Domestic

Over 475 workers at a Georgia-based electric vehicle assembly complex, co-owned by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, were detained this past Thursday in what officials are calling the largest ever Homeland Security operation at a single site. Most of the arrested workers are not directly employed by Hyundai or LG but, instead, are subcontractors that the United States claims illegally crossed the border, overstayed their visas or had visas that prohibited them from working. According to a South Korean government official, around 300 of those detained are South Korean citizens with visas granting them entry to the United States for business affairs, such as training others. The raid caught both Hyundai and the South Korean government by surprise and could potentially destabilize relations between the United States and South Korea. A deal has already been reached to release the arrested South Korean citizens and fly them back home.

On Tuesday, Apple announced their latest generation of products, including new iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. This year, the third generation of AirPods Pro was revealed, boasting improved noise cancellation and heart rate sensing. All three tiers of Apple Watches were updated, with a new Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Series 11 announced. Notably, 5G connectivity is now available across all models. Finally, Apple unveiled the iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max. The iPhone 17 offers up to a 120hz refresh rate, a stronger screen and improved cameras. The iPhone Air is marketed as Apple’s thinnest iPhone, clocking in at 5.6mm (0.22”) thick. To achieve such a low profile, the device only has one rear camera, a 48MP Fusion unit. Apple’s flagship phone, the iPhone 17 Pro, has received incremental upgrades. The body is now a single piece of aluminium with an A19Pro chip and a vapor chamber for increased thermal performance. For the first time ever, 8x optical zoom is offered and all three rear cameras are now 48MP. Preorders begin on Sept. 12 and devices are available starting Sept. 19.

International

On Sunday, Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in the largest drone attack since the war began. Over 30 locations across Ukraine reported hits, nine from missiles and roughly 54 hits from drones. Ukraine neutralized 747 drones and four missiles, but suffered damage to government buildings. This marks the first time in the conflict that government buildings in Kyiv have been damaged. Nine deaths have been confirmed, a mother and her child, and twenty others are reported injured. Residents have grown used to the attacks, with a reported quote from those on the ground being, “We don’t feel anything anymore, except anger.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the attacks and said that he is ready and willing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace agreement. Such an agreement is unlikely to occur without other countries stepping in.

On Sunday, the Roman Catholic Church canonized Carlo Acutis, making him the first saint of the “digital age”. Acutis was born in 1991 and passed away in 2006, after a hard-fought battle against leukemia. He championed his faith through websites and videogames and is notably the first saint to be entombed in Nike-branded shoes. To achieve canonization, a candidate must have at least two attributed miracles. Acutis is credited with healing both an infant and a woman injured in a bike accident. Acutis’ sainthood distinction comes at a time when the Catholic Church is hoping to attract a younger audience and is the second canonization performed by Pope Leo.

This past weekend, the 82nd Venice International Film Festival concluded. Started in 1932, the festival is considered the one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. This year, the festival saw several big names in attendance, including George Clooney, Idris Elba, Dwayne Johnson, Julia Roberts, Adam Sandler and Emma Stone. The top prize, the Golden Lion, was given to Jim Jarmusch’s film “Father Mother Sister Brother”. The film details the lives of three different families, exploring how relationships change as people age. The runner up was “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a true story about the Israel-Hamas war involving a six-year-old girl trapped in a car under fire, begging for rescue. It received a 23-minute standing ovation after its screening, a new record for the film festival.