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Morocco’s Gen Z Protests Enter Sixth Night After Deadly Police Crackdown killed 3 people

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Morocco’s Gen Z Protests Enter Sixth Night After Deadly Police Crackdown killed 3 people

Youth-led demonstrators demand better schools and hospitals and call for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to resign, as unrest spreads across at least a dozen cities

Rabat, Morocco — Youth-led demonstrators in Morocco took to the streets on Thursday for a sixth straight night despite fears of further violence after police shot and killed three people the night before.

The protests, led by a loose movement known as Gen Z 212, have swept through at least a dozen cities, including Casablanca, Rabat and Agadir. Crowds chanted for better schools, improved hospitals, and the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. While largely peaceful, some marches have devolved into riots, with banks looted, shops damaged, and cars set ablaze.

RELATED NEWS : Nepal Changed Government, But Madagascar’s Gen Z Faces Guns, Not Reforms why ?

The protests were sparked by public anger over the deaths of eight women in childbirth at a hospital in Agadir, which many see as emblematic of the country’s deteriorating healthcare system. That anger has combined with frustration over massive government spending on stadiums and infrastructure for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while social services remain underfunded.

On Wednesday night, three people were killed when police opened fire on protesters in Leqliaa, a small town outside Agadir. The Interior Ministry claimed they were attempting to seize police weapons, though eyewitnesses have not confirmed that account. Authorities said 354 people were injured during the unrest, most of them law enforcement officers, and more than 1,000 protesters were arrested.

Despite the deaths, Thursday’s demonstrations remained largely peaceful. Protesters directed their anger at Prime Minister Akhannouch, chanting “The people want to topple Akhannouch” and “Government out!” In some cities, crowds also appealed directly to King Mohammed VI, urging him to intervene against the government.

In his first public remarks since the unrest began, Akhannouch expressed sorrow over the deaths and praised police for maintaining order. He said the government was prepared to respond “favorably” to the protesters’ concerns, without providing details. “The approach based on dialogue is the only way to deal with the various problems faced by our country,” he said.

The Interior Ministry estimates that 70 percent of the protesters are minors, underscoring the youth-driven nature of the uprising. With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026 and Morocco set to host the Africa Cup of Nations next year, the demonstrations highlight growing frustration among younger generations over corruption, economic inequality, and inadequate public services.

One popular chant heard throughout the week was: “Health care first, we don’t want the World Cup.” Another refrain captured the sentiment even more sharply: “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?”

As the Gen Z 212 movement grows, many fear the protests could spread further in the coming days. For now, Morocco’s youth insist their demands are clear: dignity, health, education, and accountability.

Violence Erupts as Morocco Protests Continue

Protests in Morocco turned violent on Wednesday evening, with clashes reported in several cities following days of mass arrests, particularly in areas struggling with unemployment and poor social services.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights said more than 1,000 people have been detained, including some arrested on live TV and others captured on video by local media.

Despite warnings from authorities and calls from the Gen Z 212 movement urging peaceful demonstrations, clashes intensified. Footage shows protesters throwing rocks and setting vehicles on fire in towns across eastern and southern Morocco.

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Nepal Changed Government, But Madagascar’s Gen Z Faces Guns, Not Reforms why ?

Shasi Kumar
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Nepal Changed Government, But Madagascar’s Gen Z Faces Guns, Not Reforms why ?

Antananarivo, Madagascar — Mass protests led by young people, often referred to as “Gen Z,” are escalating in Madagascar as demonstrators demand the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina. The anger is fueled by worsening shortages of water and electricity that have crippled daily life across the island nation.

According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and nearly 100 injured in clashes between security forces and protesters since the unrest began. The violence has drawn international concern, with human rights groups urging restraint and dialogue.

Observers note that similar youth-led protests in other countries have recently forced political change. In Nepal, for example, student- and youth-driven demonstrations earlier this year prompted a government shake-up. Analysts say one reason change occurred in Kathmandu but not in Antananarivo is the differing response of security forces: while the Nepal Army largely refrained from firing on protesters, in Madagascar, the military and police have been deployed to back the government.

Some experts also draw parallels with parts of southern Africa, where militaries have often been used to shield ruling elites from dissent. “The army’s loyalty is decisive. In Madagascar, the armed forces are standing with the president, not the people,” one regional analyst explained.

With public frustration deepening and the younger generation demanding reform, the question now is whether the protests will grow into a nationwide movement capable of reshaping Madagascar’s political future—or be contained by force.

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Eiffel Tower closed as nationwide strikes held across France against austerity

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Eiffel Tower closed as nationwide strikes held across France against austerity

Paris, France — Protesters took to the streets of more than 200 towns and cities across France on Thursday to denounce spending cuts and demand higher taxes on the rich.

In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees and students marched on Thursday afternoon from Place d’Italie. The Eiffel Tower informed visitors in a statement it was closed due to the strikes.

RELATED NEWS : Nathi Mthethwa South Africa’s ambassador to France is found dead in Paris

The nationwide strikes, called by France’s major unions, are the latest of a series of protests that started last month fueled by political turmoil and heated budget talks.

Unions are urging Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to abandon draft budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which include social welfare freezes and austerity measures that many say will further erode the purchasing power of low-paid and middle-class workers. They also call for higher taxes on the wealthy.

A demonstrator displays a poster of luxury group LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault reading” B Arnault uses 6 tax havens , thief” during a new round of strikes and protests against the caretaker government and cost-cutting Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Paris. Photo : AP/Michel Euler)

Lecornu, appointed last month, has not yet unveiled the details of his budget plans and has yet to appoint his government ministers, which is expected in the coming days. The deeply divided parliament is to debate the budget bill by the end of the year.

“It’s true, it’s the first time that there are three days of strikes and protests in a month without a government or budget. It shows the level of social anger,” Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union, said Thursday.

Speaking on BFM TV news broadcaster, she was asked about the timing of the latest action: “Why are we protesting now? Because we feel that it’s now that the decisions are being made, and we want to be heard.”

The French Interior Ministry said 195,000 protesters have taken to the street across the country including 24,000 in Paris.

SNCF, the national rail company, said high-speed train services were running normally Thursday while some regional lines were affected by partial disruptions. In Paris, metro traffic was close to normal but many commuting trains were running at reduced capacity.

Some teachers and health care workers have also joined the strikes, but overall, figures appeared to show less people responded to the unions’ call than last month.

On Sept. 18, more than 500,000 demonstrators marched in France’s small towns and big cities, including Paris, according to figures from the police and interior ministry. Unions reported more than one million strikers and protesters nationwide.

The week before, a day of anti-government action across France saw streets choked with smoke, barricades in flames and volleys of tear gas amid the “Block Everything” campaign.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

After 5 years, India and China agree to restore direct flight operations

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After 5 years, India and China agree to restore direct flight operations

New Delhi, India — India and China will restart direct passenger flights later this month, ending a suspension of more than five years. The move, announced by India’s foreign ministry on Thursday, is being seen as a cautious but significant step in efforts to mend strained bilateral relations.

Flights Return After Pandemic and Political Freeze

There have been no direct commercial flights between the two Asian giants since early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first triggered widespread travel restrictions. The suspension, however, persisted long after most countries reopened, largely due to rising diplomatic tensions following a deadly border clash in Ladakh that same year.

Despite the absence of air connectivity, China has remained India’s largest bilateral trade partner, with two-way trade exceeding $136 billion in 2024.

IndiGo Leads the Way

India’s biggest airline, IndiGo, confirmed it would relaunch daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting October 26. The carrier also announced plans to expand routes to include direct services from New Delhi to a Chinese hub in the near future.

Aviation industry experts believe other airlines may follow suit once demand stabilises, with business and student travel expected to drive bookings.

Diplomatic Breakthrough at SCO Summit

The decision to restore flights comes just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile visit to China — his first in seven years — to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

During bilateral discussions, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that India and China should be regarded as “development partners, not rivals.” Both leaders stressed the importance of strengthening trade ties amid global tariff uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.

Trade Deficit Concerns Linger

While Modi signalled India’s commitment to improving economic ties, he also raised concerns about India’s ballooning trade deficit with China, which currently stands at nearly $99.2 billion. Indian officials have pushed for greater access to Chinese markets for pharmaceuticals, IT services, and agricultural goods to balance trade.

Border Peace Still Central

Modi also underlined the need to maintain peace and stability along the disputed Himalayan frontier. The 2020 Galwan Valley clash, in which soldiers from both sides were killed, led to a five-year-long military standoff, straining ties to their lowest point in decades.

Although several rounds of commander-level talks have helped ease tensions, both armies continue to maintain heavy deployments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Analysts note that confidence-building measures like the resumption of flights could help create a more conducive environment for broader diplomatic engagement.

Analysts: Symbolic but Cautious Step

Foreign policy analysts view the resumption of air connectivity as largely symbolic but important. “Flights won’t resolve the border issue, but they help restore normal channels of people-to-people and business exchange,” said one Delhi-based strategic affairs expert. “It’s a confidence-building measure that signals both sides are willing to compartmentalise their differences.”

Looking Ahead

The restoration of direct air services is expected to benefit students, business travellers, and tourists who previously relied on third-country connections. However, observers caution that deeper challenges in India-China relations — from border disputes to geopolitical competition in Asia — remain unresolved.

For now, the reopening of skies is being hailed as a small but notable thaw in a relationship that has been frozen for half a decade.

SOURCE : REUTERS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

UK Synagogue Attack on Yom Kippur Leaves 2 Dead, Suspect Shot by Police

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UK Synagogue Attack on Yom Kippur Leaves 2 Dead, Suspect Shot by Police

Manchester, England – A suspected terrorist attack at a synagogue in northern England left at least two people dead and several others injured on Thursday, after a man drove into pedestrians and stabbed a security guard during Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the attacker was shot dead by armed officers after he crashed his car into the gates of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall district of Manchester. The suspect was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, prompting fears of a bomb attack.

RELATED NEWS : At least 36 killed, over 200 injured in Ethiopia church scaffolding collapse

A video verified by Reuters showed armed police firing at the man inside the synagogue perimeter, while another victim lay on the ground in a pool of blood, wearing a traditional Jewish skullcap.

Panic at the Synagogue

Witnesses described chaos as worshippers fled. “He has a bomb, go away!” one police officer shouted to onlookers moments before shots rang out. Neighbour Angela Crawshaw said she saw three officers with guns aimed at the suspect in the synagogue car park. “Then they did shoot, and he fell to the floor. He tried to get up again, and they shot him again. And then it was just panic … just noise and panic,” she told Reuters.

A bomb disposal unit was later deployed, and three small controlled explosions were heard. Police said at least one loud bang was linked to specialist teams gaining entry to the suspect’s vehicle as a precaution.

Terrorist Incident Declared

Britain’s senior counter-terrorism officer, Laurence Taylor, said the attack was being treated as a terrorist incident based on evidence gathered so far. Investigators believe they know the attacker’s identity but have not confirmed it publicly.

“Communities across the UK who would normally be marking this holy day are now grieving and worried about their safety,” Taylor said. “UK policing is mobilising — and mobilising fast.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short a European summit in Copenhagen to return home and chair an emergency meeting. “We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe,” he said, confirming that extra police patrols had been deployed to synagogues across the country. “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”

Casualties and Rescue Efforts

Police confirmed that, in addition to the suspect and two worshippers killed, three more people remain in serious condition. Dozens of worshippers were evacuated from the synagogue, many visibly shaken. Several elderly men in prayer robes and skullcaps, as well as children, were led to safety.

“There were a large number of worshippers inside at the time, but thanks to the bravery of security staff, worshippers, and the immediate response of police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access to the prayer hall,” said Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.

Reaction in the UK and Abroad

King Charles said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident. The Israeli embassy in London condemned the attack as “abhorrent and deeply distressing,” adding that it was in close contact with Manchester’s Jewish community.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity on social media: “France stands with Britain’s Jewish community.”

Rising Antisemitism

The attack comes against a backdrop of rising antisemitism across Europe since the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza. Britain recorded its second-worst year on record for antisemitic incidents in 2024, with more than 3,500 reported cases, according to the Community Security Trust.

Attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions have also surged in Germany and France, fueling growing concerns about security for Jewish communities across the continent.

A History of Attacks in Britain

Britain has faced several terrorist incidents in recent decades, the deadliest being the July 2005 London bombings, which killed 52 people. More recently, the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert killed 22, highlighting the ongoing threat of extremist violence.

Thursday’s attack, however, has rattled the country for its targeting of a place of worship during Yom Kippur. For many in the Jewish community, it has reignited fears over safety at religious gatherings.

SOURCE : REUTERS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Elon Musk makes history as first person with $500 billion net worth

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Elon Musk makes history as first person with $500 billion net worth

Austin, USA – Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made history by becoming the first individual ever to reach a personal net worth exceeding half a trillion dollars, following a surge in Tesla shares on Wednesday. The milestone underscores Musk’s unprecedented influence in the electric vehicle, space, and technology sectors.

During New York trading, Musk’s fortune briefly climbed to $500.1 billion, before dipping back to $499 billion in later trading. The tech entrepreneur owns over 12 percent of Tesla, the electric car and clean energy company, whose stock has seen remarkable growth this year.

Tesla shares have surged more than 20 percent since January, despite facing early volatility linked to public scrutiny of Musk’s association with U.S. President Donald Trump. Analysts note that Tesla’s ongoing expansion in global electric vehicle markets, coupled with strong quarterly earnings and positive investor sentiment, have driven much of the stock’s rally.

Musk’s wealth is not limited to Tesla. His other ventures, including space exploration company SpaceX and artificial intelligence startup xAI, have also significantly increased his financial standing. SpaceX’s recent rocket launches and satellite deployments have solidified its position as a leading private aerospace firm, while xAI has gained attention in the rapidly growing AI sector.

The milestone continues Musk’s long-standing position at the top of the world’s rich list. However, he has faced competition; last month, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison briefly surpassed him after Oracle shares surged 43 percent, largely driven by demand for its cloud computing services. Despite this temporary shift, Musk’s diversified portfolio and influence across multiple high-growth industries allowed him to reclaim the top spot.

Adding to the intrigue surrounding Musk’s fortune, Tesla’s board recently proposed a $1 trillion compensation package contingent on the company achieving a market capitalization exceeding $8.5 trillion over the next decade—more than eight times its current market value. If realized, the package would represent one of the largest executive compensation arrangements in history, underscoring the company’s high-stakes ambitions.

Financial analysts note that Musk’s net worth, tied heavily to Tesla stock, is highly volatile, capable of swinging billions in a single day depending on market movements. Nevertheless, Wednesday’s surge represents a symbolic milestone in the history of wealth accumulation, positioning Musk as the first human to surpass the $500 billion mark.

The historic achievement has sparked discussions about wealth concentration, technology-driven fortunes, and the global impact of billionaire entrepreneurs. While Musk’s financial accomplishments are unprecedented, his influence extends beyond mere numbers—shaping industries, technological innovation, and public discourse worldwide.

As Tesla continues to expand its production, SpaceX undertakes ambitious space projects, and xAI explores new frontiers in artificial intelligence, Musk’s wealth and influence are expected to remain at the forefront of global attention for years to come.

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At least 36 killed, over 200 injured in Ethiopia church scaffolding collapse

Mark Kenya
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At least 36 killed, over 200 injured in Ethiopia church scaffolding collapse

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The death toll from a devastating scaffolding collapse in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region has climbed to at least 36, with more than 200 others injured, local officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The tragedy unfolded around 7:45 a.m. during an annual Orthodox church celebration in the town of Arerti, located in the North Shewa Zone. According to state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation, a makeshift wooden scaffolding erected around the church for finishing construction works gave way as thousands of worshippers had gathered for the religious event.

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District police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu said the collapse caused widespread panic, with the sudden crash of the wooden structure burying dozens of people beneath heavy debris. “The situation was chaotic as many were trapped under the fallen scaffolding while others tried to rescue them with bare hands,” he told local reporters.

Emergency responders, assisted by local residents, launched immediate rescue operations. However, the crowded conditions and the instability of the remaining scaffolding complicated efforts. As of late Wednesday, search and rescue teams were still working to free individuals believed to be trapped.

Health authorities reported that more than 200 people sustained both serious and minor injuries. Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals and health centers, where medical staff have been working around the clock to treat the wounded. Officials have warned that the death toll may continue to rise due to the severity of some injuries.

The collapse also caused significant damage to the church structure itself, raising concerns over construction safety standards. Authorities have not yet provided details on what triggered the failure of the scaffolding, but investigations are underway.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, one of the country’s largest religious institutions, attracts large crowds during annual celebrations, with thousands often participating in prayers and festivities. The incident in Arerti has shocked the nation, with many expressing grief and condolences for the victims and their families.

Government officials have pledged to provide full support for ongoing rescue and recovery operations. Local authorities said additional emergency resources have been deployed to the scene, and counseling services are being offered to survivors and grieving families.

As Ethiopia continues to mourn the loss of dozens of lives, questions remain over safety oversight in religious gatherings that draw massive crowds. For now, the focus remains on rescuing those still trapped and ensuring medical care for the injured.

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Congo military court sentences former President Kabila to death for treason

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Congo military court sentences former President Kabila to death for treason

Bukavu, Congo – A high military court in Congo convicted former President Joseph Kabila of treason and war crimes Tuesday on accusations of collaborating with anti-government rebels and sentenced him to death.

It was not immediately clear how the sentence could be carried out because the whereabouts of Kabila, who has been on trial in absentia since July, have been unknown since he last was seen in public in a rebel-held city earlier this year. Kabila’s political party called the verdict politically motivated.

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The court in Kinshasa ordered his immediate arrest.

The government said Kabila collaborated with Rwanda and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23, which seized key cities in a lightning assault in January in Congo’s mineral-rich east.

Kabila has denied the allegations, though he expressed support for the rebels’ campaign in an op-ed published in February in the South African newspaper Sunday Times.

The high military court in Kinshasa ruled Tuesday that Kabila was guilty of treason, war crimes, conspiracy and organizing an insurrection together with the M23. It also ordered Kabila to pay $29 billion in damages to Congo, as well as $2 billion to the country’s province of North Kivu and $2 billion to South Kivu.

The court said prosecutors presented testimony implicating Kabila from Eric Nkuba, the imprisoned former chief of staff of rebel leader Corneille Nangaa. Nkuba was convicted on rebellion charges in August 2024.

The court cited Nkuba as saying that Kabila regularly communicated with Nangaa by phone about how to overthrow the government of current President Felix Tshisekedi.

The head of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy called the verdict “a political, unfair decision.”

“We believe that the clear intention of the dictatorship in power is to eliminate, to neutralize, a major political actor,” the party’s permanent secretary, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Richard Bondo, a lawyer who represented the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, said he was “satisfied” with the court’s decision. “Justice rendered in the name of the Congolese people gives satisfaction to its people,” he added.

Kabila led Congo from 2001 to 2019. He took office at the age of 29 — after his father and former President Laurent Kabila was assassinated — and extended his mandate by delaying elections for two years after his term ended in 2017. His candidate lost in December 2018 to Kabila’s long-term political rival, Tshisekedi, who has ruled the country since 2019.

In May, the country’s Senate voted to repeal Kabila’s immunity from prosecution, a move Kabila denounced at the time as dictatorial.

Kabila had lived outside of Congo in self-imposed exile but returned in April to Goma, one of the cities held by the rebel group. His current location is unknown.

Congo’s decades-long conflict escalated in January, when the M23 rebels advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu, which they took in February. The fighting has killed some 3,000 people and worsened what was already one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with around 7 million people displaced.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

At least 69 people killed in a powerful earthquake that hit the Philippines

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At least 69 people killed in a powerful earthquake that hit the Philippines

Manila, Philippines — At least 69 people were killed in a powerful earthquake that hit a central Philippine province where dozens of peple were killed by a powerful earthquake Tuesday night.

The magnitude-6.9 earthquake that hit at about 10 p.m. trapped an unspecified number of residents in collapsed houses, nightclubs and other businesses in the hard-hit city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province, officials said.

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Rescuers scrambled to find survivors Wednesday. Army troops, police and civilian volunteers backed by backhoes and sniffer dogs were deployed Wednesday to carry out house-to-house searches for survivors.

The epicenter of the earthquake, which was set off by movement in an undersea fault line at a dangerously shallow depth of 5 kilometers (3 miles), was about 19 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Bogo, a coastal city of about 90,000 people in Cebu province where about half of the deaths were reported, officials said.

Patients wait outside the Cebu Provincial Hospital Bogo City after a strong earthquake struck in Bogo city, Cebu province, central Philippines on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. Photo : AP

The death toll in Bogo was expected to rise, according to officials, who said intermitted rain and damaged bridges and roads were hampering the race to save lives.

“We’re still in the golden hour of our search and rescue,” Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said in a news briefing. “There are still many reports of people who were pinned or hit by debris.”

The Philippine government is considering whether to seek help from foreign governments based on an ongoing rapid damage assessment, Alejandro said.

Workers were trying to transport a backhoe to hasten search and rescue efforts in a cluster of shanties in a mountain village hit by a landslide and boulders, Bogo city disaster-mitigation officer Rex Ygot told The Associated Press early Wednesday.

“It’s hard to move in the area because there are hazards,” said Glenn Ursal, another disaster-mitigation officer, who added that some survivors were brought to a hospital from the mountain village.

Deaths also were reported from the outlying towns of Medellin and San Remigio, where three coast guard personnel, a firefighter and a child were killed separately by collapsing walls and falling debris while trying to flee to safety from a basketball game in a sports complex that was disrupted by the quake, town officials said.

The earthquake was one of the most powerful to batter the central region in more than a decade and it struck while many people slept or were at home.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology briefly issued a tsunami warning and advised people to stay away from the coastlines of Cebu and the nearby provinces of Leyte and Biliran due to possible waves of up to 1 meter (3 feet).

No such waves were reported and the tsunami warning was lifted more than three hours later, but thousands of traumatized residents refused to return home and chose to stay in open grassy fields and parks overnight despite intermittent rains.

Cebu and other provinces were still recovering from a tropical storm that battered the central region on Friday, leaving at least 27 people dead mostly due to drownings and falling trees, knocking out power in entire cities and towns and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.

Schools and government offices were closed in the quake-hit cities and towns while the safety of buildings were checked. More than 600 aftershocks have been detected after Tuesday night’s temblor, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Teresito Bacolcol said.

Rain-soaked mountainsides were more susceptible to land- and mudslides in a major earthquake, he warned.

“This was really traumatic to people. They’ve been lashed by a storm then jolted by an earthquake,” Bacolcol said. “I don’t want to experience what they’ve gone through.”

The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Nathi Mthethwa South Africa’s ambassador to France is found dead in Paris

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Nathi Mthethwa South Africa’s ambassador to France is found dead in Paris

Paris, France — The South African ambassador to France, Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa, known as Nathi Mthethwa, was found dead on Tuesday morning at the foot of a luxury hotel tower in western Paris, a French prosecutor said.

The 58-year-old ambassador had been reported missing on Monday evening, after his wife said she received a worrying message from him “in which he apologized and expressed his intention to take his own life,” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement.

On Tuesday morning, a security guard at the Hyatt hotel discovered Mthethwa’s body in the inner courtyard, Beccuau said, adding an investigation has been opened.

Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, where the window’s safety mechanism had been forced open, Beccuau said. The statement said investigators found no signs of a struggle, nor traces of medication or illegal drugs.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness at the death of Mthethwa “in tragic circumstances.”

In a statement released by his office, Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to Mthethwa’s wife and family.

South Africa’s foreign ministry said Mthethwa had been appointed ambassador to France in December 2023, tasked with strengthening bilateral ties.

Mthethwa previously served as minister of police and minister of sports, arts and culture.

Who was Diplomat Nathi Mthethwa?

Nathi Mthethwa was a prominent South African politician and diplomat who dedicated decades of his career to public service, both domestically and internationally. In February 2024, he was appointed to the South African Embassy in France after serving as the country’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, where he worked to strengthen South Africa’s cultural diplomacy and multilateral engagement.

Before his diplomatic career, Mthethwa held several key ministerial posts. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, a portfolio under which he promoted South Africa’s cultural identity and oversaw major sporting initiatives. Prior to that, he was Minister of Arts and Culture from May 2014 to 2019, leading efforts to preserve national heritage and support the creative industries.

His tenure in government was marked by efforts to integrate arts and culture into broader social and economic development.

Within the African National Congress (ANC), Mthethwa played an influential role for over a decade. He was a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) from 2007 to 2022, the highest decision-making body of the party between national conferences.

During this time, he also served on the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC), which manages the party’s day-to-day affairs and provides recommendations to the NEC on strategic issues. His work in these roles placed him at the center of policy formulation and political strategy in the governing party.

Mthethwa’s career reflected a commitment to both governance and diplomacy, bridging domestic responsibilities with South Africa’s international presence. His contributions left a lasting imprint on cultural policy, political leadership, and the promotion of South Africa on the global stage.

SOURCE : AP NEWS & DT |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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