Hezbollah has appointed Naim Qassem as its new leader, following the death of former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut in late September.
Qassem, previously the deputy leader, was chosen for his "adherence to the principles and goals of Hezbollah," the group stated on Tuesday. The appointment comes amid increased Israeli focus on Hezbollah, which has led to the targeting of several senior officials.
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Hezbollah appoints Naim Qassem as new leader following Nasrallah's death
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Brazil becomes second BRICS country after India not to join China’s BRI
In a major setback to China’s BRI, Brazil has decided against joining Beijing’s multi-billion-dollar initiative becoming the second country after India in the BRICS bloc not to endorse the mega project.
Brazil, headed by President Lula da Silva, will not join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and instead seek alternative ways to collaborate with Chinese investors, Celso Amorim, special presidential adviser for international affairs, said. Brazil wants to “take the relationship with China to a new level, without having to sign an accession contract”, he told Brazilian newspaper 'O Globo'.
“We are not entering into a treaty,” Amorim said, explaining that Brazil does not want to take Chinese infrastructure and trade projects as “an insurance policy”.
The decision contradicts China’s plans to make Brazil’s joining of the initiative a centrepiece of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Brasilia on November 20, the Hong Kong-based 'South China Morning Post' reported.
Brazil, headed by President Lula da Silva, will not join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and instead seek alternative ways to collaborate with Chinese investors, Celso Amorim, special presidential adviser for international affairs, said. Brazil wants to “take the relationship with China to a new level, without having to sign an accession contract”, he told Brazilian newspaper 'O Globo'.
“We are not entering into a treaty,” Amorim said, explaining that Brazil does not want to take Chinese infrastructure and trade projects as “an insurance policy”.
The decision contradicts China’s plans to make Brazil’s joining of the initiative a centrepiece of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Brasilia on November 20, the Hong Kong-based 'South China Morning Post' reported.
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Polio vaccinators attacked, held hostage in two separate incidents in Pakistan
Three terrorists were killed in a gunbattle when they attacked a polio vaccinators' team in Pakistan's restive northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.
In another incident, unknown militants took hostage the entire team of polio vaccinators at a dispensary in the same province, sources said.
The attack on polio vaccinators came a day after Pakistan on Monday started its third nationwide polio campaign to vaccinate 45 million children. In the first incident in the Aurakzai tribal district, bordering Afghanistan, a policeman was also killed in the shootout while frustrating the attack on the polio vaccinators.
At least three terrorists were killed by the police in the fierce gunbattle and a fresh team has been rushed to the site, sources added.
No group claimed responsibility for the brutal attack. In the second incident in North Waziristan's tehsil Shewa, unidentified militants took hostage the entire team of polio vaccinators at the Mamet Kot dispensary in the restive northwest province.
The assailants also seized weapons from the police officers, according to sources.
In another incident, unknown militants took hostage the entire team of polio vaccinators at a dispensary in the same province, sources said.
The attack on polio vaccinators came a day after Pakistan on Monday started its third nationwide polio campaign to vaccinate 45 million children. In the first incident in the Aurakzai tribal district, bordering Afghanistan, a policeman was also killed in the shootout while frustrating the attack on the polio vaccinators.
At least three terrorists were killed by the police in the fierce gunbattle and a fresh team has been rushed to the site, sources added.
No group claimed responsibility for the brutal attack. In the second incident in North Waziristan's tehsil Shewa, unidentified militants took hostage the entire team of polio vaccinators at the Mamet Kot dispensary in the restive northwest province.
The assailants also seized weapons from the police officers, according to sources.
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Israel bans UNRWA operations amid escalating tensions in Gaza
Israel's parliament has passed a new law to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating within the country, a move that has raised concerns among Western allies about worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Israeli officials cited evidence of involvement by some UNRWA staff members in the October 7 attack on southern Israel, alleging links with Hamas and other militant groups. "UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable," stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In response, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the law, stating it violates international law and the UN charter.
"This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role in providing human-development assistance to #Palestine Refugees," he wrote on social media.
Israeli officials cited evidence of involvement by some UNRWA staff members in the October 7 attack on southern Israel, alleging links with Hamas and other militant groups. "UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable," stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In response, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the law, stating it violates international law and the UN charter.
"This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role in providing human-development assistance to #Palestine Refugees," he wrote on social media.
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