need2know-afternoon-edition-102423

Are the headlines. You need to know. Let's start with the latest developments in the war between Israel and Hamas Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with the Un Security Council this morning. Israel's Foreign Minister canceled a planned meeting with the Secretary General after he reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire. Blinken called for the immediate release of all hostages and said the US does not want the conflict to expand. The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen but if Iran or its proxies attack us personnel anywhere, make no mistake. We will defend our people. We will defend our security swiftly and decisively. And speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Today, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an international coalition to fight terrorist groups. Macron also visited the West Bank, two hostages were released by Hamas late yesterday, 85 year old HED Lifschitz and 79 year old Nuri Cooper Lifschitz says she was kidnapped from Kibbutz near Oz and taken across the border into Gaza during the October 7th attack. She said she went through hell. Lifschitz also said Hamas militants gave hostages medical treatment. There are ongoing negotiations between the United States, Israel, Qatar, Egypt and Hamas to release a group of 50 militants that were stymied by demands that fuel be included in humanitarian aid led into Gaza without access to fuel. The World Health Organization says two thirds of Gaza's health facilities are no longer functional and the United Nations says aid workers will have to stop operations tomorrow. Health officials in Gaza say the death toll has risen sharply to 5800 people in the past day. After heavy bombardment from Israeli strikes, Israel said it hit more than 400 targets overnight. 1400 people were killed in Israel during the October 7th attack through a series of secret ballot votes. This afternoon. House Republicans have selected a new nominee for speaker of the house majority whip, Tom Emmer of Minnesota came out on top against Stephen and others on against seven others. Excuse me on the ballot. At the beginning of the day after the nomination. Emmer asked for a roll call vote to see how close he came to the required 217 votes when that roll call was done. One congressman said there was quote significant opposition from members to Emer as speaker, the speakership has been vacant since mccarthy was ousted three weeks ago. Another co defendant in the 2020 Georgia election case has taken a deal and plead guilty to criminal charges. Former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. Ellis was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $5000 in restitution. But take a listen to what she had to tell the judge this morning. I believe in and I value election integrity. If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post election challenges. I look back on this whole experience with deep remorse for those failures of mine. Your honor. I have taken responsibility already before the Colorado Bar who censured me and I now take responsibility before this court and apologize to the people of Georgia. Now, in exchange for the plea, Ellis is required to testify truthfully about the co defendants in the case, including the former president. Three other co defendants have also pleaded guilty including former Trump attorney Sidney Powell ex Trump campaign attorney Kenneth Chess Aro and bail bondsman, Scott Hall. Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen is testifying today in the ongoing civil fraud trial against the former president Trump who is also in court today told media outside the courtroom that Cohen is not a credible witness. Cohen also spoke to reporters this afternoon on his way into court. This is not about Donald Trump versus Michael Cohen or Michael Cohen versus Donald Trump. This is about accountability, plain and simple and we leave it up to judge an goran in order to make all the determinations on that. The New York Attorney General's office has credited Cohen's congressional testimony in 2019 for helping move the investigation forward. In his testimony, Cohen alleged the Trump organization exaggerated the worth of its properties and its assets. Cohen testified today that he and former Chief financial Officer of the Trump organization, Allen Weissberg inflated assets to whatever Trump told them his want. He wanted his net worth to be Weissberg. By the way, denying these meetings. During his testimony, the Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to shut down a plane's engine mid flight has been charged in federal court yesterday, we told you how 44 year old Joseph David Emerson, an off duty pilot was in custody after he attempted to shut down plane engines and grab emergency exit handles during a flight from Washington State to San Francisco. Emerson was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder. 83 counts of reckless endangerment and account of endangering an aircraft. UAW strike has expanded again today. As of this morning, the union has another 5000 workers who are striking this time against a General Motors plant in Texas. This will affect some of the G M's most profitable, profitable vehicles like the Chevy Tahoe, Chevy suburban GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade. With this latest edition, there are now more than 45,000 UAW members striking against the big three automakers. A dense super fog in New Orleans. Yesterday left at least seven people dead after low visibility led to traffic accidents on interstate 55. According to Louisiana State police, the major pile up affected 100 and 58 vehicles and part of the crash scene caught fire. 25 people were injured. Portion of interstate 55 remain closed. Now, the national weather service says the conditions were caused by a combination of high humidity and smoke from marsh fires. The weather service issued another dense fog advisory for areas of Louisiana including both New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Through this morning, jury selection begins today in the trial of a California boat captain who was in charge when a fire led to the deaths of 34 people on board Scuba boat. The conception was anchored 100 ft offshore when it caught fire on Labor Day. In 2019, the National Transportation Safety Board found Captain Jerry Boylan responsible because he failed to post a night watchman. Boylan was initially indicted in 2020 on 34 counts of seamen's manslaughter. But a judge dismissed those charges. Boylan is currently on trial for one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted Boylan pleaded not guilty. Police in Detroit say they are investigating several people of interest in the killing of synagogue leader Samantha Wall over the weekend. They say they are not prepared to publicly identify a prime suspect and have yet to give information on the victim's connection to any of the people of interest. The city's police chief, James White said we have to be very, very cautious as to what information we share. There are very intricate details about this case that if revealed could really damage what we're trying to accomplish. Wall was found stabbed in her home where authorities believe she was killed. The chief again stressed that they do not believe the incident was the result of anti Semitism. The Chinese government has reportedly removed Defense Minister and State Councilor Li Xiang Fu from his post. This according to Chinese state media CCTV who first reported the news. Li's removal was announced by the China's National People's Congress. No explanation was given for the removal. The Chinese government has yet to name a replacement for Lee Reuters initially reported that the now ousted Defense Minister faced a corruption probe related to the buying of military equipment. Lee is the second high level official to be ousted under President Xi Jinping's leadership in the past few months.