November 8, 2024

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• A new U.N. Human Rights Office report says nearly 70% of the 8,119 fatalities it has verified in Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities with Israel were women and children and that the findings indicate a "systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including distinction and proportionality.” [full report] [more]
• Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim to have shot down a suspected U.S. drone early today amidst the group’s ongoing operations against shipping in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza. U.S. officials have not confirmed that the downed craft was an American drone and say the incident is under investigation. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 988 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• In a radio address today, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called for an immediate cease-fire to be declared between Russian and Ukraine and predicted that the U.S. would end its support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | As expected, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point yesterday. Following announcement of the rate cut, Fed Chair Jerome Powell declined to commit to a widely anticipated additional rate cut in December. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the de facto manager of his successful presidential campaign, as his White House chief of staff. Upon Trump’s inauguration, Wiles will be the first woman to serve in the role. [more]

BIDEN SUMMITS | White House officials say President Joe Biden will travel to South America next week to attend two international summits: the Nov. 14-16 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, and the Nov. 18-19 Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [more]

JANUARY 6 | Zachary Alam, who was convicted last year on charges related to the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol, during which he smashed glass panels on a door blocking the Speaker’s Lobby moments before another rioter was shot through the opening by a police officer, was sentenced to eight years in prison yesterday. [more]

U.S. BIRD FLU | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called yesterday for increased testing of farmworkers who work closely with animals for Type A H5N1 influenza, or bird flu, even when they don’t report feeling sick. The new guidance follows a study of farmworkers in Michigan and Colorado that found 7% of tested workers had antibodies indicating previous infection with the virus. [CDC briefing] [more]

CALIFORNIA | Officials in southern California’s Ventura County say the region’s Mountain Fire has grown to about 32 square miles and was considered to be about 5% contained as of late last night. Reports say the wildfire has destroyed 132 structures, mostly homes, since breaking out Wednesday morning. [more]

MYANMAR | A new U.N. Development Program report says Myanmar’s Rakhine state, home to the country's Rohingya minority, could face acute famine and “unprecedented disaster” due to a variety of factors, including fighting between government forces and local ethnic groups, restrictions on goods allowed into the state, hyperinflation, and the lack of essential services. [full report] [more]

GREECE AND TURKEY | As part of efforts to improve relations between their countries and ahead of a high-level cooperation summit scheduled for early next year, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis are scheduled to meet for discussions today in Athens. [more]

PHILIPPINES | More than 40,000 residents of the northern Philippines were evacuated yesterday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Yinxing, which made landfall in Cagayan province, causing widespread damage and flooding. [more]

NETHERLANDS | Police in Amsterdam say at least five people were hospitalized and 62 were arrested following violence against Israeli fans by antisemitic rioters that broke out last night after a Europa League soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. [more]

MOZAMBIQUE | Officials at Mozambique’s Maputo Central Hospital – the country’s largest medical center – say at least three people were killed, and 66 others were injured, yesterday during clashes between police and protesters during demonstrations over last month’s disputed national elections. [more]

PAKISTAN | Amidst ongoing severe air pollution, authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province today imposed a “complete ban on public entry in all parks ... zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums” and other public spaces through November 17 as part of efforts to limit exposure to potentially dangerous air. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1942, during World War II, the Allies launched Operation Torch as U.S. and British forces landed in French North Africa. It was the first mass involvement of U.S. troops in the European–North African Theatre and saw the first large-scale airborne assault carried out by U.S. forces. [more history]