Other News

Muslim boy in US killed in attack linked to Israel-Hamas war

WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden condemned the killing of a six-year-old Muslim boy as a “horrific act of hate” on Sunday, after authorities charged the assailant with murder and hate crimes for an attack allegedly linked to the war between Israel and Hamas. The child was stabbed 26 times by his landlord on Saturday and later died at hospital, while his 32-year-old mother was also wounded but expected to survive, […]

French schools to honour teacher killed in ‘terror’ attack

By Laurent GESLIN, with Clement ZAMPA in Lille ARRAS, France, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – Schools across France will on Monday hold a minute of silence for the teacher stabbed to death in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of “Islamist terror”. The nationwide tribute will come a day after thousands gathered in Arras, northeastern France to pay their respects to 57-year-old Dominique Bernard. His killing on Friday has sent shockwaves through the country […]

Identifying Hamas victims is a new ordeal for Israel

RAMLA, Israel, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – When Rabbi Israel Weiss opens the doors of the refrigerated containers holding the bodies of hundreds of victims of the Hamas attacks the smell is overwhelming, but he said that most of all, he feels the suffering. The former military chief rabbi came out of retirement to become one of the leaders of an Israeli operation to identify the more than 1,400 dead from the raids by Hamas […]

President Biden says Israeli occupation of Gaza would be ‘big mistake’, supports eliminating extremists

WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – Any move by Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip again would be a “big mistake,” US President Joe Biden said in an interview released on Sunday, as Israeli troops prepared for a ground invasion. Israel, seeking vengeance for an attack by Hamas on October 7, has declared war on the militant group, launching a relentless bombing campaign and warning more than a million people in northern Gaza to move […]

Dynastic succession: Daniel Noboa, heir to banana empire, becomes Ecuador’s youngest president

QUITO, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – At the age of 35, Ecuador’s president-elect Daniel Noboa is fulfilling the political dreams of his banana tycoon father, who failed five times to win the presidency. With about 52 percent of the vote, based on a near-complete count, little-known businessman Noboa was on Sunday elected the youngest president-elect in modern Ecuadoran history, edging out socialist rival Luisa Gonzalez. With a serious air, but tanned and sporty, Noboa focused […]

Australia fines Musk’s X over child abuse content concerns

Australia’s internet safety watchdog on Monday fined Elon Musk’s X, saying the social media platform had failed to show how it is cracking down on child sexual abuse content. ESafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has slapped an Aus$610,500 (US$385,000) fine on the company formerly known as Twitter, criticising its “empty talk” on the issue. Inman Grant — herself a former Twitter employee — has also fired off a formal warning to Google for falling short […]

Taylor Swift’s concert film breaks records, rakes in $96 million in opening weekend

LOS ANGELES, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – After her sold-out stadium tour, pop superstar Taylor Swift filled movie theaters with screaming fans as her concert film took in an estimated $96 million in its opening weekend in North America, smashing records in the category. “This is a sensational domestic opening,” said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. While ticket sales for “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” — which features scenes from three concerts […]

Ecuadorans elect youngest-ever president, Daniel Noboa, to address country’s challenges

QUITO, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – Car horns in Quito blared in celebration Sunday as banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35, became violence-riddled Ecuador’s youngest president-elect ever. With 90 percent of votes counted, the electoral authority announced Noboa as the victor. Moments earlier, socialist rival Luisa Gonzalez conceded defeat and offered her “profound congratulations” to Noboa, “because this is democracy.” Addressing supporters in Quito, Gonzales also said she would not be claiming fraud. Ecuadorans voted […]

Israel resumes water supply to southern Gaza: minister

JERUSALEM, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – Israel resumed the water supply to southern Gaza, Energy Minister Israel Katz said Sunday, as one million people have evacuated the north of the Strip to escape a massive air assault. “This will push the civilian population to the southern (part of the) Strip,” Katz said in a statement, a week after Israel had stopped supplying water to the entire territory as part of a “complete siege” on the […]

Fears mount that Israel-Hamas war could spark wider conflict

By Robin LEGRAND WASHINGTON, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – Fears that the Israel-Hamas conflict might spread were growing Sunday, with Israeli troops poised to launch a ground offensive into Gaza, Tehran saying that if it does so “no one can guarantee control of the situation,” and Washington expressing fears of possible Iranian involvement. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian issued the Iranian warning during an official visit Sunday to Qatar, adding that unless what he called the […]

Israel confirms Hamas holding 155 hostages: army

JERUSALEM, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – The Israeli military said Sunday it had confirmed 155 people were being held hostage by Hamas since the Palestinian militant group staged its deadly attack last week. Families of “155 hostages” have been contacted by the authorities, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, updating an earlier figure confirming 126 hostages.

One million Gazans displaced as Israel preps ground attack

By Mai YAGHI with Jay DESMUKH in Jerusalem GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – More than one million people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip in the last week, the UN said Sunday, after sustained Israeli bombardment and warnings about a ground attack targeting Hamas commanders. Israel declared war on the Islamist group last Sunday, a day after waves of fighters broke through the heavily fortified border and shot, stabbed and […]