AURN News

In the latest development, the Biden administration is actively advocating for a humanitarian pause in Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The shift in policy comes as concerns grow over the humanitarian crisis caused by heavy bombardments and a siege of Gaza, which also raises the risk of a broader conflict.

During a news conference with Australian Minister Anthony Albanese, President Joe Biden expressed strong support for Israel but emphasized the need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He called on Israel to do everything possible to protect innocent civilians and condemned reports of extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank targeting Palestinians.

Secretary Anthony Blinken also publicly stated that the humanitarian pause must be considered to allow essential aid like food, water, and medicine to reach Gaza.

This marks a change from the recent U.S. veto of a resolution at the U.N. Security Council where more time for diplomacy was requested before securing aid deliveries.

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Richard Roundtree has been a cultural icon for most of our lives, it seems. He passed away quietly at home this week, surrounded by his family, after a two-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Richard is best known for playing Detective John Shaft in the original Shaft movie franchise, including the 1971 OG film, "Shaft," the 1972 sequel, "Shaft's Big Score," and the 1973 trilogy, "Shaft in Africa."

Richard also had a role in the famous "Roots" miniseries playing the role of Sam Bennett. When Shaft got a remake in 2000, Richard reprised his role as John Shaft alongside Samuel L. Jackson.

Well, I've got to tell you celebrities are pouring in the tributes for Richard today but I think the best one came from Sam Jackson, who posted on a tribute on Instagram, reading:

"Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It!! SHAFT, as we know it is & will always be His Creation!! His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart, but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too🤎👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾Love you Brother, I see you walking down the Middle of Main Street in Heaven & Issac’s Conducting your song🎶🎶👊🏾coat blowin’ in wind!! Angels whispering, “That Cat SHAFT Is A Bad Mutha, Shutcho Mouth!! But I’m Talkin’ Bout SHAFT!! THEN WE CAN DIGIT👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾‼️‼️‼️‼️💯💯💯💯🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎"

Rest in peace, Richard Roundtree. You represented the best of us.

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"Therefore, the Honorable Mike Johnson of the state of Louisiana, having received a majority of the votes cast, is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress."

And with that, Republican Representative Mike Johnson ascends to the position of the 56th House Speaker. Following 22 tumultuous days in Congress marked by turmoil after the removal of Representative Kevin McCarthy, the vote revealed an astonishing display of cohesion. Every single one of the 220 Republicans threw their support behind Johnson. So what does this mean for a moment in our nation?

Johnson's staunchly conservative track record stands out. He is an outspoken proponent of overturning the 2020 presidential election, a co-sponsor of a nationwide abortion ban bill, and an advocate for expunging Donald Trump's first impeachment. He has also endorsed legislation reminiscent of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill.

His tenure on Capitol Hill began in 2017, and some question his readiness for the role. Will Mike Johnson's leadership steer the House toward stability or exasperate the existing divisions?

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On October 25, 1997, approximately 500,000 women convened in Philadelphia to participate in the Million Woman March. Modeled on the Million Man March that took place in Washington, D.C., two years earlier, the event focused on problems plaguing Black communities and the power of Black women to address them.

Speakers included Jada Pinkett Smith, Sista Souljah, Winnie Mandela, former wife of South African President Nelson Mandela, and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Waters famously said, "After today, we will never be the same."

"America, please be placed on notice. We know who we are. We know what kind of power we have. We will act on that power."

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WASHINGTON (AURN News) — The race for House Speaker took yet another unexpected turn as Republican Congressman Tom Emmer of Minnesota, who serves as the majority whip, withdrew his name from consideration just hours after being announced as the nominee. The sudden move has left the GOP in a state of uncertainty and chaos, with questions arising about their ability to unite behind a nominee.

The surprising development surrounding Emmer's withdrawal unfolded on Tuesday night, catching many by surprise. It underscores the ongoing challenges within the GOP as they seek a consensus candidate for the role. With no clear successor in sight, the GOP is left with the task of finding a new candidate who can rally support from the party's various factions and secure the necessary votes for the House Speaker role.

As the GOP navigates this unexpected twist, political observers and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are closely watching the unfolding drama surrounding the Speaker nomination process, which will have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in Washington. It also raises questions about the current state of the GOP and whether it can stop fighting long enough to not only select a speaker but also pass party legislative agendas.

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Almost 3,000 students at Morehouse College had their student debts canceled. According to a news release, the HBCU partnered with Debt Collective, the first union of debtors to cancel pending debt in the nation, to wipe clean collections for the Fall 2022 term and prior for 2,777 students.  

Morehouse transferred the collections to the Rolling Jubilee Fund, a sister organization of Debt Collective’s sister organization, for $125,000 — or a little more than one penny on the dollar. The “no strings attached” gift was used for ”unpaid parking tickets, library fines, and even unpaid tuition totaling up to $30,000.”

Because of the debt being cleared, students can now access their transcripts, receive their diplomas, and continue their education at the graduate level.

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There's a major development in the race for House Speaker. Out of the nine Republicans vying for the position, seven voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results that declared Joe Biden the winner.

This controversial stance, even after the Capitol riot, reflects the ongoing divide within the GOP. The two remaining candidates, Reps. Tom Emmer and Austin Scott, did not object to the election results. However, they did support a Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate the results in key states.

Emmer, backed by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, holds a strong position but faces opposition from allies of former President Donald Trump.

The caucus will vote on their preferred candidate today. Stay tuned for our updates on this crucial House Speaker election.

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(AURN News) - As the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack by Hamas, prominent world leaders have joined forces to express their unwavering support for Israel. President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a collective statement over the weekend, emphasizing their solidarity with the Israeli people.

This display of international support comes after Hamas carried out a deadly terrorist attack on October 7th, escalating an already volatile situation in the region. The release of two hostages by Hamas marked a potential step toward de-escalation.

The joint statement, released by the White House, underlined the leaders' shared commitment to encouraging the release of more hostages. The statement went on to further say that Israel has a “right to defend itself against terrorism," also calling for "adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

The White House further expressed the leaders' dedication to continuing diplomatic coordination as they work collectively to find a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

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Voting rights advocates in Florida are rallying behind a court ruling that deems Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's redistricting plan unconstitutional. The crux of this high-stakes battle revolves around North Florida's Congressional District 5.

Florida Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh ruled this redistricting diminished minority voting power, breaching the Florida Constitution. Plaintiffs are now urging the appeals court to uphold this decision, highlighting a 2015 precedent affirming the non-diminishment of minority electoral influence.

The opposition, however, argues this move risks racial gerrymandering, violating the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. They insist the new districts prioritize geographical unity, not racial composition.

As we look ahead to a full court hearing on October 31, the urgency intensifies with a call for resolution by November 22. This would enable lawmakers to adjust the districts, if needed, ensuring equitable representation.

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Lupita Nyong'o voiced her heartache in an emotional statement shared to confirm her split from her partner Selema Masekela. The heartbreaking prose detailed her vast pain and said, "I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide" in the wake of the breakup, which came just hours before she was spotted putting on a cozy display with newly single Joshua Jackson.

Well, in her Instagram post, she wrote about a breakup due to deception by an unnamed loved one. Now, she didn't really specify what the deception was but she suggested that it was a split from her boyfriend of one year. On her profile, she pinned, "There are much more important things going on in the world right now, and my thoughts are with those who are deeply suffering."

Well, our thoughts are with you, Lupita, because we all love you so much and I'm sure you're going to be just fine. 

But please, please say it isn't so. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could be making a potential cameo in the Kardashians, according to Page Six. And of course, momager Kris Jenner is vying to get the exiled royals to appear in her Hulu show as their apparent friendship continues to evolve.

Well, somebody said it's a slam dunk for the two families to team up. Kris doesn't want to push too aggressively, too soon. Even if it's just a cameo, that is a huge win for Kris and the Kardashians. And the business side is actually starting to count their ducats already. They say this would be very lucrative. They've even included Doria Ragland, Meghan's mom, in this plan. 

My advice to the royals? All that shimmers is not gold or even platinum. 

And for all these stories and a whole lot more, make sure you follow me on social media as we continue to take a look back at Fashion Week in Paris. We've got a lot of other great stuff @aurnonline. You don't want to miss any of it. And follow me on social media @tanyahollywood.

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