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Is the Western push for a post-war Gaza hasty and unrealistic?

Is the Western push for a post-war Gaza hasty and unrealistic?

World leaders examine the future of Gaza after Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Western leaders say Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death could open the door for a possible ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war is not over, and Hamas has ruled out the release of Israeli captives until the war ends. So is the Western push for a post-war Gaza hasty and unrealistic? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Said Arikat – Washington bureau chief, Al Quds newspaper Brian Finucane – senior adviser, US Programme, International Crisis Group Benoit Muracciole – president, Action Securite Ethique Republicaines Adblock test (Why?)

Cuba struggles to get energy grid back online after nationwide blackout

Cuba struggles to get energy grid back online after nationwide blackout

The Cuban government has started to restore power to the millions of residents left in the dark during a nationwide power outage this week. On Saturday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel sought to reassure the country, amid the continuing struggles with the electrical grid. “We are working hard and tirelessly to recover the electrical system, according to priority, in order to achieve stability,” he wrote on the social media platform X. He also praised community leaders during the crisis. “It’s admirable, the wisdom and poise of those who are heroes in these complicated hours, many of them young.” The president’s comments come after the entire country was plunged into darkness on Friday, in what experts called the worst blackout in two years. It was the culmination of several days of flickering power, starting on Thursday. Authorities at the time warned the electrical system was overloaded, and they called on nonessential activities to stop. Schools were closed until Monday, and certain state workers were sent home. By Friday, however, one of the primary power plants — the Antonio Guiteras plant in the western part of the island — had failed. That caused the power grid to collapse, leaving the entire country without electricity. State-run media reported on Saturday that there was a second collapse, but that crews had begun reconnecting the three major power plants. “I cannot assure you that we will be able to complete linking the system today, but we are estimating that there should be important progress today,” Lazaro Guerra, Cuba’s top electricity official, told a morning news programme, according to the Reuters news agency. The Ministry of Energy and Mining also acknowledged the Saturday morning hiccups in a statement. “Due to the technical complexity of the electrical system restoration process, disconnections of the subsystems may occur, as happened in the west,” it said. “Work is being done on their restoration.” President Diaz-Canel visited the National Electricity Office on Saturday to show his support for the recovery efforts. “We will emerge from this difficult situation,” his administration wrote on social media. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy also offered updates about the progress. “Generation will gradually continue to increase,” he said, explaining that they “already have 500 megawatts in the system” and “various substations in the west have energy”. Cuba has long struggled with blackouts and instability in its electrical grid, as the result of ageing infrastructure, fuel shortages and a floundering economy. Officials also pointed to the recent ravages of Hurricane Milton, which struck the country with heavy winds and flooding on October 9. Critics, however, have also blamed mismanagement in the Cuban government for the energy crisis. Just this year, in March, hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the capital Havana against food and fuel shortages, as the country’s economy suffers one of its worst crises since the 1990s. United States sanctions have exacerbated the situation, as has instability in countries like Venezuela, one of Cuba’s top petrol suppliers. Adblock test (Why?)

Kamala Harris’s campaign flexes celebrity support in Detroit and Atlanta

Kamala Harris’s campaign flexes celebrity support in Detroit and Atlanta

United States Vice President Kamala Harris has deployed some of the music industry’s star power to rally voters in the final weeks before November’s presidential election. On Saturday, two of the Democratic nominee’s events were headlined by prominent musicians. At her first stop, in Detroit, Michigan, the singer and rapper Lizzo warmed up the crowd with a passionate on-stage endorsement. “I already voted early and I voted for Harris,” the musician, a Detroit native, told a cheering crowd. Michigan is one of about seven key swing states in the presidential race, which could tilt either towards the Democrat or her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump. Later in the day, Harris visited another pivotal battleground: the southern state of Georgia. There, she had also lined up another hometown hero, the musician Usher, who began his music career in Atlanta, the state’s capital. Usher sang a few bars with the crowd before starting his speech. “It’s really great to be home. I’m here, home, for my Past Present Future Tour but took a quick break from that to come here, share a few words with you about the significance of this moment,” he said. “I feel that this is a momentous opportunity for each and every one of us. It’s just 17 days away from a very important election, as we all know, and we have the opportunity to choose a new generation of leadership for our country.” Record early voting Harris’s visit to Michigan on Saturday coincided with the first day of in-person early voting in Detroit. Absentee voting by mail had already begun in the state. Michigan’s online “voting dashboard” indicated that, by Saturday morning, more than 1 million mail-in ballots had been received. It was one of several strong showings across the country, indicating a possible surge in voter enthusiasm. States like North Carolina and Georgia have notched records for early-voting turnout this week, according to officials. The chief operating officer for Georgia’s secretary of state, Gabriel Sterling, posted on social media that turnout continues to be high. Georgia’s first day of early voting was Tuesday. “Congratulations to the counties and especially our great Georgia voters. Y’all have broken another RECORD. Biggest turnout ever for a General Election Saturday,” Sterling wrote. While experts caution against extrapolating too much from the numbers, political analysts note that Democrats have traditionally seen a boost from large early turnouts. Harris sought to build on this year’s momentum during her weekend campaign stops. “Georgia started early voting, broke historic records. North Carolina started early voting, broke historic records in North Carolina. Now, who is the capital of producing records?” she told supporters in Detroit, with a winking reference to the city’s music industry. “So we are going to break some records here in Detroit today.” Addressing war in Gaza During her visit to Michigan, Harris also took the opportunity to repeat her call for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has led a yearlong military campaign, killing more than 42,500 Palestinians. US support for Israel and its war has eroded support for Democrats among Arab and Muslim Americans in Michigan. The state boasts the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the country, and it also the home of a national protest movement against the administration of President Joe Biden over its stance on the war. Harris, who has also been a recipient of that criticism, voiced hope that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza might usher in an end to hostilities. “This creates an opening that I believe we must take full advantage of — to dedicate ourselves to ending this war and bringing the hostages home,” Harris told reporters in Detroit. She added that Middle East policy has long been a difficult issue for the US. “It has never been easy,” Harris said. “But that doesn’t mean we give up.” Razzing Trump At her campaign rally in Detroit, Harris addressed supporters in front of “Detroit Votes Early” signs — and she and other speakers used their platform to slap back at Republican criticisms of the city. Earlier in the month, Trump cast Detroit in an unflattering light, telling the Detroit Economic Club that another Democratic president would render the entire country like the “Motor City”. “Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president,” Trump said of Harris, calling Detroit “a mess”. Harris, by contrast, took the stage on Saturday in a T-shirt that read “Detroit vs Everybody”, a slogan that has adorned clothing lines and rap songs. Lizzo, meanwhile, addressed Trump’s comments more bluntly. “I’m so proud to be from this city,” she told the crowd. “You know, they say if Kamala wins, then the whole country will be like Detroit. Proud like Detroit. Resilient like Detroit.” “Put some respect on Detroit’s name,” she added. Celebrity support Analysts in general say that the Democratic Party has been more successful in rallying star power to its cause this election cycle. Harris not only enjoys the endorsement of figures like Lizzo and Usher, but celebrities like Taylor Swift, Oprah and George Clooney have also announced their support for her since she became the presidential candidate in July. It is not clear, however, if celebrity support actually makes a difference in a campaign. More than 76 percent of voters polled recently by Quinnipiac University said Swift’s endorsement would not affect their ballots. The same goes for Republicans. Two-thirds of those surveyed said entrepreneur Elon Musk’s recent support for Trump would not affect their vote either. But Democrats are nevertheless banking on the glitter of its star power. This upcoming week, for instance, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama are hitting the campaign trail, with only two weeks to go before the election. It will be the first time Michelle has done the rally circuit. Barack, meanwhile, made his first campaign-trail appearance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earlier this month. Both Harris and Trump are trying to squeak ahead in the crucial last weeks of campaigning.

Harris appears to agree with protester accusing Israel of genocide: ‘What he’s talking about, it’s real’

Harris appears to agree with protester accusing Israel of genocide: ‘What he’s talking about, it’s real’

Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to agree with an anti-Israel protester who accused the Jewish state of genocide during a campaign stop. A video of the exchange during a campaign stop Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee showed the moment Harris was interrupted by a keffiyeh-wearing protester. “I know what you’re speaking of. I want a cease-fire. I want the hostage deal done. I want the war to end,” Harris said. “But what about the genocide? What about the genocide though?” the interrupting protester yelled. KAMALA HARRIS APPLAUDS STUDENT WHO ACCUSED ISRAEL OF ‘ETHNIC GENOCIDE,’ FOR SPEAKING ‘YOUR TRUTH’ Harris replied, “I respect your right to speak, but I’m speaking right now,” prompting an eruption of cheers. The man was removed from the crowd and continued to yell. “How about the billions of dollars to Israel?” he shouted. “What about the 19,000 children dead, and you won’t call it a genocide?” After the protester was escorted away, Harris addressed the audience and seemed to lend credence to his claim about Israel. TWO WEEKS OUT, THE STATE OF THE RACE “Listen, what he’s talking about, it’s real,” she said. “That’s not the subject that I came to discuss today, but it’s real, and I respect his voice.” The vice president has never previously accused Israel of genocide during the Israel-Hamas war. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment. Harris has previously appeared to agree with students who accused the Jewish state of genocide. In 2021, Harris nodded while a student accused Israel of ethnic genocide and then responded by saying the student’s “truth should not be suppressed.”  The student, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, had raised questions about the money the U.S. is providing Israel and Saudi Arabia and accused the Jewish State of genocide. Harris said she “was glad” the student brought up such concerns and said her opinion should be heard in a democracy. “And again, this is about the fact that your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth, should not be suppressed, and it must be heard, right? And one of the things we’re fighting for in a democracy, right?” Harris said. Fox News Digital’s Jon Brown contributed to this report.

Harris recruits pop stars Usher, Lizzo for swing state pushes: ‘It’s going to be a tight race’

Harris recruits pop stars Usher, Lizzo for swing state pushes: ‘It’s going to be a tight race’

Vice President Kamala Harris was joined by pop stars Usher and Lizzo at separate rallies in Georgia and Michigan, respectively, on Saturday, as the Democratic presidential nominee continued her push through the key swing states to Election Day. “We can make a difference in this election, Georgia,” Usher told an enthusiastic crowd in Atlanta on Saturday evening, explaining that he was in his home state for his “Past, Present, and Future” tour, but took a break to speak out for Harris.  “Normally, I’m up here to entertain, but today for something far more significant for Atlanta and all of Georgia,” he told the audience at the Lakewood Amphitheatre.  The “Yeah!” singer said that he supports Harris because she “fights for everyone’s rights, for freedom, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from. She has a vision for our country that includes everyone.”  HARRIS CALLS TRUMP DEBATE DECISION A ‘PRETTY WEAK MOVE,’ PRAISES NATIVE COMMUNITY AT ARIZONA RALLY “We can make a difference in this election, Georgia,” he added. “Let’s vote for a future, ladies and gentlemen.”  Lizzo spoke earlier at a Harris get-out-the-vote rally in the singer’s hometown of Detroit, calling Michigan the “swing state of all swing states, so every last vote here counts.” She added, “If you ask me if America is ready for its first woman president, I only have one thing to say: “It’s about damn time!” referencing her 2022 song.  HARRIS SAYS PRO-LIFE PROTESTERS ARE ‘AT THE WRONG RALLY’ HOURS BEFORE CATHOLIC CHARITY DINNER SNUB Harris has made use of several musicians during her abbreviated campaign, including Megan Thee Stallion, Bon Iver, John Legend, Lil Jon, and Patti LaBelle, who have performed at rallies and August’s Democratic National Convention.  “So Atlanta, we have 17 days left — 17 days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. And look, let’s have some real talk. It’s going to be a tight race until the very end. And we are the underdog and we are running as the underdog,” Harris said. “But make no mistake, we will win. We will win. Yes we will. We will win. Yes we will. We? Also. And we will win. And we will win because we understand what is at stake.” She was also endorsed by pop superstar Taylor Swift on the night of Harris and Trump’s only debate last month.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP During her speech, Harris urged the state, which has broken records for early voting, to continue the trend, noting that if 100-year-old Jimmy Carter can vote, they can too.  Former President Trump, who rallied in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, has also been pulling in star power with support from musicians such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Kid Rock, DaBaby, Jason Aldean, and Kanye West, as well as actor Dennis Quaid.