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10,000 People Are Missing And Thousands Are Feared Dead As Eastern Libya Is Devastated By Floods

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CAIRO, Egypt  – On Tuesday, emergency personnel discovered hundreds of victims in the debris of Libya’s eastern city of Derna, and it was feared that the death toll could rise further, with 10,000 people still missing after floodwaters crashed through dams and carried away entire neighborhoods.

The unexpected mortality and damage caused by the Mediterranean storm Daniel revealed the storm’s ferocity and the vulnerability of a nation torn apart by anarchy for more than a decade. The country is divided by competing governments, one in the east and one in the west, and as a result, infrastructure in many parts needs to be addressed.

On Tuesday, more than 36 hours after the accident, outside assistance was only beginning to arrive in Derna. The floods damaged or destroyed many access roads to the seaside city of 89,000 people.

Several victims were seen covered in blankets in the yard of one hospital. Another image depicted a mass cemetery overflowing with bodies. More than 1,000 bodies were gathered, with at least 700 buried so far, according to the health minister for eastern Libya. According to the ambulance authorities, the current death toll in Derna is 2,300.

According to Tamer Ramadan, Libya envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the death toll is expected to be in the thousands. He told a United Nations briefing in Geneva via videoconference from Tunisia that at least 10,000 individuals were unaccounted for.

Ramadan described Libya as “as devastating as the situation in Morocco,” alluding to the tragic earthquake that struck near the Moroccan city of Marrakesh on Friday night.

On Sunday night, the destruction descended on Derna and other sections of eastern Libya. Residents of Derna said they heard tremendous booms as the storm hit the coast and realized dams outside the city had collapsed. Flash floods swept down Wadi Derna, a river that flows from the highlands through the city and into the sea.

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Libya envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Local emergency responders, including troops, government personnel, volunteers, and citizens, sifted through the wreckage on Tuesday in search of the deceased. Inflatable boats were also used to recover bodies from the water.

Many dead were reported to be trapped under rubble or washed out into the Mediterranean Sea, according to Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister for eastern Libya.

“We were stunned by the amount of destruction… the tragedy is very significant, and beyond the capacity of Derna and the government,” Abduljaleel said by phone from Derna to The Associated Press.

On Tuesday morning, Red Crescent crews from other parts of Libya arrived in Derna, but extra excavators and other equipment had yet to arrive.

Flooding occurs frequently in Libya during the wet season, although rarely with this much devastation. A crucial concern was whether the rains could break through two dams outside Derna due to inadequate maintenance or the sheer volume of rain.

According to Karsten Haustein, a climate scientist and meteorologist at Leipzig University, Daniel quickly poured 440 millimeters (15.7 inches) of rain on eastern Libya.

“The infrastructure could probably not cope,” he said, adding that human-caused rises in ocean surface temperatures likely contributed to the storm’s ferocity.

Local officials have ignored Derna for many years. “Even the aspect of maintenance was simply missing.” “Everything kept getting pushed back,” said Jalel Harchaoui, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London specializing in Libya.

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Many dead were reported to be trapped under rubble or washed out into the Mediterranean Sea, according to Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister for eastern Libya.

Factionalism is also a factor. For many years, Islamic extremist groups ruled over Derna. After months of hard urban battle, military leader Khalifa Hifter, the strongman of the east Libyan government, conquered the city in 2019.

Since then, the eastern government has been wary of the city and has worked to exclude its citizens from decision-making, according to Harchaoui. “This mistrust could be disastrous during the upcoming post-disaster period,” he said.

Hifter’s eastern administration, based in Benghazi, is at odds with the western government, headquartered in Tripoli. Each is supported by formidable militias as well as international forces. Egypt, Russia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates back Hifter, while Turkey, Qatar, and Italy back the west Libya authority.

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Nonetheless, the first reaction to the calamity resulted in some division crossing.

The Western Libyan administration, based in Tripoli, dispatched a plane carrying 14 tonnes of medical supplies and health staff to Benghazi. It also stated that it had set aside $412 million for rehabilitation in Derna and other eastern municipalities. Airplanes delivering humanitarian aid and rescue teams from Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates landed in Benghazi on Tuesday. Egypt’s military chief of staff also met with Hifter to discuss relief coordination.

Given the realities on the ground, it was unclear how quickly supplies could be delivered to Derna, 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Benghazi. Derna municipal administrator Ahmed Amdourd has called for a sea corridor to transfer relief and supplies.

U.S. Special Envoy for Libya Richard Norland stated on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter that the U.S. is cooperating with the U.N. and local authorities to determine the best way to target official U.S. support.

The storm also hit other parts of eastern Libya, notably Bayda, where 50 people were killed. According to footage released by the Medical Centre of Bayda on Facebook, the main hospital was inundated, and patients had to be evacuated.

According to the administration, other towns that suffered included Susa, Marj, and Shahatt. Hundreds of people were uprooted and sought refuge in schools and other government buildings in Benghazi and other parts of eastern Libya.

Northeast Libya is one of the country’s most fertile and green areas. According to the World Bank, the Jabal al-Akhdar region, which includes Bayda, Marj, and Shahatt, has one of the highest average annual rainfalls in the country.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Dozens In Italy Give A Fascist Salute On The Anniversary Of Mussolini’s Execution

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AP - VOR News Image

ROME — During the celebrations on Sunday to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the execution of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, numerous individuals performed the fascist salute and vocalized a fascist chant.

Clad in black attire, the adherents of neo-fascism paraded around places in northern Italy where Mussolini was apprehended and put to death after World War II. They also marched at Predappio, the birthplace and burial site of Mussolini.

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AP – VOR News Image

Dozens In Italy Give A Fascist Salute On The Anniversary Of Mussolini’s Execution

Mussolini was apprehended by anti-fascist partisans in Dongo, located on the shores of Lake Como, on April 27, 1945, while attempting to flee with his lover, Clara Petacci, after the Allied forces liberated Italy.

According to footage captured by the LaPresse news agency, a gathering of neo-fascists paraded through Dongo on Sunday, where they solemnly deposited 15 roses into the lake as a tribute to the deceased ministers and executives of the Mussolini government.

The partisans killed Mussolini and Petacci on the next day in the neighboring lakeside town of Mezzegra-Giulino. Commemorations were also conducted there on Sunday. Following a performance of Taps, the person in charge of the commemorations loudly exclaimed, “Comrade Benito Mussolini,” prompting the crowd to respond with a rigid-armed fascist salute and a chant of “present.”

A contingent of police trucks formed a barrier between the protestors in Dongo and the large crowd of protesters singing the renowned partisan anthem “Bella Ciao” during the ceremony.

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AP – VOR News Image

Dozens In Italy Give A Fascist Salute On The Anniversary Of Mussolini’s Execution

Premier Giorgia Meloni coincidentally led her far-right Brothers of Italy party in an election rally in the city of Pescara on the anniversary of Mussolini’s execution. A high-ranking official in Mussolini’s final cabinet founded the Italian Social Movement in 1946, which is where Brothers of Italy gets its name. Following Mussolini’s downfall, the party attracted individuals who sympathized with fascism and former government officials.

Meloni, who became a member of the MSI’s youth branch during her teenage years, has made efforts to separate her party from its neo-fascist origins. She has criticized fascism’s suppression of democracy and emphasized that the Italian right-wing movement relinquished fascism to history several decades ago. On Sunday, Meloni asserted that the left poses a greater threat of totalitarianism to Italy.

She saw that Communist Party members had lodged a formal protest against the tents constructed on the Pescara seafront to host the Brothers of Italy demonstration.

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AP – VOR News Image

Dozens In Italy Give A Fascist Salute On The Anniversary Of Mussolini’s Execution

During this rally, Meloni declared her intention to lead the party’s campaign for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.

“I observe that the Communist Party continues to exist, and I mention this fact to highlight the current presence of those who long for totalitarianism in Italy,” she stated.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Briton’s Sunak Hints of July 2024 Election

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Briton's Sunak Hints of July 2024 Election

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not ruled out holding a general election in July, despite widespread uncertainty about the scheduling of the national poll. Sunak has often stated that his “working assumption” is that the election will take place in the second half of this year.

While many observers have projected an autumn referendum, Sky News’ Trevor Phillips suggested to Mr Sunak that it may be as early as July.

“Well, look, when it comes to a general election, I’ve been very clear about that multiple times,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

Trevor Phillips pressed Mr Sunak five times during his interview, which will air in full on Sunday at 8.30am, on whether he would rule out a general election in July, but the Conservative leader refused to confirm or deny whether it may take place at that time.

“You’re going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say,” he told the audience. “I will always strive to say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, which has been the same for the past year.

But the point is, there is an option in the general election. And look, over the last week or so… the country has a very clear idea of what that change will look like.”

Mr Sunak outlined his recent commitments to overhauling the welfare system, cutting taxes, and increasing defense spending, as well as finally getting his Rwanda bill through parliament to address small boat crossings, saying: “That is the substance of what this government is about and what it will do in the future.

“And when the election comes, there will be a clear choice, because the Labour Party has attempted to stymie our Rwanda law, because they do not believe in stopping the boats, and their economic strategy would raise people’s taxes.

“They haven’t said that they will invest more in our defence and they certainly don’t agree with reforming our welfare system to support people into work.”

Labour has stated that it intends to equal the increase in defence spending when budgetary conditions allow, and has committed to repeal the Rwanda bill if elected.

This week, the party’s pre-election focus has been on railways, threatening to renationalize train operators and “sweep away” the current “broken” model if it wins the election.

Sunak Investigated In UK Over Possible Undeclared Interest

Sunak Investigated In UK Over Possible Undeclared Interest

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King Charles III Resumes Public Duties After Cancer Treatment

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King Charles III Resumes Public Duties
King Charles III: Image Buckinham Palace

King Charles III is returning to royal duties next week after a three-month hiatus to focus on his treatment and recovery after being diagnosed with an unidentified type of cancer, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.

Charles will commemorate the occasion by visiting a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, the first of several public appearances planned for the coming weeks, according to the palace. One of his first significant obligations will be to welcome a state visit by Japan’s emperor and empress in June.

The palace stated that the king’s doctors are “very encouraged” by his improvement, but it is too early to determine how long his therapy will endure. It did not specify what type of treatment he is undergoing.

Charles will continue to do all of his official obligations, including examining government documents and meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as he has since his diagnosis on February 5, according to the palace.

“As the one-year anniversary of the coronation approaches, their majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year,” the palace said in a statement.

King Charles Slimming Down the Monarchy

Charles’ homecoming will relieve pressure on other members of the royal family, since the king’s absence, combined with that of the Princess of Wales, who was also ill, underlined the issues faced by a slimmed-down monarchy.

With the king’s commitment to cut costs and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — more commonly known as Prince Harry and Meghan — deciding to step down from royal duties, there are simply fewer family members available to carry out the never-ending round of ribbon cuttings, awards ceremonies, and state events that comprise a modern royal’s life.

Charles has remained largely out of the public eye since undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate in January. His later cancer diagnosis occurred as one of the most popular royals, the Princess of Wales, underwent stomach surgery and later revealed that she, too, had cancer. Prince William took time off to support his wife and their small children.

That left Queen Camilla, the king’s sister Princess Anne, and his younger brother, Prince Edward, to bear the burden.

Camilla, who was formerly despised by the public for her participation in the dissolution of Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana, took on an especially prominent role during the king’s absence, filling in for her husband at significant events such as the traditional Royal Maundy ceremony on the Thursday before Easter.

Modernizing the Monarchy

King Charles homecoming will provide an opportunity for him to revive his reign, which began in September 2022 with expectations that he would modernize the monarchy while reaching out to young people and minority groups to consolidate the royal family’s status in the twenty-first century.

Charles’ challenges include developing ties with the Commonwealth and the 14 independent countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state, which some see as an unpleasant reminder of Britain’s colonial past.

The king’s return is essential because it will help to settle rumors about his health, according to royal historian George Gross, who cited Queen Elizabeth II’s maxim that the monarch must be seen to be believed.

“I think there is that feeling that it’s very difficult to have a functioning monarchy with the head of state away for any significant length of time,” said Gross, who founded the British Coronations Project at King’s College London. “And this felt like a long time.”

The palace stated that Charles’ obligations in the next months will be adjusted as needed to reduce any risks to his rehabilitation. He will not have a full summer program, and his attendance will be chosen closer to each event and in consultation with his doctors.

The summer months are typically a busy time for the royals, with significant events like the monarch’s birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and the horse races at Royal Ascot.

The majority of these showcase events take place outside, which reduces the danger of infection for a cancer patient whose immune system may be compromised.

The public will gladly welcome Charles’ comeback, thanks in part to his decision to publicize his initial prostate ailment and subsequently his cancer diagnosis, which prompted many people to consult with their doctors, according to Gross.

“The monarch has seen that he can do good by discussing health and raising awareness of cancer,” he told The Associated Press. “I believe that’s at the top of this. And it is truly remarkable when a head of state can do good. That’s enormous.”

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