Israeli Ground and Air Assault in Southern Gaza Forces Civilians to Flee Again

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Southern Gaza Fighting Intensifies, Forcing Civilians to Flee Again

Israeli forces have escalated their ground and air assault in southern Gaza in a new phase of their war against Hamas. The United Nations has issued a warning, stating that the fighting is causing civilians who were already displaced from northern Gaza to flee once again, creating an even more dire situation.

“For people ordered to evacuate, there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on,” said a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General António Guterres. The situation has been made even more confusing and difficult for fleeing civilians as Israeli forces have set up a checkpoint outside Khan Younis, Gaza’s second largest city, on a road previously identified as an evacuation route. Additionally, a communications blackout is hampering the efforts of humanitarian workers.

The Washington Post and NBC News have reported on the escalating violence in southern Gaza, shedding light on the dire conditions faced by civilians caught in the crossfire.

GOP Debate Field Narrows Down to Four Candidates

The Republican National Committee has announced that four candidates have qualified for the fourth GOP primary debate in Alabama. The candidates include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Notably, front-runner Donald Trump will not be participating in the debate.

The field of candidates has been steadily narrowing, with Sen. Tim Scott dropping out after the third debate. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who failed to qualify for the last two Republican forums, has also suspended his campaign, criticizing the party for its “clubhouse debate requirements” that he believes reduce competition months before the Iowa caucuses. Vice President Mike Pence, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, former Rep. Will Hurd, and businessman Perry Johnson have all previously bowed out of the race.

The New York Times has reported on the ongoing corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The trial resumed on Monday after a pause in non-urgent cases due to the conflict with Hamas. Netanyahu, who has been on trial since 2020, is facing allegations of doing political favors for a businessperson in exchange for lavish gifts and offering favorable regulations to media moguls in exchange for positive news coverage. Netanyahu denies the allegations and has rejected calls for his resignation.

White House Urges Congress to Approve More Aid for Ukraine

The White House has issued a plea to Congress to approve additional military and other aid for Ukraine. Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, wrote a letter to leading lawmakers stating that Ukraine is running out of money and time. She emphasized that stopping the flow of U.S. aid would severely hinder Ukraine’s fight against invading Russian forces.

While House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed support for more Ukraine aid, a significant number of Republicans in the House and Senate are insisting on linking the assistance to new spending on border security.

Supreme Court Divided on Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Deal

The Supreme Court justices are divided on whether to uphold a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy deal that includes $6 billion from the Sackler family, the owners of the company. The deal would shield the Sackler family from future lawsuits related to their role in fueling the opioid crisis. Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Elena Kagan have expressed differing views on the matter.

Kavanaugh noted that the states included in the settlement, as well as the families affected by the opioid crisis, overwhelmingly approved of the deal. Kagan questioned why the government would want to “blow up the deal” that has support from all sides, but also questioned whether the bankruptcy process should be used to shield wealthy individuals from lawsuits. The Justice Department argues against shielding the Sackler family from future legal action.

Divers Discover Remains of Five Airmen in Sunken Osprey

U.S. and Japanese military divers have discovered a large part of the fuselage of a U.S. Osprey aircraft that crashed during a training flight in southwest Japan. The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the bodies of five of the eight crew members have been found inside the submerged wreckage. The search for the crew members and the wreckage has been ongoing since the aircraft went down near the small island of Yakushima.

Business Economists Predict Recession Unlikely

Most business economists believe that the U.S. economy will be able to avoid a recession next year, despite high interest rates. According to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics, only 24% of the economists surveyed thought that the slowdown would result in a recession.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates to slow the economy and bring inflation down to its 2% target. While economists expect an uptick in the unemployment rate, they anticipate that it will not exceed 5%.

UK Government Implements Measures to Curb Migration

The British government has announced measures to curb high levels of legal migration as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces pressure to reduce new arrivals. The changes are aimed at bringing down the record number of migrants, which reached 745,000 in 2022.

The measures include a one-third increase in the minimum salaries that migrants must earn in a skilled job. Immigration has been a contentious political issue in the UK for over a decade and played a significant role in the 2016 vote to exit the European Union. Sunak’s Conservative Party has faced criticism on the issue ahead of expected elections, with the opposition Labour Party leading in the polls.

Tourist Killed in Bahamas Shark Attack

A 44-year-old tourist from Boston was killed by a shark while paddleboarding near a beach resort in the Bahamas. The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed the incident, stating that the woman and a male relative were paddling away from shore when the shark attacked her. The woman suffered significant trauma to the right side of her body, while the male relative was unharmed.

This incident comes just days after a 26-year-old Mexican woman was killed in a shark attack off Mexico’s Pacific coast. The woman was swimming with her 5-year-old daughter near a play platform when the attack occurred.

Death Toll Rises in Indonesian Volcanic Eruption

The death toll from the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Marapi volcano has risen to 23. Search crews have discovered more bodies on the dangerous slopes of the volcano, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 11. However, 18 people who are presumed dead were located too close to the spewing hot gases and ash, making it unsafe for rescue crews to reach them.

More than 50 climbers have been rescued, but a new burst of volcanic ash temporarily halted the search efforts. Climbers and locals who might be stranded above the permitted level are being urged to evacuate as authorities remain on high alert..