Tuesday, December 5, 2023

12/5 WAKE-UP CALL: Israel-Hamas War Escalates


The Israel-Hamas war has reached a fevered pitch. The Israeli military has essentially cornered Hamas fighters in two of their last strongholds in the northern Gaza Strip. Those areas have seen heavy airstrikes since fighting resumed over the weekend. Israeli officials said that one strike killed a battalion commander of the U.S.-designated terrorist organization; Palestinian officials said it caused hundreds of civilian casualties. Israel also is focussing on Khan Younis, the southern city where analysts believe Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior Hamas officials are hiding underground—and Israeli hostages are probably being held. For days, Israel’s military has called on people who live nearby to evacuate, and many already have, indicating a ground incursion is forthcoming.

➤NOWHERE TO RUN:  'No safe area' for fleeing Gazans. Safety options for civilians in southern Gaza continued to diminish Monday as Israeli forces paired an expanded ground attack with repeated airstrikes in their attempt to eradicate Hamas militants from the strip. Israel had told Palestinians in Gaza's second-largest city, Khan Younis, to head south toward the border town of Rafah in anticipation of heavy bombardment and the approach of ground forces. That led to massive displacement, in many cases of the same people who had fled the battered north, further deteriorating the enclave's humanitarian crisis. "They tell you it is a safe area, but there is no safe area in all of the Gaza Strip," said Salah al-Arja, whose house was destroyed.

➤UKRAINE MONEY DOOMSDAY LOOMS: The U.S. will be unable to continue providing more weapons and equipment to Ukraine if Congress doesn’t approve additional funding by the end of the year, the White House said, trying to prod lawmakers to quickly make progress in complicated negotiations on Capitol Hill. “Cutting off the flow of U.S. weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield,” Shalanda Young, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.). 

“There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment. We are out of money—and nearly out of time,” Young wrote. The letter was released as negotiators are trying to reach a deal on tightening U.S. border security, which House and Senate Republicans have demanded as a condition for passing tens of billions of dollars in new aid for Ukraine. Over the weekend, bipartisan Senate talks to strike an immigration compromise broke down, with Democrats complaining that Republicans were insisting on sweeping changes to the asylum system they knew Democrats wouldn’t support.

➤ISRAEL OPTION..FLOOD TUNNELS: Israel has assembled a system of large pumps it could use to flood Hamas’s vast network of tunnels under the Gaza Strip with seawater, a tactic that could destroy the tunnels and drive the fighters from their underground refuge but also threaten Gaza’s water supply, U.S. officials said. The Israel Defense Forces finished assembling large seawater pumps roughly one mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp around the middle of last month. Each of at least five pumps can draw water from the Mediterranean Sea and move thousands of cubic meters of water per hour into the tunnels, flooding them within weeks. Israel first informed the U.S. of the option early last month, prompting a discussion weighing its feasibility and effect on the environment against the military value of disabling the tunnels, officials said.

➤FORMER U-S DIPLOMAT CHARGED AS SECRET AGENT:   A former U.S. diplomat and ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with working for more than four decades as a secret agent for the Cuban government, according to the Justice Department. Manuel Rocha, who was arrested Friday and appeared in federal court on Monday, is accused of "serving as a covert agent" to support Cuba's "clandestine intelligence-gathering mission against the United States," a complaint filed in U.S. District Court states. Investigators say Rocha, 73, provided the U.S. with false and misleading information "to protect his secret mission"; traveled outside the U.S. to meet with Cuban operatives; and made false statements to obtain travel documents.

➤BRITAIN TOUGHENS UP ON MIGRANTS: Britain announced plans to slash the number of migrants arriving by legal routes on Monday, raising the minimum salary they must earn in a skilled job by a third, amid pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to tackle record net migration figures.BVHigh levels of legal migration have dominated Britain's political landscape for more than a decade and were a key factor in the 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Sunak has promised to gain more control after lawmakers in his Conservative Party criticised his record ahead of an election expected next year, with the opposition Labour Party far ahead in opinion polls.

➤GOP DEBATE IS WEDNESDAY: The fourth Republican primary debate is scheduled for Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, just weeks before the crucial New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus.  But only four candidates will show up to the face off at the University of Alabama. The Republican National Committee announced Monday that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy qualified for the debate. To qualify, GOP candidates must have polled at least 6% in two national polls or 6% in one national poll and one poll from two separate early voting states recognized by the RNC.

PHILADELPHIA MACY'S RETAIL THEFT TURNS DEADLY: The Macy's store in Philadelphia is currently under a criminal investigation after an apparent shoplifter stabbed two security guards, resulting in the death of one guard. The incident occurred on Monday, and the store will remain temporarily closed as law enforcement conducts the investigation. Macy's expressed heartbreak over the tragic event but did not specify how long the closure would last, deferring further comments to law enforcement. 

the two security guards, aged 30 and 23, were both stabbed, with the 30-year-old victim succumbing to his injuries. The other guard, aged 23, is currently in stable condition, receiving treatment for injuries to his neck and face. The stabbing occurred inside the store just after 11 a.m., and the suspect fled on a SEPTA train but was later apprehended by SEPTA police at the Somerset Station. The initial confrontation began when the suspect attempted to steal hats, leading to a confrontation with security guards. The same individual returned later and attacked the guards with a knife.

➤MORE SIDE-DISH SHOWING UP IN GROCERY STORES:  Food manufacturers are prepping weight-loss-drug side dishes. With Ozempic, Wegovy and other new weight-loss medicines, patients are eating less, prompting a new pitch from companies like Nestlé and Abbott Laboratories, which makes Ensure shakes and powders. Some are working to create companion products aimed at helping patients at risk of losing muscle mass or not getting enough nutrition, or by limiting weight gain after they stop taking the medications. Other food companies are creating products they say mimic the drugs without the pricey prescription, such as prebiotic fiber. Meanwhile, fashion brands are eyeing Taylor Swift’s style choices. Companies say that when the pop star wears their clothes and accessories, the items almost always sell out.

🏠HOUSE EXPLODES DURING SHOOTING INVESTIGATION: A massive explosion at a duplex where police were investigating reports of shots fired shook a Washington, D.C, suburb Monday and destroyed the home. 

All officers escaped serious injury but it was unclear what happened to the suspect who was inside the home when it was leveled by the explosion, Arlington County, Virginia, police spokesperson Ashley Savage said. Officers went to the home at about 4:45 p.m. after receiving reports of shots fired. They later determined the shots came from a flare gun, Savage said. While police investigated, they obtained a search warrant for the home.



➤U-S BIRTHDAY LOGO UNVEILED: A patriotic new logo has been unveiled that will be used to celebrate the United States' 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.  The semiquincentennial - which celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence - is set to be part of an attempt to unite America around the landmark. The logo uses the number 250 with red, white and blue outlines in a ribbon type font, alongside the word 'America' in a classic black typeface. 

🏈NFL BENGALS 34 JAGUARS 31:  Evan McPherson kicked a 48-yard field goal with 1:45 left in overtime to lift the visiting Cincinnati Bengals to a 34-31 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. The Jaguars (8-4) lost quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a right ankle injury after left tackle Walker Little stepped on Lawrence late in the fourth quarter. The QB tossed his helmet aside in frustration and left the game for backup C.J. Beathard. Lawrence could not put any weight on his ankle as he left the field. Lawrence completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns before exiting the game.

🏈LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD JOINS EAGLES OVER COWBOYS: The Eagles on Monday announced they are signing three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard to bolster what was the weakest position on the roster. Leonard, 28, might not be the player he once was during his prime in Indianapolis but the veteran should be able to help the Eagles’ defense the rest of the 2023 season. Leonard is just the latest veteran addition during this season, joining Kevin Byard, Bradley Roby and Julio Jones.

🏈JETS' SALEH: ZACH WILSON WANTS TO PLAY BUT QB CALL STILL TBD: The New York Jets are immersed in a quarterback controversy, but not the usual kind. This one revolves around Zach Wilson and whether he wants his old job back. Right now, the Jets don't have a starter for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, as coach Robert Saleh declined Monday to pick a quarterback from Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian -- none of whom has played well in the aftermath of Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tendon injury.

⚾MOOKIE BETTS WILL BE 'EVERY-DAY SECOND BASEMAN' FOR DODGERS: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will make All-Star Mookie Betts "the every-day second baseman" next season. Speaking on the MLB Network on Monday, Roberts put to the rest the notion of Betts part-timing in both the infield and outfield as the Dodgers look to win the National League West for the third year in a row.

⚾MLB HOLDS OFF ON NEW RULES AFTER ANGELS' LATE-SEASON SALARY DUMP: Major League Baseball officials have decided to wait at least another year before considering the implementation of rules that would prevent teams from dumping players into the waiver market late in the season, as the Los Angeles Angels did in August. The Angels had added aggressively in deals before the trade deadline, swapping for Lucas Giolito and others while trying to demonstrate to Shohei Ohtani that they were trying to win. But the Angels completely collapsed, losing their first seven games in August and 16 of 21 through Aug. 23, plummeting out of contention.


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