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The Israeli military says it has 'encircled' Jabalya in northern Gaza and is 'continuing to operate in the area.'

Ahead of the ground operation in the refugee camp, airstrikes were carried out overnight, the military confirmed, including against what it says are 'weapons storage facilities, underground infrastructure sites, terrorist cells, and additional military infrastructure sites.'

A journalist in the area told CNN the strikes lasted about 90 minutes and were concentrated on eastern Jabalya and nearby Gaza City.

Paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society said two people had been killed and several others taken to hospital after an apartment in a building near the UNRWA clinic in Jabalya refugee camp was struck. UNRWA is a relief organization working in the Palestinian territories.

In a statement, the military said it had detected the presence of Hamas members in the area, as well as efforts by them 'to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area,' and was moving forward with the operation to 'dismantle' that infrastructure in the area, saying it will 'continue as long as required in order to achieve its objectives.'

In May, CNN reported that the Israeli military had renewed its fighting in northern Gaza where it had claimed, in January, to have dismantled Hamas' command structure. During that period, the Israeli military said Hamas was trying to 'reassemble' in the area, raising doubts about whether Israel's goal of eradicating the group in the enclave is realistic.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military warned residents in northern Gaza to evacuate.

The Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli military Avichay Adraee said the military is 'publishing a new evacuation map for the northern Gaza Strip.'

Adraee also said the military has expanded the scope of the 'humanitarian area' in Al-Mawasi, including the routes to get there. The area indicates places the Israeli military says civilians can safely travel.

'The expanded Humanitarian Area includes field hospitals that have been established since the outbreak of the war, tent compounds, and supplies of food, water, medicine, and medical equipment,' the military said.

A journalist in Gaza told CNN Palestinians have been evacuating the area since late Saturday and moving toward Gaza City.

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/israeli-military-encircles-jabalya-in-northern-gaza-as-several-reported-killed-in-strikes/

Dr. Thierry Roels, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Country Director in Rwanda, confirmed that the shipment of the consignment was completed on Friday, October 4, 2024.

'The U.S. government has completed an initial shipment of therapeutic and vaccine doses to support Rwanda in the first days of its response to the emergence of the Marburg virus in Kigali,” Roels said on Saturday, October 5, 2024, without revealing the number of doses delivered.

Roels indicated that the U.S. government is working closely with international partners and Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to initiate clinical trials for evaluating investigational countermeasures. The U.S. is also considering additional shipments that would supply the trials.

The delivery of the consignment comes days after Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, confirmed plans to roll out therapeutic clinical trials for the vaccination and treatment of the highly contagious disease.

Among the vaccines being evaluated is one developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Early-stage human trials have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and triggers an immune response.

On Saturday, the Sabin Vaccine Institute announced the delivery of approximately 700 doses to Rwanda for a trial targeting frontline workers, including healthcare professionals.

“In response to a request from the government of Rwanda and the Ministry of Health to support its ongoing Marburg outbreak response, we have provided an initial shipment of 700 investigational Marburg vaccine doses to be used in a trial targeting frontline workers. We dispatched the shipment within seven days of first being contacted for assistance, thanks to our many partners,” the organization said in a statement.

“We are prepared to supply additional vaccines pending a request from Rwandan officials and authorization from BARDA, which is funding our current research and development efforts.”

In addition to vaccination efforts, Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company based in Foster City, California, announced on Thursday that it would donate approximately 5,000 vials of its antiviral drug, remdesivir, to Rwanda for emergency use in response to the outbreak.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 46 cases, 12 deaths, and five recoveries from Marburg disease. Cumulative tests conducted have surpassed 1,700.

Initial symptoms of Marburg virus disease include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, it can lead to severe hemorrhaging, organ failure, and shock.

To prevent infection, health experts recommend maintaining strict hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing Marburg-like symptoms.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 46 cases, 12 deaths, and five recoveries from Marburg disease. Cumulative tests conducted have surpassed 1,700.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/u-s-delivers-first-shipment-of-marburg-vaccines-to-rwanda

Robert Jenrick will be toppled by the Tory party's right wing should he attempt to pivot to the centre ground if installed as leader, senior Conservatives have warned.

Jenrick, who remains the frontrunner for the job after the party's conference in Birmingham, has won support from the right with a series of uncompromising stances. He has said he would welcome Nigel Farage into the party, leave the European convention on human rights and vote for Donald Trump.

Having started life as an MP as a moderate, some believe he has only temporarily adopted a more rightwing stance as part of his efforts to win the leadership. Some allies have suggested he will move back to the centre once in office.

However, senior party figures are already warning Jenrick that if he becomes leader, his fate will be in the hands of rightwing MPs willing to attack those who have attempted to move away from their agenda.

They warned that he had entrusted his fate to the 'Braverman right' — a reference to the former home secretary, Suella Braverman. Jenrick was made immigration minister under Braverman in the expectation that he would be a moderating force. However, he is said to have been radicalised by his time in the Home Office on the need for tougher policies.

One shadow minister compared Jenrick to Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader delivered into power by the right, but ultimately unable to widen his appeal to voters. Duncan Smith was removed as leader after just over two years.

'What will happen to him is that he will suffer the fate of IDS,' they said. 'He will try to pivot to the centre, but what he'll find is that the Braverman right won't let him. They would pull their support and threaten to submit their latest vote of no confidence for a leadership contest. They have got him by the balls. It now only takes 19 letters to prompt a confidence vote in the leader.'

Allies of Jenrick strongly disputed the idea, pointing out that the likes of Victoria Atkins, Ed Argar and John Lamont — Tory figures associated with the liberal, One Nation wing of the party — also backed his leadership bid.

Jenrick bolstered his credentials with the party's grassroots during the conference by confirming that his daughter's middle name was Thatcher. He has also appeared in a hoodie emblazoned with the words 'Hamas Are Terrorists'.

MPs will whittle down the four remaining candidates to two this week. Those two will then be put forward to a vote of party members. While Jenrick remains favourite, a small number of MPs changing their vote could have a major impact. James Cleverly, shadow home secretary, was thought to have had a good conference after calling on the party to be 'more normal'.

However, there are sobering revelations about the party's relevance to the public in the latest Opinium poll for the Observer. It reveals that more of the public were aware of Phillip Schofield's return to TV in his programme Cast Away than had heard about the Conservative conference. Labour still leads in most policy areas with the public, though the two main parties are now tied on the economy.

Among those giving a view, Cleverly was deemed to have had a good conference, seeing an improvement in his 'acceptability' score and is currently the frontrunner among the wider British public.

Kemi Badenoch has taken the biggest knock to her public perception. She received criticism last week for suggesting maternity pay was 'excessive'. Half (49%) of 2019 Conservative voters say Cleverly would be an acceptable leader of the Conservative party, with 41% saying the same of Jenrick, 40% of Tom Tugendhat and 37% of Badenoch.

Adam Drummond, head of political and social research at Opinium, said: 'To nobody's surprise, voters are not paying a great deal of attention to the Conservative leadership contest and it is notable that, as unpopular as the Labour government already is, voters prefer them over the Tories on almost all issues, with the two parties tied on the economy.'

The post 'They have him by the balls': senior Tories warn Robert Jenrick will be at mercy of 'Braverman right' as leader appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/they-have-him-by-the-balls-senior-tories-warn-robert-jenrick-will-be-at-mercy-of-braverman-right-as-leader/

An Israeli official told AFP on Saturday that the military is 'preparing a response' to the Iranian missile barrage that targeted Israel earlier this week.

'The IDF (Israeli military) is preparing a response to the unprecedented and unlawful Iranian attack on Israeli civilians and Israel,' the military official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

He did not elaborate on the nature or timing of the response.

Israel's left-leaning newspaper Haaretz, quoting the military, reported that the military's response will be 'significant.'

'The IDF is preparing for a significant strike in Iran following this week's missile attack from Tehran,' the newspaper reported.

'The military does not rule out the possibility that Iran may launch missiles at Israeli territory again after the Israeli attack,' it added.

On October 1, Iran launched around 200 missiles at Israel, its second direct attack on the country in less than six months.

Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israel's aerial defense system, while some hit military bases but did not cause major damage or casualties.

Iran said the missiles were launched to avenge the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah who was killed by an Israeli air strike in the Lebanese capital on September 27.

Iran's missile attack was also in response to the death of the former political head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on July 31.

Both Iran and Hamas blame Israel for Haniyeh's killing. Israel has not commented on his death.

The post Israel military official says 'preparing response' to Iran attack appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/israel-military-official-says-preparing-response-to-iran-attack/

The potential successor to slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been out of contact since Friday, a Lebanese security source said on Saturday, after an Israeli airstrike that is reported to have targeted him.

In its campaign against the Iran-backed Lebanese group, Israel carried out a large strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late on Thursday that Axios cited three Israeli officials as saying targeted Hashem Safieddine in an underground bunker.

The Lebanese security source and two other Lebanese security sources said that ongoing Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburb — known as Dahiyeh — since Friday have kept rescue workers from scouring the site of the attack.

Hezbollah has made no comment so far on Safieddine since the attack.

Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said on Friday the military was still assessing the Thursday night airstrikes, which he said targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.

The loss of Nasrallah's rumored successor would be yet another blow to Hezbollah and its patron Iran. Israeli strikes across the region in the past year, sharply accelerated in the past few weeks, have decimated Hezbollah's leadership.

Israel expanded its conflict in Lebanon on Saturday with its first strike in the northern city of Tripoli, a Lebanese security official said, after more bombs hit Beirut suburbs and Israeli troops launched raids in the south.

Israel has begun an intense bombing campaign in Lebanon and sent troops across the border in recent weeks after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Hezbollah. Fighting had previously been mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area, taking place in parallel to Israel's year-old war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas.

Israel says it aims to allow the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to their homes in northern Israel, bombarded by Hezbollah since Oct.8 last year.

The Israeli attacks have eliminated much of Hezbollah's senior military leadership, including Secretary General Nasrallah in an air attack on Sept. 27.

The Israeli assault has also killed hundreds of ordinary Lebanese, including rescue workers, Lebanese officials say, and forced 1.2 million people — almost a quarter of the population — to flee their homes.

The Lebanese security official told Reuters that Saturday's strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli killed a member of Hamas, his wife and two children. Media affiliated with the Palestinian group also said the strike killed a leader of its armed wing.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike on Tripoli, a Sunni Muslim-majority port city that its warplanes also targeted during a 2006 war with Hezbollah.

Israel has meanwhile staged nightly bombardment of Dahiyeh, once a bustling and densely populated area of Beirut and a stronghold for Hezbollah.

On Saturday, smoke billowed over Dahiyeh, large parts of which have been reduced to rubble sending residents fleeing to other parts of Beirut or of Lebanon.

In northern Israel, air raid sirens sent people running for their shelters amid rocket fire from Lebanon.

The post Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine out of contact since Friday: Source appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/hezbollahs-hashem-safieddine-out-of-contact-since-friday-source/

The Israeli embassy in New Delhi has requested access to the Delhi Police shooting range to train its security personnel, The Indian Express reported Saturday, citing senior security officers and unnamed sources.

The security division of Delhi Police received the unprecedented request from the Israeli Embassy in form of a letter on Sept. 23, which was sent to the headquarters for final deliberations.

 

Although a final decision has not been made yet, sources indicate the request will likely be rejected.

'We are discussing the matter with the senior authorities and as of now, are likely to reject their request. But we are yet to take a final decision,' a senior security official told Indian Express.

Amid growing tensions in the Middle East, security has been increased around the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.

Earlier this month, additional security personnel were deployed around the Israeli embassy, the premises for which already have multi-layered security and several CCTV cameras, The Hindu reported, citing a senior Delhi Police officer.

Since 2021, two explosions have taken place near the Israeli embassy in the capital. No injuries or casualties were reported in either incident.

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/israel-embassy-in-india-requests-access-for-police-shooting-range-to-train-staff/

The Israeli army on Friday refused to confirm or deny reports that its recent airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut was aimed at Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine.

The significant nighttime attack has raised questions regarding its intended target, particularly amid speculation that Safieddine was being considered as a successor to Hezbollah's slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.

According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, the Israeli Air Force conducted the attack using fighter jets, dropping approximately 73 tons of munitions on what was described as Hezbollah's main intelligence headquarters in Beirut's southern suburb.

However, the army has declined to comment on the presence of Hezbollah officials during the strike or to confirm whether Safieddine was indeed the target of the operation.

The airstrike followed Israeli warnings to local residents in several areas of the suburb, urging them to evacuate their homes.

Reports from Israeli media suggested that Safieddine was present in a bunker at the time of the attack, but it remains unclear whether the assassination attempt was successful.

Channel 12 reported that the attack aimed at Safieddine highlights the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and the delicate balance of power in the region.

Analysts warn that tensions could further escalate, impacting stability in Lebanon and beyond.

Hezbollah has not commented specifically on the strike. However, the incident comes just a week after the head of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli attack.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since Israeli war on Gaza began on Oct. 7 last year, which has killed nearly 41,800 people, most of them women and children.

In Israeli attacks on Lebanon, at least 1,947 people have since been killed, nearly 9,400 injured, and 1.2 million others displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

The international community has warned that Israeli attacks in Lebanon could escalate the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/israeli-army-neither-confirms-nor-denies-targeting-of-hezbollah-leader-in-beirut-attack/

A group of 99 American physicians and medical professionals who volunteered to work in Gaza said they saw no signs of militant activity in the enclave's hospitals, calling on the Biden administration to immediately cease military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel.

In a letter Thursday to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the group, who collectively spent 254 weeks volunteering at Gaza's health care facilities, shared their firsthand experiences of the dire humanitarian conditions amid Israel's ongoing offensive, saying they had 'witnessed crimes beyond comprehension.'

'We wish to be absolutely clear: not once did any of us see any type of Palestinian militant activity in any of Gaza's hospitals or other health care facilities,' they said in the letter, which was published on the website 'Gaza Healthcare Letters.'

'We urge you to see that Israel has systematically and deliberately devastated Gaza's entire health care system and that Israel has targeted our colleagues in Gaza for torture, disappearance, and murder,' they added.

The letter details the suffering of women and children in hospitals, including widespread malnutrition, and a lack of essential medical supplies in Gaza. They also cited a study published in the medical journal Lancet in July that said the death toll in Gaza has already surpassed 118,000, more than 5% of Gaza's population.

'Every day I saw babies die. They had been born healthy. Their mothers were so malnourished that they could not breastfeed, and we lacked formula or clean water to feed them, so they starved,' said Asma Taha, a pediatric nurse practitioner, as quoted in the letter.

'Gaza was the first time I held a baby's brains in my hand. The first of many,' Dr. Mark Perlmutter, an orthopedic and hand surgeon, said in the letter.

Doctors said in the letter that Israel's 'continued, repeated' displacement of the malnourished and sick population of Gaza, half of whom are children, to areas without running water or even toilets available is 'absolutely shocking.'

'It is impossible that such widespread shooting of young children throughout Gaza, sustained over the course of an entire year, is accidental or unknown to the highest Israeli civilian and military authorities,' they said.

The group demanded that the Biden administration support an international arms embargo on both Israel and Palestinian groups until a permanent cease-fire is reached and both Israeli and Palestinian hostages are released. The signatories also asked for a meeting with Biden and Harris to discuss what they saw and why they feel American policy in the Middle East 'must change immediately.'

They also reiterated their calls in their July 25 letter, including reopening the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid, including water and medical supplies, into Gaza.

'Every day that we continue supplying weapons and munitions to Israel is another day that women are shredded by our bombs and children are murdered with our bullets,' they said.

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/99-us-doctors-who-volunteered-to-work-in-gaza-say-they-have-not-seen-any-militant-activity-in-hospitals/

Notably, in the first nine months of 2024, more electric vehicles were imported than in any previous year, underscoring a rapid transition on Rwanda’s roads.

This surge can largely be credited to the government’s removal of import taxes on electric vehicles, part of a broader initiative to reduce air pollution and decrease dependency on fuel-based products.

These efforts have gained even more significance in the context of rising global fuel prices, driven by ongoing conflicts worldwide.

The majority of electric cars in Rwanda come from South Korean automakers such as Kia and Hyundai, which have become known for offering affordable and stylish electric vehicles.

These brands are quickly gaining traction compared to traditional market leaders like Toyota. Among the most popular models in Rwanda are the Kia K5, Kia 7, and Hyundai Sonata, with prices ranging between 12 million and 15 million Rwandan francs. Most of these cars are secondhand, typically from 2012 to 2016.

Imported as used vehicles, they usually take about two months to arrive in the country, though before recent global disruptions, delivery could take as little as one month.

Other electric car options in Rwanda include models from Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Dongfeng, and Nissan, as well as Toyota’s RAV4 hybrids. However, electric cars from German manufacturers like VW, Mercedes, and BMW are less common due to their higher price points.

The growth in electric vehicle imports has been dramatic. In 2020, Rwanda imported only 19 fully electric cars, with no hybrid models. By 2021, this number had increased to 38 electric vehicles and 28 hybrids.

In 2022, the figures rose to 134 electric cars and 520 hybrids, followed by a jump in 2023 to 103 electric vehicles and 2,386 hybrids. By 2024, imports had climbed to 218 electric cars and 3,726 hybrids. In total, since 2020, Rwanda has imported 512 electric cars and 7,172 hybrid vehicles.

Prior to 2020, electric car imports were minimal, with fewer than 10 per year. For example, only one electric car was imported in 2018, and 10 in 2019.

Government incentives drive growth

The Rwandan government’s elimination of Value Added Tax (VAT) on electric vehicles, replacement parts, batteries, and charging equipment has been a key driver of this growth.

In 2019, the tax exemption amounted to 26.7 million Rwandan francs, rising to 101.6 million in 2020, and reaching 498.7 million by 2021.

According to the Rwanda Revenue Authority’s 2022/23 report, the government forfeited a total of 4.6 billion Rwandan francs in tax revenue due to electric vehicle imports.

Globally, electric vehicles have been in production since 2008, spurred by concerns over rising oil prices and increasing emphasis on reducing air pollution.

Since 2020, when Rwanda began its major shift towards electric vehicles, the country has seen its electric car fleet grow to over 7,000.

Dongfeng is among Chinese manufacturers present on Rwanda’s market.

Toyota Prius brands continue to increase in Rwanda despite growing criticisms globally.

Rwanda has different electric charging stations across the country.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-s-electric-vehicles-surpass-7-000

The program seeks to ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals, enabling them to focus on their studies and improve their academic performance.

Although the Rwandan government covers 90% of the school feeding costs, some families struggle to contribute the required Frw1,000 per trimester.

To address this gap, the #DusangireLunch campaign encourages individuals and communities, both within Rwanda and abroad, to support the initiative. A donation of Frw1,000 can provide meals for one child for a term, while Frw3,000 covers a full year.

Motivated by the campaign, RCA-China, mainly composed of students, organized a fundraising drive in August 2024 with the aim of supporting at least 1,000 children. In just one month, they raised funds to cover meals for 2,276 children.

Claudien Habimana Simbi, President of RCA-China, praised the generosity of the Rwandan community in China, stating, 'We are committed to supporting our country’s development programs. No contribution is too small; your donation can change the life of one child and have a lasting impact on Rwanda’s sustainable development. Let us continue to be an example of boundless cooperation.'

The #DusangireLunch campaign emphasizes that everyone, regardless of their location, can help ensure no child in Rwanda goes without a meal at school due to financial hardship.

The campaign has also received support from the Rwandan community in Turkey, which contributed over Frw1 million.

#DusangireLunch campaign was launched in June 2024 by the Ministry of Education in partnership with Mobile Money Rwanda and Umwalimu SACCO.

Other contributors to the campaign include Mobile Money Rwanda, which pledged to support 10,000 students over one year with Frw30 million, and Umwalimu SACCO, which committed to providing lunch for 8,500 children over two years, worth Frw51 million.

As at September 11, the Ministry of Education had collected Frw143 million through the campaign.

Since its nationwide expansion in 2021, the school feeding program has contributed to a 4% decrease in primary school dropout rates by June 2024.

The school feeding program has contributed to a 4% decrease in primary school dropout rates by June 2024. It seeks to ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals, enabling them to focus on their studies and improve their academic performance.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwandan-community-in-china-contributes-nearly-frw7-million-to-dusangirelunch