Hard Numbers: Deadly day for Israeli troops, former UN official ordered to pay up, Tesla admits Autopilot isn’t safe, US Fed keeps interest rates the same

Israeli soldiers prepare to enter the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, December 13, 2023.
Israeli soldiers prepare to enter the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, December 13, 2023.
REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

10: Ten Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza on Tuesday, marking one of the deadliest days of the conflict for the IDF since it launched a ground invasion of the enclave in late October. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry on Wednesday said that over 18,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

$63.6 million: An ex-UN official is being ordered to personally repay the organization $63.6 million, court filings show. The former official, Vitaly Vanshelboim, entrusted tens of millions of dollars to a British businessman he met at a Manhattan party – who apparently squandered the money, which was meant to finance renewable energy and housing projects. Vanshelboim was a top official at the UN Office for Projects Services before he was fired over the scandal in January.

2 million: Tesla is issuing a recall and sending a digital update to almost all its cars in the US – roughly 2 million – over safety concerns surrounding its Autopilot system. Elon Musk’s car company said that its Autopilot software system controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse,” and will add additional alerts and geographical limits on where the system can be used. The recall follows an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – and reports of deadly crashes involving Tesla vehicles in Autopilot.

5.25-5.5: The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged – in the 5.25% to 5.5% range – at its final 2023 meeting on Wednesday. This comes after recent economic data showed inflation cooling, though falling short of hitting the Fed’s 2% target. The Fed says it remains “highly attentive to inflation risks.”

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

Bob Woodward's new book "War" claims Trump phoned the Russian president seven times after he left office -- we have exclusive tape of those calls and you won't BELIEVE what you hear. #PUPPETREGIME

FILE PHOTO: Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine speaks during the funeral of Mohammed Nasser, a senior Hezbollah commander who was killed by what security sources say was an Israel strike on Wednesday, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon July 4, 2024.
REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris reacts, as she appears on ABC's "The View" in New York, U.S., October 8, 2024.

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has faced criticism, and not just from her opponent, for doing too few interviews. In recent days, she has tried to remedy that, beginning with an appearance on the long-running US news show “60 Minutes.” The interviewers on this program, in particular, are known for asking tough questions. (Donald Trump declined a “60 Minutes” interview.)

Supporters of Daniel Chapo, leader and presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo party attend the final rally campaign ahead of the national election in Matola, Mozambique October 6, 2024.
REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

The resource-rich southeast African nation of 35 million people heads into national legislative and presidential elections on Wednesday in which the party that has run the sub-Saharan country for half a century faces its stiffest challenge in years.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, meets with Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency September 14, 2024.
KCNA via REUTERS

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun told South Korea’s legislature on Tuesday that Pyongyang was “highly likely” to deploy troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, a serious escalation in North Korea’s support for Russia. Kim also said reports that a Ukrainian missile strike in Donetsk killed six North Korean officers on Oct. 3 were also credible.

Microsoft is making a landmark €4.3 billion investment in Italy to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure over the next two years. This initiative aims to boost Italy's technological landscape, drive economic growth, and address demographic challenges. The investment includes extensive digital skills training for over 1 million Italians by 2025, empowering businesses and individuals to harness AI for innovation and productivity. Read more about the investment here.

Walmart is fueling American jobs and strengthening communities by investing in local businesses. Athletic Brewing landed a deal with Walmart in 2021. Since then, co-founders Bill Shufelt and John Walker have hired more than 200 employees and built a150,000-square-foot brewery in Milford, CT. Athletic Brewing is one of many US-based suppliers working with Walmart. By 2030, the retailer is estimated to support the creation of over 750,000 US jobs by investing an additional $350 billion in products made, grown, or assembled in America. Learn more about Walmart’s commitment to US manufacturing.