Pagers: Lebanon’s Ministry of Health has told Lebanese citizens to throw out their electronic paging devices following Israel’s attack in which up to 3,000 pagers used by Hezbollah militants to communicate exploded. At least 12 people were killed and hundreds injured according to Lebanon. The pagers are used by Hezbollah militants to communicate with each other rather than using cellphones, which they fear can be tapped by Israel. Israel’s intelligence organization apparently intercepted the pagers during shipping before they reached Hezbollah and planted explosives. Â
Mix-up: During a speech in Flint, Michigan, yesterday, Donald Trump became confused several times and mixed up the former U.S. military air base in Bagram, Afghanistan, with oil fields in Alaska. Trump kept repeating that the military base was an oil field, saying that at Bagram the U.S. had more oil reserves that can be drilled than does Saudi Arabia. Trump urged people to look it up on Google if they didn’t believe him. Google, of course, shows nothing about the U.S. owning oil reserves under the Bagram military base.
Drones: Ukraine’s Security Service told CNN today that its drones destroyed a large ammunition depot inside Russia. The depot in a western section of Russia stored missile systems, guided bombs and ammunition for artillery, according to the Ukrainians. The Russian news agency TASS reported that there was a Ukrainian drone attack overnight, but did not say anything about the ammunition depot being hit. TASS did say that people had been evacuated from the area that was struck.
IVF: Republicans in the Senate again blocked passage of a bill that would guarantee the availability of in vitro fertilization in the U.S. for people who need the fertility treatments in order to have children. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine were the only Republicans voting in favor of the bill. It was defeated 51 to 44. Donald Trump failed to urge his fellow Republicans to pass the legislation even though he claims to be in favor of in vitro fertilization.
Sam’s Club: Walmart’s membership retail club Sam’s Club has announced higher pay for nearly 100,000 workers. The average wage will increase to $19 an hour, which Sam’s Club says will help it attract and retain what it describes as quality talent. Sam’s Club said that better pay means more engaged workers who are more productive, provide better service and are more likely to stay, especially in retail, where employee turnover in 2022 averaged 60%.
Bankruptcy: Tupperware has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court in Delaware. Tupperware wants court approval to continue operating during the proceedings and also seeks court approval to sell its business in order to protect its brand. Tupperware reported $1.1 billion in sales for 2023. In the court filing it reported assets from $500 million to $1 billion and liabilities of $1 billion to $10 billion.
