Israel issues warning: Israel has warned the 1.1 million people who live in the northern part of Gaza to get out and move as far south as they can. That is taken as an indication that Israel intends to invade Gaza over the weekend, starting in the north. Reports from inside Gaza this morning said panic had broken out. Leaders of the European Union arrived in Israel this morning and expressed solidarity with the Israeli government and people. Hamas clams that 13 of the hostages it is holding in Gaza have been killed by Israeli air strikes.
Scalise withdraws from Speaker bid: Republican Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana has withdrawn from contention to become Speaker of the House. There were not enough votes for him to have won the position if his nomination had been brought to the House floor for a vote. The far-right minority of House Republicans is expected to push for Rep. Jim Jordan to be selected as speaker, but he too did not have enough votes to win as of Friday morning. Meantime, the House remains unable to conduct business without a speaker.
Powerball winner: The winning ticket in Wednesday’s Powerball Jackpot of $1.765 billion was sold in a liquor store in the small California mountain town of Frazier Park, which is about 75 miles north of Los Angeles. The winner had not come forward as of this morning. Midway Market & Liquor will receive a $1 million prize for having sold the winning ticket.
Cop convicted: Aurora, Colorado, Police Officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elija McClain by putting him in a choke hold and keeping him constrained until paramedics injected him with the sedative ketamine. McClain was Black. Another police officer, Jason Rosenblatt, was acquitted in the case. The trial of a third police officer was scheduled to begin today and the trial of the paramedics was to begin later this year.
Chase financials: JPMorgan Chase today reported third quarter 2023 net revenues of $40.7 billion, up 21% from the third quarter last year. Net income was $13.2 billion, up 35% from the third quarter of 2022. Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said, “This may be the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades. While we hope for the best, we prepare the Firm for a broad range of outcomes so we can consistently deliver for clients no matter the environment.”
Microsoft deal: Regulators in the United Kingdom have accepted changes in the deal proposed about two years ago for Microsoft to buy the gaming company Activision. The regulatory sign-off has allowed the $68.7 billion deal to close. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission had tried to block the deal, but was unable to do so. To win over the UK regulators, Microsoft agreed to allow a French company to have certain non-exclusive rights to stream games that Microsoft now will own.
Cover photo by Mike Mozart / Flickr Creative Commons
