October 23, 2024

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• In ongoing operations against the Hezbollah militant group, Israel began airstrikes today in Lebanon’s historic port city of Tyre, just hours after issuing an evacuation order for central areas of the city. [more]
• Israel claimed yesterday to have killed Hezbollah official and cleric Hashem Safieddine in an airstrike early this month. Safieddine was widely expected to succeed late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a September airstrike. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 972 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Following yet-unconfirmed reports of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia to support the invasion of Ukraine, South Korean officials said yesterday that such a move by the North could prompt the South to consider supplying weapons to Ukraine. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | According to new International Monetary Fund projections, the U.S. economy is expected to expand by 2.8% this year – down from 2.9% last year, but higher than the IMF’s July forecast of 2.6%. [more]

U.S. ELECTIONS | Reports cite state polling data as showing that nearly 19 million people have participated in early in-person voting ahead of next month’s U.S. elections, with record numbers being reported from so-called swing states where presidential candidates are focusing much of their efforts. [more]

MICHIGAN | U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced $325 million in funding from the CHIPS and Science Act this week for a new Hemlock Semiconductor factory in Saginaw County, Michigan, as part of efforts to “fundamentally revitalize the semiconductor ecosystem in our country with American workers.” [more]

GEORGIA | The Georgia Supreme Court, responding to a request by national and state Republican groups, yesterday let stand a lower court ruling that invalidated several new election-related rules on ballot counting and certification of election results adopted by the State Election Board. [more]

U.S. E. COLI OUTBREAK | Federal regulators say 49 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and one death have been linked to a fast-moving E. coli outbreak in at least 10 states that appears to be linked to consumption of Quarter Pounder hamburgers from McDonald’s. [CDC report] [more]

NEW YORK | Community Offshore Wind, a partnership between Essen, Germany-based RWE and New York-based National Grid, has proposed what it says is the largest offshore wind project ever proposed to New York regulators. Reports say the company’s plan, if approved, would see an unspecified number of wind turbines built 64 miles off the New York coast to generate an estimated 2.8 gigawatts of electricity. [more]

U.S. AIR TRAVEL | The Department of Transportation announced a record $50 million fine against American Airlines today for the company’s treatment of disabled passengers, including its failure to provide some with adequate assistance and mishandling wheelchairs. [more]

GLOBAL INFLATION | In its latest assessment, the International Monetary Fund predicted yesterday that global inflation will fall from 6.7% last year to 5.8% this year and to 4.3% in 2025, and that inflation in the world’s wealthiest economies will decline from 4.6% last year to 2.6% this year and 2% in 2025. [more]

PHILIPPINES | Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, and public schools and government offices have been closed, on the main Philippine island of Luzon amidst heavy rains and widespread flooding set off by the approach of Tropical Storm Trami, which is expected to hit the island’s coast Wednesday night. [more]

HUNGARY | In a speech today in Budapest, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused European Union leaders of trying to overthrow his cabinet and install a “puppet government” over his views on Ukraine, migration, and gender policies that clash with dominant E.U. trends. [more]

BANGLADESH | Reports say student protesters clashed with police during demonstrations yesterday to demand the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin after he appeared to call into question the August resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. [more]

HAITI | The United Nation's Integrated Office in Haiti said the “situation in Haiti has regrettably worsened” as armed gangs ramp up attacks on areas in and around the capital Port-au-Prince that they do not already control. [more]

SRI LANKA | Police in the popular Sri Lankan tourist destination of Arugam Bay have increased security and issued alerts following what they say were threats about a possible attack against Israeli travelers. [more]

MEXICO | Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a new agriculture plan yesterday as part of efforts for her country to achieve “food sovereignty.” Among the plans’ measures are the revival of government stores that sell basic goods and the boosting of production subsidies for corn, beans, coffee, and cocoa. [more]

ENTERTAINMENT AND AI | More than 13,000 musicians, writers, actors, and other artists signed a statement released online yesterday to protest against the unlicensed use of their works to build and train artificial intelligence tools. [statement website] [more]

BASKETBALL | Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James and his son and teammate Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game last night in the Lakers’ 110-103 season-opening win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. [more]

MORE BASKETBALL | In last night’s NBA season-opening game, the Boston Celtics made a record-tying 29 3-point-shots on the way to a 132-109 win over the New York Knicks. [more]

BASEBALL | The ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani when he scored his 50th home run of the MLB season and became the first player in league history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season sold for a record $4.4 million at auction yesterday. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1983, suicide bombers drove truckloads of high explosives into the barracks of U.S. Marines and French paratroopers in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 U.S. servicemen and 58 French troops. The Islamic Jihad militant group claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying its aim was to force Multinational Force in Lebanon peacekeeping troops out of Lebanon. [more history]