Floating Gaza aid pier temporarily dismantled due to rough seas

Just a week after a temporary offshore pier designed to bring desperately-needed humanitarian aid into war-torn Gaza reopened following repairs, authorities announced Friday that it is being temporarily dismantled yet again because of rough seas. U.S. Central Command announced Friday that the U.S.-built pier was being removed from Gaza’s coast and towed back to Ashdod,

Marco Rubio defends Trump remarks on immigrants “poisoning the blood” of U.S.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a possible vice presidential pick for former President Donald Trump, defended Trump’s previous remarks on immigrants “poisoning the blood of our country” in a Spanish-language interview Wednesday with Telemundo.  “I think he speaks that way and in that manner,” Rubio said in Spanish, with an English-language translation provided by the network,

Rubio says Trump remark on immigrants “poisoning the blood” of U.S. not about race

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a possible vice presidential pick for former President Donald Trump, defended Trump’s previous remarks on immigrants “poisoning the blood of our country” in a Spanish-language interview Wednesday with Telemundo.  “I think he speaks that way and in that manner,” Rubio said in Spanish, with an English-language translation provided by the network,

Justice Department won’t prosecute Garland after House contempt vote

House holds Garland in contempt of Congress House holds Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress 06:34 Washington — The Justice Department said Friday that it will not prosecute Attorney General Merrick Garland after the House voted to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena for audio recordings of President Biden’s interview with

Menendez’s strategy of blaming wife in bribery trial may have pitfalls

Washington — During the first five weeks of Sen. Bob Menendez’s bribery trial, his attorneys have peppered government witnesses with questions aimed at shifting the blame to the New Jersey Democrat’s wife, Nadine.  Legal experts say Menendez’s strategy is not unique, but could backfire with jurors.  “An empty-chair defense when a spouse is involved is somewhat

U.S. sanctions Israeli group for damaging aid to Palestinian civilians

Washington — The State Department sanctioned an Israeli extremist group that it said has been mounting attacks aimed at thwarting the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, it announced Friday. The U.S. accused members of the group, called Tsav 9, of blocking, harassing and damaging convoys carrying assistance to Palestinians in Gaza for several months.