November 21, 2024

*) Israel kills 66 Palestinians, wounds 100 in new Gaza massacre Israel unleashed another deadly attack in northern Gaza, killing at least 66 Palestinians and injuring 100 more in a devastating air strike near Kamal Adwan Hospital, witnesses and local journalists report. Palestinian journalist Hossam Shabat described the scene as “horrific”, revealing that the bombing targeted displaced people and “wiped out entire families”. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital’s director, painted an even grimmer picture, saying that “there were about 200 people at the site when it was bombed. Many are dead, others are injured, and so many are still buried under the rubble”. *) Senate scuttles Sanders’ shot at stopping sale of US arms to Israel The US Senate has rejected Senator Bernie Sanders’ attempt to halt arms sales to Israel, even as concerns grow over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Out of 100 senators, a striking majority — 79 — voted against blocking sales of tank rounds to Israel, while 18 supported the measure. Similar resistance met Sanders’ second proposal to stop mortar shipments, with 78 senators voting “no”. The votes broke largely along party lines, with all “yes” votes coming from Sanders’ Democratic caucus allies. A third proposal, targeting the sale of bomb-guidance systems, was also on the table but faced dim prospects. *) Ukraine said to have fired UK Storm Shadow missiles into Russia For the first time, Ukraine has used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russia, British media reports, with London reportedly giving the green light. Several of the long-range missiles were fired at a Russian military target, according to the Financial Times, which cited a Western official. The Times confirmed the move, noting it’s the first deployment of these missiles since Britain handed them over. *) Paramilitary rampage in central Sudan kills at least 40 people — medic Violence erupted in central Sudan as paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an assault on a village north of Wad Madani, leaving at least 40 people dead, according to a medic from Wad Rawah Hospital. “All the victims suffered direct gunshot wounds,” said the medic, who spoke anonymously due to repeated attacks on healthcare workers. Eyewitnesses said the attack began Tuesday night, with the paramilitary RSF launching a deadly assault on the village. This bloodshed comes amid months of clashes between the RSF and Sudan’s military, pushing Al-Jazira state deeper into chaos and turning once-safe areas into battlegrounds. And finally… *) US charges Indian tycoon Gautam Adani with duping investors, bribery plot Gautam Adani, the billionaire behind India’s Adani Group, is now facing US federal charges for an alleged bribery scheme involving hundreds of millions of dollars. Prosecutors in Brooklyn claim that between 2020 and 2024, Adani, along with two associates, paid $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure lucrative solar energy contracts projected to yield $2 billion in profits. The accused executives allegedly covered their tracks with false and misleading financial statements, raising over $3 billion in loans and bonds.