Biden marks first Veterans Day in 2 decades without a war underway
President Joe Biden paid homage Thursday to veterans, calling them the “solid steel spine” of the United States and the “soul of America” as he marked the first Veterans Day in two decades without troops engaged in an active war overseas. For Biden, who ended the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan this summer, the moment was clearly a personal one as he expressed his gratitude to the thousands of service members and their families who were affected by the fighting in that country. In remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, Biden pledged to ensure that those who returned from battle would receive what he called “the world-class benefits that they’ve earned.”
Court issues brief hold on release of Trump files in Jan. 6 inquiry
A federal appeals court issued a short-term injunction Thursday blocking the National Archives from turning over to Congress documents from the Trump White House related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a day before the House committee investigating the attack was set to receive the first batch. The move, by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, will preserve the status quo while lawyers for former President Donald Trump, Congress and the Biden administration submit briefs over the next two weeks to address whether the court should further block any transfer of papers. The court will hold arguments Nov. 30.
Bariatric surgery may lower risk for severe liver disease, new study finds
One in four American adults has fatty liver disease caused by obesity, not drinking, and there is no medical treatment for it. Doctors say the only way to keep it in check is to lose weight and eat a healthier diet. Now a new study reports that bariatric surgery, in addition to helping with weight loss, can protect the liver. The findings were striking: Of a group of more than 1,100 patients who had an aggressive form of fatty liver disease, those who had weight loss surgery cut their risk of advanced liver disease, liver cancer or related death by almost 90% over the next decade.
Defense rests its case at murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse
The defense rested its case Thursday at the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, setting the stage for closing arguments Monday in the shootings that left Americans divided over whether he was a patriot taking a stand against lawlessness or a vigilante. Rittenhouse’s lawyers put on about 2 1/2 days of testimony to the prosecution’s five, with the most riveting moment coming when the 18-year-old told the jury that he was defending himself from attack when he used his rifle to kill two men and wound a third on the streets of Kenosha in the summer of 2020. Prosecutors have sought to portray Rittenhouse as the instigator of the bloodshed, which took place during a tumultuous night of protests against racial injustice. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.
SpaceX delivers new crew of 4 to station, ‘glorious sight’
A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts pulled up Thursday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. It took 21 hours for the flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the glittering outpost. The one German and three U.S. astronauts said it was an emotional moment when they first spotted the space station 20 miles distant — “a pretty glorious sight,” according to Raja Chari, commander of the Dragon capsule.
By wire sources
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