Dario Salvi

In the shadow of the conflict in Gaza (and with the Lebanese Hezbollah in the north) the Israelis are perpetrating a ‘policy’ of violence against farmers and land. A state ‘policy’ that combines pro-occupation movements and institutions. With Ben Gvir a real task force against foreign activists who support the Palestinians, by means of arrests and expulsions.

A new scandal is developing over a 32-year-old member of Netanyahu's staff. By leaking fake information to the media, the aide contributed to derailing hostage negotiations and escalating the war. For opposition leader Lapid, the PM is either “incompetent” or “complicit”.

On the Solemnity of All Saints and the proclamation of the Beatitudes as the "path of holiness", the pontiff stressed how war is "ignoble, because it is the triumph of the lie". He called on the faithful to pray for Chad hit by a grave terrorist attack and the Valencian community overwhelmed by storm Dana, a huge "environmental catastrophe". He also turned his thoughts to the "153 women and children massacred in Gaza in recent days.”

Today's headlines: Hezbollah fires rockets into northern Israel, killing seven, including four Thais; Israeli bulldozers demolish UNRWA office. In Japan, cyclists who use a mobile phone or are intoxicated while riding risk jail time. India and China have completed the withdrawal of soldiers from sensitive points along their disputed Himalayan border. In Iran, the amputations of fingers of people convicted of theft are back.

Hezbollah’s new chief does not rule out negotiations, but warns that it will take weeks or months. Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati is optimistic, waiting for developments from Hochstein's mission to Israel. But opposition remains on both sides. Meanwhile, the Saudi capital hosts a two-day meeting of the “International Alliance to implement the Two-State Solution".

Today's news: Kdp first party in parliamentary elections in Kurdistan with 39 seats and the task of forming the regional government; Millions of Indians celebrate Diwali festival today; Hanoi sentences blogger Duong Van Thai to 12 years in prison; A well-known Russian cyclo-tourist and video blogger, 39-year-old Igor Babko, was reportedly kidnapped in Pakistan by a group of Taliban terrorists.

China is bucking the trend of the rest of the world where smoking is falling. Sales reached 2.44 trillion in 2023. In 2022, smokers represented 24.1 per cent of the adult population, a figure well above the world average of 17 per cent. For experts, countrywide legislation is needed to control tobacco.

Today's news: Seoul, during US elections Pyongyang regime would like to launch a ballistic missile (Icbm); Britain, EU and Canada imposed more sanctions against the Burmese regime; In southwest Pakistan five people killed in an attack by gunmen at the construction site of a small dam; Crisis also hits super-rich in China, assets drop.

House Human Rights Committee chairperson highlights this aspect of the former president’s statement at yesterday's hearing in which he acknowledged that he had given orders to "encourage" suspects to react, to justify killings by policemen. For lawyers and activists, his words are " damning evidence” of guilt.

With a margin of 92 to 10, the Israeli parliament approves two bills to end the activities of the UN agency for Palestinians, accused of covering for Hamas. This has sparked criticism from the international community. For UNRWA commissioner-general, the bill is “unprecedented”, while UN chief Guterres calls the agency’s work “essential”. Meanwhile, Israel plans to expropriate UNRWA’s compound to build homes for settlers in East Jerusalem.

In the first nine months of the year at least 435 people were killed by the military. It was 113 in 2021. This is compounded by artillery strikes and air attacks against houses, schools and religious buildings, as well as massacres and arson attacks by troops in the field. The junta uses fear as a weapon. At least a thousand civilians trapped in fighting in Rakhine State.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of using the crossings to move weapons and military equipment between the two countries. Up to half a million people have crossed the border into Syria since the opening of Israel’s "northern front". Airstrikes also affect civilians and block business activities and trade. The IDF issued an evacuation order for Tyre.