Our daily trip around the world

💥 Israel-Hamas war update: Both sides agreed yesterday to extend their ongoing cease-fire for two additional days (through tomorrow) to allow for the release of more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. As part of yesterday’s agreement, Hamas committed to releasing 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for 60 Palestinian prisoners. In total, Hamas has released 69 hostages, while Israel has released 117 Palestinian prisoners. US officials say they’re working to further extend the Gaza cease-fire beyond tomorrow’s midnight deadline.

🇳🇿 New Zealand overturned the world’s first generational smoking ban. The legislation would have prevented residents born after 2008 from purchasing cigarettes and reduced the number of domestic stores that can sell tobacco products. The country’s newly-elected Prime Minister said the repeal is aimed at improving New Zealand’s economy and curbing inflation. Proponents of the repeal say the ban would have created tobacco black markets and crime rings, while critics say the ban would have prevented thousands of smoking-related deaths and saved billions of dollars in healthcare spending.

🇨🇳 China said an ongoing child-pneumonia outbreak is slowing, but warned of additional viral outbreaks this winter. In recent weeks, the country has seen an uptick in the pneumonia-causing pathogen mycoplasma, which typically triggers epidemics in China every 2-4 years. Outside of mycoplasma, Chinese health officials say a combination of other pathogens – including the flu, RSV, and adenoviruses – will likely cause a major outbreak during the country’s first winter without strict Covid restrictions.