.
Protests erupted after the election, leading to clashes with police.
Gonázlez fled to Spain, which granted him asylum after Venezuela announced conspiracy and racketeering charges against him.
The opposition candidate has been living in exile since due to a warrant for his arrest.
Most recently, he announced plans to travel to Argentina. He posted to X that his visit includes a meeting with the country’s president Saturday, Jan. 4.
He called for people to come out and rally.
Comienza nuestra gira por América Latina. Primera parada: Argentina. https://t.co/8VqIlO6EPe
Mozambique prison riot leads to nearly 3 dozen deaths, more than 1,500 escapes
Authorities say a prison riot in Mozambique’s capital on Wednesday, Dec. 25, killed at least 33 people and left at least 15 other individuals injured. The riot comes as violence continues to rise following October’s disputed election.
Mozambique’s top court confirmed the victory of long-ruling party Frelimo in the election on Tuesday, Dec. 24, which ignited new nationwide protests by demonstrators who say the election results were rigged.
The country’s police blame the protests outside the prison for encouraging the riot and eventual prison break.
However, Mozambique’s justice minister disputed that notion, saying the incident began inside the prison and is unrelated to the protests.
The South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) reported the prisoners overpowered guards and stole AK-47s during the riot.
Officials say more than 1,500 prisoners escaped during the riots but 150 have since been caught. Authorities believe crime and violence will rise over the next two days as a result of the prison break.
Police also say there were two different prison break attempts at two other facilities on Wednesday.
The prison break follows civil unrest after the top court’s decision on Tuesday confirming the election results, which reportedly led to 21 people being killed, including two police officers.
Political crisis in S. Korea worsens as N. Korea breaks silence on situation
North Korea, well known for its long history of suppression of free speech and abuse of human rights, broke it silence on Wednesday, Dec. 11, over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law last week. North Korean state media KCNA called the move an “insane act, reminiscent of the coup during the military dictatorship decades ago.”
The North Korean outlet also focused on a series of protests by tens of thousands of people demanding Yoon’s impeachment, which lawmakers reportedly tried and failed to do over on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Foreign policy experts told NBC News North Korea’s criticism is in line with its history of exploiting civil unrest in South Korea, but they said it’s unlikely the nuclear-armed Pyongyang can take advantage of the political chaos, considering some of its most elite forces are currently fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
Seoul’s political crisis continued to spiral this week. CNN reported South Korean police raided the presidential office on Wednesday, as the probe of Yoon’s martial law declaration widens.
Additionally, the former South Korean defense minister reportedly tried to commit suicide while in police custody. South Korean officials said he has now been moved to an isolation room and has no health issues.
During the martial law declaration, South Korean security forces reportedly broke windows and doors at the National Assembly in an attempt to stop lawmakers from gathering.
Before resigning, the former defense minister took responsibility for the military’s actions.
“All troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions,” he said.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
The man accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a New York City sidewalk is charged with murder. And the Biden administration levels allegations of war crimes against two Syrians who were high-raking members of the now ousted regime. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
After nearly a week of searching, the manhunt for the suspected gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel last week is over. Police said they located the 26-year-old suspect inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 300 miles from New York on Monday, Dec. 9.
The New York City Police Department filed first-degree murder charges against Luigi Mangione, according to court documents released Monday night. Mangione also faces charges of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged driver’s license, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Mangione is described as a former high school valedictorian and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who grew up in Maryland but has also had past addresses in California and Hawaii.
Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona after authorities said a McDonald’s employee recognized him as the person of interest seen in images related to Thompson’s shooting death.
When police arrived on the scene, they questioned Mangione. According to court documents, Mangione “started to shake” when asked if he’d recently been in New York City. Authorities said at first, he lied about his identity.
So proud of @NYPDMTN Detectives, and our Major Case and Homicide Squads, who worked around-the-clock on the homicide investigation in Midtown. I joined them last night to thank them for their dedication. No doubt, their work was instrumental to identifying the person of interest… pic.twitter.com/jAFA7JDcHd
Court documents show he was carrying a black 3-D printed pistol with a silencer. The NYPD said the “ghost gun” found on him was consistent with the one used in the murder. Ghost guns do not have serial numbers.
Police said Mangione also had on him a fake ID, matching the one used by the suspect at a New York City hostel before the shooting, and a three-page written note.
“That document is currently in the possession of the Altoona Police Department as part of their investigation but just from briefly speaking with them, we don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document, but it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said.
Multiple reports Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, claimed those writings included the phrases “these parasites had it coming” and it “had to be done.”
During a press conference Monday evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) spoke of how the killing has led to some people online sharing their frustrations and anger over the healthcare system but emphasized that Mangione is not a martyr.
“In some dark corners, this killer’s being hailed as a hero,” Shapiro said. “Hear me on this: he is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this [Monday] morning. The real heroes every day in our society are the women and men who put on uniforms like these and go out in our communities to keep us safe. This killer is not a hero. He should not be hailed.”
Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania pending his extradition to New York, which is expected to take place later this week.
Jury finds former US Marine not guilty in NYC chokehold death trial
Tensions remain high in New York after a jury acquitted U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny of all charges on Monday, including criminally negligent homicide, in the chokehold death of a schizophrenic man, whose behavior had some people on the New York subway testifying they feared for their lives.
The caught-on-camera deadly incident from May 2023 saw Penny put Jordan Neely in a chokehold from behind after Neely walked up and down the F train saying “somebody is going to die today”.
Prosecutors said the chokehold lasted too long, was reckless, and resulted in the 30-year-old homeless man’s death. The defense brought an expert in to show Neely was under the influence of the synthetic marijuana drug K2, arguing he died from drug use and a previous medical condition.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, fights broke out as protesters and counter-protesters clashed. After the verdict Neely’s father stated, “There is no justice.”
US charges 2 former Syrian officials with war crimes
The United States has charged two former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officials with war crimes. The DOJ said during Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud oversaw operations of a detention facility where Americans and civilians who had been deemed enemies of the state were tortured.
In other developments in the Middle East, the U.S. has also sent a special envoy to Beirut, Lebanon to find out what happened to Austin Tice. Tice is an American journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago.
"We have heard from sources that have been vetted by the U.S. government that Austin is alive." Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for 12 years. Today his brother & sister tell me "every day is a day that Austin should be released and a day that Austin could be released." pic.twitter.com/o08OgOFKEm
On Sunday, Dec. 8, President Joe Biden said he believes Tice is still alive and his administration is committed to bringing him home. Syria has publicly denied holding Tice.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a large-scale attack on Syria, striking what it called strategic military sites after the fall of the al-Assad government. It also expanded its presence into the Golan Heights, a buffer zone along the country’s border with Syria.
Israel claimed the move is temporary and aimed at ensuring nearby areas are not exposed to any potential security threats, but Iran has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, saying the expansion is a “flagrant violation” of U.N. charter, breaking a 50-year cease-fire agreement.
Hegseth looks to shore up Senate support on Capitol Hill
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary is back on Capitol Hill this week. He’s looking to shore up support from Senate Republicans.
Pete Hegseth met with Senators Joni Ernst and Lindsey Graham on Monday. Both had expressed concerns over allegations against Hegseth of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities and excessive drinking.
Hegseth denies a lot of it and says he is changed man. He served in the Army in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lord & Taylor to relaunch as online discount luxury retailer
Another department store chain is set to make an internet comeback. Lord & Taylor is set to relaunch in 2025 as a discount luxury e-commerce platform offering designer goods and Lord & Taylor-branded products, according to its new owner.
Regal Brands Global acquired the Lord & Taylor intellectual property in September after its previous owner, Saadia Group — which had re-launched the chain as an e-commerce website in 2021 — ceased operations.
Regal Brands reportedly aims to position Lord & Taylor products to compete with other high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
‘Emilia Perez’ receives most Golden Globe nominations
Georgian opposition leader arrested as mass protests enter 6th day
A tense scene occurred in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi as police arrested the leader of one of the country’s opposition parties. Police allegedly knocked the leader of the Georgia’s Coalition for Change Party unconscious during the physical altercation.
The confrontation between police and the opposition leader occured on Wednesday, Dec. 4, as Georgian authorities reportedly raided the offices of opposition party members.
Critics say the crackdown is meant to snuff out mass protests gripping the nation for nearly a week. The demonstrations follow Georgia’s ruling party’s decision to suspend negotiations on European Union membership last week.
Hundreds of protesters have reportedly been detained by police during the demonstrations, and more than 100 people have been hurt.
The Georgian prime minister, who is part of the ruling party, known as the Georgian Dream Party, denied the police raids on Wednesday were repression and claimed they only targeted those encouraging violence during the mass protests.
The Dream Party retained control of the Georgian Parliament after elections on Oct. 26, which the opposition and Georgian president have called fraudulent.
The Georgian president is calling on Western powers this week to support the “national movement” among protesters and accusing the ruling party of using pro-Russian tactics to suppress free speech.
The United States has condemned violence against Georgian protesters, and the EU noted it has “serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding of the country.”