Tuesday Briefing: Israel sends troops into Lebanon

Plus, creating fashion in prison.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 1, 2024 SUPPORTED BY SAP By Justin Porter Good morning. We're covering Israel beginning ground operations in Lebanon and the closure of Britain's last coal plant. Plus, creating fashion in prison. Israeli artillery shells hit in southern Lebanon yesterday. Atef Safadi/EPA, via Shutterstock Israel sent troops into southern Lebanon The Israeli military announced early this morning that it had begun a "limited" invasion of southern Lebanon. The military said it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in villages close to the border that "pose an immediate threat" to communities in northern Israel, officials said. The invasion force consisted of small groups of commandos, accompanied by air cover as well as artillery shells fired from Israel. The plan could yet evolve into a larger invasion; thousands of additional troops have been deployed in northern Israel in recent days, leading to speculation about a broader and more prolonged operation. The ground operation followed intense Israeli strikes across Lebanon over the past two weeks that have killed hundreds of people, according to the Lebanese health ministry, including 95 yesterday. Israel is trying to force a conclusion to a yearlong war with Hezbollah that started in parallel with the war with Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah has been firing toward Israeli positions in solidarity with Hamas. Both groups are backed by Iran. Related coverage: President Biden is sending a "few thousand" more troops to the Middle East, the Pentagon said. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, addressed the people of Iran in a video, saying, "The people of Iran should know — Israel stands with you." He also reiterated his threats against the government in Tehran. The Biden administration is struggling to halt cooperation among Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. Donald Trump was greeted yesterday by residents of Valdosta, Ga. Doug Mills/The New York Times Harris and Trump focused on hurricane devastation Both Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris turned their attention to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene yesterday, as large swaths of the South continued to reel from the devastating storm. The death toll from the hurricane has risen to more than 100 people across six states. Trump thanked local leaders and emergency workers in Georgia, promising "complete solidarity" with those suffering in the storm's aftermath. A White House official said that Harris, who received briefings from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, planned to visit the devastated region as soon as it could be done without disrupting emergency operations. More on the U.S. election Americans head to the polls in less than 40 days. The nominees for vice president, JD Vance and Tim Walz, will hold a debate tonight. Women from a secretive evangelical church in North Carolina are helping to stage Trump's campaign events. Two months after abandoning his bid for a second term, President Biden appears to be liberated by the decision, soaking up the adoration from supporters. After two assassination attempts, some wondered if Trump's attendance at a college football game this weekend was wise. Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we'll find the answers. Stay up to date: See our poll tracker. Listen to "The Run-Up" podcast. Sign up for the On Politics newsletter. The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant in England. Rui Vieira/Associated Press Britain shut down its last coal plant Britain shut down its last coal-burning power station, becoming the first among the world's major industrialized economies to wean itself off coal. The move is all the more symbolic because the nation was the first to burn tremendous amounts during the Industrial Revolution, launching a global addiction to coal. The British government aims to generate all its electricity from sources other than fossil fuels by 2030. Oil and gas account for the majority of the country's power supply, though renewables make up 40 percent of its electricity generation. A MESSAGE FROM SAP Put sustainability at the core of your business Sustainability is a key driver of success and strategic differentiation in the modern economy. SAP is fully committed to helping organizations turn sustainability goals into real-world results with technology that's AI-enabled, cloud-based, and ERP-centric. Let's optimize your business performance with superior carbon management, smooth material transitions, consistent operational compliance, and accurate ESG reporting and management. Contact us to accelerate your sustainable business journey. EXPLORE MORE MORE TOP NEWS Lee Im-jae was the chief of police in Yongsan District, the area in central Seoul where the disaster happened. Yonhap/EPA, via Shutterstock South Korea: A court sentenced a senior police officer to​ three years in prison for contributing through negligence to a Halloween crowd crush that killed nearly 160 people in 2022. Mexico: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who steps down today, transformed his nation more so than any other leader in recent history. Iran: The country united militias to take on Israel in an "axis of resistance." But as the Israelis pummel one group, Hezbollah, the rest have so far largely failed to come to its aid. France: The far-right leader Marine Le Pen and more than 20 other people went on trial on charges that they embezzled funds from the European Parliament. Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky returned from a high-stakes diplomatic trip to the U.S. with limited new aid and mounting battlefield challenges. Entertainment: Francis Ford Coppola's $140 million "Megalopolis" debuted to an estimated $4 million in weekend ticket sales. U.S. News New York City: Lawyers for Mayor Eric Adams asked a judge to throw out the bribery charge against him, providing an early glimpse at his defense. One of Adam's closest aides also resigned. U.S.: A judge struck down Georgia's ban on abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy. The case is expected to go to the State Supreme Court. Higher education: California banned legacy admissions at private universities. SPORTS NEWS Scott Cunningham/NBAE, via Getty Images Dikembe Mutombo: The N.B.A. star and humanitarian died at 58. Baseball: Pete Rose has died at 83. He earned glory as baseball's hit king and shame as a gambler. Soccer: Manchester United's world has fallen apart — again. Golf: Patrick Cantlay is the big winner of Presidents Cup week. MORNING READ Alex Lau for The New York Times Wok hei, meaning "the breath of the wok," is the signature, smoky, charred flavor found among Hong Kong's open-air food stalls. But because of new government regulations, there are only around 20 of these stalls left. A food photographer traveled with his mother to Hong Kong in search of the elusive and exquisite flavor that she hadn't tasted for 50 years. CONVERSATION STARTERS Saving a skyscraper: A plan to preserve the only high-rise Frank Lloyd Wright designed is in trouble. The new owners of the building tried to rescue it from financial woes but now have it on the auction block. Little house of horrors: At the Spruce House in Finland, macabre jokes about the end of the world are built into a comfortable island cabin. The ultimate celebrity photographer: Kevin Mazur has thrived by gaining the trust of the world's biggest stars. His motto: "Why wouldn't you want to make people look good?" ARTS AND IDEAS Bollate Prison in Milan. Clara Vannucci for The New York Times Creating beauty behind bars Italy is the world's leading luxury fashion manufacturer, largely thanks to its craftspeople. But the country is lacking a new generation trained in artisanal fabrication skills. Cooperativa Alice, a Milan nonprofit, has a solution: sewing workshops that train inmates and former prisoners in Italian sartorial craft. The training can be a pathway to a career in the fashion industry, which is desperately short of skilled workers, and a degree of emancipation, even while incarcerated. "It does us good to hear 'Well done, ladies,'" an inmate said. "It helps me live." We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Armando Rafael for The New York Times Cook: These cheesy chicken cutlets coated with buttery Ritz crackers are as good as they sound. Listen: Apple Music released its list of the 100 best albums of all time. Our pop culture critic listened to all of them and discussed what it got wrong. Well: How much should you worry about mercury in tuna and other seafood? Experts weigh in. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Justin Reach Justin and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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