News in brief

By The Associated Press

Israel will close its Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip | Israel says it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorate over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials say new Israeli airstrikes have killed over 30 people including children.

Israel’s decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.” Ireland earlier announced that it would recognize a Palestinian state. And the Irish cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

The Palestinian death toll in the war is approaching 45,000.

Trump appoints Grenell to serve

as special missions envoy

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. | President-elect Donald Trump has picked longtime foreign policy adviser Richard Grenell to serve as an envoy for special missions. Trump made the announcement in a social media post Saturday evening.

With the appointment, Trump is tasking his longtime adviser with helping the incoming administration deal with some of the “hottest spots around the world,” including Venezuela and North Korea.

Grenell served as ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first administration, special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, and did a stint as acting director of national intelligence.

Grenell was also a contender to serve as secretary of state at the start of Trump’s second term. But Trump ultimately opted to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

—From AP reports