Hamas says its leader in Lebanon was killed in the latest rounds of Israeli airstrikes as the war in the Middle East escalates. And two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station are now one step closer to returning home. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
Hamas says leader in Lebanon killed in Israeli strike
As the war in the Middle East escalates, Hamas said its leader in Lebanon, Fateh Sherif Abu Al-Amin, was killed in an Israeli strike early Monday morning, Sept. 30. Meanwhile, another Palestinian group claims three of its leaders were killed in another strike, which if confirmed, would be the first within Beirut’s city limits.
Hezbollah has vowed revenge after its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed by what the group said was an Israeli strike in a southern suburb outside Beirut on Friday, Sept. 27.
Hamas said its leader in Lebanon was killed early Monday, along with his wife, son, and daughter, in a strike targeting their house in a Palestinian refugee camp in the southern city of Tyre.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, another Iran-backed militant group, also says three of its leaders were killed in a strike on central Beirut.
President Joe Biden is once again calling for a cease-fire and the Pentagon is looking to increase the number of American troops and equipment in the Middle East as fears of a broader regional conflict grow.
Lebanon’s health ministry says more than 1,000 people have been killed just in the last two weeks. As many as one million people have been displaced as the fighting there escalates.
At least 95 dead, more than 2 million without power in wake of Helene
Communities across the southeast are in rescue and recovery mode after Helene barreled through last week, leaving at least 95 people dead across six states while many more remain missing.
Hundreds of roads are closed — especially in the Carolinas — making it hard to get much-needed supplies to ravaged areas and restore power. About two million homes and businesses still are without electricity.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said in a press conference on Sunday, Sept. 29, the state is facing “an unprecedented tragedy.” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CBS News her agency is doing everything it can to help.
“Was North Carolina, in particular, prepared for this level of flooding? Have they ever dealt with anything of this magnitude?” Anchor Robert costa asked on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.
“This is really, Robert, historic flooding up in North Carolina, especially this western part of North Carolina,” Criswell said. “I don’t know that anybody could be fully prepared for the amount of flooding and landslides that they are experiencing right now.”
Criswell said FEMA is working to get bottled water to communities in need, not just in North Carolina, but in other hard-hit states, and they’re working to enable communications through SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network.
Trump says VP should be impeached; Harris calls for another debate
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue to rally for support with just 36 days to go until Election Day. They’re focusing on the swing states that could have the most impact on the results.
At a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania Sunday, Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies. He said, in his opinion, Vice President Harris should be disqualified from running for president.
“Already hundreds of people have been murdered because of her action at the border and thousands more will follow and rapid succession,” Trump claimed. “She should be impeached and prosecuted for her actions.”
Trump also held a rally in Wisconsin over the weekend.
Harris, meanwhile, gathered with supporters in Las Vegas. She called on the former president to agree to another presidential debate — something he has said he is not interested in.
“I’m trying to debate Donald Trump again and I think he should debate again the American people have a right to hear us discuss the issues and as you say here in Las Vegas,” she told supporters. “I’m all in. I’m all in even if my opponent is ready to fold, so there you go.”
Harris’ stop in Las Vegas followed a fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 28, and a visit to the border town of Douglas, Arizona on Friday, Sept. 27. That was her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
Monday, former President Trump will visit Georgia to see Hurricane Helene damage firsthand. Harris will be back in Washington, to be briefed on the massive amount of storm damage.
Vance, Walz prepare for vice presidential debate
We are one day away from the first and only vice presidential debate between Republican nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Democratic nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The two will meet on the stage Tuesday night, Oct. 1, with five weeks to go until Election Day.
The debate will be hosted by CBS. Sources told the network how each candidate is preparing for Tuesday night.
Vance is working with a team that includes his wife and senior Trump adviser Jason Miller. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip and a Minnesota Republican, has been tapped to play the role of Walz during Vance’s debate prep.
Walz has also been preparing with a team of advisers, including some who helped Vice President Harris for her debate with former President Trump. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is playing the role of Vance for Walz’s debate prep.
SpaceX capsule slated to bring home Starliner astronauts arrives at ISS
Two astronauts who have been stuck at the International Space Station since June are one step closer to returning to Earth. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will ferry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home arrived at the ISS Sunday.
Wilmore and Williams rode Boeing’s Starliner to the ISS in June for what was only supposed to be about a week-long mission. They were unable to return on the vessel due to safety concerns.
Four astronauts were supposed to be part of SpaceX’s mission to the ISS which had already been planned for this month, but instead, two seats were left empty so Wilmore and Williams could get back to Earth.
Still, it will be months before they get to come home. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is not set to return until February.
Grammy Award-winning country artist Kris Kristofferson dies at 88
Grammy-winning country music artist and actor Kris Kristofferson died over the weekend at the age of 88.
His family released a statement Sunday saying he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones at his home in Hawaii.
As an actor, Kristofferson received a Golden Globe for his role in “A Star is Born” in 1976. As a singer-songwriter, he was known for hits like “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
Kristofferson’s contributions impacted many, including Bob Dylan, who once said, “You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris, because he changed everything.”
