In reversal, US poised to approve Abrams tanks for Ukraine
Officials say the U.S. is poised to approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, as international reluctance to send tanks to the battlefront against the Russians appeared to begin eroding. According to one official, the U.S. announcement to send a bit more than 30 tanks is expected to come Wednesday in coordination with an announcement by Germany that it will approve Poland’s request to transfer German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Officials say the Abrams tanks could be bought under an upcoming Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, which provides longer-range funding for weapons and equipment to be purchased from commercial vendors. Weapons provided through the assistance initiative can take months to reach the battlefield.
Proud Boys expecting ‘civil war’ before Jan. 6, witness says
A witness at the Capitol riot trial of Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio says that the month before the riot, members of the far-right extremist group were growing increasingly angry about the outcome of the 2020 election and were expecting a “civil war.” Matthew Greene testified on Tuesday in the case against former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants under a cooperation deal with the government after pleading guilty to storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with fellow extremists. Prosecutors allege that members of the Proud Boys carried out a coordinated attack on the Capitol in a desperate attempt to keep President Donald Trump in power.
Senators grill Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift fiasco
Senators grilled Ticketmaster Tuesday about its spectacular breakdown last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets. Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee debated possible action, including making tickets non-transferable to cut down on scalping and requiring more transparency in ticket fees. Some suggested it may also be necessary to split Ticketmaster and concert promoter Live Nation, which merged in 2010. Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year. In mid-November, Ticketmaster’s site crashed during a presale event for Swift’s upcoming stadium tour. The Justice Department has also opened an investigation into the breakdown.
Extreme Israeli group takes root in US with fundraising bid
An Israeli group raising funds for Jewish extremists convicted in some of the country’s most notorious hate crimes is collecting tax-exempt donations from Americans. That is according to an investigation by The Associated Press and Israeli investigative platform Shomrim. The findings give a sign that Israel’s radical right is gaining a new foothold in the United States. The amount of money raised through the U.S. nonprofit is not known. But the money trail runs from New Jersey to imprisoned Israeli radicals who include the assassin of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as well as people convicted in deadly attacks on Palestinians.
FDA proposes limits for lead in baby food
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday proposed maximum limits for the amount of lead in baby foods like mashed fruits and vegetables and dry cereals after years of studies revealed that many processed products contained levels known to pose a risk of neurological and developmental impairment. The agency issued draft guidance, which would not be mandatory for food manufacturers to abide by. The guidelines, if adopted, would allow the agency to take enforcement action against companies that produced foods that exceeded the new limits. The agency estimated that the proposed levels could reduce the dietary exposure to lead for some young children by about 25%.
Rights groups dismayed at lack of criticism for Peru abuses
In less than two months, more than 50 people have died in Peru, largely protesters at the hands of police officers. And while a few international voices of concern have emerged, much of the regional and global community has largely remained silent, to the dismay of human rights advocates, who are calling for condemnation of the state violence unleashed since Pedro Castillo was impeached and imprisoned for trying to dissolve Congress. Peru’s new President Dina Boluarte was notably absent from a meeting of regional leaders Tuesday in Argentina’s capital, where most avoided mention of the civilian deaths in Peru. The issue was not included in the summit’s closing document.
Earthquake kills 1 in Nepal’s mountains
An earthquake in Nepal has rattled villages in remote Himalayan mountains, killing at least one person and injuring many more. The 5.9 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in northwestern Bajura district hit on Tuesday afternoon, sending people fleeing their houses. The chief district officer says one person was confirmed dead but details are still sketchy because many of the villages are only accessible by foot. The earthquake also buried cattle and farm animals and could be felt across the border in India.
By wire sources