Author: afp

  • ‘Hitman’ Rohit raises India’s World Cup hopes

    ‘Hitman’ Rohit raises India’s World Cup hopes

    Rohit Sharma has led India from the front in their three unbeaten matches of the World Cup to boost his cricket-mad nation’s hopes of winning the title at home.

    The Indian captain has already amassed 217 runs including a record century against Afghanistan, showing no signs of the pressure on his shoulders.

    Rohit succeeded superstar Virat Kohli as white-ball captain in 2021 with the aim of securing the national team a third World Cup and first international title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

    Australia great Ricky Ponting lavished praise on Rohit for handling the pressure of the job with ease.

    “Someone like Virat, who is a bit more heart-on-the-sleeve, and probably listens to the fans and plays up with the fans a little bit more, someone with his personality would probably find it a bit harder,” Ponting wrote in an International Cricket Council column on Tuesday.

    “But I think Rohit will be fine with it. He’s a terrific bloke and has been a great player for a long time, and he’s done a great job as leader of India.”

    Rohit, 36, has enjoyed franchise success as a skipper with five IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians and then led India to the Asia Cup title last month in a key test of form ahead of the World Cup.

    That success would have helped ease a little of the pain suffered when, under his captaincy, India were defeated in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in Australia last year.

    Rohit has never let expectations get to him and Ponting, once his captain at Mumbai and then coach, said the veteran batsman takes pressure in his stride.

    “He’s very laid back,” said Ponting. “You can even see that by the way that he plays. He’s a pretty laconic sort of batsman as well, and that’s the way he is both on and off the field.”

    – ‘Nothing is impossible’ –

    Rohit, an opening batsman nicknamed “Hitman” for his ability to get big scores quickly, was out for a duck in the team’s opening win against Australia, but was lauded for his captaincy moves.

    He soon regained form with 131 against Afghanistan as he surpassed compatriot Sachin Tendulkar with a record seventh World Cup century.

    His ton in 63 balls was the fastest by an Indian in a World Cup to better Kapil Dev’s hundred in 72 balls against Zimbabwe in 1983.

    Rohit took his form to the hotly-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan and smashed a match-winning 86 to thrash the opposition as India climbed to the top of the 10-team World Cup table.

    In his career, he has accumulated 10,329 ODI runs including 31 centuries in 254 matches since his debut in 2007.

    Rohit, who was not selected for India’s last World Cup triumph at home in 2011, said he relishes the role of being leader.

    “Nothing in life is impossible, you can make it possible if you have the belief,” Rohit said.

    “If you trust in it, if you have the will to go forward, it’s everyone’s dream firstly to be part of the team and then to captain the team is definitely the icing on the cake. I never thought I would be captain one day.”

    “I also believe that good things happen to good people. I kept my head straight, kept working hard on my game. I am sitting here today with a wonderful opportunity to bring glory to this beautiful country.”

    Rohit’s deputy in the World Cup, Hardik Pandya praised the leader for his ability to bring the best out of players through his faith in them.

    “Since he has come, he has backed a lot of boys and we see the result now as well with how the boys are going and expressing themselves,” all-rounder Pandya said.

    “So that’s why Rohit has been special in giving them enough opportunity and at the same time telling them that ‘you know what, I got your back’.”

  • Five Palestinian accounts to follow for live updates from Gaza

    Five Palestinian accounts to follow for live updates from Gaza

    Here is a list of five Instagram accounts of Palestinians who are currently present in Gaza and have been actively updating on the Israel-Palestine escalation since October 7.

    1. Plestia Alaqad @byplestia

    2. Motaz Azaiza @motaz_azaiza

    3. Ali Jadallah @alijadallah66

    4. Hind Khoudary @hindkhoudary

    5. Lara @gazangirl

  • 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza deprived of health services: what do we know about day 10

    50,000 pregnant women in Gaza deprived of health services: what do we know about day 10

    It has been estimated by the United Nations that about one million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced during the first week of the conflict. The agency has described the situation in the besieged enclave as “catastrophic”.

    ‘May humanitarian rights be respected’, says Pope

    Pope Francis has asserted the need for humanitarian corridors to help the people in besieged Gaza.

    He addressed a crowd of thousands in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly speech, “I forcefully ask that children, the sick, the elderly and women and all civilians do not become the victims of the conflict”.

    “May humanitarian rights be respected, above all in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors to help the entire population,” he said.

    The Vatican has also offered to mediate in the crisis.

    Gaza ‘no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance’

    Another alert has been issued. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) chief has warned that hundreds of thousands of people in need in Gaza will no longer be assisted.

    “My UNRWA colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance.The UNRWA operations is the largest United Nations footprint in the Gaza Strip, and we are on the verge of collapse. This is absolutely unprecedented,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told a press conference.

    It was also notified that water and power supplies are depleting, and they will run out of food or medicine in a matter of time.

    UNRWA facilities, including schools, are currently sheltering about 400,000 people in the south among whom, a large number is in need of assistance.

    Additionally, the UN has reported that at least four hospitals in northern Gaza are now no longer operational as a result of Israeli bombings, whereas according to WHO, 21 other hospitals have been asked to be evacuated by Israel.

    Persistent warnings are being given that “forced evacuation of hospitals may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law”.

    50,000 pregnant women in Gaza deprived of health services

    The UN has reported that 50,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are without basic maternal medical help among whom 5,522 are due to give birth next month.

    “Imagine going through that process in those final stages and your last trimester before giving birth, with possible complications, without clothing, without hygiene, support and not sure about what the next day, next hour, next minute will bring for themselves and for their unborn child,” United Nations Population Fund representative for Palestine, Dominic Allen said during her interview with CNN.

    16 members of a single family killed in Israeli air raid

    An Israeli air attack has reportedly killed a total of 16 members of a family, as stated by Palestinian territory’s media office.

    Previously, Palestinian health ministry said 45 families have been entirely wiped out from the Gaza civil registry, which means that entire family trees and their potential legacy have perished.

    At least 1,000 people under the rubble in Gaza

    As the Israeli forces continue to bombard Gaza, more than 1,000 people remain missing under the building debris.

    Among them are injured as well as dead, while many have been pulled alive after 24 hours of the collapse, says Palestinian civil defence team .

    So far, more than 2,670 people have been killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza with at least 9,600 wounded.

    199 Israeli captives taken by Hamas

    Daniel Hagari, Israel’s army top spokesperson, has claimed that families of 199 people who were taken captive by Hamas have been notified by the military. The number of Israeli captives have reportedly increased from 155.

    “We are making valiant efforts to try to understand where the hostages are in Gaza, and we have such information,” Hagari was quoted by Israeli media.

    “We will not carry out an attack that would endanger our people,” he said.

  • 11 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza war: union

    11 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza war: union

    Eleven Palestinian journalists have been killed in the war in Gaza since Israel launched its blistering air campaign on the coastal enclave, the Palestinian journalists’ union said Monday.

    Twenty other journalists have also been injured in the conflict since it erupted on October 7 after Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack on Israel that triggered a devastating war.

  • A school in India charges plastic bottles as fee

    A school in India charges plastic bottles as fee

    A school in India has adopted a unique means of educating underprivileged children while creating awareness about environmental concerns at the same time.

    In a remote village of the Indian state of Assam, plastic bottles are taken from children as fees.

    The school was started by a couple, Mazin Mukhtar and Parmita Sarma, in 2016 to reduce the growing pile of garbage in the village and to provide free quality education to the children.

    While no fee is taken from the students, they have to deposit 25 plastic bottles full of waste to the school every week.

    By recycling these plastic bottles and the waste they contain, roads, bricks and toilets are made.

    Older students earn a living by teaching the younger children.

    Apart from education, children are taught different languages, recycling of plastics, carpentry and gardening.

  • World reacts to Israel’s breach of international laws

    World reacts to Israel’s breach of international laws

    While many of its old allies still support Israel as it continues to bomb Gaza, a number of countries are now raising concerns over Israel’s breach of international laws.

    Russia

    President Vladimir Putin responded to the Israel-Palestine escalation by condemning the “catastrophic” deaths and criticised Washington’s involvement in the Middle East peace settlement.

    During a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, he said “This is a vivid example of the failure of Middle East policies of the United States [as it] tried to monopolise the [peace] settlement”.

    “But, unfortunately, [the US] was not concerned about the search for compromises for both sides and, vice versa, promoted their own conceptions about how it should be done, [and] pressured both sides,” he added.

    Moscow has also refused to label Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

    “We maintain contact with [both] sides of the conflict,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

    “Of course, Russia continues to analyse the situation and keeps its position as a nation that has the potential to participate in the settlement process.”

    China

    On Thursday, China’s top diplomat and foreign minister Wang Yi stated that the issue of Palestinian is central to the Middle East conflict, and that denial of “justice” to the Palestinian people was at its core.

    Turkey

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, asserting that a lasting solution to the conflict lies in the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem within the 1967 borders .

    Ireland

    Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has criticised Israel for violating international humanitarian law and halting water, food and electricity supply into the Gaza Strip.

    “Israel is under threat. They do have a right to defend themselves, but they don’t have the right to breach international humanitarian law,” he said in an interview with TVE.

    “To me, it amounts to collective punishment. Cutting off power, cutting off fuel supplies and water supplies, that’s not the way a respectable democratic state should conduct itself.”

    He has, however, also urged Hamas to release all the Israeli captives, saying that Israel is “justified in attacking Hamas in Gaza and elsewhere.”

    Former Irish President Mary Robinson has also commented on the escalation, deeming Israel’s response to Hamas attacks as collective punishment.

    Robinson asserted that Ireland has been a “very good voice in acknowledging the suffering of occupation and the continual problems of Palestinians over decades.”

    Richard Boyd Barrett, Irish MP, addressed the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, during a discussion on the Irish Government’s response to the situation in Gaza.

    “The Israeli Government has brazenly, publicly and openly declared its intention to commit a war crime, and has commenced that war crime against the people of Gaza”, he said.

    Scotland

    Hamza Yousaf, the first minister of Scotland, has also spoken up against the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

    He posted on X (formerly Twitter), quoting the latest UN statement that warns about the dire consequences of Israeli orders of evacuation of Gaza.

    “The international community must step up and demand an end to collective punishment. Enough. There can be no justification for the death of innocent men, women & children.”

    He also shared a video of his mother-in-law, Elizabeth El-Nakla, calling for help.

    She was visiting her relatives with her husband when Hamas attacked on Saturday.

    Norway

    The Norwegian foreign minister, Anniken Huitfeldt, has said on Thursday that while Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, a total blockade of Gaza cannot be supported.

    “The establishment of a full blockade, including on access to electricity, water, food, and other goods that are indispensable for the survival of the civilian population in Gaza, is unacceptable,” she stated.

    She further pointed out that self-defense measures must be taken within international law.

    “The scale of destruction in Gaza is enormous. A large number of civilians have been killed. Given a full blockade by Israel, closed border crossings, and continued Israeli attacks, I fear that the civilian population in Gaza will face even greater hardship in the days to come,” Huitfeldt said.

    She also warned that suspension or decrease in assistance to Gaza can worsen the matter.

    “Functioning Palestinian institutions and the delivery of basic services are crucial to avoid further destabilisation and preserve the objective of the two-state solution.”

  • Sweden convicts man over Quran burning in 2020 in historical first

    Sweden convicts man over Quran burning in 2020 in historical first

    A Swedish court on Thursday convicted a man of inciting ethnic hatred with a sacrilegious act he committed in 2020, the first time the country’s courts have tried someone for desecrating the Holy Quran.

    The conviction comes after a wave of desecrations earlier this year that stoked international outrage and made Sweden a “prioritised target”, prompting the country’s intelligence agency to heighten its terror alert level.

    The Swedish government condemned the acts, but repeatedly upheld the country’s extensive freedom of expression laws.

    The Linkoping district court in central Sweden found the 27-year-old man guilty of “agitation against an ethnic group”, saying his action had “targeted Muslims and not Islam as a religion”, and “can hardly be said to have encouraged an objective and responsible debate”.

    In September 2020, the man had recorded a video clip outside the Linkoping cathedral showing the holy scripture and bacon being burned on a barbecue, with a pejorative remark about the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) written on a sign under the barbecue. The man published the video on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

    The song “Remove Kebab” was used in the video, a song popular among far-right groups that calls for the religious cleansing of Muslims.

    The court said “the music is strongly associated with the attack in Christchurch”, New Zealand, in 2019 in which an Australian white supremacist killed 51 people at two mosques.

    The man had denied any wrongdoing, arguing that his action was a criticism of Islam as a religion. But the court rejected that argument.

    “The court finds that the chosen music to a film with such content cannot be interpreted any other way than as a threat against Muslims with an allusion to their faith,” the court wrote in a statement.

    “The film’s content and the form of its publication are such that it is clear that the defendant’s primary purpose could not have been other than to express threats and contempt,” it said.

  • ‘We have a lot of fighters, people who want to support us’, says Hamas: what we know about day six

    ‘We have a lot of fighters, people who want to support us’, says Hamas: what we know about day six

    No electricity in Gaza

    As fuel, food, and other necessities are halted by Israel in Gaza Strip, the besieged area’s only electric power plant is now exhausted. This means that 2.3 million people are now without electricity whereas hospitals and other necessary services have been affected.

    And with an increasing number of wounded people, people are left to wait for their turn. According to AL-Jazeera, 50 patients are waiting to get surgeries in Gaza’s largest hospital.

    United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has called out the blockade of resources and necessities into Gaza, stating that fuel, water, and food “must be allowed into Gaza”.

    Hamas releases children, Israel calls it a farce

    Hamas’ Qassam Brigade has released a video showing the release of two children and a woman who were initially under their custody. This comes after the circulation of false news stating that Hamas beheaded 40 Israeli babies — Hamas denied the allegations.

    Nonetheless, Israel has deemed the video as a farce stating, Hamas is trying to change the truth through the theatrics of publishing a propaganda video through its media mouthpieces,”

    White House retract Biden’s claim

    Earlier, false news had been circulating on social media that Israeli women and children have been beheaded by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.

    Anadolu Agency reached out to the Israeli spokesperson on Tuesday who stated that the Israeli army has no information confirming allegations that “Hamas beheaded babies.”

    Nonetheless, in his address, US President Joe Biden stated that “I never really thought that I would see, have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.”

    However, The Washington Post reported that “A White House spokesperson later clarified that US officials and the president have not seen pictures or confirmed such reports independently,”

    Talks on releasing Israeli captives, Red Cross

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is currently in conversation with Hamas in efforts to free Israeli captives.

    “We are now in contact with Hamas and Israeli officials as part of the efforts on the hostage issue,

    “As a neutral mediator, we are ready to conduct humanitarian visits; and facilitate any eventual release.”

    According to Israel, 150 of their people are under Hamas’ custody including women, children, and soldiers.

    No attacks from Gaza but Israel continues airstrikes

    According to the Israeli army, no rockets were striked from Gaza and Lebanon last night.

    But airstrikes from Israel continue. At least 10 Palestinian civilians, including women and children, have been killed by an Israeli missile attack on the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.

    ‘We are not afraid’, says Hamas

    Al-Jazeera spoke to a Hamas leader, Ghazi Hamad, who asserted that they are prepared to face Israeli troops who are reportedly going to be deployed in Gaza as they are apparently preparing for a ground operation.

    “We are not afraid. We are a strong people. We have a strong determination to continue. We have a lot of fighters and a lot of people who want to support us, Hamad said.

    Israel expels Palestinian employees in West Bank

    Many Palestinians from Gaza had been working in the occupied West Bank due to better job prospects.

    After the attacks, however, their employers took them to checkpoints and then to the occupied West Bank as directed by Israeli police.

    Al-Jazeera reports that there is no going back for them and reportedly, they were also attacked by Israeli police after getting picked up.

    They are currently stuck at the Palestinian Authority facility in Ramallah and have not been able to return to their homes even though some have lost their family members in Gaza in Israel attacks.

    Palestinians in occupied West Bank

    Palestinian health ministry has revealed that Israeli settlers have killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

    Reuters reported that according to the witnesses, settlers shot the father and son who were at the funeral of four Palestinians who were also killed by settlers and soldiers on Wednesday.

    Casualties

    According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1,200 have been killed in Gaza and about 5,600 wounded.

    In Israel too, 1,200 have died while 3,000 have been injured.

    The UN reveals that as a result of Israel’s attacks, 338,934 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza.

  • Israel is dropping white phosphorus bombs on Gaza: what we know about Day Five

    Israel is dropping white phosphorus bombs on Gaza: what we know about Day Five

    Use of white phosphorus

    The official channel of Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates have posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Israeli military attacked the Al-Karama neighbourhood in Gaza with white phosphorus bombs.

    White phosphorus bombs burn up oxygen and suffocate people in the area. Moreover, white phosphorus causes burns and can spread fire over an area of hundreds of square yards.

    Power supply to deplete

    Authorities have claimed that the electricity supply in Gaza can shut down “within hours” as “it is running out of fuel”.

    Palestinian enclave houses more than two million people. Hospitals and shelters are currently operating without electric power.

    Additionally, an ambulance in Gaza was attacked, killing two. The health ministry has accused Israel of “deliberately targeting” medical workers.

    Attacks on Gaza

    Hamas has stated that in the span of one night, at least 30 people have been killed and hundreds wounded after Israel launched hundreds of air raids.

    According to Salama Marouf, who spoke with AFP news agency, dozens of residential buildings, factories, mosques and shops were hit.

    On the contrary, the Israeli military has claimed to have hit several Hamas targets at night.

    Displaced, wounded, dead

    According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, more than 260,000 people have forcibly fled their homes following the Israeli attacks.

    “Over 263,934 people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes,” and “this number is expected to rise further”.

    Whereas the Palestinian health minister has reported that the death toll has reached 950 with more than 5,000 wounded.

    Moreover, at least 260 children have also been killed due to attacks on Gaza.

    As per the Palestinian foreign ministry, since Saturday, Israeli air strikes have destroyed more than 22,600 residential units and 10 health facilities and damaged 48 schools.

    Israel refuses food, medical supply

    The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) requested the delivery of food and medical supplies into Gaza “but Israel refused”.

    “We call on international humanitarian institutions and the international community to intervene urgently to stop the aggression and allow the entry of relief materials and restore electricity and water, because the Gaza Strip is facing a major humanitarian catastrophe,” PLO official Hussein al-Sheikh said on X.

    Israeli death toll rises to 1,200

    An Israeli military spokesperson has confirmed that the Israeli death toll has now risen to 1,200, with more than 2,700 injured.
    Biden’s speech in support of Israel

    The US president Joe Biden gave a speech on Tuesday, condemning the attacks by Hamas and deeming them as “sheer evil”.

    “Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself — today, tomorrow, as we always have. It’s as simple as that,”

    He noted that 14 US citizens are also among those who died in Israel while others have been taken captives.

    Biden has committed to giving more military assistance to Israel, adding that the US has altered its military disposition in the region to warn anyone “seeking to take advantage” of the conflict.

    Biden said that he spoke with Neyhanyatu, “We also discussed how democracies like Israel and the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law,” Biden added.

    What’s next?

    Jonathan Conricus, a spokesman for the Israeli military has announced that hundreds of thousands of troops are assembling near the Gaza Strip for the war with Hamas.

    In a video posted on X, he stated that Israel has sent infantry, armoured soldiers, artillery corps and soldiers — 300,000 in total.

    “And that is to make sure that Hamas, at this end of this war, won’t have any military capabilities by which they can threaten or kill Israeli civilians,” he said.

    Courtesy: Al-Jazeera

  • Hamas calls for Muslims to stand with Palestine on Friday: what we know about Day Four

    Hamas calls for Muslims to stand with Palestine on Friday: what we know about Day Four

    In the latest update, Hamas has called on people all over to come out in solidarity with the Palestinian cause coming Friday.

    Flee to Egypt

    The Israeli military has suggested the Palestinians flee to Egypt to escape air attacks in the Gaza Strip.

    Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht, chief military spokesperson of Israel addressed foreign media, stating, “I am aware that the Rafah crossing (on the Gaza-Egypt border) is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out,”

    Soon after this, news came in that the Rafah border was closed.

    1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters with Israel

    The Israeli army has claimed to have about 1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters that they found in Israel and Gaza Strip.
    According to Hecht, control over the border has “more or less” been restored along the besieged Gaza Strip.

    200 areas in Gaza bombed

    The Israeli military has bombed more than 200 targets in Gaza Strip including an alleged weapons storage site inside a mosque as well as an apartment used by Hamas’s antitank guided missile forces.

    Situation in Gaza ‘extremely worrying’: UNRWA

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has revealed in an interview with Al-Jazeera that thousands of people in Gaza who left their homes to escape the Israeli attacks have been “unable to access basic services”.

    “It is extremely damaging for people. For us, it is extremely worrying that they cannot access any of these basic services,” al-Rifai said.

    14 of UNRWA distribution centres have been bombarded while on the other hand, at least 137,000 people have been displaced and seeking shelter since Saturday.

    Israeli forces ‘taking revenge’ by killing civilians

    The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor posted on social media that Israeli forces are committing “mass killing crimes against civilians” in Gaza.

    “The Israeli forces are taking revenge on Palestinian armed factions by committing mass killing crimes against civilians,” the group said of Israel’s relentless bombardment of densely populated areas, as it posted a photo on social media of a levelled neighbourhood.

    “Even in cases of military necessity, Israel must adhere to provisions of international humanitarian law in its attack on Gaza.”

    “We will purify the area and attack terrorists wherever they are,”

    The Israel Defense Forces’ spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, held a press conference, in which he stated that Hamas terrorists are in Israel, and that Israeli troops are on a hunt and killing them.

    “We will purify the area and attack terrorists wherever they are,” he says.

    Spain and France oppose blockade of aid to Palestine

    On Monday, EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi’s announced that payments from the development programme for Palestinians would be “immediately suspended”.

    This, however, was followed by rejection of the suspension from Spain, Ireland and Luxembourg.

    The EU then reconsidered its approach.

    “This cooperation must continue; we cannot confuse Hamas, which is in the list of EU’s terrorist groups, with the Palestinian population, or the Palestinian Authority or the United Nations’ organisations on the ground,” said Spain’s acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

    Similarly, the Foreign Ministry in Paris said, “We are not in favour of suspending aid that directly benefits the Palestinian people, and we made this clear to the European Commission yesterday,”

    Courtesy: Al-Jazeera News