News Wrap: More than 30,000 Boeing workers are on strike

In our news wrap Friday, more than 30,000 factory workers at Boeing are on strike, firefighters made progress battling three wildfires in the Los Angeles area thanks to cooler temperatures and in rare remarks to reporters about the U.S. presidential election, Pope Francis was critical of Vice President Harris’s abortion rights stance and former President Trump’s xenophobia towards migrants.

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Amna Nawaz: In the day’s other headlines: More than 30,000 factory workers at Boeing went on strike today, all but shutting down production of several of their top-selling planes, including the 737 MAX.

They hit the picket lines before sunrise in Washington state, home to Boeing’s largest work force. Union members there overwhelmingly rejected a contract that would have increased wages by 25 percent, far short of the 40 percent they wanted.

Jon Holden, President, International Association of Machinists: This is about respect. This is about addressing the past. And this is about fighting for our future. Boeing has to stop breaking the law, has to bargain in good faith, and we will be back at the table whenever we can get there to drive forward on the issues that our members say are important.

Amna Nawaz: It’s unclear how long this stoppage will last, adding to Boeing’s troubles this year. In January, a door panel on one of its passenger jets blew out mid-flight, and two astronauts are still stuck at the International Space Station after their Boeing spacecraft was deemed unsafe to bring them home.

In California, firefighters say they have made progress battling three blazes in the Los Angeles area thanks to cooler temperatures. The largest is the Bridge Fire, which has scorched 81 square miles and destroyed 33 homes in the mountains east of L.A. Some residents have been able to return to their communities, only to see their homes and belongings reduced to ash.

Matt Howe, California Resident: It’s tough. We lost a lot of our holiday stuff, Christmas, obviously decorations. We don’t have anything for Christmas. We lost kids’ stuff, tools. And this one just came so fast. I don’t think anybody was prepared to move as fast as it had come.

Amna Nawaz: Meantime, over 85,000 people across Louisiana remain without power after Hurricane Francine. Remnants of the storm are forecast to bring more rain and flooding to the South this weekend.

Returning to politics, in rare remarks to reporters about the U.S. presidential election, Pope Francis was critical of Vice President Harris’ abortion rights stance and former President Trump’s xenophobia towards migrants, calling them both — quote — “anti-life.” The pontiff did not refer to Harris or Trump by name, but referenced the difficult choice for U.S. voters.

Pope Francis, Leader of Catholic Church (through translator): Generally, it is said that not voting is ugly. It is not good. You must vote and you must choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil? I don’t know. Everyone, in conscience, think about it and do this.

Amna Nawaz: Although rare, it wasn’t the first time Pope Francis weighed in on a U.S. election. In 2016, he said Trump’s plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border was — quote — “not Christian.”

North Korea today gave a rare glimpse into one of its secret facilities that produces weapons-grade uranium, images of their nuclear capability not seen by the outside world in nearly 15 years. The undated photographs show the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, touring rows of centrifuges at the undisclosed facility. State media reported that Kim stressed the need to — quote — “exponentially increase” the country’s nuclear supply.

The White House said today that it’s continuing to monitor North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, including its ballistic missile technology.

The State Department slapped new sanctions against Russian state media known as R.T. It accuses the outlet of working with the Russian military and raising funds for weapons and equipment, going beyond past sanctions for spreading propaganda and disinformation.

At a briefing in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of R.T.’s influence around the world.

Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State: R.T. wants its new covert intelligence capabilities, like its longstanding propaganda and disinformation efforts, to remain hidden. Our most powerful antidote to Russia’s lies is the truth. It’s shining a bright light on what the Kremlin is trying to do under the cover of darkness.

Amna Nawaz: The sanctions include R.T.’s parent company, TV-Novosti, and other Russian state-run media.

Three U.S. citizens were sentenced to death by a military court in Congo today. They are among 37 defendants who were convicted for their role in a failed coup back in May. The coup leader’s son was one of the three Americans sentenced. Marcel Malanga said it was his first time in Congo and said his father threatened to kill him if he didn’t participate.

His former high school football teammate Tyler Thompson was also sentenced, along with Benjamin Zalman-Polun, who reportedly knew the elder Malanga through a gold mining company. All of the defendants have five days to appeal.

To the fallout from the war in Gaza, now another top Israeli commander has resigned over the military’s failure to stop or prevent Hamas’ October 7 attack. Yossi Sariel is the second top intelligence official to step down this year. But despite rising calls for accountability, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says any hindsight into the failures of that day should wait until after the war.

The World Health Organization has approved the use of a vaccine to combat mpox in adults, paving the way for some of the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest countries to get protection from the virus. Supplies are limited. Bavarian Nordic is the only manufacturer of the vaccine.

So the WHO says it will create a mechanism to fairly distribute them along with tests and treatment. The WHO also said people under 18 may use the vaccine in an outbreak where the benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Wall Street closed out its best week of the year, as investors looked forward to the Federal Reserve’s decision rate cuts next week. The Dow Jones gained nearly 300 points, coming close to its all-time high. The Nasdaq tacked on over 100 points to finish higher for a fifth straight day. The S&P was up 30 points.

And mail trucks in America are getting a much-needed makeover, sort of. The U.S. Postal Service has rolled out its next-gen delivery vehicles for now just in Athens, Georgia. They are taller and boxier than ever before, but despite their awkward shape, drivers couldn’t be more thrilled to ditch the older models, which date all the way back to 1987.

Avis Stonum, Driver, U.S. Postal Service: At first glance, it’s different. However, it’s designed in a way that somebody, you can tell that they didn’t have appearance in mind. They had safety. They had the way we maneuver. They thought everything through.

Amna Nawaz: Most of the trucks are electric and they are finally equipped with air conditioning, critical for those hot summer routes. The fleet will expand to 60,000 vehicles over the next few years.