After months of speculation from fans on the internet, singer/actress HalleBailey confirmed she and her boyfriend, rapper DDG, have welcomed a baby.
They named their new bundle of joy, a baby boy, Halo.
“Even though we’re a few days into the new year, the greatest thing that 2023 could have done for me, was bring me my son,” Bailey wrote in her Instagram announcement. “Welcome to the world my halo.”
With the post, and a similar one also shared to DDG’s Instagram, the new mother and father gave fans a first glimpse at their son with a photo that showed both of their hands holding onto the newborn’s fingers. They showed off one of Halo’s first pieces of jewelry, a gold name bracelet.
“My biggest blessing by far,” DDG wrote. “Son son.. never been so in love.”
Hours before the reveal, the rapper, born Darryl Granberry Jr., dropped a new song called “Darryl Freestyle,” in which he references the name Halo in the lyrics.
“Silver spoon kid, I know Halo don’t want for nothing/He crying, his mama coming, she stronger than Wonder Woman,” he raps.
Throughout the last few months of 2023, Bailey was subject to nonstop comments about her potentially covering up a pregnancy, with many pointing to apparent baggy clothes and poofy dresses that fans say hid her baby belly.
She seemingly addressed the gossip at the end of her Instagram post by writing of her new son, “the world is desperate to know you.”
Ariana Grande has officially announced her new single.
In a social media post Sunday, the singer revealed that the song’s title is “yes, and?” and that it’ll be out January 12. She also teased the track on her Sweetener Instagram account. The cover art features a blurred closeup of Ariana’s face.
(PORTLAND, Ore.) — The Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily grounding certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft after an Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff.
The Alaska Airlines flight returned to Portland, Oregon, soon after takeoff after it “experienced an incident,” prompting the airline to temporarily ground its Boeing 737-9 fleet, the airline said Friday.
Six crew members and 171 passengers were on board Flight 1282 bound for Ontario, California, the airline said.
The cabin became depressurized shortly after takeoff and the pilots asked for an emergency landing, according to the transcript of an air traffic control call from LiveATC.net. A photo posted on social media appeared to show a hole in the fuselage next to a passenger seat.
“The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority,” Alaska said in a statement, “so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation.”
CEO Ben Minicucci called the grounding “precautionary,” saying in a statement the 65 planes will return to service “only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections.”
“We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available,” Minicucci said.
The FAA said Saturday is it temporarily grounding certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory until they are inspected. The FAA says this will affect about 171 planes worldwide.
“The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. “Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSB’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.”
United Airlines said it is temporarily suspending service on certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircrafts to conduct the FAA inspections. The airline said it has 79 of the planes in service, including 33 that have already received the inspections required by the FAA. The suspension is expected to cause about 60 cancellations on Saturday, United said.
Prior to the FAA order, Alaska Airlines said more than a quarter of inspections on its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet were complete as of Saturday morning with “no concerning findings.”
Alaska said planes will continue to return to service as inspections are completed.
The airline has cancelled 112 flights — or 15% — of its total flights on Saturday.
“We deeply apologize to our guests whose flights have been impacted,” the airline said in a statement. “Guests whose travel has been impacted can go online to view flight options and rebook travel, place the value of their ticket in their Mileage Plan Wallet for future use, or request a refund.”
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines do not fly the Boeing 737 MAX 9.
The damage that led to the emergency landing appeared to be in the location of a “plug,” said John J. Nance, an ABC News aviation analyst. Those are spots in the fuselage shaped similar to a door that aren’t designed to open, even when the aircraft is on the ground. They could be converted to doors if the airline needs an extra boarding door.
The aircraft involved in the incident has been in service since October 2023, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Saturday they were sending a “go team” to Portland to investigate the incident.
The team will arrive on scene later Saturday and consists of experts in structures, operations and systems, the NTSB said.
Boeing said it has a technical team supporting the NTSB’s investigation.
The aircraft maker also said it fully supports the FAA’s decision “to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane.”
“Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers,” Boeing said in a statement.
ABC News’ Clara McMichael contributed to this report.
(MASON CITY, Iowa) — On Jan. 6, 2021, then-President Donald Trump spoke on the Ellipse near the White House on the heels of his 2020 election loss, telling supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol “peacefully and patriotically,” but also proclaiming, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Soon after, a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, and Trump’s efforts to overturn the election are now at the center of his federal election subversion case. (The case is currently stayed while the appeals process plays out, and Trump has denied all wrongdoing.)
On Saturday, on the third anniversary Jan. 6, Trump is spending the day in Iowa, delivering his closing message before the Jan. 15 GOP caucuses, continuing to use the events of Jan. 6 as a rallying cry.
On the campaign trail, Trump has downplayed the violence that ensued that day and has called those charged and convicted in attack “hostages.”
“The J6 hostages, I call them. Nobody has been treated ever in history so badly as those people nobody’s ever been treated in our country,” Trump said at a rally Friday in Iowa on the eve of the anniversary.
Jailing those who broke into the Capitol that day, he said, is “one of the saddest things in the history of our country.” He’s said he would grant clemency to a “large portion” of them.
In the three years since the assault on the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors have charged more than 1,265 defendants across nearly all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and secured convictions and incarceration for more than 460 people, according to numbers from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. released Friday.
Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud have been rejected in at least 60 court cases, according to PolitiFact.
In referring to Jan. 6, Trump’s embrace of what he’s called a “beautiful day” extends even to his campaign walk-up song where he sometimes plays “Justice for All” by the so-called “J6 Prison Choir” — a group of men incarcerated for their roles on Jan. 6 — singing the “Star Spangled Banner” as Trump recites the Pledge of Allegiance.
Now, with the 2024 presidential cycle heading toward a potential rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden, both have made the aftermath of the 2020 a central part of their campaign messages.
Biden is portraying Trump as a dire threat to democracy and freedom as he did in his first 2024 campaign event Friday on the eve of the Jan. 6 anniversary. His campaign also released an ad on Saturday comparing the attack on the Capitol to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017– the event that Biden says inspired him to run for president.
Speaking in battleground Pennsylvania, Biden called Jan. 6 “a violent assault,” slamming Trump repeatedly by name.
“He tried to rewrite the facts of January 6. Trump is trying to steal history the same way he tried to steal the election,” Biden said in his fiery speech.
“Today, I make this sacred pledge to you, the defense, protection, and preservation of American democracy will remain, as it has been, the central cause of my presidency,” he said. “America, as we begin this election year, we must be clear, democracy is on the ballot. Your freedom is on the ballot.”
Trump has tried to flip the script on Biden, calling his speech “pathetic” and “fear mongering.” He and his campaign claim Biden is the actual “threat to democracy,” pointing to Trump’s multiple criminal indictments to accuse Biden, without evidence, of weaponizing the Justice Department to prosecute his most formidable political opponent.
“Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy. Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy and it’s him and his people. They’re the wreckers of the American dream. The American dream is dead with them in office. It’s sad,” Trump said at a campaign stop last month.
Trump’s GOP primary challengers have started to get more vocal in condemning Trump’s involvement in Jan. 6. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has called it a “terrible day,” saying people who broke the law should “pay the price to show that it will never happen again.”
Florida Gov. DeSantis has claimed the attack would never have happened under his watch because, he said, “I would have won the election.”
“Whatever his intention was, you know, he put those people in jeopardy, and a lot of people have now gotten caught up in that. So, it was not good,” DeSantis said.
(NEW YORK) — More than a month after a temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel ended, Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza.
The end of the cease-fire came after Hamas freed over 100 of the more than 200 people its militants took hostage during the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel. In exchange, Israel released more than 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Jan 06, 3:17 PM EST
Blinken voices ‘real concern’ over Israel-Lebanon tensions
While taking questions on the tarmac in Greece before heading to Jordan in his latest round of Middle East shuttle diplomacy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken wouldn’t reveal diplomatic conversations on the latest flareup in northern Israel, where Hezbollah missiles struck early Saturday, but said the U.S. is “actively working” on the issue.
“One of the areas of real concern is the border between Israel and Lebanon,” he said, pointing to the “tens of thousands forced from their homes in northern Israel.”
“We are looking at ways diplomatically to try to defuse that challenge, that tension, so that people can return to their homes, that they can live in peace and security,” Blinken said.
Blinken said the broad priorities of his trip include “preventing this conflict from spreading,” to “maximize the protection for civilians, maximize humanitarian assistance, getting it to them, and also to get hostages out of Gaza,” and paving the way for a postwar, “Palestinian-led” Gaza.
He also praised U.S.-Greek cooperation, pointing to the Greeks’ help in Operation Prosperity Guardian to keep the Red Sea safe amid increasing Houthi attacks on commercial vessels.
“I can’t think of a time when the partnership, the friendship between our countries has been stronger,” he said.
-ABC News’ Chris Boccia
Jan 05, 2:00 PM EST
Refugee camp resident on conditions in Gaza: ‘Poverty, hunger and diseases’
Al Nuseirat Camp, a Palestinian refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, was home to about 100,000 people before the war. Now, only a few hundred remain.
Umm Ahmed, a mother of three, told ABC News she has evacuated three times but has returned to Al Nuseirat Camp.
“I see people sitting and sleeping in the streets,” Ahmed said. “The situation doesn’t allow movement from here to there. It is financially expensive.”
Ahmed said the situation in Gaza is “very, very, very bad.”
“The situation, in all honesty, is no food, no drinking, no water, not even drinkable water, poverty, hunger and diseases,” she said. “Skin diseases are also difficult for children.”
Abu Muhammad, another resident of the camp, told ABC News he did not sleep last night due to bombing. But he does not want to leave.
“My message to the world is that we are here, and this is our land and we will not abandon it,” he said.
ABC News’ Sami Zayara
Jan 05, 11:14 AM EST
Israeli kibbutz announces death of hostage initially believed to be alive
An Israeli man who was believed to be alive and held hostage by militants in the Gaza Strip has been confirmed dead, his community announced Friday.
Tamir Adar, 38, was killed during the Hamas-led assault on the kibbutz of Nir Oz in southern Israel on Oct. 7 before militants took his body back to neighboring Gaza, according to a statement from the kibbutz. His grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was abducted alive and later released during a weeklong cease-fire in November.
Tamir was “born and raised in the kibbutz and lived there with his family,” the statement from Nir Oz said. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
“Tamir was a family man, he loved people and nature,” the statement added.
ABC News’ Anna Brund, Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor
Jan 05, 7:37 AM EST
Israeli kibbutz announces death of hostage initially believed to be alive
An Israeli man who was believed to be alive and held hostage by militants in the Gaza Strip has been confirmed dead, his community announced Friday.
Tamir Adar, 38, was killed during the Hamas-led assault on the kibbutz of Nir Oz in southern Israel on Oct. 7 before militants took his body back to neighboring Gaza, according to a statement from the kibbutz. His grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was abducted alive and later released during a weeklong cease-fire in November.
Tamir was “born and raised in the kibbutz and lived there with his family,” the statement from Nir Oz said. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
“Tamir was a family man, he loved people and nature,” the statement added.
-ABC News’ Anna Brund, Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor
Jan 04, 6:10 PM EST
Mother, uncle of US service member rescued from Gaza
The mother and uncle of an American servicemember were rescued from Gaza in an operation involving Israel and Egypt — the first known mission of its kind to take place since the war broke out — U.S. officials confirmed on Thursday.
Zahra Sckak and her brother-in-law, Farid (a U.S. citizen), were shepherded out of Gaza days ago, though the details of the operation were kept quiet due to security concerns surrounding the operation.
The U.S. played a “liaison role” in the case, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
“There wasn’t an operational presence by any U.S. forces or U.S. personnel there to help these family members escape, but we were glad to see them make their way safely out of Gaza and we’ll continue to work to do what we can to facilitate the departure of others,” Miller told reporters Thursday.
Fadi Sckak, a brother of the U.S. servicemember, told ABC News Live last month that his mother was on the list of individuals approved to leave Gaza through the Rafah gate, but that she couldn’t get to the border crossing because of the heavy fighting surrounding the area where she was sheltering.
-ABC News’ Shannon K. Crawford
Jan 04, 4:48 PM EST
3 missing Israeli citizens recognized as hostages: IDF
Three Israeli citizens previously considered missing are now recognized as hostages, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Thursday.
“This decision was made following the completion of search and investigation operations in Israel and after examining all plausible scenarios and the information we have,” he said during a briefing.
That brings the total number of Israeli hostages held in Gaza to 136, including 23 believed to be dead, officials said.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Jan 04, 2:13 PM EST
Secretary Blinken to make another trip to Middle East
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be making a marathon trip to the Middle East — his fourth visit to the region since the Oct. 7 attack, the State Department announced Thursday.
The trip, running from Jan. 4 to 11, will technically be his fifth visit to Israel since the war began; he stopped there twice on his trip in October.
“Throughout his trip, the Secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza; securing the release of all remaining hostages; our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the resumption of essential services; and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced from Gaza,” State Department Spokesperson Matt Miller said in a statement.
The last part of the agenda Miller lays out — “ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced from Gaza” — runs counter to the rhetoric put forth in recent days by Israeli Minister of National Security Ben Gvir and other far-right politicians, comments the Biden administration have already denounced.
As of now, Blinken is scheduled to spend time in eight countries: Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt. He will also be stopping in the West Bank.
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Jan 04, 12:15 PM EST
Houthi leader calls for protests against Israel’s war in Gaza
The leader of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebel group has called for mass protests to take place on Friday against Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
“Let the dear Yemeni people make their voice and word heard to the whole world, in their steadfastness in their faith, moral and humanitarian stance in supporting the oppressed Palestinian people, against whom the Jewish Zionists are committing crimes of genocide, completely destroying their cities and homes in Gaza, and are creative in practicing the most heinous crimes against them, such as burying the living and crushing them,” Houthi leader Abdul Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi said in a statement on Thursday.
Houthi rebels, who have been at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2014 and currently control a large part of the country, have carried out attacks on ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza, a territory ruled by Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas.
ABC News’ Will Gretsky and Morgan Winsor
Jan 04, 11:05 AM EST
Israeli defense minister warns of ‘short window’ for diplomacy with Hezbollah
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Thursday that diplomatic solutions with Hezbollah are running out.
Gallant made the remark at the Israeli Ministry of Defense heaquarters in Tel Aviv during a meeting with Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden. The two discussed the situation in northern Israel and along the border with Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been exchanging fire with Hezbollah. The Lebanese militant group has voiced support for Palestinians amid Israel”s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
“There is only one possible result — a new reality in the northern arena, which will enable the secure return of our citizens,” Gallant said. “Yet we find ourselves at a junction — there is a short window of time for diplomatic understandings, which we prefer. We will not tolerate the threats posed by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, and we will ensure the security of our citizens.”
ABC News’ Will Gretsky and Morgan Winsor
Jan 04, 8:22 AM EST
IDF says it struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday morning that one of its fighter jets struck an “observation post and terrorist infrastructure” belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
An “anti-tank missile terrorist cell in the same area” was also identified and struck, according to the IDF.
The IDF said its soldiers fired mortar shells overnight “in order to remove a threat” in another area of southern Lebanon, which shares a border with Israel.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli strikes.
Jan 03, 3:21 PM EST
‘Hamas still has a significant force posture inside Gaza,’ White House says
The White House was pressed on Wednesday about how close Israel may be to its stated goal of eradicating Hamas, as the death count in Gaza surpasses 22,000.
Notably, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby declined to give specific stats on damage done to Hamas but said, “Hamas still has a significant force posture inside Gaza.”
“We have estimates. I’m loath to put the numbers out there now because they are just estimates but Hamas still has a significant force posture inside Gaza,” he said in response to a question about how many more Hamas fighters are left.
He added that Israel has said they’ve been successful “against a range of leadership” and have “without question” had an effect on “Hamas’ ability to command and control itself, to resource itself, and quite frankly to lead their troops.”
But he wouldn’t give specifics on how many members of Hamas have been killed or any measures of progress that Israel has made.
“I’ve been trying real hard not to give them a report card here and I think that is a wise thing for us to do, is to refrain from analyzing and armchair-quarterbacking their military operations,” Kirby said.
Still, on multiple occasions, he was asked if Israel can still eradicate Hamas, which has been the country’s stated goal.
“It can be done militarily. Are you going to eliminate the ideology? No. And are you likely going to erase the group from existence? Probably not. But can you eliminate the threat that Hamas poses to the Israeli people? Absolutely,” Kirby said.
Jan 03, 1:38 PM EST
Hezbollah leader warns of response for killing of top Hamas official
The head of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassam Nasrallah, said in a speech Wednesday that the killing of deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri was a “serious and heinous crime that will not remain without response and punishment.”
“Whoever thinks about war with us will regret it and it will be costly,” al-Arouri said in Arabic.
Nasrallah said they did receive messages that the assassination of al-Arouri was “not targeting Lebanon and the southern suburbs.”
The speech Wednesday was the first time the leader of the Lebanese group has spoken since Nov. 3. It followed the death Tuesday of al-Arouri in a bombing.
Israel has not claimed responsibility, but Hamas and Hezbollah have pointed the blame.
ABC News’ Ghazi Balkiz and Ellie Kaufman
Jan 03, 1:01 PM EST
Israel says it dismantled tunnels under Al-Shifa Hospital
The Israeli army said in a release Wednesday it had destroyed Hamas’ tunnels underneath the Al-Shifa Hospital without causing damage to the hospital complex.
Israel said the tunnels under the hospital spanned over 250 meters and “led to a number of significant terrorist centers and was used for carrying out terrorist operations.” It added that humanitarian operations continued at the hospital.
Hamas, as well as doctors at the hospital, has denied that terrorists were operating from the hospital complex.
ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Jan 02, 3:42 PM EST
US denounces Israeli officials’ remarks on emigration from Gaza
The U.S. State Department is denouncing recent comments from Israel’s far right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the emigration of Palestinians from Gaza, calling the officials’ statements “inflammatory and irresponsible.”
“The United States rejects recent statements from Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. “We have been told repeatedly and consistently by the Government of Israel, including by the Prime Minister, that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government. They should stop immediately.”
ABC News’ Shannon K. Crawford
Jan 02, 2:11 PM EST
Top Hamas leader killed in Beirut strike, official says
A top Hamas leader and at least five others were killed in a strike in Beirut on Tuesday, a Hamas official said.
The leader, identified by the official as Saleh Arouri, was second in command in Hamas and the head of Hamas in the West Bank.
Lebanese Security Services said six people were killed in the strike, which Hamas blamed on Israel.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson declined to comment on the incident, but told ABC News that Israel “is on high alert and prepared for any scenario.”
“I want to be clear we are focused on the fight against Hamas,” the spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, added.
Jan 02, 12:38 PM EST
Top Hamas leader killed in Beirut strike, official says
A top Hamas leader and at least five others were killed in a strike in Beirut on Tuesday, a Hamas official said.
The leader, identified by the official as Saleh Arouri, was second in command in Hamas and the head of Hamas in the West Bank.
Lebanese Security Services said six people were killed in the strike, which Hamas blamed on Israel.
ABC News did not immediately receive a response from Israeli officials on the incident.
The head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said Tuesday the militant group has sent its conditions for a truce to Egypt and Qatar.
In a statement, Haniyeh said the position “is based on a comprehensive cessation of aggression against our people.”
Jan 02, 11:53 AM EST
Maersk halts all transit through Red Sea
Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, has decided to pause all transit through the Red Sea “until further notice,” the company said Tuesday morning.
The company made the announcement in the wake of an attack on its vessel Maersk Hangzhou by small boats carrying Houthi militants on Sunday.
U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire and sank three of the four small boats, killing the crews, U.S. officials said. The fourth boat fled the area.
Sunday’s incident was the second time in 24 hours that the Hangzhou had issued a distress call, U.S. Navy officials said.
Houthi leaders have said they will not stop the Red Sea attacks until Israel ceases its assault in Gaza.
Jan 02, 10:46 AM EST
What we know about the conflict
The Israel-Hamas war is nearing the three-month mark.
In the Gaza Strip, at least 22,185 people have been killed and over 57,000 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry and the Government Media Office.
In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others have been injured by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since Oct. 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
There has also been a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have killed at least 297 people in the territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Jan 01, 8:31 PM EST
What we know about the conflict
The Israel-Hamas war is nearing the three-month mark.
In the Gaza Strip, at least 21,978 people have been killed and 57,697 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry and the Government Media Office.
In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others have been injured by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since Oct. 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
There has also been a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have killed at least 297 people in the territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Jan 01, 1:30 PM EST
Some Israeli communities near Gaza can return soon: Defense minister
Some communities in southern Israel near the Gaza border will be able to return soon, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said Monday.
“In accordance with the recommendations given by the IDF and the defense establishment, we will soon be able to return [displaced] communities home, in areas within a range of four to seven kilometers north of the Gaza Strip,” Gallant said during an operational situation assessment held in Kibbutz Dorot.
Gallant said the “gradual return” will start with communities within seven kilometers, before moving on to the remaining communities.
Earlier Monday, Gallant toured the kibbutz and discussed the security measures required for the return of its residents.
Jan 01, 10:29 AM EST
Israel to move some troops out of Gaza, IDF announces
The IDF announced Monday it is adjusting deployment plans for forces in Gaza and the reserve system.
Some reservists will return to their families and employment, while others will return to scheduled training. The IDF says this is expected “to significantly alleviate economic burdens and enable them to gather strength for upcoming activities in the next year, as the fighting will persist, and their services will still be needed.”
“These adaptations aim to ensure effective planning and preparation for the continuation of operations in 2024” in anticipation of further warfare into the year, according to the IDF statement.
Dec 31, 4:47 PM EST
IDF says it expects war to last all of 2024
The war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group is expected to last all of 2024, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement that the Israeli military is making adjustments to its deployment of troops in the Gaza Strip as it anticipates the war lasting for the entirety of 2024.
“We are adjusting the fighting methods to each area in Gaza, as well as the necessary forces to carry out the mission in the best way possible,” Hagari said. “Each area has different characteristics and different operational needs.”
Hagari added that as 2024 begins, “The goal of the war requires lengthy fighting, and we are prepared accordingly.”
The Israeli military, according to Hagari, will be carrying out “smart” management of its forces in Gaza, allowing reservists to return home to help boost the economy, and allowing standing army troops to train to become commanders.
“It will result in considerable relief for the economy, and will allow them to gain strength for operations next year, and the fighting will continue and we will need them,” Hagari said.
He said the adjustments are necessary for the IDF to endure the long road ahead.
“The IDF needs to plan ahead, out of the understanding that we will be needed for additional missions and continued fighting during the entire coming year,” Hagari said.
(NEW YORK) — Former National Rifle Association operations director Joshua Powell has settled civil claims of fraud and abuse brought by the New York Attorney General’s office.
The admission comes hours after Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the NRA, announced his resignation ahead of a trial scheduled to begin Monday. LaPierre cited health reasons, according to the NRA. The resignation will be effective Jan. 31.
Powell was employed by the NRA from 2016 through January 2020 and in that time “Powell breached his fiduciary duties and failed to administer the charitable assets entrusted to his care by using his powers as an officer and senior executive of the NRA to convert charitable assets for his own benefit and for the benefit of his family members,” the settlement agreement said.
“Joshua Powell’s admission of wrongdoing and Wayne LaPierre’s resignation confirm what we have alleged for years: the NRA and its senior leaders are financially corrupt,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Saturday.
The attorney general is suing the NRA, which is registered in New York as a non-profit charitable corporation, and its senior management for misappropriating millions of dollars to fund personal benefits, including private jets, family vacations and luxury goods.
The NRA tried to file bankruptcy in 2021 but a federal judge rejected its petition, saying “the NRA did not file the bankruptcy petition in good faith.”
James’ lawsuit seeks an independent monitor to oversee the NRA’s finances.
As part of his settlement, Powell admitted he breached his fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and obedience by using the NRA’s charitable assets for his own benefit and the benefit of his family. He also admitted he failed to administer the charitable assets entrusted to his care properly.
He agreed to pay $100,000 in restitution and accept a permanent bar from serving as an officer in a nonprofit. He also agreed to testify against LaPierre and others at trial.
LaPierre previously said the New York AG’s lawsuit was an “unconstitutional, premeditated attack aiming to dismantle and destroy the NRA — the fiercest defender of America’s freedom at the ballot box for decades.”
(DES MOINES, Iowa) — Eight years ago, then-first time presidential hopeful Donald Trump kicked off his campaign rallies dancing to the 1970s’ disco anthem “YMCA.”
He still does, except now the campaign also plays in-depth videos explaining the caucus process, hosts panel discussions among caucus precinct captains and even gives out “limited edition” Trump-signed hats to campaign volunteers as supporters wait for him to take the stage.
It’s an effort by the Trump campaign to flip the script for his third presidential run by revamping its Iowa playbook, recognizing the importance of ensuring that the excitement supporters show at campaign rallies translates into their actually heading to their local precinct to caucus for the former president.
It’s a lesson Trump, then an Iowa caucus novice, learned from his loss to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016, despite having momentum from earlier in the cycle.
Now, returning to Iowa for his third presidential bid, he’s armed with a more experienced and sophisticated operation that includes a ground game his team has been building for years.
With just days to go until the GOP caucuses, Trump, at a Friday night Iowa rally, repeatedly told his supporters to make sure to vote on Jan. 15.
“We’re not taking any chances,” he said. “The biggest risk is, you say you know what? He’s winning by so much, darling. Let’s stay home and watch television. Let’s watch this great victory. And if enough people do that, it’s not going to be pretty. But we’re not going to let that happen.”
Lighter schedule compared to 2016
Friday marked Trump’s first campaign appearance in Iowa this year, headlining a rally in Sioux Center in the afternoon and another rally in Mason City later that evening.
On Saturday, on the third-year anniversary of a pro-Trump mob attacking the US. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, he was set to criss-cross Iowa for rallies in Newton and Clinton.
After that, Trump isn’t making another public campaign appearance in Iowa until much closer to the caucus date — making two stops each on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14. That’s except for a town hall with Fox News’ Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum in Des Moines as his counterprogramming to the CNN GOP debate on Jan. 10 with rivals Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
The campaign is filling in the dates in between with Trump surrogates — a move kicked off with South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday. But Trump himself will hold fewer events than what was expected to be a barnstorming tour in the final stretch.
Trump’s relatively light schedule in the first two weeks of this year is especially notable compared to his 11-stop cross-state campaign leading up to the 2016 Iowa caucuses, during which he jumped from Mississippi to New Hampshire to South Carolina to Iowa then to Nevada from Jan. 2 through Jan. 15, even adding a few stops in non-early voting states in between.
In fact, throughout 2023, Trump visited Iowa only 18 times and held just under 40 campaign events and other appearances, not nearly as many as his fellow contenders, some of whom have visited the state dozens of times and held hundreds of events.
DeSantis, who has been aggressively campaigning in hopes of gaining momentum from Iowa, completed his “Full Grassley” last month — a reference to Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley’s efforts to visit all 99 counties in the state every year. And entrepreneur-turned presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy earlier this week completed his “Double Grassley,” visiting all 99 Iowa counties at least twice.
One reason has been Trump’s legal battles — where he faces 91 felony counts across four criminal cases as well as a civil fraud trial in New York. He has plead not guilty and denied all wrongdoing.
All through last year, he has had to navigate his court schedule in between campaign rallies, including popping in and out of multiple courthouses for arraignments and witness testimony as well as taking a mugshot.
This coming Tuesday, just days out from the Iowa caucuses, Trump is planning to appear at the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., as it hears arguments on his efforts to dismiss the federal election subversion case citing presidential immunity — while his contenders campaign in Iowa.
Still, Trump’s support in the state appears not to have waned, embodied not only in the polls where he continues to boast wide gap between his contenders, according to 538’s Iowa polling average, but also in numerous yard signs that can be seen driving through little towns in Iowa and thousands of loyal supporters that gather at every Trump visit.
Hasn’t stopped campaigning in Iowa since 2015, allies say
In 2015, Iowa was one of the first states Trump visited after announcing his presidential bid that summer.
After making his debut before more than 1,000 Iowa voters packed inside Oskaloosa High School at his first-ever Iowa rally in July 2015, he visited the state about a dozen more times through the end of Iowa caucuses.
He continued to draw thousands of people — often tens of thousands — at most of his campaign rallies throughout the 2016 cycle, showcasing voters’ excitement over the prospect of a President Donald Trump.
But those who have observed his first presidential campaign describe it as a wheels-up, wheels-down operation, as he hopped from one state to another, introducing himself to the country as a presidential candidate, not just as a businessman or entertainer.
It was a beginner’s campaign, working with a smaller ground operation in Iowa, without the seasoned expertise and experience to navigate the state’s complicated Iowa caucus system nor the robust data-backing the current Trump campaign boasts.
But after being beaten by Cruz in January 2016 and his eventual victory that November, Trump’s allies in Iowa say he never stopped campaigning there, from appointing former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as U.S. ambassador to China to working closely with state leaders to help Republicans gain control of Iowa’s House congressional delegation in 2022.
And long before his 2024 rivals started campaigning in Iowa, the Trump campaign says, it has been laying the groundwork with Iowa voters, building a staff that understands the nuances of the caucus process and developing relationships with the state’s powerbrokers, as well as Trump familiarizing himself with issues that matter to Iowans.
“Ground game organization, collection of data, outreach and engagement to supporters and potential caucus goers to turnout for the caucus — well-organized events that are used as both a recruiting and organizational tool,” said Eric Branstad — who served as Trump’s Iowa state director during his 2016 campaign and has advised his 2020 campaign — explaining how he has seen the Trump campaign evolve over the years.
And for the past few months, his campaign events have been billed as “Commit to Caucus” events, designed to not only have Trump speak before supporters eager to see him but also for the campaign to promote its ground operation, recruit volunteers and to educate voters about the caucus process.
‘Commit to Caucus’
Now the campaign boasts of securing dozens of Iowa legislative endorsements, recruiting over 2,000 caucus precinct captains who will speak on Trump’s behalf on caucus night and getting more than 50,000 caucus commitment cards signed by Iowa voters. The campaign has also hosted more than 400 caucus training sessions this cycle.
“Caucus night will come out to turn out and getting people to the caucuses on a cold night in January,” said Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who has been campaigning for Trump as his surrogate. “He has a lot of new people coming into the caucus process that will be going to the caucus for the first time as an Iowa voter and you’re working to make sure those people have all the information they need to go and vote so his campaign has a good ground game.”
And Trump’s “Commit to Caucus” stops in Iowa this cycle have been meticulously planned out as well — not only to maximize his exposure to the largest crowd possible but also capitalizing on a strong support he has garnered in eastern Iowa over the years, which had previously been a Democratic stronghold with an industrial, blue-collar demographic that had voted for former President Barack Obama before they flipped to Trump in 2016.
“Similar to Ohio and Florida, President Trump ushered in a fundamental shift to Iowa’s electorate in 2016 — these states are far more Republican today than before,” said the Trump campaign’s early states director Alex Latcham, who worked with the 2016 Trump campaign’s Iowa team.
“I would argue he’s done that really nationwide, but Iowa is a perfect microcosm of that shift,” Latcham continued. “The Republican Party is the party of working class voters and President Trump is their candidate. He’s their voice.”
Hitting big and small Eastern Iowa cities like Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Maquoketa, Davenport and Coralville, Trump has been strengthening his support base with voters that are particularly receptive to his messages on bread and butter economic issues, Latcham said.
‘Sometimes polls are wrong’
For Trump, the key this time is not just garnering more support ahead of the caucuses, but getting those supporters to actually turn up on Jan. 15.
“The name of the game here for caucuses is voter turnout,” senior Iowa adviser Alex Meyer told a roomful of voters, including caucus captains, at Team Trump’ headquarters in Urbandale, Iowa, last month.
Trump himself has spent more time on the campaign trail emphasizing the importance of caucusing — telling people to not sit out on caucus night.
“On television today, they said the primaries are over,” Trump said at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids last month. “I said, don’t listen to that. Don’t listen. Nothing’s over. I’ve seen things that are over and bad things can happen.”
“You’ve got to get out and vote, even if you think we’re gonna win,” Trump said at another campaign event in Coralville, Iowa, later that month. “Who knows? You know, sometimes polls are wrong. They gotta really be wrong – that would be record-setting. But you gotta get out and vote, vote, vote, and then we worry about November. Do one thing first.”
(PORTLAND, Ore.) — An Alaska Airlines flight returned to Portland, Oregon, soon after takeoff after it “experienced an incident,” prompting the airline to temporarily ground its Boeing 737-9 fleet, the airline said Friday.
Six crew members and 171 passengers were on board Flight 1282 bound for Ontario, California, the airline said.
The cabin became depressurized shortly after takeoff and the pilots asked for an emergency landing, according to the transcript of an air traffic control call from LiveATC.net. A photo posted on social media appeared to show a hole in the fuselage next to a passenger seat.
“The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority,” Alaska said in a statement, “so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation.”
CEO Ben Minicucci called the grounding “precautionary,” saying in a statement the 65 planes will return to service “only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections.”
“We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available,” Minicucci said.
As of Saturday morning, more than a quarter of inspections on the Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet are complete with “no concerning findings,” the carrier said.
Alaska said planes will continue to return to service as inspections are completed.
“We deeply apologize to our guests whose flights have been impacted,” the airline said in a statement. “Guests whose travel has been impacted can go online to view flight options and rebook travel, place the value of their ticket in their Mileage Plan Wallet for future use, or request a refund.”
The damage that led to the emergency landing appeared to be in the location of a “plug,” said John J. Nance, an ABC News aviation analyst. Those are spots in the fuselage shaped similar to a door that aren’t designed to open, even when the aircraft is on the ground. They could be converted to doors if the airline needs an extra boarding door.
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 has been in service since October 2023, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.
The aircraft maker said it had a technical team standing ready to help with the investigation.
“We are aware of the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282,” Boeing officials said in a statement. “We are working to gather more information and are in contact with our airline customer.”
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Saturday they were sending a “go team” to Portland to investigate the incident.
The team will arrive on scene later Saturday and consists of experts in structures, operations and systems, the NTSB said.
(NEW YORK) — The year’s first significant winter storm in the eastern U.S. is expected to bring heavy snow to more than a dozen states this weekend.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for 13 states, from North Carolina to Maine.
Overall, there is a wide swath of projected 6-12 inches across many interior portions of the Northeast. Some of the highest snow totals will be found in the higher elevations of New England, where more than a foot is likely.
There remains uncertainty in snowfall for some regions. In Connecticut, for example, snow totals will likely rise the farther north you go from I-95. Eastern Massachusetts is another area that may have a sharp gradient of snow totals, with some getting a lot and some getting barely anything.
“The combination of heavy, wet snow and gusty winds from northeast Pennsylvania through much of southern and central New England will result in difficult travel with some power outages and tree damage,” the National Weather Service warned. “Gusty onshore winds may lead to minor flooding along the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts during the Sunday morning high tide cycle.”
Timing the storm
The storm has been making its journey across the country during the last few days, drenching the south Friday while dropping several inches of snow in states including Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.
By early Saturday afternoon, the storm is forecast to slice through the Mid-Atlantic, possibly bringing a brief wintry mix before switching to rain in cities including Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.
Around 5 p.m. ET, snow is expected to begin to move into the New York City area. There may be an initial “thump” of moderate to heavy snow before the inevitable change to a wintry mix of snow and rain.
By 8 p.m. ET, conditions are likely to begin deteriorating across parts of New England as the snow moves in. While this storm is not a blizzard, low visibility can be problematic in any snowstorm, so drivers are urged to use caution.
Snow is expected to continue across much of the Northeast into the overnight hours. Along coastal areas, any snow on the ground may become slushy as a change to rain occurs. The heaviest snow is forecast to fall overnight.
By Sunday morning, there will likely be lingering areas of snow in much of the Northeast, while the daytime will bring a few spotty snow showers that gradually taper off.
The storm is expected to move out of the Northeast by Sunday evening.
(WASHINGTON) — House Speaker Mike Johnson has invited President Joe Biden to deliver his annual State of the Union address on March 7.
In a letter to Biden on Friday, Johnson extended the formal invitation for the president to address a joint session of Congress.
“In this moment of great challenge for our country, it is my solemn duty to extend this invitation for you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, March 7, 2024, so that you may fulfill your obligation under the U.S. Constitution to report on the state of our union,” the invitation said.
This will be Johnson’s first State of the Union since becoming speaker in October.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
