Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has led the group for three decades, transforming it into a powerful paramilitary force. Israeli airstrikes in Beirut targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters, killing and wounding dozens, with Nasrallah possibly being the target. Under Nasrallah, Hezbollah has fought Israel and supported Syria’s President Assad. Idolized by many, Nasrallah is a strategic leader with strong ties to Iran and Palestinian groups. Born in 1960, he joined the Amal movement before co-founding Hezbollah, which was supported by Iran to export its political Islam. Ava Sinclair 28/09/2024 6:30 pm
Two paintings in Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” series were targeted by soup-throwing climate protesters in London, echoing a similar 2022 incident. Three activists from “Just Stop Oil” defaced the artworks in solidarity with Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, who were sentenced to prison for a previous soup attack on the same paintings. Despite the stunt, the paintings were undamaged. Plummer and Holland caused $13,000 in damage and were sentenced to two years and 20 months, respectively, for criminal damage. The latest protesters’ legal consequences remain unclear. Penelope Kingsley 28/09/2024 6:30 pm
The Israeli military claims it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, alongside other commanders. Hezbollah has not confirmed this. The attack targeted Hezbollah’s “central headquarters” and was described as meticulously planned. Israel’s army chief warned of further actions. Nasrallah, a key figure who transformed Hezbollah into a powerful paramilitary force, was born in Beirut in 1960 and rose to prominence during Lebanon’s civil war and Israel’s 1982 invasion. The strikes resulted in at least six deaths and 91 injuries, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Noah Prescott 28/09/2024 6:30 pm
Dame Maggie Smith, who retired at 89, was renowned for her roles in Shaw, Ibsen, Stoppard, and Shakespeare, including Desdemona in “Othello” and Violet Crawley in “Downton Abbey.” Known for her humor about always being in corsets and wigs, she also portrayed Professor McGonagall in “Harry Potter,” Mother Superior in “Sister Act,” and won an Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.” In “The Lady in the Van,” she played a homeless woman living in a van. Her career spanned seven decades, marked by upper-crust diction and working-class tenacity. Ava Sinclair 28/09/2024 3:00 pm
Seventeen people were killed in a mass shooting in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, South Africa, with a manhunt underway for the perpetrators. The victims, mostly women, were targeted at two homesteads while preparing for a traditional mourning ceremony. An 18th victim is critically injured. Six survivors, including a two-month-old child, were found at one location. The police minister is set to visit the area, and the motive remains unknown with no arrests made yet. Noah Prescott 28/09/2024 3:00 pm
Continuous rainfall in Nepal has caused flooding and landslides, killing at least 66 people and leaving 69 missing, officials reported. The rain began Friday night and is expected to continue. Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari stated that 34 of the deceased were in Kathmandu. Sixty people were injured and 3,010 rescued nationwide. Security forces, including the army, are aiding in rescue efforts. Landslides have blocked several roads, including key highways. The government issued flood warnings and restricted night travel. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak emphasized rescue and aid as priorities. Ava Sinclair 28/09/2024 3:00 pm
Zelenskyy outlined a plan for Ukraine’s victory, emphasizing immediate action while supportive officials are in power. The plan includes military, economic, and diplomatic components, such as using long-range weapons in Russia, NATO and EU membership for Ukraine, and increased sanctions on Russia. While some European leaders support the use of long-range weapons, Germany opposes it. The Biden administration and other officials criticize the plan for lacking a comprehensive strategy and being mainly a request for more weapons. President Biden issued a statement ahead of his meeting with Zelenskyy. Penelope Kingsley 28/09/2024 3:00 pm
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged global Muslim unity in support of Lebanon and Hezbollah after reports of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s death in an Israeli airstrike. Khamenei condemned Israel’s actions as “short-sighted” and “criminal,” asserting that Israel is too weak to harm Hezbollah significantly. He stopped short of calling for revenge but warned Israel would regret its actions. Analysts noted Nasrallah’s death as a significant blow to Iranian influence. Khamenei’s statement showed solidarity with Hezbollah, and experts predict unexpected developments in response to Israel’s actions. Noah Prescott 28/09/2024 3:00 pm
President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow may respond with nuclear weapons if Ukraine, with Western support, strikes deep inside Russia using long-range missiles. This raises critical questions about whether Putin is bluffing. If he is, the West might increase military aid to Ukraine. If serious, the conflict risks escalating into World War Three. Putin extended scenarios for nuclear use, including major cross-border attacks involving Western support. Analysts link his remarks to Ukraine’s lobbying for long-range missiles and President Zelenskyy’s appeals to the U.S. Noah Prescott 28/09/2024 11:30 am
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized diplomacy as the best path amid escalating violence between Israel and Lebanon. Speaking in New York, Blinken warned of a “precarious moment” with significant consequences based on upcoming decisions. His remarks followed Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, killing at least six and injuring over 70, amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. Despite a US-led ceasefire proposal, Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting. Critics argue the US hasn’t pressured Israel enough to halt its attacks, risking a broader regional conflict. Noah Prescott 28/09/2024 11:30 am
