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Jabaliya Gaza City Gaza Strip Israel Mediterranean Sea Khan Younis Egypt Jabaliya Gaza City Gaza Strip Israel Mediterranean Sea Khan Younis Egypt Jabaliya Gaza City Gaza Strip Mediterranean Sea Israel Khan Younis EgyptGaza in Ruins After a Year of War Much of Gaza has been destroyed by Israel’s relentless military campaign. Sea Gaza Strip Israel Egypt Gaza City 74% of buildings have been likely damaged or destroyed. Gaza City, the strip’s capital, is home to the ancient Old City, as well as Al-Rimal, a once-vibrant, upper-middle-class neighborhood. Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza City Before Fouad Abu JasserThe park was a gathering place for rallies and protests. Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza City After AFPNot far away, the Rashaad Shawa center, which housed the oldest library in the Gaza Strip, has been severely damaged.

Persons: Khan, Khan Younis, Israel Egypt Khan Younis, Abu Kayan, Mamdouh Aljbour, ”, Ahmed Abu, Bilal Shbair, Belal Barbakh, Barbakh, Hamada, Sisters Asan, Elan, Abdulraouf Barbakh, “, Barbakh’s, Jamal Subuh’s, Subuh, Jamal, Jamal Subuh, nourishing Gazans, Dina, Reuters Ahmed Abu Sultan, Mr, Abu Sultan, —, Omari, Omar Al, Mukhtar, Riyad Al, Masri, Al, Rimal, Gazans, Fouad Abu Jasser, Shawerma Al, Sheikh Omar Al, wasn’t, Ahmed Emqat, Ihsan Abdo, Husam Skeek, Jabaliya, Nahed Al, Fatima Hussein, Ahmed Jawda, Assali, Jawda Organizations: Hamas, Cream, Citadel, Sisters, Facebook, Agricultural Organization, Byzantine, Reuters, Reuters Al, AFP, Palestine, Med, Israel Egypt Jabaliya, AFP Al, Times, Bank, Gazans Locations: Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Khan Younis Egypt Gaza, New York City, Gaza City, Med, Israel Egypt, Khan, Facebook, Farra, Jamal, Israel Egypt Gaza, Old City, Gaza . Old City, Omari, Al, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Riyad, Palestine, Gazans, Jabaliya, Jabaliya’s Al

☆ For many Muslim pilgrims, a dangerous unauthorized Hajj is the only option
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Magdy Samaan | Clamping Down On Unauthorized Pilgrimage | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was among the more than 1,300 pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj as temperatures in Saudi Arabia reached record levels. The tragedy, resulting in one of the highest Hajj death tolls in years, has brought attention to the shadowy industry of unauthorized pilgrimage agents. It is unclear how many unauthorized pilgrims made it to this year’s Hajj, but Saudi news outlet Al Sharq Al Awsat reported Tuesday that 141,000 such pilgrims received free medical treatment during the Hajj season. Clamping down on unauthorized pilgrimageBefore this year’s Hajj season started, Saudi authorities warned pilgrims against using agents selling unauthorized Hajj packages and had been in contact with other governments in an effort to crack down on the trend. Authorities had also arrested some illegal agents and issued warnings about penalties for those found to assist unauthorized pilgrims.

Persons: Cairo CNN —, Mahmoud, Salem, “, Abdelzaher Abdo Salem, Om Waleed, Abdelzaher, Mount Arafat, Salem’s, ” Mahmoud, –, Atef, ”, ” Aglan, Aglan, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Hania Hassan Salama, Salama, Mustafa Mohammed, Ahmad, General Muhammad bin Abdullah Al, Rafiq Maqbool Organizations: Cairo CNN, Al, Ma’aisam, Saudi, Egyptian Travel Agents Association, CNN, Hajj, Authorities, Public Security, Hajj Security Locations: Cairo, Abdo Salem, Mecca, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Salem, Abdelzaher, Mount, Mina, “, AFP, Saudi, Medina , Saudi Arabia

Eyewitnesses also said that they saw Israeli forces in disguise – dressed as Hamas fighters or civilians. The Israeli military denied using civilian vehicles, but declined to say whether the officers conducting the rescue were disguised as militants or dressed as Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military had previously used civilian clothing as a tactic in its operations. But soon after the mission got underway, Israeli soldiers and militants began to exchange fire, according to eyewitness accounts and statements from the Israeli military. A senior Biden administration official tells CNN that Israeli forces did not use an aid truck in the operation.

Persons: Mercedes, –, “, ” Khalil Al Tirawi, Mercedes van, — Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Noa Argamani’s, Adm, Daniel Hagari, ”, Argamani, Arnon Zamora, Al Tirawi, Abdullah Jouda, ” Jouda, ” Hagari, Fadi Thabet, Trevor Ball, Richard Weir, ” Al Tirawi, Nidal Abdo, Zamora, Yaron Finkelman, that’s, Jake Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, ” Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Hagari, Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, Israeli Security Agency, IDF, ” CNN, National Police, Hamas ’, Al, CNN CNN, Mercedes, Human Rights Watch, Biden, Southern Command, Union, Sheba Medical, Ichilov Locations: Nuseirat, Gaza, Israeli, Jabalia, Al Jazeera, Argamani, United States, Israel, U.S, “ State, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv

☆ How Israel’s operation to rescue four hostages from Gaza unfolded
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Israel’s operation to rescue four hostages took weeks of preparation and involved hundreds of personnel, its military said. Israel heavily bombarded central Gaza as it carried out the operation, killing more than 200 Palestinians and wounding many others, according to Gaza hospital officials. “Israeli forces have been preparing for this rescue mission for weeks. The special operation was months in the making, and Israeli forces prepared by building models of the apartments the hostages were being held in to train in, Hagari said. But on the ground in Gaza, Palestinians described scenes of carnage following the strikes that led up to the rescue.

Persons: – Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv –, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Jehad, ”, ” Hagari, Nidal Abdo, Ori Megidish, Fernando Marman, Louis Har, Mahmoud Abbas, “, Abbas Organizations: CNN, Staff, Nova, Palestinian, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Israel, Saturday, United Nations, UN Security Council, UN Locations: Gaza, Israel, Nuseirat, Rafah, Palestinian

☆ Israel rescues four hostages in operation Gazan officials say killed more than 200
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —The Israeli military rescued four hostages in a special operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza, that Gazan authorities said killed 236 people and injured more than 400 others. An Israeli policeman from a special counter-terrorism unit was killed in Saturday’s rescue operation, according to Israeli police. At least 236 people have been killed as a result of the rescue operation and more than 400 injured, hospital officials in Gaza said Saturday. The killed and wounded were taken to two hospitals in Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. An Israeli military spokesperson put the number of casualties from the operation at “under 100,” and had no information on how many of those were civilians.

Persons: Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, ’, Dr Marwan Abu Nasser, Balah, Daniel Hagari, Argamani, Hagari, ” Hagari, Nidal Abdo, ”, Abu Abdallah, “, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Abu Obaida, Al, Ori Megidish, Fernando Marman, Louis Har, Isaac Herzog, Avinatan, Liora Argamani, Noa, Joe Biden, Argamani’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, – Almog Meir Jan, Yehuda, – Shlomi Ziv, Ziv, Miren, – Andrey Kozlov, ” Orit Meir, ” Meir, Jennifer Master, ” Yaakov Argamani, ” Rozi Ziv Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, HaShomer Medical Center, Awda, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Aqsa, Palestinian, Hamas, IDF, Brigades, Presidential Press, Reuters, Ichilov, Israeli Locations: Gaza, Nuseirat, ’ Tel, Al, Aqsa, Deir Al, Deir al, Israeli, “, Israel, Rafah, Chinese, Tel Aviv, Russian

☆ Judge’s stern rebuke of Elon Musk’s X gives critics fresh hope
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A federal judge’s decision this week reprimanding Elon Musk’s X will have reverberating effects on efforts to hold influential online platforms accountable, legal experts and advocacy groups say. Breyer held that the reports were “unquestionably” protected by the group’s free speech rights. Now, that decision could embolden other research groups and Musk critics who have faced legal threats from the billionaire. Researchers face hurdles to studying on-platform behaviorResearchers from non-profits and academic institutions have had a harder time studying X since Musk’s takeover in 2022. But one of Musk’s first changes at X was to put access to platform data behind a steep paywall.

Persons: reprimanding Elon Musk’s, Charles Breyer, Breyer, CCDH, X, Northern District of California —, Musk, White, Elon, ”, Alex Abdo, ” Abdo, Angelo Carusone, Carusone, Andrew Bailey, “, ” Carusone, David Karpf, ” Karpf, Nora Benavidez, Benavidez Organizations: CNN, Center, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Columbia University, “ Society, Twitter, Anti, Defamation League, Microsoft, Meta, Media, AGs, School of Media, Public Affairs, George Washington University, ” Free Press, Free Press Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, Texas, Missouri

☆ White House’s Efforts to Combat Misinformation Face Supreme Court Test
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday on whether the Biden administration violated the First Amendment in combating what it said was misinformation on social media platforms. It is the latest in an extraordinary series of cases this term requiring the justices to assess the meaning of free speech in the internet era. The case arose from a barrage of communications from administration officials urging platforms to take down posts on topics like the coronavirus vaccines, claims of election fraud and Hunter Biden’s laptop. Last year, a federal appeals court severely limited such interactions. Alex Abdo, a lawyer with the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the Supreme Court’s review of that decision must be sensitive to two competing values, both vital to democracy.

Persons: Biden, Hunter, Alex Abdo Organizations: Columbia University

☆ Live Updates: White House’s Efforts to Combat Misinformation Face Supreme Court Test
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

PinnedThe Supreme Court will hear arguments at 10 a.m. on Monday on whether the Biden administration violated the First Amendment in combating what it said was misinformation on social media platforms. “This is an immensely important case that will determine the power of the government to pressure the social media platforms into suppressing speech,” he said. “Our hope is that the Supreme Court will clarify the constitutional line between coercion and persuasion. On Friday, the court set rules for when government officials can block users from their private social media accounts. had most likely crossed constitutional lines in their bid to persuade platforms to take down posts about what they had flagged as misinformation.

Persons: Biden, Alex Abdo, ”, Murthy, —, Elizabeth B, Prelogar Organizations: Columbia University, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, White, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Florida, Texas, . Missouri, Missouri, Louisiana

☆ Ezra Mam: Indigenous Australian rugby league star accuses rival of using racial slur during game in Las Vegas
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Indigenous Australian rugby league star Ezra Mam has accused an opponent of using a racial slur during a game in Las Vegas on Saturday. Brisbane Broncos’ Mam made a complaint against Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu during the second half of the National Rugby League’s (NRL) season-opener. Meanwhile, Broncos coach Kevin Walters told reporters after the game that Mam was “adamant” a racial slur had been used, adding his player was “pretty upset” after the game. You wouldn’t think it’s still out there,” Reynolds told reporters after the match. David Becker/Getty ImagesRoosters coach Trent Robinson told reporters he had not spoken to Leniu about the incident in the locker room after the game.

Persons: Ezra Mam, Mam, Spencer Leniu, Leniu, ”, Kevin Walters, Adam Reynolds, didn’t, “ It’s, it’s, ” Reynolds, “, ” Spencer Leniu, David Becker, Trent Robinson, ” Robinson, Andrew Abdo Organizations: CNN, Indigenous Australian rugby, . Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters, National Rugby League’s, Nine, NRL, Nine News, Broncos, Team, Getty, Roosters, Sydney Morning Herald, The Roosters, ” CNN Locations: Las Vegas

☆ Last month was the hottest August ever recorded, as year of climate extremes continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Palestinian Mustafa Abdo, 75-years old, repairs a fan at his shop amid a heat wave at Shati refugee camp. Multiple heat records have been shattered this summer. Last month was the hottest August ever recorded, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration records stretching back 174 years. Global sea surface temperatures were the highest for any August on record, and it was the fifth month in a row where global ocean sea surface temperatures set new highs for each respective month. The sea surface temperature anomaly, or measurement of the departure from a long-term average, for August 2023 was also the largest anomaly on record.

Persons: Mustafa Abdo, Abdo Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Southern Hemisphere

[1/5] Paraguay's new President Santiago Pena wears the presidential sash and holds the baton of command as he greets people with the first lady Leticia Ocampos during his inauguration, in Asuncion, Paraguay August 15, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo Acquire Licensing RightsASUNCION, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Santiago Pena was sworn in on Tuesday as Paraguay's new president, promising to "build alliances" and show "firm and ethical leadership" for the next five years after his April election victory. "We will build alliances and cooperation with a geostrategic vision," the president said in his inaugural speech, adding that Paraguay's relationship with Taiwan "is an example of this and of Paraguay's friendly and cooperative spirit with nations." Despite pressure from farmers who want to open up Chinese markets, he has pledged to stick with Paraguay's decades-long diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Pena faces the additional challenge of shoring up relations with the United States after the U.S. government accused his political mentor, former President Horacio Cartes, of corruption.

Persons: Santiago Pena, Leticia Ocampos, Cesar Olmedo, Pena, Spain, William Lai, Mario Abdo Benitez, Santi, Horacio Cartes, Cartes, Milda Rivarola, Rivarola, Daniela Desantis, Lucinda Elliott, Jonathan Oatis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, Taiwan's, Colorado Party, U.S, Ultima, Thomson Locations: Asuncion, Paraguay, Rights ASUNCION, William Lai . Paraguay, China, Taiwan, Paraguayan, United States

☆ Cocaine cartels encroach on Unification Church’s Paraguayan paradise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Puerto Casado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +20 min

Many of the runways are on land owned by the Unification Church of South Korea, founded by Rev. The Unification Church is a major power in this unruly region. Byun, the Unification Church lawyer, provided Reuters with an April 2022 document the church sent to Paraguayan anti-narcotics prosecutors, urging an investigation into potential illicit activity. Trouble in paradiseThe alleged drug-running on its land isn’t the only trouble the Unification Church has faced in the Chaco. Byun, the church lawyer, acknowledged the tensions with locals in Puerto Casado but declined to comment on the Myungs or the fire.

Persons: Sun Myung, Michelle Byun, ” Byun, “, Moon, God, ”, Miguel Ángel Servín, Servín, Rodrigo Alvarez, Elva Cáceres, Marco Alcaraz, Cynthia Tarrago, Tarrago, Raimundo Va, Rodrigo Alvarenga Paredes, Byun, Alvarenga, “ Alvarenga, Rodrigo Álvarez, Álvarez, Pedro Juan Caballero, ‘ Lawless, –, Marcelo Pecci, José Carlos Acevedo, ” Acevedo, Pecci, Acevedo, Mario Abdo Benítez, James Laverty, Hak Ja, ” –, Carlos Casado, Anger, Locals, Lorenzo Myung, Martin Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Dora Irrazábal, Irrazábal, Alberto David Gauto, Gauto, Emilio Camacho, Moon’s, Hyun Jin, Preston, Hak, Hyung Jin, Sean, Massimo Introvigne, Sean Moon, Preston Moon, Puerto Casado, Virgilio Chamorro, Gabriel Stargardter, Daniela Desantis, Feilding, Tomas Bravo, John Emerson, Brian Thevenot Organizations: Unification Church of, Rev, Authorities, Reuters, Unification Church, Holy Spirit Association, South Korea’s Unification, Belgian, Sting, South, International Association of Parliamentarians, Peace, U.S . Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Party, Yorker, U.S, Attorney, FBI, Capital Command, PCC, United Nations Office, Drugs, U.S . Drug, Carlos Casado SA, Salesian, Supreme, FARC, Peace Foundation, Center for Studies, New, Iron Ministries, Preston, Tomas Bravo Graphics Locations: Paraguayan, Unification Church of South Korea, SENAD Paraguay, Chaco, Paraguay, Korea, Bolivian, Peruvian, Atlantic, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Europe, Argentine, Manhattan, “, Antwerp, Europe’s, Servín, Asunción, Seoul, New York City, United States, New Jersey, Tarrago, Va, U.S, Byun, Alvarenga, Chile, Ecuador, Colombian, Bolivia, American, South America, America, Puerto Casado, Gauto, Preston, Turin, Italy, Pennsylvania, Puerto

☆ Paraguay's conservatives score big election win, defusing Taiwan fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Paraguayan presidential candidate for the Colorado Party, Santiago Peña (C), celebrates with his wife, Leticia Ocampos de Pea (R), and Paraguayan former President Horacio Cartes, after winning the presidential election in Asuncion on April 30, 2023. Norberto Duarte | AFP | Getty ImagesParaguay's ruling candidate Santiago Pena, 44, scored a big win in the country's presidential election on Sunday, tightening the conservative Colorado Party's political grip in the country and defusing fears about the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan. "Thank you for this Colorado victory, thank you for this Paraguayan victory," Pena said in a speech. Colorado and right-wing party candidates also performed strongly in congressional elections and governor races, with some provinces recording a historic Colorado majority over opposition rivals. The Colorado Party has dominated politics in the landlocked South American country since the 1950s.

[1/4] Paraguayan presidential candidate Santiago Pena from the ruling Colorado Party gestures next to his wife Leticia Ocampos at the party headquarters as he and his running mate Pedro Alliana won Paraguay's presidential race, according to the preliminary official count, in Asuncion, Paraguay April 30, 2023. Still, Pena will be able to keep a cool head amid the tumult, his supporters say. "I think what characterizes him is that he has infinite tranquility," said Lea Gimenez, who served as Pena's deputy when he was finance minister and was later finance minister herself. Throughout the campaign the Colorado Party candidate has vowed to extend Paraguay's decades-long diplomatic relations with Taiwan, despite pressures to open up to China and its huge consumer demand for soybeans and beef. He became finance minister in 2015.

☆ Paraguay election result calms fear of another Taiwan ally falling (for now)
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Lucinda Elliott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ASUNCION, May 1 (Reuters) - News of Santiago Pena's election victory in Paraguay will be cheered by officials in Taiwan, which faces an uphill battle against China's economic muscle to keep its remaining 13 allies worldwide, including its last in South America. "This is a relief to Taipei," a senior European diplomat told Reuters in Asuncion asking not to be named. Taiwan's embassy in Paraguay congratulated Pena for winning the election and said it would continue to work on the two countries' "fruitful relationship". Pena's victory - and a strong performance in congressional elections by the ruling conservatives - has dampened hopes of a swift foreign policy shift, Galli said. Rubén Ramírez, a former foreign minister for Paraguay told Reuters that discussions over the Taiwan relationship must remain a priority when the new government is sworn in.

☆ Paraguay Picks a New President: What You Need to Know
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Jack Nicas | Laurence Blair | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Colorado incumbent, President Mario Abdo Benítez, cannot run again because of term limits — and surveys show he is one of Latin America’s most unpopular leaders because of his handling of the pandemic. Representing the Colorado Party at the polls will be Paraguay’s former finance minister. In January, the U.S. government placed financial sanctions on the Colorado Party’s leader, the former president Horacio Cartes, accusing him of bribing his way to power. The sanctions have complicated the party’s financing. Some recent polls have shown that the leading opposition candidate — a conservative who is still to the left of the Colorado Party’s contender — holds a narrow lead.

But Pena, who has powerful party backing, is able to keep a cool head amid the tumult, his supporters say. "I think what characterizes him is that he has infinite tranquility," said Lea Gimenez, who served as Pena's deputy when he was finance minister and was later finance minister herself. Opinion polls suggest either Pena or center-left opposition leader Efrain Alegre could triumph and most analysts predict a close race. "He matured very quickly, being a young father... he became an adult very quickly," a former colleague told Reuters. He became finance minister in 2015.

☆ Taiwan or China? Paraguay's dilemma puts election race in the spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lucindaalice Elliott | Daniela Desantis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Paraguayan presidential candidate Santiago Pena from ruling Colorado Party, attends his campaign rally, in Asuncion, Paraguay April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar OlmedoASUNCION, April 24 (Reuters) - From Paraguayan capital Asuncion to Taipei and Washington, diplomats, officials - and farmers - are closely watching a tight election race that could determine Paraguay's future ties with Taiwan. "How can I deny a relationship that is beneficial for all Paraguayans, a people that need development, need investment, need industry?" China has long argued that democratically-ruled Taiwan is part of its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. 'WHEN, NOT IF'Among diplomatic circles in Asuncion there is a sense a switch is inevitable - regardless of the election outcome.

☆ In Paraguay, calls for change test Colorado Party's political machine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Daniela Desantis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ASUNCION, March 28 (Reuters) - Paraguay's ruling Colorado Party - a conservative political machine that has dominated government in Asuncion for some eight decades - could be facing a major challenge at the ballot box next month. Many voters say they feel it is time for something new. Pena may also be impacted by a U.S.-led graft probe into Horacio Cartes, a former Colorado president who led the country from 2013 to 2018. However, the Colorado party retains a powerful election campaign machine and supporter base that goes back generations. Adelina Caceres, director of a public school in the town of Guarambare, on the outskirts of the capital, said she supported the Colorado party mainly because "her grandfather had been Colorado," and despite being often frustrated by them.

JANDARIS, Syria, March 22 (Reuters) - Hussein Mankawi has little hope he will ever rebuild his home and food distribution businesses in the north-west Syrian city of Jandaris after they were reduced to rubble by last month's deadly earthquake, wiping out his life's work. There is nothing but tents," he said, standing by the mangled ruins of his home in the rebel-held region. The Feb. 6 earthquakes were the worst modern-day natural disasters to strike Syria and Turkey, killing more than 56,000 people across the two countries. The U.N. says more than 100,000 people have been displaced in the region since the first quake struck on Feb. 6. "We were looking for a better life," he said as he waited to be let through the border with his family.

Video footage from a drone flying down a street in Antakya’s Old City, which is covered in rubble and surrounded by collapsed buildings. Called Saray Street by locals, this stretch was once lined with more than 70 shops, restaurants and other businesses. The destruction on Saray Street is a fraction of all that was lost in Old City. Video clip of Saray Street before the quakes, showing stores and patrons during the holiday season. Damaged or destroyed historic or cultural landmark Map showing the boundaries of Old City and labeling cultural landmarks that were damaged or destroyed.

☆ Syrian Brothers Reunite for Desperate Search After Turkey’s Quake
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Daniella Cheslow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

ANTAKYA, Turkey—Alaa Sannaa received a text message from his mother after twin earthquakes rocked Turkey and Syria, telling him to fly immediately from his home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Antakya, where his brother Abdo’s wife and three children were buried under the rubble of their 12-story apartment building. Alaa, 37 years old, quickly messaged his other three brothers, who live in Germany and the U.S. They immediately booked tickets to Turkey.

☆ Paraguay president seeks to calm China jitters on Taiwan trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and visiting Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez attend a welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei, Taiwan, February 16, 2023. Paraguay is one of only 14 countries to have formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, and Beijing has been stepping up efforts to get those remaining allies to abandon Taipei. "Nobody is going to dare to go ahead with a process of diplomatic rupture with the Republic of China, Taiwan," he said, referring to Taiwan's official name. Santiago Pena, the ruling Colorado Party candidate, has said Paraguay's relations with Taiwan would remain intact if he wins on April 30. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

☆ Destiny unites us, Paraguay leader says as Taiwan ties hang in balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and visiting Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez arrive at the welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei, Taiwan, February 16, 2023. Speaking at a welcome ceremony in Taipei attended by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Abdo said the Taiwanese people deserve the highest admiration, respect, and affection from his country. Tsai, recalling her two trips to Paraguay as president, said the two sides continued to deepen their friendship. Paraguay's Taiwan ties have been under pressure in recent years, especially from the country's beef producers and farmers, who see the relationship as an obstacle to gaining access to the world's largest market for their products. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

☆ Paraguay president to visit Taiwan ahead of election that could end ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Paraguay is one of only 14 countries to have formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, and Beijing has been stepping up efforts to get those remaining allies to abandon Taipei. Paraguay would cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and open relations with China if the opposition wins the election, its presidential candidate Efrain Alegre has said, hoping to boost economically important soy and beef exports. "Taiwan and Paraguay have had diplomatic relations for more than 65 years and a deep friendship," the ministry added. Santiago Pena, the ruling Colorado Party candidate, has said Paraguay's relations with Taiwan would remain intact if he wins on April 30. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

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