Today’s Breaking News

Breaking news is a form of journalism which documents events occurring instantly that are significant enough to warrant immediate public notice, such as natural disasters or significant political developments that need immediate public awareness. Today’s breaking news includes controversy around bail fund accounts as well as reports about Russian election meddling and more.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said police would be deploying 1,000 new officers into the Bronx amid a gun violence surge.

As mayor, Adams has prioritized policing over social services. He revitalized NYPD anti-gun units and championed a “zero tolerance” approach towards street homelessness and subway fare evasion; yet has not significantly expanded community-led violence interruption initiatives or invested in additional mental health resources; maintaining that they complement rather than replace policing.

Sliwa has advocated strongly for prioritizing “locals first.” He often highlights how homeless veterans or longtime NYC residents are sleeping rough while migrants get hotel rooms. Furthermore, Sliwa has attacked the right-to-shelter policy of NYC and advocated busing migrants out of neighborhoods or using Rikers Island to house them as temporary measures.

Lander has taken a more moderate approach, criticizing Adams’ administration’s failure on housing and mental health while simultaneously calling for the removal of shelter limits for migrants. Instead of prioritizing locals for aid rationing purposes, he’d focus on finding new funding sources (like state, federal or philanthropic) which allow expansion services for all. Kendra’s Law (court ordered treatment of those considered dangerous to themselves or others) might even fall under his radar as would better coordination so homeless locals don’t compete against one another for limited city resources.

Israel announced that the remains of a hostage that Israel said Friday had been recovered in Gaza were of Idan Shtivi.

Idan Shtivi was shot to death while attending Israel’s Nova music festival held in Gaza on October 7, 2023 as a photographer. Although reported dead upon its first anniversary of abduction based on intelligence assessments, his family held out hope that their loved one may still be alive.

On Saturday, an Israeli Defense Force operation led to the successful recovery of Shtivi’s body as part of an ongoing effort to locate and recover missing persons (Haaretz). This included Ilan Weiss who was also killed during this attack – both being returned home as a part of this “complex rescue effort”. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office described this operation as part of their ongoing mission of finding missing persons (Haaretz).

Meanwhile in Gaza, where almost two years of war have left over two million displaced and starvation is nearing catastrophe, starvation is approaching catastrophe. As a result, hospitals are nearly rundown, while many patients receive care at home as Israeli attacks continue to target health facilities. According to reports, 39 people were reported killed throughout the territory, including 14 near a Global Humanitarian Fund site in Teina and five waiting for aid trucks in Netzarim corridor (AP). On the diplomatic front, U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff met with Netanyahu and underscored that Washington would not seek piecemeal agreements that may lead to a new truce but would instead focus on freeing all hostages immediately and ending conflict altogether (Axios).

The U.S. has never been closer to armed conflict with Venezuela.

US naval forces have increased their naval presence off Venezuela, and allies of President Donald Trump are making bellicose statements and threats to remove Maduro from power and seize his enormous oil wealth. Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn made such statements while other American First allies encouraged military intervention on social media to remove Maduro and secure Venezuela’s vast resources.

Recent rhetoric and increased naval forces from the US has given rise to speculation of a potential land incursion by Venezuela into US territory; however, analysts and former government officials assert there’s no indication such an incursion will take place soon.

Naval deployment could help interdict drug trafficking and possibly carry out drone strikes; however, that wouldn’t necessarily depose Maduro; that would require much larger forces.

Evan Ellis, a Latin America specialist at the US Army War College, believes military maneuvers could allow US forces to quickly land troops on Venezuelan territory and launch a “snatch-and-grab operation,” taking advantage of its expansive coastline. However, an invasion is unlikely given President Nicolas Maduro’s mismanagement of economic affairs and corruption-tainted presidential election last year – subscribe to Here’s the Deal newsletter for analysis not found elsewhere!