Tel Aviv/Gaza, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Israeli attacked on central Gaza killed at least 62 people including women and children, according to medical sources in the Palestinian territory.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said they were investigating.
Earlier, the IDF said it began targeted operations al-Bureij in central Gaza and areas in the east of Deir al-Balah on Tuesday.
The IDF carried out airstrikes targeting military compounds and Hamas weapons depots, as well as underground infrastructure belonging to Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
“Several Hamas terrorists were eliminated in the attacks,’’ the IDF said.
Israeli soldiers had previously been deployed in al-Bureij at the beginning of the year, but later withdrew from the area.
However, Hamas is still present in the densely populated area, the IDF said.
Residents of the two neighbouring refugee camps of al-Bureij and al-Maghazi said on Wednesday that they had been uninterrupted attacks in the area.
They said the attacks had been throughout the night and that thousands of people had fled to the Nuseirat refugee camp nearby.
The IDF also continued operations in Rafah in the south of the coastal region, saying armed men who posed a threat to Israeli soldiers were killed. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Indian PM Modi resigns, stays in office awaiting new govt.
Resign
New Delhi, June 5, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tendered his resignation to the country’s President Droupadi Murmu, after his cabinet recommended the dissolution of the lower house of parliament Lok Sabha.
Murmu accepted the resignation of Modi and the council of ministers, requesting Modi to act as the prime minister till the new government is formed, an official of the President’s House said.
Modi’s resignation was a part of the protocol followed before the formation of the next government in the country.
The Election Commission of India released the official data on its website early Wednesday, suggesting that the ruling National Democratic Alliance, led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, is to form the next government. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
S/ korea -Africa summit beginning of stronger cooperation on economy
Economy
Seoul, June 5, 2024 (Yonhap/NAN) South Korea says it has signed nearly 50 initial agreements with African nations to boost cooperation on trade, energy, critical minerals and a wide range of other industrial and economic fields.
Seoul’s industry ministry said on Wednesday.
The memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed on the sidelines of the two-day Korea-Africa Summit held in Seoul from Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The summit was the first of its kind hosted by South Korea for African partners, which focused on expanding their cooperative relations.
At the government-to-government level, 12 MOUs were signed between South Korea and 11 African countries.
South Korea and Tanzania declared the initiation of negotiations for an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with a goal to deepen their trade ties.
An EPA is meant to establish a mutually beneficial trade network with partner nations beyond a simple market opening, though it covers a smaller scope of areas compared with a traditional free trade agreement.
South Korea also agreed with Morocco upon talks to push for negotiations on a bilateral EPA, which would call for a stronger relationship on supply chains, digital industry and a broader range of trade issues.
The Seoul government also signed a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework with eight African countries, including Ghana, Malawi and Zimbabwe with the goal of facilitating trade and investment.
A respective agreement on critical minerals was signed with Tanzania and Madagascar, which is expected to help ensure South Korea’s stable supply chains of key industry minerals for the rechargeable battery and other sectors.
Among state-run agencies and private entities of South Korea and the African nations, 16 MOUs and 19 contracts were signed on the margins of the summit.
Of the contracts, South Korea’s Hyosung Corp. signed a transformer supply deal with the power agency of Mozambique.
Those agreements aimed to expand bilateral cooperation on advanced small modular reactors, electricity, new renewable energy resources, critical minerals and infrastructure projects, as well as trade and investment, according to the ministry.
A business summit took place in Seoul, which brought together some 400 government officials from South Korea and Africa, including presidents and top officials from 18 African nations.
as well as corporate officials from Hyundai Motor Co., LG Corp., POSCO Holding Inc. and Doosan Enerbility Co., among other firms.
The participants discussed how to work more closely on facilitating the industrialisation of African nations and strengthening their economic security in terms of food, major minerals and joint responses to climate change, the ministry said.
“The partnership between South Korea and Africa is a tell-tale example of how global citizens, in spite of different backgrounds, can get together to achieve the goal of joint prosperity,” Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun told the summit, vowing thorough follow-up measures to achieve tangible.(Yonhap/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Rain-triggered flooding maroons thousands in Bangladesh
Flooding
Dhaka, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) More than half a million people have been marooned after vast swathes of land were inundated in north-eastern Bangladesh.
A district of Sylhet by sudden flooding triggered by heavy rain upstream, officials said on Friday.
The government opened nearly 550 temporary shelters as the flooding affected some 533,202 residents in remote villages and townships in the district, according to the local administration.
“We are trying to move the flood-affected people to safety,” said Sheikh Rasel Hasan, chief administrator of the district.
He added that some 4,802 villagers were shifted to the shelters in the last couple of days.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the major rivers, Surma and Kushiyara were breaking their banks because of heavy rainfall in the hills across the border.
“The major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country are in a rising trend, which may remain steady in the next 24 hours,” the BWDB said in its morning bulletin Friday.
If there is no further rain and an onrush of waters from across the border, the situation may improve in seven days, Dipok Ranjan Das, a hydrologist in the district, said.
He said there was no rain reported in Sylhet for Friday.
A 10-day forecast for the overall nationwide situation by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said that water in the major Brahmanputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma river systems would continue to decrease.
Natural calamities like flooding and cyclones are common in Bangladesh. A month-long flooding affected an estimated 7.2 million people in nine north-eastern districts in the monsoon of 2022.
A tropical cyclone lashed the Bangladeshi coastline earlier this week, killing at least 13 people and damaging thousands of thatched houses alongside other infrastructure. (dpa/NAN) (www.nan.ng)
COO/YEE
Hamas insists on permanent ceasefire, withdrawal for deal to end war
War
Beirut, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Palestinian Islamists Hamas say they are sticking to their demands and will only agree to a deal to end the Gaza war if it includes a permanent ceasefire.
In addition, the Israeli military would have to withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip, a representative of the Islamist organisation emphasised at a press conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
If the Israeli side does not agree to these points, no agreement could be reached.
Hamas is waiting for the Israelis’ response.
Hamas representatives have made similar demands several times in the past.
Earlier on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden unexpectedly presented details of a draft agreement to end the war in three phases, starting with a complete and unrestricted ceasefire of six weeks.
During this period, a certain group of hostages would be released.
In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be released too.
In the next phase, the fighting would then stop permanently and the remaining hostages would be released.
In a final phase, according to the draft, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip should begin.
Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel traveled to Qatar on Wednesday for mediation talks.
He is expected to meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the head of the U.S. foreign intelligence service CIA, William Burns, according to Egyptian local media.
For months, Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt have been indirectly mediating between Israel and Hamas in order to achieve a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Nuremberg, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) The flood situation in the southern German state of Bavaria remains tense.
Even though the situation seems to be slowly easing in many places, there are fears that there could be more deaths due to several missing persons in addition to the five confirmed flood victims.
The search for a missing fire-fighter in western Bavaria continues on Wednesday, the police said.
The 22-year-old has not yet been found, said a police spokesman in Kempten.
Police were to search for the missing man on land and with drones.
The young man’s rescue boat had capsised in a water in Offingen on Saturday night.
The police also said other four rescued workers on board were able to save themselves and remained unharmed.
The the police spokesman said there was still hope that he would be found alive.
“But the chances are getting a little slimmer by the day,” he said.
Elsewhere in Bavaria, the water level is falling very slowly at a high level, a spokeswoman for the city of Regensburg said on Wednesday morning.
The Flood Information Service (HND) said the level of the River Danube in the area was still over 6 metres, normally it is around 3 metres.
On Tuesday evening, the emergency services evacuated around 30 houses along a road by the river because the subsoil was continuing to soften due to the high groundwater level.
“The stabilisation of the protective walls would continue to be the focus of disaster control on Wednesday. That is our weak point,” the spokeswoman said.
In Passau near the border with Austria and the Czech Republic, the water levels on the Danube and the River Inn slowly fell on Wednesday. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Executive-Secretary of CTBTO Dr Robert Floyd. (NAN)
CTBTO seeks awareness on dangers of nuclear weapons test in Africa
Awareness
By Fortune Abang
Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) has spoken of the need to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons tests, saying it will offer a proper understanding of the issue.
The Executive Secretary of the organisation, Dr Robert Floyd, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a recent regional workshop for African States Signatories held in Banjul, The Gambia.
CTBT is a multilateral agreement that came into effect in September 1996 and has since been signed on by 187 nations and ratified by 178 to prohibit nuclear weapons tests anywhere in the world.
Floyd said, “The countries of the world agree it will be best we live in a world without nuclear weapons, and to have an effective ban on nuclear testing is one step towards this goal.”
He praised African states for their commitment to abstinence from nuclear weapons tests, saying the organisation will work closely with other countries to facilitate their signature and ratification.
He added that CTBTO will provide more information to help the countries benefit from Treaty membership.
“It is clear there is a strong view that nuclear tests should not happen again, and I believe the reason is because of the history of nuclear testing that has taken place in the African continent,” said the Executive Secretary.
“This is due to the damage it has caused to the environment and human health, and the African states have determined to ensure that this never happens again.
“We are happy to work collectively with African nations to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear testing and fully achieve these goals.
“In 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty opened for signature. Before that date, there were over 2,000 nuclear tests.
“Since then, nearly 28 years later, fewer than 12 nuclear tests have taken place, with only one state, North Korea, conducting any in this century.”
He also explained that the science behind this is the CTBTO’s verification regime, which monitors the planet 24 hours a day to ensure no test goes undetected.
“As a result, we now live in a safer and more secure world,” he said.
In the area of building capacity, Dr Floyd highlighted that countries such as Nigeria should have National Data Centres (NDC) to access data gathered by stations and laboratories worldwide.
“All data coming to Vienna is shared freely with all Member States, including Nigeria. We will work with Nigeria to train the technical staff on receiving, analyzing, and interpreting this data.
“This data also has numerous civil and scientific applications, such as detecting earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, and it can also be used for climate change research.
“So, this is where the capacity building comes into play. People across each of our member states have the opportunity to be trained in these skills.
“It is remarkable that 50 out of the 54 African countries have ratified the treaty, and 52 of the 54 countries have signed it.
“I see Africa coming together as one, supporting one another and working together with the international community for a world without nuclear weapons tests and nuclear weapons as a shared future,” he said. (NAN) (www.nan.ng)
Bomb threat on Air Canada Delhi-Toronto flight turns out hoax
Threat
New Delhi, June 5, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) A bomb threat to Air Canada’s Toronto-bound flight turned out to be a hoax, local media reported on Wednesday.
The international flight scheduled to take off Tuesday night from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport was taken to the isolation bay immediately after an email stating that a bomb had been planted on it.
A thorough inspection was conducted and nothing suspicious was found, according to police.
The incident was the latest among a series of hoax bomb threats that have been sent to schools, airports and hospitals in the national capital.
Last week, a domestic flight was taken to an isolation bay under similar circumstances at the airport in the Indian capital but the scare turned out to be a hoax.
Besides in Delhi, schools in Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru have received similar threats. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
U.S. president tightens asylum rules for border with Mexico
Asylum
Washington, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday issued an executive order to ramp up measures to prevent asylum seekers from entering via the country’s border with Mexico.
“I’m announcing actions to ban migrants who cross our southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum.
“Migrants will be restricted from receiving asylum at our southern border unless they seek it after entering through an established lawful process,’’ Biden said in Washington.
The U.S. president went on to say that asylum would still be available to those who try to enter the U.S. legally.
“But if an individual chooses not to use our legal pathways, if they choose to come without permission and against the law, they’ll be restricted from receiving asylum and staying in the U.S
“This ban will remain in place until the number of people trying to enter illegally is reduced to a level that our system can effectively manage,’’ Biden continued.
The White House earlier in the day published a presidential decree according to which migrants could be denied the chance to claim asylum in certain circumstances.
This was criticised by both human rights activists and Republicans.
Those affected by the decree were to be deported at short notice if they do not explicitly request asylum.
Those who did so would be subjected to stricter checks by border officials.
Previously, most asylum seekers were generally allowed to stay in the country until their court date which is often years in the future due to overburdened authorities.
Exceptions to Biden’s decree are to apply to unaccompanied children and people who were seriously ill, as well as victims of human trafficking, among others.
The new regulation is set to apply as soon as the average number of illegal border crossings in a week exceeds 2,500 per day.
The measures would then be dropped once the number falls below 1,500 again.
As the number of daily entries is currently above the new threshold, the measures are set to come into force on Wednesday.
Mexico is a transit country on the route taken by many Latin Americans fleeing from violence, poverty and political chaos at home trying to reach the U.S. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
