YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP | | | | US moves quickly to boost Israel's defense against Hamas. | | | |
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed Thurdsay in Israel, where he will meet with officials as Israelis head into a sixth day of war with Palestinian militant group Hamas. Also in the news: Our reporter danced in the audience of the "Eras Tour" film with Taylor Swift and social security recipients will soon learn how their benefits will adjust to cost-of-living for next year. | | | |
This is the news to know Thursday. |
Americans still missing while US moves quickly to support Israel |
More than a dozen Americans remain unaccounted for following Hamas' attack on Israel, the White House said Wednesday. President Joe Biden pledged his administration is working on "every aspect of the hostage crisis" including deploying experts to advise and assist with efforts. |
The U.S. knows some of the 17 unaccounted Americans − a "very small" number − are being held hostage by Hamas but does not know their condition or location, White House officials said. |
| • | Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesman told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground assault but that the political leadership has not yet ordered one. A ground offensive in Gaza, the first since the 2014 war, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting. | | • | A second U.S. aircraft carrier will be sent to the Mediterranean Sea and will be ready to help defend Israel if needed. The U.S. is already providing Israel with ammunition and interceptors to replenish its Iron Dome air defense system and fighter jets. | | • | The American death toll has risen to 22 and Israeli fatalities surpassed 1,200 as of Wednesday while desperation swept across Gaza as Tel Aviv's response to the brutal attack by Hamas left neighborhoods destroyed. Palestinian officials say more than 1,100 militants and citizens in Gaza have been killed. | | Palestinians inspect the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike at Al Shati Refugee Camp Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Hatem Moussa, AP |
Republicans back Steve Scalise for House Speaker behind closed doors |
House Republicans made a major step toward electing a new speaker on Wednesday, formally nominating as a conference House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. In an internal secret ballot vote, Scalise beat out his primary rival, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, by a vote of 113-99, according to Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. The conference vote, however, is just a sign of approval from House Republicans at large. The House still has to formally elect a new speaker on the House floor, and lawmakers are free to nominate other candidates. Read more | House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is seen on Capitol Hill as House Republicans have decided to nominate Scalise for Speaker of the House on Oct. 11, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Craig Hudson, Craig Hudson-USA TODAY |
Taylor Swift delivers 'Eras' concert film to fans a day early |
This weekend, cinemas will become holy ground for fans of Taylor Swift, whose cross-country Eras Tour enchanted millions. Now, the musical mastermind is staging a big-screen takeover with her concert movie "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour," which is all but assured to win the weekend with a mind-blowing $100 million-plus opening. Hours before her "Eras Tour" movie premiere in Los Angeles, Swift announced that she will be gifting the concert film to her fans early. All tickets will be available to purchase by 10 a.m. Thursday, Swift added. Fans are encouraged to don "Eras Tour" attire and make and bring their own friendship bracelets to the cineplex. Read more | Taylor Swift (center) and her Eras Tour dancers, band members and backup singers arrive at the world premiere of the concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" on Oct. 11, 2023, at The Grove in Los Angeles. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images |
Your 2024 social security cost-of-living-adjustment is coming |
Seniors and other Social Security recipients are eagerly awaiting Oct. 12. That's the day when the government announces the latest inflation numbers for September. The report will include data that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will use to calculate the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which is a hike in the amount of money millions of people receive in their Social Security checks throughout 2024. The latest forecast for next year's Social Security increase rose to 3.2% last month. Read more |
Auto workers escalate strike at Ford Kentucky plant |
The United Auto Workers union significantly escalated its strikes against Detroit Three automakers Wednesday when 8,700 workers walked off their jobs at Ford's Kentucky truck plant. The surprise move about 6:30 p.m. took down the largest and most profitable Ford plant in the world. The sprawling factory makes pricey heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs. UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement that the union has waited long enough "but Ford hasn't gotten the message" to bargain for a fair contract. Read more |
Photo of the day: Wildlife Photographer of the Year awarded |
The Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition revealed striking images that detail the profound environments and behaviors of creatures around the world. French underwater photographer and marine biologist Laurent Ballesta was announced as this year's winner of the grand title award for her image, called "The golden horseshoe," which captures an "otherworldly image of a tri-spine horseshoe crab accompanied by a trio of golden trevallies." Read more | Marine biologist and photographer Laurent Ballesta, winner of the Portfolio Award, went looking for horseshoe crabs in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island in the Philippines. Laurent Ballesta / Wildlife Photographer of the Year |
Associated Press contributed reporting. | | | | Get your organization awarded as an employer of choice by USA TODAY. Participation is easy. | | | | | | | |
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