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"Hostage Negotiators are Lying to the Public," Netanyahu Reveals

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on March 31, 2024. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/POOL) Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu  attacked members of the negotiating team responsible for ceasefire and hostage release talks, accusing them of conducting "false briefings" and "seeding desperations among the families of the hostages," during a war cabinet meeting on Sunday, according to Israeli media. "The false briefings from the negotiation team only harm the effort to return the abductees," said Netanyahu, according to N12. "If there is someone on the negotiating team who is not ready to accept the decisions of the political echelon just to get anonymous and false headlines in the media for political purposes - let him be decent and not be here." The war cabinet met on Sunday evening for the first time in 12 days to discuss the issue of the hostages. Earlier this month, members of the negotiatin

US House Passes Bill that Affects TikTok In the Country

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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: In this photo illustration, a TikTok logo is displayed on an iPhone on February 28, 2023 in London, England. This week, the US government and European Union’s parliament have announced bans on installing the popular social media app on staff devices. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) The House has passed a legislation that could ban TikTok in the United States. On Saturday, the House advanced legislation that forces TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to secure American ownership in approximately year or face a ban. The version of the bill approved Saturday would, if signed, give TikTok 270 days to find a new owner, up from the roughly six months proposed under prior versions of the legislation. The bill also gives the White House an option to extend that deadline another 90 days if President Joe Biden determines there’s progress toward a sale. Politicians had expressed security concerns over TikTok due to ByteDance being obligated to share their data with the C

Over 2,100 People are Evacuated as Volcano Rocks Indonesian

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INDONESIA-VOLACNO People look at the eruption of Mount Ruang volcano on Tagulandang Island in Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on April 19, 2024. A remote Indonesian volcano sent a tower of ash spewing into the sky on April 19, after nearly half a dozen eruptions earlier this week forced thousands to evacuate when molten rocks rained down on their villages. (Photo by Ronny Adolof BUOL / AFP) (Photo by RONNY ADOLOF BUOL/AFP via Getty Images) More than 2,100 people have been evacuated after a volcano eruption in Indonesia. On Friday, more than 2,100 residents of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi who were close to an erupting volcano were evacuated because of the risk of ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds, and a potential tsunami. Since Friday afternoon, at least three eruptions have been documented by Indonesia’s Volcanology Center, with the highest eruption column ever reaching 3,900 feet. Volcanic ash erupted from Mount Ruang, less than 60 miles away from Manado City, forcing the temporary

N.Y. Legislators Approve $237B Budget over the Surge Of Migrants

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FILE – The New York state Assembly Chamber is seen during a legislative session after Gov. Kathy Hochul presented her 2025 executive state budget at the state Capitol, Jan. 16, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. New York lawmakers passed a $237 billion state budget Saturday, April 20, that includes plans to spur housing construction and combat unlicensed marijuana stores. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File) day,  A $237 billion state budget that includes measures to encourage home construction and combat unauthorized marijuana stores was approved by New York lawmakers over the weekend. The package addresses a recent surge of immigrants, expedites the closing of some state prisons, and maintains the policy of allowing people to purchase takeout drinks during the pandemic. The state Senate and Assembly approved a number of budget bills on Saturday. The budget now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), who is anticipated to sign it into law. Additionally, $2.4 billion has been set aside by state authoritie

Netanyahu Vows to Free Hostages

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his speech before Passover holiday on April 21, 2024. (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/ROI AVRAHAM/GPO) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  hinted that the IDF would soon launch a military operation in Rafah as he vowed to free the remaining 133 hostages held in Gaza, in a special address to the nation in advance of Passover, which begins on Monday night. “In the coming days we will increase the military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory,” Netanyahu said on Sunday. “Until now, all  proposals for the release of our hostages  have been rejected by Hamas outright,” Netanyahu explained as he blamed the terror group for the failed talks for a hostage deal. Increasing pressure on Hamas to return hostages “Instead of withdrawing from its extreme positions, Hamas is counting on a rift among us. It draws encouragement from the [international] pressure being directed at the Government of Isra

Trump Trial Day 4: Highlights on the Court Proceedings on Hush Money Case - Update from AP News

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0 seconds of 1 minute, 39 seconds Volume 90%   The jury is set in the hush money trial of Former President Donald Trump. It’s the first of Trump’s four criminal cases to reach trial, and it may be the only one to return a verdict before voters decide whether to elect the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Updated 2:37 PM PDT, April 19, 2024 Share Today’s live coverage has ended. Catch up on what you missed below and follow  the latest on apnews.com. A full jury  of 12 New Yorkers and 6 alternates has been seated in former President  Donald Trump’s hush money trial , setting the stage for opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Here’s what to know: The jury:  The  list of 12 seated jurors  includes a sales professional, a software engineer, an English teacher, multiple lawyers and an investment banker.  Keeping them anonymous  during selection came with its own set of challenges. The case:  Trump is charged with  34 felony counts  of falsi