November 30, 2023

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | Updates from day 55 of the conflict:

• Israel and Hamas extended their hostage release and cease-fire agreement for a seventh day today. Terms of the extension are the same as for previous days, with at least 10 Israeli hostages being released in exchange for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. [more]
• Reports say the U.S. is urging Israel to narrow its zone of combat and to clarify where Palestinian civilians can safely seek shelter upon any resumption of military operations in Gaza. [more]
• Police in Jerusalem say three people were shot dead and at least 11 others were wounded this morning at a bus stop in the city by two attackers who, according to the BBC, Hamas has claimed as members. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 644 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• According to regional officials, at least one person was killed, 10 others were wounded, and several remain missing following overnight Russian missile attacks on the settlements of Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka, and Myrnohrad in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. [more]
• Ukrainian military officials say their forces successfully defended a third major attempt by Russian forces to capture the town of Avdiivka in two months between November 22 and 24, and that the Russian offensive included some 50 assaults supported by tanks. [more]

U.S. AGING | A new report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies says that the number of U.S. households headed by a person over the age of 80 is expected to more than double to 17 million between 2021 and 2040, and that the U.S. is ill-prepared to adequately house and care for the growing elderly population. [full report] [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | Revised data released by the Commerce Department yesterday indicates that the U.S. economy grew at a 5.2% annual pace in the July to September quarter – up from the department’s previous estimate of 4.9% and the highest quarterly growth rate in nearly two years. [more]

AI AND POLITICS | Michigan is set to join multiple other states in the coming days in enacting regulations governing the use of AI-generated political advertisements and media during campaigns. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign measures into law in the coming days that would require clear disclosure of artificial intelligence use in political ads, similarly to initiatives in California, Minnesota, Texas, Washington, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are scheduled to debate in a nationally televised event billed by host Fox News as “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.” The event comes amidst DeSantis’ ongoing campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and expectations of a future presidential run by Newsom. [more]

COP28 | The 28th “Conference of the Parties,” or COP28, U.N. climate summit begins today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where global warming, funding for poorer countries to respond to climate-related crises, and reduction in the use of fossil fuels are expected to be among the main topics of discussion. COP28, which lasts through December 12, comes amidst concerns over potential conflicts of interest associated with a major oil-producing country hosting a climate-centered summit and major reports on the lack of progress in limiting factors that contribute to a rise in global temperature. [more]

GLOBAL OIL | Amidst lingering lower oil and gas prices, members of the OPEC+ coalition of oil-producing countries are expected to reach an agreement today on cuts in oil production. Ahead of the meeting and expected cuts, the price of benchmark Brent crude oil rose slightly this morning to $82.95 per barrel. Reuters cites unnamed OPEC sources as saying that the group is expected to agree to cuts of at least 1 million barrels per day for early next year. [more]

EUROPEAN ECONOMY | The European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, reports that inflation in the 20 countries using the euro currency fell to 2.4% in November – down from 2.9% in October and the lowest level since a peak of 10.6% in October 2022. [more]

RUSSIA | Reuters reports that Russia’s Supreme Court announced today that it has approved a request from the country’s justice ministry to designate the “international LGBT social movement” as extremist and to ban activities related to LGBT rights. [more]

SOMALIA | Reports cite Somali military authorities as saying Somalia’s maritime police force has recently doubled its number of patrols in the Gulf of Aiden due to concerns about increased piracy in the region. [more]

MUSIC | According to music streaming platform Spotify’s 2023 Wrapped statistics, Taylor Swift was the most streamed artist of the year, followed by Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake, and Mexican singer Peso Pluma. The most streamed song of the year was “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, followed by “Kill Bill” by SZA and “As It Was” by Harry Styles. [more]

R.I.P. | Former U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Henry Kissinger, who served in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, died yesterday at the age of 100. [more]

MORE R.I.P. | Irish singer and songwriter Shane MacGowan, widely known for fronting the 1980s Celtic punk band The Pogues has died at the age of 65, according to a statement released by his wife today. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1782, Britain and the United States signed the preliminary articles of the Treaty of Paris as part of the Peace of Paris, a collection of treaties concluding the American Revolution.  [more history]