9.18.2023

Court Considers Genocide Claims

Lawyers representing Ukraine and Russia square off today at the International Court of Justice, arguing over the legal technicalities underlying the ongoing war. Ukraine accuses Russia of abusing international law by claiming its invasion of the country last February was an attempt to intervene and stop an ongoing genocide. 

Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions requires signees—which includes Ukraine and Russia—to prevent and punish genocide. Russia has claimed Ukraine was systematically killing Russian-speaking populations in the eastern part of the country, obliging it to step in. Western officials have called the claims baseless, pointing out Ukraine has been fighting Russian-backed separatists in the region since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. 

The high-profile proceedings are largely symbolic, as the ICJ has no enforcement mechanism. However, experts say a ruling in Ukraine's favor may help in any future restitution claims. This week's hearings will focus primarily on jurisdictional claims without digging into the merits of the arguments. 

See updates on the war here.

Paxton Acquitted

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) was acquitted in his impeachment trial by the state senate Saturday, ending a yearlong saga over allegations of bribery, obstruction of justice, and misuse of public funds. Paxton, who has been suspended since May, will return to his office and resume normal duties. 

Paxton stood accused of, among other issues, providing benefits to a donor in exchange for help in facilitating an extramarital affair (see previous write-up). A probe by a Republican-led committee was launched into Paxton's dealings after he requested $3.3M to settle a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former staff. 

In May, a significant majority of Texas House legislators voted to impeach Paxton by a 121-23 vote. The trial, held by Senate, voted to hear 16 of the 20 articles of impeachment. Ultimately, no charge received more than 14 of the 21 votes needed to convict. 

Paxton also faces charges of securities fraud in a separate, long-delayed case.

Lee Batters Northeast

At least one person is dead and hundreds of thousands are without power after the much-diminished post-Tropical Cyclone Lee made landfall in Maine and Nova Scotia, Canada, over the weekend. Parts of Massachusetts and Maine saw three-foot storm surges and roughly four inches of rain as the system and its 70 mph winds—just shy of Category 1 status—rolled northeast. 

The 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and first to reach Category 5 hurricane status, Lee has been churning through the Atlantic Ocean for over two weeks. Its rapid intensification a week and a half ago as it drove westward toward the Caribbean was one of the fastest in hurricane history. 

Two months remain in this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which officials have predicted will see above-normal activity with 14 to 21 named storms, six to 11 of which are expected to become hurricanes. Lee was the season's fifth hurricane. See photos of the storm's impact here. 

Science & Technology

Business & Markets

Politics & World Affairs

Oktoberfest parties kick off around the world.

Ranking the best US states for young workers. 

Up close and personal with Mexico's "alien corpses."

Gardener grows 20-pound onion. 

Starbucks trials 100% reusable cups at select stores.

The oldest book on British cheese.

How Tom Cruise insures his age-defying movie stunts. 

Florida vacationers rescue a stranded shark. (w/video)

Clickbait: A real, live Dr. Seuss fish.

Historybook: George Washington lays first cornerstone for the US Capitol (1793); New York Times founded (1851); Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg born (1959); Jimi Hendrix dies (1970); Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies (2020).