Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Israel’s military response to Iran’s failed missile attack on October 1 would be “lethal, precise, and surprising.” He emphasized that Iran would not understand the nature of the response, with the entire Israeli command focused on the issue. Despite the attack, no Israeli losses occurred. Prime Minister Netanyahu promised consequences for Iran. Penelope Kingsley 10/10/2024 12:00 am
Brown University trustees rejected a proposal to divest from companies linked to Israel, despite pro-Palestinian student protests. The decision followed a formal vote promised by administrators to ease campus tensions. The divestment proposal targeted firms like Boeing and General Electric, but trustees noted minimal financial ties. The BDS movement, advocating for such actions, faces criticism as antisemitic. Prominent alumni opposed the vote, and legal warnings of financial penalties were issued. Brown emphasized its negligible investment in the targeted companies, asserting no direct social harm responsibility. Penelope Kingsley 10/10/2024 12:00 am
Kemi Badenoch is now seen as the favorite to win the Conservative leadership contest after a surprising twist eliminated the previous frontrunner. Badenoch, known for her outspoken conservatism, faces Robert Jenrick in the final round. Despite being considered a “work in progress,” she has strong support among MPs and party members. Andrew Bowie, an MP backing Badenoch, expressed delight at her leading the votes and emphasized her popularity in polls. The final decision will be made by party members, with Rishi Sunak’s successor announced in three weeks. Penelope Kingsley 09/10/2024 8:30 pm
Wildlife photographers spent extensive time capturing animals in their natural habitats, leading to their recognition as the 2024 Wildlife Photographers of the Year by London’s Natural History Museum. The competition, featuring 59,228 entries from 117 countries, announced winners in 18 categories. The exhibition opens Friday, showcasing these images and celebrating the contest’s 60th anniversary. Shane Gross won the grand title for his underwater photo of western toad tadpoles. The contest highlights the importance of wildlife conservation and inspires global advocacy. Ava Sinclair 09/10/2024 8:30 pm
Haiti’s criminal gangs are increasingly recruiting children amid widespread hunger and poverty, according to Human Rights Watch. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of children have joined gangs, facing coercion into crime and sexual abuse. A recent gang attack in Pont-Sondé killed 115 people, highlighting ongoing violence. The UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission, led by Kenya, aims to combat gang influence, but deployment is incomplete. Gangs control nearly 80% of Port-au-Prince, leaving many children with no choice but to join for survival, as 125,000 children face acute hunger. Penelope Kingsley 09/10/2024 8:30 pm
John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering work on machine learning algorithms and neural networks, foundational to generative AI. Their research, rooted in statistical mechanics, has significantly impacted fields like materials science and technologies such as ChatGPT. Neural networks, inspired by brain neurons, process data through interconnected layers, refining it into useful outputs. Statistical mechanics, a physics branch, explains systems’ behavior through collective particle analysis, underscoring the physics principles in their work. Ava Sinclair 09/10/2024 8:30 pm
A couple in their 40s was killed by Hezbollah rocket fire in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, amid ongoing conflict. The attack, involving at least 150 rockets, marked the first Israeli civilian deaths since the conflict escalated two weeks ago. Fires were sparked by the rockets, and residents, already accustomed to daily attacks, expressed anger and called for military action. The Israeli military reported intercepting 90 projectiles in a short span. Noah Prescott 09/10/2024 8:30 pm
A large-scale Israeli operation in northern Gaza has killed dozens and threatens to shut down three hospitals, amid ongoing conflict with Hamas. This follows Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Israel is also expanding its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon and considering a response to Iran’s October 1 missile barrage. Israeli PM Netanyahu and U.S. President Biden discussed the situation, with Biden opposing strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. Meanwhile, a Hezbollah rocket killed two in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, and six were stabbed in Hadera. Ava Sinclair 09/10/2024 5:00 pm
In Bob Woodward’s new book, President Joe Biden’s private nicknames for leaders are revealed. Biden reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu a “f*****g bad guy” and criticized him for prioritizing self-interest over defeating Hamas. Biden also expressed frustration with Netanyahu after an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Regarding Donald Trump, Biden referred to him as “that f*****g a******.” Additionally, Biden labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin as “the epitome of evil.” Ava Sinclair 09/10/2024 5:00 pm
Haiti’s armed groups are increasingly recruiting children amid a humanitarian crisis, warns Human Rights Watch. Driven by hunger and poverty, children are forced into criminal acts, with boys used as informants and girls subjected to sexual abuse and domestic work. The violence, escalating since February, has displaced over 700,000 people. HRW highlights the absence of state support and economic opportunities as key factors in children’s recruitment into gangs. Penelope Kingsley 09/10/2024 5:00 pm
