The crisis in Gaza has resulted in over 24,620 Palestinian deaths, with 70% being women or children, and 1.9 million people displaced, including nearly 1 million women and girls. The entire population of Gaza, roughly 2.2 million people, are facing acute food insecurity or worse. UN Women is working on a six-month multisectoral response to address the gendered impact of the crisis.
Maine's behavioral health community is urging President Joe Biden to provide federal assistance to boost mental health services and crisis response in the aftermath of the state's worst mass shooting. They are calling for increased mobile crisis capacity, more counselors in schools, faster access to mental health providers, and incentives to address the shortage of mental health professionals. Currently, Mainers seeking help may have to wait months to be seen by a mental health professional.
American rabbinical students studying in Israel for the year are grappling with the decision of whether to stay or leave amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Some students are choosing to remain in Israel and offer support to the crisis response and war effort, while others are looking to leave or send their family members home for safety. Students are also engaging in fundraising efforts and volunteering to assist those affected by the conflict. The uncertainty of the situation has left many students unsure of their plans and concerned for their own well-being.
A barricade situation in Timonium, Maryland, has been resolved by Baltimore County Police, resulting in one dead. Police responded to a home for a reported person in crisis and heard a gunshot upon arrival. Crisis and tactical teams made entry into the home and found a man dead. No contact was made with the individual, and nobody else was in the home. The incident disrupted traffic in the area, and residents were asked to stay inside.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is launching a sweeping "spiritual baptism" campaign reminiscent of Mao Zedong's era to contain the damage caused by the pandemic, economic downturn, and tensions with the US. This marks one of Xi's largest indoctrination drives, aimed at promoting loyalty to the Communist Party and Xi himself.
