Le mystère continue de planer autour de Lalla Salma du Maroc, que l’ont dit divorcée en secret du roi. Disparue de la vie publique depuis près de deux ans, l’épouse de Mohammed VI continue malgré tout, dans l’ombre, de faire partie de la vie de leurs deux enfants : Moulay El Hassan (16 ans) et Lalla Khadija (12 ans). Le média grec myvolos.net affirme en effet qu’elle vient de passer des vacances avec son fils aîné sur l’île de Koukounaries, qu’ils ont finalement quitté en jet royal le 17 juillet 2019.

Click Here: Scotland Rugby Shirt

En toute discrétion, mère et fils auraient passé dix jours dans un hôtel de luxe de l’île. La princesse de 41 ans aurait également loué le yacht Serenity, un navire de luxe de 72 mètres de long qui compte quinze suites, une piscine et une trentaine de membres d’équipages. Un luxe qui coûterait tout de même 600 000 euros la semaine. La jeune Lalla Khadija serait quant à elle restée au Maroc pour une étonnante raison : son père Mohammed VI interdirait à son épouse de quitter le pays avec leurs deux enfants en même temps.

Selon une source du Nouvel Afrik, citée le 12 juillet dernier, le roi serait inquiet de voir sa femme s’enfuir à l’étranger avec leurs deux enfants : “Ce qui pourrait compromettre tous les projets du roi, notamment sa succession qui doit être assurée par Moulay El Hassan. Chose que Mohammed VI ne pourra jamais accepter.” Selon le magazine Hola!, le couple marié en 2002 aurait divorcé en secret l’an dernier. Une information que le palais n’a jamais confirmé. Depuis que Lalla Salma a disparu de la vie publique, Lalla Hasna, la petite soeur du roi, a repris à sa charge les fonctions de souveraine. Certaines rumeurs vont jusqu’à avancer que les trois soeurs de Mohammed VI, Lalla Meryem, Lalla Hasna et Lalla Asma, auraient poussé la princesse à disparaître… Ingénieur informatique aux idées progressistes, Lalla Salma aurait été perçue comme une menace.

Qu’on se le dise, notre Miss France 2019 Vaimalama Chaves est joueuse et s’amuse des rumeurs qui l’entourent… surtout quand elles concernent ses amours !

Interrogée par nos confrères de Télé Star à ce sujet, l’ex-Miss Tahiti qui refuse de participer aux concours de beauté internationaux a statué : “Les pseudos relations de couple que l’on me prête avec tel footballeur, ça me fait rire. Quand quelque chose de faux est dit, je le corrige immédiatement.” Et d’ajouter avec malice : “J’adore le buzz, nourrir la rumeur. Je rigole dans mon coin comme une chipe parce que je suis toujours une chipie.”

Click Here: FC Barcelona soccer tracksuit

Toujours concernant sa vie sentimentale et sa philosophie amoureuse, Vaimalama Chaves a accepté de dévoiler sa position très tranchée sur le mariage… et celle-ci détonne ! “Ça ne me fait pas du tout rêver. Je suis très pragmatique. Un mariage, ça coûte hyper cher, un divorce ça coûte encore plus cher ! Quand on organise un mariage, on se prend la tête pour trouver le mari, la robe, la déco… Il faut organiser une belle soirée en faisant cotiser chacun. On se met tous sur son 31 et on fait la fête ! Si un jour, je dois me marier, ça sera un tout petit mariage au bord de la mer ou de la rivière avec un bon et gros gâteau“, a-t-elle assuré.

Lors de ce même entretien, Vaimalama Chaves a également répondu à ses haters, ceux qui s’attaquent à son physique. “Comme j’adore la bagarre, je leur réponds !“, a-t-elle insisté.

Une interview à découvrir en intégralité dans le magazine Télé Star, actuellement en kiosque.

Twenty-eight Senate Democrats on Sunday issued a statement calling for Israel’s military and Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement as news reports emerged of another night of devastating Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

The statement, led by Georgia Sen. Jon OssoffJon Ossoff28 Senate Democrats sign statement urging Israel-Hamas ceasefire DC statehood bill picks up Senate holdout Senate panel deadlocks in vote on sweeping elections bill MORE (D) was also signed by Dick DurbinDick Durbin28 Senate Democrats sign statement urging Israel-Hamas ceasefire Senate Democrats urge Garland not to fight court order to release Trump obstruction memo Sweeping election reform bill faces Senate buzz saw MORE (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat in leadership, but was not signed by Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerBiden ‘encouraged’ by meeting with congressional leaders on infrastructure Republicans welcome the chance to work with Democrats on a bipartisan infrastructure bill Cheney sideshow distracts from important battle over Democrats’ partisan voting bill MORE (D-N.Y.), who has remained firm along with President BidenJoe Biden28 Senate Democrats sign statement urging Israel-Hamas ceasefire Franklin Graham says Trump comeback would ‘be a very tough thing to do’ Schools face new pressures to reopen for in-person learning MORE and House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi28 Senate Democrats sign statement urging Israel-Hamas ceasefire Lawmakers bicker over how to go after tax cheats House Republican: ‘Absolutely bogus’ for GOP to downplay Jan. 6 MORE (D-Calif.) in their assertion that Israel’s military is carrying out defensive military action to which it is entitled.

“To prevent any further loss of civilian life and to prevent further escalation of conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories, we urge an immediate ceasefire,” the 28 senators said in the statement Sunday.

Their call comes as the Biden administration has blocked a joint attempt by the governments of China, Norway and Tunisia to release a statement from the United Nations Security Council calling for an end to the conflict, and as more progressive members of the Democratic Party such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez28 Senate Democrats sign statement urging Israel-Hamas ceasefire Israel launches heavy airstrikes on Gaza as pressure increases on US to help broker ceasefire Capitol riot fuels debate over domestic terror laws MORE (D-N.Y.) have accused the U.S. of complicity in the carnage.

Media reports and videos on social media Sunday evening showed another devastating barrage of airstrikes unfolding across Gaza City, with some reports indicating that roads and other critical infrastructure were destroyed in the attack.

Click Here: cheap adidas superstar

Interior Secretary Deb HaalandDeb HaalandHaaland makes endorsement in race for her old House seat Senate panel advances Biden’s deputy Interior pick Interior secretary approves new Cherokee constitution providing citizenship rights for freedmen MORE is wading into the race to replace her in Congress, endorsing Democratic candidate Melanie Stansbury to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. 

“I’m excited to announce my support and endorsement for Melanie Stansbury,” Haaland said in a video posted by Stansbury’s Twitter account Monday. “I know New Mexico and I know that our communities and working families need a leader in Congress who will fight for our public lands, our water and who will be a voice for all New Mexicans.” 

“We need your help to ensure that we hold our majority in the U.S. House so that President BidenJoe BidenBiden’s quiet diplomacy under pressure as Israel-Hamas fighting intensifies Overnight Defense: Administration approves 5M arms sale to Israel | Biden backs ceasefire in call with Netanyahu | Military sexual assault reform push reaches turning point CDC mask update sparks confusion, opposition MORE has the support he needs to fight for New Mexico working families,” Haaland added. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Biden administration official left her seat so she could take the reins of the Interior Department, triggering the special election to replace her. 

The contest is slated for June 1 and voters selected Stansbury, a state representative, as the party’s nominee in March. The Republican candidate in the race is state Sen. Mark Moores. 

The district is typically Democratic, according to a Cook Political Report rating.

Click Here: Juventus soccer tracksuit

The Producer Price Index (PPI), a measure of how much producers have to pay for their materials, rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent in April, roughly double the amount that economists had expected.

Compared to last April, when prices were unusually depressed due to the pandemic, the PPI rose 6.2 percent, a record in the index’s 10 1/2 year run.

The surge is likely to add to fears that the economy is hitting an inflationary period, though top policymakers say the increases are likely to be temporary as the economy reawakens from the COVID-19 pandemic recession.

ADVERTISEMENT

A surge in demand, fueled by increased vaccinations and government stimulus, has left producers flat-footed, struggling to get supplies in order to meet market needs.

Supply chains, some of which run through countries still grappling with high daily COVID-19 case counts, hospitalizations and deaths, have experienced considerable disruptions.

Consumer prices, another measure of inflation released last week, also saw an unexpected surge this week, reaching 4.8 percent year-over-year, its highest level since 2008. Economists had expected a 3.6 percent increase.

Click Here: penrith panthers rugby store

–Read more from The Hill:

Jobless claims drop to pandemic-low 473,000

Happy Monday and welcome back to On The Money, where we didn’t realize we still needed to worry about Chernobyl. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.

Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

THE BIG DEAL—IRS to start monthly payments of child tax credit July 15: The Biden administration on Monday announced it will start to make monthly payments of the expanded child tax credit on July 15.

• Roughly 39 million households that account for about 65 million children, or 88 percent of children in the United States, will automatically receive the payments
• The March COVID-19 relief law signed by President BidenJoe BidenBiden’s quiet diplomacy under pressure as Israel-Hamas fighting intensifies Overnight Defense: Administration approves 5M arms sale to Israel | Biden backs ceasefire in call with Netanyahu | Military sexual assault reform push reaches turning point CDC mask update sparks confusion, opposition MORE also increased the maximum credit amount from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under age 6 and $3,000 for older children and made the credit fully refundable, which will allow the lowest-income families to be eligible for the credit.
• Eligible families will receive monthly payments of up to $300 for children under 6, and up to $250 for children ages 6 and older.

The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda has all the details here.

The timing: The administration’s announcement, which coincides with Monday’s deadline for individuals to file their 2020 tax returns, provides more details about how the Treasury Department and the IRS plan to implement a key part of the coronavirus relief law.

The details about the monthly payments also come as Democrats seek to extend the one-year expansion of the child tax credit.

• Biden has proposed in his American Families Plan to extend most of the expansion through 2025, while making the credit permanently fully refundable. 
• Congressional Democrats across the ideological spectrum are pushing to make the full expansion of the credit permanent.

“We must make this lifeline permanent, which is why Congressional Democrats will continue to champion an expanded Child Tax Credit — because we can only Build Back Better by putting families first,” Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSenators shed masks after CDC lifts mandate House extends proxy voting to July On The Money: IRS to start monthly payments of child tax credit July 15 | One-fourth of Americans took financial hits in 2020: Fed MORE (D-Calif.) said in a statement, deploying a phrase President Biden often uses to describe his economic-recovery agenda. Naomi has more here.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

LEADING THE DAY

Nearly one-fourth of Americans ended 2020 worse off financially: Fed

Nearly one-quarter of Americans ended 2020 worse off financially than they were 12 months ago, according to results from a Federal Reserve survey released Monday.

A survey conducted by the Fed in November found that 24 percent of Americans said their financial standing took a hit amid the pandemic, 10 percentage points higher than at the end of 2019. 

An uneven toll: While nearly one-in-four Americans reported being worse off financially, that ratio is far higher for Black and Hispanic Americans. 

• The percentage of white respondents who said they were doing “at least okay financially” ticked up from 79 percent in 2019 to 80 percent in 2020, but declined from 65 percent to 64 percent for Black Americans and from 66 percent to 64 percent for Hispanic Americans.

• The proportions of Black and Hispanic Americans that ended 2020 worse off financially also rose by 12 and 14 percentage points, respectively, while only rising 9 percent for white respondents.

The survey also found significantly more hardship among respondents with lower levels of educational attainment, which makes them more likely to hold a job that requires physical presence at a business that couldn’t be adapted to teleworking.

I break it down here.

 

Student debt cancellation advocates encouraged by Biden

Student loan cancellation advocates are encouraged by recent moves by the Biden administration that signal he may act on eliminating some college debt for individual borrowers, but others remain skeptical that action will be taken on the matter during his first term.

• Supporters of forgiving some student loan debt welcomed a recent announcement by Education Secretary Miguel CardonaMiguel CardonaOvernight Health Care: Supreme Court takes case that could diminish Roe v. Wade | White House to send US-authorized vaccines overseas for first time On The Money: IRS to start monthly payments of child tax credit July 15 | One-fourth of Americans took financial hits in 2020: Fed Nearly all school districts finally offer some in-person instruction: We should not be satisfied MORE that a fierce critic of the student loan industry, Richard CordrayRichard Adams CordrayOn The Money: IRS to start monthly payments of child tax credit July 15 | One-fourth of Americans took financial hits in 2020: Fed Student debt cancellation advocates encouraged by Biden, others remain skeptical On The Money: McConnell rules out GOP support for Biden families plan | How COVID-19 relief bills may affect your taxes | Is the US heading for a housing bubble? MORE, would head the department’s office that oversees the loan portfolio.
• The movement pushing for student loan cancellation also has a fierce advocate in Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenators shed masks after CDC lifts mandate Pro-tax millionaires protesting in front of Bezos’s homes Student debt cancellation advocates encouraged by Biden, others remain skeptical MORE (D-N.Y.).

But the prospects of progress on the matter during Biden’s first term are still slim.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Hill’s Alex Gangitano explains why here.

 

Inflation fears grow for White House

Rising prices are putting increasing pressure on President Biden and the Federal Reserve to prevent inflation from derailing the recovery from the coronavirus recession.

• A surge of consumer demand unleashed by government stimulus, improving vaccinations and fewer pandemic restrictions is putting a strain on global supply chains. 
• Manufacturers and other hard-hit industries are struggling to get back up and running after a year of lockdown measures, causing supply shortages and raising costs.
• All of those factors combined to push the consumer price index (CPI) up 0.8 percent in April and 4.2 percent over the past 12 months, the fastest annual rate since 2008, the Labor Department reported this past week.

While the ramped-up consumer spending is a sign of increased optimism, the Biden administration faces political risks as Americans find themselves dealing with inflation levels that the country hasn’t seen in more than a decade.

I break it down here.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

ON TAP TOMORROW:

• The House Financial Services Committee holds a hearing on China’s Belt and Road initiative at 10 a.m.
• A House Small Business subcommittee holds a hearing on community development financial institutions at 10 a.m.
• The Senate Banking Committee holds a hearing on reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program at 10 a.m.
• The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee holds a hearing on paid family leave at 10 a.m.
• A Senate Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on reviving international travel to the U.S. at 3 p.m.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

• The European Commission announced Monday it will temporarily suspend a planned increase in tariffs on American goods as the U.S. and EU work to resolve a trade dispute started under former President TrumpDonald TrumpGOP-led Maricopa County board decries election recount a ‘sham’ Analysis: Arpaio immigration patrol lawsuit to cost Arizona county at least 2 million Conservatives launch ‘anti-cancel culture’ advocacy organization MORE.
• The Supreme Court may soon be asked to weigh in on the nationwide eviction freeze enacted by public health officials to keep cash-strapped renters in their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• Lawmakers are debating President Biden’s pitches to strengthen tax enforcement against high-income individuals and businesses as Congress considers different ways to pay for infrastructure legislation.
• Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) face an uphill battle on one of their top tax priorities, repealing the cap President Trump put on deducting state and local taxes.
• New federal guidance on mask-wearing is putting businesses and local officials in a tough spot.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

• Bitcoin rallied after hitting a three-month low Monday, following comments from Tesla CEO Elon MuskElon Reeve MuskOn The Money: IRS to start monthly payments of child tax credit July 15 | One-fourth of Americans took financial hits in 2020: Fed Putting the brakes on cryptocurrencies: Well done Elon Musk Hillicon Valley: Parler’s return to Apple store poses new challenges | Biden revokes Trump-era order targeting shield for website operators MORE about the company’s cryptocurrency assets.
• Millionaires who support raising taxes on the rich are protesting in front of Amazon founder Jeff BezosJeffrey (Jeff) Preston BezosOn The Money: IRS to start monthly payments of child tax credit July 15 | One-fourth of Americans took financial hits in 2020: Fed Pro-tax millionaires protesting in front of Bezos’s homes Musk’s SpaceX has a competitive advantage over Bezos’ Blue Origin MORE’s homes, calling for the billionaire to pay more in taxes. 

Click Here: brisbane broncos store

HAPPY TUESDAY!  Welcome to Overnight Energy, your source for the day’s energy and environment news.Please send tips and comments to Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com . Follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin. Reach Zack Budryk at zbudryk@thehill.com or follow him on Twitter: @BudrykZack. Signup for our newsletter and others HERE. 

Today we’re looking at a global energy agency’s zero-emissions plan, which doesn’t include new investment in the fossil fuel supply, President BidenJoe BidenFirm behind Arizona audit says no data was destroyed, contradicting GOP allegations Stacey Abrams on not being Biden’s VP: ‘He picked the right person’ Overnight Defense: Top Dem backs off request for Israel arms sale delay | Afghanistan withdrawal up to 20 percent done | Esper returns to defense industry MORE’s trip to an EV plant in Michigan and special envoy John KerryJohn KerryOn The Money: Pent-up consumer demand fuels post-pandemic spending spree | Biden, Harris release 2020 tax returns OVERNIGHT ENERGY: IEA calls for no new investment in fossil fuels in net-zero plan | Biden frames EV goals as competition with China | US considering carbon import tax, Kerry says Kerry: US considering carbon import tax MORE’s remarks about potentially raising costs on imports from countries that don’t tax polluters. 

NO INVESTMENT FOR YOU: IEA calls for no new investment in fossil fuels in net-zero plan

ADVERTISEMENT

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is calling for no new investment in fossil fuel supply in a roadmap it laid out on Tuesday for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

The IEA said in its report that its “narrow and extremely challenging” pathway to net-zero by that date contains no new oil and gas fields approved for development and no new coal mines or mine extensions beyond those the world has already committed to as of this year. 

The plan also calls for ending the sale of gasoline-powered passenger cars by 2035 and phasing out unabated coal and oil power plants by 2040. 

The IEA is an influential agency that launched in the 1970s to help coordinate a response to oil supply disruptions. 

Read more about the report here.

RIDIN’ WITH BIDEN: Biden frames EV goals as competition with China in Michigan visit

President Biden on Tuesday used a trip to a Ford plant to make the case for his proposed $174 billion investment in electric vehicles (EV), saying his plan is necessary in order to “win the competition of the 21st century” and outpace China.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The future of the auto industry is electric. There is no going back,” Biden said in remarks from Ford’s EV plant in Dearborn, Mich. “Right now China is leading in this race. Make no bones about it. This is a fact.”

“Folks, the rest of the world is moving fast. They’re moving ahead. They’re not waiting for the United States of America,” he added. “We have a playbook that’ll work. We’re going to set a new pace for electric vehicles.”

In case you forgot what all this infrastructure fuss is about…Biden has proposed the investments over a decade as part of his $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal, which would fund repairs of traditional infrastructure like roads and bridges, expand broadband, and invest in new technologies and research and development to address climate change. 

On EV, the plan specifically pitches incentive programs with the goal of building out 500,000 EV charges by 2030, replacing 50,000 diesel transit vehicles and electrifying at least 20 percent of the yellow school bus fleet. 

Read more about his visit here. 

And…Biden took one of the trucks for a spin. Read about that here.

KEEP CALM AND KERRY ON: US considering carbon import tax, Kerry says 

The U.S. is looking at potentially adding costs to imports from countries that don’t put heavy taxes on polluters, climate envoy John Kerry said Tuesday. 

Kerry said that President Biden told officials to look at “what are the consequences, how do you do the pricing, what is the impact” of such a policy, according to The Associated Press.

“But he wants to make sure we’ve thoroughly vetted it and thought about it as a matter of policy, particularly because our friends are doing so,” Kerry said. 

“But we do have some concerns about what the downstream impact might be, and we want to understand that fully before jumping on this,” the former secretary of State added. 

Read more about the potential cost additions here.

STREAMING SERVICE: Biden reportedly waiving sanctions for Nord Stream 2 pipeline firm

The State Department is set to waive sanctions that would affect the construction of a Russian company’s pipeline into Germany, Axios reported Tuesday, citing two sources briefed on the matter.

ADVERTISEMENT

In its mandatory 90-day report to Congress, the Biden administration will concede that both the corporate entity behind the pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, and CEO Matthias Warnig, are engaging in sanctionable conduct. However, the department will suspend application of those sanctions, but apply sanctions to Russian ships involved in the construction.

Fully halting the 95 percent complete project would likely require sanctioning German entities as well, the sources told Axios, and the White House has decided against applying such pressure to the U.S.-German relationship.

The completion of the pipeline would allow fuel from Russia to bypass Ukraine to reach Europe, undermining the nation’s connection to western Europe. Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenOVERNIGHT ENERGY: IEA calls for no new investment in fossil fuels in net-zero plan | Biden frames EV goals as competition with China | US considering carbon import tax, Kerry says Biden waiving sanctions for Nord Stream 2 pipeline firm: report Biden just weakened his China policy and did Xi Jinping a big favor MORE previously said in his confirmation hearing earlier this year that “I am determined to do whatever we can to prevent [the pipeline’s] completion.”

Read more about what’s reportedly going on here.

ON TAP TOMORROW:

• Energy Secretary Jennifer GranholmJennifer GranholmOVERNIGHT ENERGY: IEA calls for no new investment in fossil fuels in net-zero plan | Biden frames EV goals as competition with China | US considering carbon import tax, Kerry says Biden administration to develop performance standards for federal buildings OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Gas shortages likely to linger for days | Biden administration issues second shipping waiver amid fuel shortages | EPA orders St. Croix refinery to shut down for 60 days due to ‘imminent threat’ to islanders’ health MORE is slated to appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss both the department’s budget request and the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack.
• The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled “Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars and Corporate Welfare in the Oil and Gas Industry.” 
• The House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on global climate finance, with several administration officials slated to appear.
• The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing to examine biodiversity loss.

WHAT WE’RE READING:

This Biden pick has worked for top offshore wind firms. Now he’s poised to help oversee the industry, The Washington Post reports

ADVERTISEMENT

California’s next climate challenge: Replacing its last nuclear power plant, The Los Angeles Times reports

Louisiana group files international human rights appeal over Denka air pollution, nola.com reports

Conservation groups launch Piney Point lawsuit, alleging neglect at contaminated site, The Bradenton Herald reports

Bureau of Land Management surveys staff on move back to Washington, E&E News reports

ICYMI: Stories from Tuesday….

Kerry: US considering carbon import tax

Senate Democrats unveil resolution calling for carbon-free electric sector by 2035

ADVERTISEMENT

Study: Climate change increased Superstorm Sandy damage by $8B

Biden test-drives electric truck during stop in Michigan

Biden waiving sanctions for Nord Stream 2 pipeline firm: report

Biden frames electric vehicle goals as competition with China in Michigan visit

Colonial Pipeline servers experiencing ‘intermittent disruptions’ days after ransomware attack

Click Here: WORLD CUP Rugby Shop

Top Interior lawyer nominee quizzed over public records law

IEA calls for no new investment in fossil fuels as part of net-zero plan

OFF-BEAT AND OFFBEAT:  Only in Canada

The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee will not request a delay to an arms sale to Israel after the Biden administration agreed to brief lawmakers on the deal, he said Tuesday.

“What we wanted to do is to have a dialogue and conversation,” committee Chairman Gregory MeeksGregory Weldon MeeksOvernight Defense: Top Dem backs off request for Israel arms sale delay | Afghanistan withdrawal up to 20 percent done | Esper returns to defense industry Backing Biden, Pelosi calls for cease-fire in Israel Biden waiving sanctions for Nord Stream 2 pipeline firm: report MORE (D-N.Y.) told reporters Tuesday. “We’re going to have a meeting with the administration tomorrow where the issues and the questions that one may have will be able to be asked, and that was the purpose of considering the letter.”

Meeks’ comments come after he told Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday night he was planning to send a letter to the Biden administration asking for a delay in a recently approved $735 million sale so members could have more time to review it, a congressional aide confirmed to The Hill.

ADVERTISEMENT

The administration notified Congress on May 5 it approved the sale to Israel. The bulk of the deal is for Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions that can turn so-called dumb bombs into precision-guided missiles.

The notification set off a 15-day congressional review period in which lawmakers could block the sale. But that window is all but closed now with just three days left in the review period.

The approval for the arms sale came five days before Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, began firing rockets toward Israel in response to Israeli police action at Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. But it is now eliciting scrutiny amid the escalating violence.

Several Democrats have expressed concern about the administration proceeding with the sale amid the conflict, including Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarOvernight Defense: Top Dem backs off request for Israel arms sale delay | Afghanistan withdrawal up to 20 percent done | Esper returns to defense industry Backing Biden, Pelosi calls for cease-fire in Israel Top House Democrat backs off plan to ask for delay in Israel arms sale MORE (D-Minn.), who said it would be “appalling” for the sale to move forward.

On Tuesday, Meeks stressed Congress’s oversight role on arms sales.

“Congress has a role, and the Foreign Affairs Committee has a role, and I want to make sure that the Foreign Affairs Committee, in any administration, everyone knows, that we’re going to play the role that the Constitution intends us to play,” he said.

Click Here: Sao Paulo soccer tracksuit

An Israeli strike early Saturday killed at least 10 people in Gaza, most of whom were children, as violence also spread to the West Bank, where nearly a dozen people were killed in clashes.

The air strike on a three-story house, located inside a refugee camp in Gaza City, killed eight children and two women from an extended family, according to  The Associated Press.

The strike was reportedly the deadliest single strike since violence between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas erupted this week.

ADVERTISEMENT

The only person that is known to have survived the bombing is a 5-month-old baby, the AP reported.

The strike comes amid ongoing violence that began Monday, when Hamas first launched rockets into Israel.

The Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement Saturday that 139 Palestinians have been killed over the past week, including 39 children and 22 women. One thousand people have been wounded.

Clashes spread to the West Bank on Friday, according to the BBC, where another 11 Palestinians were killed and hundreds were injured, with Israeli forces deploying live fire, rubber bullets and tear gas.

An Israeli military official said that over 2,000 rockets had been fired toward Israel from Gaza since Monday, according to CNN.

Hady Amar, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of State for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said on Twitter.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Dep Asst Secretary for Israel & Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr arrived to TLV today to reinforce the need to work toward a sustainable calm, recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense,” the Embassy said. “Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, security, dignity and prosperity.”

Click Here: Celtic football tracksuit

The Department of Justice (DOJ) retracted a grand jury subpoena earlier this year for information that would identify the person behind an anonymous Twitter account parodying Rep. Devin NunesDevin Gerald NunesHillicon Valley: Democrats urge Facebook to abandon ‘Instagram for kids’ plan | ‘Homework gap’ likely to persist after pandemic Biden’s DOJ withdrew subpoena for Twitter account parodying Nunes Hillicon Valley: Parler’s return to Apple store poses new challenges | Biden revokes Trump-era order targeting shield for website operators MORE (R-Calif.), according to a court document unsealed on Tuesday.

The filing was revealed a day after a federal court in Washington, D.C., unsealed a motion showing the Trump administration’s DOJ had issued a grand jury subpoena to Twitter demanding that it turn over the identifying information regarding the user @NunesAlt.

The latest document unsealed Tuesday shows that the U.S. Attorney’s office in D.C. withdrew the subpoena in March, two months after President BidenJoe BidenFirm behind Arizona audit says no data was destroyed, contradicting GOP allegations Stacey Abrams on not being Biden’s VP: ‘He picked the right person’ Overnight Defense: Top Dem backs off request for Israel arms sale delay | Afghanistan withdrawal up to 20 percent done | Esper returns to defense industry MORE took office.

Click Here: Netherlands soccer tracksuit

ADVERTISEMENT

In the filing, the DOJ asked a federal judge in March to deny Twitter’s motion to quash the subpoena, saying the case was moot since the demand had been withdrawn March 17.

On Monday it was revealed that Twitter had asked a federal judge to throw out the subpoena, arguing that it raised First Amendment concerns.

The subpoena also stoked suspicions that the Trump administration was using the DOJ’s prosecutorial powers to help Nunes, a close ally of former President TrumpDonald TrumpNew York prosecutors investigating Trump Organization in a ‘criminal capacity’ Firm behind Arizona audit says no data was destroyed, contradicting GOP allegations Trump calls for Jan. 6 commission debate to end ‘immediately’ MORE, in his legal efforts to retaliate against critics.

“It appears to Twitter that the Subpoena may be related to Congressman Devin Nunes’s repeated efforts to unmask individuals behind parody accounts critical of him,” the motion Monday read. “His efforts to suppress critical speech are as well-publicized as they are unsuccessful.”

A Nunes spokesman did not respond when asked for comment.