20 October 2024

Weekly Newsletter

Military & Armed Conflict

Israel facilitated the delivery of 50 aid trucks into Gaza following a US warning,The New York Times defended a piece alleging that Israeli forces have purposely shot children,and Hamas confirmedreports that alleged Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar died in an Israeli strike.This comes as Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled Ukraine's "Victory Plan,"Seoul alleged that North Korea had sent troops to Russia to help fight Ukraine,the EU sanctioned several Iranian entities for allegedly sending missile supplies to Russia,and the US sanctioned two Chinese firms over accusations that they helped Moscow make military drones.Meanwhile, China held military drills around Taiwan,and North Korea reported that 1.4M people had enlisted in its army,as it blew up roads connecting it with South Korea.Elsewhere, hundreds of Afghan soldiers were allowed to relocate to the UK,and over 800 US veterans discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy — which allowed LGBTQ+ troops to serve as long as they didn't disclose their orientation — were upgraded to honorable discharges.

World Politics

The UK's King Charles began a royal tour of Australia,an impeachment trial against Kenyan Deputy Pres. Rigathi Gachagua was suspended,Brazil moved to extradite pro-Jair Bolsonaro rioters from Argentina,and supporters of former Bolivian Pres. Evo Morales protested against his coming arrest.Meanwhile, India and Canada expelled each other's diplomats,as the pair exchanged fresh accusations over an ongoing Sikh murder row,the US charged a former Indian agent in an alleged assassination plot,and new pandas arrived at the Washington DC National Zoo from China, ending an 11-month panda absence.This comes as Spanish police confiscated Russia-bound chemicals,and Russia jailed a French researcher for three years.

US Politics

Georgia saw a record turnout of over 300K as early voting began in the presidential election,a judge ruled Georgia cannot delay the certification of election results,while two other states saw their voting restrictions eased,and the Justice Department decided to monitor voting in Portage County, Ohio.Meanwhile, Kamala Harris was accused of plagiarism,as her campaign released an economic plan for Black men,House Speaker Mike Johnson accused CBS News of cutting out parts of his recent interview to manipulate viewers,and North Carolina Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson sued CNN for defamation.This comes as Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said that Donald Trump didn't lose the 2020 election,Harris promised that her potential presidency wouldn't be a continuation of Biden's,an independent panel called for new leadership in the Secret Service,and Jan. 6 documents related to Trump were made public.

Civil Liberties

A report suggested that Canadians with nonterminal conditions are undergoing assisted suicide,Italy outlawed overseas surrogacy,Afghanistan's Taliban banned photos of living beings from the media,and China and Myanmar ranked last in an internet freedom report.

Crime & Justice

Survivors of last year's mass shooting in Maine prepared a lawsuit against the US Army,the US jailed Mexico's former security chief on bribery charges,and Australia's Northern Territory lowered the age of criminal accountability to 10.

Business

Lufthansa was fined $4M for allegedly discriminating against Jewish passengers,Boeing made plans to raise $35B amid its ongoing financial struggles,and the US opened a probe into Tesla's Full Self-Driving system.

Money & Economy

Three US-based researchers shared the Nobel Prize in Economics,China's third-quarter gross domestic product growth slowed to 4.6%,and Cuba faced a nationwide blackout.

Artificial Intelligence

The US used AI to catch $1B in fraud this year,and Google moved toward using nuclear reactors to power its AI data centers.

Weather & Environment

A global commission warned that a lack of water could put 50% of the world's food production at risk by 2050.

Space

SpaceX launched NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter,and a study found that Mars' ice could be harboring life.

Accidents

A fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria killed dozens.

Other

One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from a balcony,and Spanish scientists concluded that Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe.

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