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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.

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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

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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.

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

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 |

Car bomb outside Pakistan’s security force headquarters kills at least 10, dozens injured

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Car bomb outside Pakistan’s security force headquarters kills at least 10, dozens injured

Quetta, Pakistan — A powerful car bomb outside the headquarters of Pakistan’s paramilitary security forces killed at least 10 people on Tuesday and wounded 30 others, authorities said.

Before detonating their vehicle, as many as six militants inside the car stepped outside and engaged troops in an intense shootout, according to the police. All six attackers were reported to have been killed.

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Residents said the blast in the southwestern city of Quetta could be heard from miles away. Ambulances rushed to the site in front of the Frontier Constabulary and rescuers transported the wounded to nearby hospitals.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, though suspicion is likely to fall on separatists who often target civilians and security forces in insurgency-plagued Balochistan, where Quetta is the provincial capital.

Provincial health minister Bakhat Kakar said the death toll could rise further. He told reporters that the attackers had targeted the security forces’ headquarters, but most of those killed and injured were civilians.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said six attackers were involved in the assault and all of them were killed by the security forces.

Mohammad Usman, who lives near the paramilitary headquarters, said the blast shook the entire neighborhood. “The windowpanes of my house shattered, and part of the building was damaged, but thanks to God we are all safe,” he said, adding he heard gunfire following the explosion.

Local television channels and CCTV footage from the site of the explosion showed images of a car stopping in front of the gate of the paramilitary compound. An explosion follows and gunfire is heard after the blast. Windows of surrounding buildings were shattered and nearby cars were damaged, according to the footage.

In Islamabad, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the bombing and praised security forces for quickly responding to the attack and eliminating the attackers.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the attack, saying security forces returned fire and killed all the assailants involved in the deadly attack in the city.

“Terrorists cannot break the nation’s resolve through cowardly acts, and the sacrifices of our people and security forces will not go in vain,” Bugti said in a statement. He said that his government remains committed to making the province a peaceful and secure place.

The attack comes weeks after a suicide bombing outside a stadium near Quetta as supporters of a nationalist party were leaving a rally, killing at least 13 people and wounding 30 others.

Balochistan has long been the scene of insurgency, with groups such as the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army demanding independence from the central government. The separatists have largely targeted security forces and civilians in the region and elsewhere.

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

Death Toll Rises to 19 in Vietnam as Typhoon Bualoi Leaves Trail of Floods and Landslides

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Death Toll Rises to 19 in Vietnam as Typhoon Bualoi Leaves Trail of Floods and Landslides

Hanoi, Vietnam – Lingering heavy rains from former Typhoon Bualoi have caused further flooding and landslides across Vietnam, raising the death toll to 19 while more people remain missing, officials said Tuesday.

The national weather agency reported that rainfall in some areas exceeded 30 centimeters in just 24 hours, and it warned that heavy downpours are likely to continue. The prolonged rains triggered flash floods and landslides that have cut off roads and isolated communities, stretching from the northern mountains of Son La and Lao Cai provinces to central Nghe An province.

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In Yen Bai, the Thao River swelled above emergency levels overnight, flooding homes with waters up to a meter deep and forcing evacuations. State media said authorities are still searching for 13 people, including eight fishermen who went missing in the storm.

Bualoi had already caused at least 20 deaths in the Philippines before striking Vietnam. The storm made landfall early Monday with maximum sustained winds reaching levels 10 to 11, and gusts as high as levels 13 to 14. Its slow movement increased the risk of flooding and destruction across wide areas of the north-central and northern regions.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued an urgent directive calling for immediate relief operations to support affected areas. Preliminary assessments from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that as of late Monday night, the storm had killed 19 people, left 13 missing, eight out of contact, and injured 88. More than 105,000 houses were damaged or lost their roofs, with Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces among the hardest hit. Nearly 3,400 houses were flooded and 2,700 others cut off. Over 9,400 hectares of rice and other crops were inundated, along with 1,700 hectares of aquaculture. Damage was also reported to transport links, irrigation systems and economic infrastructure.

Experts say global warming is making tropical storms like Bualoi stronger and wetter. Warmer oceans provide storms with more fuel, leading to heavier rainfall, more intense winds and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia.

Rescue workers continue search and relief operations as communities brace for further rains in the days ahead.

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

Trump proposes supervising government for Gaza without Hamas, opens door for statehood

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Trump proposes supervising government for Gaza without Hamas, opens door for statehood

Washington, USA – United States President Donald Trump presented a peace plan for Gaza on Monday that includes the creation of a transitional government without Hamas supervised by himself, the demilitarization of the Strip, and the possibility of a Palestinian state in the future.

The president detailed his 20-point proposal after meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed his support for the initiative because it coincided with the objectives of the Israeli offensive on the enclave.

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At a joint press conference, at which no questions were taken, Trump said the ball is now in Hamas’ court and warned that if the group rejects the plan, the US will give its “full backing” to Israel to continue its offensive.

The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release within 72 hours of the 48 hostages, both alive and dead, who remain in Hamas’ hands.

In exchange, Israel should release 250 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 Gazans detained after the Oct 7, 2023, attacks.

If the agreement is accepted, the US guarantees the delivery of all necessary humanitarian aid, which would be distributed through the UN.

A government under Trump’s tutelage without Hamas

The plan also envisages the total disarmament of Hamas, which would be excluded from the governance of the Strip, and the establishment of a transitional government made up of Palestinian technocrats and international experts, supervised by a “Peace Board” chaired by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997-2007).

Subsequently, a reformed Palestinian Authority would be responsible for taking control of Gaza, although Netanyahu warned that this body could not play a role in the future of the enclave without a “radical reform.”

The Israeli prime minister expressed his support for Trump’s proposal, noting that it coincided with Israel’s objectives in the war, which are the release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli control of the enclave’s security, and the exclusion of Hamas from its future government.

Netanyahu insisted that if Hamas rejects the proposal, Israel would “finish the job by itself.”

“This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” he added.

Despite Netanyahu’s expressed support for the plan, the PM will face internal opposition within his own government, as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right settler, warned that he will not tolerate concessions on issues such as the rejection of a Palestinian state or the indefinite presence of the Israeli army in Gaza.

Towards a Palestinian state?

Trump’s program rules out Israeli annexation of Gaza, includes a reconstruction and economic development plan for the Strip, prohibits the forced displacement of Gazans, and recognizes the right of return for those who leave voluntarily.

This last point represents a change from Trump’s proposal made shortly after returning to the White House in January, when he suggested expelling the population of Gaza to build a real estate project called the “Middle East Riviera.”

Trump also promised Arab and Muslim leaders last week, including those from Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, that he would not allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, and then publicly reiterated this.

The United States also committed to mediate a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to “agree on a political horizon for peaceful coexistence” and opened the door to “the conditions may finally be in place” for the future creation of a Palestinian state.

The initiative comes amid growing international isolation of Israel for its offensive in Gaza, increasingly described by many as genocide, and following the recognition of the Palestinian state by the United Kingdom and France, traditional allies of Tel Aviv, which has been condemned by the United States and Israel.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Madagascar’s president dissolves government after 22 killed in protests

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Madagascar’s president dissolves government after 22 killed in protests

Antananarivo, Madagascar – Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina dissolved the government on Monday following several days of protests over water and power cuts in which at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured, according to the UN.

“We acknowledge and apologize if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them,” Rajoelina said in speech on state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy.

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“I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life,” he said.

Applications for a new prime minister will be received over the next three days before a new government is formed, the president explained

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, reported on Monday that at least 22 people were killed and over 100 injured in the protests in Antananarivo, Madgascar’s capital, and in other cities across the country.

In the statement, Türk confirmed that among the victims are protesters and bystanders killed by security forces, as well as people who died in subsequent violence and looting perpetrated by individuals and gangs not linked to the marches.

The protests in the capital were suppressed by the Malagasy Police with tear gas and rubber bullets, leading authorities to decree a curfew from dusk to dawn on Sep. 25.

“I am shocked and saddened by the killings and injuries in the protests over water and power cuts in Madagascar,” Türk said, urging authorities to “ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, consistent with their obligations under international human rights law.”

The organizers insisted that the protest was peaceful and blamed the unrest on “external groups.”


Riot police use teargas to disperse protesters. Photo : Zo Andrianjafy/Reuters

Despite the repression, demonstrations continued on Monday at a university in Antananarivo.

According to images released by local media, hundreds of young people held up banners, sang the national anthem, and tried to march through the city.

After the protests began, Rajoelina, who was in New York to participate in the 80th UN General Assembly, condemned the vandalism in a social media post. He called for calm and expressed regret for the damage to properties and businesses.

Two days later, in response to the crisis, he dismissed Olivier Jean Baptiste, the Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbons, for failing in his duties by delaying measures to increase electricity production.

Türk urged the security forces to refrain from using “unnecessary and disproportionate force” and to release all protesters detained without cause immediately.

He also recalled that law enforcement officers may only use firearms “when strictly necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury.”

The demonstrations spread to other cities, leading the authorities to suspend classes in schools in the capital and suburban districts due to the disturbances.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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