WORLD - The African Mirror

Apr

22

2024

Baby in Gaza saved from womb of mother killed in Israeli strike

WORLD

A baby girl was delivered from the womb of a Palestinian killed along with her husband and daughter by an Israeli attack in the Gaza city of Rafah, where 19 people died overnight in intensified strikes, Palestinian health officials said. The dead, killed in hits on two houses, included 13 children from one family, they said. The baby, weighing 1.4 kg (3.09 lb)and delivered in an emergency C-section, was stable and improving gradually, said Mohammed Salama, a doctor caring for her. Her mother, Sabreen Al-Sakani, had been 30 weeks pregnant. The baby was placed in an incubator in a Rafah hospital alongside…

Apr

21

2024

By RAMI AMICHAY

Thousands of Israelis join anti-government protests

WORLD

THOUSANDS of Israeli demonstrators took to the streets to call for new elections and demand more action from the government to bring the hostages held in Gaza home, in the latest round of protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protests have continued as the war in Gaza moves through its seventh month and amid growing anger over the government's approach to the 133 Israeli hostages still held by the Islamist movement Hamas. Surveys indicate that most Israelis blame Netanyahu for the security failures that led to the devastating attack by Hamas fighters on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israel's…

Apr

22

2024

By The African Mirror

Two dead, six injured in Memphis block party shooting, police says

WORLD

AT least two people are dead and six others injured in a shooting at a block party in Memphis, Tennessee, according to police. "During the follow-up investigation, we learned that there were 8 total victims, with two of those being deceased on the scene," Memphis police said in an updated statement posted on X. Police had earlier said that 16 people were shot. One of the injured remains in critical condition, while one has been released, police said. "This was a block party that was occurring without a permit", police said. The block party had about 200-300 people in attendance. At least…

Apr

22

2024

By BERNARD ORR and ETHAN WANG

Massive river flooding expected in China’s Guangdong, threatening millions

WORLD

MAJOR rivers, waterways and reservoirs in China's Guangdong province are threatening to unleash dangerous floods, forcing the government to enact emergency response plans to protect more than 127 million people. Calling the situation "grim", local weather officials said sections of rivers and tributaries at the Xijiang and Beijiang river basins are hitting water levels in a rare spike that only has a one-in-50 chance of happening in any given year, state broadcaster CCTV news said on Sunday. China's water resource ministry issued an emergency advisory, CCTV reported. Guangdong officials urged departments in all localities and municipalities to begin emergency planning…

Apr

21

2024

By RICHARD COWAN, MOIRA WARBURTON and PATRICIA ZENGERLE

US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate

WORLD

THE U.S. House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hardliners. The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, which passed a similar measure more than two months ago. U.S. leaders from Democratic President Joe Biden to top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell had been urging embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it up for a vote. The Senate is expected to pass the measure next week, sending it to Biden to sign into law. The bills provide $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, including…

Apr

21

2024

By TORA AGARWALA, SUNIL KATARIA and JOSEPH CAMPBELL

India’s strife-torn Manipur overcomes fear of violence to vote in big numbers

WORLD

RESIDENTS of India's violence-torn northeastern state of Manipur turned out in large numbers to vote on Friday, despite the shadow of ethnic clashes that killed at least 220 people in the last year hanging over the national election. The state has been roiled by fighting between the majority Meitei and tribal Kuki-Zo people since May and continues to be divided into two enclaves - a valley controlled by Meiteis and Kuki-dominated hills, separated by a stretch of "no man's land" monitored by federal paramilitary forces. There were scattered incidents of violence on Friday in the state, despite heavy security. At least…

Apr

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Reaction to Israel’s military response to Iran’s attack on Israel

WORLD

ISRAEL carried out an attack on Iranian territory, sources said, days after Iran struck Israel with a barrage of drones and missiles. Here are reactions to the Israeli military response, from official statements and postings on social media: UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES: "It is high time to stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East. The Secretary-General condemns any act of retaliation and appeals to the international community to work together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond." EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN: "It is absolutely necessary…

Apr

20

2024

By KRISHN KAUSHIK, PRAVEEN PARAMASIVAM and YP RAJESH

Indians vote in huge election dominated by jobs, Hindu pride and Modi

WORLD

THE first of India's almost one billion voters cast ballots in the country's multi-day election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism. The vote pits Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties that promise greater affirmative action and more handouts while stressing what they call the need to save democratic institutions. Nearly 970 million people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase exercise, the world's largest election, which runs through the peak of summer until June 1, with results set for June 4. Election Commission…

Apr

20

2024

By JACK QUEEN and LUC COHEN

Lawyers select 12 jurors to serve in Trump hush-money case

WORLD

LAWYERS in Donald Trump's historic criminal trial selected 12 jurors who will assess his guilt or innocence over the coming weeks in a case stemming from a hush-money payment to a porn star. Lawyers for the defense and the prosecution still must select alternate jurors for the trial, the first ever in which a former U.S. president is the defendant. Opening statements could take place on Monday, said Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the trial. Earlier in the day, Merchan dismissed a juror who said she felt intimidated that some personal information was made public. The judge also excused…

Apr

19

2024

By JAMES MACKENZIE and NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI

Israel will defend itself, Netanyahu says, as West calls for restraint

WORLD

ISRAEL will make its own decisions about how to defend itself, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, as Western countries pleaded for restraint in responding to a volley of attacks from Iran. The United States, European Union and G7 group of industrialised nations all announced plans to consider tighter sanctions on Iran, seen as aimed at mollifying Israel and persuading it to rein in its retaliation for the first ever direct Iranian strikes after decades of confrontation by proxy. Iran attacked in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1. Israel and its allies mostly shot…