News Advisory
Duty Editor: Karl Malakunas
Tel: +852 2829 6211
— TOP STORIES —
+ Israel pressured to protect civilians in Gaza
+ Xi, Biden to hold rare summit in US next week
+ FBI seizes NYC mayor’s phones as probe widens
+ Women dominate Grammy noms, SZA tops with nine
+ Beatles score first UK number one in 54 years
Israel-Palestinians-conflict,WRAP
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories
Israel faces growing calls to protect civilians in Gaza as its battle with Hamas encircles the territory’s main hospital, where an aid agency described the situation as “catastrophic”.
1,000 words 0600 GMT by Adel Zaanoun with Sarah Benhaida in Jerusalem. Picture. Video. Live Video. Graphic
APEC-summit-China-US-diplomacy,WRAP
WASHINGTON
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold their first meeting in nearly a year next week on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco, officials from the rival superpowers confirm.
600 words moved by Danny Kemp
US-politics-investigation-FBI-EricAdams,lead
NEW YORK
FBI agents seized the New York mayor’s cell phones and other devices, his campaign lawyer says, in an apparent escalation of a federal investigation into campaign fundraising.
450 words moved by Maggy Donaldson
Entertainment-US-music-Grammys,WRAP
NEW YORK
It will be a woman’s world at the upcoming Grammys, with SZA scooping the most chances for gold ahead of the star-studded music gala with nine, as pop’s superstars including Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish dominated across the categories.
750 words moved by Maggy Donaldson. File picture. Video
Also moved: Entertainment-US-music-Grammys-nominees,FACTS
Music-Entertainment-Britain-Beatles
LONDON
The Beatles’ latest release “Now And Then” becomes the legendary band’s first UK number one single in 54 years, with Paul McCartney calling it “a very emotional moment.”
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— ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT —
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Saudi-Iran-ArabLeague-OIC,WRAP
RIYADH
Arab leaders and Iran’s president are in the Saudi capital for a summit expected to underscore demands that Israel’s war in Gaza end before the violence draws in other countries.
650 words moved by Robbie Corey-Boulet
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-health-WHO,lead
UNITED NATIONS
The health care system in the Gaza Strip is “on its knees,” the head of the World Health Organization warns, noting that half of the territory’s 36 hospitals are no longer functioning.
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Israel-Palestinians-conflict-music,FOCUS
TEL AVIV
Like most others his age, Uriel Balas was just excited to celebrate his 26th birthday with friends, having saved for months for his ticket to Israel’s much-anticipated Supernova music festival — but excitement would soon give way to horror.
800 words moved by Daphne Rousseau. Picture. File Picture. Video
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Gaza-hospitals,SCENE
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories
At Gaza’s largest hospital, a displaced Palestinian says he feels “under siege” as the facility is encircled by fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants.
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Israel-Palestinians-conflict-kibbutz,FOCUS
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Gaza,SCENE
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Yemen-Huthi,FOCUS
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Yemen-Huthi,FACTS
— ASIA —
China-retail-internet-economy
BEIJING
China’s weeklong “Singles Day” sales bonanza wraps up at midnight, but consumers are increasingly unswayed by its flashy deals and discounts as the world’s second largest economy slows.
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Myanmar-China-conflict-economy,FOCUS
YANGON
A surprise offensive by Myanmar ethnic armed groups has blocked two strategically vital roads to the country’s biggest trade partner China, choking trade and denying the cash-strapped junta taxes and foreign exchange.
700 words moved
— EUROPE —
Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Britain
LONDON
Almost 2,000 police officers will be on duty Saturday when more than 100,000 pro-Palestinian supporters are expected to march through London, with extra powers in place to protect landmarks honouring Britain’s war dead.
600 words moved by James Pheby. File picture
Portugal-politics-vote,WRAP
LISBON
Portugal’s main political parties begin preparing the battlelines for an early general election called after the sudden resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa.
500 words moved by Levi Fernandes. File Picture
— AMERICAS —
Colombia-fbl-kidnapping-crime-COL-ENG,lead
BARRANCAS, Colombia
Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounts how he was made to walk “too much” with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group.
600 words moved by Valentin Diaz. Picture. Video
Brazil-crime-Lebanon-Iran-Israel-Palestinians-conflict,FACTS
RIO DE JANEIRO
The arrest in Brazil this week of two people accused of planning “terrorist attacks” has put a spotlight on alleged South American operations by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which Israel says orchestrated the plot.
500 words moved
Venezuela-prison-crime-politics,FOCUS
CARACAS
Venezuela has wrested control of seven prisons from powerful gangs — finding guns, drugs, swimming pools, restaurants — even a zoo. While Justice Minister Remigio Ceballos has declared a death blow to the gangs that have run the prisons with impunity, observers denounce a smoke and mirrors tactic to distract from human rights and other concerns.
700 words moved by Patrick Fort. Picture. Video
— AFRICA —
Sudan-conflict-refugee-UN,WRAP
UNITED NATIONS
The UN warns of soaring human rights violations in Sudan’s Darfur region and says they are “verging on pure evil,” amid escalating fighting seven months into the war between the army and paramilitaries.
450 words moved by Amelie Bottollier-Depois
Liberia-vote,ADVANCER
MONROVIA
Liberians vote for a new president on Tuesday in a tight run-off between President George Weah, an ex-international football star, and veteran politician Joseph Boakai.
650 words 0530 GMT by Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh. File picture. File video
Liberia-vote-Weah,PROFILE
MONROVIA
From Liberia’s swampy slums to international football star and then president, George Weah is contesting a second term in a run-off, defending a controversial record and facing determined opposition.
650 words 0600 GMT by Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh with Adrien Marotte in Dakar. File picture. File video
Liberia-vote-Boakai,PROFILE
MONROVIA
Liberia’s main opposition contender for president Joseph Boakai has four decades of political experience behind him but at the age of 78, he faces the challenge of winning over a largely young population.
600 words 0630 GMT by Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh with Adrien Marotte in Dakar. File picture
Also moving: Liberia-vote,FACTS
— ENTERTAINMENT —
Entertainment-US-film-television-strike-AI,FOCUS
LOS ANGELES
From computer-generated “extras” to AI “zombies,” new restrictions against the use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood are set out by the actors’ union.
650 words moved by Andrew Marszal. Picture. Video
afp
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