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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news:
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION AND NEW CONGRESS
After a flurry of announcements, President-elect Trump’s list of Cabinet picks and other senior level positions is now complete, including hedge fund manager Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary), a key Project 2025 figure Russell T. Vought (Office of Management and Budget), Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) (Department of Labor), and former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka (deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism). Irie Sentner reports for POLITICO; Charlie Savage, Maggie Haberman, and Jonathan Swan report for the New York Times.
Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was briefly placed on a TSA overseas flights watchlist earlier this year after her travel patterns and foreign connections triggered a risk-based government algorithm, sources say. Katie Bo Lillis, Zachary Cohen, and Holmes Lybrand report for CNN.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) said he met with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan last week, adding that the two administrations are “one team” on national security issues during the transition. Mia McCarthy reports for POLITICO.
In a break from tradition, Trump is keeping secret the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort, raising concern among ethics experts. Ken Bensinger and David A. Fahrenthold report for the New York Times.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said on Friday he will not be returning to Congress next year following his withdrawal as Trump’s Attorney General pick. Kristen Holmes reports for CNN.
TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS
Trump plans to fire the entire Justice Department team, including all civil servants that worked with special counsel Jack Smith, sources say. Amy Gardner, Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, and Perry Stein report for the Washington Post.
A New York judge overseeing Trump’s hush money criminal case has confirmed the president-elect will not be sentenced next week, with the case on hold while Trump’s lawyers seek its dismissal. Ben Protess reports for the New York Times.
Trump’s Attorney General pick, Pam Bondi, previously said that “prosecutors will be prosecuted” after criminal charges were brought against Trump in 2023. Mark Berman and David Nakamura report for the Washington Post.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
The director of northern Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital was injured in a Saturday attack on the facility, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Twelve other healthcare workers were injured on Friday. Niha Masih, Hajar Harb, and Jennifer Hassan report for the Washington Post.
The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders yesterday in areas of an eastern Gaza City suburb, setting off a new wave of displacement. Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza have killed at least 10 Palestinians since Saturday night, health officials said. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.
A female Israeli hostage was killed in an area of northern Gaza struck by Israeli forces, a Hamas spokesperson said on Saturday. Israel says it is investigating the claim. Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba report for Reuters.
A senior Israeli minister yesterday said Israel will stay in Gaza “for years.” Jason Burke and William Christou report for the Guardian.
Israel yesterday approved a proposal mandating all government-funded bodies to refrain from communicating with or placing advertisements in the Haaretz newspaper. Jonathan Lis reports for Haaretz.
Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank are allegedly adopting tactics similar to those deployed in Gaza, including airstrikes and the use of human shields. Raja Abdulrahim and Azmat Khan report for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration warned Israel that its decision to stop issuing administrative detention orders against West Bank Israeli settlers suspected of attacking Palestinians could increase violence in the territory. Israel’s Defense Ministry said the decision was an “internal step taken out of a commitment to democratic principles.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR
Israel and Lebanon are nearing a ceasefire agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war, according to Israeli and U.S. officials. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Hezbollah yesterday fired some 250 projectiles into Israel, one of the group’s largest attacks since the start of the war, with Israel responding by conducting heavy airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut. The exchange came a day after an Israeli strike on a residential building in central Beirut killed at least 29 people. Adam Rasgon reports for the New York Times.
An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center killed at least one soldier and injured 18, Lebanon’s army said yesterday. Separately, four Italian soldiers were lightly injured after two rockets exploded at a UNIFIL peacekeeping force base in southern Lebanon. Adam Makary and Menna Alaa report for Reuters.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
Iran is preparing to “respond” to Israel, a senior adviser to the country’s supreme leader said in an interview published yesterday. Elwely Elwelly reports for Reuters.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia will continue to test and start mass-producing the hypersonic ballistic missile launched at Ukraine on Thursday. Katharina Krebs, Darya Tarasova, and Christian Edwards report for CNN; David L. Stern, Siobhán O’Grady, and Ellen Francis report for the Washington Post.
Russia removed a senior commander from his post for making “false claims” about the progress of the Ukraine war, according to Russian media and military bloggers. Billy Stockwell and Darya Tarasova report for CNN.
Ukraine has lost over 40% of the territory it captured in Russia’s Kursk region following its August surprise incursion, a senior Ukrainian military source said. Olena Harmash reports for Reuters.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
Trump is considering selecting ex-intelligence chief Richard Grenell to be a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine war, sources say. Gram Slattery, Nathan Layne, and Humeyra Pamuk report for Reuters.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
COP29 U.N. summit participants yesterday concluded a trillion-dollar deal to support the developing world in shifting to a low-carbon economy. Many Global South countries reacted furiously to the deal, of which only $300 billion will be funded by developed states. Fiona Harvey, Adam Morton, Dharna Noor, and Damian Carrington report for the Guardian.
A U.N. General Assembly committee on Friday adopted a resolution paving the way for a first-ever treaty on preventing and punishing crimes against humanity. Edith M. Lederer reports for AP News.
A famine-struck refugee camp housing about 500,000 displaced people in Sudan on Friday received its first aid convoy in months. Wedaeli Chibelushi and Richard Kagoe report for BBC News.
Iran started activating “new advanced centrifuges” in response to the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s rebuke, the country’s foreign ministry said Friday. Andrew England and Najmeh Bozorgmehr report for the Financial Times.
Armed members of the Venezuelan security forces have surrounded Argentina’s embassy in Caracas, the leaders of the country’s opposition who live in the embassy said. Abel Alvarado reports for CNN.
Pakistan’s capital was put under a security lockdown yesterday ahead of protests calling for former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s release. Gibran Peshimam reports for Reuters.
An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who had been missing since Thursday in the United Arab Emirates was found murdered, Israeli and Emirati authorities said yesterday. Aaron Boxerman and Ismaeel Naar report for the New York Times.
A far-right, pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu is set for a shock victory in the first round of Romania’s presidential election. Emily Atkinson and Nick Thorpe report for BBC News.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) has frozen the promotion of Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, a three-star general who led U.S. forces during the evacuation of Afghanistan. Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post.
Top telecom executives met with national security officials at the White House Friday to discuss how to address the ongoing Salt Typhoon cyber-espionage campaign. David E. Sanger, Julian E. Barnes, Devlin Barrett, and Adam Goldman report for the New York Times
House Republicans are blocking a proposal that would narrow down a warrantless surveillance provision (FISA Section 702) long criticized by privacy and civil liberties advocates as holding a “staggering” potential for abuse. Charlie Savage reports for the New York Times.
A former Arizona county treasurer pleaded guilty on Thursday to embezzling more than $38 million in county funds for personal expenses. Michelle Watson reports for CNN.