Israeli raids on Gaza leave at least 25 dead. IDF accuses Hamas of violating the truce
Today's headlines: Trump reportedly approves a 28-point plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine that is very close to Moscow's position; Philippines: former Bamban mayor Alice Guo convicted of human trafficking for activities in scam centres; In Oita, Japan, 170 buildings destroyed by the largest urban fire in decades; In Malaysia, 11 Burmese and Bangladeshi shipwreck survivors accused of illegal residence.
GAZA - ISRAEL
The Israeli army carried out air raids on Gaza after a firefight with no casualties or injuries in the Khan Younis area. Hamas reports 25 people killed in attacks on the commander of Hamas' Zeitoun battalion and the head of the navy. The shooting took place in territory controlled by the IDF, which accuses Hamas of violating the truce in force since 10 October. In Khan Younis, a centre run by the UN, housing displaced families, was also targeted, according to Hamas. The 20-point Trump plan recently approved by the UN Security Council calls for the disarmament of Hamas and an international force.
USA - UKRAINE - RUSSIA
Trump has reportedly approved a 28-point plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine, inspired by the proposal developed for Gaza. It would require Kiev to cede territory and drastically limit the size of its armed forces. The plan was put together by Steve Witkoff and Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev through an unofficial channel of communication between Moscow and Washington. According to rumours, Ukraine would be forced to give Russia total control of Crimea and Donbass, along with the return of all long-range weapons, in what would look very much like a surrender by Kiev.
PHILIPPINES
A former mayor of the Philippines accused of “Chinese” espionage has been found guilty of human trafficking for her role in running a scam centre. She and three others were sentenced to life imprisonment and fined 2 million pesos (approximately £16,000). The case of Alice Guo, 35, lasted for years after authorities discovered one of the country's largest scam centres in her small town of Bamban, north of Manila, from which about 800 Filipinos and foreigners were rescued.
JAPAN
The largest urban fire in Japan in recent decades, which broke out in the city of Oita on the island of Kyushu, destroyed at least 170 buildings. Residents were forced to evacuate, with the causes still to be determined. Aerial footage shows the fire covering an area the size of seven football pitches, with residential buildings engulfed near a port. One victim has been reported so far. It is the largest urban fire in Japan since 1976, excluding incidents caused by earthquakes.
MALAYSIA - MYANMAR - BANGLADESH
Eleven survivors of the shipwreck that occurred two weeks ago - 36 people died - appeared before a Malaysian court on charges of illegal residence. The defendants - nine Burmese citizens, mostly Rohingya, and two Bangladeshis, aged between 17 and 43 - are among the 14 people rescued after the shipwreck on 6 November off the Thai island of Tarutao. Heading to Malaysia, they face a fine of up to ,400 or five years' imprisonment, or both, and up to six strokes of the cane.
AFGHANISTAN - INDIA - PAKISTAN
In his second visit in two months, Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi arrived in India for an official visit aimed at strengthening economic ties. He was expected to meet with Afghan traders in India to discuss market access and prospects for expansion. A month ago, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi became the first senior Taliban official to visit India - which is considering upgrading its diplomatic presence in Kabul to an embassy - since the Taliban took power four years ago. The improvement in relations between Delhi and Kabul comes amid a tense regional context, with tensions with Islamabad in the background.
TAJIKISTAN - KYRGYZSTAN
The Asian Development Bank has approved a .4 million financing programme to support Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in “increasing their potential to respond to natural disasters”, as both countries are at high risk of earthquakes and floods, with scarce resources and insufficient mechanisms to prevent and deal with the most catastrophic events. The programme will help to “reduce the fiscal burden”.
15/07/2023
18/10/2025 12:41
