Shownotes Transcript
Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the State Department is working around the clock to calm tensions in the Middle East amid fears that Iran is preparing a retaliatory strike against Israel. He says escalation is not in anyone's interest and will only lead to more violence. Iran blames Israel for the killing in Tehran of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh just hours after the Israeli military killed a key Hezbollah leader in Lebanon.
The U.N. says it has fired nine of its staff members in Gaza after an investigation found that they may have been involved in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7th. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports on the findings. The U.N.'s internal watchdog has been investigating 19 employees of the U.N. agency that aids Palestinians. The investigators found that there was not enough evidence against 10 of those accused by Israel of being involved in the October 7th attack.
But there was enough evidence to lead to the firing of nine other UNRWA employees. That's according to a UN spokesman who gave no details about what these UNRWA workers allegedly did. The investigators received some information from Israeli authorities and went over UNRWA email records and information about UNRWA vehicles. The investigators did not travel to Gaza, where UNRWA has thousands of employees, to meet any of the accused in person.
Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Kamala Harris is now the official Democratic nominee for president. The Democratic National Committee has formally announced the final results of a virtual roll call of delegates voting ended Monday night. Harris, meanwhile, is getting closer to naming her running mate. She is expected to make her choice public sometime before tomorrow evening's campaign rally in Philadelphia.
Less than two weeks to go before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Activists at odds with the city over where they can march. From Member Station WBEZ, Michael Puente has more. A coalition of pro-Palestinian groups say thousands will descend on Chicago, and they plan to march near the United Center, where much of the convention will take place. The city is limiting a protest route to just one mile in length, about two blocks from the stadium.
Following a federal court hearing Monday in Chicago, the coalition spokesman Hatem Abu Daya says that's not enough and wants the city to double it. Absolutely there will be tens of thousands of people, especially if there's an expanded war going on.
A federal judge is expected to make a ruling by next week. For NPR News, I'm Michael Puente in Chicago. Savannah, Georgia Mayor Van Johnson is warning residents to expect a rough day Tuesday. Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debbie is causing flash flooding in Savannah and elsewhere along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. You're listening to NPR News.
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