ReportWire

Tag: Christina Santucci

  • Former President Joe Biden undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer

    Former President Joe Biden is undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment as part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, a spokesperson for the former president told Spectrum News on Saturday. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Former President Joe Biden is undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, a spokesperson for the former president told Spectrum News on Saturday

    • Biden was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer in May

    • Prostate cancers are given grades for aggressiveness on what’s called a Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10 with higher numbers indicating a higher level of aggressive behavior

    • Biden’s office said in May that his prostate cancer was a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone, suggesting it is among the most aggressive

    Biden was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer in May. 

    “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” his office said at the time. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

    Prostate cancers are given grades for aggressiveness on what’s called a Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10 with higher numbers indicating a higher level of aggressive behavior. 

    Biden’s office said in May that his prostate cancer was a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone, suggesting it is among the most aggressive.

    NBC News was the first to report that Biden is undergoing radiation, and that the treatment is expected to take five weeks. The former president has already been taking a pill form of hormone medication and is “doing well,” the outlet reported.

    Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic, and the risk of developing it increases with age. Treatments include radiation, hormone therapy, surgery and chemotherapy.

    In a post on social media announcing his diagnosis in May, Biden wrote, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

    The 82-year-old former president had previously undergone surgery to remove skin cancer lesions last month on his forehead, and in 2023, Biden had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest. Testing confirmed that the lesion was basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.

    Biden left the White House in January at the end of his four-year term. Months earlier he had suspended his campaign for reelection and endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who later lost to President Donald Trump.

    Christina Santucci, Taylor Popielarz

    Source link

  • Netanyahu says Israel ‘must finish the job’ against Hamas during U.N. address

    UNITED NATIONS –– In a speech Friday broadcast to the Gaza Strip via loudspeakers and through the takeover of Palestinians’ cellphones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s efforts to destroy Hamas and told world leaders that Israel was “not done yet.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • In a speech Friday broadcast to Gaza via loudspeakers and through the takeover of Palestinians’ cell phones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s efforts to destroy Hamas and told world leaders that Israel was “not done yet” 

    • As Netanyahu came to the podium to commence his remarks, dozens of delegates from multiple countries walked out, but others in the room applauded at the start of his speech and periodically throughout his address.

    • Netanyahu denounced calls for a Palestinian state, saying that his country would not let other nations “shove a terror state down our throats”

    • The Israeli leader also vociferously rejected allegations that his country was committing genocide in Gaza and weaponizing hunger, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly

    “Thanks to the resolve of our people, the courage of our soldiers and the bold decisions we took, Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history,” Netanyahu said during his United Nations General Assembly address. “But we are not done yet. The final elements, the final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City.

    “That is why Israel must finish the job,” he said.

    As Netanyahu came to the podium to begin his remarks, dozens of delegates from multiple countries walked out. Others in the room applauded at the start of his speech and periodically throughout the address.

    Netanyahu has faced growing international calls for an end to the war in Gaza, which began when Hamas-led militants killed roughly 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage. The Gaza Health Ministry recently estimated that 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 167,000 injured since October 2023.

    During his address Friday, Netanyahu said that “special efforts” by Israeli intelligence had taken over the cellphones of Gazans to broadcast his remarks live. He called on remaining Hamas leaders to free the hostages and lay down their weapons or Israel would “hunt you down.”

    Netanyahu said that Israel has brought back 207 hostages, and about 20 of the 48 remaining in Gaza are still believed to be alive.

    He then read the names of the 20 hostages aloud, saying he wanted to speak directly to them by way of speakers pointing into the territory for his remarks, speaking first in Hebrew and then in English.

    “We will not rest until we bring all of you home,” he said.

    Shortly after Netanyahu concluded his remarks, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that an agreement on Gaza may be “very close.”

    “I think it’s a deal that will get the hostages back,” Trump said, without providing additional details. “It’s going to be a deal that will end the war. It’s going to be a dea l— it’s going to be peace.” 

    Allowing a Palestinian state would be ‘sheer madness,’ Netanyahu says

    Netanyahu denounced calls for a Palestinian state, saying that his country would not let other nations “shove a terror state down our throats.”

    “Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after Oct. 7 is like giving al-Qaida a state one mile from New York City after Sept. 11,” he said. “This is sheer madness, and we won’t do it.”

    In the last few weeks, several countries –– including France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia –– joined some 150 others around the world in formally recognizing a Palestinian state. The U.N. General Assembly also voted overwhelmingly this month to pass a nonbinding resolution, supporting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urging Israel to commit to a Palestinian state.

    The Israeli leader said Friday that these nations sent a message that “murdering Jews pays off.”

    The Israeli prime minister’s address came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave a virtual address to the U.N., during which he thanked countries for recognizing a Palestinian state. Abbas said that the Palestinian Authority, which oversees the West Bank, was prepared to take over governance of Gaza and that Hamas would have no future role in leading the territory. 

    The Palestinian leader also condemned the planned expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel announced in August that it approved an expansion of settlements to divide the West Bank –– a move that Palestinians and rights groups say would divide much of the West Bank and destroy hopes for a future Palestinian state.

    Later Thursday, Trump told reporters gathered at the Oval Office that he wouldn’t allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. Possible annexation has been floated in Israel in response to U.S. allies moving to recognize a Palestinian state. 

    Netanyahu refutes accusations of genocide in Gaza

    The Israeli leader vociferously rejected allegations Friday that his country was committing genocide in Gaza and weaponizing hunger.

    A United Nations Human Rights Council report earlier this month contended that Israel was committing genocide, and the world’s leading authority on food crisis declared last month that famine was occurring in Gaza City –– both charges that Israel refutes.

    Netanyahu called the allegations of genocide “antisemitic lies,” saying efforts by his country to encourage Gazans to leave the largest city in the territory disproved the charge.

    “Would a country committing genocide plead with a civilian population it is supposedly targeting to get out of harm’s way?” he said. He also blamed Hamas for stealing food intended for Gazans. 

    Many Palestinians are unwilling to be uprooted, while others are too weak or can’t afford to leave, international aid groups say.

    Netanyahu calls for ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran

    Netanyahu praised Trump for “his bold and decisive action” in bombing Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites earlier this year. 

    “President Trump and I promised to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and we delivered on that promise,” Netanyahu said, later adding, “We lifted a dark cloud that could have claimed millions and millions of lives.”

    Netanyahu called Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium to be “eliminated” and for “snapback” sanctions to be reinstated over its failure to comply with conditions of the 2015 nuclear deal. 

    A 30-day deadline triggered by France, Germany and the United Kingdom is set to end Sunday. However, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Friday on whether to delay the reimposition of sanctions by six months.

    During his own address to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the United States and Israeli attacks for “dealing a grievous blow upon international trust.” 

    The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

    Christina Santucci

    Source link

  • Netanyahu says Israel ‘must finish the job’ against Hamas during U.N. address

    UNITED NATIONS –– In a speech Friday broadcast to the Gaza Strip via loudspeakers and through the takeover of Palestinians’ cellphones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s efforts to destroy Hamas and told world leaders that Israel was “not done yet.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • In a speech Friday broadcast to Gaza via loudspeakers and through the takeover of Palestinians’ cell phones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s efforts to destroy Hamas and told world leaders that Israel was “not done yet” 

    • As Netanyahu came to the podium to commence his remarks, dozens of delegates from multiple countries walked out, but others in the room applauded at the start of his speech and periodically throughout his address.

    • Netanyahu denounced calls for a Palestinian state, saying that his country would not let other nations “shove a terror state down our throats”

    • The Israeli leader also vociferously rejected allegations that his country was committing genocide in Gaza and weaponizing hunger, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly

    “Thanks to the resolve of our people, the courage of our soldiers and the bold decisions we took, Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history,” Netanyahu said during his United Nations General Assembly address. “But we are not done yet. The final elements, the final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City.

    “That is why Israel must finish the job,” he said.

    As Netanyahu came to the podium to begin his remarks, dozens of delegates from multiple countries walked out. Others in the room applauded at the start of his speech and periodically throughout the address.

    Netanyahu has faced growing international calls for an end to the war in Gaza, which began when Hamas-led militants killed roughly 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage. The Gaza Health Ministry recently estimated that 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 167,000 injured since October 2023.

    During his address Friday, Netanyahu said that “special efforts” by Israeli intelligence had taken over the cellphones of Gazans to broadcast his remarks live. He called on remaining Hamas leaders to free the hostages and lay down their weapons or Israel would “hunt you down.”

    Netanyahu said that Israel has brought back 207 hostages, and about 20 of the 48 remaining in Gaza are still believed to be alive.

    He then read the names of the 20 hostages aloud, saying he wanted to speak directly to them by way of speakers pointing into the territory for his remarks, speaking first in Hebrew and then in English.

    “We will not rest until we bring all of you home,” he said.

    Shortly after Netanyahu concluded his remarks, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that an agreement on Gaza may be “very close.”

    “I think it’s a deal that will get the hostages back,” Trump said, without providing additional details. “It’s going to be a deal that will end the war. It’s going to be a dea l— it’s going to be peace.” 

    Allowing a Palestinian state would be ‘sheer madness,’ Netanyahu says

    Netanyahu denounced calls for a Palestinian state, saying that his country would not let other nations “shove a terror state down our throats.”

    “Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after Oct. 7 is like giving al-Qaida a state one mile from New York City after Sept. 11,” he said. “This is sheer madness, and we won’t do it.”

    In the last few weeks, several countries –– including France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia –– joined some 150 others around the world in formally recognizing a Palestinian state. The U.N. General Assembly also voted overwhelmingly this month to pass a nonbinding resolution, supporting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urging Israel to commit to a Palestinian state.

    The Israeli leader said Friday that these nations sent a message that “murdering Jews pays off.”

    The Israeli prime minister’s address came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave a virtual address to the U.N., during which he thanked countries for recognizing a Palestinian state. Abbas said that the Palestinian Authority, which oversees the West Bank, was prepared to take over governance of Gaza and that Hamas would have no future role in leading the territory. 

    The Palestinian leader also condemned the planned expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel announced in August that it approved an expansion of settlements to divide the West Bank –– a move that Palestinians and rights groups say would divide much of the West Bank and destroy hopes for a future Palestinian state.

    Later Thursday, Trump told reporters gathered at the Oval Office that he wouldn’t allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. Possible annexation has been floated in Israel in response to U.S. allies moving to recognize a Palestinian state. 

    Netanyahu refutes accusations of genocide in Gaza

    The Israeli leader vociferously rejected allegations Friday that his country was committing genocide in Gaza and weaponizing hunger.

    A United Nations Human Rights Council report earlier this month contended that Israel was committing genocide, and the world’s leading authority on food crisis declared last month that famine was occurring in Gaza City –– both charges that Israel refutes.

    Netanyahu called the allegations of genocide “antisemitic lies,” saying efforts by his country to encourage Gazans to leave the largest city in the territory disproved the charge.

    “Would a country committing genocide plead with a civilian population it is supposedly targeting to get out of harm’s way?” he said. He also blamed Hamas for stealing food intended for Gazans. 

    Many Palestinians are unwilling to be uprooted, while others are too weak or can’t afford to leave, international aid groups say.

    Netanyahu calls for ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran

    Netanyahu praised Trump for “his bold and decisive action” in bombing Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites earlier this year. 

    “President Trump and I promised to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and we delivered on that promise,” Netanyahu said, later adding, “We lifted a dark cloud that could have claimed millions and millions of lives.”

    Netanyahu called Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium to be “eliminated” and for “snapback” sanctions to be reinstated over its failure to comply with conditions of the 2015 nuclear deal. 

    A 30-day deadline triggered by France, Germany and the United Kingdom is set to end Sunday. However, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Friday on whether to delay the reimposition of sanctions by six months.

    During his own address to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the United States and Israeli attacks for “dealing a grievous blow upon international trust.” 

    The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

    Christina Santucci

    Source link

  • Fired CDC director testifies about ultimatum over vaccine recommendations

    WASHINGTON –– Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez has begun her testimony before a congressional committee Wednesday morning — three weeks after she was fired by the Trump administration.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez has begun her testimony before a congressional committee Wednesday morning — three weeks after she was fired by the Trump administration

    • Monarez told lawmakers that she was given an ultimatum by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign or be terminated after she refused to “preapprove” vaccine recommendations of an advisory panel

    • That panel — the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — is expected to vote on new vaccine recommendations this week

    • Former Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, who later resigned after Monarez was fired, joined the former CDC director on Capitol Hill for the hearing

    Monarez told lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that she was given an ultimatum by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if she refused to “commit in advance to approving” vaccine recommendations and “dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause.”

    “On the morning of Aug. 25, Secretary Kennedy demanded two things of me that were inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics required of a public official,” she told the committee.

    Her remarks Wednesday echoed a chain of events she described in a Wall Street Journal op-ed — that she “was told to preapprove the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel newly filled with people who have publicly expressed antivaccine rhetoric.”

    That panel — the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices –– is expected to vote on new vaccine recommendations this week.

    In the wake of Monarez’s ouster, several other agency leaders resigned in protest, and President Donald Trump picked Jim O’Neill, who had been serving as Kennedy’s deputy, to step in as interim CDC director. 

    Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, who quit after Monarez was fired, joined the former CDC director on Capitol Hill for the hearing, which was given the title “Reviewing Recent Events at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Implications for Children’s Health.”

    “I resigned because CDC leaders were reduced to rubber stamps, supporting policies not based in science and putting American lives at risk,” Houry told the committee.

    In a hearing earlier this month, Kennedy acknowledged that he had told Monarez to fire scientists at the agency. During his testimony, Kennedy had also addressed what he called “the recent shakeup” at the CDC.

    “We are the sickest country in the world,” Kennedy told lawmakers.
”That’s why we have to fire people at CDC. They did not do their job. This was their job to keep us healthy.”

    When asked about Monarez, Kennedy said, “I told her that she had to resign because I asked her, ‘Are you a trustworthy person?’ And she said, ‘No.’” 

    Monarez refuted Kennedy’s comments calling her “untrustworthy” during her opening statement Wednesday.

    Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician who represents Louisiana and chairs the powerful Senate health committee, said during his opening remarks Wednesday that lawmakers were looking to find “all the facts, not a version of the facts that fits a certain narrative agenda.”

    “It may be impossible to learn who’s telling the truth, but this hearing is an initial step in trying to answer why the top leadership of the CDC was fired or resigned before they could be fired,” he said, adding, “Turmoil at the top of the nation’s top public health agency is not good for the health of the American people.”

    Christina Santucci

    Source link