10 things you need to know today: November 9, 2014
- 1. North Korea frees two American captives
- 2. Gorbachev warns of second Cold War
- 3. Quarantined Ebola nurse may leave Maine
- 4. Catalonia holds vote on independence
- 5. U.S. , Russia meet to discuss Ukraine
- 6. Judge nixes Arizona immigration law
- 7. Mexican president's estate set on fire
- 8. Syria kills nearly two dozen in ISIS raid
- 9. Iran's Khamenei discusses Israel's destruction on Twitter
- 10. Matt Damon to return for new Bourne role
1. North Korea frees two American captives
North Korea on Saturday freed two American prisoners who had been held captive in the country. Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller were released within hours of each other, according to the State Department. Bae, a Christian missionary, had been detained for allegedly trying to convert North Koreans, while Miller was accused of tearing up his visa and trying to stay illegally in the country.
2. Gorbachev warns of second Cold War
Former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev on Saturday warned that the U.S. and Russia were heading toward a second Cold War over the situation in Ukraine. "Instead of building new mechanisms and institutions of European security and pursuing a major demilitarization," he said, the U.S. had "declared victory in the Cold War." "To put it metaphorically, a blister has now turned into a bloody, festering wound," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. Quarantined Ebola nurse may leave Maine
Kaci Hickox, the nurse who was briefly quarantined in New Jersey under suspicion she had contracted Ebola, may move away from her home town in Maine once her isolation period ends. Hickox, who agreed to keep away from public spaces after returning to Maine, is reportedly planning to leave the state once her quarantine there ends on Nov. 10. "We're going to try to get our lives back on track," her boyfriend, Ted Wilbur, said.
4. Catalonia holds vote on independence
Spain's Catalonia region on Sunday will vote on whether to secede from the rest of the nation. The resolution is non-binding, and Spanish courts have ruled the vote is unconstitutional. Still, voters will cast ballots on whether they believe the region of some 7.5 million people should have its own central government.
5. U.S. , Russia meet to discuss Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Saturday with his Russian counterpart to discuss the ongoing disagreement between the two nations over the sovereignty of Ukraine's rebel-held regions. Kerry was to discuss last week's referendum in eastern Ukraine, which the U.S. considers illeglimitie. "Suffice it to say that we do have some disagreements about some of the facts on the ground with respect to Ukraine," Kerry said.
6. Judge nixes Arizona immigration law
A federal judge on Friday struck down a controversial immigration law in Arizona, saying it was "preempted" by federal immigration policy. Passed in 2005, the law was intended to crack down on smugglers. But U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton ruled that the law "imposes additional and different state penalties than federal law" and that it therefore muddled the legal framework for law enforcement officials.
7. Mexican president's estate set on fire
Protesters on Saturday set ablaze the mansion of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. The vandals were a breakaway group affiliated with a larger protest against the government's failure to arrest anyone in connection with the disappearance earlier this year of 43 students. Pena Nieto was not in the home when it was set on fire.
8. Syria kills nearly two dozen in ISIS raid
The Syrian government on Saturday bombed ISIS targets in the northern part of the country, killing 21 people and wounding 100 more. The attack was not launched in coordination with the U.S., which has resisted fighting alongside Syria despite sharing a common enemy.
9. Iran's Khamenei discusses Israel's destruction on Twitter
Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khameneei on Saturday accused Israel of trying to rule with an "iron fist," in a series of Twitter posts. Khamenei claimed Israel was pursuing its agenda "by means of infanticide, homicide." The posts came days after The Wall Street Journal reported that President Obama secretly wrote to Khamenei asking for help in combating ISIS.
10. Matt Damon to return for new Bourne role
Matt Damon will soon reprise his role as Jason Bourne in the popular action franchise, according to the movie star. Damon said Saturday that he was planning to work on a new film in the series next year, and that it would likely hit theaters in 2016.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
The pros and cons of GMOs
Pros and Cons The modified crops are causing controversy
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
6 historic homes in the colonial style
Feature A home in Connecticut
By The Week Staff Published
-
Dignity in defeat
Opinion Chicago White Sox players during a baseball game in Detroit, Michigan
By Theunis Bates Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 24, 2024
Daily Briefing Trump closes in on nomination with New Hampshire win over Haley, 'Oppenheimer' leads the 2024 Oscar nominations, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 23, 2024
Daily Briefing Haley makes last stand in New Hampshire as Trump extends polling lead, justices side with US over Texas in border fight, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 22, 2024
Daily Briefing DeSantis ends his presidential campaign and endorses Trump, the US and Arab allies push plan to end Gaza war, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 21, 2024
Daily Briefing Palestinian death toll reportedly passes 25,000, top Biden adviser to travel to Egypt and Qatar for hostage talks, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 20, 2024
Daily Briefing Grand jury reportedly convened to investigate Uvalde shooting response, families protest outside Netanyahu's house as pressure mounts for hostage deal, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 19, 2024
Daily Briefing Congress averts a government shutdown, DOJ report cites failures in police response to Texas school shooting, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 18, 2024
Daily Briefing Judge threatens to remove Trump from his defamation trial, medicine for hostages and Palestinians reach Gaza, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 17, 2024
Daily Briefing The US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen a third time, Trump's second sex defamation trial begins, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published