Nearly 100 food aid trucks violently looted in Gaza, say UN agencies Posted on 19/11/2024 Aid workers stand near World Food Programme trucks bound for Gaza. (EPA Images pic) GENEVA/CAIRO: Nearly 100 trucks carrying food for Palestinians were violently looted on Nov 16 after entering Gaza, in one of the worst aid losses during 13 months of war in the enclave where hunger is deepening, two UN agencies told Reuters on Monday. The convoy transporting food provided by UN agencies UNRWA and the World Food Programme was instructed by Israel to depart at short notice via an unfamiliar route from Kerem Shalom border crossing, said Louise Wateridge, UNRWA senior emergency officer. Ninety-eight trucks of the 109-truck convoy were raided and some of the transporters were injured during the incident, she said, without detailing who carried out the ambush. “This… highlights the severity of access challenges of bringing aid into southern and central Gaza,” she told Reuters. “The urgency of the crisis cannot be overstated; without immediate intervention, severe food shortages are set to worsen, further endangering the lives of over two million people who depend on humanitarian aid to survive.” A WFP spokesperson confirmed the looting and said that many routes in Gaza were currently unpassable due to security issues. An Israeli official said Israel had been working to address the humanitarian situation since the start of the war, adding that the main problem with aid deliveries was UN distribution challenges. A UN aid official said on Friday that Gaza aid access had reached a low point, with deliveries to parts of the besieged north of the enclave all but impossible. Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza was triggered by the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel. News
Thai floods wash out Malaysian demand for holidays in Songkhla Posted on 29/11/2024 KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Malaysians were cancelling planned trips to Songkhla and other parts of southern Thailand that were flooding, hitting businesses in the region hard. According to The Bangkok Post, hotel and tour reservations have seen sharp drops for this weekend and the next. Songchai Mungprasithichai, president of… Read More
Event for licensed moneylenders mocked for Ah Long link Posted on 23/11/2024 Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming speaking at the inaugural Madani Credit Awards ceremony on Nov 15. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: An award ceremony last week for licensed moneylenders was aimed at raising the image of the industry, a government source said today after online criticism that “Ah… Read More
Perak to go full steam ahead with rare earths exploration; MB says royalties from industry added RM30.88m to state coffers Posted on 10/11/2024 KUALA KANGSAR, Nov 10 — The Perak government will continue to explore every potential to ensure the state remains positioned as a rare earth hub in the country, with the rare earth industry so far contributing royalties amounting to RM30.88 million to the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad… Read More