Gerald Firestein News Today

we begin in the united states, where florida governor ron desantis has dropped out from the republican presidential race and endorsed donald trump. the surprise video announcement comes ahead of this weeks republican primary in new hampshire where mr desantis was polling in the single digits. his departure leaves nikki haley as mr trumps only significant rival. heres what he had to say. if there was anything i could do to produce a favourable outcome — more campaign stops, more inter...

Middle east into the abyss. Hes demanded hamas immediately release hostages and israel let in aid. It comes as the israeli Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu, says his military is ready to begin a Ground Offensive at any moment aimed at crushing hamas, after its fighters killed more than 1,400 israelis and took more than 150 people hostage last week. An estimated 300,000 israeli troops are massing near gaza, but israel has given no indication of when an attack might begin. Meanwhile, israeli air...

The United Nations Secretary General has in the last hour made two direct humanitarian appeals to both hamas and israel. Antonio guterres issued a statement saying it was his duty as we are on the verge of the abyss in The Middle East. He called on hamas to immediately release the hostages it was Holding Without conditions. And urged israel to allow rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into gaza including supplies and workers for the sake of civilians there. Mr guterres said each one ...

In the region. From capitol hill, this is about 90 minutes. After recognizing myself and Ranking Member deutsche for five minutes, as soon as he shows up each for opening statements, i will then recognize other members seeking recognition for one minute. We will then hear from our witness and without objection, mr. Ambassador, members may have five days in which to insert statements for the record subject to the length limitation and rules. The subcommittee invited the department of defense to s...

I dont think it is very helpful. Thank you, madam chair for holding this hearing. I want to say at the outset i have an honor flight coming in shortly. I have somebody from bangladesh here. I was clair of this committeehair of this committee a while back. I went to yemen and mr. Connolly is right, there have been problems there for years. But i would argue that they certainly have gotten worse under the administration and you know it was this administration that claimed that yemen was a Success ...

Lots of questions tonight, and we have the right people to answer them. two former u.s. ambassadors to the region. robert jordan was ambassador to saudi arabia under george w. bush. gerald firestein was ambassador to yemen under obama and we dont have an ambassador to saudi arabia right now. thats one of the things thats not exactly greasing the wheels of the process here. so first big question, and i start with you, ambassador jordan. does this feel right to you whats happening with saudi arabi...

Another month and the administration says here in the united states, take your time. take your time. the president has said maybe it was rogue actors. and king salman says it wasnt him. why doesnt it smell right to you, ambassador jordan? >> well, if you look at the pattern of this crown prince, mohammad bin salman over the past two years, everything he has touched has turned to disaster. hes orchestrated this incarceration of his uncles and cousins and businessmen at the ritz-carlton last novem...