Good morning. It's Thursday, Oct. 9, and we're covering a tentative deal in Gaza, a suspect in the year's deadliest wildfire, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
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The first step in a phased deal between Hamas and Israel to end the war in the Gaza Strip has been reached, according to President Donald Trump yesterday evening. The announcement comes one day after the second anniversary of an attack by Hamas and other Hamas-led groups that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis.
While full details have yet to be released, the deal reportedly follows a 20-point plan from the Trump administration and would see the return of 48 hostages (around 20 of whom are believed to be alive). In exchange, Israeli forces would begin a withdrawal from the 140-square-mile region, with aid beginning to flow to its 2 million residents and Palestinian prisoners returned by Israel. The prisoner release could happen as soon as Monday.
An estimated 67,000 Palestinians have been killed during the fighting, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry (the figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants). See updates on the war here, along with photos. |
Federal authorities announced yesterday the arrest of a Florida man in connection with the Palisades Fire, which burned over 23,400 acres in Los Angeles over 24 days this January. Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old former California resident, is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, a felony with a five- to 20-year prison sentence.
The blaze began Jan. 7 on a trail in Pacific Palisades after strong winds reignited a holdover fire—remnants of an earlier blaze smoldering underground. Officials allege the suspect used a "barbecue-style" lighter to start that earlier fire Jan. 1, then called 911 before fleeing. Digital records reportedly show he returned to film firefighters suppressing the blaze, repeatedly watched a music video showing fires, and used ChatGPT to make images of a burning city. Authorities have not suggested a motive.
The Palisades Fire killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 6,900 structures, making it the ninth deadliest and third most destructive wildfire in California history. See photos. |
Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty yesterday to criminal charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to testimony he gave more than five years ago. The 64-year-old's trial is set for Jan. 5 and is expected to last two to three days.
The plea comes less than two weeks after a federal grand jury indicted Comey over his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020. He allegedly falsely stated "no" when asked if he had ever authorized someone at the FBI to serve as an anonymous source about the Trump-Russia investigation to the media (see clip). Prosecutors contend Comey interfered with Congress’ investigation by lying under oath, while Comey's lawyers argue the case is politically motivated.
Comey faces five years in prison if convicted. While his case is rare, another former FBI head faced now-dropped charges in the 1970s after the Watergate scandal for allegedly approving illegal break-ins targeting a domestic terror group. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
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> Internal Revenue Service furloughs over 34,000 employees—nearly half its staff—amid government shutdown; workers guaranteed back pay, despite President Donald Trump's earlier objections to the policy (More) | Read previous write-up (More) |
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> The International Rare Books Heist
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> ‘I Should Have Got Sick’
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Clickbait: Halloween decorations so real, neighbors are calling 911.
Historybook: John Lennon born (1940); Landslide in Italy kills more than 2,000 (1963); Cuban Revolution figure Che Guevara is executed (1967); Women and girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai survives assassination attempt (2012).
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