Daily Briefing: 'Kidnapped from Israel'

U.S. officials are not conceding to international calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war as long as dozens of hostages are still held captive by Hamas. Also in the news: Weeks ahead of a government shutdown, Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson is now in the running for House speaker. We have a recap of the star-studded NBA opening night.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. An end to daylight savings?

Here is the news to know Wednesday.

Blinken urges 'humanitarian pauses' but US won't back ceasefire in Gaza

Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged Tuesday the implementation of “humanitarian pauses’’ in the Israel-Hamas war, though the Biden administration said that doesn’t mean a ceasefire, which it believes would benefit the militants.

At a tense meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Blinken reiterated the U.S. position that Israel has the right and duty to defend itself after Hamas forces killed more than 1,400 on Israeli soil on Oct. 7.

• At the same time, Blinken called for Palestinian civilians to be protected, both from Hamas using them as human shields and from the Israeli bombardment and a siege that has largely kept water, food, medicines and fuel from coming into Gaza, creating a humanitarian crisis.

• But protection for Palestinians means a ceasefire for U.N. leadership and countries like China, that are pushing for one. But President Joe Biden has made it clear that he would not support a ceasefire until the approximately 220 hostages Hamas still holds captive are released.

• "Kidnapped from Israel” fliers have since become viral symbols of the Hamas hostages – plastered on walls, subways and telephone polls in cities across the U.S and beyond, translated into 30 languages and promoted by some celebrities.

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Here's what you missed in the House speaker search

The House is in its 22nd day without a speaker – officially entering its third week without a formal leader as chaos continues to roil the lower chamber. House Republicans on Tuesday night nominated Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La. as their latest speaker pick, coming just hours after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., withdrew from the leadership battle. All it takes for a candidate to win the GOP nomination is a simple majority of the conference, but the real question for any speaker nominee is whether they can get the near-unanimous support they need from House Republicans to be elected speaker. Read more

• OK — now who is Mike Johnson?

• Breaking with longstanding tradition, Biden won’t appear on New Hampshire’s primary ballot.

More news to know now

• There aren't enough RSV shots for babies.

• The wreckage from the 158-vehicle pileup near New Orleans killed seven people.

• An off-duty pilot claimed mental illness in court details.

• A six-week abortion ban will remain in Georgia for now.

• For subscribers: Three men created a fake country to steal millions in COVID funds. 

• On today's 5 Things podcast, an investigation of Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, and the broader plights at prisons nationwide. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis pleads guilty in Georgia election case

Jenna Ellis, a co-defendant with Donald Trump in the Georgia election conspiracy case, became the fourth person to plead guilty Tuesday in the case alleging attempted interference in the 2020 election. Ellis, who Trump called part of his "truly great team" of private lawyers in November 2020, traveled the country promoting baseless claims of election fraud, holding news conferences and meeting with state lawmakers. She was initially charged as part of the broader racketeering conspiracy with asking Georgia state lawmakers to violate their oaths of office by appointing fake presidential electors to support Trump despite him losing the state to President Joe Biden. Read more

Billions in federal child care relief just expired

Across the country, the child care industry is crumbling in real time. Federal relief money that helped keep the sector – and parents – from going under during the pandemic is evaporating if it isn’t already gone. That includes the 2021 American Rescue Plan’s historic $24 billion infusion into the sector, which allowed tens of thousands of centers to avoid permanent closures and officially expired Sept. 30. Overall, researchers for the  the left-leaning Century Foundation predicted 70,000 licensed child care programs could shutter, with 3.2 million children losing spots. Read more

• As student loan repayment returns, some borrowers have sticker shock.

• Here's what being ''wealthy'' means for Americans in 2023.

• A battleground for abortion rights: How this Ohio ballot measure became a bellwether for 2024.

More reads

• Richard Roundtree, ''Shaft'' action hero and ''Roots'''' star, has died at 81.

• A new bill puts college hazing in the spotlight.

• Bee pollen for breast growth went viral, but now TikTokers say they're paying the price.

• Britney Spears says Madonna pulled her through dark times.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks advanced to their first World Series since 2001.

• Save up to $1,700 during Samsung week.

Winners and losers of NBA opening night

The NBA scheduled a star-studded doubleheader treat for its opening night – the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns vs. the Golden State Warriors. Nikola Jokic. Jamal Murray. LeBron James. Anthony Davis. Steph Curry. Klay Thompson. Chris Paul. Kevin Durant. Devin Booker. The first game was a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals – a 4-0 Nuggets sweep – and the Nuggets received their championship rings before beating the Lakers. The second game featured two teams that underwent offseason changes. And though the Suns were without their big new star, they still defeated the Warriors. Read more

• Here's why this NBA season is different: There's an in-season tournament and it starts very soon.

Photo of the day: What happens when women don't work?

From classrooms to corporate offices to household cleaning, hundreds of thousands of women across Iceland walked away from work — both paid and unpaid − Tuesday to demand improvements to unequal pay and gender-based violence.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Calls for Gaza ceasefire, House speaker search, Trump Georgia case, NBA, World Series, gender equality: Daily Briefing