National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

Breaking: Mitch McConnell to step down as Senate GOP leader in November | 28 Feb 2024 | Longtime Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Wednesday he will step away from leadership in November. McConnell, who turned 82 last week, announced his decision in the well of the Senate shortly after noon… “One of life’s most under-appreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said in prepared remarks reported by The Associated Press. “So I stand before you today…to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.” The dramatic decision, which will set up a leadership election in the GOP conference with several likely candidates, comes as Republicans have expressed increasing discontent with McConnell’s handling of the bipartisan border bill and national security supplemental package that included aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. McConnell has also butted heads with former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner, who recently said at a Fox News town hall, “I don’t know that I can work with [McConnell].”

‘Catastrophic scenario’ if NATO troops deploy to Ukraine – top Russian senator –The possibility mulled by the French president could be taken as a declaration of war on Moscow, Konstantin Kosachev has said | 27 Feb 2024 | The potential [insane] deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine will lead to a “catastrophic scenario,” and could be interpreted as a “declaration of war” on Moscow, top Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev has said. The Vice Speaker of Russia’s upper chamber, the Federation Council, offered his take on remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of sending troops in a Telegram post on Tuesday. The approach exhibited by the French leader carries a risk of the situation devolving into a “catastrophic scenario,” Kosachev warned, stating that the move would not be tolerated by the Kremlin. “This is the line beyond which it’s no longer just NATO’s involvement in the war – this has been happening for a long time, but can be interpreted as the alliance entering direct hostilities, or even as a declaration of war,” Kosachev wrote.

Ukraine’s Abrams tanks burn just like any others – Kremlin –The first U.S.-supplied Ukrainian M1 Abrams has been destroyed in the conflict | 26 Feb 2024 | Any weapons supplied to Kiev “will burn,” and the U.S.-made M1 Abrams tanks are no exception, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. Peskov delivered the remark as he was reached by TASS for comment on the first-ever destruction of a Ukrainian M1 Abrams tank by Russian forces, reported earlier in the day. The vehicle was reportedly destroyed near the village of Berdychi, located to the northwest of Avdeevka, a key Donbass town liberated by the Russian military earlier this month. The development is a part of the Russian military’s daily routine of “demilitarizing” Ukraine, the spokesman explained.

Red Crescent suspends coordinated medical missions with Israeli forces in Gaza due to safety concerns | 26 Feb 2024 | The Palestine Red Crescent Society has suspended its work on “coordinated medical missions” in Gaza for 48 hours because it cannot ensure the safety of its teams, the wounded and the sick, PRCS said in a statement Monday, as it accused the Israeli military of repeatedly mistreating its staff and patients. The suspension means teams will not work on humanitarian missions in areas where the Israeli military is present in Gaza, PRCS told CNN. The humanitarian organization also accused Israel of not committing to the procedures and coordination mechanisms agreed upon with United Nations agencies to fulfill these missions.

‘Israeli Revengers’ threaten parliament, members families over alleged Oct. 7 failings: ‘A fair price’ | 25 Feb 2024 | A group ominously calling itself “Israeli Revengers” is threatening to harm members of Israel’s government and their families over the Jewish state’s alleged failings in preventing the Oct. 7 massacre. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has confirmed that several representatives and their relatives have received frightening letters from the previously unknown organization. The group appears to identify itself with the symbol of a red fist coming out of a black Star of David and says it’s seeking to avenge those killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack by hurting the families of government officials who allegedly failed to recognize the signs leading up to it. “We will locate one of your family members whom we will manage to harm without being discovered,” said one of the letters received by a family member, according to a translation by The Times of Israel. “We believe that the blame for Oct. 7 largely lies with the coalition…of whom almost no one was harmed on a personal or familial level by this war,” the missive said. “An attack on you is a fair price for each Member of Knesset to personally pay.” [CLG News does not endorse the use of violence and this group has violated the non-aggression principle with their threats.]

Biden says he’s making unannounced visit to Walter Reed for physical exam | 28 Feb 2024 | Joe Biden revealed Wednesday that he is making an unannounced trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a physical exam. Biden has undergone yearly physical examinations since the beginning of his term, in line with every other commander in chief since President Richard Nixon. Walter Reed, the hospital used by all presidents for routine medical care and examinations, is located in Bethesda, Maryland. Earlier this month, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, does not believe a cognitive test is necessary.

GOP Rep. Buck introduces resolution asking cabinet to remove Biden through 25th Amendment | 26 Feb 2024 | Colorado Republican Rep. Ken Buck on Monday introduced a resolution urging the cabinet to remove President [sic] Joe Biden from office under the 25th Amendment. “The time has come for the vice president and the Cabinet to put our country first and move forward on invoking the 25th Amendment,” Buck told The Hill. “The Hur report officially addressed what many Americans have long witnessed with their own eyes — that President Biden is no longer fit to successfully discharge the critical duties of his office,” he also said, claiming the special counsel’s account of Biden’s behavior indicated that the president had experienced “cognitive decline” and a “lack of mental stamina.”

Dengue Fever Surges by 400% in Brazil After Bill Gates-Backed Gene-Edited Mosquitos Released | 26 Feb 2024 | Dengue fever has spiked fourfold in Brazil in 2024 following the release of millions of gene-edited mosquitos by the United Nations’ World Mosquito Program. In the first five weeks of 2024, over 364,000 cases of dengue infection have been reported, according to the country’s health ministry, which is 4x greater than previous cases in the same period of 2023. The dramatic spike in dengue cases has prompted Brazil to purchase millions of doses of the dengue vaccine.

Canada’s Vaccine Passport, ArriveCan, Faces Major Investigations –The ArriveCan app, which was originally budgeted at 80,000, has seen its costs balloon to over 60 million. | 28 Feb 2024 | Over last week’s end, Canadian Information Commissioner, Caroline Maynard, announced the inception of a probe into claims of the obliteration of federal government records surrounding the government’s controversial vaccine passport app, ArriveCan. ArriveCAN is a mobile application that was initially launched in April 2020 as a tool to assist border guards in Canada. It was designed to determine if people were eligible to enter Canada and whether they met strict COVID-19 requirements. The app became mandatory for all air travelers seven months later and was expanded to include those crossing the border by land in March 2021. It collects personal data such as name, telephone number, address, and vaccination status to help public health officials enforce government quarantine rules​. Aside from the obvious constitutional concerns, there was much debate among experts about whether the app’s requirement for travelers to remain in their homes, especially following a glitch that incorrectly notified thousands of fully vaccinated travelers to quarantine, could be a form of unlawful detention.

Hunter Biden tells Congress: ‘I did not involve my father in my business’ –Hunter Biden also acknowledged what he called his “mistakes,” but said that he was fully to blame, not his father. | 28 Feb 2024 | Hunter Biden testified to Congress that he did not involve his father, Joe Biden, in his business dealings as the Republican impeachment inquiry heats up. “I am here today to provide the Committees with the one uncontestable [sic] fact that should end the false premise of this inquiry: I did not involve my father in my business. Not while I was a practicing lawyer, not in my investments or transactions domestic or international, not as a board member, and not as an artist. Never,” he said in his opening statement obtained by Punchbowl News. Hunter Biden’s comments about his father changed slightly from December, when he said, “My father was not financially involved in my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma.” [Emphasis added]

Hazmat Unit Descends on Donald Trump Jr.’s Home After He Receives Death Threat, White Powder | 26 Feb 2024 | Former President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., had an unexpected surprise Monday after he was sent a letter containing white powder and a note with a death threat, causing a hazmat unit and firefighters to arrive at his Florida home. “It’s just become a little bit too commonplace that this sort of stuff happens,” Donald Trump Jr. told the Daily Caller. “This is actually the second white powder substance envelope that’s been mailed to me,” Trump Jr. added.

Trump plans to post $100M bond in appeal of New York civil fraud judgement | 28 Feb 2024 | Former President Trump asked a New York appeals court to put on hold the enforcement of the multimillion dollar penalties he faces in his “civil fraud” case, suggesting he’d post a 100 million bond while the process plays out. Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay nearly 355 million, plus interest, in penalties… The total judgement against Trump, which climbs nearly 112,000 in interest each day he doesn’t pay it, now amounts to more than 454 million. On top of that, Engoron ruled that Trump, his business and top executives could not obtain lo-ns from New York banks for three years.  

Donald Trump DESTROYS Nikki Haley in Michigan Republican presidential primary: Ex-president carries on charging to a Biden rematch as his final rival defiantly limps on in the race –The race was called for Trump immediately after all polls in the states closed | 27 Feb 2024 | Former President Donald Trump won the Michigan Republican primary Tuesday over rival [deep-state neocon] Nikki Haley. The race was called at exactly 9 p.m. – when all Michigan’s polls were closed – with Trump leading Haley 65 percent to 30.9 percent, with 12 percent reporting. Trump has bested Haley in all four of the early primary states where they’ve both appeared on the ballot – Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and now Michigan. The former president also won the Nevada caucuses and a symbolic vote for Trump – voters choosing ‘none of these candidates’ – bested Haley in Nevada’s presidential primary. Haley, however, has vowed to press on, telling supporters in Charleston Saturday night that she would continue in the race through Super Tuesday, March 5, when 16 states and American Samoa hold primaries.

Trump defeats Haley in South Carolina, steamrolling toward nomination and fall rematch with Biden –Exit polling showed Trump’s signature issue of immigration was top of mind in South Carolina. | 24 Feb 2024 | Former President Donald Trump humiliated Nikki Haley in her home state Saturday night, scoring a convincing win in the South Carolina GOP primary that opens the door for him to focus full time on a fall rematch with Joe Biden. With a third straight Republican presidential nomination in reach, the 45th president thanked his party for unifying behind him but made clear he would not rest with his fifth straight primary win of 2024. “You can celebrate for about 15 minutes, but then we have to get back to work,” Trump said during a victory speech. With 90% of ballots counted, Trump had a 20-point lead over Haley.

Protesters shout down Athens mayor over Georgia student murder as he denies sanctuary city | 28 Feb 2024 | Angry Georgia residents interrupted Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz Wednesday morning as he held a news briefing to discuss public safety in the community after the murder of nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus last week. The Democratic mayor delivered remarks Wednesday, nearly a week after an illegal immigrant from Venezuela named Jose Antonio Ibarra allegedly attacked Riley near Lake Herrick and UGA’s Intramural Fields. “The only appropriate number of murders in this community, the number that we are gonna be working our tails off every day for, is zero,” Girtz said. However, protesters interrupted him as he attempted to dismiss “the notion of a sanctuary city.” “You’re a liar,” a man shouted, repeatedly. “You’re the one who is guilty and got blood on your hands for this murder, sir!”

Suspected killer of Georgia student is Venezuelan national who illegally entered U.S. in 2022 –Ibarra originally crossed illegally into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 | 24 Feb 2024 | The suspect charged in connection with the murder of a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student has been confirmed as an illegal immigrant originally from Venezuela, Fox News Digital has learned. 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, the suspect charged in the murder of nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus, is a Venezuelan national who crossed illegally into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, and was released into the U.S. via parole, three ICE and DHS sources told Fox News. Police have charged Ibarra with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another, UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said during a news briefing Friday evening.AOC heckled in fiery town hall: ‘all you care about is illegal aliens and their votes’ | 24 Feb 2024 | A town hall hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. touting the apparent benefits of the Green New Deal ended up turning some attendees red with anger on Thursday. The socialist lawmaker was speaking at an event in Queens in New York City where she was heckled by two attendees who accused her of caring more about illegal immigrants than those whom she was elected to represent. One of the hecklers, Jonathan David Rinaldi, said he is challenging Ocasio-Cortez for her congressional seat. “My name is Jonathan David Rinaldi and I’m running for Congress against AOC. The Green New Deal is a scam,” Rinaldi shouted as Ocasio-Cortez was championing environmental justice provisions and climate change policies under the deal. “Secure the border now,” the man barked at Ocasio-Cortez while waving his finger at her. “You haven’t said one word about violent Venezuelan migrants, illegals.” “You don’t care, all you care about is illegal aliens and their votes. You don’t care about your constituents.”