Fear and confusion mark key moments of Lahaina residents' 911 calls during deadly wildfire
Maui County officials released two hours of audio of 911 calls to The Associated Press that were recorded as frantic residents tried to escape the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century
2023-10-13 15:58
Take Five: War and peace of mind
LONDON Geopolitics are at the forefront of everyone's minds after war broke out between Israel and Palestinian militant
2023-10-13 15:54
Ukraine holds out as Russia steps up relentless assault on Avdiivka: ‘The enemy does not stop’
The Ukrainian military continues to hold its ground in the face of Russia’s relentless assault on the eastern city of Avdiivka, Volodymyr Zelensky, as the battle intensified for a third day. Russia has moved a large armoured column of three battalions, including some 2,000 troops, dozens of armoured vehicles and jets into the northern flank of the Avdiivka front for what has been described as the biggest military offensive in months. The Ukrainian forces said they repelled more than 20 attacks by the Russian army in Avdiivka and the surrounding regions in the past 24 hours, in what was described as a blow to Moscow’s attempts to use the offensive to show the tide of the war turning in its favour. Mr Zelensky said: “Avdiivka. We are holding our ground. It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end. We must all remember this.” Municipal officials said the Russian attacks were relentless and the enemy was attacking from all sides. Vitaliy Barabash, head of the city military administration, told Ukrainian television: "The enemy does not stop storming, they come from all directions." Ukrainian Special Operations Forces said Kyiv’s troops had "foiled the plans of the crazed enemy, repelled all attacks and held their positions". Avdiivka holds significant strategic importance for Russia, serving as the crucial gateway to Donetsk, the primary communication hub within the occupied territories. To gain a foothold in occupied Donbas, the Kremlin aims to shift the front line away from Donetsk. In 2022, Russian forces initiated an offensive against Avdiivka, attempting to encircle the city deeply from both sides. This offensive was halted and the region has become a symbol of resistance, holding out against Russian troops ever since. "On average, there are 50-60 instances of intense shelling with artillery and rockets targeting the town," said Mr Barabash. "As for military positions, they get hit at least 500-600 times a day." Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern group of forces, said Russia saw Avdiivka as an opportunity to win a significant victory and "turn the tide of fighting". "Today the capture or encirclement of Avdiivka is probably the most it can achieve at this stage," he said. Geolocated footage of the area showed Russia had advanced in some villages southwest and northwest of Avdiivka this week, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American non-profit research group and think-tank. Around 64 clashes have been reported in the last 24 hours involving 4 missile attacks, 65 airstrikes and around 54 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems on Ukrainian troops and various settlements, the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in an update on Facebook. In the latest overnight attacks, Russia intensified strikes on Danube River ports in the southern Odesa region that have become Kyiv’s main route for food exports since Moscow quit a deal allowing shipments via the Black Sea in July. A military spokesperson said Russia had hit a grain storage facility in the Odesa region and some grain had been damaged but did not say how much. It comes amid fears that Moscow will intensify attacks on power infrastructure to freeze Ukrainians as winter sets in in the repeat of events from last winter. Read More IOC bans Russian Olympic Committee for including annexed Ukraine territories French police probe ‘poisoning’ of TV journalist who denounced Putin’s war live on air Ukraine-Russia war – live: IOC bans Russian Olympic Committee for including annexed territories The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-10-13 15:53
Israel calls on 1.1 million Gazans to evacuate south in order UN warns is 'impossible'
Israel's military has warned 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes, amid signs Israel is set to ramp up its retaliatory offensive against Hamas following the group's October 7 terror attacks.
2023-10-13 15:52
Muslims gather at mosques for first Friday prayers since Israel-Hamas war started
In Muslim communities across the world, worshippers gathered at mosques for their first Friday prayers since Hamas militants attacked Israel, igniting the latest Israel-Palestinian war
2023-10-13 15:50
China central bank seen keeping medium-term policy rate unchanged on Monday - poll
SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE China's central bank is expected to keep borrowing costs unchanged but ramp up liquidity support when it
2023-10-13 15:47
Agnetha Faltskog was 'suspicious' of ABBA Voyage show
ABBA star Agnetha Faltskog has admitted she was 'suspicious' of the band's ambitious virtual concert residency which features avatars of the group members performing their hits
2023-10-13 15:29
SES Appoints Adel Al-Saleh as CEO
LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 13, 2023--
2023-10-13 15:24
US defense secretary is in Israel to meet with its leaders and see America's security assistance
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has arrived in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to meet with senior government leaders and see firsthand some of the U.S. weapons and security assistance that Washington rapidly delivered to Israel in the first week of its war with Gaza's militant Hamas rulers
2023-10-13 15:23
Baz Luhrmann expands Australia into TV series using unseen footage
Director Baz Luhrmann has expanded his movie epic Australia into a six-part TV series TV series using unseen footage rescued from the cutting room floor
2023-10-13 15:22
Jeymes Samuel's Book of Clarence 'littered' with Easter eggs for next film
Jeymes Samuel's 'The Book of Clarence' is "littered" with clues about his next movie, a prequel to his debut 'The Harder They Fall'.
2023-10-13 15:21
Aussie lender ANZ loses case over troubled 2015 share placement worth $1.6 billion
Australia's ANZ Group acknowledged a Federal Court decision that said the bank should have advised the market of
2023-10-13 15:20
