The Full Belmonte, 1/21/2024
U.S. Pushes Hostage-Release Plan Aimed at Ending Gaza War
“The U.S. is pushing Israel and Hamas to agree on a phased plan to end the war, starting with freeing hostages. The two sides are in talks but remain far apart.”
READ MORE at Wall Street Journal
Houthi supporters in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, on Friday. (AP)
As Houthis vow to fight on, U.S. prepares for sustained campaign
“U.S. officials say they don’t expect operations in Yemen to last years, but they acknowledge it’s unclear when the Houthis’ military capability will be eroded.”
By Missy Ryan, John Hudson and Abigail Hauslohner ● Read more » at Washington Post
Middle East
“Iran accused Israel of launching an airstrike in Syria that killed senior Iranian military figures. And U.S. officials said an American army base in Iraq came under attack from Iran-backed militants.” [New York Times]
“Israel’s limited progress in dismantling Hamas has caused frustration and doubt among some army commanders, who believe that hostages can be freed only through diplomacy.” [New York Times]
“A Palestinian American teenager was killed by a barrage of gunfire in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.” [New York Times]
“Hundreds of ships are sailing thousands of extra miles around Africa at considerable cost to avoid potential Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.” [New York Times]
More International News
At Radio Boiling Over. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
“Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is under almost daily bombardment. A radio station serves as a megaphone for residents’ fears and frustration.” [New York Times]
“North Korea’s intensification of nuclear threats has experts wondering whether Kim Jong-un has moved beyond posturing.” [New York Times]
“Rising temperatures, glacier loss and less snow are forcing Swiss farmers to adapt.” [New York Times]
“In Taiwan, growing doubts about the U.S. could be dangerous as China asserts its claim to the island with greater force.” [New York Times]
Politics
“Anti-Trump Republicans have rallied around Nikki Haley ahead of New Hampshire’s primary, in a long-shot bid to stop Donald Trump’s march to the nomination.” [New York Times]
“Haley is making her most forceful case yet for the Republican nomination but has little time to make up a lot of ground before New Hampshire, Jazmine Ulloa, Anjali Huynh and Jonathan Weisman write.” [New York Times]
“This week, Bridgeport, Conn. will host another Democratic mayoral primary after a judge threw out the results of the previous one, citing evidence of election fraud.” [New York Times]
“Judges in Trump’s civil fraud and defamation trials took different approaches to reining him in inside the courtroom. Their tactics could offer lessons for the criminal cases ahead.” [New York Times]
HIGHER EDUCATIOn
“A backlash against ‘wokeism’ has led states to ban public university diversity programs. Emails and other documents reveal the tactics behind one strand of the campaign.” [New York Times]
“Harvard released its most detailed account of its handling of plagiarism accusations against Claudine Gay, its former president.” [New York Times]
“Lives Lived: Lev Rubinstein was a Russian poet, essayist and political dissident during both the Soviet and Putin eras. He died at 76.” [New York Times]