Crooked Bough News Round-up

— U.N. head presses Security Council to act on Gaza cease-fire; Israel says Guterres is 'danger to world peace'

 

at 12/6/23 8:30pm

U.N. head Antonio Guterres on Wednesday invoked a rarely used article of the U.N. charter to pressure the Security Council to call for a humanitarian cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

— Biden administration delays menthol cigarette ban until 2024

 

at 12/6/23 7:44pm

The Biden administration is pushing a planned end-of-the-year ban on menthol cigarettes into 2024, in a blow to health advocates who worked to limit access sooner in an effort to save lives.

— Fourth Republican debate off to heated start

 

at 12/6/23 7:08pm

The field for the Republican Party's presidential nomination is down to five, with four candidates on the debate stage in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Wednesday.

— 3 dead, 1 in critical condition after UNLV shooting

 

at 12/6/23 5:40pm

At least three people were killed and one person is in critical condition in a shooting Wednesday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to police, who said the suspected shooter also is dead.

— Supreme Court justices have tense debate in workplace discrimination case

 

at 12/6/23 4:45pm

The question on what qualifies as workplace discrimination turned into a back-and-forth deliberation among the Supreme Court justices and the attorneys in the arguments for Muldrow v. City of St. Louis.

— Tigers maul man to death inside big cat exhibit at Pakistan zoo

 

at 12/6/23 3:38pm

An unidentified man was found mauled to death inside the tiger exhibit at a Pakistan zoo on Wednesday as staff conducted routine cleaning.

— How to watch fourth Republican primary debate

 

at 12/6/23 3:24pm

The field for the Republican Party's presidential nomination is down to five, with four candidates on the debate stage in Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday.

— Suspected shooter dead after multiple victims reported in shooting at UNLV, police say

 

at 12/6/23 2:50pm

Multiple victims are reported in a shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to police, who say the suspected shooter is dead.

— Google unveils Gemini AI system

 

at 12/6/23 2:42pm

Google unveiled its Gemini AI system Wednesday, which will compete against available systems like ChatGPT and Open AI.

— Lawmakers consider legislation to protect political dissenters abroad

 

at 12/6/23 2:38pm

Freedom House released a report on Wednesday that found at least 26 nations - including China, Iran, Russia and Saudi Arabia - targeted journalists abroad with "transnational repression" between 2014 and 2023.

— U.N.: 600,000 people in Gaza under evacuation orders as IDF orders people out of Khan Younis

 

at 12/6/23 2:13pm

More than 600,000 people in southern Gaza have been ordered to move to avoid Israeli ground attacks and airstrikes, according to the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

— Wall Street bankers tell Senate they oppose new increased capital regulation

 

at 12/6/23 1:58pm

Wall Street bankers at Wednesday's Senate Banking Oversight Committee hearing on the stability of the U.S. banking system were united in their opposition to stricter capitalization regulations.

— Marines, military children join Jill Biden at White House to celebrate Toys For Tots

 

at 12/6/23 1:14pm

First lady Jill Biden joined the Marine Corps and military families at the White House on Wednesday to host a Toys For Tots event, part of her Joining Forces Initiative.

— Marines to join Jill Biden at White House in celebration of Toys For Tots

 

at 12/6/23 1:14pm

First lady Jill Biden will join the Marine Corps at the White House Wednesday as she hosts a Toys For Tots event, part of her Joining Forces Initiative.

— In settlement, 10 Wisconsin 'fake electors' admit Joe Biden won 2020 election

 

at 12/6/23 12:59pm

Ten Wisconsin Republicans accused of acting as so-called "fake electors" during the 2020 presidential election have agreed to a settlement and acknowledged that they were part of a coordinated effort.

— Suspect in custody after bomb threat at Naval Air Station in Florida

 

at 12/6/23 12:01pm

Authorities arrested one suspect on Wednesday after a bomb threat forced a lockdown at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla.

— 4 Russian-affiliated fighters charged with war crimes in alleged torture of U.S. citizen

 

at 12/6/23 11:23am

Four individuals working alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have been charged with war crimes by the U.S. Justice Department for their alleged torture of a U.S. citizen, according to documents unsealed Wednesday.

— Rep. Kevin McCarthy says he will leave Congress by year's end

 

at 12/6/23 11:03am

Rep. Kevin McCarthy said on Wednesday that he will leave his seat in Congress by the end of the year, months after being ousted as House speaker.

— Venezuela moves ahead with plan to annex Guyana's oil-rich Essequibo region

 

at 12/6/23 10:29am

Venezuela will annex oil-rich Essequibo, a disputed territory in Guyana, in an effort to enforce results of a referendum Sunday. President Nicolás Maduro displayed a new map with the annexed territory Tuesday.

— Suspect arrested in connection with string of Texas shootings that killed 6

 

at 12/6/23 10:08am

A suspect was taken into custody by law enforcement on Tuesday in connection with a string of shootings that left six dead and three injured, according to authorities.

— Sen. Ron Wyden warns of foreign spying threat through smartphone push notifications

 

at 12/6/23 9:35am

Sen. Ron Wyden warned Wednesday that foreign government demands for smartphone push notification data from Google and Apple could facilitate surveillance of users.

— British government sanctions 46 entities and individuals for trading with Russia

 

at 12/6/23 9:10am

The British government Wednesday sanctioned 46 individuals and entities for conducting business that supports the Russian military.

— Authorities arrest Arizona man in connection with deadly 2022 Australian shooting

 

at 12/6/23 9:00am

A 58-year-old Arizona man was arrested last week in connection with a religion-motivated attack in Australia last year with ties to "Christian end-of-days" extremist ideology, authorities said Wednesday.

— World's airlines poised to rake in record profits, revenue in 2024, trade data indicates

 

at 12/6/23 8:16am

Global passenger airlines are poised to rake in record profits in 2024 due to an anticipated surge in travelers, but overall growth may be limited as high capital costs and limited capacity impact the bottom line.

— U.S. unveils policy to ban entry to violent Israeli West Bank settlers

 

at 12/6/23 1:02am

The United States is imposing visa bans against dozens of Israeli settlers accused of undermining peace, security and stability in the occupied West Bank.

— On This Day, Dec. 6: Altamont free concert held in California

 

at 12/6/23 1:00am

On Dec. 6, 1969, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival was held in Northern California.

— U.S. identifies airmen killed in Osprey crash as rescue mission becomes recovery operation

 

at 12/5/23 8:58pm

The U.S. military on Tuesday identified the eight U.S. airmen who died in last week's Osprey aircraft crash, as officials announced the search-and-rescue mission was transitioning to a recovery operation.

— U.S., Sweden sign agreement to strengthen military ties

 

at 12/5/23 8:02pm

The United States and Sweden signed an agreement to strengthen military cooperation that will permit U.S. forces to operate within the Scandinavian country, the allies said Tuesday.

As of 12/6/23 9:59pm. Last new 12/6/23 9:27pm.