Latest News Headlines for Tuesday December 5, 2023 – Israeli fighter jets conducted intensive bombardments near Khan Younis in Gaza’s south on Monday, as the military prompted widespread evacuations from the town amid an escalating ground operation. This push is forcing Palestinians into increasingly confined areas of the encircled territory.
The intensified offensive presents a grave dilemma for numerous Palestinians: remain in the path of advancing Israeli forces or attempt to escape within southern Gaza’s limited space, with no assurance of safety. Humanitarian agencies caution that this widespread displacement could exacerbate the already critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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In the week leading up to the most lethal attack in Israel’s history, unusual financial activity might have signaled foreknowledge. Significant bets against the Israeli stock market were noted prior to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
A report titled “Trading on Terror?” by Columbia University and NYU researchers posits that an investor, possibly privy to the impending attack, profited by short-selling on both U.S. and Israeli stock exchanges. The study highlights the early October short-selling as “exceptionally high, even compared to other periods of instability.”
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A former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia and National Security Council member has been detained on charges of covertly operating as an agent for Cuba’s government, according to U.S. authorities.
73-year-old Victor Manuel Rocha, residing in Miami, is accused of committing “numerous federal offenses” over many years while clandestinely representing Cuba, stated Attorney General Merrick Garland. Garland emphasized that Rocha, by serving a foreign nation, gravely betrayed the United States, an act that the Justice Department will confront vigorously.
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China has lodged a strong protest against the U.S. Navy, alleging a breach of its sovereignty by the USS Gabrielle Giffords near a contested reef in the South China Sea.
The protest was issued by China’s Southern Theater Command, which accused the U.S. vessel of “unauthorized entry into waters near Ren’ai Reef.” This action by the U.S. was condemned as a severe violation of international norms and laws governing international relations.
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A fire in a New York City apartment, reportedly caused by an electric bicycle battery, resulted in one death and six injuries, officials reported on Monday.
The blaze began around 7 p.m. Sunday in a Bronx public housing complex, engulfing a 10th-floor apartment, said a Fire Department spokesperson. One individual, critically injured, was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Two others are facing life-threatening injuries, while four sustained minor wounds, according to the spokesperson.
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A U.S. woman has tragically died in a shark attack while paddleboarding in the Bahamas, as confirmed by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
The victim was paddleboarding with a male relative near a Sandals resort when the shark struck. A lifeguard swiftly responded with a rescue boat, and though CPR was administered, her right-side injuries were too critical, said police.
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In northern Tanzania, severe floods and landslides have claimed at least 47 lives, with 85 more injured, officials stated on Monday.
The Tanzanian military has been mobilized to assist in rescuing those trapped by the deluge, considered the most severe in recent memory in the East African country. The disaster occurred around Mount Hanang, resulting in extensive damage to homes, roads, and bridges, further complicating rescue efforts.
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Uber is set to join the S&P 500 index this month, marking a significant milestone in the company’s recovery post-pandemic struggles.
Announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices on Friday, Uber will be added to the benchmark index before trading opens on Dec. 18. Entry into the S&P 500 is a notable boost for stocks, attracting a wide array of funds that mirror the index, which forms a core part of many 401(k) accounts.
