2023 deadliest year for aid workers ever, 2024 could be worse: UN
A report from the United Nations on Monday, Aug. 19, found that 2023 was officially the deadliest year for humanitarian aid workers internationally, and officials warn that 2024 could be even worse. Of those aid workers, 280 were reportedly killed across 33 countries last year, which is a 137% increase from 2022.
The most recent data shows that 2024 is on track to be even deadlier for aid workers. The U.N. reported that 172 aid workers have been killed so far this year and half of those deaths occurred in Gaza alone. The agency also said that “extreme levels of violence” in Sudan and South Sudan are also to blame for an increase in aid workers deaths.
In the wake of what the U.N. called “outrageously high” numbers, the organization is calling for greater efforts to protect civilians in conflict zones. U.N. officials said that in these conflict zones that violence against aid workers is normalized and there is a lack of accountability for the deaths. The agency also said that this violence has hurt its aid operations “enormously.”
Since October, the U.N. reported that 280 workers have been killed Gaza alone.
The reverberations of aid worker and civilian deaths have been felt in the United States since the onset of Israel’s war against Hamas.
During the week of Aug. 18, more pro-Palestinian protesters are bringing their voices to the national stage. As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicks off, activists are continuing to demand an end to U.S. assistance to Israel’s war effort in Gaza.
The demonstrations at the DNC in Chicago come as the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 40,000 people, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
Day 1 of Democratic National Convention, Biden slated to speak tonight
The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago as President Joe Biden is among the names scheduled to speak the first night. And Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel preparing for what he calls a ‘decisive moment’ in cease-fire talks. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.
Day 1 of Democratic National Convention, Biden slated to speak
The stage in Chicago for the start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that kicks off Monday. The four-day event will conclude with Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepting the Democratic nominations for president and vice president.
Part of the agenda for day one includes special tributes planned to honor the opening night’s headline speaker, President Joe Biden. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also slated to speak at the DNC Monday night.
Other speakers you’ll see over the next few days include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former first lady Michelle Obama.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said Chicago is “prepared and ready” and security has been beefed up inside and outside the convention as thousands of Gaza war protesters are planning to descend on the city.
The Democratic Party has released some of its key policy points it expects to address over the next four days. Those include raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, making the child tax credit permanent and IVF and abortion protections.
Ahead of the DNC, Harris and Walz spent time in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump will be back in Pennsylvania Monday after also spending time over the weekend in the Keystone State.
A new ABC News poll has Harris leading Trump overall 50 to 45%. However, Trump is leading Harris on key issues for voters: the economy and immigration.
Former Congressman George Santos to plead guilty to federal charges
Former Congressman George Santos, R-N.Y., is expected to plead guilty to federal charges Monday, Aug. 19 afternoon. It’s a reversal of his previous plea of not guilty.
Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives, faces 23 felony charges, including defrauding donors, lying about his finances and needlessly accepting unemployment benefits, among other things.
A guilty plea would avoid a trial, which is scheduled to begin next month. Sources close to the matter told The New York Times Santos is expected to give a statement acknowledging the crimes he has agreed to plead to.
Blinken: ‘This is a decisive moment’ in cease-fire talks
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel Monday, meeting with top Israeli officials before traveling to Egypt for ongoing negotiations to reach a cease-fire and hostage release agreement. This is his ninth trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas War began.
“This is a decisive moment,” Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv. “Probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has expressed “cautious optimism” that a deal can be reached, while Hamas is accusing Israel of stalling efforts to reach a deal in order to continue striking inside Gaza.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for individuals requesting “parole in that place” that would allow migrant spouses without legal status to apply for a green card and eventually get on a path to citizenship.
To be eligible, the spouses must have been continuously in the U.S. for at least 10 years, not pose a security threat or have a disqualifying criminal history, and have been married to a U.S. citizen before June 17 — the day before the program was announced. They must also pay a $580 fee to apply and fill out an application explaining why they deserve humanitarian parole and providing a list of supporting documents proving how long they have been in the country.
The Biden administration says about 500,000 people could be eligible for “parole in place” plus about 50,000 of their children.
Egg prices on the rise again as bird flu impacts supply
Egg prices are on the rise — again. According to the Consumer Price Index, egg prices were up by nearly 20% in July, and economists say inflation is not the issue this time.
Rather, it’s believed to be the ongoing bird flu outbreak limiting the supply of eggs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the average rate for a dozen large, grade A eggs topped $3 in July for the first time in more than a year. July also marked the third month egg prices rose on an annual basis, a reversal after a year of relative decreases.
Perdue recalls over 167K pounds of chicken after wire found in packaging
The products are the Perdue Simply Smart Organic gluten-free breaded chicken breast nuggets, the breaded chicken breast tenders, and the Butcher Box organic free fully frozen-cooked breast chicken nuggets. All have a “best-if-used-by date” of March 23, 2025.
Hurricane Ernesto strengthens to Category 2 storm as it approaches Bermuda
Hurricane Ernesto intensified into a Category 2 storm and could strengthen even more on its way to Bermuda. And following the assassination attempt, the Secret Service plans to add additional security measures for former President Donald Trump’s outdoor rallies — including bulletproof glass. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
Hurricane Ernesto strengthens to Category 2 storm as it approaches Bermuda
Hurricane Ernesto has upgraded into a Category 2 storm with sustained winds now over 100 miles per hour as it remains on track to cut through Bermuda. However, it’s still has hundreds of miles to travel before then, so it could strengthen to a Category 3 before making landfall.
The storm is expected to dump up to 10 inches of rain Puerto Rico also saw from the same storm system previously. Crews are still working to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people there.
This is likely to become the second major hurricane of the Atlantic season — much earlier than usual. Typically, the second major hurricane doesn’t happen until around mid-September.
Harris, Trump focus on economy on the campaign trail
The economy is taking center focus on the campaign trail this week for both presidential candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris will be in battleground state of North Carolina on Friday, Aug. 16, to give her first major economic policy speech since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
The plan is said to revolve around lowering prices and ending price gouging.
Harris’ speech Friday comes after an appearance with President Joe Biden in Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 15. This was their first joint appearance since Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, he and his vice president discussed their administration’s efforts lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
“Few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, including to expand access to affordable health care like than Joe Biden,” Harris said.
https://twitter.com/VP/status/1824105013787967703
On the other side, former President Donald Trump held a press conference at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey Thursday. On display in the background were stacks of groceries with signs showing how much prices of household items and food have risen from inflation over the past few years.
“Harris has just declared that tackling inflation will be a day one priority, for her, it’s going to be day one,” the former president said. “But day one really for Kamala was three and a half years ago. Where has she been and why hasn’t she done it? Why hasn’t she done it?”
Looking ahead to this weekend, both Trump and Harris will be hitting more battleground territory, as they are both slated to make appearances in Pennsylvania for campaign events. Trump will hold a rally in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Aug. 17, and Harris will be launching a bus tour in Pittsburgh.
Secret Service to shield Trump with bulletproof glass at outdoor rallies
The Secret Service has found a way to let former President Trump go back to holding outdoor campaign events. They’ll be putting up a bulletproof glass barrier between him and the crowd.
The Secret Service already does that for sitting presidents and vice presidents, but since Trump is no longer in office it hasn’t been available to him. Law enforcement officials told news outlets not every outdoor event will require the bulletproof glass, but it’ll be used when there are issues at specific sites or a need for added security.
AP Images
This is just one of the security measures previously only available to active office holders that’s being added to Trump’s protection after a failed assassination attempt. Others include increased staffing, technology and threat analysis.
Israel-Hamas War cease-fire talks stretch into second day
Meanwhile, the British and French foreign ministers are making a joint trip to Israel in hopes of stopping the war from turning into a larger regional conflict.
The renewed push to end the war comes as the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Thursday, Aug. 15, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 40,000 and fears remain high that Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon will soon attack Israel in retaliation for the killings of top leaders.
Taylor Swift returns to the stage after canceled Vienna shows
After having to cancel three concerts on the Vienna, Austria part of her Eras tour over a foiled terror plot, Taylor Swift returned to the stage in London Thursday, Aug. 15 night. The show was held at Wembley Stadium with heightened security measures in place, though Wembley already has some strict measures to begin with.
Two suspects were arrested by authorities in connection with the Vienna plot, allegedly inspired by ISIS to carry out an attack outside the concert. Officials there said a major catastrophe was averted by law enforcement’s work.
Time magazine names 15-year-old scientist its 2024 Kid of the Year
Time magazine is honoring a scientist who created a bar of soap that has the potential to transform skin cancer treatment while still finding time to be part of his school’s marching band. Fifteen-year-old scientist Heman Bekele from Fairfax, Virginia has been named Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year.
Time put Bekele on its cover to recognize him for “developing an affordable compound-based bar of soap that could in the future be a new and more accessible way to deliver medication to treat skin cancers, including melanoma.”
The teen was already named America’s Top Young Scientist by 3M and Discovery Education last year for his invention.
Bekele told Time Magazine he is passionate about skin cancer research and finds it incredible that one day his bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.
“I personally hope one day that skin cancer treating soap can turn into a more not for profit organization where we really can distribute it to people that need it the most,” Bekele said.
US preps for potential Iranian-backed attack on Israel as early as this week
Ukraine declares full control of Russia’s Kursk region in day 10 of offensive
Ukraine declared full control over parts of Russia’s Kursk region on Thursday, Aug. 15, just 10 days into its surprise offensive. The incursion is the deepest breach into Russian territory since the war began in February 2022.
Ukrainian forces announced on Thursday that they have setup a military administrative office to “maintain law and order” and to “meet the immediate needs” of people in the area.
The Ukrainian military also said that it had captured another 100 Russian soldiers. The new soldiers are in addition to the hundreds of Russian soldiers who have already surrendered, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s intelligence agency revealed that the surprise offensive may be larger than previously thought. The agency described fighting in Russia’s Belgorod region as “fierce” and it has been reported that Ukrainian forces have run into tougher obstacles in Belgorod than Kursk. Units reported dealing with so-called dragon’s teeth barriers and trenches dug by Russian forces.
However, Kyiv said that its ultimate goal is not “taking over” Russian territory, rather, it is to pressure Moscow into agreeing to “restore peace.” Reports indicate that Ukraine may use captured Russian soldiers and territory for future prisoner swaps.
Additionally, tanks donated by the United Kingdom were reportedly used during Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory. The U.K. Ministry of Defense did not respond to the specific report but maintained that Ukraine has the right to use U.K. weapons “for self-defense against illegal Russian attacks.”
The Kremlin has already accused the West of being behind the attack on its territory and previously warned Western nations not to give Ukraine tanks.
Biden, Harris making first trip together since Biden dropped out of 2024 race
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will make their first trip together since the president dropped out of the 2024 race. And Columbia University’s president becomes the latest Ivy League leader to step down following concerns of antisemitism on college campuses. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Biden, Harris making first trip together since Biden dropped out of 2024 race
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 15, for their first joint appearance since Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump will be in Bedminster, New Jersey to host another news conference following his rally in the battleground state of North Carolina on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
The Biden and Harris are expected to focus on efforts to lower prescription drug costs Thursday, Aug. 15. On Friday, Aug. 16, Harris will be in North Carolina to lay out her own economic agenda, which is said to include a plan to “tackle inflation” and “lower costs for middle class.”
The economy is taking center stage in the race this week, as Trump also laid out some of his plans for the economy when he was in North Carolina. He told rallygoers he plans to remove taxes on Social Security and claimed his administration would slash energy costs to ease inflation.
With the Democratic National Convention (DNC) starting on Aug. 19 in Chicago, Trump’s campaign said it plans to offer some sort of counter-programming. Harris’ presidential campaign is launching a $90 million advertising effort over the next three weeks. It’ll be her campaigns’ largest-yet investment in messaging to voters with just two and a half months left until Election Day.
Walz agrees to vice presidential debate on Oct. 1
On the vice presidential front, both Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn, and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have also been busy. Each hit the campaign trail in solo appearances in rallies and fundraising events across battleground states.
Vance held a rally in Michigan on Wednesday, Aug. 14, and will speak at a veterans event Thursday, Aug. 15 morning in Pennsylvania. Walz held events in Denver and Boston on Wednesday and will be campaigning in Newport on Thursday.
Vance has not formally accepted. He said in an interview he wants to know the debate rules and moderators first to avoid what he called a “fake news media garbage debate” but added he “strongly suspects” he will be there.
Columbia University’s president resigns in wake of recent protests
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has resigned effective immediately. It comes months after student protests over the Israel-Hamas war turned destructive, leading to multiple arrests and widespread criticism over how the university handled the demonstrations.
In April, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested, and an on-campus tent encampment was removed by New York City police after Shafik gave them the go-ahead. Students pushed back, leading to weeks of protests and widespread tent encampments before students ultimately ended up occupying the university’s Hamilton Hall.
Shafik — who became the first woman and person of color to lead the university in 2023 — is the third Ivy League president to step down in recent months among concern over antisemitism on college campuses.
Hurricane Ernesto heads toward Bermuda after pounding Puerto Rico
A hurricane watch is in effect in Bermuda as Ernesto heads that way after dropping torrential rain on Puerto Rico. That storm also knocked out power to two-thirds of homes and businesses across the U.S. territory.
Ernesto, which is currently a Category 1 hurricane, is strengthening and could become a Category 3 hurricane by Friday, Aug. 16. Its center was expected to pass near Bermuda on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Cisco cuts 7% of workforce amid focus shift
Cisco Systems, one of the world’s largest makers of computer networking equipment, has announced its second round of job cuts this year. The tech company plans to cut about 7% of its workforce, which is expected to affect nearly 6,000 employees.
This comes after the company already laid off around 4,000 workers in February. Cisco said the jobs cuts come as the company pivots its focus to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Mars to buy Kellanova for $36 billion
The merger that’s shaking up the snack food aisle is now official. Candy giant Mars has acquired the snack food maker Kellanova.
Mars, the company behind M&Ms and Snickers, is buying Kellanova, the maker of Cheez-Its and Pringles, for nearly $36 billion.
The purchase is not expected to close until next year, but analysts have been discussing what’s in it for mars. Bank of America’s Peter Galbo told CNBC the deal gives Mars three things: Additional space in stores beyond the chocolate section, expansion in international markets and innovative new product opportunities.
“Then third and probably the most fun for the consumer, you’re going to get the fun innovation with the salty and sweet what we’ve seen out of Hershey over the past year with things like chocolate covered popcorn.” Galbo said. “Now Mars will have that opportunity with some of the Kellanova brands.”
The Associated Press suggested the deal could lead to possible combinations like Skittles-flavored Pop-Tarts or Snickers-flavored Pringles.
Ukraine takes war to Russia, capturing dozens of villages
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it now controls around 386 square miles in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, an area roughly the size of Indianapolis. This region includes nearly 30 different towns or settlements and is home to hundreds of thousands of Russians, many of whom are now fleeing.
Previously, Kyiv took the territory after sending troops, tanks, drones and other equipment across the border from Sumy Oblast in northern Ukraine.
“Firstly, Russia did not expect this,” Pavel Luzin, a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and an expert on Russian affairs, said. Luzin added Moscow is being forced to redistribute its military forces from other parts of the frontline and its reserves to Kursk to stop the Ukrainian advance.
A week after Ukraine’s initial incursion, Russian troops finally launched a coordinated strike using artillery and missiles on Ukrainian forces in Kursk. The fight to control the territory is ongoing.
“That means that the Russian authoritarian regime is not so strong,” Luzin said. “And the war, the ongoing war, is probably the only thing which still consolidates this regime.”
According to Luzin, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia reveals several weaknesses. He pointed out Russia’s institutions of political power are highly dysfunctional. Under the Putin regime, Luzin said no one acts without orders from above.
“They are afraid,” Luzin said. “And this is a result of a quarter-century of the new Russian authoritarianism. The current situation is very different from the Soviet times. [In] the Soviet military mayors, colonels, generals [knew their] places, their positions. Whether or not it was Afghanistan, Angola, Vietnam or many other places in this world where the Soviet military were active, even if they denied this activity, doesn’t matter. These people [knew they] must act by themselves. They must be smart enough, clever enough and so on.”
In addition to the dysfunction within Russia’s ranks, Luzin pointed out the incursion highlights Moscow’s inaccurate method of gathering battlefield information.
“These people from the bottom level to up, they provide the information about the reality, but they try to provide the information which will not lead to punishment against them,” Luzin said, accusing Russia’s soldiers on the frontlines of painting a rosier picture for their commanding officers than what might actually exist.
Lastly, Luzin said Ukraine’s incursion exposes Russia’s hollow threats about using nuclear weapons.
“They mentioned nuclear weapons hundreds of times during the last 10 years,” Luzin said. “Hundreds of times. Now they are silent. So when reality comes, the Russian doctrine does not work. And that means if Russia will continue to pose a threat to NATO, to the Baltic states, the Baltic members of NATO and so on, that means NATO army can act against Russia on the Russian territory.”
Some NATO nations previously indicated they may send troops to Ukraine in a training capacity. As of publish time, there are no further plans by any NATO nation to attack Russia on Russian territory.
In Kursk, the reasoning behind the invasion remains unclear. The motive for the attack remains unclear. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said the country doesn’t plan to hold the territory its forces captured. Kyiv did not inform Washington or its European allies about the attack beforehand.
“There can be no sustainable peace with Russia,” Elena Davlikanova, a fellow at CEPA, said. “Undemocratic Russia will always be a threat to the Western alliance, and we should expect either a hot war or a cold war.”
Straight Arrow News spoke to Davlikanova before Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk. She talked about the long-term security agreements Ukraine was signing with around 20 nations. At the time, she said Ukraine viewed the agreements as a step in the right direction, but not as effective as NATO membership.
“Since 2022, our Western allies have been very creative in looking for ways to ensure Ukraine’s security, and at the same time not offering NATO membership,” Davlikanova said. “So, we don’t feel safe. We don’t feel relieved.”
“Even these bilateral agreements — in the title of the agreements, it doesn’t say ‘security guarantees,’” Davlikanova continued. “It says these are agreements on cooperation in security and long-term support for Ukraine.”
If Ukraine did not feel safe even with some signed security cooperation agreements in place, perhaps that is why it chose to attack Kursk, potentially securing a few more bargaining chips ahead of possible peace talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that was the reasoning behind Ukraine’s bold move. Whether it will be enough to turn the tide of the war remains to be seen.
Regardless of how things play out on the battlefield, Davlikanova believes the only way to truly topple the Russian regime is to gut its economy.
“Even though their economy is suffering, it doesn’t suffer as much as it should suffer,” Davlikanova said. “And there are thousands of Western companies that continue working in Russia, and they continue creating all these different economic processes, supporting the Russian economy indirectly. So I think that the answer to sustainable peace is Russia’s economic decline, and if we do everything to achieve that, then we will be able to more or less coexist in a peaceful format. Just like we did back in the 1990s.”
Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris, proposes 2 more
The debate is on. Former President Donald Trump has agreed to the ABC News debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and proposed two more. And bodycam footage has been released showing the police response to the assassination attempt during the former president’s rally in July. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris, proposes 2 more debates
Former President Donald Trump has recommitted to a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris after initially requesting a change of time and place given the change at the top of the Democratic ticket. Trump made the announcement during a news conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday, Aug. 8.
ABC News has confirmed Trump and Harris have agreed to debate on Sept. 10, setting up what is likely to be a high-stakes showdown in an already contentious election season.
His decision to debate on ABC marks a notable change of heart given it was just five days ago he announced the agreement with ABC was terminated. Trump originally suggested he would only debate if Harris appeared on Fox News on Sept. 4.
Trump is requesting Harris accept two additional debate proposals; one would be held on Fox and the other on NBC.
When asked by reporters if he will still do the ABC debate even if Harris turns down the idea of multiple debates, Trump said he didn’t know how that’s going to work and reiterated the need for multiple debates with a new Democratic presidential nominee.
As we saw in June, presidential debates have high stakes. President Joe Biden’s performance at his debate with Trump set in motion calls for his withdrawal and the eventual end to his re-election campaign.
The ABC debate was originally slated to be the second and final debate between Biden and Trump.
Harris released a statement saying she’s glad Trump committed to meeting her on stage.
Harris will be in Arizona for a campaign rally on Friday, Aug. 9. Trump will be in Montana for a rally of his own and fundraiser event.
Bodycam video released of police response to Trump assassination attempt
It’s been nearly a month since the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Within that month, questions have been swirling leading to multiple investigations and hearings on Capitol Hill and a change in leadership at the Secret Service.
Now, there is new information directly through the lens of Butler police bodycam. It shows officers responding to the reports of a threat on top of the unsecured building where the shooter propped himself up to take aim.
In newly released body camera video, there is footage of the moments leading up to the shooting, but it’s the audio in the immediate aftermath of the shooting that is providing further confirmation of a major security lapse.
The incident left one rally goer dead and Trump shot in the ear in a near-fatal hit.
The public search for accountability has led to agencies across local, state, and federal levels to finger-point and shift the blame. There are still several ongoing investigations into how it happened in the first place and how to prevent it from happening again.
U.S., Egypt, Qatar call for renewed Israel-Hamas ceasefire discussions
The U.S., Egypt and Qatar are calling for Israel and Hamas to resume cease-fire talks, calling them “urgent.” Fears are growing over a widening Middle East war following high-profile assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been mediating cease-fire discussions since they began.
They want the talks to take place in either Doha or Cairo next Thursday, Aug. 15.
Early Friday, Aug. 9, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated Israel will take part in those discussions. Hamas’ newly chosen leader has not indicated if the terror group is willing to join.
Columbia University COO’s home vandalized with antisemitic imagery; 3 top admins resign over antisemitic texts
Inverted triangles, which have been used by Hamas to identify Israeli targets and Nazis to tag prisoners during the Holocaust, were painted on the entranceway to Cas Holloway’s apartment building.
Columbia confirmed the resignations of the school’s dean of undergraduate student life, associate dean for student and family support, and vice dean and chief administrative officer after it came to light they exchanged antisemitic messages during an on-campus event about Jewish life at the school.
Paramount laying off 15% of U.S. workforce
Media conglomerate Paramount is laying off 15% of its U.S. workforce. The layoffs, which will impact around 2,000 staffers, are part of Paramount’s bid to cut $500 million in annual costs ahead of its merger with SkyDance Media.
Paramount says it also plans to write down $6 billion worth of its cable television networks.
Steph Curry leads Team USA to rally past Serbia; Noah Lyles wins bronze in 200-meter after testing positive for COVID
The U.S added to its Olympic medal count on Thursday, Aug. 9. Team USA now has a total of 103 medals so far as the Paris games wind down.
The men’s basketball team will be hoping to bring home gold against host France in the final. Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James led the team to a come-from-behind victory over Serbia on Thursday after being down 17 points, winning 95 to 91.
On the track, it was not the result American sprinter Noah Lyles was hoping for in the men’s 200-meter final. Lyles, who won his first Olympic gold on Sunday, Aug. 4, in the 100-meter, finished third this time behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and USA teammate Kenny Bednarek.
Lyles was taken away in a wheelchair after crossing the finish line. It was later revealed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 two days earlier.
The USA track and field organization said it followed all Olympic protocols to allow Lyles to compete.
The track star said he is proud of himself to have been able to still win a bronze medal. He posted on Instagram, “It is not the Olympics I dreamed of, but it has left me with so much joy in my heart.”
Ukraine troops enter Russia, taking territory and prisoners
What was first thought to be a small cross-border raid by Ukraine into Russia is now the deepest incursion into enemy territory made by either side since the war began. Kyiv is being pretty tight-lipped about the operation, but Russian military bloggers are not. As is usually the case, much of the information coming from the front lines can’t be independently verified, but here’s how the picture is shaping up.
The operation started in the early morning hours of Aug. 6 when Ukraine sent hundreds of troops across the border from Sumy Oblast in northern Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Using combined tactics of artillery fire, electronic warfare and coordinated drone swarms, Ukrainian troops were able to push at least 5 miles into Russian territory, possibly even up to 9 miles in some locations.
Video released by Ukraine’s armed forces shows dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian troops. One Russian posted a video of himself driving around the abandoned town of Sudzha while his vehicle was under constant small arms fire.
Russia said Ukrainian shelling in the region has killed two people so far and injured 24, including a Kremlin-connected war correspondent whose vehicle was struck by a Ukrainian FPV drone.
After a visibly upset Vladimir Putin received an update from his defense cabinet on the situation in Kursk, the Russian leader called Ukraine’s actions a “large-scale provocation.”
Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev, said the Kremlin should think about taking all of Ukraine as retribution for the attack.
Ukrainian leadership, meanwhile, is slow to acknowledge the incursion publicly. An aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian aggression is the sole root of any escalation. President Zelenskyy praised all of Ukraine’s fighters and said Ukraine’s armed forces still know how to “surprise” the enemy.
As for what the goal of Ukraine’s incursion into Russia could be, it’s still a little murky. Some military analysts said Ukraine is risking an awful lot and gaining very little, other than a morale boost for its beleaguered troops.
There is a nuclear power plant in the region, and Ukrainian troop movements are trending in that direction, so they could try and take that facility and use it as a bargaining chip. Or it could be a distraction meant to draw Russian troops in from other areas of the frontlines, like in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow is coming very close to making what could be considered tactical gains.
While there have been small raids into Russian territory since the war started, those were conducted by Russian nationals fighting on the side of the Ukrainians. This current excursion is being carried out by seasoned Ukrainian soldiers using mechanized brigades and combined tactics. It marks the first time since World War II that Russian territory was invaded by another nation.
Harris introduces Walz; Vance speaks to supporters during Philly rallies
Vice President Kamala Harris introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate while Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance spoke to supporters during separate rallies in Philadelphia. And U.S. officials say a Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government has been arrested in connection with a plot to kill American politicians. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.
Harris introduces Walz; Vance speaks to supporters during Philly rallies
Both major political parties made a showing in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly picked running mate Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., held their first rally together. In a dueling rally nearby, former President Donald Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, made his first stop in the city since joining the Republican ticket.
Harris joined Walz on stage in front of thousands of people at a rally and in front of millions of voters across the country who tuned in.
Polls show 71% of Americans are not familiar with Walz. The Minnesota governor got the opportunity to introduce himself in battleground territory and took aim at the vice presidential pick on the other side.
“Like all regular people, I grew up with in the heartland,” Walz told supporters. “J.D. studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community. Come on. That’s not what middle America is. And I got to tell you, I can’t wait to debate the guy.”
At Vance’s rally, he responded to the news of Walz being Harris’ selection for vice president.
“Tim Walz’s record is a joke,” Vance said. “He’s been one of the most far left radicals in the entire United States government at any level. But I think that what Tim Walz’s selection says is that Kamala Harris has bent the knee to the far left of her party, which is what she always does.”
Vance also criticized Harris for not doing a sit-down interview with the media since becoming the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party 17 days ago.
Harris will be hitting at least five battleground states in the days to come as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches later in August.
Trump announces ‘major interview’ with Elon Musk
Former President Trump has announced he will be sitting down with Elon Musk for an interview on Monday, Aug. 12. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Aug. 6, saying, “On Monday night [Aug. 12] I’ll be doing a major interview with Elon Musk — details to follow.”
In July, the tech mogul endorsed Trump following the assassination attempt on the former president during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Pakistani national with ties to Iran charged in Trump assassination plot
The Department of Justice says it’s arrested a Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government in connection with a plot to kill American politicians and officials. Multiple sources said one of the main targets was former President Trump.
Asif Merchant, 46, is charged with murder for hire after DOJ officials said he flew from Pakistan to the U.S. to recruit hitmen for the plot. They said one of the so-called “hitmen” he contacted was a confidential informant for the FBI.
Trump’s security was increased in June after authorities learned of an Iranian plot to kill him. This was before the assassination attempt at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally and is not related to those events, according to the FBI.
Officials said there’s been dozens of aftershocks ranging in magnitude between 2.5 and 4.5 following the initial rumblings that began around 9 p.m. local time. Seismologists called it “a pretty active sequence in such a short amount of time.”
Hamas names Oct. 7 attack mastermind as new leader
Hamas has named its new leader following the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyehin Iran. Yahyah Sinwar, known as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack, is now leading the terror group.
The move is likely to provoke Israel, which has had Sinwar at the top of its most wanted list since that deadly attack ten months ago. The Israeli military responded to Sinwar’s appointment, vowing to take him out as well.
Cori Bush loses Missouri primary; Michigan Senate race is set
Media projections show Democratic congresswoman and “squad” member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., lost her primary race in Missouri Tuesday, Aug. 6. Bush has been a vocal critic of Israel in its war against Hamas, and pro-Israel groups spent upwards of $10 million on efforts to unseat her.
In Michigan, a battleground territory, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers won the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, setting him up to face Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin in the November election.
Restaurant chain Buca di Beppo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The restaurant chain Buca di Beppo has filed for bankruptcy protection. The privately owned company says revenue never fully recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of its bankruptcy, the three-decade-old business said it began closing underperforming restaurants this year, including a dozen locations in July alone.
It will also restructure the rest of its 44 locations, but said it will continue to serve its family-size portions that has been Buca’s staple.
Hocker, Thomas bring home gold for the US on the track
The U.S. took home two Olympic gold medals on the track in Paris on Tuesday. That brings the team’s gold medal count to 24 and the overall total to 86.
First, Cole Hocker won the men’s 1,500-meter relay, coming from behind in the final seconds to set an Olympic record at 3 minutes and 27.65 seconds.
Then Gabby Thomas earned her first Olympic gold medal, winning the women’s 200-meter final after taking the bronze back in Tokyo. Thomas crossed the finish line in 21.83 seconds to give the U.S. its first gold in the event in 12 years.
Hezbollah strikes northern Israel, warns the worst is yet to come
Hezbollah said it launched a series of drone and rocket attacks against Israel on Tuesday, Aug. 6, but maintained that the retaliation for Israel’s reported killings of a top Hezbollah commander and Hamas leader “has not yet come.” The attacks reportedly injured several people in Israel.
The Iranian proxy group’s bombardment targeted two military sites in northern Israel and an Israeli military vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force confirmed that it struck two Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
Israeli forces also reportedly killed four suspected Hezbollah fighters in an earlier attack on Tuesday. The strike occurred at a Lebanese home just north of the border.
The escalating conflict is stoking fears that more intense retaliation is coming. Iran said that its response will be more “definitive and decisive.” Hezbollah has warned that its retribution for the killing of its military commander is still in the works.
The stream of steady attacks is also creating concerns about a potential widespread war across the Middle East.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged on Sunday, Aug. 4, that an Iranian attack is likely. However, Blinken is still encouraging de-escalation while the White House remains in crisis talks.
Israel’s and Hezbollah have been trading fire for 10 months now as the war in Gaza continues. However, until recently, skirmishes between Hezbollah have largely been along the border.
