Current Events This Week: November 2023

Updated December 1, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

World News | U.S. News | Disaster News | Science & Technology News

It's a busy world out there, so that’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories for each week of November 2023.

We collect current events of the week starting and ending on a Friday, so make sure you check back at the end of every week to keep up-to-date on what's happening in the world and the U.S., including politics, disasters, science & technology, and military actions.

Our Top Stories for the Week of October 27, 2023
Our Top Stories for the Week of November 3, 2023
Our Top Stories for the Week of November 10, 2023
Our Top Stories for the Week of November 24, 2023

It’s been a busy week, from increased movements at the Rafah crossing to Hurricane Otis in Mexico. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.

Politics Around The World

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Former Chinese Premier Dies: On Friday, October 27, 2023, former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang died early Friday morning in Shanghai after suffering from a heart attack. Li served as China's premier for a decade, from 2013 to March of this year, under leader Xi Jinping, supervising the country's economy during his tenure, Li guided the world's second-largest economy through a period of growing technology and trade tensions with the United States, expanding government debt and unemployment, and the Covid-19 epidemic.^[1]
Unprecedented Movement Allowed At The Rafah Crossing: On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 81 seriously injured Palestinians were scheduled to enter Egypt, with dozens already arriving and receiving care in various hospitals around Egypt. An Egyptian official reported that around 360 foreign nationals had also fled Gaza via the Rafah border crossing. The existence is thanks to a pact mediated by Qatar between Israel, Hamas, and Egypt, in collaboration with the United States.^[2]
Serbian Parliament Dissolved: On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia dissolved parliament and called for early elections on December 17. The decision is considered a means of consolidating his support and reforming the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has suffered from opposition rallies and the May mass shootings. In difficult circumstances, Vucic highlighted the necessity of unity in protecting Serbia's national and state interests. ^[3]
Nigerian Lawmakers Approve Extra Budget Spending: On Thursday, November 2, 2023, President Tinubu's $2.8 billion additional budget, which includes armored automobiles for himself and his wife, was approved by Nigerian MPs. The budget was approved and forwarded to the Senate and House to handle pressing problems such as military and security. The government intends to spend 5.095 billion naira ($6.47 million) on a presidential boat, 1.5 billion Naira ($1.91 million) on first lady official cars, and 12.7 billion Naira on the presidential air fleet.^[4]

Sources: [1] CNN [2] CNN [3] The Guardian [4] Reuters

Accidents And Disaster

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Fatal Car Crash In Egypt With Dozens Of Fatalities: On Saturday, October 28, 2023, a multiple-car crash accident in Egypt's Beheira governorate resulted in 32 deaths and several fatal injuries. The accident happened on the Cairo-Alexandria Road, 131 kilometers north of Cairo. At least 20 ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and the injured were taken to Wadi al-Natrun Hospital. Traffic accidents are widespread in Egypt due to poor road conditions and drivers disregarding traffic regulations.^[1]
Florida Shooter Kills Two People: On Sunday, October 29, 2023, two persons were murdered in a shooting in Tampa, Florida, because of a fight between two groups. The incident happened at 3 a.m. on East 7th Avenue in Ybor City, and 18 individuals were sent to the hospital. People in Halloween costumes were seen discussing on the streets when gunfire went out, sparking a rush. One defendant surrendered to police, and detectives believe at least two shooters were involved.^[2]
Hurricane Otis Destroys Mexican Coastal Cities: On Wednesday, November 1, Hurricane Otis made landfall on the southern Mexican coast, bringing winds of up to 165 miles per hour. Authorities have issued a storm surge and landslide warning, both of which may be fatal. A hurricane warning has been issued for Guerrero's 350-kilometer coastline. Up to 47 individuals are still missing, but cleanup efforts have guaranteed the removal of debris and fallen trees, allowing food delivery to be simplified and electricity restored to two-thirds of the city.^[3]

Sources: [1] BBC [2] The Guardian [3] BBC

Politics in the United States

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Dean Philips Challenges Biden In Presidential Primaries: On Friday, October 27, 2023, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips declared his candidacy for president after asking President Joe Biden to resign. While he is certain to lose, his statement reflects rising Democratic Party unhappiness with Biden. Phillips thinks Biden has done well, but he thinks he will need more time to win a national general election.^[1]
House Unable To Expel George Santos: On Thursday, November 2, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a motion to oust George Santos, a New York congressman who was charged with fraud charges last month. The vote finished 179-213, falling short of the two-thirds majority required to remove a member of the House. The politician is serving his first term in the House and has rejected 23 corruption accusations. He has refused to resign.^[2]

Sources: [1] BBC [2] BBC

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It’s been a busy week, from worsening tensions between Israel and Palestine to record wildfires in Canada. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.

Politics Around The World

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Court Order To Release Emefiele: On Friday, November 3, 2023, a Nigerian judge ordered former Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele to be released unconditionally or face a hearing. Justice Olukayode Adeniyi concluded that Emefiele's imprisonment could not be justified by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Attorney General of the Federation. Emefiele was charged with procurement fraud, and his trial has been scheduled for August 23. President Ahmed Tinubu suspended him and the DSS arrested him. Emefiele resigned in August, opening the door for a new governor of the Central Bank.^[1]
Italy To Transport Migrants To Albania: On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Georgia Meloni announced plans to create two detention camps in Albania to detain migrants seeking to reach its beaches. When fully operational, the facility would initially shelter 3,000 individuals and process up to 36,000 people each year. Meloni praised the pact as a European agreement and an innovative approach to increasing North African crossings over the Mediterranean Sea.^[2]
The EU Begins Talks To Allow Ukraine Into The Union: On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the European Union's executive council confirmed that discussions for Ukraine's EU membership will begin next year, giving the nation a huge boost. Nearly 18 months after Ukraine was approved as a candidate state, the Commission proposes that accession discussions begin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the declaration, saying that the decision to start discussions with Ukraine is a critical step, but that talks would only begin after certain requirements are satisfied. ^[3]

Sources: [1] Reuters [2] CNN [3] CNN

Israel-Palestine Conflict

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Israel Attacks Ambulance In Gaza: On Saturday, November 4, 2023, an Israeli airstrike on an ambulance near Gaza City killed at least 15 persons. The strike targeted an ambulance convoy carrying injured patients from Al-Shifa hospital to Rafah. The ambulances were hit twice, once near the hospital and once outside. Egypt's Ministry of Health said that just 17 Palestinians were evacuated for treatment, rather than the scheduled 28.^[1]
South Africa Recalls Its Israel Diplomats: On Monday, November 6, 2023, South Africa announced its intention to return all of its diplomats from Tel Aviv in response to Israel's recent air raid on Gaza, which killed about 200 Palestinians. The strike, one of the most severe since the beginning of the conflict, has prompted worries about the continuous killing of children and people in Palestinian territory. South Africa is among numerous nations that have already recalled their diplomats from Israel, including Chad, Chile, and Colombia.^[2]
Senate Democrats Block Israeli Aid That Excludes Ukraine: On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Democrats voted against a Republican bill that would have provided emergency help to Israel but not to Ukraine's struggle against Russia. The package cleared the House of Representatives last week, granting $14.3 billion for Israel but slashing the IRS by the same amount. A Republican Senator underlined the need to avoid delays in delivering help to Israel, while Democrats argued that including Ukraine in the aid package was equally critical.^[3]

Sources: [1] BBC [2] BBC [3] Reuters

Global Disasters

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Record Casualties From Drought In The Middle East: On Wednesday, November 7, 2023, a new analysis by the World Weather Attribution organization, that catastrophic droughts in Syria, Iraq, and Iran since 2020 have not been caused by human-induced global warming. High temperatures since 2020 would have been unthinkable without climate change, increasing the chance of droughts and triggering significant food and environmental damage, according to the study.^[1]
Canadian Wildfires Recorded As The Worst In Its History: On Thursday, November 9, 2023, a new analysis showed that Wildfires burned about 45.7 million acres in Canada's boreal forests, a carbon store and habitat for moose, bears, and songbirds, nearly surpassing all the previous records. Climate change is increasing wildfires owing to changed precipitation patterns and higher temperatures. Fires in Canada also caused smoke columns in New York City and haze in Florida. The flames' severity and extent threaten fir and spruce trees in the boreal forest.^[2]

Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] The Guardian

United States Politics

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Court Upholds Illinois Weapons Ban: On Saturday, November 4, 2023, an appeals court in the United States maintained an Illinois state prohibition on assault-style firearms and high-capacity ammo magazines. The prohibition, implemented in the aftermath of the Highland Park mass shooting in 2022, forbids the sale and distribution of numerous high-powered semiautomatic assault weapons, such as AK-47 and AR-15 riffles, as well as large-capacity magazines. The bill was challenged as a violation of the Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms."^[1]
Kentucky Re-Elects Andy Bashear: On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Kentucky's Democratic incumbent, Andy Beshear, won a second term as governor. The high-profile race puts two former law firm colleagues against one another, indicating that President Biden and other Democrats would prioritize abortion rights in 2024. Beshear's triumph extends his family's political dominance in the state, which has always backed Republicans. Steve Beshear, his father, was a two-term governor.^[2]

Sources: [1] Reuters [2] The Guardian

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It’s been a busy week, from a tree-planting holiday in Kenya to heatwaves in Brazil. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.

In Africa

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South African Court Favors Shared Parental Leave: On Friday, November 10, 2023, following a high court verdict that both parents must have the right to time off following the birth or adoption of a child, South Africa is likely to become the first African country to implement shared parental leave. Despite increases in paid leave for fathers over the last two decades, this raises the bar for parental leave for both parents.^[1]
Kenya Introduces Tree-Planting Holiday: On Monday, November 13, 2023, Kenya's government offered its citizens a unique 100 million trees as part of the government's ambition to plant 15 billion trees in ten years. According to the Minister of Environment, Soipan Tuya, the vacation will allow all Kenyans to take ownership of the effort. The initiative's main goal is to aid in the fight against climate change. The drill was led by Kenya's President, William Ruto, at Makueni, in the country's east.^[2]
Plans To Deport Asylum Seekers Blocked In The U.K.: On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the U.K. Supreme Court declared that the government's proposal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unconstitutional, raising concerns about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's migration policy and potentially provoking a Conservative party mutiny. The court upheld the previous appeals court verdict, finding that Rwanda's inadequate asylum processing system, poor human rights record, and non-refoulement agreements rendered it inappropriate for transferring asylum seekers.^[3]

Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] BBC [3] CNN

Global Crises

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Israel Surrounds Gaza Hospital: On Saturday, November 11, 2023, Israeli tanks surrounded Gaza's main healthcare institution, al-Shifa, leading the hospital's director to request Red Cross assistance in evacuating. The World Health Organization said that 20 hospitals in Gaza were closed. According to the Israeli military, the strike was caused by a misfired weapon thrown from within Gaza. Doctors Without Borders has lost contact with the hospital's staff, and videos show injured individuals lying on the ground.^[1]
Shooting At Canadian Jewish School: On Sunday, November 12, 2023, police report that a Jewish school in Montreal was hit by gunfire early Sunday, marking the third occasion in less than a week that a Jewish school in the Canadian city has been targeted, owing to the conflict between Israel and Gaza. It was confirmed that no one was hurt, however, the Montreal Yeshiva Gedola's façade was damaged. Both of Montreal's other schools reported finding a bullet hole in their front doors.^[2]
Soccer Player Reunites With His Kidnapped Father: On Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Luiz Diaz, a Liverpool footballer, was reunited with his father, who was abducted by a rebel group in northern Colombia. After being rescued by police, the father was released last week. A photo of the couple hugging was shared on the Colombian Football Federation's X account. The National Liberation Army was first suspected of kidnapping Diaz's father, but the organization eventually admitted the abduction was an error and ordered his immediate release.^[3]
Heatwave Crisis In Brazil: On Thursday, November 16, 2023, Due to an extraordinary heatwave, nearly 3,000 cities and localities in Brazil have been issued red alerts. Over a hundred million people have been affected by the heat, which is expected to last for a few more days. Officials blamed it on the El Nio phenomenon, which is usually responsible for rising worldwide temperatures, as well as climate change, which is increasing the frequency and length of extreme weather occurrences.^[4]

Sources: [1] CNN [2] Reuters [3] The Guardian [4] BBC

Technological Advancement

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First Eye Transplant Performed In The U.S.: On Friday, November 10, 2023, a pioneering complete eye transplant was executed by surgeons in New York on Aaron James, an individual who managed to survive a severe high-voltage electrical incident. The 21-hour operation, during which half of his visage was replaced, was carried out at NYU Langone Health. James is making a speedy recovery and is anticipated to remain under ongoing medical observation.^[1]
YouTube Develops AI To Mimic Stars: On Thursday, November 16, 2023, YouTube launched an artificial intelligence software that allows users to imitate music vocalists. Users can make short songs using the Dream Track experimental feature by describing parameters such as lyrical content and mood. Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, T-Pain, and Sia are among the nine artists who have agreed to have their voices "cloned" by the program, which is now available to only 100 individuals.^[2]

Sources: [1] BBC [2] BBC

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It’s been a busy week, from a ceasefire in Gaza to gun violence in Ohio. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.

World Politics

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Russia Goers To Court Against LGBTQ+: On Friday, November 17, 2023, the Ministry of Justice in Russia initiated legal proceedings against the "international LGBTQ public movement," a course of action that has garnered criticism from advocates of human rights. The label "extremist" has been employed by the Kremlin to initiate legal proceedings against various entities, including human rights organizations, independent media outlets, and political opposition parties. President Vladimir Putin has also had a negative attitude towards the LGBTQ+ population.^[1]
George Weah Congratulates Opponent: On Saturday, November 18, 2023, Liberian President George Weah acknowledged his loss to former soccer star Joseph N. Boakai in a closely contested run-off election, as per the provisional results released by the National Elections Commission. Weah, who achieved a triumph in October, could not meet the threshold of 50% necessary to ensure a victory and has engaged in a conversation with Boakai to extend his felicitations for his triumph.^[2]
Argentina Elects New President: On Monday, November 20, 2023, Javier Milei has been officially declared the victor in Argentina's presidential election. During his concise oration, Sergio Massa, the opposing candidate, acknowledged defeat in the run-off election prior to the formal declaration of the official results. Following Milei's triumph, former President of the United States, Donald Trump expressed his satisfaction with Milei's success through a tweet on his social media platform. ^[3]

Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] CNN [3] CNN

International Crises

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President Of Maldives Wants Indian Military Out: On Sunday, November 19, 2023, the newly appointed President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, formally requested the Indian government to remove its armed forces from the nation. Muizzu became victorious in the election and made a commitment to eliminate a total of 75 Indian staff. The demand was addressed to Kiren Rijiju, the Minister for Earth Sciences in India. The two nations are anticipated to engage in deliberations over viable resolutions for sustained collaboration.^[1]
Ceasefire Agreed Between Israel and Hamas: On Wednesday, November 22, 2023, Israel, and Hamas agreed to a four-day cease-fire, along with the exchange of 150 Palestinians in return for the release of 50 hostages from Hamas. U.S. President Joe Biden applauded the agreement, commending Egypt and Qatar for their efforts. Qatar's foreign ministry indicated that the agreement will begin within the next 24 hours. Israel also promised to allow additional supplies into Gaza in order to solve the humanitarian catastrophe.^[2]

Sources: [1] Reuters [2] The Guardian

Community Violence

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Loss Of Life In Congo-Brazzaville Stampede: On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, the Congo-Brazzaville administration reported that 37 people were killed in a stampede at a stadium in the capital, Brazzaville, during an army recruitment campaign. As thousands attempted to force their way inside the stadium's gates, a stampede broke out. A crisis team has been established under the authority of Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso. The army has halted recruitment in the capital, and an inquiry has begun. Family members have identified 32 corpses.^[1]
Gun Violence In Ohio Walmart: On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, one person was killed and three others were injured in an Ohio Walmart shooting. Beavercreek police verified that the facility had been removed and secured and that there was no current danger. Soin Medical Center received three patients, according to Kettering Health. Walmart has expressed its sadness and is cooperating with investigators on the site. The event is still being investigated.^[2]

Sources: [1] BBC [2] Reuters

United States Politics

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House Moves Another Motion To Expel George Santos: On Friday, November 17, 2023, following a resolution from the House ethics committee, George Santos, a Republican member of Congress, he will face a second expulsion vote. The committee made up of both Republicans and Democrats, has been looking into claims of fraud and the creation of fictitious loams for his campaign. Santos has been absent from the House for up to a year, and his expulsion vote was overturned by a Republican chairman.^[1]
Greg Abbot Endorses Trump: On Sunday, November 19, 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is leading the Republican nomination to face Joe Biden, endorsed former US President Donald Trump. In Edinburg, Trump paid a visit to Texas National troops and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers. If elected, Trump intends to tighten down on illegal immigration and restrict legal migration, including the reinstatement of his 2019 "remain in Mexico" policy, which requires non-Mexican asylum claimants to stay in Mexico until their cases are resolved.^[2]

Sources: [1] BBC [2] Reuters

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