July 1, 2024

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | Updates from day 269 of the conflict:

• Reports say Israel released 55 Palestinian detainees from Gaza today, including Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, who was taken into custody when Israeli forces raided the hospital in November. Following his release, Abu Selmia said he and other detainees had been tortured and held under harsh conditions – charges Israeli officials have denied. [more]
• Police used water cannons and mounted officers last night to disperse thousands of people rallying in Jerusalem against the recent Israeli Supreme Court decision that ordered the government to begin drafting Jewish ultra-Orthodox men. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 858 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Regional officials say at least seven people were killed, and 31 others were injured, Saturday in a Russian missile attack on the town of Vilniansk in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhia region. [more]
• The Associated Press cites Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Olena Vysotska as saying that more than 3,000 Ukrainians have been released from prison since last month under a measure that allows such releases in exchange for military service in the fight against the Russian invasion. [more]

U.S. SUPREME COURT | Today is the final day of the current Supreme Court session. In addition to rulings expected later today, including on the issue of former President Donald Trump's claim of immunity related to charges of election interference, the Court issued a series of rulings Friday that:

• Allowed cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places even when sufficient shelter space is unavailable. [more]
• Limited the scope of a federal obstruction law that has been used to charge hundreds of January 6 rioters, with Justices saying the charge of obstructing an official proceeding must include proof that defendants tried to tamper with or destroy documents. [more]
• Overturned the 40-year-old legal “Chevron precedent,” which held that courts should defer to federal agencies' interpretation of the law when a statute's language wasn't clear.  [more]

4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY TRAVEL | Motor club AAA predicts that some 70.9 million people on the U.S. will travel 50 miles or more from home over the 4th of July holiday period and suggests that increased traffic on roadways could significantly increase the time it will take to travel planned routes. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | According to Commerce Department data released Friday, consumer prices in the U.S. were unchanged from April to May and up 2.6% from the year-ago period. Analysts suggest the measures are a sign of easing inflation that could help to justify a long-anticipated interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve later this year. [more]

JANUARY 6 | Former Trump administration advisor Steve Bannon is set to begin a four-month prison sentence today after being convicted of contempt of Congress for defying a congressional subpoena to testify during investigations into the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. [more]

HURRICANE BERYL | Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are all under hurricane warnings today as Hurricane Beryl approaches the Windward Islands as a Category 3 storm. [more]

FRANCE | Preliminary projections from yesterday’s first round of parliamentary elections in France show Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party with 34% of the vote, the left-wing New Popular Front coalition with 28.1%, and President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble alliance with 20.3%. A second, and final, round of voting is scheduled for next Sunday. [more]

SWITZERLAND | Authorities say at least four people died over the weekend in extensive flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in Switzerland’s southern and western regions. [more]

FINLAND | Finnish health authorities have announced a world's-first plan to offer preemptive bird flu vaccinations to workers at increased risk of contracting the disease due to job-related exposure to at-risk animals. [more]

CANADA | A deal has reportedly been reached to end a mechanics strike that has grounded hundreds of flights by Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet. Reports say the strike resulted in the cancellation of 829 WestJet flights between last Thursday and today, affecting tens of thousands of travelers over the busy Canada Day holiday travel season. [more]

JAPAN | The Japanese government revised its estimate for the country’s first-quarter 2024 economic performance today, now saying Japan’s economy contracted at a 2.9% annual rate for the period – a greater slowdown than the 1.8% pace it had previously estimated. [more]

AUSTRALIA | Businesswoman and gender equality advocate Sam Mostyn was appointed today as Australia’s second-ever woman governor-general – a largely ceremonial role representing the British monarch who is the nation’s official head of state. [more]

AIRLINE INDUSTRY | Amidst increased scrutiny and criminal investigations, Boeing has announced plans to acquire supplier Spirit AeroSystems in a move the airline giant says will help to improve plane quality and safety. [more]

SOCCER | England, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany have all reached the quarterfinals of the Euro 2024 soccer tournament. The remaining four teams in the quarterfinals will be decided in matches today and tomorrow. [more]

TENNIS | The 2024 Wimbledon tennis tournament begins today at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, with Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek as the men’s and women’s top seeds, respectively. [more]

CRICKET | India beat South Africa on Saturday to win the T20 World Cup cricket tournament in Barbados, claiming its first world title in 13 years. [more]

BASKETBALL | Among notable NBA free agency deals being reported today are: Paul George moving from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Philadelphia 76ers, James Harden staying with the Clippers in a two-year deal, and Chris Paul moving to the San Antonio Spurs after being waived by the Golden State Warriors. [more]

GOLF | Cam Davis shot a final-round 2-under-par 70 yesterday to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic. [more]

BET AWARDS | Usher received the lifetime achievement award at last night's 2024 BET Awards. Among the other awardees at the Los Angeles ceremony were: Killer Mike’s “Michael” for album of the year, Nicki Minaj for best female hip-hop artist, and Kendrick Lamar for best male hip-hop artist. [full list of winners] [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "Inside Out 2" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $57.4 million in receipts, followed by "A Quiet Place: Day One" and "Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1968, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and 59 other states signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in an effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. [more history]