ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including Israeli media claiming a senior Hezbollah leader was injured in an airstrike; Iranian foreign minister warning of a "comprehensive" response to any Israeli aggression and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warning of nuclear response if North Korea’s sovereignty is encroached.
TOP STORIES
Israeli media reported that senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine may have been injured in an airstrike on a southern suburb in Beirut.
The nighttime attack raised questions about its intended target, with speculation swirling that Safieddine, a key figure in the Lebanese resistance group, could be a successor to the group's recently slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
According to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Israel believes Safieddine was injured in the strike Thursday, but details about his condition remain unknown. The report claimed that top Hezbollah intelligence commanders were with Safieddine at an underground site targeted by the strike.
Iran's foreign minister declared that Tehran's response to any act of aggression by Israel would be “comprehensive and proportionate.”
During a news conference in Beirut, Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran remains committed to defending its sovereignty and interests in the region.
"Our response will be comprehensive and proportionate to any aggression from the Israeli entity," he said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country would use nuclear weapons if enemies attempt to use armed forces that encroach on Pyongyang's sovereignty, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kim made the remarks during an inspection of a special operations training base earlier this week.
He emphasized that no external threats or military actions would strip Pyongyang of its nuclear capabilities, asserting that his nation has "irreversibly secured its absolute strength as a nuclear power," with the system and means to utilize it, according to KCNA.
NEWS IN BRIEF
The leader of an opposition group in Eswatini has been discharged from the hospital after what the group claims was an attempted assassination through poisoning.
Several nurses and health workers were wounded from Israeli artillery shelling on a hospital's courtyard in southern Lebanon, state news agency NNA reported.
The Italian government evacuated 178 of its nationals from Lebanon, citing rising security concerns due to ongoing Israeli attacks in the region.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
The death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon has reached 2,011, with 9,535 wounded since Oct. 8, 2023.
US President Joe Biden said Israel has not yet concluded how to respond to Iran's ballistic missile attack.
Hezbollah said it killed and wounded Israeli soldiers in rocket attacks targeting an Israeli tank and troops in border areas and settlements.
The US amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), which has aircraft-carrying capabilities, docked at the Limassol Port in the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus.
Yemen's Houthi group claimed that the US and UK carried out 12 airstrikes on cities, including the national capital of Sanaa, and the provinces of Dhamar and Al Hudaydah.
A total of 28 Naxal rebels were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, authorities confirmed.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Israel's evacuation orders in southern Lebanon have placed "additional strain" on relief efforts.
Japan evacuated its nationals from Lebanon amid attacks by Israel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye will not allow the region to be torn apart again with a new agreement like the Sykes-Picot Agreement that divided the Middle East.
At least 17 Palestinians were killed and several injured in Israeli shelling of central and southern Gaza Strip.
UN experts voiced "sharp condemnation" over Israel's violations of international law in Lebanon, warning that its escalating attacks will only exacerbate death and displacement in its neighbor.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to prioritize the protection of civil aviation, including airports and air navigation infrastructure, during times of conflict.
Thousands marched through Vienna to demand Austria’s political leaders reject forming a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).
Israel has detected the launch of 100 rockets from Lebanon since early Friday, with some causing fires in the Galilee region, according to Israeli Channel 12.
The Israeli army confirmed that Iran targeted the Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases in attacks, according to Israeli Army Radio.
An explosion was heard at Shimizuzaka Park in Kita Ward in northern Tokyo.
The head of the World Health Organization said the UN agency has approved the first mpox in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test for emergency use.
The Israeli army claimed that Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the commander of Hezbollah's communications unit, was “assassinated in a targeted airstrike” on Beirut.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut on his first visit to Lebanon since assuming office.
SPORTS
Turkish attacking midfielder Arda Guler has been facing fierce competition at star-studded Real Madrid that the 19-year-old can barely find a place in the starting lineup, according to the Spanish club's manager.
"The competition is very high in this team, so it’s not easy to break into the starting 11. However, I believe he has more opportunities compared to last season," Carlo Ancelotti told reporters at a news conference ahead of the club’s La Liga match against Villarreal.
Real Madrid, still reeling from a midweek UEFA Champions League upset, are looking to rebound in La Liga in a home match Saturday against Villarreal.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his guest, United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, inaugurated the Ras El-Hekma development project in northwestern Egypt, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations with the $35 billion megaproject.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and various officials and businessmen from both countries, showcased a visual presentation outlining the enterprise's goals. During the event, working contracts between Egyptian and Emirati businessmen were signed, further solidifying collaboration.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the project's importance in strengthening economic and investment ties between the UAE and Egypt. He described it as "a model of constructive development partnership between the two nations."
The US economy added 254,000 jobs in September, exceeding estimates, according to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The figure, well above the expected gain of 140,000, marks the strongest job growth in six months, the data showed.
Job additions for August were revised upward from 142,000 to 159,000, according to the statistical agency.
Google raised concerns about New Zealand’s proposed Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, which aims to impose taxes on the tech company’s promotion of locally based news outlets.
The bill’s purpose “is to enable fair bargaining between New Zealand news media entities and operators of digital platforms to support commercial arrangements for news content.” according to the government.
Its goal is to “support a free and independent news media industry by providing a way for news media entities to be viable in a digital marketplace.”
The EU’s high-tech imports reached €478 billion ($527.1 billion), slightly down by 1% compared to 2022, according to data from the regional statistical bureau.
China and the US accounted for over half of the EU’s high-tech imports last year, with €155 billion (32%) and €108 billion (23%), respectively, said Eurostat.
Other large high-tech exporters to the EU were “Switzerland (7%; €31 billion), Taiwan (6%; €28 billion) and the UK and Vietnam (each 4%; €20 and €19 billion, respectively),” said Eurostat.
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