Category: Uncategorized
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A view from the Egypt-Gaza border
Since the start of the war, Gaza’s link to the world has been its crossing with Egypt, where aid is transported to its besieged population. Main lifeline: The Egypt-Gaza border serves as Gaza’s only connection with the rest of the world amid the ongoing war. * Egyptian truck drivers have been responsible for patiently ferrying […]
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Did Biden and Xi just hit a reset? Not quite, but they did agree on a few things
President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met for face-to-face talks in San Francisco, marking their first in-person meeting in a year, and came away with a few key agreements, albeit with contentious issues remaining. Meeting Highlights: Biden and Xi met for four hours, agreeing to cooperate and keep communication channels open. * Biden announced […]
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With a boost from John Oliver, pūteketeke soars to first in New Zealand bird contest
The pūteketeke, a threatened bird species, won first place in a New Zealand bird contest, thanks to a campaign led by comedian John Oliver. Campaign details: Oliver, hosting “Last Week Tonight”, initiated a global campaign to support the pūteketeke in the Bird of the Century contest run by New Zealand’s Forest & Bird conservation organization. […]
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China and the U.S. pledge to step up climate efforts ahead of Biden-Xi summit
China and the U.S. have committed to intensify their efforts to address climate change and reduce emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases, ahead of an important summit between presidents Biden and Xi Jinping. The commitment: The joint pledge comes before a critical summit aimed to reconcile the unstable relationship between the two countries. * […]
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More Americans are saying Israel’s response is going too far in its war with Hamas
According to a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, a growing number of Americans believe Israel’s response to the Hamas October 7 attack has been excessive. Public sentiment on Israel’s response: The poll indicates a division among Americans regarding Israel’s military actions in response to Hamas’ attack. * About 38% believe Israel’s response has been too much, […]
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U.S. Diplomats and aid staff are objecting to U.S. policy in the Middle East
Many US diplomats and aid experts are voicing disagreement with US policy in the Middle East. Featured Dissent: Dozens of U.S diplomats and aid staff have come forward with their disagreement with current US Middle East policy. * It has not been clarified what specific aspects of the policy the diplomats and aid experts are […]
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Biden and Xi are meeting for the first time in a year. Here are 5 things to watch
US President Joe Biden and China’s leader, Xi Jinping, are about to have their first meeting in a year, with key issues including military talks, Taiwan, Russia’s war in Ukraine, trade and domestic politics on the agenda. Up for Discussion: A possible focus during their meeting concerns military-to-military talks. * Previous high-profile US visits to […]
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Thousands in Mexico demand justice for LGBTQ+ figure found dead after death threats
Thousands in Mexico are seeking justice for the death of LGBTQ+ figure Jesús Ociel Baena, the country’s first openly nonbinary magistrate. The Incident: Baena and his partner Dorian Herrera were found dead in their home, with injuries seemingly caused by a knife or other sharp object. * The state prosecutor noted that there were no […]
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4 things to know about UNRWA, Gaza’s largest aid organization
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the largest aid organization in Gaza, is experiencing extensive pressure due to the escalating conflict in the region. Agency overview: Established in 1949, UNRWA was initiated to provide relief to Palestinians displaced by the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. * For […]
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Millions of Indians set a world record celebrating Diwali despite air quality worries
Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali, setting a new Guinness World Record for lighting oil lamps, despite serious concerns about air pollution in the country. The event: The annual Hindu festival of Diwali, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, took place on Sunday across India, with the massive lighting of over 2.22 million lamps at […]