Day: September 15, 2024

Hamas issued an urgent humanitarian appeal on Saturday to save two million displaced people in the Gaza Strip before winter arrives.

“We are issuing an urgent humanitarian appeal to save two million displaced people in the Gaza Strip before it is too late, as winter approaches, weather conditions worsen, and the displaced people’s tents deteriorate,” the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said in a statement.

The statement noted that there are 543 shelter and displacement centers in the Strip due to the Israeli military’s “forced displacement by compelling citizens to evacuate their homes and safe residential neighborhoods, which is a violation of international law.”

According to the statement, 74 percent of the displaced people’s tents have become unusable, and 100,000 out of 135,000 tents need immediate replacement.

It confirmed that these tents are completely dilapidated as they are made of wood, nylon, and fabric and have deteriorated due to the sun’s heat and the climatic conditions in Gaza, bec
oming completely out of service.

The statement urged the international community and relevant organizations to act urgently and provide immediate relief to the displaced people.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 others taken hostage.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

China’s friendly policy toward Myanmar is for all Myanmar people, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar said on Saturday.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to groundless accusations by some media and individuals that China interferes in Myanmar’s internal affairs.

The spokesperson said that China and Myanmar are traditionally friendly neighbors. China firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, adheres to non-interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs and supports the Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led peace process.

China opposes chaos and conflicts in Myanmar, as well as interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs by outside forces, and disapproves of any words and deeds that attempt to drive a wedge between China and Myanmar and accuse China groundlessly, the spokesperson stressed.

“We hope relevant parties in Myanmar can cease fire as soon as possible, settle disputes in a peaceful manner, and deescalate and cool do
wn the situation in Myanmar including northern Myanmar,” said the spokesperson, adding China will continue to play a constructive role.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

From a military perspective, Ukrainians should not be restricted in using delivered weapons, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee Chair Rob Bauer said here on Saturday.

Speaking after a meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Prague, Bauer said lifting the restrictions on the use of supplied weapons to Ukraine would be logical from a military point of view.

However, he noted that countries providing these weapons to Ukraine have the right to put limits on individual weapons, adding that there is a political discussion on the matter.

According to the Czech News Agency, debates on restrictions on the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine are taking place at various levels. Italy has introduced them, while countries such as the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Netherlands do not set any conditions for the use of weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that by providing Ukraine with long-range weapons, Western countries risk involving directly in the Russia-Ukrai
ne conflict.

In such circumstances, Russia would be forced to make “appropriate decisions” based on the new threats, Putin was quoted by Russian media as saying.

According to Western media reports, Ukraine has been pleading with its Western allies for it to use their missiles, including long-range ones, to fire deep into Russian territory.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Global rating agency Fitch has reaffirmed Malta’s A+ credit rating with a stable outlook, highlighting the country’s strong economic performance. But the agency also pointed out potential fiscal risks on the horizon.

In a report published on Saturday, Fitch said that Malta’s economy continued to show strong momentum, with GDP growth projected to be 5.7 percent this year, compared to 0.8 percent for the Eurozone and 2 percent for other A-rated countries.

The growth has been driven primarily by the thriving services and financial sectors, alongside a strong recovery in tourism.

Despite the positive outlook, Fitch warned of structural challenges, particularly in the labor market.

Unemployment is expected to remain low at 3.2 percent, well below the eurozone average of 6.5 percent. However, skill shortages and low productivity levels posed risks to Malta’s future growth potential.

The report also addressed Malta’s fiscal position, projecting that the fiscal deficit will gradually decrease to 4 percent of GD
P in 2024 and further to 3 percent by 2026. Malta is currently under EU excessive deficit procedures due to rule changes this year.

However, the rating agency flagged uncertainties regarding the government’s fixed-price energy policy, which lacks a clear exit strategy.

The country’s debt ratio stood at 47.3 percent of GDP at the end of 2023 and Fitch expects it to rise to 49.6 percent by the end of 2024.

Looking to the future, Fitch indicated that Malta’s credit rating could be upgraded if the government managed to achieve sustained fiscal consolidation and a reduction in debt.

Conversely, the country risks a downgrade if the government’s debt continues to rise, economic growth slows, or changes in regulatory and tax policies make Malta less appealing to foreign investors, the agency said.

Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed the reaffirmation of Malta’s A+ rating.

Writing on social media platform X, he said: “Another A+ rating for Malta by Fitch on the basis of our ‘strong economic momentum’ with growt
h projected at seven times the Euro area average. This will enable us to lower taxes and maintain energy subsidies while still reducing the deficit.”

Source: The Namibia News Agency

At least 21 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, said Palestinian security and medical sources.

An Israeli warplane struck a residential house in the al-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City with at least one missile, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua.

The raid killed 10 Palestinians, including three children and a woman, said Palestinian medical sources.

In addition, the Palestinian Civil Defense said in a press statement that at least five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike near a school northwest of Gaza City.

Six other people were killed in an Israeli shelling of a tent housing displaced people in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local sources and eyewitnesses.

The Israeli army has not yet commented on these incidents.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during w
hich about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 41,182, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Saturday.

In addition, Gaza-based health authorities announced in a press statement the death of Palestinian paramedic Hamdan Abu Anaba inside an Israeli prison after the Israeli army arrested him in December 2023.

Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua that Abu Anaba once worked at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis and was arrested at the Netzarim checkpoint in the central Gaza Strip.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Ferocious clashes erupted on Saturday between Houthi militants and pro-government forces in the country’s southern province of Lahj, a military official told Xinhua.

The local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that armed confrontations broke out when Houthi forces attempted to seize control of strategic mountainous positions along the administrative borders of Lahj and Taiz provinces.

The official confirmed that two soldiers were killed and five others left injured as a result of the Houthi offensive, and heavy weapons were used in the hours-long confrontations.

The Houthis failed to capture new territory, but they established military positions near the contact lines, according to the source.

Local media outlets reported that the intensification of hostilities prompted many families in affected areas to evacuate their homes, raising concerns about potential humanitarian consequences.

The recent outbreak of violence followed limited engagements between the two sides in the same area
last week, which resulted in the killing of a number of people.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized several northern provinces, forcing the Yemeni internationally recognized government out of the capital Sanaa.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose 5.25 billion U.S. dollars to reach a new high of 689.24 billion dollars during the week ending on Sept. 6, according to the central bank.

In the previous week, forex reserves had increased 2.3 billion dollars.

Foreign currency assets, the biggest component of forex reserves, rose 5.11 billion dollars to 604.14 billion dollars.

Gold reserves rose 129 million dollars to 61.99 billion dollars.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

OSHAKATI: A 40 – year – old woman , identified as Teofilia Adolf , died after she was allegedly stabbed with an unknown object by a known man on Saturday . The Namibian Police Force ( NamPol ) Omusati ‘ s Regional Commander , Commissioner Ismael Basson , said the incident occurred at around 21h00 at Onamatanga location , Onamatanga village in the Ruacana Constituency . ‘ It is alleged that the suspect used an unknown sharp object to stab the victim once on the right side of her neck , and the victim died at the spot ,’ he said . Basson indicated that the suspect , who is a Namibian man , has not yet been arrested . He stated that a case of murder has thus been opened . Police investigations into the matter continue .

Source: The Namibia News Agency