By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
Denmark
EU Foreign Ministers Meet On Israeli Gaza Policies
Foreign Ministers of the European Union( EU) are meeting today in Copenhagen, Denmark, to try and harmonise position on a collective response to the policies of Israel on Gaza and other parts of Palestine.
The meeting comes as Israel continues its military pounding of the Gaza Strip, especially Gaza City which it says it wants to seize and occupy.
The occupation move has drawn the ire of the vast majority of the global community,including allies of both Israel and America as well as the United Nations UN, all of which war that it could not only worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the enclave , but also constitute a breach of international law.
The Copenhagen meeting is, however, unlikely to reach a uniform positiom on far- reaching decisions ,by way of sanctions, against Israel.
This is because Germany, Italy and Hungary are reluctant to buy into a plan for effective sanctions against the Jewish state.
By convention, all members of the EU must agree on an issue before it can be acted upon.
Ireland, Spain , the Nordic Countries and France, have been pushing for stiff sanctions against Israel.
Palestine
Hamas Fighters Confront Israeli Troops In Gaza
..1 killed, 11 Wounded,4 Mising
For the first time since Israel launched its much publicized battle to seize Gaza City, news has emerged of an armed confrontation between its troops and fighters of Hamas and its affiliates.
Israeli media outlets , quoting credible confidential military sources, said that in overnight incidents, troops of the Israeli Defence Force ,(IDF) clashed with Hamas fighters in the city and that at least one soldier was killed, and 11 others wounded.
At least four other soldiers are reported missing after the confrontations.
In one incident in Zeitoun part of the city, an Israeli tank exploded after it allegedly ran over an anti- tank ordnance, causing massive casualties.
The sources said that in a second incident, IDF troops were ambushed by Hamas fighters, and that some of the soldiers were later unaccounted for, though there is a huge prospect that they may have been captured.
The development came against the backdrop of media reports credited to a Hamas leader that the Israeli military campaign in Gaza could provide a great opportunity for some of the troops to be captured by Hamas fighters.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis had vehemently opposed the IDF effort to capture and occupy Gaza City, saying it could endanger her troops and put the lives of hostages still in the custody of Hamas in jeopardy.
At their protests at Hostage Square, Tel-Aviv, on Sunday, they warned that the attempt to seize Gaza was too risky.
Hundreds of former Israeli military and intelligence officers had given the same warning in their recent public letter.
Hamas has spoken in the same vein.
Russia.
Russian Air Force Claims To Down 86 Ukrainian Drones In Overnight Strikes
Ukraine, overnight, pounded parts of its bigger neighbour, Russia, with drones some of which hit oil refineries and disrupted operations.
The Russian Air Force said it downed 86 of the drones overnight , but gave no details of casualties or damage caused, beyond admitting that several regions were hit and at least two refineries were impacted.
The overnight strikes are a continuation of Ukraine ‘s military actions of recent
Kiev has, of late, resorted to attacking Russian economic infrastructure, including the power sector, as part of efforts to whittle its ability to raise funds needed for its war efforts.
Ukraine
Moscow Sustains Attacks On Ukraine’
Moscow ,on Friday night, sustained its ongoing huge military attacks on Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials say that in excess of 500 drones and 45 missiles were launched into several regions in the country, with multiple targets hit in Zapitizhzhia and other places.
Officials said that at least one person died and in excess of 14 were wounded in the attacks in Zapitizhzhia, which hosts a vital asset, the largest nuclear plant in all of Europe, which is now in Russian hands.
Russia has partial or full control of four regions in Ukraine and is steadily gaining ground in battle grounds that Ukrainian officials have euphemistically described as difficult.
Palestine
Creative Gaza Musician Turn Israeli Drone Buzz Into Music
A Music teacher in Gaza, Palestine , has turned the constant buzz of persistent Israeli attack and spy drones into an appealing musical note that is generating public interest in the embattled enclave.
Ahmed Ibn Amshu, said he decided to create an appealing musical note from the constant buzz of the drones in order to demystify them.
Surrounded by a growing band of children and youths, Amshu said his creation had begun to attain his set aim and said that his pupils needed to make something positive out of Israel’ s irritating intelligence and death machines.
Meanwhile, more than 18 persons were killed by Israeli troops in artillery and drone attacks in the past 24 hours.
The Hamas- run Ministry of Health said that four of the victims were killed while trying to get food.
It also said that the tally of Palestinians who had died of hunger and starvation since Israel launched its war had reached 322.
They include 124 children.
Indonesia
Four Killed in Anti- Government Protests
At least four persons have been killed in ongoing anti- government protests in Indonesia
The victims died in the Java axis of the country .
The protests initially began as a demonstration against the high cost of living and the alleged plan to raise the pay of political office holders.
However, it escalated after security agents killed a delivery cycle driver.
The death of the cycist irritated the protesters who torched a regional parliament building in Java.
The efforts by security personnel to restore calm led to clashes that occasioned the fatalities.
The government has appealed for calm and assured that the voice of the protesters had been heard loud and clear.
