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Wednesday, November 8, 2023

11/8 WAKE-UP CALL: Israel Plans Control of Gaza


Israel plans to retain security control of Gaza for an indefinite period to prevent new militant groups from forming once the war with Hamas ends. The country is looking at turning over responsibility for governing the territory to an international coalition, including the U.S., the EU and Muslim majority countries, or to local political leaders in Gaza, top Israeli officials said. That plan could include keeping soldiers there and maintaining tight control over what goes in and out. Though President Biden has repeatedly said Israel has a right and duty to defend itself, he has cautioned against occupying Gaza, advocating instead for Israel to hand off control to a civilian administration.

➤ISRAEL MOVES WAR INTO TUNNELS: Israel's ground forces in the Gaza Strip aimed on Wednesday to locate and disable Hamas militants' vast tunnel network beneath the enclave, the next phase in an Israeli offensive that has killed thousands of Palestinians. Since Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took some 240 hostages in an Oct. 7 cross-border raid, Israel has pounded Gaza from the air and used ground troops to divide the coastal enclave in two. Gaza City, Hamas' main stronghold in the territory, is encircled. Israel says its troops have advanced to the heart of the densely-populated city while Hamas says its fighters have inflicted heavy losses on the invading forces. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel had "one target - Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, their commanders, bunkers, communications rooms".

➤WATER GETTING SCARCE: In Gaza, bombed and besieged for the past month, clean water is in critically short supply. Water production in the coastal enclave has collapsed to around 5% of pre-war levels, according to the United Nations. The little water that Gaza has is making people sick, residents, the U.N. and healthcare workers say.  The situation is particularly dire in northern Gaza, the focus of Israeli military activity, where safe drinking water is no longer available and encirclement by Israeli troops means no more can get in. Many are drinking whatever water they can find, often from wells contaminated by saltwater, chemicals and other pollutants.  The survival measures have life-threatening consequences—especially for children—in a territory where primary healthcare is already on the brink of collapse.

➤HOUSE VOTES TO CENSURE TLAIB: The House of Representatives voted Tuesday night to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for defending Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel as “resistance” and calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. Tlaib is the 26th member of Congress to be censured by the House in the legislative body’s history. The censure vote, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was apparently moved up after Rep. Rich McCormick’s (R-Ga.) office – the congressman who introduced the resolution – received death threats. “I take the safety of my team seriously. I am temporarily closing my physical district office location in Cumming, GA due to serious threats of violence against my staff. These threats have been reported to Capitol Police and will be investigated fully,” McCormick said in an X post.  McCormick’s resolution passed in a 234-188 vote, with four members voting present.  Twenty-two Democrats voted with 212 Republicans to censure Tlaib, and four Republicans voted with 184 Democrats against the resolution. 

➤Z SAYS NOT TIME FOR ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out holding elections next year, calling for political unity as his government seeks to retain Western support and public trust after a disappointing counteroffensive. Zelensky said in a video address late Monday that “now is not the time for elections,” as Ukraine should direct its resources toward defense. The 45-year-old took office in 2019, meaning presidential elections should normally have been held early next year. But elections cannot take place in Ukraine under martial law, which was declared after Russia invaded in February last year.

➤BIDEN ADMIN PUSHES FOR AID TO UKRAINE:  Biden administration officials are pressing Congress to approve more economic aid to Ukraine, trying to overcome growing Republican opposition to financial support that has stabilized the Ukrainian economy after Russia’s invasion. In a letter sent to Capitol Hill, four top Biden administration officials urged lawmakers to provide $11.8 billion in direct budget support to Kyiv to help pay its day-to-day bills. While Republicans are divided over whether to supply Ukraine with more materiel, there is broad skepticism within the GOP over offering more economic aid.  That stance has alarmed the Biden administration, which is seeking the money as part of a roughly $106 billion emergency funding request covering Ukraine, Israel and other issues. 

➤DEMS WIN IN VA: Democrats in Virginia on Tuesday night retained their majority in the state Senate — a blow to Republicans who were hoping to achieve total control of the state legislature and boost Gov. Glenn Youngkin in his final two years in office.  The GOP also lost control of Virginia’s House of Delegates, with Democrats set to win at least 51 seats in the 100-member lower chamber. 

Tuesday night represented the first good news for Democrats in the commonwealth since Youngkin upset former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021, making gains in districts that had voted for President Biden 12 months earlier by running on issues such as public safety and greater parental roles in education. The results also demonstrated the limits of Republican messaging on key issues ahead of next year’s presidential and congressional elections. 


➤OHIO VOTES FOR ABORTION RIGHTS: Ohio voters decided Tuesday to put abortion rights in the Midwestern state’s constitution, one of several states where the issue resonated with voters and showed its potential to help Democrats next year. The Ohio vote was another key test of where voters stand on one of the most consequential issues heading into next year’s presidential election. The abortion debate also played into Tuesday victories for Democrats, who held their majority in the Virginia Senate and wrestled the majority from Republicans in the state’s House of Delegates. Also, Democrat Andy Beshear won another term as governor of Kentucky, where he criticized abortion restrictions passed by the legislature.

➤SPECIAL COUNSEL WEISS TELLS LAWMAKERS POLITICS 'PLAYED NO PART' IN HUNTER BIDEN PROBE: Special Counsel David Weiss assured the House Judiciary Committee that he was not obstructed or influenced by political factors in his investigation of Hunter Biden. He voluntarily participated in an unusual transcribed interview to clarify his authority and address misunderstandings. Weiss emphasized his commitment to transparency and respecting the committee's oversight responsibilities by testifying before submitting his report. "I have done so out of respect for the committee’s oversight responsibilities and to respond to questions raised about the scope of my authority," Weiss said.

➤OIL PRICES FALL:  Oil prices fell on Wednesday to their lowest in over three months, after industry data showed a steep build in US crude supplies, while mixed Chinese economic data raised worries about global demand for crude. Brent crude futures dropped 25 cents to $81.36 a barrel by 0001 GMT, while US crude futures fell 35 cents to $77.02 a barrel. Both declined to the lowest since July 24 in early Asia trade. US crude oil stocks rose by almost 12 million barrels last week, market sources said late Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute figures. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) will delay the release of weekly inventory data until the week of Nov. 13. Crude oil production in the United States this year will rise by slightly less than previously expected while demand will fall, the EIA said on Tuesday.

➤NEARLY 1M CHICKENS TO BE SLAUGHTERED AS BIRD FLU HITS MINNESOTA EGG FARM: Nearly one million chickens will be slaughtered at a Wright County egg farm due to an outbreak of the highly-contagious avian influenza, federal officials have announced. The United States Department of Agriculture said some 940,000 birds are affected by the outbreak discovered this month at the commercial farm. The bird flu outbreak in Minnesota has been the worst in the country over the last 30 days, affecting over 1.3 million birds in the state, according to the USDA.

➤BEST PLACE TO RETIRE IS..... Pennsylvania’s capital city might not be the first place that comes to mind when people think of where to retire. But this town on the Susquehanna River shouldn’t be overlooked. Harrisburg ranks as the No. 1 Best Place to Retire in the U.S. in 2024. The city jumped from No. 2 last year when it fell behind neighboring Lancaster, PA. Harrisburg topped this year’s ranking because of its health care for seniors, overall happiness of residents and low taxes for retirees. The U.S. News Best Places to Retire analysis includes data about affordability and cost of living, desirability, happiness, retiree taxes, the local job market, and access to quality health care. While other factors – such as personal preferences or proximity to family – certainly influence where Americans choose to retire, the metrics U.S. News considered can contribute to a high quality of life. The ranking compares the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S.

🏈OHIO STILL TOPS IN PLAYOFF POLL: There’s been no movement in the second College Football Playoff rankings.  The CFP selection committee kept Ohio State at No. 1 in the Top 25 followed by Georgia, Michigan and Florida State, who all remained undefeated.  This may come as a surprise to some after Ohio State had some trouble with unranked Rutgers on the road Saturday. The Buckeyes went into halftime down 9-7, but they outscored the Scarlet Knights 28-7 to come away with a 35-16 victory. 

Meanwhile, Georgia handled No. 16 Missouri at home with a 30-21 win, while Michigan and Florida State blew out their respective opponents.  There was some talk about Washington potentially jumping into the top four after beating Caleb Williams and USC, 52-42, on the road Saturday. But the Huskies remain at No. 5, sitting just outside in the bubble with No. 6 Oregon.  The other teams that make up the Top 10 are Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss. All of them, like Oregon, are 8-1. 

🏈LOS ANGELES RAMS SIGNING QUARTERBACK CARSON WENTZ: The Los Angeles Rams signed quarterback Carson Wentz to back up an injured Matthew Stafford, a source said on Tuesday. The Rams made the signing during their bye week, giving Wentz time get acclimated to Los Angeles' offense.

🏈JETS' AARON RODGERS HINTS AT RETURN TIMELINE: 'FEW FORTNIGHTS': For the first time since tearing an Achilles tendon, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed a vague timeline for when he hopes to return, hinting Tuesday that he could be back on the field in six weeks. "It'll be a few fortnights," Rodgers said during his weekly spot on "The Pat McAfee Show."





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