Other News
Philippines health insurer hacked: What we know
By Pam Castro, with Qasim Nauman in Seoul MANILA, Oct 9, 2023 (AFP) – Hackers have stolen the personal data of potentially millions of people from the Philippines’s national health insurer, which has urged members to change their passwords after the “staggering” cyberattack. The hackers have started releasing files including confidential memos from the stolen data to pressure the government into paying a $300,000 ransom. Here is what we know so far about the attack, […]
Macron takes to wheelchair to urge French to support 2024 Paralympics
French President Emmanuel Macron tried out wheelchair basketball as he urged the public to support the 2024 Paralympic Games on Sunday. “I really want to encourage all our compatriots to buy tickets,” Macron said on the eve of the opening of the ticket office for the 2024 Paralympic Games. Earlier, Macron played a few minutes of wheelchair basketball alongside Tony Estanguet, the chief organiser of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and International Paralympic Committee chief Andrew […]
Full list of winners of the Nobel Economics Prize
The Nobel Economics Prize — the only Nobel prize not originally included in Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will — was established in 1968 to celebrate the Swedish central bank’s 300th anniversary. Since it was first awarded in 1969, Americans have dominated the prize, and only two women have won. Here is a list of the winners: 2022: Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig (US) 2021: David Card (Canada), Joshua Angrist (Israel-US) and Guido Imbens (US-Netherlands) […]
Oil prices soar more than 4% after Hamas attack on Israel
HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2023 (AFP) – Oil prices soared more than four percent Monday after Hamas launched an attack on Israel at the weekend, sparking concerns about possible supply shocks from the crude-rich region. Brent jumped 4.7 percent to $86.65 and West Texas Intermediate was up 4.5 percent at $88.39 in early Asian business. The surprise attack and Israel’s declaration of war in response to it have left more than 1,000 dead and raised […]
Tsunami advisory issued for Japan coast after series of shallow earthquakes in the Izu islands
TOKYO, Oct 9, 2023 (AFP) – Japan issued a tsunami advisory for some coastal regions early Monday following a series of shallow earthquakes in the Izu islands in the Pacific Ocean but there were no immediate reports of damage from the minor waves generated, seismologists said. Tsunami waves of 60 centimetres (24 inches) hit Hachijojima island, 280 kilometres (170 miles) south of Tokyo, while ones of 40cm and 20 cm were recorded in western Kochi […]
Typhoon Koinu brings torrential rain to Hong Kong, halts trading and closes schools
HONG KONG, China, Oct 9, 2023 (AFP) – Asian finance hub Hong Kong halted trading at its stock exchange on Monday and closed schools, after Typhoon Koinu generated torrential rainfall overnight. Koinu — which caused one death in Taiwan last week — had weakened into a severe tropical storm by Monday, said the Hong Kong Observatory, as it moved toward the coastal areas of China’s Guangdong province. The storm caused non-stop rain overnight, leading the […]
F1 drivers say Qatar GP was hardest ever, call for change to schedule
Formula One drivers on Sunday declared the Qatar Grand Prix as the toughest physical test of their career, some calling for a review of its October date in the calendar, after a gruelling race that saw several vomiting in their helmets and some taken to the medical centre afterwards. American Logan Sargeant of Williams retired after 40 laps after complaining that he felt too sick to continue, suffering severe dehydration and having vomited. His team […]
UN Security Council members condemn Hamas but no unanimity
UNITED NATIONS, United States, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – Numerous members of the UN Security Council denounced Hamas on Sunday over its massive assault on Israel but the United States regretted a lack of unanimity. At an emergency session, the United States urged strong condemnation of the Palestinian Islamists, who rule the blockaded Gaza Strip and launched a surprise assault and kidnapping operation on Saturday. “There are a good number of countries that condemned the […]
Israel, Gaza reel as death toll soars above 1,100 in war with Hamas
By Rosie Scammell and AFP bureaus in Israel and Palestinian territories SDEROT, Israel, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory, declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict’s death toll surged above 1,100 after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise assault from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steeled the nation for a “long and difficult” war a day after Hamas fired a barrage of thousands of rockets […]
Israel-Gaza war ignites worldwide impact
The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants is making a global impact with Britain, Canada, France and Germany among nations stepping up security around potential Jewish targets as pro-Palestinian protests break out in the Middle East. – Britain – Police in London said Sunday they had boosted patrols following the Hamas attack. “We are aware of a number of incidents… in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza,” the Metropolitan […]
Desperate search for missing Israelis in aftermath of Hamas attack
By Amit Meyer LOD, Israel, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – Dozens of distraught Israeli families scrambled for information on missing loved ones Sunday, a day after Palestinian militants unleashed a surprise attack and forced hostages, some of them bloodied, back to Gaza. More than 100 Israelis have been taken hostage, the government’s press office said. “I just want to be able to hug him,” said Omri Shtivi, 30, whose brother Idan went missing after a […]
