January 9, 2024

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | Updates from day 95 of the conflict:

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel today, where he is expected to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s War Cabinet, and other officials. Blinken, who is on a weeklong trip to the region says he has secured commitments from four Arab countries and Turkey to help rebuild Gaza when the Israel-Hamas conflict ends. [more]
• Israeli military officials say nine Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza this week, bringing to 187 the country’s total number of military casualties in more than three months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave. According to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Authority, more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. [more]
• Hezbollah militant forces in Lebanon reportedly launched attack drones at the Israeli army headquarters in Safed, Israel, today in response to the recent killing of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in airstrikes on Lebanon. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 684 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• In a conference call today with military leaders, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Ukraine lost 215,000 soldiers in 2023. The Ukrainian military, meanwhile, says Russia has lost 365,990 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion. [more]
• Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said today that his country’s need for further international military aid has increased due to Russia’s recent escalation of missile and drone attacks. [more]

TRUMP IMMUNITY | A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is scheduled to hear arguments today on whether former President Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution on charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump, who has long claimed immunity for acts taken while in office, is expected to attend today's hearing. [more]

U.S. WEATHER | Large parts of the north-central U.S. are under weather advisories today, with up to 12 inches of snow predicted for southeastern Colorado and parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan. Also today, an estimated 244,000 electricity customers in the southern and central U.S. are without power this morning due to a series of strong storms and high winds, and tornado watches have been issued for portions of southeastern Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. [more]

TEXAS | Authorities say a suspected gas leak caused an explosion yesterday at the historic Sandman Signature Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, that wounded at least 21 people. Details of the explosion and the possible gas leak remain under investigation. [more]

CALIFORNIA | Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday set March 19 as the date for a special election to fill California’s 20th congressional district seat, which was left vacant by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s resignation in December. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | The National Federation of Independent Business says its survey index of small business sentiment rose in December for the first time in five months, but remained below the index’s 50-year average level for the 24th straight month. [more]

GLOBAL CLIMATE | According to the E.U.’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2023 has been confirmed as the world’s warmest year on record, with average global temperatures about 1.48 degrees Celsius above the long-term, pre-industrial average. [BBC in-depth report] [more]

FRANCE | President Emmanuel Macron today named 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as France’s new, and youngest-ever, prime minister. Attal replaces Elisabeth Borne, who resigned yesterday, in the country's second-highest office. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | Producing and selling dog meat for human consumption will be illegal in South Korean beginning in 2027 after the country’s parliament passed a ban yesterday that would make the practices punishable by 2-3 years in prison. [more]

SPACE | Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology says its Peregrine lunar landing craft launched yesterday developed a fuel leak hours into its flight, casting doubt on the craft's planned February 23 soft landing on the moon. [more]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | Michigan beat Washington, 34-13, last night to win the College Football Playoff championship game and complete a perfect 15-0 season. Michigan’s running back Blake Corum and defensive back Will Johnson were named the game’s offensive and defensive players-of-the-game, respectively. [more]

GOLF | Tiger Woods and apparel-maker Nike ended their 27-year partnership yesterday, according to statements by both Woods and the company. Reports say Woods was paid around $500 million over the course of several deals with Nike. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1839, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre of France proclaimed his invention of the daguerreotype, the first commercially successful form of photography. [more history]