At least 71 dead in Israeli strike targeting Hamas military chief in Gaza - The Straits Times

A strike on a tent camp in Khan Younis reportedly by the Israeli military on July 13. PHOTO: REUTERS

CAIRO – An Israeli air strike killed at least 71 Palestinians in a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza on July 13, the enclave’s Health Ministry said, in an attack that Israel said targeted Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif.

Hamas said in a statement that Israel’s claim that it had targeted the group’s leaders was false and aimed at justifying the attack.

The Israeli military said the strike against Deif also targeted Rafa Salama, commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade. It described the two as among the masterminds of the Oct 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in Gaza.

Deif has survived seven Israeli assassination attempts, the most recent in 2021, and has topped Israel’s most wanted list for decades. Israel also holds him responsible for the deaths of dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 71 Palestinians had been killed in the strike and 289 injured, the deadliest toll in weeks.

Al-Mawasi is a designated humanitarian area which the Israeli army has repeatedly urged Palestinians to head to after issuing evacuation orders from other areas.

The Israeli military published an aerial photo of the site, which Reuters was not immediately able to verify, where it claimed “terrorists hid among civilians”.

“The location of the strike was an open area surrounded by trees, several buildings and sheds,” it said in a statement.

A military official told journalists in an online briefing that the area was not a tent complex, but an operational compound run by Hamas and that several more militants were there, guarding Deif.

It was unclear whether Deif was killed.

“We are still checking and verifying the results of the strike,” the military official said.

Many of those wounded in the strike were taken to the nearby Nasser Hospital, which hospital officials said had been overwhelmed and was “no longer able to function” due to the intensity of the Israeli offensive and an acute shortage of medical supplies.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was holding special consultations, his office said, in the light of “developments in Gaza”. It was unclear how the strike would affect ceasefire talks under way in Doha and Cairo.

The Hamas-run media office said at least 100 people had been killed and wounded, including members of the Civil Emergency Service.

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A senior Hamas official did not confirm whether Deif had been present and called the Israeli allegations “nonsense”.

“All the martyrs are civilians and what happened was a grave escalation of the war of genocide, backed by the American support and world silence,” the official, Mr Abu Zuhri, told Reuters, adding that the strike showed Israel was not interested in reaching a ceasefire deal.

Separately, at least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack on a prayer hall at a Gaza camp for displaced people west of Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said.

Attack ‘surprising’, says witness

Reuters footage showed ambulances racing towards the area amid clouds of smoke and dust. Displaced people, including women and children, were fleeing in panic, some holding belongings in their hands.

Witnesses said the attack was a surprise as the area had been calm, adding that more than one missile had been fired. Some of the wounded, who were being evacuated, were rescue workers, they said.

“They’re all gone, my whole family’s gone... where are my brothers? They’re all gone, they’re all gone. There’s no one left,” said one tearful woman, who did not give her name.

“Our children are in pieces, they are in pieces. Shame (on you),” she added.

Rising through the Hamas ranks over 30 years, Deif developed the group’s network of tunnels and its bomb-making expertise, Hamas sources say.

In March, Israel said it killed Deif’s deputy, Marwan Issa. Hamas has since neither confirmed nor denied his death.

Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in a cross-border raid into southern Israel on Oct 7, Israel says.

Israel has retaliated with military action in Gaza that has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to tallies by the medical authorities in Gaza. REUTERS

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• HAMAS
• Gaza
• Israel-Palestine
• Israel
• Palestine
• Wars and conflicts

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2024-07-13 09:46:59Z
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Seven dead in northern Vietnam after landslide buries van - CNA

At least seven people were found dead in northern Vietnam after a landslide triggered by heavy rain buried the van they were travelling in, state media reports said on Saturday (Jul 13).

Northern Vietnam has entered its rainy season, with heavy downpours and flooding making travel along mountain roads treacherous.

The landslide hit the 16-seater van around 4 am local time (5am, Singapore time) as it drove through Bac Me district in Ha Giang province, state media said.

Rescuers had recovered seven bodies, including a boy.

Six others were found alive and taken to a nearby hospital, state media said, adding rescuers were searching for those missing.

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2024-07-13 09:03:00Z
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2-year-old boy dies in Penang after eating crackers suspected of containing rat poison - The Straits Times

It is believed the crackers were placed on a steel fence built by a farmer to keep away wild animals threatening his crops. PHOTO: POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA

GEORGE TOWN - The second victim, who consumed crackers suspected of containing rat poison, has died at the Penang Hospital on July 12.

The death of two-year-old Muhammad Luth Syauki was confirmed by his mother Nurain Hasnorizal, 25, after visiting the victim in the ward.

“Luth died today at 1.24pm, finally his pain is no more,” Malay language daily Sinar Harian quoted the mother as saying on July 12.

“The remains will be buried at Kampung Banggol Berangan, Labu Besar, Kedah, beside his brother,” she added when met.

The media had reported earlier that one of the brothers was in critical condition after eating the crackers which were believed to be laced with rat poison in Kampung Padang Ubi, Labu Besar, Kulim on July 7.

Muhammad Akil Syauki, three, was confirmed dead at 8.30am on July 11 when receiving treatment at the Penang Hospital, while his brother Luth was still receiving treatment at the time.

Both brothers wound up in critical condition after eating the crackers in Kampung Padang Ubi.

It is believed the crackers were placed on a steel fence built by a farmer to keep away wild animals threatening his crops.

It is believed the location of the incident was 50m from their house.

Kulim district police chief Superintendent Mohd Azizul Mohd Khairi confirmed the death of the victim at 1.20pm. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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• Malaysia
• Unnatural death
• Poisoning

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2024-07-12 09:21:00Z
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‘Fear of facing students’: South Korea teachers grapple with high rates of abuse and suicide - CNA

PROBLEMS EXPECTED TO PERSIST

Last April, a survey by the teachers’ union found that 26.5 per cent of teachers had received counselling or treatment for job-related psychological issues, while a whopping 87 per cent have considered quitting.

Experts suggested that the depth of the issue is partly caused by certain societal values in South Korea.

"There is a unique aspect of Korean society, which could be described as intense family-centric, or family self-interest attitudes,” explained social welfare professor Jung Jae-hoon from Seoul Women’s University.

“Parents invest heavily in their children and cannot tolerate the feeling that their child has been wronged. This distorted sense of parental privilege, combined with the high value placed on their child's education, leads to teachers' rights violations."

Observers are doubtful the issue would be resolved anytime soon, pointing to South Korea’s fertility rate – the world’s lowest – which means parents are likely to remain overprotective of their children.

“Nowadays, people have fewer children and so each child is incredibly precious to them. As a result, parents contact the schools more frequently, even for small issues,” said Song Ji-ae, a mother of two children.

Still, teachers CNA spoke to acknowledged that public awareness has grown about the harsh conditions that teachers face.

Mental health professionals have called for more support for South Korean educators, including efforts to reduce stigma and encourage help seeking.

“It’s difficult when a teacher is worried about what happens if they come forward,” said Yvette Lau, a mental health counsellor and former teacher based in Hong Kong.

“School leaders can (help) by encouraging communication, understanding the issues and challenges that teachers struggle with, and creating a culture of communication and support.”

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2024-07-12 09:06:33Z
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‘Too many additional tasks’: Japan sees record high numbers of teachers quitting, taking mental health leave - CNA

OFFICIALS CONSIDER REFORMS

Officials in Japan have acknowledged the need to tackle the issue urgently, by promoting reforms such as outsourcing and digitalising some tasks as well as increasing support staff.

Some schools, like Ms Kurayama’s, are taking the initiative to cut working hours too.

Shimoda Elementary School principal Kazuhiro Nakamura said they have stopped holding classes on Wednesday afternoons, while all classes now end after lunch.

“Teachers can focus on (other) duties in the afternoon. We encourage them to take a break and go home. That way, they can feel motivated to face the remaining days of the week,” he added.

Despite the school’s efforts, Ms Kurayama has found herself bogged down by meetings and unable to leave work earlier. 

This has prompted Mr Nakamura to mull other changes, including playing to the teachers’ strengths, so that those who are good at counselling students, for instance, support those who are not.

He noted: “Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. If teachers can help one another, then each teacher can take on the role that suits them best, and the working environment will probably be better.”

SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER

But such adjustments remain rare in Japan, primarily because public schools must first seek and receive approval from their local ward's education committee.

With changes slow to happen, some teachers are taking matters into their own hands to find a way to soldier on.

Mr Takashi Koshimizu, an educator of 18 years, started an education forum where schoolteachers gather to share their concerns and learn from one another.

Teachers from various schools take turns to host it on their day off, with some joining online.

They take turns giving lectures in an unconventional manner, such as by playing rock, paper and scissors. Many find its creative approach and sharing sessions more useful than the usual teacher training courses.

Ms Kurayama said: “Here, everyone breaks out of their shells. We become the children and we learn a lot.

“The way I speak to the children, the way I have a conversation, I learnt everything here.”

The teachers share similar issues among themselves, especially the burden of having to deal with a laundry list of tasks.

Mr Koshimizu called the current situation “abnormal”, stressing the importance of dividing roles among teachers and preventing people from hitting their limit.

"We are producers, we do the sales, planning, customer service, handle complaints, process them. These are handled by one person,” he added.

ROTATION TAKES A TOLL

Mr Koshimizu was transferred to another school last year, as Tokyo public school teachers are rotated to different schools every six years. 

This can take a toll on morale and welfare, as in the case of his mentee, Ms Kumi Sugaya. 

The 26-year-old was left floundering without anyone to guide her. Her mental health took a nosedive, but she could not take time off because she was the only homeroom teacher.

She ended up resigning in March after four years of being a public school teacher.

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2024-07-12 06:19:00Z
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Sacked Bersatu MP sues party for revoking membership; Parliament Speaker defends decision not to vacate seats - CNA

SINGAPORE: One of the six Members of Parliament (MP) expelled from Malaysia’s opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) for supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is suing the party for revoking his membership. 

This comes as the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat - Malaysia’s House of Representatives - defended his decision for the MPs to keep their seats, claiming he is not a “postman” delivering Bersatu messages. 

In a lawsuit filed with the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday (Jul 8) and obtained by local media on Thursday, Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman accused Bersatu of violating his constitutional rights to personal liberty, free speech, and association, and for obstructing him in his duty to serve his constituents, according to the Malay Mail. 

He also accused Bersatu of acting criminally in the matter, alleging its decision harmed the country’s parliamentary democracy, which was an offence under Section 124B of the Penal Code, covering activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy, according to local media. 

Mr Suhaili is one of seven elected representatives stripped of their membership for backing the Malaysian premier. Six are federal MPs and the other is a Selangor state assemblyman. 

The six federal MPs are: Mr Suhaili, Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Mr Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mr Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mr Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), and Mr Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang). 

They were sacked from the party last month, after failing to retract their support for Mr Anwar and not responding to a written instruction from the party’s supreme leadership council to pledge allegiance to the party.

Selat Klang assemblyman and former Selangor Bersatu chairman Abdul Rashid Asari also declared support for the leadership of Selangor chief minister Amirudin Shari. Mr Amirudin is a member of Mr Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

On Thursday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul defended his decision not to declare the seats of the rogue former six MPs vacant, adding that he was not a messenger delivering Bersatu’s message to the Election Commission. 

His ruling had been relayed to the Bersatu leadership on Wednesday.

Mr Johari said that he had explained his decision in a letter sent to Bersatu Chief Whip Ronald Kiandee. Mr Kiandee - who is also Beluran MP - had raised a standing order during a recent debate to discuss the matter.

“I want to make it clear that I am not a postman,” Mr Johari said, as quoted in local media. “When I receive something (a notice) like the one mentioned by the Beluran MP, I will make sure I study all the aspects involved.

“And I made the decision, and my decision remains … there are no vacancies.”

Mr Johari’s ruling was met with backlash from MPs within and outside Bersatu, including deputy president of Islamist Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Ibrahim Tuan Man, who claimed that the decision went against Article 49A of the Federal Constitution's anti-hopping law.

PAS and Bersatu are component parties in the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) alongside Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan). 

Mr Ibrahim claims that the law states that an MP who leaves his party should vacate his seat after joining another political party.

"The question now is, what is the point of having an anti-party hopping law if it is not enforced?," said Mr Ibrahim in a Facebook posting on Wednesday.

However, others have defended the decision, including Mr Anwar, who said that Mr Johari’s ruling was in accordance with the law. 

Mr Anwar also noted that during his opposition days, Bersatu had opposed automatic seat forfeiture for expelled members, which resulted in exceptions being included in the constitution.

According to a political expert CNA previously spoke to, while Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law applies to MPs who quit their party, it did not cover those who have been dismissed. 

The expert added that the expelled MPs would be declared as independents.

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2024-07-12 04:55:00Z
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Biden mixes up Harris, Trump names as calls to end his campaign grow - CNA

That came a few hours after Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin".

"Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," Biden said at the NATO summit in Washington, drawing gasps from those in the room before correcting himself.

NATO members are wrapping up a summit in Washington where they extended support to Ukraine to combat the invasion that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched in February 2022.

Biden's campaign has been on the ropes for two weeks, since his poor debate performance against Donald Trump, his 78-year-old Republican rival.

So far, 13 of the 213 Democrats in the House and one of the Senate's 51 Democrats have appealed publicly to the president to withdraw from the race. More could make their concerns public if he fares poorly.

Biden coughed frequently and occasionally garbled his responses at the outset of the news conference, but his responses grew steadier as he fielded questions from reporters. Biden overcame a childhood stutter and has frequently mangled names and misspoke throughout his political career.

"PACE MYSELF"

Biden said he needed to "pace myself" a little more and complained that his aides sometimes overscheduled him.

"I'm catching hell from my wife," he said.

The news conference gave Biden an opportunity to tout his successes on the world stage and criticise Trump. Biden argued Trump would weaken NATO and drive up prices for US consumers by imposing steep tariffs on imported goods.

He took credit for bringing Sweden and Finland into the NATO alliance and said he brought together 50 nations to support Ukraine.

"I think I'm the best-qualified person to do the job. To make sure that Ukraine does not fall," he said.

United Auto Workers union officials met on Thursday to discuss their concerns with his candidacy, three sources familiar with the matter said, after endorsing Biden in January.

The 400,000-member union has a big presence in industrial states like Michigan that Biden will need to carry to win re-election.

His campaign argued that the debate has not dramatically shifted the race, even as it laid out a narrow path to re-election that acknowledged that it faced an uphill climb in many states he won in 2020.

That did not stop four more Democrats in the House of Representatives from calling on Biden to end his campaign: Brad Schneider of Illinois, Greg Stanton of Arizona, Ed Case of Hawaii, and Hillary Scholten of Michigan.

"For our country's sake, it is time for the President to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders," Stanton said in a prepared statement.

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2024-07-12 00:18:00Z
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