Pagers explode across Lebanon in apparent attack on Hezbollah
Hundreds of pagers exploded at the same time across Lebanon yesterday, killing at least nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, and injuring more than 2,700, according to the health minister.
Hezbollah said its members’ pagers exploded and blamed Israel for the attack. The Israeli military declined to comment. We have live updates.
Earlier this week, Israeli leaders warned that they were considering intensifying their military campaign against Hezbollah. Concerns have been growing for months that a wider war could break out between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was also injured when the pager he was carrying exploded.
At the sceneWitnesses said they saw smoke coming from people’s pockets, followed by small explosions that sounded like fireworks or gunshots. Video display Chaos spread, many people fell and others were seriously injured.
Detail: Senior Hezbollah members have used pagers for years, but the practice became more common after the October 7 attacks, security experts said. In yesterday’s attack, the pagers were programmed to beep for a few seconds and then explode.
Harris and Trump ramp up advertising in final stretch of campaign
Presidential candidates and their allies plan to spent more than half a billion dollars on television and radio advertising In the final seven weeks of the campaign, according to an ad tracking firm, groups supporting Vice President Kamala Harris spent $332 million on television and radio ads, compared with about $194 million from groups supporting Donald Trump.
The intensifying ad wars are a byproduct of fundraising battles: Democrats have significantly outraised Republicans in the months since Harris took over from President Biden as the Democratic ticket’s leader. The candidates and their allies will spend the most in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state — a total of $133 million.
Instagram announces changes to teen accounts
Instagram said yesterday that accounts of users under the age of 18 will soon default to privateThis means that only followers approved by the account owner will be able to see their posts. The changes will roll out in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia over the next two months, while teens in other countries will see them starting in January.
The app has faced growing pressure over child safety online, and the effectiveness of these changes remains unclear. Here’s what you need to know.
Films that are getting attention at film festivals
The film festivals in Venice, Telluride and Toronto have concluded, which means the countdown to the biggest award of all, the Oscars, has begun.
The two films look like notable contenders, Kyle Buchanan, our awards season writer, writes. “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, is a thriller about cunning cardinals plotting to choose a new pope. “The Brutalist,” an ambitious film by Brady Corbet, tells the epic story of a Jewish architect, played by Adrien Brody, after World War II.
But while the last two years have seen the dominance of “Oppenheimer” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” this year’s race looks much more open, Kyle writes.
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