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Wall Street Edges Higher as Fed Rate Cut Decision Looms

U.S. stock futures were mixed but leaning higher on Monday as investors braced for a pivotal Federal Reserve policy meeting later this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose about 0.2%, S&P 500 futures held near flat, and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped slightly after the tech-heavy index notched a fresh record last week. The rally has been fueled by growing expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates on Wednesday, with traders pricing in a 96% chance of a quarter-point reduction and a slim possibility of a larger 50-basis-point move. A cooling labor market — with unemployment at 4.3% and job growth slowing — has strengthened the case for policy easing. Tech stocks remain in focus, with Nvidia sliding over 2% after China’s antitrust regulator said the chipmaker violated competition laws. The news comes amid high-level U.S.-China trade talks in Madrid, adding a layer of geopolitical uncertainty to market sentiment. Despite the cautious tone, optimism around artifici...

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Israel’s Intensifying Military Operation in Rafah Sparks International Concerns

 

In a recent escalation of conflict, Israel has intensified its military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Despite U.S. warnings about the risk of mass casualties, Israeli forces have pushed forward, bombarding towns in the north of the Strip and vowing to broaden their ground operation in Rafah. Here are the key points:

  1. Intensified Conflict: Israeli forces have made a new push in central Gaza, leading to intense battles in Jabalia, a northern Palestinian enclave. At least 23 people have been killed in the latest fighting.

  2. Rafah’s Importance: Israel considers Rafah, located on Gaza’s border with Egypt, as Hamas’ last stronghold. The city has become a focal point of the conflict, with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians seeking shelter there.

  3. International Concerns: Western powers are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Rafah. Despite Israeli assurances, civilians have been caught in the crossfire, and the United Nations estimates that over 810,000 people have fled the city since the conflict escalated.

  4. Allies at Odds: Israel’s plan for an all-out assault on Rafah has strained its relationship with its main ally, the United States. Washington even held up a weapons shipment due to fears of large civilian casualties.

  5. Prime Minister’s Stance: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with sending troops into Rafah, rejecting international pressure. He emphasized that Israel is determined to realize its war aims, regardless of the risks.

The situation remains tense, and the world watches closely as the conflict unfolds. The fate of Rafah and its civilian population hangs in the balance.

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