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Strasbourg, Oct.15-17.– The agenda of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities includes the protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, ageing communities, fostering circular economy at the grassroots level, common challenges to local democracy in Europe, the situation of regions with special status, the role of regions in Ukraine’s reconstruction, as well as efforts to expand the outreach of the Local Self-Government Charter to cities in non-member states (Kazakhstan, Mauritania, and Morocco) and 10 years of direct youth engagement in the work of the Congress are on the agenda of the session.
The Congress will also debate monitoring reports on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Finland, Iceland, Latvia, and Malta, as well as on the observation of local elections in Türkiye on 31 March 2024.
This Is What Zelensky Requested the Pontiff: The Ukrainian leader stressed the national anguish over the people seized and deported.
Vatican, Oct. 11 (Zenit).– In a meeting charged with symbolism and hope, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had a private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican.
The central issue resounded profoundly: the return of Ukrainians detained in Russia. “The return of our people from prison was the focus of my conversation with the Holy Father. We rely on the assistance of the Holy See to bring back Ukrainians who have been captured by Russia,” said Zelensky on his social networks, highlighting the importance of his conversation with the Pontiff
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The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concerning the economic, political, security, and socio-cultural development of Southeast Asian countries.
Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries are meeting intending to enhance the region's economic and security cooperation and reach out to other dialogue partners in East Asia and Oceania.
The topics of regional tension in the South China Sea and the civil war in Myanmar are expected to take center stage at the leaders' meeting hosted by Laos in Vientiane.
Vientiane, Oct.8 (DPnet).– The 44th ASEAN Summit is taking place at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, from October 6 to October 11. Southeast Asian leaders are meeting in Laos for a summit expected to find ways of tackling a worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand set to propose a new path for a political solution after a regional peace effort made scant progress.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the Plenary Session and reported on the progress of ASEAN Community-building in 2024 to the ASEAN Leaders and highlighted the key deliverables of Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
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This is the second attack by Iran this year, after it fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in April.
Tel Aviv, Oct. 1 (DPnet).– Iran launched around 180 missiles towards Israel, the Israeli military said. "A short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement early this Tuesday. "You are asked to remain vigilant and follow the Home Front Command's instructions precisely," warned the Israeli population. This attack is slightly larger than April's barrage, which saw about 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles fired toward Israel.
Footage carried by Israeli TV appeared to show some missiles flying over the Tel Aviv area shortly before 19:45 local time (17:45 BST).
Military officials have confirmed that some hits were recorded during the attack. A military spokesperson said Israel recorded "a few hits in the center and other areas in the south of the country". Ballistic missiles can reach Israel within 12 minutes, while drones and cruise missiles leave more time to defend against.
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Israel
– Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Prime Minister of Israel, said that after hearing numerous lies and slander, he decided to come personally “to set the record straight” and “to speak for the truth”. As his country faces “savage enemies who seek our annihilation”, he stressed that “Israel seeks peace, Israel yearns for peace.” Comparing the “unimaginable” atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October to “the Nazi Holocaust”, he said: “They savagely murdered 1,200 people, they raped and mutilated women, they beheaded men, they burnt babies alive.” Israel has brought home 154 of 251 people taken hostage by Hamas and dragged into the “dungeons” of Gaza, he said, adding: “We will not rest until the remaining hostages are brought home safely.”
Following the 7 October attack, Israel has been forced to defend itself on six more war fronts organized by Iran in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, he noted. In response to Iran’s first-ever direct assault on Israel, he warned: “Strike us, we will strike you. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that is true of the entire Middle East.” Demonstrating two maps, he contrasted the “blessing” of development for Israel and its “Arab partners” with the “curse” of Iran’s influence in the region, warning that “Iran seeks to impose its radicalism beyond the Middle East and threatens the entire world.” The world should “join Israel in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons”, he said, calling on the UN to “snap back” sanctions against Iran. “We must all do everything in our power to ensure Iran never gets nuclear weapons,” he emphasized.
Noting that the Israel Defense Forces continue fighting Hamas, he warned that if the group stays in power, “it will regroup, rearm and attack again.” Therefore, he rejected “any rule for Hamas in a post-war Gaza”, adding that it would be “inconceivable” if the defeated Nazis were invited to rebuild Germany in 1945. “We do not seek to resettle Gaza,” he underscored, emphasizing that Israel wants a “demilitarized and de-radicalized” Gaza, adding that “only then can we ensure that this round of fighting will be the last.”