Israel's army chief on Monday vowed a response to Iran's unprecedented attack against the country which has prompted appeals for de-escalation by world leaders fearing wider conflict. Six months of war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza have triggered violence across the region involving Iranian proxies and allies who say they act in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. But tensions have surged even higher with Tehran's first direct assault on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly April 1 strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. «This launch of so many (Iranian) missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response,» Israeli army chief General Herzi Halevi said, addressing troops at the Nevatim military base hit in Iran's Saturday barrage. But the military also said it would not be distracted from its war against Hamas in Gaza. The United Nations on Monday cited reports of «air strikes, shelling and heavy fighting» for the past five days around Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah. - 'Engaged in terrorism' - Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel late Saturday, according to Israel's military which said nearly all were intercepted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his war cabinet late Monday to discuss possible reactions, local media said, as Israel issued its first official comment on the deadly Syria strike. «These were people who engaged in terrorism against the State of Israel,» military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. «There was not a single diplomat there as far as I know.» Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps named two generals as among seven of its members killed in the consular attack. Tehran says its missile and drone barrage against Israel was the first act of a tough new strategy. The Iranian president's political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi, wrote on X that the «era of strategic patience is over» and further targeting Iranian personnel and assets «will be met with a direct and punishing response.» Tehran said it considered the matter «concluded» unless Israel chose to commit «another mistake». Israel's top military supplier the United States played a key role -- with other allies -- in shooting down the Iranian drones. US officials, increasingly critical of the civilian death toll in Gaza, have urged caution on Israel after Iran's attack. «We don't seek escalation, but we'll continue to support the defence of Israel and to protect our personnel in the region,» said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. US President Joe Biden has told Netanyahu that Washington would not offer military support for any retaliation against Iran, according to a senior US official. Netanyahu has been less vocal than usual since Iran's attack, but late Monday he said on X that the international community «must continue to stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression, which threatens world peace.» At the White House Biden, meeting Iraq's Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, said: «We're committed to a ceasefire that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict spreading beyond what it already has.» Israel estimates that 129 hostages, including 34 presumed dead, remain in the hands of Palestinian militants in Gaza since their October 7 attack triggered the war with Israel. - Bridge blocked - Reflecting both the domestic pressure Biden is under, and global calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge on Monday. The UN cited reports of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in eastern Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city which Israel has for two months threatened to invade in pursuit of Hamas. Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,797 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The toll rose by at least 68 deaths over 24 hours. Israel released around 150 detainees on Monday who had been rounded up in Gaza, the territory's crossings authority told AFP. The agency alleged «mistreatment» of the detainees, which Israel's military denied. Further emphasising the regional dimensions of the war, Israel's army said four of its troops were wounded inside Lebanese territory after Hezbollah said it had targeted a group of Israeli soldiers with «explosive devices» when they crossed the border. - 'Catastrophic hunger' - Following the Iranian attack, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday, where Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the region was «on the brink» of war and called for a defusing of tensions. On Monday Britain, Germany, Italy and France were among those also calling for de-escalation. A United States official said the hope was that «in the light of day» Israel would see it had won a «spectacular success» against Iran's attack, which resulted in no reported deaths. However, Middle East analyst James Ryan said «Netanyahu has already shown a willingness to test any kind of limit Biden wishes to impose». Netanyahu, who leads a coalition including religious and ultra-nationalist parties, has faced regular protests by anti-government demonstrators as well as supporters of the Gaza hostages demanding the government get them home. Experts, and the protesters, have said they expect Netanyahu to continue the Gaza war as a tactic to remain in power. British airline EasyJet on Monday said it was pausing flights to and from Tel Aviv until April 21, «due to the evolving security situation,» but on global markets world oil prices sank as traders bet on a de-escalation of tensions. The UN said it delivered on Sunday a four-day supply of fuel to enable a Gaza City bakery to resume operations in northern Gaza, which «has largely been cut off from aid and has recorded the highest levels of catastrophic hunger in the world.» © Agence France-Presse

Developing a freshwater biodiversity information system for long-term conservation and management in Seychelles is a first-of-its-kind project currently being implemented by a not-for-profit organisation Gaea Seychelles on the islands of Mahe, Praslin and Silhouette. The three-year project also aims to assess the healthiness of freshwater sources and monitor alterations and changes of the islands' rivers. Elvina Henriette, founding member of Gaea Seychelles, told SNA that even though the island nation has available freshwater, no information is available about them.  «There has been much development and change that we have not yet accessed its implications on this extremely rare resource,» said Henriette, adding that the project, which is being funded through the JRS Biodiversity Foundation at $260,000, aims to collect, store, analyse, and share data for better decision-making and better management of rivers. The JRS Biodiversity Foundation is an independent grant-making foundation based in the United States that awards grants to increase access to and use of biodiversity information in sub-Saharan Africa. «As this is an understudied field, we will also provide capacity-building opportunities for our staff but also for other individuals or organizations,» explained Henriette, stressing that the project will also assess the understanding of rivers and their importance in benefitting the local population. Several activities have been held, including a training session by Juan Tedder, an ecologist from Gaea Seychelles' partners, Ground Truth.  (Dr Elvina Henriette) Photo License: All Rights Reserved Project officer Mersiah Rose explained that the project, which was launched in September 2023, will focus on fifteen rivers and will have different components. «These are freshwater biodiversity data collection, which will include getting to know what we already have, capturing existing data such as museum specimens, publications, grey literature, existing databases, and putting all data into one public access database,» said Rose. She added that «Another component is the development of monitoring programmes such as establishing a long-term monitoring programme based on 15 rivers to monitor changes in ecosystems, particularly due to climate change, baseline surveys and biodiversity inventories of fish, micro and macro invertebrates. We will also monitor changes in ecosystems due to climate change as well as the collection of genetic material and DNA to build the reference database.» Since its launching, several activities have been held, including a training session by Juan Tedder, an ecologist from one of Gaea Seychelles' partners, Ground Truth, based in South Africa. The training focused on aquatic biomonitoring for macroinvertebrates. Participants learned techniques to identify and monitor species that normally receive little attention and discover how their presence or absence can indicate a problem arising from the river in which they live. Several local organisations and institutions are partnering with Gaea Seychelles, including the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), Seychelles National Herbarium (SNH), Plant Conservation Action Group (PCA), Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS). International partners include Ground Truth of South Africa, the Natural History Museum of Paris, and Nature Metrics of the United Kingdom. The University of Seychelles (UNISEY) is also a crucial local partner for this project. «We are hopeful that the project can provide enough materials for the inclusion of more targeted freshwater biodiversity content into UniSey's BSc Environmental Science programme,» added Rose. Henriette, a conservation biologist, emphasised that the project's scope extends beyond wildlife observation. It will also investigate various facets of river usage, including how people interact with and utilise these vital water sources as well as incorporating the human and social elements into the interaction between people and rivers. «I think we have lost a lot of that respect because nowadays we mostly use the river as a place for us to throw our trash in, without realising that what we are drinking is what is keeping us alive,» said Henriette. She said that Gaea's commitment is integrating the cultural dimension as well. In the past, communities had a particular way of coexisting with rivers, demonstrating a deep respect for these vital water bodies. The 15 rivers targeted for this project are spread over the three islands, Mahe, Praslin, and Silhouette of the Seychelles' archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. These rivers include those rich with aquatic life where species such as river prawns, tadpoles, Golden Panchax, eels, crabs, and limpets are found and others with fewer species. Information and data collected at the end of the project will be used to inform conservation action decisions better, as well as what new policies and laws need to be put in place to preserve the rivers. 

Les jeunes entre 18 et 30 ans sont en mal de logements. Peu d’aides existent pour cette tranche d’âge. La toute première résidence des jeunes travailleurs avait ouvert en juin 2021 avant de fermer en novembre 2023. Les jeunes locataires ont dû plier bagage précipitamment sans véritables solutions.

Sir Keir Starmer did his 'I'm a moderate' act but the benches behind him wriggled and itched and surged and grumbled. Support Israel? You could forget about that.

Johnny Depp has undergone a radical mid-life transformation - totally making himself over as he approaches his 61st birthday.

The Appleby-Brisco family, who featured on Channel 4 's Our Wildest Dreams, were forced to return to the UK not long after the show aired when their life in a remote village became their worst nightmare.

Good day Mrs. Walker-Huntington: I hope all is well. My question is, is there a way by which my kids’ dad, who is a green card holder in the USA, can help me to go to USA even though we are not together? If yes, how can we go about it? SW...

Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, lead of youth and education programmes at the JN Foundation, says continuous learning can serve as a catalyst for financial growth and empowerment. Devoting just 10 minutes each day to educating yourself on personal...

Across the globe, the world of sports has become big business. Included in the business of sports are countless opportunities for people to become involved without being athletes. Here in Jamaica, commentary is a niche market that is growing slowly...

Advancements with electronic transaction channels have transformed the banking industry and have led to more secure and enhanced customer experiences. The ATM, in particular, which has become one of the more popular customer-access channels,...

Jamaica borrowed a total of J$106 million from the World Bank for the installation of 1.8 kilometres of force transmission main and pump switch gear along with the rehabilitation of the pump at the Ebony Park Agro Park. This project will be...

Moscow and Kiev went through two months of negotiations with Türkiye on a new Black Sea shipping deal, only for Ukraine to quit Read Full Article at RT.com

The US state department spokesperson on Monday addressed recent publications about democratic decline in India and reaffirmed New Delhi as an important strategic partner to Washington. While responding to a question in a press briefing, Mathew Miller said 'India is the world's largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States, and I expect that to remain true.'

The visit of the National Security Advisor of the United States, Jake Sullivan, to India this week has been postponed due to the ongoing turn of events in the Middle East. NSA Sullivan aims to conduct the annual review of the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) at the soonest possible time.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plans in a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Monday, Politico said

The IAEA director general said he plans to visit Tehran in the next few weeks

Losing both your credit cards and money while abroad is a traveller's worst nightmare. And that's what happened to a Singaporean man who had his credit cards stolen while holidaying in Japan. This traveller, who only wanted to be known as Lee, shared about his experience on TikTok last Saturday (April 13): «My two credit cards were stolen while I was in Tokyo, Japan, and were misused for a total of three transactions amounting to $11,600 by the thief.» Lee told AsiaOne that he realised that his credit cards were missing after receiving a transaction alert from a bank notifying him of an unauthorised transaction.  Lee shared screenshots of the fraudulent transactions made on Apr 10 on his Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card which showed three purchases made at two major department stores in Tokyo — Mitsukoshi Ginza and Matsuya Ginza — amounting to 1,311,049 yen ($11,600). «What surprised me the most was that the second credit card which was left unused in the trip was also missing,» Lee told AsiaOne.

Did the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict — aggravated by Iran's assault on Israel over the weekend — expedite Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's handover to Deputy PM Lawrence Wong? Two political analysts whom AsiaOne spoke to appear to think so. It was announced on Monday (April 15) that Wong, 51, would be sworn in as Singapore's fourth prime minister on May 15. Lee said at the People's Action Party (PAP) convention last November that he would hand over leadership by the party's 70th birthday in November this year. Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan said: «The May handover strikes me as being on an accelerated timeline.» He added: «With the global geopolitical situation deteriorating, especially with Iran’s attack on Israel, the thinking of the leaders appear [to be] that it is better to seek a fresh mandate.» Nydia Ngiow, managing director at strategic advisory firm BowerGroupAsia, echoed Tan's sentiments.

Zhang Yatian (transliteration) thought he was being a good Samaritan, but ended up becoming a victim of a slashing instead.  The 80-year-old retiree was left with several wounds on both his arms after he tried to break up a fight between two men at the hawker centre near Block 82 Redhill Lane last Saturday night (April 13), reported Shin Min Daily News.  He happened to be in the area when he spotted the two men arguing. They looked like they were about to fight, he added.  «I don't know what I said triggered him, but one of them started scolding me instead,» Zhang said.  Zhang thought the matter was settled after one of the men went home, but the latter returned carrying a 15cm-long knife.  He slashed Zhang, leaving him with a 6cm cut on his left arm, and smaller cuts on his right arm.  When a reporter from Shin Min arrived at the hawker centre after the incident, seven or eight police cars were parked in the area.  Police officers were also seen conducting investigations.  When contacted by AsiaOne, the police said that they received a call for assistance at about 9.30pm last Saturday. 

Trois familles ont été expulsées, ce lundi 15 avril, des trois logements qu'ils habitaient. Tous situés dans le quartier Faaripo 11 à Papenoo. Il s’agit d’un problème entre deux branches d’une famille qui se disent propriétaires du terrain.

Réunion, ce lundi 15 avril, au CESEC. Autour de la table, les 5 centrales syndicales et l'UNSA. Plus d'une heure de discussion afin de préparer ensemble les revendications en vue du 1er mai et d'une rencontre avec le gouvernement. Parmi les sujets prioritaires : la cherté de la vie et la PSG.

Samedi dernier, des randonneurs ont eu la peur de leur après avoir été attaqués par des chiens sur le mont Marau. L'une des victimes a été sérieusement blessée. Son état a nécessité une opération à la clinique. Attention, les photos peuvent choquer les plus sensibles.

The Chinese yuan rose by 0.95 kopecks to 12.89 rubles

The report said the Israeli retaliation will be «limited in scope»

Johnson plans to put four different bills on the floor, essentially decoupling aid for Israel from help for Ukraine, the issue that has Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene threatening to oust him from the speaker’s chair.

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after human remains were found in the Ottawa River in Clarence-Rockland on Monday.

The ceremony will be attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and other dignitaries

The ruling comes in response to an attempt by the United Conservative government to block the release of the documents to a group of southern Alberta ranchers.

Tuesday's federal budget will include a tax increase on the richest Canadians, sources tell Radio-Canada. It's not clear exactly what form the tax measure will take but senior Liberal sources have told Radio-Canada that it will affect less than 1 per cent of Canadians.

Premature deaths related to opioids doubled between 2019 and 2021 across Canada, with more than 1 in 4 deaths among young adults aged 20–39 years attributable to opioids, new research suggests.

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday sent cables of condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq after 17 people died in flooding in several parts of Oman. The Saudi leaders sent their sincerest condolences to the sultan, and the families of the deceased, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Jeffrey Cook (pictured), 67, was managing director of the Airbus subsidiary GPT Special Project Management Ltd, whose sole business was working on the Saudi National Guard's communications.