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  U.S. stock futures climbed on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading gains, after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points and signaled two more reductions could follow in 2025. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.7%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.8%, and Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 1.2%, buoyed by a sharp rally in tech stocks. Intel shares surged nearly 30% in premarket trading after Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in the struggling chipmaker, though the deal stops short of a manufacturing partnership. The Fed’s move, aimed at supporting a slowing economy amid high inflation and a weakening labor market, initially sparked caution, but optimism returned as investors bet on a more accommodative policy path. If gains hold, the S&P 500 is set to open above 6,700 for the first time, extending September’s unexpected rally. Traders are now watching weekly jobless claims for further clues on the labor market, while corporate earnings — including ...

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Israel’s Expanding Offensive in Central Rafah: A Closer Look

 

The Israeli military has officially confirmed that its forces are operating in central parts of Rafah as part of an expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. This development comes after Israel launched a ground assault into Rafah on May 6, triggering an exodus of approximately 1 million Palestinians from the city and disrupting U.N. humanitarian operations in the area.

Key Points:

  1. Citywide Operations: The Israeli military statement suggests that its forces have been operating in most parts of Rafah, including both eastern districts and areas close to the border with Egypt. Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt on the first day of the offensive and have since claimed control over the Philadelphi Corridor, a road running along the Gaza-Egypt border on the Gazan side.
  2. Recent Developments: Earlier this week, Israeli troops also moved into Rafah’s western district of Tel al-Sultan, where heavy clashes with Hamas fighters have been reported by witnesses.
  3. Hamas Presence: The offensive aims to uproot Hamas fighters, following the group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel. In central Rafah, Israeli troops have uncovered Hamas rocket launchers, tunnels, and dismantled a weapons storage facility.
  4. Humanitarian Impact: The exodus of Palestinians from Rafah has led to a scattered population across southern and central Gaza. Most of them now live in squalid tent camps, with up to around 300,000 people believed to remain in the area. Some still reside in the central urban parts of Rafah, while others have sought refuge in rural areas near the coast, which have also been targeted by Israeli strikes and shelling.

Despite the ongoing offensive, U.S. President Joe Biden has emphasized that Israel has not crossed the “red lines” of a full-fledged invasion that he had urged them against. The situation remains tense, and humanitarian organizations continue to grapple with the challenges posed by the conflict.



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