U.S. and world news for Oct. 27

U.S. attacks on militia bases in Syria: U.S. military forces launched attacks on two bases in Syria overnight designed to deter Iran-backed militias from expanding the Middle East conflict. The attacks, which were authorized by President Biden, was the first military response to recent attacks against U.S. facilities in Syria and Iraq, and the Pentagon defined its actions as being a self-defense response that is separate from U.S. support of Israel in its war against Hamas terrorists. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, “The United States does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop.”

California city passed resolution condemning “Israeli apartheid”: Richmond, California, has become the first U.S. city to approve a municipal resolution against Israel in its war against the Hamas terrorists. The Richmond City Council’s resolution condemned the Israeli response to Hamas’ invasion as “ethnic cleansing and collective punishment” and called for “end to Israeli apartheid and the occupation and blockade of Palestinian land by Israeli military forces” and the termination of “all existing and future military aid to Israel.” Mayor Eduardo Martinez insisted the resolution presented “words that have to be said,” although no condemnation was included regarding Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that left 1,400 dead and resulted in more than 200 (including children) being kidnapped into Gaza and held as hostages.

Search for Maine shooter: Law enforcement agencies continued their manhunt for Robert Card, an Army reservist who is the chief suspect in a Wednesday night shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine, that resulted in 18 deaths and 13 people injured. Last night, police in tactical gear surrounded a house in Bowdoin, Maine, where they believed Card was hiding and issued orders for him to come out with his hands up. After about an hour past, the police acknowledged the house was empty. Federal agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard have been brought in to locate and apprehend Card.

Former Chinese premier dies: Li Keqiang, who served as Chinese premier from 2013 until last March, passed away after suffering a heart attack yesterday. The 68-year-old Li was an economist who also served as the second-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party from 2012 to 2022. During his premiership, Li advocated for expanding the role of private enterprise in China, but his efforts were negated by President Xi Jinping’s policies of ensuring the ruling Communist Party maintained a central role in the national economy.

Minnesota congressman challenges Biden for nomination: Three-term U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips if Minnesota has declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nomination. Phillips had repeatedly advocated that President Biden not seek re-election based on polling that showed the incumbent’s lack of support among voters. Phillips will launch his campaign in New Hampshire today and declared he would “not sit still and not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we’re going to be facing an emergency next November.”

Dimon to sell JPMorgan shares: Jamie Dimon, the chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, is embarking on a divestiture of his stock ownership in the banking giant. The Wall Street Journal reported that Dimon and his family will sell 1 million of their roughly 8.6 million JPMorgan shares, or roughly 12% of their stake in the bank, starting in 2024. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Dimon family said their action is rooted in “financial diversification and tax-planning purposes.” This marks the first time Dimon has ever sold his shares in the bank.

Cover photo courtesy World Economic Forum / Flick Creative Commons