This article discusses the rocket attack on Ashkelon, Israel on October 9, 2023, as well as the response from the Israeli government and the international community. Congressman Dan Goldman, who was in Tel Aviv at the time of the attack, described his experience of the sirens and the trauma of the situation. The attack has reignited the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with no progress towards a ceasefire in sight.
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Harvard University professor Claudia Goldin has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for her research on the gender gap in the labor market. Goldin's research has revealed that despite economic growth, women’s pay has not kept up with men’s and a divide still exists. This award is a small step towards closing the Nobel committee’s own gender gap, as Goldin is only the third woman to win the prize out of 93 economics laureates.
On Sunday, a series of earthquakes rocked the city of [...] leaving over 2,400 dead and 2,000 injured. The United Nations has approved a $5 million emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to help with the relief efforts, and the death toll is expected to rise further. Donations are being urged to help provide food, shelter, medical assistance, and other essential services to those affected.
Two avalanches occurred on Tibet's Mount Shishapangma on Saturday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of American mountaineer Anna Gutu and Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa. Two others, American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and Nepalese mountain guide Tenjen Sherpa, remain missing, and rescue teams are working to locate them. The cause of the avalanches is still under investigation.
At least 250 people have been killed in Israel as violence between the Israeli government and Hamas continues to escalate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared “mighty vengeance” in response to Hamas’ surprise attack, and the Israeli military has launched powerful retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip. The current conflict has been ongoing for decades, and it is important to understand the history of the situation in order to accurately assess the current events.
The United States Department of Defense has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to move closer to the Eastern Mediterranean in response to the attack by Hamas on Israel. The Ford carrier strike group is accompanied by the USS Normandy and four Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers and is part of the U.S. effort to bolster regional deterrence efforts and support Israel in its fight against Hamas. Secretary Austin said the move was done following detailed discussions with President Biden and the strike group is expected to arrive in the region in the coming days.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has announced her support for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for House Speaker, leaving him as the front-runner for the role. Rep. Patrick McHenry, the Speaker Pro Tempore, is powerless to act on the matter due to a post-9/11 rule, but the House rules do allow him to preside over the election of a new Speaker. The situation in Israel has put renewed scrutiny on Congress, which has been without a permanent House Speaker since Kevin McCarthy's ousting.
On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, infiltrating the heavily fortified border and firing thousands of rockets. This has caused alarm among Israeli officials, and has prompted discussions of enhanced intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also acknowledged the need for more information regarding the attack, and is investigating reports of Americans being taken hostage.