On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in San Francisco for the first time in over a year. This meeting comes as tensions between the two countries have been rising, and the Biden administration hopes to use it to resume dialogue and manage the relationship between the two countries. The two leaders will discuss a range of issues, including trade, technology, human rights, and other issues, and the outcome of the meeting will determine the future of the U.S.-China relationship.
News Mash
Tammy Murphy, New Jersey's first lady, has announced her primary campaign to challenge indicted Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez in the 2024 election. In her launch video, Murphy highlighted her work on maternal and infant mortality, climate change initiatives, and other issues. Menendez has yet to comment on Murphy’s announcement.
After a tumultuous few weeks in the Capitol, the House of Representatives passed a clean continuing resolution with bipartisan support, avoiding a potential government shutdown. This displeased some of the more hard-right members of the House, who had to compromise in order to pass the resolution, and there were even allegations of kidney punching in the House. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) commented on the situation, saying “They were better behaved than some of the people in this place.” The resolution has averted a potential government shutdown, but tensions remain high in the Capitol.
Forest and Bird announced that the pūteketeke, a small, black and white bird native to New Zealand, has won the Bird of the Century contest. This was due to John Oliver's humorous campaign on his HBO show, which resulted in a surge of foreign interference in the voting. The success of the pūteketeke is hoped to raise awareness of the plight of New Zealand's native birds and encourage people to take action to protect them.
Scott Shaw, former director of sports medicine at San Jose State University, was sentenced to two years in prison for inappropriately touching four female student-athletes without their consent. The Department of Justice said that Shaw used his position of authority to commit the crimes and that the sentence should serve as a reminder that such behavior will not be tolerated. They also said that they will continue to work to ensure that all students are able to pursue their education without fear of abuse or harassment.
The FBI has launched multiple investigations into individuals affiliated with Hamas following their attack on Israel last month. The attack set off a "March for Israel" on the National Mall, and FBI Director Christopher Wray is set to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss the elevated terrorism threat and the "rogue's gallery of foreign terrorist organizations" identified since the attack. Wray's testimony will provide more insight into the FBI's efforts to combat terrorism and protect Americans from potential attacks.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is carrying out a "precise and targeted operation against Hamas" at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Tel Aviv, resulting in four confirmed deaths, including a renowned physician. International outrage has sparked calls for an immediate end to the violence and an independent investigation into the incident. The IDF is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of civilians in the area.
Eight high school students in Las Vegas have been arrested on suspicion of murder in the fatal beating of a 17-year-old classmate. The fight, which occurred on Nov. 1, was reportedly over a pair of wireless headphones and a vape pen. At least 10 people were involved in the fight, and the police department is urging that qualified suspects be charged as adults. The identities of the eight suspects were not released due to their minor status.