International News
Israel Observes First Anniversary Of October 7 Hamas Attack
Israel on Monday commemorated the first anniversary of Hamas’s devastating October 7 assault, which left over 1,200 dead, primarily civilians, in a series of unprecedented attacks.
The occasion was marked by vigils and memorials at massacre sites across the country, alongside growing concerns about escalating violence as renewed rocket fire from Gaza and clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon underscored the region’s enduring instability.
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At 6:29 a.m., the precise moment the assault began a year ago, Israeli President Isaac Herzog led a moment of silence at Kibbutz Reim, near the site of the Nova music festival, where 370 people were killed in the deadliest single episode of the attack.
Tearful families gathered at the ceremony to honor the victims, many of whom were killed by heavily armed Hamas fighters.
“This is a difficult day for us all,” Herzog said, addressing the mourners.
The October 7 attack saw Palestinian militants storming across the Gaza border, targeting multiple communities and events, including the Nova music festival, army bases, and kibbutzim.
The death toll on the Israeli side reached 1,205, according to official figures, with more than 250 people taken hostage.
Nearly 100 are still held captive in Gaza, including 37 whom the Israeli military believes to be dead.
Monday’s commemorations, taking place both in Israel and cities worldwide, followed large international gatherings over the weekend to honor the victims.
In Tel Aviv, thousands attended a vigil for the Nova festival victims, while other events around the globe expressed solidarity with Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Even as Israelis marked the grim anniversary, tensions remained high.
The Israeli military reported at least four projectiles fired from Gaza just minutes after the day’s ceremonies began, targeting areas near the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings.
In response, Israeli forces struck Hamas infrastructure throughout Gaza. Meanwhile, the northern region of Israel continues to face daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon, further inflaming fears of a broader conflict.
In Sderot, a town near the Gaza border, Herzog led a memorial event to remember those killed in last year’s attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the nation, reaffirming his commitment to defeating Hamas.
“A year ago, we suffered a terrible blow, but we have transformed the situation on the ground,” Netanyahu said. “We will not stop until Hamas is destroyed.”
Netanyahu’s government has been locked in a protracted war with Hamas in Gaza since last October, launching a series of military operations aimed at dismantling the group’s leadership and infrastructure.
Despite these efforts, Hamas fighters have regrouped in several areas of northern Gaza, leading to continued clashes with Israeli forces.
In recent days, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hamas positions in the Jabaliya area, killing at least 17 people, including nine children, according to rescue teams on the ground.
The conflict has also spilled over into Israel’s northern front, where tensions with Hezbollah have intensified.
Over the past year, Hezbollah has launched regular rocket fire from Lebanon in support of Hamas, prompting Israeli airstrikes in response.
Israeli military action in Lebanon has left more than 1,100 people dead and displaced over a million civilians, while Hezbollah rockets continue to target northern Israeli communities.
The anniversary arrives as Israel faces the possibility of a wider regional war, particularly in the wake of an Iranian missile attack last week that further raised tensions.
With the threat of an expanded conflict looming, Israeli military leaders continue to stress the importance of maintaining pressure on both Hamas and Hezbollah.
Amid the violence, families of hostages still held by Hamas rallied in Tel Aviv, holding banners and placards with images of their loved ones.
Although a truce in November resulted in the release of over 100 hostages, 97 remain in captivity. “We want them home,” one protester said. “It’s been a year, and our families are still waiting.”
As Israel reflects on the horrors of last year’s attack, the country remains on high alert, preparing for the possibility of further escalation on multiple fronts.
Despite military gains, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with the region’s future as uncertain as it was one year ago.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, shaking the region and sending tremors as far as Thailand and China.
The quake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region, near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to around one million people and renowned for its historic temple complexes.
Panic erupted as buildings swayed and dust filled the air.
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In Mandalay, videos shared online showed terrified residents rushing out of residential towers while traffic came to a sudden halt.
Reports indicate that a major bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed into the water in a cloud of dust and debris.
The quake was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, where video footage showed a partially constructed building in Chatuchak Park crumbling to the ground.
Thai authorities reported that 43 people were trapped in the wreckage, while seven others sustained injuries.
In Chiang Mai, a resident described feeling the tremors for about ten seconds before fleeing into the streets.
In Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon—about 380 miles from the epicenter—residents also experienced the powerful shaking.
One resident recalled, “We felt the quake for about a minute, then ran out of the building.
It was very sudden and very strong.” Another noted that phone networks in the city, home to around 8 million people, briefly went down but were later restored.
Myanmar, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is already grappling with the effects of a brutal civil war sparked by a military coup over four years ago.
The conflict has devastated the economy, and the country remains ill-equipped to handle a major natural disaster of this scale.
The Sagaing region, where the earthquake struck, is a war zone with multiple factions—including the ruling junta, pro-military militias, and rebel groups—fighting for control.
The ongoing violence has made travel by road or river extremely dangerous, posing significant challenges to delivering emergency aid and assessing the full extent of the damage.
Tremors were also felt in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, underscoring the quake’s intensity.
Authorities across the region are now assessing the situation, with emergency teams mobilizing in both Myanmar and Thailand.
Han Jong-hee, co-CEO of Samsung Electronics and a driving force behind the company’s dominance in the global television market, has died of a heart attack at the age of 63, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
“He died from cardiac arrest today,” a Samsung spokesperson stated, adding that Han is survived by his wife and three children.
Having joined the company in 1988, Han played a significant role in shaping Samsung’s television business.
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His leadership was instrumental in the launch and success of the company’s high-end LED TVs, which helped establish Samsung as a global leader in the industry.
“Han was central in the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company noted in a biography published earlier this month. “His numerous other innovations enabled the company to continually demonstrate its technology leadership.”
His efforts ensured that Samsung maintained its position as a dominant force in the global television market.
Han’s death comes at a time when Samsung Electronics is grappling with challenges in the AI chip sector.
The company has been facing difficulties in meeting Nvidia’s standards, while its South Korean competitor, SK Hynix, has emerged as the leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for Nvidia’s AI processors.
Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently underscored the urgency of the situation, urging Samsung to adopt a “do-or-die” approach to overcome the growing challenges in the AI industry.
Last October, the company acknowledged it was facing a “crisis,” citing concerns over its “fundamental technological competitiveness and the future of the company.”
Pope Francis will on Sunday be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14 for breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pontiff will return to his residence at Saint Martha’s House in the Vatican, where doctors have advised that he undergo “a long convalescence… of at least two months.”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dr. Sergio Alfieri explained that while the pope’s health is improving, further recovery is best achieved at home.
READ ALSO: Pope Francis’ Condition Improving, Says Vatican
“Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital — even if this seems strange — is the worst place to recover because it’s where one can contract more infections,” Alfieri said.
Dr. Luca Carbone, another physician at Gemelli, added that there are positive signs in the pope’s condition. “We hope that he will soon be able to resume his normal activities,” he stated.
Before leaving the hospital, Pope Francis is expected to greet the public and offer a blessing from a hospital balcony after the Angelus prayers on Sunday, marking his first appearance in weeks.
Speculation about a possible resignation has been circulating due to the pope’s prolonged absence from public duties, but Vatican officials have firmly denied such claims.
When asked if the topic had been discussed, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was clear in his response: “No, no, no, absolutely not.”
The pope, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has received an outpouring of prayers and well-wishes from Catholics worldwide.
Supporters have been gathering outside Gemelli hospital, leaving flowers, candles, and messages of encouragement.
His hospitalization, the longest of his papacy has led to questions about how Easter celebrations will be handled in his absence.
However, Vatican officials remain optimistic about his gradual return to his duties in the coming weeks.
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