December 23, 2024

EDITORIAL NOTE | In observance of the Christmas holiday, and barring any extraordinary events that would require immediate coverage, the Daily Brief will not be published tomorrow, Wednesday, or Thursday, December 24-26, as we gather with family and friends for celebrations. We look forward to resuming operations on Friday, December 27.

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• The U.S. Navy says one of its F/A-18 fighter jets was shot down yesterday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident. U.S. officials say both of the aircraft’s aviators were recovered and have denied claims by rebel forces in Yemen that the jet was shot down by Houthi anti-aircraft fire. [more]
• The U.S. announced Friday that it will not pursue a $10 million reward it had offered for the capture of Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Syrian rebel leader whose forces led the recent overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. U.S. officials said al-Sharaa’s commitment to renounce terrorism led to the reward no longer being offered. [more]
• Palestinian health officials say at least 20 people were killed overnight in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, including one that struck a tent camp in the Muwasi humanitarian zone. Israeli officials say the strike was directed at Hamas militant hiding among civilians in the zone. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1033 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Russian officials say Ukrainian drones struck a major fuel depot in Russia’s southern Oryol region yesterday, causing a fire at the Stalnoy Kon oil terminal in Oryol. [more]
• South Korea's military said today that it has detected signs of North Korea preparing to send more troops and weapons to Russia to aid in the fight against Ukraine. [more]

U.S. FLU SEASON | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the incidence of flu and other respiratory illnesses is surging in the U.S., with the agency's latest data showing thirteen states reporting high or very-high levels of flu-like illness. [more]

U.S. SENTENCE COMMUTATIONS | The White House announced today that President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 federal prison inmates facing the death penalty, converting their sentences to life in prison. [White House fact sheet] [more]

TEXAS | Reports say a 53-year-old man who drove his vehicle into a busy department store Saturday at a shopping mall near Killeen, Texas, was killed in a shootout with police. Five people were injured in the incident, which remains under investigation. [more]

LOUISIANA | In a lawsuit filed Friday, the U.S. Dept. of Justice claims that Louisiana’s state prison system routinely holds people for weeks, and sometimes months, after they have completed their sentences, violating inmates’ rights and costing taxpayers millions of dollars per year. Responding to the lawsuit, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and state Attorney General Liz Murrill blamed the prison system’s problems on “failed criminal justice reforms” by "the past administration." [more]

GAETZ INVESTIGATION | The House Ethics Committee is expected to release a report later today on its investigation of former congressman and one-time Trump attorney general pick Matt Gaetz. Multiple media outlets, citing drafts of the report, say investigators found “substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” [more]

U.S. AND PANAMA | Speaking at a rally yesterday in Arizona, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggested that the United States should take back control of the Panama Canal, which was relinquished to Panama in 1999. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump's suggestion as an affront to his country's sovereignty. [more]

U.S., AUSTRALIA, AND CHINA | Australia has reportedly approved the extradition of former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan following nearly two years of court battles in which Duggan, who is facing allegations of illegally training Chinese military aviators, fought to avoid being returned to the United States. [more]

GERMANY | A 50-year-old Saudi suspect remains in custody in Germany today following a Friday attack in which a car was driven into a busy Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg. Five people were killed in the incident, and more than 200 others were injured. [more]

PHILIPPINES AND CHINA | Philippine officials announced today that, amidst growing tensions with China in the South China Sea, their country plans to deploy midrange missiles to defend its territory. Chinese authorities condemned the move, calling it irresponsible and a danger to regional stability. [more]

ITALY | ChatGPT maker OpenAI has been fined 15 million euros ($15.6 million) following an investigation in which Italy’s data protection watchdog agency found the company to have “violated the principle of transparency and the related information obligations towards users” by processing users’ personal data to train ChatGPT. [more]

AUTO INDUSTRY | Japanese auto makers Honda and Nissan announced today that they plan to merge, and that Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors will also join in ongoing talks to integrate its business with the combined companies. According to reports, the companies plan to complete the merger, which would create the world's third-largest auto company, by mid-2026. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1968, 82 crewmen of the USS Pueblo were released after being held in captivity for 11 months by North Korea, which claimed the U.S. Navy intelligence ship had crossed into its waters. [more history]