While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Sept 23
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An estimated 5,000 Hamas militants remaining in northern Gaza would then be put under siege until they surrender.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Netanyahu examining siege plan for Hamas in north Gaza, Israeli media report
Israel is examining a plan to use siege tactics against Hamas in northern Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted by several Israeli media outlets as saying on Sept 22.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment. The reports cited unnamed sources at a closed parliament committee meeting.
The plan, published by retired military commanders and floated by some parliament members this month, suggests Palestinian civilians would be instructed to evacuate northern Gaza, which would then be declared a closed military zone.
Trump rules out running again in 2028 if defeated in next US vote
NYT
Republican Donald Trump has ruled out running again in the United States’ 2028 presidential election if he loses in the upcoming November poll, according to an interview aired on Sept 22.
Responding to a question on whether he would run again if he lost, the 78-year-old former president told US news program “Full Measure”: “No, I don’t. I think that that will be, that will be it. I don’t see that at all.”
The billionaire did, however, say he hoped to be “successful” at the ballot box on voting day on Nov 5.
French PM Barnier flags tax hike on the wealthy
AFP
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier said on Sept 22 that he would not raise taxes on most French taxpayers, although the wealthiest would have to help close a hole in the budget.
President Emmanuel Macron’s office this weekend unveiled a new government that aims to strike a fine balance between right-wingers and centrists and which he hopes will break the political deadlock that followed a summer snap election.
Its most immediate and daunting task will be to put together a budget for 2025 at a time France is struggling to contain a spiralling budget deficit.
Ecuador cuts power in half of its provinces amid historic drought
REUTERS
Ecuador’s government has announced the suspension of electricity service for nine hours on Sept 22 in 12 of the Andean nation’s 24 provinces and placed 19 areas on red alert due to a drought that has reduced the water levels of hydroelectric plants.
The blackout in the provinces will be from 8:00 a.m. local time until 5:00 p.m., the Ecuadorian presidency said in a statement released Sept 21 night on X. It is in addition to the government’s plans announced on Sept 24 for eight-hour nightly power cuts nationwide from Monday to Thursday.
Ecuador is gripped by the worst drought in the country in 61 years and an energy crisis made worse by what the government says is lack of maintenance of existing dams and contracts to ensure new energy generation.
Stones scores stoppage-time leveller as Man City salvage 2-2 draw with Arsenal
EPA-EFE
John Stones scored deep in injury time as Manchester City salvaged a 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal on Sunday to remain top of the Premier League table after a rip-roaring battle against their bitter title rivals.
The draw in what was more of a slugfest than a chess match left Pep Guardiola’s men with 13 points after five matches, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who played the entire second half with 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s red card, are fourth with 11.
Arsenal looked poised for their first win at the Etihad Stadium since 2015 before substitute Stones prodded in from close range in the 98th minute – with their 28th shot of the second half. It was the joint highest ever shots by a side on record (from 2003-04) in a single half in the Premier League.
