- Israel and Gaza: The conflict between Israel and Gaza continues to escalate, with more than 200 people killed and thousands injured in the past week. Israel has warned Gaza residents to evacuate the northern part of the strip, as it prepares for a possible ground invasion. The US Secretary of State has arrived in Israel to try to broker a ceasefire, but both sides have rejected any immediate truce. The UN Security Council has also failed to agree on a joint statement calling for an end to the violence
- Powerball: A single ticket sold in Michigan has won the $310 million Powerball jackpot, the third-largest prize in the game’s history. The winning numbers were 21, 39, 40, 55 and 59, with a Powerball of 17. The ticket holder has not yet come forward to claim the prize, which can be paid in 30 annual installments or as a lump sum of $197 million. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292 million.
- India: India has successfully carried out the first of a series of key test flights after overcoming a technical glitch ahead of its planned mission to take astronauts into space in 2025. The test flight involved launching a crew module and a service module into orbit and then separating them. The crew module returned safely to Earth by parachute, while the service module burned up in the atmosphere. The test flight was part of the Gaganyaan project, which aims to send three Indian astronauts to space for seven days by 2025
India – Canada: The Indian government has rejected any notion that it has violated international law in asking Canada to recall diplomats so that both governments have roughly the same number stationed in each country. The move came after Canada accused India of engaging in “coercive diplomacy” and “tit-for-tat” actions by reducing the number of Canadian diplomats in India from 50 to 15. India said that it was only following the principle of reciprocity and that Canada had no reason to complain
- Six Britons dead and 10 missing after Hamas attack on Israel, Rishi Sunak says: The chancellor has confirmed that six British citizens have been killed and 10 are still unaccounted for after a Hamas rocket attack on Tel Aviv on Monday. Among the dead are two teenage sisters, Yahel and Noiya, who were visiting their grandparents in Israel. Sunak said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He also said he was ready to visit Israel as soon as Thursday to show solidarity and support
- Tory MP Peter Bone hit and abused staff member, watchdog says. The Conservative MP for Wellingborough has been expelled from the parliamentary party after an investigation found that he had bullied and sexually harassed a female staff member. The Independent Expert Panel said that Bone had repeatedly hit the woman on the bottom, made inappropriate comments about her appearance, and tried to kiss her against her will. Bone denied the allegations and said he would appeal the decision. He has also been suspended from the House of Commons for six weeks.
- Zarco wins in Australia to claim first MotoGP victory: France’s Johann Zarco wins a dramatic MotoGP in Australian to claim his first victory in the series in nearly seven years. Zarco, who started from pole position, held off a late challenge from defending champion Joan Mir to cross the finish line 0.7 seconds ahead. Zarco dedicated his win to his late friend and fellow rider Jason Dupasquier, who died in a crash earlier this year.
- Huge half-eaten shark washes up on Australia beach: A large great white shark is at the center of a grisly debate, after it washed up at Cape Bridgewater, Australia, with a huge bite taken out of it. More specifically, the entire midsection is gone — as if the shark was gnawed like corn on the cob. Experts say the bite marks suggest that another great white shark was responsible for the attack, possibly as a result of territorial dispute or cannibalism.
- Australia says ‘not necessary’ to cancel Chinese firm’s lease on Darwin port Australia said a security review of a 99-year lease held by Chinese company Landbridge on the northern port of Darwin, a key focus of its defence strategy, found it was “not necessary to vary or cancel the lease”. The decision comes amid rising tensions between Australia and China over trade, human rights and security issues. The US, which has a military base near Darwin, had expressed concerns about the lease, which was signed in 2015.
- Australian Cheng Lei freed from China detention: Australian journalist Cheng Lei has been released from detention in China after more than a year. Cheng, who worked for Chinese state media CGTN, was arrested in August 2020 on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas. She has now returned to Australia with her two children, who had been staying with relatives in China. The Australian government welcomed her release and thanked China for its “constructive and positive” cooperation.
- China’s next moon mission aims to do what no country has ever done: China is preparing to launch its Chang’e-6 mission, which will attempt to collect lunar samples from the far side of the moon and return them to Earth. This would be the first time that any country has achieved such a feat. The mission is expected to launch in 2024 and will also carry scientific payloads from other countries, including France, Italy, Sweden and Russia.
- US condemns China’s reported life sentence of acclaimed Uyghur scholar: The US State Department has expressed its “deep concern” over the reported sentencing of Ilham Tohti, a prominent Uyghur economist and human rights activist, to life imprisonment by a Chinese court. Tohti was arrested in 2014 and accused of separatism and inciting ethnic hatred. He is widely regarded as a moderate voice who advocated for dialogue and reconciliation between the Uyghurs and the Han Chinese.
Ilham Tohit a prominent Uyghir economist
- Top US and Chinese officials meet in Malta for ‘substantive and constructive’ talks: The US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng have held a meeting in Malta, where they discussed a range of issues, including trade, human rights, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. The meeting was described as “substantive and constructive” by both sides, but also revealed the deep differences and challenges that remain in the bilateral relationship.
- Speculation grows over whereabouts of China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu: China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for more than two months, sparking speculation about his health and political status. Li, who is also a member of the Central Military Commission, the highest decision-making body of the People’s Liberation Army, last appeared on August 16 at a meeting with his Russian counterpart. Some analysts suggest that Li may be under investigation for corruption or involved in a power struggle within the military.
- Baidu says AI chatbot Ernie now matches OpenAI’s GPT-4: Baidu, China’s leading search engine and artificial intelligence company, has announced that its AI chatbot Ernie has reached the same level of natural language understanding as OpenAI’s GPT-4, one of the most advanced AI models in the world. Ernie Bot 4 can generate coherent and diverse responses to various queries and scenarios, such as booking tickets, ordering food, playing games and chatting about hobbies. Baidu said it plans to apply Ernie Bot 4 to various fields, such as education, health care and entertainment.
- Israel remains focused on destroying Hamas despite ceasefire calls: ‘No other option’ Israel has rejected any immediate truce with Hamas, saying it has “no other option” but to continue its military campaign to wipe out the terrorist group that has killed 1,400 people and taken over 200 hostages in Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was determined to restore “security and peace” to Israeli citizens, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was ready for a ground invasion if needed. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel today to try to broker a ceasefire, but faced resistance from both sides
- Two American hostages released as Israel-Hamas war rages: Hamas has freed a US mother and her daughter who were among the 200 hostages held by the group in Gaza, as the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave worsens. The two women, who have not been named, were released through the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, and crossed into Israel today. They are expected to fly back to the US soon. The release came as Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas’s tunnels and rocket launchers, while Hamas fired more rockets at Israeli cities.
- All of Palestine is under attack, according to an article by MSN. The article claims that Israel is engaging in genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It says that Israeli settlers are exploiting the war in Gaza to “eradicate” Palestinians and steal more land and expand illegal settlements. It also accuses the international community of being complicit and silent in the face of Israel’s crimes
- In Europe, free speech is under threat for pro-Palestine protesters, according to an article by Time. The article reports that several European countries, such as the UK, France, and Germany, have imposed restrictions and bans on demonstrations in support of Palestine, citing security and public order concerns. It says that these measures violate the right to freedom of expression and assembly, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and other UN treaties. It also warns that silencing dissenting voices could fuel more violence and extremism
- Thousands join pro-Palestine march in Sydney, according to a video by Reuters. The video shows a large crowd of people waving Palestinian flags and banners, chanting slogans, and calling for an end to the Israeli aggression in Gaza. The video also interviews some of the participants, who express their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their anger at the Australian government’s support for Israel. The video says that the march was approved by the police after a legal challenge by the organizers
- Pakistan’s former leader Nawaz Sharif returns after nearly four years in self-exile: Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan, who was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019, has returned to the country on Saturday, October 21, 2023, after nearly four years in self-exile in the UK. Sharif, who was granted bail on medical grounds and allowed to travel abroad for treatment, said he came back to lead his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and to participate in the upcoming general elections, expected to be held in early 2024. Sharif’s return has stirred up the political scene in Pakistan, as he faces a possible arrest and a challenge from the ruling party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Prime Minister Imran Khan
- Gang removed hundreds of kidneys to sell to wealthy clients, Pakistan police say: Police in Pakistan have arrested 16 members of a gang that allegedly removed hundreds of kidneys from poor people and sold them to wealthy clients in China, India and the Middle East. The gang operated from a private hospital in Lahore, where they lured unsuspecting donors with promises of money and jobs. The police said they raided the hospital on Friday, October 20, 2023, after receiving a tip-off from a victim who escaped. They rescued four people who were about to undergo surgery and seized medical equipment and documents. The police said the gang had been active for at least two years and had made millions of dollars from the illegal organ trade.
- Death toll rises to 60 after suicide bombings rip through two religious ceremonies in Pakistan: The death toll from two suicide bombings that targeted two religious ceremonies in Pakistan on Thursday, October 19, 2023, has risen to 60, with more than 200 injured. The first attack took place at a Shia mosque in Quetta, where a bomber detonated his explosives during a mourning procession for Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The second attack occurred at a Sunni shrine in Karachi, where a bomber blew himself up among a crowd of devotees celebrating the birth anniversary of a revered saint. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, which has been active in Pakistan since 2014. The Pakistani government condemned the attacks and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Jordan’s King Abdullah said that the forced or internal displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime, in his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday. The summit is being held as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza, following Hamas’ attack that killed 1400 people and took over 200 hostages. The king also emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza and called for a political solution to end the conflict
- House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, was pulled as the GOP nominee for speaker on Friday, after three failed ballots. Jordan faced opposition from some conservative Republicans, who questioned his ability to unite the party and challenge President Obama’s agenda. The current Speaker, John Boehner, who announced his resignation last month, said he would stay on until a successor is chosen. Some Republicans have urged Paul Ryan, the 2012 vice presidential nominee, to run for the position, but he has repeatedly said he is not interested2
- India rejects Canada’s accusation that it violated international norms in their diplomatic spat.: The Indian government has rejected any notion that it has violated international law in asking Canada to recall diplomats so that both governments have roughly the same number stationed in each country. The move came after Canada accused India of engaging in “coercive diplomacy” and “tit-for-tat” actions by reducing the number of Canadian diplomats in India from 50 to 15. India said that it was only following the principle of reciprocity and that Canada had no reason to complain.
- Canada province passes school gender identity bill: A controversial bill that requires young students to get parental consent to change their pronouns in school has passed in a Canadian province. Saskatchewan used a constitutional override to pass the bill after a court granted an injunction that paused the policy. The bill has been criticized by human rights groups, educators, and LGBTQ+ activists, who say it violates the rights and dignity of transgender and non-binary students.
- US and UK back Canada in dispute with India over diplomats The US and UK have expressed their support for Canada in its diplomatic row with India over the number of diplomats in each country. The US State Department said it was concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, while the UK Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely. Both countries urged India and Canada to resolve their differences through dialogue and cooperation.
- More than 100 people were arrested at a demonstration in New York City calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel and Hamas are engaged in a deadly war. The protesters blocked traffic outside the office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who they accused of being silent on the issue. The protesters said they were using their voices to help the displaced and suffering people in Gaza
- Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 for violating a gag order in his civil fraud trial with a social media post about the judge’s clerk. Trump, who returned to New York for the trial, slammed the judge as biased and corrupt. The judge warned Trump that he could face prison time if he continued to disobey the court’s orders
- Two men claimed their million-dollar prizes from the New York Lottery, one from the historic July 19 Powerball drawing that had a $310 million jackpot. The other winner was from the Bonus World Cashword instant game. Both men said they were shocked and grateful for their luck and planned to use the money wisely3
- Egypt has opened its Rafah border crossing with Gaza to allow humanitarian aid trucks to enter the besieged enclave, where Israel and Hamas are engaged in a deadly war. The convoy of 20 trucks carrying medical supplies, food and water was the first to be sent to Gaza since the conflict broke out on October 6. Egypt has been mediating between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire, but both sides have rejected any immediate truce
- A gang of organ traffickers has been busted by the police in Lahore, Pakistan, after they removed hundreds of kidneys from poor people and sold them to wealthy clients in China, India and the Middle East. The gang operated from a private hospital, where they lured unsuspecting donors with promises of money and jobs. The police raided the hospital on Friday and rescued four people who were about to undergo surgery. They also seized medical equipment and documents. The police said the gang had been active for at least two years and had made millions of dollars from the illegal organ trade.
- Canada province passes school gender identity bill: A controversial bill that requires young students to get parental consent to change their pronouns in school has passed in a Canadian province. Saskatchewan used a constitutional override to pass the bill after a court granted an injunction that paused the policy. The bill has been criticized by human rights groups, educators, and LGBTQ+ activists, who say it violates the rights and dignity of transgender and non-binary students. [October 20, 2023]
- US and UK back Canada in dispute with India over diplomats: The US and UK have expressed their support for Canada in its diplomatic row with India over the number of diplomats in each country. The US State Department said it was concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, while the UK Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely. Both countries urged India and Canada to resolve their differences through dialogue and cooperation. [
- Egypt has opened its Rafah border crossing with Gaza to allow humanitarian aid trucks to enter the besieged enclave, where Israel and Hamas are engaged in a deadly war. The convoy of 20 trucks carrying medical supplies, food and water was the first to be sent to Gaza since the conflict broke out on October 6. Egypt has been mediating between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire, but both sides have rejected any immediate truce
- India rejects Canada’s accusation that it violated international norms in their diplomatic spat: The Indian government has rejected any notion that it has violated international law in asking Canada to recall diplomats so that both governments have roughly the same number stationed in each country. The move came after Canada accused India of engaging in “coercive diplomacy” and “tit-for-tat” actions by reducing the number of Canadian diplomats in India from 50 to 15. India said that it was only following the principle of reciprocity and that Canada had no reason to complain.
- Canada province passes school gender identity bill: A controversial bill that requires young students to get parental consent to change their pronouns in school has passed in a Canadian province. Saskatchewan used a constitutional override to pass the bill after a court granted an injunction that paused the policy. The bill has been criticized by human rights groups, educators, and LGBTQ+ activists, who say it violates the rights and dignity of transgender and non-binary students.
- US and UK back Canada in dispute with India over diplomats: The US and UK have expressed their support for Canada in its diplomatic row with India over the number of diplomats in each country. The US State Department said it was concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, while the UK Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely. Both countries urged India and Canada to resolve their differences through dialogue and cooperation.
- More than 100 people were arrested at a demonstration in New York City calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel and Hamas are engaged in a deadly war. The protesters blocked traffic outside the office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who they accused of being silent on the issue. The protesters said they were using their voices to help the displaced and suffering people in Gaza.
- Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 for violating a gag order in his civil fraud trial with a social media post about the judge’s clerk. Trump, who returned to New York for the trial, slammed the judge as biased and corrupt. The judge warned Trump that he could face prison time if he continued to disobey the court’s orders.
- Two men claimed their million-dollar prizes from the New York Lottery, one from the historic July 19 Powerball drawing that had a $310 million jackpot. The other winner was from the Bonus World Cashword instant game. Both men said they were shocked and grateful for their luck and planned to use the money wisely.
- Pentagon Lists Six Possible Causes of China-Taiwan War: The Department of Defense’s new report on China’s military posture examines the country’s escalating coercion campaign against Taiwan in recent years, taking the form of military drills, including a simulated blockade, ballistic missile overflights, and a rising number of warplane sorties in the skies around Taiwan. The report lists six possible scenarios that could trigger a war between China and Taiwan, such as an accidental clash or miscalculation, a perceived loss of deterrence by Beijing, a domestic crisis in China, a change in the status quo by Taipei, a third-party intervention, or a humanitarian disaster
- Trade War with China Could Spike EV Prices in US: China’s graphite export controls may push U.S. EV prices up, further straining trade relations amid a global shift towards clean automotive tech. Graphite is a key component of lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles and other devices. China produces about 70% of the world’s graphite and has recently imposed quotas and tariffs on its exports, citing environmental concerns and domestic demand. Analysts warn that this could create a supply crunch and drive up the costs of battery production for U.S. automakers.
- California Gov. Newsom, a top Biden 2024 surrogate, makes high-profile trips to Israel, China: California Gov. Gavin Newsom is far from the Golden State this weekend, as he makes stops in Israel and China on a high-stakes overseas trip for the high profile Democratic politician. Newsom is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as business and cultural leaders in both countries. The trip is seen as a way for Newsom to boost his foreign policy credentials and showcase his support for Biden’s agenda on issues such as climate change, trade, and security.
- Powerball: A single ticket sold in Michigan has won the $310 million Powerball jackpot, the third-largest prize in the game’s history. The winning numbers were 21, 39, 40, 55 and 59, with a Powerball of 17. The ticket holder has not yet come forward to claim the prize, which can be paid in 30 annual installments or as a lump sum of $197 million. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292 million. — Insert Data and source of news item
- China: China’s next moon mission aims to do what no country has ever done: collect lunar samples from the far side of the moon and return them to Earth. This would be the first time that any country has achieved such a feat. The mission is expected to launch in 2024 and will also carry scientific payloads from other countries, including France, Italy, Sweden and Russia
- PM Modi Announces Ambitious Plans To Transform India’s Railways; Here’s What He Said: This news item reports on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the inauguration of a railway station in Gujarat, where he announced several ambitious plans to transform India’s railways into a world-class network. Some of the plans include electrifying all railway tracks by 2024, doubling the freight capacity by 2030, connecting all state capitals with high-speed trains by 2035, and making India a global hub for railway manufacturing and innovation.
- India launching test flight tonight for future Gaganyaan astronaut mission: Watch it live: This news item provides the details of India’s first test flight for its Gaganyaan project, which aims to send three Indian astronauts to space for seven days by 2025. The test flight will involve launching a crew module and a service module into orbit and then separating them. The crew module will return safely to Earth by parachute, while the service module will burn up in the atmosphere. The test flight will demonstrate India’s capability to launch and recover human spaceflight vehicles.
