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Following the election of U.S. President Trump, many anticipate that the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has lasted over two and a half years, may soon come to an end. However, hostilities between the two sides remain intense. On the 10th, Ukraine launched at least 70 drones to strike six regions within Russia, with 34 of these drones shot down near Moscow. This attack forced flights to be diverted at three major Russian airports and injured a 52-year-old woman while also setting two residential buildings on fire.

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency reported that a total of 36 flights were affected at Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports, causing temporary diversions before resuming operations. Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, has frequently been targeted by Russian drone and missile attacks. In response, Ukraine has attempted drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, airports, and even strategic radar systems to bolster its war efforts. Despite this latest Ukrainian drone assault on Moscow, the impact was relatively minor, with only one injury reported and no major damage.

Russia quickly retaliated: Russian forces launched a record-breaking 145 "Shahed" and other combat drones in a nighttime assault on Ukraine. Kyiv reported that its air defense systems intercepted 62 of them. In addition to the attack on Moscow, Ukraine claimed it targeted a Russian ammunition depot in the Bryansk region, though it was unclear if the strike was successful; 14 Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down.

The recent escalation between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah has raised concerns about a broader conflict. Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and has warned that if Hezbollah intensifies its involvement, it may lead to expanded operations against Iran. This situation has garnered significant regional and international attention.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has cautioned that the consequences of further conflict expansion could be "irreversible" and urged restraint to avoid being drawn into a larger war. Both the United States and the European Union have called for all parties to exercise caution, warning of the risks of escalation into a full-scale war. The U.S. has also announced additional troop deployments to the Middle East to support Israel and has warned Iran not to interfere.

These heightened tensions in the Middle East are raising fears that the military actions could lead to a wider regional conflict.

On the 8th of November, U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his first round of staff appointments, naming his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as White House Chief of Staff. Wiles will make history as the first woman to ever hold the position.

At 67 years old, Wiles has an extensive political background. She is a senior Republican political consultant who helped Ronald Reagan during his 1980 presidential campaign and served as his advance secretary during his presidency. Wiles also led Trump's campaign efforts in Florida in both 2016 and 2020, and in 2024, she is expected to play a central role in Trump's reelection team.

Wiles is known for her low-key, behind-the-scenes approach, which has earned her respect from both Republicans and Democrats. Trump expressed strong support for her appointment, praising her as strong, intelligent, and innovative, and noted that she is widely admired and respected. He also referred to her as the "Ice Maiden," highlighting her outstanding contributions behind the scenes.

As White House Chief of Staff, Wiles will oversee personnel management, presidential scheduling, team operations, and communication with other government departments and congressional members. Her influence is expected to be significant in shaping the administration’s day-to-day functions.

On the 6th of November, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), effectively causing the collapse of Germany's current coalition government. This could potentially lead to an early election in March of next year. The coalition, known as the "traffic light coalition" due to the colors of the participating parties, consists of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the FDP. However, since 2021, the coalition has faced internal disagreements over policy direction, and Germany's economic recession has led to a decline in the coalition's approval ratings. The latest conflict centers around the budget and whether the government should take on debt to cover a budget shortfall.

The "debt brake" (Schuldenbremse) is a provision in Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz) under Article 109, which aims to balance the budget and prevent excessive debt accumulation. Unless the country is in an emergency situation, government spending must be balanced with income, which primarily comes from taxes, without resorting to borrowing. The debt brake had been temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Now, due to a €10 billion budget shortfall, the SPD and the Greens are advocating for borrowing to fill the gap, while the FDP insists on upholding the debt brake. This disagreement has led to a fallout between Chancellor Scholz and the Finance Minister.

On the evening of the 6th, Christian Dürr, head of the FDP parliamentary group, announced that all four FDP ministers in the coalition would resign. However, aside from the dismissed Finance Minister Lindner, only Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann announced their resignations. Volker Wissing, the Minister for Digital and Transport, declared that he would leave the FDP but remain in his position.

Chancellor Scholz announced that a confidence vote would be held in the Bundestag on January 15th. If the vote fails, he can formally ask President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days and call for elections within 60 days. This could result in the national elections being moved from their scheduled date in September to March. A poll by ARD shows that 54% of Germans would welcome an early election, and as many as 85% are dissatisfied with the performance of the coalition government.

With Donald Trump confirmed as the winner of the 2024 presidential election, the results of the Congressional elections continue to come in. The Republican Party has already secured a majority in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, which has over 435 seats, the latest vote tally shows the Republicans leading with 209 seats, ahead of the Democratic Party's 191 seats. It is expected that the Republicans will also secure a majority in the House of Representatives.

Similar to the presidential race, the Senate elections saw the Republican Party successfully overturning the results from four years ago, regaining control of the Senate. This marks a significant turnaround and gives the Republicans a majority in both chambers of Congress. With this new Republican dominance, the shift from the Biden administration, where the Republicans had only a narrow lead in the House, will allow Trump’s presidency to proceed more smoothly. This includes easier passage of his policies, such as the appointment of Cabinet members and Supreme Court justices, as well as his repeated calls for major increases in import tariffs and tougher immigration policies.

2024 U.S. Presidential Election Voting Began on November 5th; Trump Crosses the 270 Electoral Vote Threshold

Voting for the 2024 U.S. presidential election began on November 5th local time. As votes are gradually being counted across states, Donald Trump has secured 277 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris has 226 electoral votes. Trump has already surpassed the 270-vote threshold required for victory.

According to international reports, Republican candidate Trump currently leads in the nationwide popular vote with 67,566,784 votes, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has 62,543,518 votes. As the votes continue to be counted, Trump has maintained a strong lead, with the results exceeding expectations. Trump has claimed critical swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina, widening the gap between him and Harris.

Voting for the U.S. presidential election began on November 5th local time, spanning across six time zones and 50 states, including four time zones on the mainland and two additional time zones in Alaska and Hawaii. The first votes to be counted began at 7:00 AM Taiwan time, from Indiana and Kentucky, and the final results came in from Alaska and Hawaii, starting at 1:00 PM Taiwan time on November 6th.

The U.S. presidential election is not a direct popular vote but is determined by the number of electoral votes each candidate receives. Each state’s popular vote determines how its electoral votes are allocated, and there have been instances where the candidate with the most popular votes nationwide has lost. The seven major swing states, totaling 93 electoral votes, are critical in determining the outcome of this election.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently announced that, during a routine traffic stop in California's Central Valley, officers seized nearly 30 kilograms of fentanyl pills—an amount potent enough to kill a quarter of California’s population.

According to CHP, last month during a stop near Airport Boulevard on Interstate 5, a K-9 detected the scent of drugs. Officers discovered two duffel bags and one shopping bag in the vehicle, all filled with counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, approximately 330,000 pills in total. The driver, a resident of Washington State, was subsequently arrested and sent to Yolo County Jail.

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid analgesic often used for surgical anesthesia, terminal cancer pain, severe pain, or chronic intractable pain. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and illegal use or overdose can result in fatal consequences. However, due to its low cost and addictive effects, it has been sold illicitly by criminals in recent years.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, only a few milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. The quantity of pills seized in this bust could produce between 10 million to 15 million lethal doses, enough to kill a quarter of California’s population.

Just a few weeks prior, CHP seized $1.7 million worth of fentanyl in two separate drug busts in the Central Valley, arresting three suspects, one of whom attempted to hide drugs among packages of raw beef. Since January, California’s narcotics task forces have seized over 2,260 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 9.6 million fentanyl-laced pills, with a total value exceeding $43 million.

With three days left until the U.S. presidential election, Kamala Harris intensified her campaign efforts in key swing states and made her first surprise appearance on the iconic late-night show "Saturday Night Live" on November 2. She joined the actress portraying her on the show for a humorous exchange while also taking jabs at Republican candidate Donald Trump.

This marked Harris's first in-person appearance on the long-running American variety show, where she played the mirror image of Maya Rudolph’s Harris character. The two had fun with wordplay and encouraged voters to stay calm and press forward. Over the years, "Saturday Night Live" has hosted other presidential candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump, though an appearance so close to election day is unusual.

Earlier on November 2, Harris and Trump crossed paths in the critical swing state of North Carolina, where Harris held a rally in Charlotte, the state’s largest city, and Trump campaigned nearby in Gastonia. Both Harris's Air Force Two and Trump’s private jet could be seen on the Charlotte airport tarmac.

This marked the fourth consecutive day both candidates campaigned in the same state. Only seven states, including North Carolina, are considered crucial in determining the election outcome, with the other key states being Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

Kemi Badenoch recently became the UK Conservative Party's first Black female leader, marking a significant milestone. Known for her straightforward, often controversial positions, Badenoch pledges to guide the party back to traditional right-wing values while balancing various internal Conservative factions. She appeals to grassroots conservatives by promoting Brexit as a lasting achievement and advocating for reduced governmental regulation, though she takes a more pragmatic approach than some hardline Brexiteers expected.

Her leadership approach aligns with conservative values but is described as "soft right," emphasizing practicality and policy detail over extreme ideology. Badenoch has positioned herself as a “sensible right-winger” aiming to unify the party’s divided right factions, which include free-market proponents and social conservatives. She continues to build alliances with influential Tory groups, like the free-market-focused Centre for Policy Studies, and has strong support among the party's membership base, where her direct, unapologetic style resonates strongly.

Despite her conservative stance, she has demonstrated adaptability and nuance in governance. For instance, she successfully negotiated the UK's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), underscoring her commitment to free trade—a cornerstone of her economic vision for post-Brexit Britain. However, her critics question her management style and relationships within the party, suggesting that her strong-willed personality and preference for direct communication might alienate colleagues, a potential challenge if the Conservatives enter opposition after the next election.

Badenoch's leadership may appeal to a broad coalition within the Conservative Party, given her roots in both traditional values and forward-looking economic policy. As her prominence grows, she faces the challenge of maintaining party unity amid ideological divides, particularly in light of the evolving Conservative landscape. For more on her political journey and leadership approach, see sources like New Statesman and Prospect Magazine.

In recent days, a wave of public support for U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has swept through the celebrity and sports world, with high-profile figures expressing their endorsement. Among the prominent supporters, NBA star LeBron James has voiced his approval, adding to the growing list of influential figures rallying behind Harris.

LeBron James, who is known for his activism both on and off the court, publicly expressed his support for Harris, emphasizing his belief in her policies and leadership. This endorsement marks another step in James's consistent advocacy for political engagement and social justice, as he often uses his platform to champion causes that align with his values. James’s influence, especially among young people, is expected to bring more attention to Harris’s agenda.

James is not alone in his endorsement of Harris. Numerous celebrities, including actors, musicians, and athletes, have shown their backing as well, amplifying her message to their diverse fan bases. This broad support from high-profile figures across different industries is significant, given the influence these personalities hold in shaping public opinion and mobilizing voters.

Kamala Harris, who has faced both praise and criticism during her term, has expressed gratitude for the support she has received from prominent figures. Her recent public appearances and statements have focused on unifying the nation and addressing issues related to economic recovery, social justice, and healthcare reforms. The backing from public figures like James and others serves to bolster her platform and encourage voter engagement, especially among communities often underrepresented at the polls.

As the 2024 election season approaches, endorsements from influential figures are likely to play a crucial role in shaping public opinion. For Harris, the support from LeBron James and other high-profile personalities could enhance her reach and resonate with new segments of the electorate.