Bilig's Daily Brief: Stephen Miller takes over as Trump's chief of staff

Stephen Miller prepares to take over as President Donald Trump's chief of staff, as Trump ordered a Justice Department inquiry into Democrats after his party's midterm defeat. Israel's president chose Gadi Eisenkot over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government, while Houthi missiles targeted Riyadh and Iran scrapped a cap on its missile range.

Miller takes over as Trump's chief of staff on Monday

Stephen Miller, the architect of President Donald Trump's immigration and deportation policies, takes over as White House chief of staff on Monday, replacing Susie Wiles after Republicans lost both chambers of Congress in the 3 November midterm elections, the White House and CBS News said. Trump said he "wanted to make a change". On Saturday, Trump ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democrats over what he called impeachment threats against his cabinet, writing: "This is extortion at the highest level." He gave no evidence, Al Jazeera and ABC News reported.

Herzog picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Saturday evening that he would task Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former army chief, with forming the next government, Al Jazeera and the Times of Israel reported. Eisenkot was recommended by 67 of the 120 members of the Knesset, against 46 for Netanyahu. He has 28 days, extendable by 14, to build a coalition after the 27 October election. "Now is the time to form a national emergency government," Eisenkot wrote on X. Netanyahu warned against a government backed by Arab-led parties.

Houthi missiles target Riyadh after deadly strikes near Sanaa

The Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday that its air defences destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh, after witnesses told AFP that the Aramco tower in the city's King Abdullah Financial District was damaged. Saudi authorities had not commented on any damage or casualties. On Saturday, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said coalition air strikes on a village east of Sanaa killed 33 people, including 13 children, Al Jazeera and AP reported. The coalition did not comment. The figures could not be independently verified.

Iran lifts self-imposed limit on missile range

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has lifted its self-imposed 2,000-kilometre limit on the range of its ballistic missiles, spokesman General Hossein Mohebbi told a news conference in Tehran on Saturday, AP reported. "That restriction has been lifted for us," he said, without saying whether Iran has longer-range missiles. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a new unit, Task Force Iron Gate, to disrupt Iranian weapons shipments over land and across the Caspian Sea. It also said US aircraft disabled a cargo ship, the M/V Huda, that tried to breach the US blockade.

Russia names delegation for Abu Dhabi talks on Ukraine

The Kremlin said on Saturday that presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead Russia's delegation to US-mediated talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, Reuters reported. The team includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin and military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. It is the first trilateral round since February. Overnight, Russia launched 164 attack drones and three guided missiles at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said. Air defences downed or suppressed 137 drones, and hits were recorded at 23 locations.

Cost of living protests draw 146,000 in France

About 146,000 people marched across France on Saturday against the high cost of living, the Interior Ministry said, while youth groups put turnout at 250,000, AFP reported. It was the fourth consecutive Saturday of nationwide protests called by unions, youth organisations and the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) movement. Police made 360 arrests nationwide, and clashes broke out at the end of the Paris march, the ministry and Paris police said. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called unions and employers to talks on Monday.

New Zealand vote leaves right-leaning bloc narrowly ahead

New Zealand's election-night count gave Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National, ACT and NZ First bloc 67 seats in a projected 130-seat parliament, one more than needed for a majority, according to preliminary results reported by interest.co.nz and ABC News. National and Labour were tied on about 29% each. Luxon called the result "too close to call". About 700,000 special votes remain, and official results are due on 27 November. The Opportunity party won about 6% and could hold the balance of power.

Paraguay's ousted president ordered held before trial

A Paraguayan judge on Saturday ordered former President Santiago Peña held in pretrial detention at a military facility, a day after the Senate removed him from office, Reuters reported. Prosecutors charged him with breach of trust and administration for personal gain over the collapse of Ueno, a digital bank, and say each charge carries up to 10 years in prison. Peña's lawyer said he would plead not guilty. Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as president on Friday to serve until August 2028.

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake injures more than 20 in Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck western Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan at about 1:04 a.m. local time on Sunday, injuring more than 20 people in Aichi and Shizuoka, Xinhua and AP reported. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake struck at a depth of about 40 kilometres. No tsunami warning was issued. Chubu Electric Power said it found no abnormalities at its Hamaoka nuclear plant. Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains were delayed for safety checks, and the agency warned of strong aftershocks over the coming days.

The week ahead

The 31st United Nations climate conference (COP31) opens in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday, 9 November, and runs until 20 November, with a leaders' segment on 11 and 12 November. France's government hosts unions and employers on Monday. Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators meet in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. The US releases October consumer price inflation on Tuesday, 10 November, and producer prices on Friday, 13 November. The US bond market closes on Wednesday for Veterans Day. Britain publishes third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) on Thursday, 12 November, when Cisco and Applied Materials report earnings. CoreWeave reports on Tuesday.