March 28, 2024

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | Updates from day 174 of the conflict:

• In its latest update, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says two-thirds of the 36 hospitals in Gaza are “non-functional” and the remainder are either “minimally” or “partially” functional amidst the ongoing conflict. [full OCHA update] [more]
• In a continuation of violence along the Israel-Lebanon border since the beginning of the war in Gaza began, 16 people in southern Lebanon were killed yesterday in Israeli airstrikes that targeted Islamic militant groups and one Israeli man was killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack on the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 763 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• In a speech to military pilots yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that while Russian forces will shoot down any F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine by western countries, there are no plans to attack any NATO countries. [more]
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is scheduled to meet with Indian diplomatic and security officials today in New Delhi for talks expected to center on the war in Ukraine and on strengthening bilateral ties. [more]

MARYLAND | Authorities say the ship that hit Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this week, causing it to collapse, underwent “routine engine maintenance” in port before departing on the trip during which the accident happened. Effects of the collapse, including vehicle and maritime traffic disruptions and supply chain issues due to closure of the Port of Baltimore, are expected to last for months or years. [more]

ILLINOIS | Authorities say four people were killed, and seven others were injured, yesterday when a man went on a stabbing rampage at multiple locations around the northern Illinois city of Rockford. Police say a 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attacks. [more]

U.S. INSURANCE | The White House today announced a new final rule that limits short-term, non-Affordable Care Act insurance policies to three months and renewals of those policies to a maximum of four months. The rule further requires short-term plan providers to clearly inform consumers of the limits of policy benefits. [White House fact sheet] [more]

HAWAII | U.S. military officials say draining of an underground fuel tank complex on the Hawaiian island of Oahu that leaked jet fuel into Pearl Harbor’s drinking water in 2021 has been completed. Work will continue to fully decommission the tanks and mitigate environmental and water quality issues. [more]

FLORIDA | Under a settlement announced yesterday between the state of Florida and entertainment giant Disney, pending litigation before a state court over the special tourism district that contains the Walt Disney World resort will be dropped. Reports say the settlement lifts a significant barrier to the continued development of Walt Disney World in the Orlando area and provides for the potential resolution of a related federal case. [more]

NEW YORK CITY | New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority board yesterday officially approved a $15 toll on most commuter passenger vehicles that drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street during the day. The new toll, which supporters say will increase use of public transportation, reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and raise funds for the city’s subway system, is expected to take effect in June. [more]

U.S. AND TAIWAN | After meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, members of a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation pledged today to continue supporting the self-governed island that is claimed by China. The visit to Taiwan, led by Republican Congressman Jack Bergman, who chairs the House Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, follows recent Congressional approval of $300 million in military aid for Taiwan and $400 million to counter Chinese influence in the region. [more]

GREECE | The government of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is facing a no-confidence vote today over the handling of last year’s train crash in central Greece that killed 57 people. Opposition leaders in the Greek parliament have accused the government of manipulating evidence related to the crash. [more]

AUSTRALIA AND CHINA | The Chinese commerce ministry announced today that tariffs as high as 218% on the import of Australian wine will be lifted starting March 29, ending three years of punitive levies. Reports note that China was Australia’s top wine export market prior to introduction of the tariffs in March 2021. [more]

COLOMBIA AND ARGENTINA | Citing “denigrating” comments by Argentine President Javier Milei about Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Colombian authorities expelled Argentine diplomats from their country yesterday. [more]

CRYPTOCURRENCY | Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange who was convicted on fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering charges last year, is scheduled to be sentenced today. Prosecutors have recommended a prison sentence of 40-50 years for Bankman-Fried. [more]

BASEBALL | High-profile games and players in today’s first full day of the Major League Baseball season include: Shohei Ohtani playing for the Los Angeles Dodges vs the St. Louis Cardinals; outfielder Juan Soto’s debut with the New York Yankees; and the defending champion Texas Rangers’ opening game vs the Chicago Cubs. [full MLB schedule] [more]

R.I.P. | Joe Lieberman, the former U.S. senator and Democratic vice-presidential running mate of Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election, died yesterday at the age of 82 due to complications from a fall, according to a statement from his family. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1930, the Turkish city of Istanbul, founded as Byzantium about 657 bce, then renamed Constantinople in the 4th century ce after Constantine the Great made the city his capital, officially received its present name. [more history]