The Israel Defence Forces confirmed on Thursday morning it is investigating a friendly fire incident in northern Gaza on Wednesday which killed five soldiers and injured another seven in northern Gaza. The incident took place in the Jabalya refugee camp where Hamas has been trying to regroup. An initial probe found that a tank fired two shells at a building where soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion were gathered. The soldiers had notified the tanks that they were establishing a post in the building. Later in the evening, the tank crews spotted a gun barrel from one of the building’s windows and fired two shells, erroneously believing they belonged to armed terrorists. Killed in the incident were Cpt. Roy Beit Yaakov, 22, Staff Sgt. Gilad Arye Boim, 22, Sgt. Daniel Chemu, 20, Sgt. Ilan Cohen, 20, and Staff Sgt. Betzalel David Shashuah, 21. Another seven soldiers were injured, including three seriously. The IDF said its probe of the incident is continuing. Gaza Strip pier completed, aid to soon flow Washington: The US military finished installing a floating pier for the Gaza Strip on Thursday, with officials poised to begin ferrying badly needed humanitarian aid into the enclave besieged over seven months of intense fighting in the Israel-Hamas war. The final, overnight construction sets up a complicated delivery process more than two months after US President Joe Biden ordered it to help Palestinians facing starvation as food and other supplies fail to make it in as Israel recently seized the key Rafah border crossing in its push on that southern city on the Egyptian border. Fraught with logistical, weather and security challenges, the maritime route is designed to bolster the amount of aid getting into the Gaza Strip, but it is not considered a substitute for far cheaper land-based deliveries that aid agencies say are much more sustainable. Israel to conscript orthodox men Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that he will advance contentious legislation for conscripting members of the Orthodox Jewish community into army service. “In order to bridge disagreements and bring about a broad consensus, it has been decided to advance the conscription law,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. ‘Iran plotting to destabilise Jordan’ Israel’s Foreign Minister revealed that Jordanian authorities uncovered an Iranian terror network composed of Muslim Brotherhood activists and Hamas terrorists, which, he said, aimed to smuggle weapons into Jordan to destabilize the Jordanian regime. Additionally, the network planned to smuggle weapons into the areas of the Palestinian Authority in order to build a new Hamas terror infrastructure and open another front. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 May,2024 10:00 AM IST | Tel Aviv | AgenciesThe Sudanese people ‘are trapped in an inferno of brutal violence” with famine, disease and fighting closing in and no end in sight, the top UN humanitarian official in the war-ravaged country said. Clementine Nkweta-Salami told a UN press conference that “horrific atrocities are being committed with reckless abandon, reports of rape, torture and ethnically motivated violence are streaming in”, communities and families have been torn apart, and almost 9 million people have been forced to flee their homes in what is now the world’s largest displacement crisis. Earlier this month, the UN food agency warned Sudan’s warring parties that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don’t allow humanitarian aid into the vast western region—a view echoed Wednesday by Nkweta-Salami. Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, broke out into street battles. 9mNo of people forced to flea in Sudan This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 May,2024 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesChina’s President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed and issued a joint statement on deepening China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries state media Xinhua reported. Xi rolled out the red carpet for Putin, who arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit, signalling the deepening alignment between the two nations amidst Russia’s ongoing advances in Ukraine, CNN reported. The grand reception, complete with a military band serenade and multiple gun salute outside the Great Hall of the People, underscored the significance of the leaders’ close relationship amid escalating tensions with the West. In their discussions, on Thursday morning, Xi said China-Russia relations have “stood the test of a changing international landscape” and should be “cherished and nourished” by both sides. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 May,2024 10:00 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesThe influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again denied Friday that her country has exported any weapons to Russia, as she labeled outside speculation on North Korea-Russian arms dealings as 'the most absurd paradox.' The US, South Korea and others have steadfastly accused North Korea of supplying artillery, missiles and other conventional weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for advanced military technologies and economic aid. Both North Korea and Russia have repeatedly dismissed that. Foreign experts believe North Korea's recent series of artillery and short-range missile tests were meant to examine or advertise the weapons it was planning to sell to Russia. Kim Yo Jong called outside assessments on the North Korean-Russian dealings 'the most absurd paradox which is not worth making any evaluation or interpretation.' 'We have no intention to export our military technical capabilities to any country or open them to the public,' she said in a statement carried by state media. She said North Korea's recent weapons tests were purely performed as parts of the country's five-year arms buildup plan launched in 2021. She added that the recently tested weapons are designed to attack Seoul, the South Korean capital. 'We don't conceal the fact that such weapons will be used to prevent Seoul from inventing any idle thinking,' Kim Yo Jong said. In March, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik said North Korea had shipped about 7,000 containers filled with munitions and other military equipment to Russia since last year. In return, Shin said that North Korea had received more than 9,000 Russian containers likely filled with aid. In January, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said North Korea-supplied missiles had been fired on Ukraine. At the time, Ukraine officials also said an investigation of the debris of a missile found in its northeastern Kharkiv region showed the weapon likely was from North Korea. Any weapons trade with North Korea would be a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions that Russia, a permanent UN Security Council member, previously endorsed. In May, the White House also said Russia was shipping refined petroleum to North Korea at levels that exceed U.N. Security Council limits. The deepening North Korean-Russia ties come as both countries are locked in separate confrontations with the United States ' North Korea over its advancing nuclear program and Russia over its protracted war in Ukraine. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted a provocative run of missiles tests, prompting the US to expand its military drills with South Korea and Japan. Foreign experts say North Korea likely thinks an enlarged weapons arsenal would boost its leverage in future diplomacy with the United States. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 May,2024 07:07 AM IST | Seoul | APRussian President Vladimir Putin showed support for China's peace plan amid the ongoing military tussle with Ukraine, calling it a "genuine desire" to bring an end to the hostilities, Al Jazeera reported. According to an ANI report, during his two-day visit to China to meet with President Xi Jinping, Putin praised Beijing's strategy, saying it understood the conflict's "root causes" and its "global geopolitical significance." China's 12-point proposal for putting an end to the conflict had received a mixed response upon its release last year. Putin, however, praised the new policies announced last month, calling them "pragmatic and constructive steps" that "elaborate on the imperative to transcend the Cold War mindset," according to Xinhua. Jinping's additional principles, defined during discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, advocate for de-escalation, the establishment of conditions conducive to peace and stability, and softening the blow on the global economy. Mykhailo Podolyak, the presidential advisor to Ukraine, referred to Putin's remarks on possible peace talks as "hypocritical," according to Al Jazeera. Putin arrived in Beijing on Thursday, marking his first overseas trip since his re-election in March and his second visit to China in just over six months. Furthermore, he's going to a trade and investment exhibit in the northeastern city of Harbin. Only a few days before Moscow's purported invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the friendship between China and Russia was proclaimed to have "no limits." Beijing has not directly supported Russia militarily, but in the extraordinary sanctions the West imposed in reaction to Russia's military activities, Beijing has become an important economic partner. Trade between the two countries has increased, with China gaining from cheap imports of Russian energy and easy access to a wealth of natural resources, notably steady gas exports through the Power of Siberia pipeline. China continues to exercise caution in light of the prolonged trade battle with the United States, even despite the economic gains. The two economic giants' tense relations have worsened since the US recently imposed significant tariffs on several Chinese exports. Furthermore, as reported by Al Jazeera, the US has imposed sanctions on many entities, including Chinese enterprises, to impede Russia's military capabilities, in response to China's claimed backing for Russia's actions in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed grave concern over the situation and reaffirmed Washington's determination to enforce sanctions against businesses connected to China's purported assistance for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. Russia views the conflict in Ukraine as a struggle against a 'collective West' that disregarded its security concerns by advocating for the expansion of NATO and conducting military activities near its borders. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing for China's involvement in a peace summit that is set to take place in Switzerland in June. But Russia, which is not allowed to attend the summit, rejects the idea as meaningless and maintains that talks need to take into account the "new realities." Al Jazeera claimed that as part of Zelenskyy's efforts to win support for Ukraine, he asked the US for Patriot missile defence systems to guard Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border, from Russian soldiers that are still making advances in the area. (With Inputs from ANI)
16 May,2024 10:03 AM IST | Beijing | mid-day online correspondentThe Biden administration will send further military aid worth USD 2 billion to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday (local time) as he concluded his two-day visit to Kyiv intended to underline Washington's support, the Washington Post reported. Blinken said the USD 2 billion for Ukraine would come in the form of a "first-of-its-kind defense enterprise fund" that would channel assistance to the country in the coming months. The aid, in the form of new weapons systems and support for Ukraine's defense industry, comes partially from a USD 61 billion package that the US Congress approved last month, while USD 400 million comes from a separate pool of money earmarked for general foreign defence aid, which is now being directed to Ukraine. However, Blinken also stressed that the Biden administration remains opposed to Ukraine striking targets inside Russian territory with US weaponry -- something Ukrainian policymakers have been pushing for with increasing urgency. The visit coincided with Russian military advances that highlighted Ukraine's defenses in an "extremely vulnerable" light. Russia in recent days has mounted an assault on towns near Kharkiv -- Ukraine's second-largest city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday cancelled a planned trip to Spain as concern mounted about the latest Russian assaults. "We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine," Blinken told reporters Wednesday at the end of his first visit to Ukraine since September. "But ultimately, Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how it's going to conduct this war, a war it is conducting in defense of its freedom, of its sovereignty, of its territorial integrity," Blinken said. "And we will continue to back Ukraine with the equipment it needs to succeed." Notably, Ukraine is able to use weaponry supplied by other countries, including the United Kingdom, to hit targets on Russian soil, the White House has forbidden American equipment from being used to hit Russian territory for fear of inciting a direct military conflict with Russia, the Washington Post reported. This has proved 'frustrating' for Ukraine, especially in recent weeks, as it witnessed a military build-up on Russian territory close to Kharkiv but found its ability to strike it very limited, the report added. Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, appreciated the US help, but also acknowledged the "difficulties" faced by Kyiv due to more than six months of 'congressional inaction' that preceded April's approval of the aid. "Every delay of supply results in setbacks on the front line. This is the general rule," Kuleba said. "When a Ukrainian infantryman or artilleryman has everything that he or she needs, we are winning. Every time there are delays in supplies and insufficient supplies, we are not winning. The law of war is cruel but very clear." The report cited analysts and US officials in stating that Russian forces do not appear poised to capture Kharkiv city, but that they are probably trying to cause enough of a challenge there to draw Ukrainian military assets away from other front-line positions farther south. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based independent research group, said Russia's attack on the northeast Kharkiv region appeared to have slowed, indicating that it was probably an effort to create a buffer zone on the border, not an effort to capture the city. It added that Russia continued to make small but steady gains farther south, Washington Post reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 May,2024 09:46 AM IST | Kyiv | ANIA man has been charged with the murder of an Indian-origin woman in London, the UK Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Anita Mukhey (66) was stabbed by the accused in Burnt Oak Broadway on May 9. She worked part-time in the National Health Service as a medical secretary. The police reached the spot on reports of stabbing. But, the victim succumbed to her knife wounds. "Officers, London Ambulance Service (LAS) and London's Air Ambulance (HEMS) all attended the scene, where a 66-year-old woman was treated for knife wounds. Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, she died at the scene. Her family have been informed," the police statement read. The accused, Jalal Debella (22) was arrested on suspicion of murder in the Colindale area on the same day of the incident. He was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon at Willesden Magistrates' Court on May 11. The victim's family issued a statement via police as a tribute to Mukhey and requested privacy in this "difficult time." "Anita Mukhey, 66 years old, was a married mother and grandmother devoted to her family, who also worked part-time in the NHS as a Medical Secretary," the family statement read. "The family ask for privacy at this difficult time." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 May,2024 09:11 AM IST | London | ANIThe number of Indian Americans in elected offices is not reflective of their growing population, US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday, urging the members of the minority ethnic community to run for elected offices increasingly. Harris, who is of both Indian and African heritage, was speaking at 'Desis Decide' -- the annual summit of Indian American Impact, a democratic party think tank, that supports and funds Indian Americans running for elected offices across the country. 'Over the years, we've had so much more participation by Indian Americans in the electoral process running for office. But the numbers are still not reflective of the size of the growing population,' Harris, the first-ever Indian American, African American, and a woman to be elected as the vice president of the US told a packed room of Indian Americans in the national capital. Currently, there are five elected Indian American members of the Congress -- Dr Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Shri Thanedar. Impact believed that in 2024, the Indian American strength in the Congress will increase to 10 members. In a tightly contested presidential race, Impact said Indian American voters -- the second largest immigrant community and fastest growing in many states -- could be the decisive margin of victory in key races across the country. The work being done by Impact, Harris said in her opening remarks, is extraordinary as she applauded the role of the think tank and its members in electing not only members of the community but also in electing Senators in states like Georgia. 'It really is extraordinary. I wanted to stop by to thank of course the organisation for everything and for all that it represents, but also to say especially to those who have run for office or aspire to run for office, that you must run,' Harris said. 'You must know that you are not alone. There is so much that we still have to do as a country and a lot of the work that we each do, which is why we are here together, is born out of a belief in the promise of America. And dare I say that, I am empirical evidence of the promise of America,' said the vice president. 'This election coming up in six months, I think is presenting a question to each of us. Which is, what kind of world do we want to live in and what kind of country do we want to live in? And one of the ways that we answer that question is to seek office and to participate in elections knowing that the outcome of those elections matter in fundamental ways,' Harris said as she asked the members of the audience to raise their hands if they were running for office or planning to do so. 'What will happen, invariably it's happened to all of us, is you are going to find yourself invariably in rooms where you are the only one who looks like you, the only one who has had your life experience. What I then say to you each, look around this room and hold onto this image. And remember then when you walk into those rooms, when you walk into those situations, you remember, you are not alone. We are all there with you. You must remember that,' she said. Speaking on the occasion, Impact co-founder and treasurer Deepak Raj said Harris was instrumental in its formation eight years ago. 'She has been an incredible guiding force for this organisation over the duration. She came to the first summit in 2018 and here she is again,' Raj said. Raj said Harris is not only the first woman but the first South Asian Indian American woman, to be elected as the vice president of the US. 'She has been an incredible role model, I think for all of us. What she has done is she has paved the way for women, for immigrants and minorities and is a true hero and an inspiration for all of us,' he said.'I think her success, what she has achieved, gives us the hope and the confidence that we have a bright future, all of us together fighting for public office and as a community,' Raj said. As the vice president took the stage, some briefly chanted 'Four more years.' However, one person yelled 'Shame on you," which appeared to be in reference to the war in Gaza, but it was not clear. The protester was soon removed from the room. Harris also spoke about her mom coming to the US from India when she was 19 years old and marching for Civil Rights in Berkeley. She said growing up, she would visit India every two years and her grandfather would take her on morning walks. 'And I remember as a young girl' hearing them discuss the importance of standing for what is right and fairness,' she said.
16 May,2024 08:56 AM IST | Washington | PTIRussia's President Vladimir Putin landed in Beijing on Thursday for a two-day state visit to China, in a show of unity between the authoritarian allies as Moscow presses forward with a new offensive in Ukraine. Putin's visit comes as Russia has become more economically dependent on China following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. On the eve of the visit, Putin said in an interview with Chinese media that the Kremlin is prepared to negotiate over the conflict in Ukraine. 'We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours,' Putin was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. The Russian leader's two-day trip comes as his country's forces have pressed an offensive in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region that began last week in the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began, forcing almost 8,000 people to flee their homes. Along with Moscow's efforts to build on its gains in the nearby Donetsk region, the two-year-old war has entered a critical stage for Ukraine's depleted military which is awaiting new supplies of anti-aircraft missiles and artillery shells from the United States. 'We have never refused to negotiate,' Putin was quoted as saying by Xinhua. 'We are seeking a comprehensive, sustainable, and just settlement of this conflict through peaceful means. We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said any negotiations must include a restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine. China claims to take a neutral position in the conflict but has backed Moscow's contentions that Russia was provoked into attacking Ukraine by the West, despite Putin's public avowals of his desire to restore Russia's century-old borders as the reason for his assault. Putin has blamed the West for the failure of negotiations in the opening weeks of the war and praised China's peace plan for Ukraine that would allow Moscow to cement its territorial gains. 'Beijing proposes practicable and constructive steps to achieve peace by refraining from pursuing vested interests and constant escalation of tensions, minimising the negative impact of the conflict on the global economy,' he had said. Putin said a Chinese proposal in 2023, which Ukraine and the West rejected, could 'lay the groundwork for a political and diplomatic process that would take into account Russia's security concerns and contribute to achieving a long-term and sustainable peace.' The Kremlin said in a statement that during their talks this week, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will 'have a detailed discussion on the entire range of issues related to the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation and determine the new directions for further development of cooperation between Russia and China and also have a detailed exchange of opinions on the most acute international and regional issues.' The visit furthers the effort by China and Russia to topple the US-led Western democratic order in favour of a more authoritarian model that crushes political opposition, human rights, and freedom of speech. Putin began a fifth term in office this month. Speaking Tuesday in the upper house of the Russian parliament, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow and Beijing are 'objectively interested in maintaining our lead in efforts to establish a more fair and democratic world order.' 'Russia and China aren't alone in their efforts to reform an international system and help establish a multipolar global order,' he said. Lavrov noted that the 'duet of Moscow and Beijing plays a major balancing role in global affairs,' adding that 'the Russian president's forthcoming visit to (China) will strengthen our joint work." Moscow has forged increasingly close ties with Beijing as the war has dragged into a third year, diverting the bulk of its energy exports to China and relying on Chinese companies to import high-tech components for Russian military industries to circumvent Western sanctions. The Russia-China military ties have also strengthened. They have held a series of joint war games in recent years, including naval drills and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Russian and Chinese ground forces also have deployed to the other country's territory for joint drills. China remains a major market for the Russian military, while also massively expanding its domestic defensive industries, including building aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. Putin has previously said that Russia has been sharing highly sensitive military technologies with China that helped significantly bolster its defence capability. In October 2019, he mentioned that Russia was helping China to develop an early warning system to spot ballistic missile launches ' a system involving ground-based radar and satellites that only Russia and the US possessed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 May,2024 08:22 AM IST | Beijing | APRussia’s Defence Ministry said that air defences shot down 10 US-supplied Ukrainian missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula early Wednesday, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spent a second day visiting Kyiv, and Ukraine’s army battled to contain a front-line push by the Kremlin’s forces. The ATACMS long-range ballistic missiles were destroyed over the Black Sea, the ministry said. The US included the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in a military aid package in March. The Ukrainian attack came as Russian troops pressed their offensive in northeast Ukraine’s Kharkiv region that began last week, marking the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began and forcing almost 8,000 local people to flee their homes. Together with Moscow’s weekslong effort to build on its recent gains in the eastern Donetsk region, the more than two-year war has entered a critical stage for Ukraine’s depleted army. Blinken on Tuesday pledged unceasing US support for the country, during and beyond the war. 8KNo of people forced to flee homes in Kharkiv This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 May,2024 07:55 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesIndonesian authorities seeded clouds on Wednesday, trying to prevent further rain and flash floods after deluges that hit the country’s Sumatra Island over the weekend left at least 58 people dead and another 35 missing. Monsoon rain triggered a landslide of mud and cold lava from Mount Marapi, eventually causing rivers to breach their banks. The deluge tore through mountainside villages in four districts in West Sumatra province just before midnight on Saturday. The floods swept away people and 79 homes and submerged hundreds of houses and buildings, forcing more than 1,500 families to flee to temporary government shelters, according to National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 May,2024 07:53 AM IST | Tanah Datar | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
