Latest news headlines for Tuesday Dec 12, 2023 – Israel’s Defense Forces report the seizure of what used to be Hamas’ main base in Gaza City, yet intense conflict persists further south in Gaza, exacerbating the plight of civilians.
The United Nations’ humanitarian bodies indicate that nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, close to 2 million people, have been displaced. The U.N. World Food Program notes that almost the entire population is facing prolonged periods without food, with half suffering from starvation.
—
Bypassing Congress, the Biden administration has sanctioned an urgent sale to Israel of roughly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition, valued over $106 million, as Israel escalates its military actions in Gaza’s south.
This development occurs while President Biden’s proposed aid package of nearly $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security concerns is stalled in Congress, entangled in debates over U.S. immigration policy and border security.
—
Russian dissident Alexey Navalny has vanished from the penal colony where he was detained since the previous year, leaving his allies unable to determine his whereabouts.
“On Friday, lawyers attempted to reach IK-6 and IK-7, two Vladimir region colonies where Alexey [Navalny] could be,” his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, reported on social media Monday. “They were simultaneously informed at both locations that he is not present. Alexey’s current location remains unknown to us.”
—
Ex-Congressman George Santos is in discussions with federal prosecutors in Long Island for a plea bargain, as revealed by a recent court filing.
“The involved parties are currently in negotiations for a plea deal with the objective of resolving the case without a trial,” the document states. Santos, a Republican, has a scheduled appearance in the federal court in Central Islip on Tuesday for a status conference. A trial was initially set for September 9, 2024.
—
Authorities have charged ten teenagers on Monday for a series of carjackings in Washington, D.C., highlighting a significant increase in this crime in the capital.
The ten accused are linked to two carjacking syndicates in D.C., according to authorities. Charged as adults, they are allegedly behind at least 15 vehicle thefts, often involving armed robbery, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, announced at a press briefing. These charges mark the largest federal carjacking arrests in D.C. this year, stated Graves.
—
An American Air Force pilot is in “stable condition” after ejecting from a crashed F-16 fighter jet off South Korea’s coast, say officials.
The pilot was rescued by South Korean maritime forces following an inflight emergency over the Yellow Sea at 8:43 a.m. local time, as reported by Air Force officials. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Kunsan Air Base, located approximately 110 miles south of Seoul.
—
Toy manufacturer Hasbro announced on Monday its decision to cut around 1,100 jobs, equating to 20% of its workforce, amid continued downturn in the toy industry.
This announcement, disclosed in a staff memo and a regulatory filing, follows reports by The Wall Street Journal. The Rhode Island-based maker of Monopoly, Play-Doh, and My Little Pony stated these layoffs add to 800 job cuts already made in 2023 as part of a plan to save up to $300 million annually by 2025.
—
SmileDirectClub is ceasing operations, mere months after the troubled dental-aligner company sought bankruptcy protection.
Announced on Friday, SmileDirectClub said it has made the “extremely tough decision to halt its global operations effective immediately.” This leaves existing customers uncertain about their ongoing treatments. The Nashville-based company confirmed the discontinuation of its aligner treatments through its telehealth platform and advised customers to seek further dental care locally.
