US Government Shutdown, Gaza Conflict, and Global Headlines - November 3, 2025

US Government Shutdown and SNAP Benefits

• 🚨 The US federal government shutdown has reached its 34th day, impacting essential services.
• 📉 A federal ruling requires the Department of Agriculture to partially disburse funds for SNAP, but 42 million Americans had their benefits cut off.
• 💸 President Trump's Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, just hours before SNAP benefits were cut, drew criticism for its perceived insensitivity.
• ✈️ 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay, leading to 98 staffing trigger reports at airports due to shortages.

Israel-Gaza Conflict and Ceasefire Violations

• 💥 Israel continues attacks in Gaza, shelling areas like Deraa Balah and the Sedat refugee camp.
• 💔 At least 226 Palestinians have been killed since the US-backed ceasefire began on October 10th.
• 🚚 Gaza officials accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire by allowing only 24% of promised aid trucks.
• 🕊️ Hamas returned the bodies of three Israeli soldiers killed on October 7th.
• 🇵🇸 Israeli forces and settlers killed two Palestinians, and detained 15 others in overnight raids.
• ⚖️ A former top Israeli military lawyer was arrested for her role in leaking surveillance video of Israeli soldiers allegedly gang-raping a Palestinian prisoner.
• 🇱🇧 Israel threatens escalation in Lebanon, with drone strikes killing four people in the south.

US Military Actions and International Relations

• 🚢 The US bombed a boat in the Caribbean, killing at least three people, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegsth claiming it carried drugs without proof.
• 🚫 UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk denounced the US attacks, calling for a halt to extrajudicial killings.
• 🏛️ The Justice Department claims the War Powers Resolution does not apply to these boat strikes, a claim called "wild" by a former State Department lawyer.
• 🇻🇪 President Trump indicated Maduro's days as president of Venezuela are numbered and did not confirm or deny potential land strikes.
• 🇳🇬 Trump threatened military intervention in Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to protect Christians, though monitoring organizations dispute claims of disproportionate violence against Christians.

Domestic and International Violence

• 🏙️ The mayor of Evanston, Illinois, opened investigations into federal immigration agents after one was filmed punching a man and another pointed a gun at bystanders.
• 🗣️ Trump defended aggressive immigration tactics, stating they "haven't gone far enough" due to