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☆ 'Please Wake Up': Families of Israeli Victims Urge World to Stand Against Islamist Violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Angelo AmanteROME (Reuters) - The world must take a stand against Islamist violence to avoid it spreading and take action to ensure the swift release of hostages taken by Hamas militants after their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, families of victims said on Wednesday. The group included Avi Eylon, whose 23-year-old daughter, Shira, was killed with a friend while attending a music festival. Some 222 people were taken hostage after the attack on southern Israel in which 1,400 people were killed. Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Health officials in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said more than 6,500 people have been killed since Israel began its bombing campaign in response.

Persons: Angelo Amante ROME, Giorgia Meloni, Avi Eylon, Shira, Israel, Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, Lilian Le Havron, Nadav, Angelo Amante, Nick Macfie Organizations: Reuters, Health, Gaza, Hamas Locations: Israel, Rome, Europe, Italy, Qatar, Egypt, Palestine, France, Belgium

☆ Israel's Netanyahu, Fending off Critics, Says There's 'Clear Unity of Purpose' With Defence Chiefs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Netanyahu, Israel's longest serving prime minister, has seen his already falling approval ratings plunge following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which killed some 1,400 people in the deadliest day for Israel in its 75-year history. "It has deeply impeded the need to focus on the war and on making decisions, including painful decisions. "Between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff there is complete and mutual trust and a clear unity of purpose," the statement said. In the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, Netanyahu invited former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who leads one of the centrist opposition parties, to join his war cabinet as part of an emergency unity government. But his own personal standing, already clouded by a corruption trial on charges which he denies, has been badly damaged and a recent poll showed Gantz was now a far more popular choice as prime minister.

Persons: James Mackenzie JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel's, Yedioth, Israel, Haim Bibas, Benny Gantz, Gantz, James Mackenzie, Nick Macfie Organizations: of Defense, Gaza, Channel Locations: Hamas, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Syria, United States, Modiin

☆ Qatar Hostage Mediators Press Hamas on Civilian Releases -Diplomats, Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. Hamas says such captive soldiers are strategic assets the group can eventually exchange for major concessions from Israel. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Andrew Mills DOHA, Reuters, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

☆ 'The Hunger Games' to be turned into London stage play
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A fan waits at the premiere of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" in Los Angeles, California November 16, 2015. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - "The Hunger Games" is set to open at a London theatre next year in the first live stage adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novels and the hugely successful film franchise. "To receive Suzanne Collins’ blessing to adapt ‘The Hunger Games’ for the stage is both humbling and inspiring. "In a world where the truth itself seems increasingly up for grabs, ‘The Hunger Games’ beautifully expresses values of resilience, self-reliance and independent moral inquiry for younger people especially. Collins said she was "very excited" to be collaborating with McPherson and Dunster "as they bring their dynamic and innovative interpretation of ‘The Hunger Games’ to the London stage".

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Suzanne Collins, Conor McPherson, Oscar, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, Matthew Dunster, Suzanne Collins ’, McPherson, Collins, Dunster, Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Nick Macfie Organizations: Lionsgate, Shakespeare's Globe, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Irish, Panem

☆ Israel's Netanyahu, fending off critics, says there's 'clear unity of purpose' with defence chiefs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( James Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel's, Yedioth, Israel, Haim Bibas, Benny Gantz, Gantz, James Mackenzie, Nick Macfie Organizations: of Defense, Gaza, Channel, Thomson Locations: Hamas, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Syria, United States, Modiin

☆ China ousts defence minister, the second senior leader to leave in three months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Oct 24 (Reuters) - China removed its defence minister on Tuesday, the second ousting of a senior leader in three months, raising questions about the stability of the leadership team around Chinese President Xi Jinping. General Li Shangfu, who has been absent from public view for two months, was dismissed as defence minister and state councillor, according to state media. No replacement for Li was named, leaving the country without a defence minister as it prepares to host foreign defence officials at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Oct. 29-31. Li, 65, disappeared from public view two months ago. No other defence minister in China had served for a shorter time than Li.

Persons: Xi Jinping, General Li Shangfu, Gang, Li, Xi, Qin, Wang Yi, Yew Lun, Don Durfee, Mark Potter, Nick Macfie Organizations: National People's, CCTV, Beijing Xiangshan, Reuters, Wall, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, Russia, United States

☆ Qatar hostage mediators press Hamas on civilian releases -diplomats, sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. When its fighters stormed into Israel on Oct 7, "Hamas did not expect the operation would be as catastrophically successful as it was. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, quicken, U.S, Reuters, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, DOHA, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

☆ Blast, ambulances heard near Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, witnesses say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - An explosion and the sound of ambulances were heard near the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Sunday afternoon, shortly after a second aid convoy had entered the crossing from the Egyptian side, witnesses said. The cause and the exact location of the blast were not immediately clear. Since conflict began on Oct. 7 between Hamas and Israel, bombardments on the Gaza side of the crossing have damaged roads and buildings that needed repairing before a first convoy of aid trucks passed through Rafah into Gaza on Saturday. Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Cairo bureau Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nidal al, Aidan Lewis, Hugh Lawson, Nick Macfie Organizations: Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Mughrabi, Cairo

☆ Pro-Israel Protesters in London Demand Hamas Release Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - About 20,000 people rallied in London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday to demand the release of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas during their Oct. 7 incursion from Gaza into Israel in which 1,400 Israelis were killed. Waving the blue and white Israeli flag adorned with the Star of David, several participants wept as the names of hostages were read out to the crowd. Ayelet Svtizky described how Hamas had entered her mother's home as she was speaking on the phone to her. "The third picture they uploaded to my mum's Facebook story with a Hamas gunman in the background. The rally followed a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday in which an estimated 100,000 people marched through the centre of London.

Persons: David, Ayelet Svtizky, Yann Tessier, Paul Sandle, Nick Macfie Organizations: Star, Hamas, London's Metropolitan Police Locations: London's, Gaza, Israel, London

☆ Thousands gather in Paris for first authorised pro-Palestinian demo since Oct. 7 Hamas attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] French labour unions and organisations call for peace and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during a demonstration at Place de la Republique in Paris, France, October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Thousands of people waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Gaza, Paris is with you" gathered on Sunday for the first pro-Palestinian demonstration allowed by police in the French capital since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Police said that the protest was authorised, unlike others, because the declaration by organisers condemned the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, which killed 1,400 people. On Thursday, a protest was authorised at the last minute only after a Paris court overturned the police decision to ban it, and in the last few days, other protests have been authorised in cities across France. Reporting by Layli Foroudi; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Catherine Colonna, Israel, Layli Foroudi, Nick Macfie Organizations: la Republique, REUTERS, Rights, Republique, Police, France Palestine Solidarity, French, Thomson Locations: Gaza, la, Paris, France, Israel, Cairo

☆ France boosts air, rail security amid rise in bomb hoaxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

French police stand guard in front of the Chateau de Versailles (Palace of Versailles) as tourists enter again after the Palace was evacuated for security reasons, in Versailles, near Paris, France, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Clotaire Achi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - France, already on its highest security alert, is to boost security at airports around the capital and on trains after a wave of bomb hoaxes, the transport minister said on Sunday. Alongside the heightened risk, there were "people who are playing with fear", he said, referring to the wave of fake bomb alerts that have hit transport networks, schools and cultural centres over the last week. Since last Wednesday, there have been 70 bomb hoaxes in airports in France, he said, adding that almost all of these alerts were sent from the same Swiss-based email address. Beaune told France Inter that hoaxes are not "small jokes, they are serious crimes" and that they will be investigated.

Persons: Chateau, Clotaire, Clement Beaune, Layli Foroudi, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ., SNCF, France Inter, Thomson Locations: Versailles, Paris, France, Arras, Europe, Beaune, Swiss

☆ Pro-Israel protesters in London demand Hamas release hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A demonstrator waves the Israeli flag as thousands pack London's Trafalgar Square, Britain October 22, 2023 to demand the liberation of the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas in its incursion into southern Israel on October 7. REUTERS/Yann Tessier Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - About 20,000 people rallied in London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday to demand the release of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas during their Oct. 7 incursion from Gaza into Israel in which 1,400 Israelis were killed. Ayelet Svtizky described how Hamas had entered her mother's home as she was speaking on the phone to her. "The third picture they uploaded to my mum's Facebook story with a Hamas gunman in the background. The rally followed a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday in which an estimated 100,000 people marched through the centre of London.

Persons: Yann Tessier, David, Ayelet Svtizky, Paul Sandle, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Star, Hamas, London's Metropolitan Police, Thomson Locations: Britain, Israel, London's, Gaza, London

☆ Thousands Gather in Paris for First Authorised Pro-Palestinian Demo Since Oct. 7 Hamas Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - Thousands of people waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Gaza, Paris is with you" gathered on Sunday for the first pro-Palestinian demonstration allowed by police in the French capital since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Police said that the protest was authorised, unlike others, because the declaration by organisers condemned the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, which killed 1,400 people. On Thursday, a protest was authorised at the last minute only after a Paris court overturned the police decision to ban it, and in the last few days, other protests have been authorised in cities across France. This came following a ruling by France's highest administrative court stating that pro-Palestinian protests were to be banned on a case-by-case basis, not systematically as an earlier instruction by the French interior minister had suggested. (Reporting by Layli Foroudi; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Persons: Catherine Colonna, Israel, Layli Foroudi, Nick Macfie Organizations: PARIS, Republique, Police, France Palestine Solidarity, French Locations: Gaza, Paris, Israel, France, Cairo

☆ Archbishop of Canterbury warns against assuming Israel behind Gaza hospital blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at Westminster Abbey, central London, ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The Oct. 17 explosion at Al Ahli hospital has been among the most hotly disputed events of the Gaza war now in its third week. The governing Palestinian Islamist group Hamas accused Israel of carrying out an air strike on the hospital. Israel denied that, saying the blast was caused by a Palestinian rocket falling short after being launched at Israel. Asked during a visit to Jerusalem if he could corroborate a figure for the fatalities, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told reporters: "I have no idea about how many civilians there were.

Persons: Canterbury Justin Welby, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Andrew Milligan, Israel, of Canterbury Justin Welby, I've, Dan Williams, Nick Macfie Organizations: Westminster Abbey, Rights, Palestinian, U.S, Thomson Locations: Westminster, London, Gaza, Al Ahli, Palestinian, Israel, U.S, Jerusalem

☆ UK church leader warns against assuming Israel behind Gaza hospital blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Palestinian Red Crescent logistics head in Gaza, Mahmoud Abu al-Atta, said truckloads of aid had been handed to specific agencies including UNICEF and the Qatari Red Crescent. Mohammad Maher, 40, who has fled to the south from Gaza City in the north, said: "We don't want food or money. Palestinians gather around the remains of a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in the northern Gaza Strip October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Anas al-Shareef Acquire Licensing Rights"Whoever chooses not to leave north Gaza to the south of Wadi Gaza might be identified as an accomplice in a terrorist organisation," the leaflets said. In Jabalia refugee camp, in the north of the enclave, Israeli air strikes destroyed two mosques - among 30 that local authorities say the bombardment has smashed in two weeks.

Persons: Mahmoud Abu al, Atta, Mohammad Maher, Israel, Anas, Khan Younis, Ashraf al, Younis, Shady, Nidal al, Angus McDowall, Nick Macfie Organizations: Gaza, Palestinian, Crescent, UNICEF, Qatari Red Crescent, Hamas, REUTERS, Shifa, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, Rafah, Mahmoud, Gaza City, United States, Israel, Palestinian, Wadi Gaza

The lower house, the State Duma, on Wednesday passed the second and third readings of a bill that revokes Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. What is happening in the world today is the exclusive fault of the United States," parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Russia's testing ground in the remote northern archipelago of Novaya Zemlya in August. CNN published satellite images last month showing Russia, the United States and China have all built new facilities at their nuclear test sites in recent years. The Soviet Union last tested in 1990 and the United States in 1992.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Vyacheslav Volodin, Volodin, Sergei Shoigu, Melissa Parke, Mark Trevelyan, Nick Macfie Organizations: States Arms, West, State Duma, Comprehensive, Washington, Defence, CNN, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, International, Nuclear, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, United States, Russian, Ukraine, China, India, Pakistan, Korea, Washington, Novaya Zemlya, Stockholm, USA, Soviet Russia

☆ Putin filmed in China accompanied by officers with Russian nuclear briefcase
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Rare footage was shown on Wednesday of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing accompanied by officers carrying the so-called nuclear briefcase which can be used to order a nuclear strike. Putin, after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, was filmed walking to another meeting surrounded by security and followed by two Russian naval officers in uniform each carrying a briefcase. Russia's nuclear briefcase is traditionally carried by a naval officer. The Russian defence minister, currently Sergei Shoigu, also has a nuclear briefcase. One of the nuclear briefcases used by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is displayed in the Yeltsin Museum in Yekaterinburg.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Xi Jinping, Mount Cheget, RIA, satchel, RUPTLY, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Boris Yeltsin, Guy Faulconbridge, Nick Macfie Organizations: Kremlin, U.S, White, Cuban Missile, Russian, Forum, REUTERS, Acquire, Comprehensive, Russia's Zvezda, Zvezda, Yeltsin, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Beijing, Putin's, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, China, United States, Yekaterinburg

☆ South Africa says it discussed aid with Hamas leader, denies reports of support
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Local publication News24 earlier reported a statement from Hamas that the group had received a call of support from South Africa's foreign minister. It said the Hamas statement did not name Pandor. South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor attends a press conference as BRICS foreign ministers meet in Cape Town, South Africa, June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Nic Bothma/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights"We do not have a bilateral relationship with Hamas... Support for the Palestinian struggle against occupation does not equate to support for Hamas," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. South Africa has long been an advocate for peace in the region, likening the plight of Palestinians to its own under an apartheid regime that ended in 1994.

Persons: Naledi Pandor, Ismail Haniyeh, Nic Bothma, Cyril Ramaphosa's, Vincent Magwenya, Israel, Tannur Anders, Bhargav, Nick Macfie Organizations: South African Foreign, government's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa's, REUTERS, Hamas, Twitter, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Gaza, Israel, South, Cape Town , South Africa, Africa, Israel's

☆ U.S. says it thwarted drone attack on its troops in Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TEL AVIV, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. military thwarted an attack targeting its forces in Iraq early on Wednesday, intercepting two drones before they could strike, two U.S. officials said after the first such attack on U.S. forces in Iraq in more than a year. The one-way attack drones were intercepted as they attempted to strike Iraq's al Asad air base, which hosts American troops, the officials said. Last week he threatened to target U.S. interests if Washington intervened to support Israel. Dozens of members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the state paramilitary organisation that contains many Iran-backed factions, took to the streets on Tuesday to condemn the hospital attack. Demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans and said they wanted to storm the U.S. embassy for its support of Israel.

Persons: Iraq's al Asad, Joe Biden, Israel, Ali al, Hadi Al, Amiri, Washington, Kataib, Phil Stewart, Amina Ismail, Ahmed Rasheed, Ahmed Saad, Clarence Fernandez, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S, Reuters, American, Hamas, Islamic, Israel, Hezbollah, United, Popular, Forces, ., Thomson Locations: TEL AVIV, Iraq, U.S, Washington, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Al, Ahli, Israeli, United States, Iraqi, Badr, America, Syria, State, Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Erbil

[1/8] Police barricade tape is seen at a cordoned-off area after a police operation in Schaerbeek near Brussels, Belgium October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Belgian police on Tuesday shot and wounded a 45-year-old Tunisian suspected of killing two Swedish football fans in Brussels, Belgian media said. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said earlier the wounded man was suspected of being the gunman. The suspected gunman, calling himself Abdesalem Al Guilani, claimed in a video on social media that he was a fighter for Allah. According to a media transcript of the video message recorded by the self-declared perpetrator, he said he had killed Swedes to take revenge in the name of Muslims.

Persons: Bart Biesemans, Annelies Verlinden, Verlinden, Philippe Close, BFM, Alexander De Croo, De Croo, de Croo, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Abdesalem Al Guilani, Philip Blenkinsop, Bart Meijer, Benoit van Overstraeten, Jan Strupczewski, Tassilo Hummel, Zhifan Liu, Ingrid Melander, Gerry Doyle, Christina Fincher, Nick Macfie Organizations: Police, REUTERS, Rights, Belgian, Islamic State, Red Devils soccer, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Belgian, Sweden, Israel

☆ Finnish Nobel Peace laureate and former president Ahtisaari dies at 86
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari poses with his medal and diploma during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo December 10, 2008. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Nobel Peace laureate Martti Ahtisaari, who served as Finland's 10th president between 1994 and 2000, died on Monday at the age of 86, the Finnish president's office said in a statement. Ahtisaari was celebrated around the world for brokering peace in conflict zones in Kosovo, Indonesia and Northern Ireland. All conflicts can be settled, and there are no excuses for allowing them to become eternal," Ahtisaari said when he accepted the Nobel award in 2008. Several months afterwards, the Nobel committee gave him the peace prize, citing work on multiple continents over more than three decades.

Persons: Martti Ahtisaari, Ints, Ahtisaari, Mara, Martti, Finland's, Slobodan Milosevic, Eeva, Marko, Anne Kauranen, Ritsuko Ando, Sonya Hepinstall, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Soviet, Social Democrats, Finland's European Union, NATO, Finland's Ministry, Foreign Affairs, EU, Yugoslav, Crisis Management, Free Aceh Movement, Nokia, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Rights HELSINKI, Finnish, Kosovo, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Finland, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Viipuri, Russia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, Aceh, Balkans

☆ Jerusalem Catholic Patriarch offers to be exchanged for Gaza hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM looks on after being elevated to the rank of cardinal at the Vatican, September 30, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, made his comment in response to a question during a video conference with journalists in Italy. Diplomatic efforts have been intensifying to get aid into Gaza as Israel prepares a ground invasion to destroy Hamas. Pizzaballa said that about 1,000 Christians were sheltering in Church buildings in northern Gaza after their homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message.

Persons: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Yara, Pope Francis, Pizzaballa, Gazans, Philip Pullella, Nick Macfie Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Hamas, Roman Catholic, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Church

☆ Israeli lawmaker urges cbank to lower rates amid conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The interest rate increases were due to inflation, and the reality has changed. I turn to the governor: just lower the interest rate," said committee chairman Moshe Gafni during a session to discuss compensation for those impacted by the fighting. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who was participating in the panel's session, rejected Gafni's call to demand Yaron lower rates. Gafni also called on banks to waive interest payments and said he was not satisfied with a central bank plan issued on Sunday. Under the plan, loan payments of mortgages, consumer credit and business credit would be deferred without charging interest and without charging fees.

Persons: Moshe Gafni, Ammar Awad, Amir Yaron, Gafni, Bezalel Smotrich, Smotrich, it's, Steven Scheer, Nick Macfie Organizations: Torah, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Israel, Finance, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza

☆ Twenty arrested in Hong Kong over false document pension withdrawals amid row over UK passport
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An evening view of the financial central district of Hong Kong, China October 3, 2023. Hong Kong pension funds have been in the spotlight since the emigration of more than 140,000 Hong Kong people to Britain after 2020 when China imposed a national security law on the former British colony, cracking down on dissent. The authority running the pension scheme then said it would not accept the passport as a valid document for the withdrawal of funds. The agent had allegedly accepted bribes of up to tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars per applicant, the ICAC said. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Hong Kongers, Hong Kong, Jessie Pang, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Britain, British National, Overseas, Provident Fund, Hong Kong Watch, Residents, HK, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Britain . Hong Kong, Britain, British, Hong

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