Portal:Current events/2006 November 8

China has a record high surplus in its balance of trade of $23.8 billion as exports rise and imports fall. (AP via Newsvine)
Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, tells colleagues that he does not intend to run for the position of Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives. (AP via MSNBC)
George W. Bush congratulates the Democratic Party of the United States on its success and vows to try and find common ground with Nancy Pelosi, the next Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. (AP via Kane County Chronicle)
United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announces he will step down from his cabinet position. Former Director of the CIA Robert Gates will replace Rumsfeld if confirmed by the Senate. (AP)
Dr. Margaret Chan, former director of Hong Kong Health Department, represented China to win the nomination to the Director-General of the World Health Organization. (Peoples' Daily Online), (BBC News)
At least 42 people die and 20 people are injured in a bomb blast outside an army training centre in north-west Pakistan. (BBC News)
Operation Autumn Clouds:
- Nineteen Palestinian civilians are killed in the Gaza Strip from Israeli tank fire according to medical officers. (Reuters), (BBC News)
- The Prime Minister of Palestine Ismail Haniyeh states that talks between Hamas and President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas have been suspended. (News Limited)

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