October 19, 2024

Daily News Brief

*) Hamas confirms Yahya Sinwar's death Hamas has confirmed that its political leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, and the resistance group reiterated that hostages taken from Israel a year ago will not be released until there is a ceasefire in Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli occupation troops. A Hamas official said that those prisoners will not return before the end of Israeli aggression on Gaza and the withdrawal from Gaza. In a video statement, Hamas heralded Sinwar as a hero who ascended as a heroic martyr, advancing and not retreating, brandishing his weapon, engaging and confronting the occupation army at the forefront of the ranks. *) Israel kills 33 civilians, including 21 women, in Gaza's Jabalia Meanwhile, Israel has killed at least 33 Palestinians, including 21 women and many children, and wounded more than 85 others in strikes on homes in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza. According to Gaza medics, the Israeli air strikes targeted several Palestinian homes in Tel al Zaatar area, east of Jabalia camp and there are missing people under the rubble of the houses. At the same time, ambulances are unable to reach the area under fear of being targeted by the Israeli invading army. *) Ottawa warns remaining Indian diplomats not to put Canadians at risk Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has placed the last of India's diplomats in the country "on notice", warning them that Ottawa will not tolerate any more criminal activity on its territory. The warning follows the expulsion earlier this week of six Indian diplomats after Canada's national police force said there is ample evidence of murder and extortion by agents in Canada operating on orders from New Delhi. India's high commissioner was among those kicked out of Canada after he was identified as a "person of interest" in the June 18, 2023, assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. *) Biden vows to continue support for Ukraine United States President Joe Biden has urged NATO allies to keep backing Ukraine in its war against Russia as he made his farewell visit to Germany just weeks before the US elections. Biden has said that Western allies must sustain support until Ukraine wins a just and sustainable peace. He added, “ We're headed into a very difficult winter. We cannot let up." *) Meta partners with Blumhouse to test AI video tool for filmmakers Tech giant Meta has unveiled a partnership with horror film production company Blumhouse to road-test its latest artificial intelligence (AI) video tool. The program, known as Movie Gen, was announced earlier this month though Meta said it was still being developed and would not be added to publicly available products until next year. Meta announced that it had been working with filmmakers from Blumhouse known for producing franchises like "Paranormal Activity", "The Purge" and "Insidious" to refine and improve the tool.