Thursday’s Mini-Report, 10.17.24

Today's edition of quick hits.

* A major development in the Middle East: "The long-sought mastermind of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks has been killed in an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel said Thursday. 'I stand before you today to inform you that Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a television statement."

* On a related note : "Kamala Harris said Thursday that Israel's killing of Hamas' top leader offers 'an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza,' talking plainly about next steps even as the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who gathered outside her campaign event underscored the complicated politics at play."

* In Yemen : "The U.S. military struck five underground weapons facilities in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia on Wednesday, using warplanes that included B-2 stealth bombers in an attack that could also serve as a warning to Tehran."

* Madness : "There were some tense moments on Saturday when volunteers witnessed an armed group of people confronting and threatening FEMA workers in the Elk Mills community of Carter County in Tennessee."

* The Secret Service , under pressure: "An independent, bipartisan review identified 'numerous mistakes' by the U.S. Secret Service and 'specific failures and breakdowns' that enabled the assassination attempt that injured former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July. The panel, made up of four former senior law enforcement and government officials, also warned of another catastrophic security lapse if the Secret Service does not immediately undertake 'fundamental reform.'"

* This White House is serious about student loan debt relief : "The Biden administration announced a milestone Thursday in its effort to cancel Americans' student debt: It has provided relief to more than 1 million borrowers who work in public service."

* How does a Russian disinformation campaign start? NBC News published a fascinating report on this that's worth your time.

* The latest in a series of settlements : "The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation's largest, has agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 people who say they were sexually abused as children by Catholic clergy. The settlement, which experts said was the highest single payout by a diocese, brings Los Angeles's cumulative total in sex abuse lawsuits to more than $1.5 billion."

See you tomorrow.