Friday, November 3, 2023

11/3 WAKE-UP CALL: Russian Paramilitrary Group To Aid Hamas


The Russian paramilitary group Wagner plans to provide an air-defense system to Hezbollah, U.S. officials say, citing intelligence. This comes amid broader concerns that Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia, may open up a northern front against Israel, which is fighting Hamas in Gaza. The Russian Embassy didn’t respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the White House’s National Security Council declined to comment. 

The U.S. has positioned an aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean to try to deter Hezbollah and Iran. Separately, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his deputies are speaking with their counterparts in Arab states about plans for governing Gaza after Israel finishes its main military operations there, according to people familiar with the early stage conversations. In Washington, the House is set to vote today on Republicans’ $14.3 billion Israel aid proposal, kicking off a legislative fight complicated by growing disagreements about assistance for Ukraine and securing the U.S. border.

Biden supports humanitarian pause as Israel surrounds Gaza City: The Israeli military said Thursday it has surrounded Gaza City, heightening concerns about civilian casualties at a time when Israel faces increasing pressure to agree to a humanitarian halt in the war. A rising Palestinian death toll that has surpassed 9,000 − including more than 3,600 children − and images of widespread destruction in densely populated areas of Gaza have contributed to growing unease among Israel supporters and Arab nations with which it has peaceful relations. That continued even as more foreign nationals, including 74 Americans, and injured civilians fled from Gaza into Egypt on Thursday. President Joe Biden has endorsed a humanitarian "pause," a message likely to be underscored in Friday's visit to Israel by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is also expected to push for better protections for civilians and more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. 

➤HAMAS TERRORISTS DRUGGED: It's called many names. The jihadi drug, Captain Courage, the Poor Man’s Cocaine. But were Hamas terrorists high on the synthetic stimulant Captagon when they attacked Israel on Oct. 7, brutally killing more than 1,400 people and kidnapping at least 220 more? Two Israeli security officials with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY that the methamphetamine-like substance was found on at least some Hamas members killed during or after the stunning raids on Israel, bolstering an Oct. 19 report by Israel's Channel 12 News that was not based on official sources. Officially, the Israeli military declined to confirm or deny the use of Captagon by Hamas. "We can't comment on this matter," a spokesperson told USA TODAY.

➤HOUSE PASSES ISRAEL AID PACKAGE: The House of Representatives approved more than $14 billion in Israel aid Thursday afternoon setting up House Speaker Mike Johnson’s first major legislative clash with the Senate and White House. The bill, titled the “Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act” cleared the lower chamber by a vote of 226-196 with most Republicans voting for the legislation and most Democrats voting against it. Two Republicans defected and voted against the bill while twelve Democrats voted for it. Aid to Israel, a close U.S. ally, as it fights a war against Hamas militants, has garnered widespread bipartisan support, but Johnson’s proposal for standalone Israel funding has drawn considerable backlash from the Democratic-controlled Senate and the White House. 

➤UAW TARGETS TELSA: The United Auto Workers’ victory in Detroit has the union eyeing Tesla and other nonunionized carmakers. The last time the UAW tried to organize the world’s most valuable automaker, CEO Elon Musk took aim directly at his workers and went on the defense, framing Tesla as David in a battle against Goliath. At companies such as Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen or Nissan, the union would rely on workers to stick out their necks in fights with companies that want to squash labor efforts. The UAW—which won record contracts with General Motors, Ford and Chrysler-parent Stellantis—also has to contend with right-to-work laws and cultural challenges in southern states, where many new car factories were built and where unions are less popular.

➤DISABILITY SUITS GROWING OVER WORKPLACE RETURNS: U.S. workers are filing more charges of disability discrimination as employers deny their requests to continue working from home. An increasing share of the claims are based on mental-health conditions such as anxiety, depression and PTSD. Companies OK most requests, but the approval rate has declined since early in the pandemic, according to Sedgwick, which manages leave and disability claims for employers. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for workers and prohibits them from asking for details about their disabilities. Company lawyers say permitting some people to work remotely can cause grumbling about unequal treatment from the return-to-office crowd. Employers that required working from home at the start of Covid-19 find it harder to argue now that it isn’t a reasonable accommodation.

Sam Bankman-Fried
➤FTX FOUNDER SBF FOUND GUILTY: FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s spectacular rise and fall in the cryptocurrency industry — a journey that included his testimony before Congress, a Super Bowl advertisement and dreams of a future run for president — hit a new bottom Thursday when a New York jury convicted him of fraud in a scheme that cheated customers and investors of at least $10 billion. After the monthlong trial, jurors rejected Bankman-Fried’s claim during four days on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court that he never committed fraud or meant to cheat customers before FTX, once the world’s second-largest crypto exchange, collapsed into bankruptcy a year ago. “His crimes caught up to him. His crimes have been exposed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon told the jury of the onetime billionaire just before they were read the law by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan and began deliberations. Sassoon said Bankman-Fried turned his customers’ accounts into his “personal piggy bank” as up to $14 billion disappeared.


STUDENTS WALK-OUT DEMANDING SEPARATE BATHROOMS: Students at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Virginia, walked out of class on Wednesday in protest at the school district's policy on allowing trans students to use the bathroom of their choice. Loudoun County Public Schools, which saw ugly scenes at board meetings following a May 2021 sexual assault by a boy in the girls' bathroom, adopted the trans bathroom policy in August 2021. The policy, officially termed 8040, was approved 7-2. One female student they were tired of 'being completely ignored' by the school district. 'We express these concerns and they ignore us and write us off as right-wing crazies. We're not crazy. We just don't want to be in danger on a daily basis in this building.'

➤De NIRO's GAL-PAL TESTIFIES: Tiffany Chen, 64, took the stand to berate De Niro's former staffer Graham Chase Robinson, who she claimed had an 'imaginary intimacy' with the Oscar winner. De Niro, 80, is being sued by Robinson for alleged gender discrimination while she worked at his company Canal Productions from 2008 to 2019. Her $12 million lawsuit was filed four years ago, shortly after De Niro sued her for misuse of the company's accounts. On the fourth day of the trial on Thursday, Chen admitted she pressured De Niro to fire Robinson after their relationship soured over issues including catering on his private jet and renovations at their Manhattan townhouse. Her testimony came after a number of hostile email and text exchanges between Chen, Robinson and De Niro were shown to the jury days before, including a 2am email from Chen to the actor saying: 'If you keep her (Robinson) you and I will have problems'.

➤MOM TURNS-IN 12-YEAR-OLD SON AS CARJACKING SUSPECT: A DC mom has turned her 12 year-old suspected carjacker son into police after his 13 year-old accomplice was shot dead by an off-duty cop believed to be their intended victim. The boy, who was not identified, was processed in a juvenile court Wednesday afternoon. His mother called the police on October 31 after seeing a photo the authorities shared of the suspect and recognizing the youngster. Police used the 12-year-old's clothing, including a black hoodie, light gray joggers, and Jordan sneakers with a wife reflective tongue to connect the boy to the crime. His alleged accomplice who was shot and killed is 13 year-old Vernard Toney Jr. Toney was described by his school principal as 'a smart and talented student.'

🏈NFL STEELERS 20 TITANS 16:  Kenny Pickett threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson with 4:02 remaining and the Pittsburgh Steelers held on for a 20-16 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. Kwon Alexander intercepted Tennessee's Will Levis in the end zone with six seconds left to seal the victory as Pittsburgh beat the Titans for the fifth consecutive time. Pickett was 19-of-30 passing for 160 yards as the Steelers (5-3) won for the third time in four games. Johnson caught seven passes for 90 yards, Jaylen Warren accounted for 113 yards (88 rushing, 25 receiving) and Najee Harris rushed for 69 yards and a score.

🏈TITANS’ TREYLON BURKS INJURED: Tennessee Titans receiver Treylon Burks was carted off the field last night in the fourth quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Burks fell hard while leaping to catch a ball tossed by quarterback Will Levis. He was taken away on a backboard but gave a thumbs up to fans as he was taken off the field. Head coach Mike Vrabel said Burks was being evaluated but was “alert and moving” after the incident.

⚾WILL SMITH’S WORLD SERIES ‘FIRST’: Will Smith has made history. That’s not Will Smith the Los Angeles Dodgers catcher or Will Smith the actor. It’s Will Smith the left-handed reliever for the World Series-winning Texas Rangers. The point is, this Will Smith played for the past three World Series championship teams, including the 2021 Atlanta Braves, the 2022 Houston Astros and now the 2023 Texas Rangers. In fact, according to MLB.com, Smith is the first player in any of the big four U.S. sports leagues to appear in at least one game for three championship-winning teams in three consecutive seasons.

⚾MAX MUNCY STAYS WITH THE DODGERS: Infielder Max Muncy has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $24 million extension that will keep him with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Muncy has been in L.A. for five seasons.

⚾NELSON CRUZ IS RETIRING: San Diego Padres outfielder and designated hitter Nelson Cruz has announced his retirement after 19 years in the MLB. A native of the Dominican Republic, Cruz was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1998 and went on to play for seven other teams. He was an All-Star seven times.

➤MASSIVE STORM PUMMELS EUROPE: At least seven people were killed, more than 1 million households were in the dark, and trees were toppled as Storm Ciarán brought winds of over 100 mph to Western Europe overnight into Thursday. Winds of up to 118 mph battered the northern tip of France’s Atlantic coast, blowing out windows and uprooting trees that blocked roads, and massive waves slammed French ports and shorelines. More than 1 million French households were without power Thursday, and electrical company Enedis said 3,000 workers were needed to restore services. Thousands more people lost power in the United Kingdom. And it's not over yet: Ciarán will continue to affect Western Europe through the end of the week.


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