Liam Payne joked about his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, leaving Argentina early in a since-deleted Snapchat video. The couple had traveled there to support Payne’s former bandmate, Niall Horan. Payne shared plans for fun activities like horse riding and playing polo. Cassidy expressed her eagerness to leave Argentina after their stay extended from five days to two weeks. The couple, who started dating in 2022, live together in Miami. Ava Sinclair 19/10/2024 8:00 am
A drone from Lebanon hit a building in Caesarea, Israel, causing an explosion but no injuries. Two other drones were intercepted. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and at the Glilot military base, but no threats were found. One drone reportedly targeted Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence, but he was not present. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a separate drone crash in the Golan Heights and vowed further escalation. Additional drone alarms were activated in Emek Hefer, but no damage or casualties occurred. The IDF is reviewing the incidents. Penelope Kingsley 19/10/2024 8:00 am
An Israeli air strike on a refugee camp in northern Gaza reportedly killed at least 33 people, including 21 women, according to Hamas authorities. The attack in Jabalia has not been commented on by Israel, which has besieged the camp for weeks. The strike injured over 85 people, with the death toll potentially reaching 50. Communications in northern Gaza are severed, complicating independent verification. The hospital in the area is overwhelmed with casualties. Meanwhile, US President Biden mentioned potential ceasefire efforts in Lebanon, but noted challenges in Gaza. Penelope Kingsley 19/10/2024 4:30 am
Cheryl Cole, mourning Liam Payne’s death, urged media to stop exploiting the tragedy for their son Bear’s sake. She emphasized Payne’s roles beyond fame, highlighting the impact on their son. Cole expressed concern over Bear’s future exposure to negative reports and pleaded for respectful coverage. Payne, 31, died from a fall in Buenos Aires, with investigations ongoing. Noah Prescott 19/10/2024 4:30 am
Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed after the Antonio Guiteras power plant failed, following a massive blackout. The energy ministry reported efforts to restore power using distributed generation and a gas-fired plant, but millions remained without electricity. This unprecedented outage, aside from hurricane incidents, worsened the ongoing economic crisis. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero addressed the nation, noting 1.64 gigawatts went offline, prompting emergency measures like suspending classes and shutting down non-essential services. Calls for clarification on the blackout’s extent went unanswered. Noah Prescott 19/10/2024 4:30 am
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s plan to send migrants to Albania for processing faces a setback after a Rome court ruled 12 migrants should return to Italy, citing unsafe origin countries. The deal, aimed at processing 3,000 migrants monthly, has drawn criticism for its €800m cost. Despite EU claims of reduced migration, European governments face pressure to limit arrivals. Meloni plans to challenge the ruling, arguing government, not judiciary, should determine safe countries. The Italian government intends to appeal, hoping the plan becomes European law within two years. Penelope Kingsley 19/10/2024 1:00 am
Lebanon’s caretaker PM, Najib Mikati, accused Iran of interfering in Lebanese affairs after Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, expressed readiness to negotiate a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Mikati summoned Iran’s envoy, a rare move given Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon. Ghalibaf suggested negotiating with France on implementing U.N. Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Mikati insisted that Lebanon should handle such negotiations, emphasizing support for the resolution without imposing new mandates. The resolution’s effectiveness is questioned amid ongoing Israel-Hezbollah tensions. Noah Prescott 19/10/2024 1:00 am
King Charles III’s visit to Australia is expected to be low-key, contrasting with the large crowds his mother attracted. He will meet the prime minister, review the naval fleet, and greet supporters, but many state leaders are absent. The republican movement is mocking the visit with “Monarchy: The Farewell Oz Tour” T-shirts. Charles’s undisclosed cancer has limited his schedule, and his visit coincides with a lull in Australia’s republican debate. Both monarchists and republicans aim to use the trip to garner support, despite Australians’ focus on other issues. Penelope Kingsley 19/10/2024 1:00 am
Hamas confirmed its leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. The group insists hostages won’t be released until a cease-fire and Israeli troop withdrawal occur. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to continue military action until hostages are freed. Despite international pressure for a cease-fire, both sides remain resistant. The conflict has intensified with Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, escalating attacks on Israel. Sinwar, a key figure in a deadly Hamas raid on Israel, is hailed by Hamas as a hero. The war has devastated Gaza, displacing millions and causing severe shortages. Ava Sinclair 18/10/2024 9:30 pm
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labeled South Korea as a hostile nation, discussing potential offensive actions in retaliation for sovereignty infringements. This follows North Korea’s constitutional amendment designating the South as hostile. Kim criticized South Korea’s alliance with the U.S. and emphasized strengthening North Korea’s nuclear deterrent. Recent actions, including severing road and rail links, signify a break from past engagement policies. South Korea warned that any harm to its people would lead to the end of the North Korean regime. Kim’s rhetoric aims to bolster frontline soldiers’ morale. Penelope Kingsley 18/10/2024 9:30 pm
