NATO leader talks about Trump’s comments
A Prime Minister’s Warning to Israel on a “Two Hostages” — An Israeli Prime Minister Critique Criticism of Trump’s Comments on Rafah
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The prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to prepare to evacuate the city of Rafah despite global alarm. The city is home to more than one million people from other parts of Gaza.
There are questions about what president Trump would do to the U.S alliances. At a political rally in South Carolina, Trump said he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to “delinquent” countries in Europe that he believes aren’t spending enough on defense.
NLO leader criticizes Trump’s comments. Israel frees two hostages in Rafah operation — the Kansas City Chiefs beat the New England Patriots 25-22 in overtime
A bill to slow down migration across the U.S.-Mexico border failed to get off the ground. Some Republicans say the White House does not need it. Congressional Republicans argue that the President has the power to halt the flow of migrants through the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Chiefs are the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships since the New England Patriots did it almost two decades ago. Here’s some highlights:
Since March 2022, El Salvador’s state of emergency—triggered by a surge in gang violence—has boosted the president’s popularity and lowered the murder rate. But it has also come with a heavy human cost. Salvadoran photographer Carlos Barrera visually documents how El Salvador’s nearly two-year crackdown on gang suspects has affected local communities.
Source: NATO leader criticizes Trump’s comments. Israel frees two hostages in Rafah operation
Dates at the New York Museum, Alicia Keys’ Diaspora Artists, and a Miniature Robotics Robot at the International Space Station
Valentine’s Day is on Wednesday, and NPR’s Fiona Geira’s timeless advice reminds us that grocery stores are ideal for dates. They highlight the beauty of simple moments when they recount a cherished trip to Costco with their grandparents. Seeing what your date chooses in the aisles reveals their personality and energy for the ordinary. Geiran suggests amidst a sea of dating apps and restaurants: “Do romantic things in regular places. What more awesome would it be than regular love?
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Music power couple Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (a.k.a. Kasseem Dean) opened their extensive art collection “Giants” at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, spotlighting Black diaspora artists. The exhibit will remain open for more than a decade.
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A miniature surgical robot, named MIRA, has recently arrived at the International Space Station. A doctor is flying hundreds of miles away from Nebraska to do surgical procedures in microgravity, potentially impacting health care back on Earth.
The State Department’s travel advisories are causing Jamaican and Bahamas officials to push back against them.
Interaction of Hamas and Israel with Gaza in High-Stakes Diplomacy: The Iran-Israel Interaction in the Gaza Strip
The talks were expected to focus on a plan that would stop the fighting in Gaza for six weeks and let another exchange of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages happen.
The high-stakes meeting is taking place as Israel signals it may soon launch a ground invasion in Rafah, on the southern tip of Gaza, where nearly 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
According to Gaza health officials, the Israeli military rescue of two hostages from a complex in Rafah left at least 74 people dead.
Among the U.S. officials who were expected in Cairo for Tuesday’s negotiations was C.I.A. director William J. Burns. Since the start of the war, the U.S. has dispatched several high-level envoys to the region in hopes of securing a diplomatic breakthrough, but those efforts have proven an uphill climb.
President Biden said that some of the plan was on the table, but said that gaps remain as he encouraged parties to work toward a deal.
Biden reiterated his support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 people. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under increasing pressure to bring the hostages home, with public outrage to bring them home putting more pressure on him.
Biden has emphasized that Israel should not proceed with a military operation in Rafah without a “credible plan” for the safety of the more than 1 million people sheltering there.
The Insecurity of Gaza During the November 23rd Referendum on the Interaction Between Hamas and the Security Council of the Gaza Strip
An earlier cease-fire in November resulted in the release of 50 hostages from Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Humanitarian aid was allowed to enter Gaza, which had been blocked off from aid in the past.
Hamas, which was not expected to attend the negotiations in Cairo, rejected an Israeli proposal earlier this month because it did not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops. The counter offer that Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected last week would leave Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip.
