The Week of November 27, 2023 by CoenM

What OCEANIC COUNTRY announced it was repealing its generational smoking ban in order to fund a tax cut? The reversal was championed by the populist and libertarian parties that are part of the National Party's ruling coalition.

Israel resumed military operations against Hamas when the group would not produce what MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOSTAGES, whose release Israel said was necessary to provide an additional day of truce? The number is also equal to the number of worshipers (traditionally men) required in Judaism to hold public worship.

The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed new rules regarding the amount of what METAL in drinking water? The rules could force all of the estimated 9 million pipes made of this metal to be replaced within 10 years.

An attack on an armory and prisons in Freetown, the capital of what AFRICAN COUNTRY, was determined to be a coup attempt? The attack, led by elements of the army, came in the wake of recent elections that saw president Julius Maada Bio narrowly re-elected.

The COP28 climate conference got off to a rocky start when what HOST NATION was accused of planning to negotiate new oil and gas deals? Conference president Sultan Al Jaber denied the plans, which were widely reported from leaked planning documents.

British prime minsiter RIshi Sunak abruptly cancelled a planned meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after Mitsotakis compared the British and Greek display of statues from what LANDMARK to cutting the Mona Lisa in half?

George Santos was finally expelled from Congress, but not before he submitted his own resolution seeking the expulsion of what OTHER NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN, who pled guilty to a misdemeanor for pulling a false fire alarm?

One died in the latest crash involving what TILT ROTOR aircraft used by the US Marines and Air Force? 55 service members have died in crashes involving this aircraft since it went into service.

While Elon Musk was telling companies who don't want to advertise on X to perform an act that is physically improbable, Tesla finally released the first production models of what VEHICLE? The base model costs $60,990, more than 50 percent more than the price announed at its 2019 launch.

Your HallR mini-theme of the week (TM): Passages. What FIRST FEMALE JUSTICE OF THE US SUPREME COURT passed away at 93?

What FORMER US SECRETARY OF STATE passed away at 100? He won the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize despite being the architect of the US's secret bombing campaign in Cambodia and Laos during the Vietnam War.

The US Navy retook a tanker that had been captured by Houthri rebels from what MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY? The Houthi have increased attacks on shipping with links to Israel in response to its invasion of Gaza.