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Today’s news briefs include Iran attack on Israel today?; “Historic” Hurricane Debby; Unemployment stokes recession fears; Asian leader flees her country.
Iran attack on Israel could come today
An attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel could begin as early as Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 countries in a Sunday conference call. The call was to coordinate the US’s closest allies and put diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah. Separately on Sunday, according to The Jerusalem Post, three US and Israeli officials told Axios reporter Barak Ravid that the attack could occur on Monday. An Israeli official also told CBS News that while Iran’s April 13 attack was mostly thwarted, Israel was anticipating a “more aggressive” retaliation this time around. Israels assassination of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas last week have been criticized as bringing the region to the brink of war. Israeli officials responded that Israel is already under attack on seven fronts and that regional war began with the Oct. 7 invasion by Hamas.
Hurricane Debby to bring historic rain
Hurricane Debby made landfall early Monday morning along Florida‘s Big Bend, blasting the state with flooding rain, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge reports FOX News.The weak Category 1 storm hit near Steinhatchee about 7 a.m. ET with winds topping 80 mph but bringing huge amounts of moisture. “By midweek, the storm is expected to dump extreme amounts of nearly 2 feet of rain on parts of Georgia and South Carolina,” The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is forecasting “potentially historic rainfall” causing widespread flash flooding. “The governors of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have declared a state of emergency and are urging residents to prepare for the multiple impacts the storm will bring,” Fox reports.
Bangladesh leader flees country during protests
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned after weeks of deadly anti-government protests as thousands of people stormed her official residence, demanding she step down, reports the BBC. Nearly 100 were killed and hundreds injured as anti-government protests swept the country. Protesters called for PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, while she accused them of “sabotage” and cut off mobile internet to quell the unrest. Hasina, 76, had already left the country before crowds arrived at her palace. The unrest in Dhaka and elsewhere began with a demand to abolish quotas in civil service jobs but escalated into a mass anti-government movement.
US unemployment rises
A rise in the U.S. unemployment rate last month has rattled financial markets Monday and set off new worries about the threat of a recession — but it could also prove to be a false alarm, the AP reports. Friday’s jobs report, which also showed hiring slowed last month, coincides with other signs the economy is sliding into recession amid high prices and elevated interest rates. A survey of manufacturing firms showed activity weakened noticeably in July. The Biden administration is downplaying the numbers ahead of the November elections.
–Dwight Widaman and wire services
