The Full Belmonte, 3/26/2024
Israeli government cancels planned diplomatic visit to U.S. as tensions flare over U.N. vote demanding Gaza cease-fire
“The Israeli delegation had been set to include Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. The cancellation comes after the United States abstained from voting on a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a Gaza cease-fire.”
Read more Washington Post
Trump wins request to reduce $464 million bond for massive civil fraud judgment. He now has 10 days to post $175 million.
“A panel of New York appellate judges came to Donald Trump’s aid Monday, ruling that he must post a $175 million bond within 10 days to stop Attorney General Letitia James from beginning to take his assets while he appeals.”
Read more at Washington Post
Trump’s N.Y. hush money trial to start April 15, judge says, rejecting defense motion to sanction prosecutors
“Lawyers for former president Donald Trump had asked to delay his New York criminal trial at least until June and to sanction prosecutors over the last-minute revelation of potential evidence about Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer and a key witness. Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up his reimbursement to Cohen of a hush money payment during the 2016 election.”
Read more at Washington Post
The container ship is wedged under the bridge, complicating rescue efforts. Credit: EPA
Bridge collapse
“Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed overnight after it was struck by a container ship. Rescue workers are searching for multiple people and vehicles believed to have fallen into the water, a Fire Department spokesperson told CNN. The official warned that the collapse of the 1.6-mile-long, four-lane bridge was a ‘mass casualty multi-agency incident,’ and conditions were unsafe for rescuers due to objects hanging from the structure, freezing conditions and limited visibility. The bridge extends over the Patapsco River and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor. It is an essential link of Interstate-695, or the Baltimore Beltway.” [CNN]
Fire officials say they are searching for up to 20 people in the water after Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed
“Strong winds and frigid temperatures at the scene make conditions difficult for rescuers, the Baltimore fire department’s director of communications told The Post. The bridge collapsed after a Singapore-flagged vessel, the 948-foot Dali, crashed into the bridge, a Coast Guard spokesman said.”
Read more at USA Today
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s homes raided by Homeland Security as he faces several lawsuits over allegations of abuse, sex trafficking
“R&B singer Cassie, Combs’s former girlfriend, filed a blockbuster lawsuit against Combs in November. The lawsuit alleged that Cassie suffered a ‘cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking’ at the hands of the famed producer. The lawsuit was soon followed by others.”
Read more at Washington Post
Bibi's strategic anger
The rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli military raid on a residential district in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, today. Photo: Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“The White House sees the public rift with Israel over a UN Security Council resolution as an artificial crisis manufactured by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for domestic political reasons, three U.S. officials told Axios' Barak Ravid.
Catch up quick: Israel wanted the U.S. to veto a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The U.S. abstained from that vote instead.
In response, Netanyahu criticized the move and canceled a visit to the White House later this week by his senior advisers.
What they're saying: A U.S. official said the White House was ‘perplexed’ by what it sees as an overreaction by Netanyahu.
The official said the White House is also puzzled that the prime minister rejected the U.S. interpretation of the UN resolution and decided to air his differences with the Biden administration in public.
‘All of that is self-defeating. The prime minister could have chosen a different course. ... He chose not to, apparently for political purposes,’ a U.S. official said.” [Axios]
Kyiv endures a third air attack in 5 days as Russia steps up bombardment of cities
“Russia launched missiles against Kyiv for the third time in five days and also targeted other regions as Moscow escalated its aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities while the front line in the war remains largely stationary.” Read More at AP News
“A break from pacifism: Japan's cabinet has approved the export of new fighter jets it is developing with the UK and Italy. Tokyo has pledged to double military spending by 2027.” [BBC]
A British court ruled that Julian Assange would not be extradited to the U.S. without assurances about his treatment there.
“The United States wants to try the embattled WikiLeaks founder, who has been in a London prison since 2019, on espionage charges over the publication of classified documents.”
Read more at New York Times
UN demand for Gaza cease-fire provokes strongest clash between US and Israel since war began
“The United Nations Security Council on Monday issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began.” Read More at AP News
Israel cancels delegation to U.S. over U.N. cease-fire vote
“Israel has canceled a delegation that was set to visit Washington, D.C., this week, after the U.S. abstained from voting on a resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council today calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had threatened to cancel the trip if the U.S. did not veto any cease-fire measure that wasn't tied to a hostage release.
While the resolution approved today does demand the release of the hostages, it does not make that a condition for the cease-fire.
Netanyahu’s office accused the U.S. of hurting the war effort, by giving Hamas hope of a cease-fire without releasing the hostages.
The White House said it’s ‘very disappointed’ the Israeli delegation will not be coming, and added that the result of today’s vote does not represent a ‘change in policy’ by the administration.” [NBC News]
Senior doctors in South Korea submit resignations, deepening dispute over medical school plan
Senior doctors at major hospitals in South Korea began submitting their resignations en masse on Monday in support of medical interns and residents who have been on strike for five weeks over the government’s push to sharply increase medical school admissions. Read More at AP News
Investigating Moscow’s Terrorist Attack
People bring flowers to a makeshift memorial in front of the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, Russia, on March 25.Olga Maltseva/AFP
“Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a national day of mourning on Sunday and pledged to punish all those responsible for the terrorist attack last Friday that killed at least 139 people and injured nearly 180 others at a concert at Crocus City Hall in Moscow. Authorities have detained 11 suspects thus far, including four Tajik nationals charged on Sunday with committing an act of terrorism. If found guilty, they face the maximum sentence of life in prison—although former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, among others, have called for Putin to reinstate the death penalty. On Monday, Russian authorities identified three additional people that they allege were involved.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for last Friday’s attack and released video footage of the attack purportedly taken by one of the perpetrators. Putin, however, suggested that Kyiv was involved in the assault, saying the four charged suspects were allegedly apprehended while on a highway leading to Ukraine. ‘[A] window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,’ Putin said.
Kyiv denied any involvement in the attack, and both the United States and France said the Islamic State was solely responsible. It is ‘cynical and counterproductive for Russia and her citizens’ to try to blame Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said. According to the White House, the United States shared information with Russia earlier this month warning of a planned attack in Moscow. On March 7, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow also issued a public advisory for all U.S. nationals to avoid crowded spaces in the capital city, including concerts.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the Islamic State’s involvement or whether Washington provided Russia with prior intelligence, arguing that it was sensitive information and that Russia does not comment on ongoing investigations.
Some regional experts believe last Friday’s attack may threaten Putin’s public image, considering it was the deadliest assault in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege, when Islamist militants took more than 1,000 people hostage and eventually killed 300, more than half of whom were children.
Yet Putin’s hold on power reportedly remains strong. Last week, he was reelected to another six-year term in largely predetermined elections mere weeks after opposition leader Alexei Navalny died while imprisoned at a Siberian penal colony. And Russia continued its assault on Kyiv over the weekend with renewed missile and drone attacks—one of which violated Polish airspace for 39 seconds while en route to targets in western Ukraine.” [Foreign Policy]
The World This Week
“Tuesday, March 26: Macron begins a three-day trip in Brazil.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Slovenia.
Wednesday, March 27: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begins a two-day trip in Lebanon.
Scholz hosts Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.
South Africa’s central bank determines its interest rate.
Thursday, March 28: Poland and Ukraine hold talks on their dispute over cheap Ukrainian grain imports.
Sunday, March 31: Turkey holds local elections.” [Foreign Policy]
“A key U.N. abstention. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Monday calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began on March 10. The resolution also demands the ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of hostages held in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. The council’s 10 nonpermanent members drafted the text, and 14 nations voted to approve the resolution. The United States abstained. ‘Finally, finally, the Security Council is shouldering its responsibility,’ said Amar Bendjama, Algeria’s ambassador to the U.N.
This was the council’s sixth attempt at passing a resolution calling for a halt in fighting since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023. The United States vetoed three resolutions, and China and Russia vetoed two drafts, the most recent occurring last Friday. Attempts to amend the text by restoring earlier language that included the word ‘permanent’ failed. Security Council resolutions are legally binding but lack an enforcement mechanism, though Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., referred to the text as a ‘nonbinding resolution.’ Other Biden administration officials have also referred to it as nonbinding, a position that is inconsistent with what other countries and international legal experts have said.
In response to the vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled plans to send a delegation to Washington this week to discuss Israel’s much-criticized impending military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The United States’ decision not to veto the resolution will hurt war efforts, Netanyahu argued, by giving ‘Hamas hope that international pressure will enable them to achieve a cease-fire without freeing the hostages.’ The White House denied that the abstention signaled a shift in policy.” [Foreign Policy]
“South China Sea spat. The Philippines’ foreign ministry summoned China’s charge d’affaires to Manila on Monday to protest ‘aggressive actions’ in the South China Sea. It accused Beijing’s coast guard of firing a water cannon on Saturday at a civilian ship in the Second Thomas Shoal that was delivering supplies to Philippine troops. ‘China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is unacceptable,’ it said.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila accused the Philippines of “intruding” into Chinese waters, reiterated its claim over the maritime territory, and warned the Philippines on Monday against “playing with fire.” This was Beijing’s second such warning in three months, and it follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Manila last week, when he reaffirmed Washington’s ‘ironclad commitment’ to defend the Philippines in the South China Sea.” [Foreign Policy]
“Rescue missions. Nigerian authorities on Sunday rescued 137 schoolchildren who had been kidnapped from the state of Kaduna earlier this month. They were recovered just days before a roughly $690,000 ransom deadline was set to expire, which Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said he refused to pay. No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and around 150 people are believed to still be missing.
In Mexico, state officials also celebrated a successful rescue mission over the weekend when authorities found 42 hostages, including 18 children, kidnapped by criminal groups in the state of Sinaloa on Friday. Twenty-four people remain missing. The territory is home to the infamous Sinaloa cartel, though police have not yet confirmed who was behind the kidnappings.” [Foreign Policy]
“If customer service was a little slow in Paris’s cafes last weekend, don’t blame the waitstaff. They might have been participating in France’s annual waiters’ race. Around 200 servers speed-walked a 1.2-mile trek without dropping their platters, each one carrying a croissant, a glass of water, and a cup of coffee. First held in the early 1900s, the waiters’ race returned on Sunday after a 12-year hiatus to promote Paris hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics in July.” [Foreign Policy]
“South Africa’s ruling African National Congress lost a bid to have the new party endorsed by its former leader, Jacob Zuma, removed from the ballot before elections in May.” [Bloomberg]
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to step down
“Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun intends to leave the company by the end of the year, and the company’s chairman and head of the commercial airplane unit are also leaving.
The chairman, Larry Kellner, will not stand for re-election to the board. The board has elected board member Steve Mollenkopf to succeed him. Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, is retiring and Stephanie Pope, chief operating officer of that unit, is taking his place effective immediately.
Boeing has been buffeted by more than five years of problems with its airplanes, including two fatal crashes of the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people, and most recently a door plug that blew out of the side of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max in January, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane. The problems have led to multiple groundings for safety issues and more than $31 billion in cumulative losses.” [USA Today]
Adam Neumann Submits Bid to Buy Back WeWork for More Than $500 Million
“WeWork's co-founder submitted an offer to buy back the bankrupt co-working company for more than $500 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Neumann has been trying to regain control of WeWork after he was ousted five years ago by the board.”
READ MORE at Wall Street Journal
DeSantis signs one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors
“Florida will have one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors — if it withstands expected legal challenges — under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.” Read More at AP News
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani denied betting on sports.
“What’s happening? The Los Angeles Dodgers fired Ohtani’s interpreter last week following reports that he stole millions from the Japanese star to cover gambling debts.
The latest: Ohtani addressed the scandal for the first time yesterday. He said he was ‘saddened and shocked’ by the allegations and he plans to cooperate with investigations.”
Read this story at Washington Post
“Lives Lived: Shani Mott was a scholar of Black studies at Johns Hopkins University whose examinations of race and power in America extended to her city and even to her own home. She died at 47.” [New York Times]