Helene’s damage, Middle East, Vice Presidential debate, chemical plant fire, SpaceX

Longshore workers from Maine to Texas are threatening a major strike this week that could disrupt the flow of popular products into the United States. Consumers wouldn’t necessarily feel the impact immediately, but experts believe a prolonged port strike would eventually lead to shortages of chocolate, alcohol and fruit, including bananas and cherries.

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1. Helene’s damage

The southeastern United States is grappling with widespread devastation after Helene became the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall on Thursday, hitting the Big Bend region of Florida, passing through several states and killing at least 95 people. Millions are still without power and authorities warn that it could be a week or longer before power is available in some areas. In the Carolinas, days of unrelenting flooding have turned roads into waterways, leaving many without essential supplies and straining state resources. President Joe Biden will visit some of the affected communities later this week “as soon as it does not impact emergency response,” the White House said Sunday.

2. Middle East

Israeli airstrikes hit an intersection in the Lebanese capital Beirut today, the first time the attacks landed within the city limits since October 7. The attack came days after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In recent weeks, Israel has expanded its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, raising fears of a regional war as Hezbollah vowed to continue the fight despite losses in its leadership ranks. President Joe Biden said he is working “like crazy” with his allies to prevent an all-out war in the Middle East. Before Nasrallah’s assassination, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a US-brokered ceasefire proposal.

3. VP debate

The vice presidential candidates for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance are preparing for a high-stakes debate on Tuesday – five weeks before Election Day. The Walz-Vance matchup could be the final debate of the 2024 election, unprecedented in modern presidential campaigns as former President Donald Trump rejected calls from Vice President Kamala Harris to agree to a second meeting, including one suggested by CNN for Oct. 23 A tight race is entering the final stretch and early voting is underway in several states. Tuesday’s vice presidential showdown in New York offers one of the last big opportunities to make a case for their respective tickets. The debate will be moderated by CBS and begins at 9:00 p.m. ET.

4. Fire in a chemical factory

A response to a fire at a chemical plant in Georgia on Sunday forced evacuations, shelter-in-place advisories and interstate road closures. The fire broke out on the roof of the BioLab in Conyers, Georgia, about 30 miles east of Atlanta. Officials said a faulty sprinkler head “came into contact with a water-reactive chemical and created a cloud.” The fire was extinguished Sunday evening, but smoke could still be visible for several days, officials said, adding that air quality studies revealed “the harmful irritant chlorine” from the plant.

5. SpaceX

After their week-long journey turned into a months-long stay on the International Space Station, two Boeing Starliner astronauts are now within range of the spacecraft that will eventually bring them home. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, chosen by NASA to carry astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth after their Starliner spacecraft was deemed too risky for a crewed return, has arrived at the space station. The vehicle on a mission called Crew-9 docked with the ISS around 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. Williams and Wilmore are not expected to return home until February at the earliest.

HAPPENS LATER

Pandemic-era student loan benefits are nearing their end
This week ends a one-year grace period for student loan borrowers who miss a payment. Borrowers need to know this:

BROWSE BREAKFAST

Operation Match: The dating service that changed our love lives
Many couples now meet by swiping through dating apps. But in the age of retro computers, you have to find someone you like type required more effort. Read about the first computer dating company in the US, founded in 1965.

China’s astronauts want to land on the moon by 2030
And they now have a new, advanced spacesuit for it.

“LibraryTok” evokes nostalgia among school-aged people online
Welcome to LibraryTok, where school librarians are also viral stars. Her nostalgic videos encourage adults to return to the library or donate to schools in need.

America’s Greyhound bus stops are disappearing
Chicago is on the verge of losing its only intercity bus station. Its closure could jeopardize access for low-income and older travelers with few other transportation options.

Images show the dramatic shrinkage of the major Amazon rivers
River levels in the Amazon have reached record lows, upending lives and endangering wildlife. See before and after photos of Brazil’s worst drought on record.

IN MEMORY

Singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson died peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, according to a family spokesman. He was 88. Kristofferson wrote the songs “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” As an actor, he played the lead opposite Barbara Streisand in the 1976 film “A Star Is Born” and starred opposite Ellen Burstyn in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.”

TODAY’S NUMBER

6,500
About that many people took part in the largest mass haka on Sunday, with New Zealand taking the world record for the most participants performing the traditional Māori routine. The number of visitors surpassed record holder France with 4,028 in 2014.

TODAY QUOTE

“I want to amaze the world.”

– Choi Soon-hwaan 80-year-old woman hoping to become the oldest contestant to reach the Miss Universe pageant. Today, Choi will compete with 31 other contestants for the Miss Universe Korea tiara – and have the chance to represent South Korea at the Miss Universe finals in November in Mexico.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Check your local weather forecast here >>>

AND FINALLY…

Wastewater is being used across the US to track Covid
Officials are now focusing on testing the contents of Americans’ wastewater to keep an eye on Covid-19. This wastewater testing map shows you where your state stands.

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