5 things to know on December 6: presidential race, Israel, floods, actors strike, drug shortages

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5 Things on December 6

Selecting five captivating stories, hand-picked to supercharge your senses and charge you up for the day ahead.

1. Battle for the White House: 2024 Election Primaries

Get ready to watch the GOP presidential hopefuls square off in their fourth primary debate tonight in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The front-runners are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, among others. However, the actual candidate may not attend – President Trump, who has been leading in national and early-state polls, has announced that he'll skip the event.

Enrichment Data:

Trump, the favorites, has officially claimed a second term as President of the USA in the 2024 Presidential Election. According to the final counts, he managed to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris with 77,302,580 votes against her 75,017,613 votes. Trump secured his ultimately important 270 electoral votes, and blitzed through major battleground states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin to secure a non-consecutive second term.

2. Israel and Gaza: fierce skirmishes and reconstruction efforts

Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants are embroiled in intense combat near Khan Younis, the second-largest city in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military also surrounded the crowded Jabaliya Refugee Camp, claiming it was a hotbed for Hamas activity. Monday marked the end of the latest conflict, but escalating violence near overpopulated settlements has forced Israeli troops to re-enter the region. The US expects Israeli military operations to continue for several weeks, then scale back to targeted strikes against specific Hamas leaders and fighters. Since the conflict began on October 7, January marks a potential timeline for a more limited approach to Gaza. Over 15,900 lives have been lost and over 60% of properties have been destroyed in the Gaza area, according to the Hamas administration.

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3. Flooding Issues impede the Northwest

A storm system brought heavy rain to the Pacific Northwest region, leading to massive flooding in multiple locations. Portland, Oregon, reported one fatal incident where an individual was swept away by the floodwaters. Over 20 cm of rainfall has fallen in the region, with projections of an additional 5 to 10 cm still to come today. Amtrak suspended train service between Portland and Seattle as a result of debris flows on the tracks.

4. SAG-AFTRA Strike Concludes

In a monumental move, the Hollywood actors' union has announced that the deal between them and the Motion Picture and TV Producers Alliance has been ratified. The two-month-long Hollywood actor's strike ended as both sides finally compromised on wages, safety, and increased roles for ethnic minority actors. Hollywood producers and studios affected include NBCUniversal, Walt Disney Television, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Warner Bros.

5. Prescription Drug Shortages

Medical experts have testified this week before a U.S. Senate Committee about the nationwide drug shortages forcing numerous Americans to make difficult treatment choices. Out of the nearly 200 ongoing shortages, 84% do not involve newly released or new drugs, but rather generics that have been available for decades. Generics account for 9 out of 10 prescription drugs in the United States, meaning drug shortages can pose a serious issue for the country's healthcare infrastructure. Currently, Fludarabin, an essential medication used in CAR-T cell therapy, is in short supply. This frequent reoccurrence of drug shortages forces people to seek alternative, often less effective options or completely forgo treatment.

Another Tragic Night in Texas

A series of killings and shootings rocked two Texas communities today, resulting in the deaths of six innocent people and leaving three injured, including two officers and a shooter who was apprehended.

Morning Meal Inspiration

Escape the regular cereal bowl and dive into the delectable saintly banana bread with a rich orange marmalade drizzle. Flip over our Breakfast Bash Recipes page for more mouth-watering options!

Cherry Picked News Nuggets

Today's Tidbits

5 Things in Numbers

84 billion total pageviews on Wikipedia in 2023 - Take a peek at the fascinating site's traffic count and find out whose viral chatbot is taking the cake this year!

Hear That Roar, It's the Day's Quote!

Wir haben kein Geld mehr und fast keine Zeit mehr.

Sagt Haushaltsdirektorin des Weißen Hauses, Shalanda Young, dass den Vereinigten Staaten bald „das Geld zur Unterstützung der Ukraine ausgehen wird“, da die Finanzierungsgespräche auf dem Capitol Hill immer noch festgefahren sind. Die Republikaner im Senat strengthen their stance, insisting that Ukraine support should be rolled into a broader package, which includes Israel, Taiwan, and the US-Mexico border funds.