Today’s edition of quick hits.
* A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia: “A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, rattling much of the country, killing more than 100 people and sending residents fleeing from swaying and crumbling buildings in multiple major cities. As rescuers searched the rubble of damaged buildings and officials warned of possible aftershocks, the death toll appeared likely to rise.”
* Trump suggested last week that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was imminent. As is often the case, he was wrong: “A senior Iranian official told MS NOW on Monday that Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz only if the United States meets all of the conditions that Tehran contends are in the June memorandum of understanding between the two countries. The Iranian official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe closed-door discussions, said those conditions include unfreezing Iranian funds and assets and the end of fighting in Lebanon.”
* Two months ago, Trump said, in reference to Netanyahu, “If I tell him to do something, he does it.” Yeah, about that: “The Israeli government has rejected a 15-point plan backed by the Trump administration aimed at disarming the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.”
* Keep a close eye on this one: “An explosive-laden drone discovered at an airport in Germany this week likely belongs to the Russian government, according to U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports about the incident.”
* At the White House: “President Trump announced on Sunday that Will Scharf, his staff secretary and a deeply conservative lawyer, would replace David Warrington as White House counsel, one of the few major changes in West Wing personnel since Mr. Trump returned to Washington.”
* Bloc confirmations: “The Senate confirmed dozens of President Trump’s pending nominees on Friday, including two key economic policy officials: Brett Matsumoto, a government economist, who will serve as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and Christopher Phelan, an economist at the University of Minnesota who has advised the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, who will serve as the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.”
* Ready or not, the Patriot Games are apparently underway: “President Trump is headed to Geneva, Ohio, on Tuesday to cheer on young Americans participating in the ‘Patriot Games,’ a sporting competition created by his administration to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. One male and one female athlete from each of the 50 states were selected to participate.”
See you tomorrow.
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