October 30 top stories
It is October 30. Here are today’s top stories.
Matthew Perry passes away at 54
Actor Matthew Perry, who is best known for his role in “Friends,” passed away at the age of 54 on Saturday afternoon.
He was found dead in a jacuzzi at his home. The cause of death is unknown. An autopsy has been completed and the local medical examiner’s office said they are waiting for toxicology results.
Perry wrote a memoir last year and explained that he had a lifelong struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
Warner Bros. Television Group, which produced “Friends,” said they are devastated by Perry’s passing. They said his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many.
Israel’s military advancing into Gaza
AP News said Israeli troops and tanks are pushing deeper into Gaza today. Israel’s military said it killed dozens of Hamas fighters overnight.
Videos on social media showed an Israeli tank and bulldozer in central Gaza blocking a main highway. A journalist filmed a car approaching it but as it makes a U-turn, the tank fires on it and the car explodes. The journalist said the driver was an old man and there was a woman and children in the back seat.
Government officials in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, said over 8,300 people have been killed from Israel’s bombardment and military actions over the past three weeks.
AP News said more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank from “violence and Israeli raids.”
Israel’s military action began after 1,400 people in southern Israel, most of them civilians, were killed by a surprise attack from Hamas fighters on October 7. Hamas also captured around 240 hostages and has released at least four.
Hamas released a video today that appears to show three female hostages. One of the women made a short statement criticizing Israel, telling them to make a deal to free them “now.” The statement was likely made under duress.
In separate news, Shani Louk, a German-Israeli woman who was kidnapped at the music festival in southern Israel on October 7, has been found dead. This is according to the Israeli government.
The United Nations has been calling for a ceasefire, saying the situation in Gaza is growing more desperate by the hour.
Antisemitic mob at Russian airport
CNN reported that an angry crowd in Russia’s mostly Muslim region of Dagestan stormed an airport where a flight from Israel arrived on Sunday. The airport was closed and flights had to be diverted.
Videos showed many people rushing inside the Makhachkala Uytash Airport. Some of them carried antisemitic signs such as “We are against Jewish refugees.” Some waved the Palestinian flag.
The airport resumed operations today. Russian authorities said President Putin plans to hold a meeting today to address the riots.
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Pro hockey player dies after “freak” neck cut
A professional American hockey player who was playing in a British league passed away after his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game. His name was Adam Johnson. The team, the Nottingham Panthers, said it was a “freak accident.”
Johnson grew up in Minnesota and was a former NHL player with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 and 2020 seasons before playing for European leagues.
The Penguins said they “join the entire hockey world in mourning the life of Adam Johnson.”
Pence drops out of presidential race
Former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. He said it’s become clear to him that it is not his time.
Pence said he has no regrets. AP News said he is the first major candidate to drop out in a race that has been dominated by his former boss-turned-rival Donald Trump.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matthew-perry-friends-star-dies-age-54/
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-10-30-2023-d33ac65b49723b9715ebf47041ac5f66
https://www.bbc.com/sport/ice-hockey/67253892
https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1718976557748826488
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/30/israel-gaza-ground-incursion-tanks/
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/30/europe/russia-dagestan-airport-anti-israel-intl-hnk/index.html