World roundup: March 11 2022

Stories from Iran, North Korea, Ukraine, and more

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

YEMEN

Saudi and US officials are talking publicly about a joint special forces operation they carried out in northern Yemen to evacuate two US nationals who had been barred from leaving by Yemeni rebels. They haven’t gone into much detail, citing concerns about the privacy of the two individuals, but subsequent reporting has apparently determined that the operation took place in January in Sanaa. The two US nationals, both women, had reportedly gone to northern Yemen to visit family but were prevented from leaving and possibly forced to marry by the rebels. Most of this story is coming from Saudi sources who obviously have an incentive to paint as dismal a picture of the rebels as possible, so take that under advisement.