March 15, 2024

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | Updates from day 161 of the conflict:

• The United States is circulating a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for an “immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas conflict as part of a deal to release hostages held by Hamas, demands the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, and condemns the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. No timeline has yet been set for voting on the resolution. [more]
• In a move criticized by political opponents in the U.S. and by government officials in Israel, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called yesterday for Israel to hold new elections, saying he feels that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an obstacle to regional peace amidst the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 750 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• In a new report, the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine says there is new evidence of possible war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine, including rape and other sexual violence against women, the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and disregard for civilian harm in military operations. The report also cites possible human rights violations by Ukrainian authorities against people suspected of collaborating with Russia. [press release] [full report] [more]
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are scheduled to meet today in Berlin for talks on support for Ukraine and on regional security. [more]

TRUMP CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS TRIAL | U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon yesterday rejected a bid by attorneys for former President Donald Trump to dismiss charges against Trump related to his alleged retention of classified documents after leaving office and obstruction of efforts to recover the documents. [more]

U.S. MIDWEST STORM | At least two people have been confirmed dead, and dozens of injuries, as well as damage to buildings, have been reported in the aftermath of severe storms and at least one tornado that affected portions of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky yesterday. [more]

MINNESOTA | Ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber both say they plan to cease operations in Minneapolis after the city’s council voted yesterday to override a mayoral veto and mandate an increase in driver pay to the equivalent of the city’s minimum wage of $15.57 an hour. [more]

U.S. MORTGAGES | Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reports that the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. dropped to 6.74% this week – down from 6.88% last week. The average rate is still up from 6.60% at this time last year, but lower than the 23-year high of 7.79% seen in October 2023.  [more]

MICHIGAN | James Crumbley, the father of convicted Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, who killed four students at the school in 2021, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter yesterday by a Michigan jury. Crumbley and his wife, who was convicted on similar charges in February, were accused of failing to secure a gun at their home and of not addressing acute signs of their son’s mental turmoil. [more]

RUSSIA | Voting begins today in Russia’s three-day presidential election that is considered all-but-certain to return President Vladimir Putin to office for another six-year term. [more]

JAPAN | Japanese trade union group Rengo says companies have agreed to the largest widespread pay hike in Japan in more than 30 years, raising wages for approximately 7 million workers that Rengo represents by 5.28% for 2024. [more]

SOMALIA | Somali national television reports that government security forces have “neutralized” all suspected al-Shabaab militants who attacked a popular hotel in the capital Mogadishu yesterday. [more]

GERMANY | Germany's Federal Environment Agency said today that greenhouse emissions in the country fell by about 10% in 2023, compared to 2022, and that it is, for the first time, on track to achieve its target of cutting such emission by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. [more]

FINLAND AND RUSSIA | Finish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said today that their country plans to adopt temporary legislation that will allow the Nordic nation’s border authorities to block asylum seekers arriving via Russia from entering Finland. [more]

ARGENTINA | The Argentine Senate voted yesterday to reject President Javier Milei's package of regulatory reforms, which he announced as a move to address the South American country’s economic issues shortly after taking office last November. The “mega decree” reform package has yet to be considered by the parliament’s lower house. [more]

NCAA SPORTS | More than a dozen female college athletes filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA yesterday, accusing the U.S. college athletics organization of violating their Title IX rights by allowing male-born athletes to compete in women's sports based on gender identity. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 44 bce, Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of nobles, among whom were Cassius and Brutus. His death triggered a civil war that ultimately led to the rise to power of his great-nephew and adopted son, Octavian, who became the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar. [more history]