Archaeologists excavating an area being prepared for an industrial zone uncovered a 5,000-year-old human settlement, including what may be the oldest public building found in the Israel, Antiquities Authority said. Among the finds at Hurvat Husham is a large, well-preserved structure— possibly a temple--that served a central community function of some kind. “The structure has indications that it is important and had a public function,” said excavation managers. 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
30 October,2024 08:09 AM IST | Tel Aviv | AgenciesRussian drones, missiles and bombs hit Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s biggest cities, in nighttime attacks, killing four people and wounding 15 in a continuing aerial onslaught, officials said. A Russian aerial attack struck Kharkiv, in Ukraine’s northeast, at around 3 am, hitting a house and killing four people, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Nearly 20 houses were damaged. Several hours earlier, Russia dropped a glide bomb on the landmark Derzhprom building in Kharkiv city centre, injuring seven people. Derzhprom, also known as the Palace of Industry, is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as an example of modernist architecture. Authorities in Kyiv said debris from intercepted Russian drones fell on two city districts, injuring six people. Meanwhile, a special forces academy in the Russian province of Chechnya was hit by Ukrainian drones, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished, according to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was the first drone attack of the war on Chechnya, which lies about 800 km east of Ukraine. In another worrying development for Kyiv officials, North Korea’s top diplomat is visiting Russia. South Korea’s spy agency said Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui may be involved in high-level discussions on sending additional troops to Russia and negotiating what the North would get in return. 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
30 October,2024 08:07 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesAn Israeli strike on a five-story building where displaced Palestinians were sheltering in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 60 people early on Tuesday, more than half of them women and children, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. In a separate development, Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah said it has chosen Sheikh Naim Kassem as its new top leader following the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last month. Israel also faced backlash from aid groups after its parliament passed legislation that could severely restrict the ability of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees to operate in the Palestinian territories. The agency, known as UNRWA, is the largest aid provider in Gaza. The Hezbollah militant group said in a statement that its decision-making Shura Council had elected Kassem, who had been Nasrallah’s deputy leader for over three decades, as the new secretary-general. Hezbollah vowed to continue with Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved”. Kassem, 71, a founding member of the militant group established following Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, had been serving as acting leader after Nasrallah was killed on September 27. 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
30 October,2024 08:05 AM IST | Deir Al-Balah | AgenciesVice President Kamala Harris will pledge to Americans that she’ll work to improve their lives while Republican Donald Trump is only in it for himself as she delivers her campaign’s closing argument on Tuesday from the same site where the former president fomented the Capitol insurrection in 2021. One week out from Election Day, Harris’ address from the grassy Ellipse near the White House is designed to encourage Americans to visualise their alternate futures if she or Trump takes over the Oval Office in less than three months. She hoped to sharpen that contrast by delivering her capstone speech from the place where Trump on January 6, 2021, spewed falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election that inspired a crowd to march to the Capitol and try unsuccessfully to halt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory and the sealing of his own defeat. With time running out and the race razor-tight, Harris and Trump both have been looking for big moments to try to shift the momentum one way or the other. But after her speech in the nation’s capital, Harris will be back to furiously scouring for votes one rally and one event after another in the battleground states. On Tuesday, aides said, Harris aims to look beyond the startling imagery of her location on the Ellipse to make a broader case for voters to reject Trump and consider what she offers. “There’s a big difference between he and I,” Harris told reporters on Monday in previewing her speech. “If he were elected, on day one he’s going to sit in the Oval Office working on his enemies list. On day one, if I am elected, which I fully expect to be, I will be working on behalf of the American people on my to-do list.” 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
30 October,2024 08:03 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesUS President Joe Biden extended Diwali greetings to the people, highlighting its significance, and acknowledged that today, the festival is proudly celebrated in the White House. Highlighting the contributions of the South Asian American community to the fabric of American life, Biden said the community is the fastest-growing and most engaged community in the world. Addressing the White House Diwali Celebrations on Monday (local time), the US President said, "The South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life." "Yours is the fastest-growing and most engaged community in the world...Now, Diwali is celebrated openly and proudly in the White House," he added. The President also spoke to the moment's significance, noting that the country is facing an "inflection point" and reminding attendees not to take the 'Idea of America' for granted. Reflecting on the challenges of American democracy, he acknowledged the ongoing debates and dissent inherent in a diverse society but stressed the importance of unity and historical awareness. "This is not my house; this is your house...Today we face an inflection point...Every once in a few generations we are reminded to not take the Idea of America for granted... American Democracy has never been easy. In a country as diverse as ours, we debate, we dissent... but the key is, we never lose sight of how we got here and why," Biden said. The US President further recalled the time when he and First Lady Jill Biden hosted the first Diwali celebration at the Vice President's residence in 2016. He touted the diversity of his administration, including current Vice President Kamala Harris as well as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. "Only in America is everything possible," Biden said at the end. Over the years, the Bidens' Diwali celebration has added a unique touch to this luminous tradition. The celebration, characterised by lights, colour, music, and dancing, also features traditional performances and dancers. Diwali events at the White House began with President George W Bush in 2003 and have included President Barack Obama lighting a diya in the Oval Office, as well as then-Vice President Biden hosting a reception in 2016. President Donald Trump continued the Diwali tradition in 2017 by lighting a diya alongside his daughter Ivanka and Indian American members of his administration. However, in 2018, the crucial midterm elections disrupted the 15-year-long tradition of formal Diwali celebrations at the White House. 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
29 October,2024 01:15 PM IST | Washington | ANIBrazil has opted not to join China’s multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), marking it as the second BRICS nation, after India, to decline participation in Beijing’s ambitious project aimed at developing infrastructure across partner countries. The decision signals Brazil’s intent to seek independent avenues for collaboration with China, focusing instead on partnerships that align more closely with its national priorities, according to Celso Amorim, Brazil’s special presidential adviser for international affairs. Amorim recently told Brazilian newspaper O Globo that while Brazil intends to elevate its relationship with China, it sees no need to sign an accession contract for BRI membership. “We are not entering into a treaty,” he explained, adding that Brazil prefers not to rely on BRI as an “insurance policy” for its infrastructure growth. Instead, he suggested a selective approach, considering only those aspects of BRI which may synergise with Brazil’s own strategic projects and priorities, PTI reported. This decision comes as a setback to China, which had reportedly hoped to showcase Brazil’s support for BRI during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visit to Brazil scheduled for November 20. However, opposition within Brazil’s economy and foreign affairs ministries raised concerns that signing onto the BRI could complicate relations with other global powers, particularly the United States, especially if a potential Trump administration takes office in the future. PTI quoted sources suggesting that senior officials, including Amorim and Brazil’s chief of staff Rui Costa, returned “unconvinced and unimpressed” after recent discussions with Chinese counterparts in Beijing. Lula da Silva, Brazil’s President, was also absent from this month’s BRICS summit in Kazan due to an injury, though the Brazilian influence in BRICS is maintained by former President Dilma Rousseff, who heads the BRICS New Development Bank based in Shanghai. Amorim’s recent remarks align with Brazil’s caution towards joining BRI’s extensive network of international projects, which have attracted criticism for their perceived “debt trap” potential. India has similarly refrained from joining the initiative, voicing concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a prominent BRI project routed through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India considers a violation of its sovereignty. India’s stance on BRI has been grounded in principles of financial sustainability, governance, and transparency, noting that infrastructure projects should adhere to widely recognised international standards. As a result, India has consistently distanced itself from BRI engagements, having abstained from three high-profile BRI summits in recent years and articulating its stance through platforms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China’s BRI, which initially attracted several smaller nations, has also come under scrutiny for reportedly contributing to financial strain among certain countries, such as Sri Lanka. The case of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, leased to China for 99 years in exchange for debt relief, has particularly fuelled criticisms about the long-term sustainability of BRI projects. In a recent comment, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai urged Brazil to consider the risks associated with BRI, advising a “clear-eyed” approach. Her statement drew sharp criticism from China’s embassy in Brasilia, which labelled her remarks as “irresponsible” and “disrespectful.” The Chinese Global Times went further, criticising the US approach as reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine and asserting that the cooperation between China and Brazil aligns with broader aims for a fairer international economic order in the Global South. “Brazil does not need others to dictate who to cooperate with,” stated the editorial, suggesting that US scrutiny over China’s role in Latin America is an attempt to control regional dynamics. Brazil’s decision to bypass BRI appears rooted in a broader strategy to maintain flexibility in its foreign policy, especially amid shifting global alliances. (With inputs from PTI)
29 October,2024 11:29 AM IST | BeijingThree well-armed militias launched a surprise joint offensive in northeastern Myanmar a year ago, breaking a strategic stalemate with the regime’s military with rapid gains of huge swaths of territory and inspiring others to attack around the country. The military’s control had seemed firmly ensconced with vast superiority in troops and firepower, plus material support from Russia and China. But today the government is increasingly on the back foot, with the loss of dozens of outposts, bases and strategic cities that even its leaders concede would be challenging to take back. “The military is on the defensive all over the country, and every time it puts its energy into one part of the country, it basically has to shift troops and then is vulnerable in other parts,” said Connor Macdonald of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar advocacy group. “To us it doesn’t look like there’s any viable route back for the military to recapture any of the territory that it’s lost.” The military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering intensified fighting with long-established armed militias organized by Myanmar’s ethnic minority groups in its border regions, which have struggled for decades for more autonomy. The army’s takeover also sparked the formation of pro-democracy militias known as People’s Defence Forces. They support the opposition National Unity Government, which was established by elected lawmakers barred from taking their seats after the army takeover. But until the launch of Operation 1027, eponymously named for its October 27 start, the military, known as the Tatmadaw, had largely been able to prevent major losses around the country. Operation 1027 brought coordinated attacks from three of the most powerful ethnic armed groups, known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance: the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army. The alliance quickly captured towns and overran military bases and outposts along the Chinese border in northeastern Shan state. Two weeks later, the Arakan Army launched attacks in its western home state of Rakhine, and since then other militia groups and PDFs have joined in around the country. 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
29 October,2024 08:07 AM IST | Bangkok | AgenciesDonald Trump hosted a rally featuring crude and racist insults at New York’s Madison Square Garden, turning what his campaign had dubbed as the event where he would deliver his closing message into an illustration of what turns off his critics. With just over a week before Election Day, speakers at the rally on Sunday night labeled Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” called Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris “the devil,” and said the woman vying to become the first woman and Black woman president had begun her career as a prostitute. “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” said Tony Hinchcliffe, a stand-up comic whose set also included lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and Black people. Trump’s childhood friend David Rem referred to Harris as “the Antichrist” and “the devil.” Businessman Grant Cardone told the crowd that Harris ”and her pimp handlers will destroy our country”.Agencies Bad Bunny endorses Harris for president Latin artist Bad Bunny has lent support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris moments after Tony Hinchcliffe, a speaker at a Donald Trump rally in New York city’s Madison Square Garden, made a racist joke about Puerto Rico referring to it as a “floating island of garbage”. Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin have also showed support to Harris. 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
29 October,2024 08:00 AM IST | New York | AgenciesIran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s new account on social media platform X has been suspended, just after two posts, according to Jerusalem Post. The 85-year-old leader had posted two messages on X in Hebrew before the Elon Musk-owned messaging platform suspended his account. The move came after Israel attacked Iran on Saturday. Meanwhile, Khamenei on Sunday said that it is up to the authorities to convey Iran’s power to Israel and act in the country’s interest. He said that the Israeli regime has made miscalculations towards Iran, as it is yet to know the country and its people and understand the level of their power and determination. “We should make them understand all these,” Iran’s Supreme leader said. 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
29 October,2024 07:53 AM IST | Tehran | AgenciesA Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight bound for Tokyo was diverted to Taipei in Taiwan on Monday due to a “cracked windshield”, according to the flag carrier. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, carrying 249 passengers and 17 crew members, took off from the city-state’s Changi Airport at 11.07 pm on Sunday and was due to touch down at Japan’s Haneda Airport at 6.20 am on Monday. It had to divert after the windshield cracked mid-flight. The flight landed uneventfully at Taoyuan airport. 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
29 October,2024 07:48 AM IST | Singapore | AgenciesBangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) party ruled over Bangladesh for over 15 years before she was ousted and forced to flee following a student-led movement in August, today find themselves in hiding and at the receiving end of interim government's action At least 50,000 affiliates of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League are now struggling to continue their tertiary education, a report by Al Jazeera stated. On October 23, the leader of the Bangladeshi interim government led by Muhammad Yunus banned BCL terming it a "terrorist organisation". According to Bangladesh's Home Ministry, the BCL had a history of serious misconduct over the past 15 years, including violence, harassment and exploitation of public resources, Al Jazeera reported. "Not long ago, I was a voice of authority here," an undergraduate student of applied chemistry, told Al Jazeera. "Now, I am running around like a fugitive with no probable future." This student's case is not an isolated one. All affiliates like him, who had a powerful hold over college campuses in Bangladesh collapsed. The deadly protests began in July after college students demanded the abolition of a controversial reservation system in government jobs that they said, favoured supporters of the governing party. Though Bangladesh's top court scrapped the quota, the protests soon morphed into a wider call for the removal of Hasina's "autocratic" regime, marked by allegations of human rights violations. The student told Al Jazeera that he did not participate in the government's crackdown against the protests. "My sisters were part of the protests," he said. "I also believed in the cause but was trapped by party obligations." Talking about his involvement in the now-banned party, the student said, "I was a good student who cared little for politics, but at Dhaka University, hall politics was unavoidable. You either joined, or you suffered." He admitted that being a BCL leader would improve his prospects of landing a government job. On August 5, protestors stormed prominent government buildings, including Sheikh Hasina's residence and the parliament, and the 77-year-old prime minister fled the country. The violence, however, did not end with Hasina's fall. The former perpetrators of state atrocities became the new targets as hundreds of Awami League politicians and members, including students, were attacked or killed. Many went into hiding or were detained while attempting to flee, according to Al Jazeera. According to the estimates of Awami League, at least 50,000 of its student affiliates across the nation are now in limbo, struggling to continue their tertiary education. Shahreen Ariana, a BCL leader from Rajshahi University, was arrested on October 18 on "forged charges," according to her family. She was detained while trying to sit for a term-final exam. Saikat Raihan, another BCL leader at Rajshahi University, was arrested on the same day. The wave of violence against Awami League-affiliated students has spread across campuses. On the outskirts of the capital, former Jahangirnagar University BCL activist Shamim Ahmed was beaten to death on September 18, while Masud, another BCL leader, was killed by a mob in Rajshahi on September 7, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government that took over Bangladesh, issued a gazette on October 23, officially banning the BCL under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 - a law that was brought, ironically, by Hasina's government soon after it came to power in 2009. According to Al Jazeera, for more than a decade, the BCL ruled campuses with an iron grip. The Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the biggest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, managed to maintain a presence but was often on the defensive. Meanwhile, the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student body of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh's largest Muslim party, was forced underground. Several media reports over 16 years claim incidents of students being forced out of campuses - tortured, or even gruesomely murdered - by BCL members on suspicion of ties to the Shibir, which in August this year was banned by the Hasina government under the same anti-terror law now used against the BCL. Yunus government lifted the ban on the Shibir, following which the tables have turned on the BCL more broadly, with opposition student wings reclaiming control across campuses. 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
28 October,2024 03:53 PM IST | Dhaka | ANIADVERTISEMENT
