Israel struck back in its first military response to Iran since last weekend’s attack. The 12-person jury is selected in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, April 19, 2024.
Israel carried out strike against Iran in response to drone attack
Israeli forces struck back against Iran early Friday, April 19, morning following last weekend’s drone and missile barrage toward Israel, but details remain sparse in the aftermath.
Iranian officials reported their anti-aircraft systems intercepted three small drones near an air base and nuclear site in the province of Isfahan, causing no reported damage. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said the explosions heard in the area were related to air defense actions against suspicious objects.
The United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites following the incident. Iran temporarily closed its airports after the attack but they have since reopened.
While Israel has not officially commented on the attacks, several officials from Israel, Iran and the U.S. have confirmed the strike to multiple news outlets, marking Israel’s first military response to Iran’s assault that involved 300 missiles and drones, with 99% intercepted.
The direct attack by Iran was reportedly in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Syria earlier in the month, which killed seven officials, including a top general.
For nearly a week, Israel indicated plans to retaliate for Iran’s actions despite advisement against it from the U.S. and its allies. An Israeli official told The Washington Post the attack was intended to demonstrate Israel’s capability to strike inside Iran.
An Iranian official told Reuters that Iran has no plans to respond to Israel’s attack.
Congresswoman’s daughter among dozens detained at pro-Palestinian protests
More than 100 students were arrested Thursday, April 18, at Columbia University during a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus’s main lawn. The arrests occurred as New York City police, in riot gear, dismantled a makeshift tent city that had been set up by the protesters without school permission.
University President Minouche Shafik requested NYPD assistance to remove protesters from campus, citing the encampment as a “clear and present danger” to the university’s operations.
In a statement to the Columbia community, Shafik announced the suspension of all students participating in the protest, expressing regret over their refusal to resolve the situation peacefully.
Barnard College suspended three students, including the daughter of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, D, for their involvement in the ongoing protest.
The protests started on Wednesday, April 17, while Shafik testified on Capitol Hill, where she was accused of failing to respond to antisemitism on campus.
Full jury seated in Trump’s hush money trial
The historic hush money criminal trial of former President Donald Trump has seated its full jury, with the judge stating, “We have our jury,” after the 12th juror was selected during day three of the trial in New York on Thursday, April 18.
One alternate was chosen, with five more still needed. The judge expressed hope that jury selection would conclude Friday, April 19.
The day began with the dismissal of two of the seven jurors selected earlier in the week. One juror was dismissed after expressing doubts about remaining impartial after being questioned by family and friends. The second juror was excused after concerns arose about the truthfulness of his answers regarding whether he or any family members had been accused of a crime.
The judge replaced the two and then selected five others to complete the jury, including a speech therapist, a former wealth manager, a physical therapist and a product development manager.
Opening statements are tentatively scheduled for Monday, Aril 22.
FBI: Chinese threat to U.S. infrastructure is bold, unrelenting
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the immediate threats China poses to U.S. national and economic security, highlighting U.S. critical infrastructure as a primary target during his speech at the Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats on Thursday, April 18.
Wray detailed the Chinese Communist Party’s drive for power, which motivates their strategies including the theft of intellectual property and technologies crucial to future economies.
“I’m talking about everything from indiscriminate hacking to economic espionage, to transnational repression, to fentanyl and the precursor chemicals that are coming out of China and ending up in our communities,” Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, said. “What we’re facing today is the CCP throwing its whole government into undermining the security of the rule of law world.”
Nearly a year ago, Microsoft reported that the cyber group Volt Typhoon had been secretly accessing critical infrastructure organizations in the U.S. since mid-2021. Security researchers from Microsoft and Google have linked the Volt Typhoon group to China. The group targets sectors such as communications, utilities, transportation, and government to spy on and infiltrate those networks.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Volt Typhoon is not affiliated with China’s government but is a criminal ransomware group.
Netflix adds 9.3 million subscribers, will no longer report quarterly tally
On the same day Netflix announced it had added more than 9 million subscribers in the first quarter of the year amid its crackdown on password sharing. The streaming giant said it would no longer report subscriber numbers each quarter.
The 9.3 million additional subscribers far surpassed estimates, bringing the global total to nearly 270 million subscribers — a record high.
The company also reported over $9 billion in revenue, a 15% increase from a year ago. Netflix said it is switching to announcing subscriber additions only when major milestones are reached.
Netflix told investors that the company’s success should be assessed based on its revenue and operating margins, adding that time spent using the service is the best way to gauge customer satisfaction.
Taylor Swift’s latest album breaks Spotify record before being released
One of the most anticipated albums of all time is now available, breaking records even before its release just hours ago. Spotify reported Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” broke its record for the most pre-saved album in the streaming service’s history.
Swift’s latest album dropped overnight, with the Grammy winner surprising fans by announcing this release is a double album, sharing 15 extra songs with fans at 2 a.m.
No numbers have been disclosed yet on the success of “The Tortured Poets” album.
Swift’s 2022 album “Midnights” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and earned the Grammy for album of the year.
