North America

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — “Stop the bombs and save lives!” the Palestinian ambassador pleaded at an emotional U.N. meeting Thursday on the war in Gaza. But Israel’s envoy was adamant, declaring again, “We will not rest until Hamas is obliterated.”

The war sparked by Gaza’s Hamas rulers’ surprise attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 played out in the vast hall of the 193-nation General Assembly, where Arab nations expected to adopt a resolution Friday calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza after the Security Council’s four failed attempts to agree on any action.

25 October 2023; MEMO: Algeria’s delegation to the UN walked out as the Israeli representative began to give his speech yesterday. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria Ahmed Attaf left the hall, followed by other representatives of Algiers. Delegations from a number of other countries followed suit.

25 October 2023; MEMO: Israel has agreed to postpone its invasion of the Gaza Strip to allow the US to deploy missile defences to the region, according to the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The report said Israel has, for now, accepted a US request to position its air defences before the anticipated ground operation, citing American and Israeli officials.

25 October 2023; MEMO: Condemning the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, Pakistan told the UN that a struggle against foreign occupation cannot be equated with terrorism.

During a high-level debate at the UN Security Council over the situation in the Middle East on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Munir Akram, said that his country condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

26 October 2023; MEMO: The head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, praised “the position of Russia and China in the Security Council and their thwarting of the biassed American resolution towards the occupation.”

In a press statement, Haniyeh expressed his “appreciation to all countries inside and outside the Security Council that have called for an end to the aggression against our Palestinian people in Gaza.”

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday rejected the “misrepresentations” of his remarks a day earlier on Palestinian grievances that infuriated Israel, which has vowed to retaliate against the world body.

“I am shocked by misrepresentations by some of my statement yesterday in the Security Council — as if I was justifying acts of terror by Hamas,” Guterres told reporters, without naming Israel.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Russia and China on Wednesday vetoed a U.S. push for the United Nations Security Council to act on the Israel-Hamas conflict by calling for pauses in fighting to allow humanitarian aid access, the protection of civilians and a stop to arming Hamas and other militants in the Gaza Strip.

ACAPULCO, Mexico, Oct 26 (Reuters) - At least 27 people died due to Hurricane Otis, Mexico's government said on Thursday after one of the most powerful storms to hit the country unleashed devastation in the Pacific beach resort of Acapulco early the day before.

Otis flooded streets, ripped roofs off homes and hotels and severed communications, road and air access, leaving a trail of devastation across Acapulco, a city of nearly 900,000. Four more people are still missing, the government said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris will attend a summit on artificial intelligence in the United Kingdom next week, shortly after President Joe Biden issues a highly anticipated executive order on an emerging technology that has generated excitement and fear.

She’s scheduled to leave on Tuesday and return on Nov. 2, and she’ll be accompanied by her husband, Douglas Emhoff, according to her office.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Mike Johnson is the new speaker of the House, but the Donald Trump ally inherits many of the same political problems that have tormented past GOP leaders, tested their grasp of the gavel and eventually chased them from office.

The House convened Thursday with a bustle of activity, making up for lost time during the weeks of chaos since Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker. But the initial goodwill toward Johnson blurs the political fault lines challenging the Louisianan’s ability to lead the GOP majority as it faces daunting issues ahead.