10.7.2024

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Oct. 7, One Year Later

Today marks one year since Gaza-based militant group Hamas launched the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking over 250 people hostage, with 97 still in captivity. Israel's subsequent war in Gaza has killed over 41,900 people, per the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That death toll does not differentiate between militants and civilians but includes more than 17,600 identified women and children.

Hamas-led attacks targeted a music festival, civilian towns, and Israeli border posts (see photos, warning—sensitive content). On Oct. 8, Hamas' allied Iranian proxy group, Hezbollah, began launching rockets into Israel from Lebanon. The Israel-Hamas war has wounded over 97,000 people in Gaza, displaced 1.9 million of the territory's prewar 2.3 million population, and damaged or destroyed around 60% of its buildings (see graphics and photos, warning—sensitive content).

Today, the war between Israel and Iranian-sponsored groups has expanded. Last week, Israel launched a ground offensive in Lebanon following Israeli-attributed assassinations and device attacks killing 1,400 people. Iran has launched two bouts of direct missile attacks into Israel, to which Israel has pledged to respond. Yesterday, Israel launched a renewed ground campaign in northern Gaza and expanded airstrikes in Beirut.

See updates here.

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton is projected to make landfall in Florida Wednesday, prompting evacuation orders for millions of residents. Out of the state's 67 counties, 51 are under a state of emergency, with Tampa Bay bracing for potentially its worst hurricane in more than a century. 

Milton gained hurricane strength yesterday in the Gulf of Mexico, on track to become the third storm this season to make landfall in Florida. It comes after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 storm, killing at least 227 people across six states—the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland US since Katrina in 2005 (see previous write-up). Relief and recovery efforts for Helene are ongoing, with costs from the destruction expected to surpass $30B. 

Hurricane season runs from June through November. Experts had predicted this year would be particularly active, with between four and seven storms of Category 3 strength or higher. 

'Bilt Different

Chaos reigned in college football over the weekend, with five of the country's top 11 teams losing Saturday, including four to unranked opponents. It marked just the fifth time in 20 years that five teams in the top 11 lost on the same day.   

The marquee upset was notched in Nashville, where No. 1 Alabama fell to Vanderbilt. The Commodores entered the game 0-60 all-time against top five opponents. Students deconstructed and carried the goalposts 3 miles down the city’s main street before tossing them in the Cumberland River (watch here).

The upset was followed by No. 4 Tennessee losing to Arkansas 19-14, No. 9 Missouri falling to No. 25 Texas A&M 41-10, No. 10 Michigan losing to Washington 27-17, and No. 11 USC coming up short against Minnesota. A sixth team, No. 8 Miami, narrowly avoided joining the group with a 39-38 win at California.  

See updated rankings here. 

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