- World
Israel blocks Gaza ceasefire despite Hamas flexibility
Israel continues to block a ceasefire agreement a year after the Gaza war began, despite Hamas showing flexibility, stated Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ chief negotiator and deputy Gaza chief, during a speech broadcast on Hamas’ Aqsa television on Sunday. Attempts by Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, with support from the United States, have so far failed to resolve disputes between the…
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Haiti gang violence displaces 6,300 after deadly attack
SAINT-MARC, Haiti — In the wake of a brutal attack in central Haiti, nearly 6,300 individuals have abandoned their homes, according to the U.N.’s migration agency. Armed gang members killed at least 70 people. Most of the displaced, around 90%, are now staying with relatives, while 12% have found shelter in places like a school, detailed the International Organization for…
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Florida prepares for biggest evacuation since 2017 as Milton nears
Florida readied itself on Sunday for its largest evacuation since 2017 as Tropical Storm Milton strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico, heading towards the state’s western coast. This development follows the devastating Hurricane Helene. The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicted Milton would reach hurricane strength by Wednesday morning, likely striking near the densely populated Tampa Bay area. Areas already impacted…
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Oil spill feared after New Zealand navy ship sinks off Samoa
An oil spill is “highly probable” following the grounding and sinking of a New Zealand navy ship off the coast of Samoa, according to the Pacific island nation’s acting prime minister. Late Sunday, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio confirmed officials in Samoa are conducting an environmental assessment in the area where the HMNZS Manawanui sank that morning. New Zealand’s Chief of…
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Iran’s Qaani missing after Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, travelled to Lebanon following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last month. Qaani has not been heard from since the strikes on Beirut late last week, according to two senior Iranian security officials. One official mentioned Qaani was in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburbs during a strike that…
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Chinese nationals killed in Karachi airport blast
Two Chinese nationals lost their lives in an explosion near Karachi’s international airport on Sunday night. The Chinese embassy in Pakistan labelled the incident a “terrorist attack”. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility. They stated in an email to journalists that a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted Chinese nationals, including engineers. Geo News reported that…
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Harry and Meghan’s Christmas dilemma: UK visit uncertain
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face a dilemma over their Christmas plans. Reports suggest Harry wishes to spend the festive season in the UK with his extended family. The Spencers, his maternal relatives, have extended an invitation. A source close to the couple mentioned Harry’s eagerness for the Sussexes to reunite with family this Christmas. Harry’s desire to reconnect particularly…
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Two Indian Americans named 2024 White House Fellows
Two Indian Americans, Padmini Pillai from Boston and Nalini Tata from New York, have been appointed to the 2024-2025 class of White House Fellows. Announced on Thursday, they are among 15 talented individuals selected from across the United States for this esteemed programme. Participants spend a year working alongside senior White House staff, cabinet secretaries, and other high-ranking officials, gaining…
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Kim vows nuclear response if North Korea’s sovereignty threatened
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that the nation would readily deploy all its offensive capabilities, including nuclear weapons, if its sovereignty were threatened. He criticised South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for remarks made on Tuesday, suggesting that Yoon’s threats to end the North Korean regime jeopardise regional security and peace. Yoon’s boast about military power near a…
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Mexican soldiers detained after fatal shooting of migrants near Guatemala border
Mexican authorities have detained soldiers involved in a fatal shooting incident on a pickup truck carrying migrants, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday near the Guatemala border in Chiapas state, resulted in six deaths and ten injuries. The shooting took place the same day Claudia Sheinbaum was inaugurated as Mexico’s President. Sheinbaum condemned the killings,…
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Sydney’s pro-Palestine rally proceeds after agreement with police
A pro-Palestine group in Sydney will proceed with a rally on Sunday after reaching an agreement with the police. Authorities had initially sought a court order to block protests on October 6 and 7, citing safety concerns. The Supreme Court of New South Wales dismissed the police petition after organisers agreed to alter the location and route of the Sunday…
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Kim Jong Un vows nuclear response to threats against North Korea
Kim Jong Un declared on Friday that North Korea would not hesitate to deploy all available offensive capabilities, including nuclear weapons, if any force attempted to infringe on its sovereignty. He criticised South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s remarks from a military event on Tuesday, where Yoon suggested ending the North Korean regime, claiming such comments revealed the true disruptor…
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Israeli airstrike targets senior Hezbollah official in Beirut
An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Thursday reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, widely considered the successor to the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Two Israeli sources confirmed the target through a report by Barak Ravid. The Israeli Defence Forces have not commented on the strike. Israel’s military mentioned hitting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut. At the same time,…
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Annual Fat Bear Week kicks off in Alaska’s Katmai National Park
In Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, the annual Fat Bear Week contest commenced on Wednesday, inviting viewers to select their favourite among a dozen well-fed brown bears preparing for winter. This event, now in its 10th year, honours the tenacity of the 2,200 brown bears inhabiting the preserve, which stretches from Alaska’s southwest corner to the Aleutian Islands. These…
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Massachusetts court decides fate of rescued beaver Nibi
A Massachusetts court is currently determining whether a two-year-old beaver named Nibi will stay with her rescuers or be released into the wild as winter nears. This case has sparked a significant response, even drawing comments from the governor. Adam Teper, the lawyer for Nibi’s rescuers, expressed amazement at the global support for the beaver’s protection. On Tuesday, a judge…
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Mexican soldiers kill six migrants near Guatemalan border
Mexican soldiers shot and killed six migrants who were part of a group of 33 travelling in a pick-up truck. The migrants attempted to evade a military patrol, leading to the incident, according to a statement from the defence ministry. On Tuesday evening, another 10 migrants sustained injuries. The group included nationals from Egypt, Nepal, Cuba, India, and Pakistan. The…
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Russian bomb injures 10 in Kharkiv apartment attack
Late on Wednesday, a Russian guided bomb struck a five-storey apartment block in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The impact ignited fires and injured at least 10 individuals, according to local officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted this attack, part of a persistent assault on the city, to stress the urgent need for more support from Ukraine’s Western allies. He cited Iran’s…
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Australia secures flights for citizens to exit Lebanon swiftly
Australia has arranged several hundred airline seats for its citizens to exit Lebanon, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Thursday. She urged the remaining thousands of Australians in Lebanon to leave while they still have the chance. The government has secured 580 seats on flights leaving on Thursday and Saturday for citizens, permanent residents, and their families, Wong revealed at…
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Israeli forces strike Beirut, six dead, seven injured
Israeli forces targeted central Beirut on Thursday, resulting in six deaths and seven injuries. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reported that Israeli attacks have displaced approximately 1.2 million Lebanese citizens. The Israeli strike followed the loss of eight Israeli soldiers during a ground incursion into Lebanon aimed at Hezbollah. Hezbollah confirmed the destruction of three Israeli Merkava tanks with rockets…
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Russia backs China against US in Asia-Pacific tensions
Russia aligns with China on Asian matters, including opposing the U.S. push to extend its influence and efforts to escalate the situation around Taiwan, stated Russia’s foreign minister on Thursday. Sergei Lavrov, in an essay for Rossiiskaya Gazeta, commended Beijing’s stance on the Ukraine conflict and mentioned that both nations aim to address the issues Moscow claims are the root…
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Daniel Day-Lewis returns to screen in son’s debut film
Daniel Day-Lewis is ending his seven-year acting hiatus to star in his son’s directorial debut. As the only actor to have won three best actor Oscars, Day-Lewis’ absence has been felt strongly in the film industry. His return is highly anticipated. Day-Lewis retired in 2017, leaving many cinema enthusiasts disappointed. However, he will now grace the screen again in his…
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Guatemala arrests 25 police officers in human trafficking ring
Guatemalan security agents have arrested 25 individuals, chiefly active police officers, linked to a human trafficking network. This network operated along a route frequented by migrants heading to the United States, according to Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez on Tuesday. Guatemala has long served as a major transit point for migrants from Latin America and other regions journeying north to Mexico’s…
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South Korea factory activity hits 15-month low amid export drop
South Korea’s factory activity saw its steepest decline in 15 months in September due to a drop in overseas demand, marking a slow path to economic recovery. The purchasing managers index (PMI) for manufacturers in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, compiled by S&P Global, dipped to 48.3 in September from 51.9 in August. This index, which distinguishes between expansion and contraction, fell…
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California to permit cannabis smoking in cafes from 2025
Starting next year, restaurants in California’s western US region will permit cannabis smoking, thanks to a new “cannabis cafes” law, similar to those in the Netherlands. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Monday, allowing licensed cannabis businesses to serve hot food and non-alcoholic drinks. This law takes effect on January 1, 2025. California legalized recreational cannabis in 2016,…
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Australian police seek to block pro-Palestine rally
Australian police aim to block a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney on October 6 and 7, marking one year since Israel’s war in Gaza began following a deadly attack by Hamas militants. This conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and triggered a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. New South Wales police, after discussions with rally organisers, expressed…
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Hurricane Helene claims life in North Carolina flooding disaster
The Dixon family never anticipated the danger lurking behind their North Carolina home until the creek turned into a furious torrent. Jessica Dixon recounted the tragic moment when her father was swept away, leading to his death, before they could escape. Thousands of residents around Asheville, including the Dixons, faced unexpected devastation as Hurricane Helene surged inland after hitting Florida’s…
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Japan factory activity contracts due to weak economy and demands
Japan’s factory activity remained subdued in September, with output and new orders contracting amidst a weak economy and sluggish overseas demand, according to a private-sector survey released on Tuesday. The au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.7 in September from 49.8 in August, although it slightly improved from the flash reading of 49.6. This marks the…
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China marks 75 years of Communist rule amid economic challenges
China is observing 75 years of Communist Party rule amidst ongoing economic and security challenges. The only planned event on Tuesday is a flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square. Historically, China has showcased military parades and economic achievements on significant anniversaries, such as the 60th and 70th. The world’s second-largest economy is struggling to recover post-COVID-19. A prolonged downturn in the…
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Putin mandates conscription of 133,000 new servicemen this autumn
Russian President Vladimir Putin has mandated the conscription of 133,000 new servicemen. This autumn draft starts on 1 October and runs until the year’s end, as detailed in a Kremlin decree published Monday. The decree, appearing in Rossiyskaya Gazeta, specifies drafting citizens aged 18 to 30 who are not in the reserve. The head of Russia’s conscription office, Vice-Admiral Vladimir…
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U.N. leaders warn of escalating global conflicts
World leaders convened at the United Nations amid alarming warnings of a potential Middle East conflict and deteriorating global relations. The annual U.N. General Assembly meeting saw presidents, premiers, and other leaders departing with the threat of a broader war looming, not just in the Mideast but elsewhere. There were no expectations of significant breakthroughs in the public and private…
