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Your Daily BriefNovember 20th, 2023 |
Good morning, and happy Monday! Workers at the St. Paul Public Library in Minnesota got quite the surprise last week when a book was returned 104 years overdue. An old book titled Famous Composers was unearthed when someone was going through a relative’s belongings, and there was a 1919 checkout slip inside it. The library no longer charges late fees, so no one will be on the hook for a century’s worth of fines. Have a great day!
In Today’s Brief
- Rosalynn Carter: Ex-First Lady passes at 96
- Argentina: TV pundit is elected president
- David Letterman: Late Show return on tap
- UAW: Workers ratify deals with automakers
... and more
Top Tips
Israel-Hamas deal still in progress
Israel and Hamas are reportedly close to a long-anticipated agreement that would see captives freed and a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza, but no deal has been reached yet.
- Talks continue: The two sides have been negotiating for weeks, with Qatar and the U.S. involved in negotiations. Reports indicate Hamas would release women and children held hostage, while Israel would release any women and minor Palestinian prisoners. A temporary five-day ceasefire has been discussed to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.
- More hospital proof: Israel released surveillance camera footage of alleged captives at Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital. Israel raided the hospital last week and alleged it was a command center for the militant group. Israel has also presented proof of weapons and an underground tunnel at the facility. Hamas and hospital officials have denied Israel's claims.
- School blast investigated: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk criticized Israel's actions at Al-Shifa and suggested international humanitarian law may have been violated. The U.S. said it is investigating alleged airstrikes on a UN school in Gaza that served as a shelter.
AI CEO's exit shakes tech world
OpenAI fired CEO Sam Altman in a surprise move, but he could be reinstated to his position.
- Unexpected decision: Altman was dismissed last Friday by the company's board. Several other executives resigned after Altman's exit was announced. The personnel moves caused chaos at the ChatGPT-founding company after the board offered little explanation for Altman's firing.
- Quick return? Altman was at the company's headquarters in San Francisco yesterday as employees and investors -- including Microsoft -- pushed for his return. If Altman does get his job back, the board is expected to change. Ex-company president Greg Brockman would also be expected to return after quitting in response to Altman's ouster.
- Worth watching: If Altman does not return -- or even if he does -- he is said to be considering launching a new AI venture. Altman's dismissal reportedly came after internal disagreements about the speed of development he sought with AI tools.
Trump appeals federal gag order
A Washington appeals court will hold a hearing today on former President Donald Trump's gag order in his federal election interference case.
- The details: Trump is restricted from publicly commenting on special counsel Jack Smith and his staff, court personnel and possible witnesses. Prosecutors have argued Trump's rhetoric could impact people involved in the case. The order is currently frozen pending appeal.
- The argument: The former president claims the order is unconstitutional and infringes on his First Amendment rights and limits his ability to defend himself as he campaigns for the Republican nomination next year. Legal scholars have expressed skepticism that his bid will be successful.
- Another order: Trump is battling a separate gag order in his New York civil business fraud case. An appeals judge suspended that gag order last week pending a hearing on its constitutionality.
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Quick Tips
U.S. News
- Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter died yesterday at 96 at her home in Georgia; she is survived by her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. (More)
- Interstate 10 in Los Angeles is scheduled to reopen today after a fire damaged a large stretch of the highway last week; authorities suspect the fire was caused by arson and are working to identify a person of interest (More)
- Congressional leaders will attempt to pass a supplemental spending bill that directs new funding to Israel and Ukraine, as well as U.S. border security; financial support for the allied nations was not including in last week’s government funding legislation (More)
World News
- Argentina elected Javier Milei, an economist and former television pundit, as its new president after yesterday’s runoff election; Milei has drawn comparisons to former President Trump and has vowed to take drastic measures to combat the nation’s economic crisis (More)
- Militants believed to be Houthi rebels used a helicopter to seize a cargo ship in the Red Sea; the Iran-backed fighters targeted the ship because of ties to Israel. (More)
- Iceland has told evacuated residents they will likely be unable to return home for months as the nation awaits an anticipated volcano eruption; scientists still believe an eruption near the fishing town of Grindavik is imminent (More)