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Former career US diplomat charged with secretly spying for Cuban intelligence for decades

Charges were recently made public against a former American diplomat, who is facing allegations of espionage on behalf of Cuba. This case is notable for its duration, spanning over 40 years, marking it as one of the most extended instances of penetration into the US government.

The individual in question, 73-year-old Manuel Rocha, was apprehended last Friday in Miami. He faces multiple accusations, including conspiracy to function as an agent for a foreign government, operating as an unauthorized foreign government agent, and deceit in acquiring a passport. Rocha's supposed espionage activities date back to 1981, coinciding with his initiation of service in the US State Department. His career included significant roles, such as participation in the National Security Council and holding influential positions in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and at the US Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy in Havana (during a period when the US and Cuba had no formal diplomatic ties).

According to court filings, Rocha made self-incriminating remarks and referred to the United States as "the enemy" in three separate encounters over the past year with an undercover FBI agent, who was posing as a Cuban intelligence officer. The emergence of these charges against Rocha follows the release of a former US defense intelligence analyst earlier this year, who served 21 years in prison for espionage activities in favor of Cuba.

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India: Deaths reported as Cyclone Michaung approaches

Early today, a powerful storm named Cyclone Michaung struck the southern coastline of India as a significant cyclonic storm. It brought with it winds reaching speeds up to 62 miles per hour and even stronger gusts peaking at 70 miles per hour. The storm has unfortunately resulted in at least six fatalities due to its intense rainfall. In response to the severe weather conditions, evacuation orders have been issued for thousands. The city of Chennai has been particularly hard hit, experiencing the heaviest rainfall it has seen in seven to eight decades. Some areas within the city have reported a staggering 10 inches of rain within a single day.

Cyclone seasons in the northern part of the Indian Ocean generally span from April to December. While this region only experiences a small percentage (less than 6%) of global cyclones, there has been a noticeable increase in cyclonic activity in recent times. This escalation is attributed to a number of reasons, notably the rising temperatures of the sea surface. However, the Bay of Bengal is especially vulnerable, accounting for over 80% of the world’s deaths caused by cyclones. This is largely due to the high number of people living in the area.

In a separate incident, northern Tanzania suffered severe weather over the past weekend, leading to heavy flooding and landslides. These unfortunate events resulted in the deaths of at least 63 people.

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Gold price hits $2,100 for record high — and analysts don’t expect it to stop there

At the beginning of the week, the price of gold achieved a new milestone, as the worldwide demand for this precious metal shows no signs of slowing down.

During Sunday evening trading in New York, the price of spot gold momentarily surpassed the $2,100 per ounce mark, establishing a fresh historic peak. However, it experienced a decline of approximately 2% on Monday, stabilizing at around $2,028 per ounce. Meanwhile, gold futures reached a new daily high of $2,152.30, but eventually closed with a 2.27% reduction at $2,042 per ounce.

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