Nation and world news in brief for December 11

US successfully conducts ballistic missile intercept test from Guam, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully intercepted an air-launched intermediate range ballistic missile target during a test off Guam for the first time, a significant milestone in the island’s defense capabilities, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific, is a strategic military outpost that is located closer to China than to Hawaii. It plays a crucial role in maintaining U.S. presence in the region and deterring potential adversaries.

The successful test underscores the Pentagon’s commitment to bolstering Guam’s defenses against evolving missile threats.

During the test, dubbed Flight Experiment Mission-02 (FEM-02), the Aegis Guam System, integrated with the new AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System, fired a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.

The missile — made by RTX Corp formerly Raytheon — successfully intercepted an air-launched Medium Range Ballistic Missile target off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base.

Kroger’s $25B deal for grocery rival Albertsons blocked by US courts

(Reuters) — A U.S. judge blocked the pending $25-billion merger of U.S. grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons on Tuesday, in a win for the Federal Trade Commission that Kroger has said would likely scuttle the deal.

The FTC argued at a three-week trial in Portland, Oregon, that the merger would eliminate head-to-head competition between the top two traditional grocery chains, leading to higher prices for shoppers and reduced bargaining leverage for unionized workers.

The ruling, which could be appealed, is a big victory for FTC Chair Lina Khan and President Joe Biden’s administration in their bid to counter inflation at the checkout. Americans’ discontent over a lingering rise in grocery prices since the pandemic was a key theme in the run-up to President-elect Donald Trump’s win in November.

U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson agreed the merger was likely to remove direct competition between the two grocers, making it unlawful.

World Central Kitchen fires dozens of workers in Gaza

CAIRO (Reuters) — A U.S.-based charity, the World Central Kitchen, fired dozens of Palestinians working for the charity in the Gaza Strip, at least three workers told Reuters, after Israel said at least 62 staff were linked to militant groups.

In a message to staff, WCK confirmed that it had “made changes” after Israel demanded an investigation into its hiring practices in Gaza.

“This should not be taken as a conclusion by WCK that the individuals are affiliated with any terror organization,” it said, adding that Israel had not shared its intelligence and “we do not know the basis for Israel’s decision to flag these individuals.”

It said it had taken the step “to protect our team and our operations.” A WCK spokesperson confirmed 62 people had been let go.

An Israeli security official told Reuters that Israel had demanded an investigation into staff potentially linked to the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, after it said a WCK employee identified as Ahed Azmi Qdeih took part in the attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.

Qdeih was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Nov. 30. WCK confirmed the airstrike at the time and said it had no knowledge about an employee involved in last year’s attack.

The official said an Israeli security review found that 62 WCK employees had “affiliations and direct connections” with militant groups.

“Consequently, senior Israeli officials demanded that WCK terminate the employment of those workers,” he said.

Paparazzi caught Trump Jr. out in Palm Beach with his new flame

MIAMI (TNS) — The Daily Mail has photographic proof of president elect Donald Trump’s oldest son walking hand in hand with socialite Bettina Anderson on the street in West Palm Beach. The outlet reports that they had just dined at the restaurant Buccan, near her townhouse “where they have been spending days and nights.” The day of the recent rendezvous is unclear.

Back in September, the two were pictured at the Honor Bar inside the Royal Poinciana Plaza upscale mall.

But then Guilfoyle – who’s been engaged to Jr. since New Year’s Eve 2020 – was back in the picture, and out on the campaign trail stumping for her soon-to-be father in law.

Now that Election Day is over, and the outcome worked out in their favor, it seems the Republican power couple are done.

No one involved has released a statement.

Senator Mitch McConnell suffers minor injury in fall at US Capitol

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. Senator Republican leader Mitch McConnell fell at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, sustaining minor injuries, but was cleared to resume work, his office said in a statement.

McConnell, 82, is due to step down as the party’s leader in the chamber next month, but plans to serve out the remaining two years of his term in office, despite a series of health scares last year that included two instances of freezing up in public while speaking.

“Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist,” a McConnell spokesperson said. “He has been cleared to resume his schedule.”

A team of medical technicians and doctors entered McConnell’s office with an empty wheelchair shortly before 2 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT).

Two additional medical technicians later entered his office. But all had departed within an hour.

Bomb threat at Marjorie Taylor Greene’s home leads to deadly car crash

(TNS) — A fake bomb threat at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Georgia home led to a deadly car crash with a police officer, authorities said.

An unknown person messaged the police department in Rome, Ga., on Monday and claimed there was a pipe bomb in Greene’s mailbox, according to Atlanta Fox affiliate WAGA. Greene lives in the city about 55 miles northwest of Atlanta.

As cops raced to the scene, a member of the local bomb squad crashed into another vehicle, USA Today reported. The unnamed officer struck Tammie Pickelsimer, 66, as she was pulling out of a parking lot, authorities said.

Pickelsimer was rushed to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to CBS News. The officer did not suffer serious injuries in the wreck.

Trump names Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece

(TNS) — Kimberly Guilfoyle has been nominated to serve as United States ambassador to Greece, President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host now deeply enmeshed in the broader Trump orbit, was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco. The former prosecutor announced her engagement to Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. in 2022, though questions about the couple’s current relationship status dogged tabloid headlines on Tuesday.

Guilfoyle was a prominent surrogate for Trump during the 2024 campaign.

The post, which requires Senate confirmation, is currently held by Biden appointee George Tsunis.