Israel Isolates Gaza City
The Israeli military has encircled Gaza City as of Monday, effectively splitting the Gaza Strip in half. Over 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 25,000 injured since Oct. 7. Additionally, 89 United Nations employees aiding Palestinian refugees have been killed. Another round of Israeli airstrikes hit 450 targets Sunday, accompanied by the third communications blackout imposed on Gaza since the war has started. The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt opened briefly on Monday to allow some individuals with foreign passports to evacuate. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted U.S. efforts to increase aid into the Gaza Strip. President Biden has called for continued U.S. support of Israel, but funding has stalled in Congress, where Republicans in the House have tried to tie money for Israel to domestic spending cuts and decreased aid for Ukraine.
Damage and Casualties at Odesa Art Museum
An overnight missile strike on Nov. 6 damaged the Fine Arts Museum in Odesa, Ukraine, which wounded five people. Russia fired at minimum four missiles and 22 exploding drones at Odesa, which has been a strategic target of bombing due to its position as a port city. Staff removed more than 12,000 pieces of art early last year fearing the impacts of violence. Throughout the war, Russian forces have targeted museums, churches, and theaters in occupied areas.
More Than 150 People Dead in Nepal Earthquake
At least 157 people in Nepal were killed and 5,000 homes destroyed in a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that struck areas in the west of the country Nov. 5. The area is highly vulnerable to earthquakes considering its position along fault lines. Homes in this area were mainly made of stacked rocks and logs, which cannot hold up to strong earthquakes. UN aid efforts have begun in the area.
EU Executive Recommends Opening Membership Talks With Ukraine
Ursula von der Leyen, commission president of the European Union, recommended beginning talks with Ukraine regarding formal entry into the EU. Ukraine’s bid to join the EU began after Russia’s invasion in 2022, and the country was named an official candidate to join in June of that year. A path to membership was laid out involving several goals, including curbing corruption within the national government. Now, von der Leyen says Ukraine has completed over 90 percent of these steps.
The National Zoo’s Giant Pandas Return to China
The three giant pandas at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. departed for China on Wednesday. All giant pandas in the United States are on lease from China, and the National Zoo’s was coming to an end. Two of the pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, were born in China and have lived in the zoo since Dec. 6, 2000. Their son Xiao Qi Ji was born there on Aug. 6, 2020. The pandas’ caretakers, some of whom have worked with them all 23 years, were sad to see the pandas go, but the lease program is considered a successful moment of international cooperation for panda conservation between the U.S. and China. The pandas were sent on their way with 220 pounds of bamboo.
