Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Friday, November 17, 2023.

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1. Police crack down on protestors in DC calling for a ceasefire

A group of protestors from Jewish groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace Action and IfNotNow Movement held a candlelight vigil near Capitol Hill on Wednesday, calling on Congress to push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. After demonstrators clashed with police, Democratic leaders had to be escorted from the building.

Eva Borgwardt, IfNotNow’s national spokesperson, said in a statement, “Instead of heeding our call for a ceasefire, police violently attacked nonviolent protesters with pepper spray.”

Leadership from the other groups concurred, with Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, saying in a statementthat “hundreds of peaceful anti-war activists came to the DNC to call for an end to bombs and violence in order to save Palestinian and Israeli lives. They were met with brutal assaults by the police."

2. Paul Pelosi's attacker David DePape found guilty

A federal jury has convicted David DePape of the violent hammer attack against Paul Pelosi at his and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home last year. Pelosi, 83, was struck in the head with a hammer, suffering a skull fracture on Oct. 28, 2022, just days before the midterm elections.

DePape was charged with attempted kidnapping and assault on account of a federal official's performance of official duties. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years and 30 years.

3. APEC wraps up — what has Biden accomplished?

The Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference wraps up Friday after three days, following President Joe Biden's meetings with several world leaders, expected to focus on trade and immigration policies. Biden's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday resulted in the resumption of military communications between the U.S. and China.