| | | | | | | Hello. Polls will be open until 9pm local time in New York City’s Third District to replace expelled lawmaker George Santos. Kayla Epstein looks at the wider impact of the race to fill the Congressional seat. BBC Persian’s Nafiseh Kohnavard boards the USS Bataan in the Eastern Mediterranean to learn how US troops counter drone attacks coming from the Yemeni Houthis. Finally, Steven McIntosh puts the newly released Oscars class photo under the magnifying glass. |
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| | | | | | Questions Answered | | A trial run ahead of November’s election | | | | Republicans and Democrats have poured millions of dollars into the race to replace former Congressman George Santos. Credit: Getty Images |
| | A vote to replace George Santos, who lost his seat in the US House of Representatives over allegations of fraud, is under way in New York’s Third District, which includes parts of New York City and Long Island. The race has offered Democrats and Republicans a chance to test their messaging ahead of the November presidential election. | | | | Who are the candidates vying to replace Mr Santos? | | Former Congressman Tom Suozzi is running as the Democrat and local official Mazi Pilip, a black Israeli-American who served in the Israel Defence Forces, is the Republican candidate. Polls show the race is neck-and-neck. | | How does the outcome affect the House of Representatives? | | With a razor-thin margin in the House, Republicans are eager to win the race to more easily pass their legislative priorities before the election. Democrats, meanwhile, want to secure the seat to help their growing coalition and to gain traction before November. | | What are the race’s main issues? | | Voters appear focused on issues that will likely be a factor in the forthcoming presidential race - the Israel-Hamas war, immigration, and abortion. Both parties are now testing their political messaging in this swing district. | | | | | | |
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| AT THE SCENE | Eastern Mediterranean | | The assault ship hunting Houthi drones | | | | The Combat Information Centre sits below deck, aglow with the light of a dozen computer monitors. Credit: BBC | | At the beginning of October, the 2,400 US Marines and sailors who call the USS Bataan their home were approaching the end of their tour of duty. But that changed on the morning of 7 October. Their mission has now been extended until further notice. | | | | Nafiseh Kohnavard, BBC Persian |
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| Within an hour of Hamas attacking Israel and killing around 1,200 people, the USS Bataan received new orders, to plot a course towards the eastern Mediterranean and prepare to monitor the coast of Gaza. Then, another change in the mission. This time, to engage the Yemeni Houthis who were targeting shipping vessels in response to the escalating violence in Gaza.
"The Houthis were launching a lot of suicide attack drones," says Capt Earl Ehrhart. "They are a robust and capable force," he adds, warning they are not to be underestimated. An experienced fighter pilot, Ehrhart says he has intercepted seven Houthi drones. But when flying so close to these explosive devices, he says, every interception carries great risk. |
| | | | • | War in Gaza: Negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Egypt, according to local media. | | • | US funding: A bill allocating $14bn (£11.1bn) in funds towards Israel as part of a $95bn (£75.4bn) military aid package that includes provisions for Ukraine and Taiwan has passed the Senate, but faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives. |
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| | The big picture | | A closer look at the Oscars class photo | | | | The annual Academy Awards luncheon was held in Los Angeles on Monday. Credit: BBC |
| | Some people know how to stand out from the crowd even while posing next to 178 of Hollywood’s best and brightest. Entertainment reporter Steven McIntosh notes nine highlights of this year’s Oscars class photo, and one missed opportunity. | | | | |
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| | | For your downtime | | Let them eat pests | | A London-based chef put invasive species on the menu. | | |
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| | And finally... in UAE | | Large hailstones were seen covering roads in the United Arab Emirates, after a rare hailstorm struck the region. BBC Weather's Elizabeth Rizzini explains what makes the weather phenomenon so exceptional for the desert nation. |
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| | | | | | | | US Election Unspun newsletter | | Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday to your inbox. | | |
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| | | | More BBC newsletters | | • | Football Extra: Latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League, weekdays. Subscribe. | | • | Royal Watch: The full story from royal correspondent Sean Coughlan, every Thursday. Subscribe. | | • | Tech Decoded: Timely, trusted tech news from global correspondents, twice-weekly. Subscribe. |
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