Netanyahu dissolves influential War Cabinet after key partner bolted from government

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the influential war Cabinet that oversaw the fighting in Gaza, a government spokesperson said Monday, days after a key member of the body bolted from the government over frustration with the Israeli leader's handling of the war.

The move was widely expected following the departure of Benny Gantz, a centrist former military chief. Gantz's absence from the government increases Netanyahu's dependence on his ultra-nationalist allies, who oppose a cease-fire.

That could pose an additional challenge to the already fragile negotiations to end the eight-month war in Gaza.

The War Cabinet was formed in the early days of the war, when Gantz, then an opposition party leader and Netanyahu rival, joined the coalition in a show of unity after Hamas militants’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. He demanded that a small decision-making body steer the war, in a bid to sideline far-right members of Netanyahu’s government. It was made up of three members — Gantz, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

https://valleynewstoday.com/news/nation-world/netanyahu-dissolves-influential-war-cabinet-after-key-partner-bolted-from-government/article_90bbeaea-33ec-517a-b575-e371c809fd6e.html

Pilot of small plane dead after crash into a Massachusetts river

LAWRENCE, Massachusetts (AP) — A small plane crashed into a Massachusetts river Monday, killing the lone pilot onboard, authorities said.

The plane plunged into the Merrimack River near the town of Lawrence at about 2:15 p.m., authorities said.

Graham Rowe, the North Andover deputy fire chief, said the pilot’s body remained in the overturned aircraft in several feet of water and that emergency responders were at the scene.

“We do have dive team members in the water trying to assess everything,” Rowe told reporters. “The plane appears to be intact.”

He said the plane had taken off from the Lawrence Municipal Airport, but because it wasn’t a typical commercially constructed plane authorities had limited information about the aircraft. He added that he didn’t know how long it had been in the air or where it was headed.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a single-engine Van’s Aircraft RV-6A.

Van’s Aircraft produces kit airplanes that are often amateur-built and assembled at home.

Authorities did not immediately identify the pilot.

Television video footage showed the plane upside down in the river as an emergency fire crew responded in a boat.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/pilot-of-small-plane-dead-after-crash-into-a-massachusetts-river/article_6aa524ef-1d53-50ff-bc91-f5d4c656cdd8.html

North Dakota House candidate files federal complaints alleging fraud, election interference

Julie Fedorchak’s campaign filed complaints with two federal agencies related to a video and text messages sent last week that falsely state the candidate dropped out of the race for U.S. House of Representatives.

Complaints were filed with the Federal Election Commission and Federal Communications Commission asking the agencies to investigate the messages, campaign manager Sean Cleary wrote in a Monday email.

Shane Goettle, the campaign’s attorney, said the complaint to the Federal Election Commission alleges election interference and the complaint to the Federal Communications Commission alleges the “use of texts in a fraudulent manner.”

“We’ve alerted the U.S. Attorney’s Office to this as well, because they have a responsibility to ensure that our elections are run in ways that aren’t patently deceptive to voters and they have a responsibility to ensure that elections are run in a fair and impartial manner,” Goettle said.

The messages included texts with fake news headlines saying Fedorchak had suspended her campaign, as well as a manipulated video of Fedorchak stating she was withdrawing from the race.

“We are very concerned that if we don’t file this complaint now, that we’re going to see this repeated in the future,” Goettle said.

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/north-dakota-house-candidate-files-federal-complaints-alleging-fraud-election-interference

Trump props up John McGuire, GOP challenger to Rep. Bob Good, ahead of Virginia primary

All eyes Tuesday will be on Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, where House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good could become the second incumbent ousted in a primary this cycle if former President Donald Trump has his way.

“If he’s reelected, Bob Good will stab Virginia in the back, sort of like he did with me,” Mr. Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said Monday evening on a 12-minute tele-rally for Mr. Good’s primary opponent, state Sen. John McGuire.

Mr. Trump holds a grudge against Mr. Good for endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the presidential primary and only endorsing Nr. Trump after the governor dropped out — which the former president dismissed Monday as “not good enough.”

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jun/17/trump-props-john-mcguire-challenger-bob-good-ahead/-dominion/

First flight of Air Force One replacement delayed to 2026

The issue-plagued Boeing VC-25B programme to deliver two new presidential jets to the US Air Force (USAF) is absorbing fresh production delays that will push the type’s first flight into 2026.

The VC-25Bs are meant to replace the USAF’s two 747-200-based VC-25As now serving as Air Force One. Both those jets entered service in 1991.

Boeing in 2018 won a $3.9 billion contract with the USAF to deliver two VC-25Bs, which are heavily modified versions of 747-8 passenger jets. At the time, the new presidential aircraft were expected to enter service in December 2024.

That target subsequently slipped two years to 2026 after the programme was impacted by supply and labour disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside engineering challenges.

The programme timeline is changing again, and not in Boeing’s favour. The USAF now says first flight of the VC-25B will not occur until March 2026 – a 16 month revision. The news was reported by Breaking Defense on 14 June.

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/first-flight-of-air-force-one-replacement-delayed-to-2026/158785.article

Gandalf the Gay - Ian McKellen, 85, Falls off Stage, Rushed to Hospital

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ian-mckellen-hospital-theater/2024/06/17/id/1169085/