First Line News Articles for Saturday, March 16 2024
Top Stories
U.S. continues to airdrop aid into Gaza
The U.S. Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force successfully conducted food drops into northern Gaza on Thursday in a continued effort to alleviate starvation in the war-torn region.
Johnson signals shift on Ukraine to GOP senators
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Republican senators Wednesday to expect the House to send them legislation to help Ukraine, but cautioned that what comes out of the House will look substantially different than the $95 billion foreign aid package the Senate passed last month.
Trump documents case judge, weighing dismissal, muses on Biden parallels
A federal judge referred to President Joe Biden’s handling of sensitive government records on Thursday as she considered whether to dismiss a criminal case against Donald Trump that charges him with illegally holding onto classified documents.
LDS News
Rely on the Spirit when using AI, Elder Gong encourages
With the increasing use and availability of artificial intelligence — like Chat GPT, Copilot and Gemini — Church leaders are evaluating how to best use AI as a tool in support of the ongoing Restoration, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve said Wednesday, March 13.
Elder Cook discusses Kirtland Temple, Book of Mormon and personal testimony at Provo MTC devotional
‘Personal foundations, like many worthwhile pursuits, are usually built slowly — one layer, one experience, one challenge, one setback and one success at a time,’ the Apostle said
Keep calm, renovate a cabin—newlyweds rely on (and share) their faith in new reality show ‘Cabin Wars’
Not many couples can say they celebrated the weeks leading up to their first wedding anniversary on a reality TV series. But when Jessica and Jeremy Rock learned about an opportunity to compete on the new show Cabin Wars: Flip It to Win It, they decided to put their teamwork to the test. The show will start streaming on YouTube this April before heading to other streaming services.
Venezuela will now be part of Church’s Caribbean Area, First Presidency announces
The move will bless and strengthen the Church in this area, doubling the number of stakes and increasing the number of missions and temples
Sarah Jane Weaver: 5 years after the Rome Italy Temple dedication, the Church is glimpsing the fulfillment of that ‘hinge point’
‘The Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled. We’re just building up to what’s ahead now,’ said President Russell M. Nelson before dedicating the Rome Italy Temple
National
FTC to send $4.1M to victims of fake student debt programs
The Federal Trade Commission said it would send $4.1 million in refunds to people scammed out of money through fake loan forgiveness programs.
Mayorkas impeachment trial takes backseat to congressional spending fight
It’s been over a month since the House voted to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, but the Senate likely won’t consider a trial for the homeland secretary until lawmakers can square away their 2024 budget.
Trump ordered CIA to use Chinese social media to attack Xi Jinping’s government
In 2019, former President Donald Trump attempted to turn the tables on China when he ordered the Central Intelligence Agency to launch a campaign against the country’s government through its local social media.
Justice Department, FTC support renewing consumer repair rights
The Justice Department and Federal Trade commission weighed in Thursday with the U.S. Copyright Office supporting the rights of consumers and businesses to repair products they own.
Ga. Gov. Kemp Signs Bill to Rein in ‘Rogue’ Prosecutors
Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation SB 332 on Wednesday that seeks to rein in “rogue” prosecutors in the midst of the contentious positions of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
Appeals court denies Peter Navarro’s bid to stay out of prison
A federal appeals court on Thursday denied ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro’s bid to stay out of prison while appealing his conviction for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Riley Gaines and other female athletes sue NCAA over transgender policy
She added, “The NCAA continues to explicitly violate the federal civil rights law of Title IX. About time someone did something about it.”
Mnuchin putting together US investor group to buy TikTok
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is putting together a group of U.S. investors to buy TikTok after the House of Representatives passed legislation that would force its China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell it to American interests due to national security concerns.
Explosion Injures 16 at California FBI Training Facility
At least 16 people were injured on Wednesday following an explosion at an FBI training facility in Orange County, California.
Judge Sets Trial Date for Hunter Biden’s Federal Gun Case
Hunter Biden’s trial on three federal gun charges is tentatively scheduled to begin on June 3, a judge decided on Wednesday.
World
North Korea’s Kim test drives a new tank and orders troops to prepare for war
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new tank model and drove one himself, state media reported Thursday, as his rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises.
European lawmakers pass AI Act, world’s first comprehensive AI law
European lawmakers approved the world’s most comprehensive legislation yet on artificial intelligence, setting out sweeping rules for developers of AI systems and new restrictions on how the technology can be used.
Haiti’s top gang leader threatens politicians, Canada evacuates staff
A powerful gang leader in Haiti has issued a threatening message aimed at political leaders who would take part in a planned transition council for the country, and Canada evacuated embassy staff amid a fresh surge in violence in Port-au-Prince.
Report: US could support limited Israeli military op in Rafah
The Biden administration is against a wide-scale invasion of Gaza’s southernmost city, which Jerusalem says is the key to victory over Hamas.
Biden Admin to Sanction Jewish Outposts Over ‘Settler Violence’
The Biden administration is expected to impose new sanctions as early as Thursday on two Jewish outposts located beyond the Green Line that were allegedly used to launch attacks against Palestinians, according to an Axios report.
Russian Drone Strikes Disrupt TV Signal in Northeast Ukraine
The northeastern Ukrainian border region of Sumy said parts of its territory had lost television and radio signal on Thursday after Russia launched a mass overnight drone attack that damaged communications infrastructure.w
China’s Southern Neighbor Puts on Major Show of Force Amid Border Tensions
China’s southern neighbor, India, has carried out a major show of force as tensions at their mutual border prevail.
Schumer Denounces Netanyahu as an ‘Obstacle to Peace’, Calls for New Elections in Israel
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) denounced Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an “obstacle to peace” in a Thursday floor speech and called on Israel to hold a new election to replace the Netanyahu-led government amid its ongoing war with Hamas.
Business
Automakers tracking drivers, sharing data with car insurance companies
Report reveals sneaky way car companies share customer’s driving habits, leading to some drivers seeing rise in insurance rates
Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for ‘American steel workers’
President Joe Biden came out in opposition to the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, saying on Thursday that the U.S. needs to “maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.”
Science
SpaceX hits distance, speed milestones in third Starship test; rocket lost in re-entry
SpaceX on Thursday conducted the third launch test of its Starship rocket in Texas, flying further and faster than the previous two tests.
Economy
Wholesale inflation rose 0.6% in February, much more than expected
Wholesale prices accelerated at a faster-than-expected pace in February, another reminder that inflation remains a troublesome issue for the U.S. economy.