Time to kick out those boots that you’ve been dying to put on—Hurricane Nicole has not come to play!

Happening in the World: Israelis will be allowed to fly directly between Israel and Qatar during the World Cup this month, according to statements released by officials in both countries. This deal will permit Israeli diplomats, under the organization of a private travel company, to provide consular support to Israelis during the tournament. Kan, the Israeli public broadcast service, will also be authorized to set up a temporary studio in Doha to provide Israeli viewers with live match coverage. This announcement comes against a backdrop of warming ties between Israel and the Middle East, where Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates have also signed full normalization agreements with the nation. (NYT)

Happening in the US: A federal judge in Texas has struck down President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, declaring the plan illegal. The lawsuit was originally filed by the Job Creators Network Foundation, on behalf of two borrowers who did not qualify for the program. Texas federal judge Mark Pittman has argued that the law does not provide the executive branch with proper authorization to create the program, which is “an unconstitutional exercise of Congress’s legislative power and must be vacated.” The Justice Department has said that it will appeal this decision, with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre arguing that the Biden administration disagrees strongly with the verdict. (CNN)

Happening in NYC: The Category 1 Hurricane Nicole is expected to make landfall in New York today, bringing showers to the city by midday before an intensification of winds and rain. The worst weather is expected to hit tonight and Saturday night, with genuine concerns of flash flooding in the tri-state, particularly north and west of New York City. The city has activated its emergency plan for flash floods, and New Yorkers are encouraged to clean up debris in order to prevent flooding in their neighborhoods. (NBC)

Happening in Our Community: Join the CUIMC Veterans Employee Resource Group and the Department of Human Resources to thank Columbia Veterans for their service. This event will take place from 10 am to 12 pm in the lobby of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center, with coffee and light refreshments served.

Veterans Day Ceremony via Wikimedia Commons