02 November 2024

Weekly Newsletter

Military & Armed Conflict

Hezbollah named Naim Qassem as its new leader,Israel banned the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees from operating inside Israel or areas under Israeli control, scores fled Lebanon's Baalbek following Israeli evacuation orders,and the World Health Organization (WHO) prepared to resume its polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.This comes as Iran made moves to triple its military budget,Australia decided to boost its missile defense systems,and North Korea launched its longest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile flight.Meanwhile, US Pres. Joe Biden suggested that Ukraine should attack North Korean soldiers if they enter its territory,Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the West's response to the alleged deployment of Pyongyang's troops,and US prosecutors sought a 17-year sentence for Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira.

World Politics

Georgia conducted a partial recount of its parliamentary election votefollowing US and EU calls for an independent investigation,Kemi Badenoch replaced Rishi Sunak as leader of the UK's Conservative Party,and Botswana's ruling Democratic Party lost its 58-year majority.Meanwhile, eight of Mexico’s supreme court justices resigned over the nation's recent judicial reforms,an Australian judge found Sen. Pauline Hanson guilty of violating the Racial Discrimination Act,and the fitness app Strava was found to reveal the locations of prominent world leaders.

US Politics

Biden promised to attend next year's presidential inauguration regardless of who wins the election,Kamala Harris gave a speech at the Ellipse in Washington DC,and Donald Trump addressed a Wisconsin crowd from a garbage truck,as the presidential contenders also campaigned in Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s attempt to leave Wisconsin and Michigan's ballot,Republicans requested a stay in a ruling requiring the counting of flawed mail-in ballots,Virginia filed an emergency petition to allow it to remove suspected noncitizens from its voter rolls,and Nevada allowed non-postmarked ballots to be counted.This comes as Philadelphia filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s $1M daily voter giveaway,the Washington Post lost over 250K subscribers after choosing not to endorse a presidential candidate,and Trump sued CBS News over its recent interview with Harris,as he faced calls to apologize following his Madison Square Garden rally,and made controversial remarks about former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney.In other news, the White House was accused of wrongfully editing a Biden transcript,Trump ally Steve Bannon was released from prison,the man who attacked Paul Pelosi last year received a life sentence without parole,and CNN banned conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky for directing a controversial "beeper" comment at a Muslim journalist.

Civil Liberties

A COVID inquiry found that Australians have lost trust in the government,Afghanistan’s women were banned from hearing each other while praying,and British activist Tommy Robinson was jailed for 18 months.

Crime & Justice

Over 100 people were convicted in Belgium’s largest-ever drug bust,a former executive of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX avoided jail,and a UK court heard details of the alleged abuse in the case of Sara Sharif — a 10-year-old girl found dead last August.

Business

Striking Boeing workers endorsed a 38% pay-rise offer,and Russia fined Google $20.5 decillion.

Health

The WHO declared tuberculosis the leading infectious disease killer.

Weather & Environment

Flash floods killed hundreds in Spain’s worst natural disaster in decades,a report warned that climate change is causing a rise in heat-related deaths,and the UN reported that current global climate pledges fall short of what's needed to reach targets..

Money & Economy

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the Labour Party's first budget since 2010.

Science

A long-lost Mayan city was found in Mexico with laser mapping,and a new study called the "Infinite Monkey Theorem" into question.

Space

China launched three astronauts to the Tiangong space station.

Humanitarian

The UN warned that Sudanese people are living a "nightmare of violence..

Accidents

At least 14 were killed when a roof collapsed at a Serbian train station.

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