SAP announces job buyouts, restructuring plan

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Germany-based SAP said Tuesday that the company plans to buy out and restructure more than 7% of its workforce of nearly 108,000.

Despite the plans, SAP says it expects to end 2024 "at a headcount similar to current levels."

The company is planning to reposition itself for future growth that is being fueled, in part, by advances being made in the field of artificial intelligence. The move also comes while a number of other companies are taking similar steps by reducing the number of of employees.

In 2022, SAP stock had its best performance since 2012. After its revenue demonstrated consistent increases year after year, the company now is looking toward a future in which it hopes to be more "cloud-centric" like other companies such as Adobe, Microsoft and Oracle.

But SAP said it expects an adjusted operating profit in 2025 of $10.85 billion in U.S. dollars -- or 10 billion euros -- which is 2 billion euros down from previous projections but up by 500 million euros due to "planned efficiencies from the restructuring."

Tuesday's news comes as other companies have launched similar moves, including Google, which recently announced further job cuts, and Amazon, which cut hundreds of jobs at Prime Video, MGM Studios and Twitch.

SAP said their 2024 transformation will "focus on scalability of operations and key strategic growth areas" and that a majority of the nearly 8,000 affected employees will be "covered by voluntary leave programs and internal re-skilling measures."

L.A. Times to slash nearly a quarter of newsroom staff


The L.A. Times announced Tuesday it will lay off 115 people in its newsroom, as the union blasted the 142-year-old newspaper for targeting journalists of color.

 Photo by Mike Nelson/EPA-EFE

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Times announced Tuesday it will lay off nearly a quarter of its newsroom staff, following a second year of heavy financial losses, as the union blasted the newspaper for targeting journalists of color.

"Today's decision is painful for all, but it is imperative that we act urgently and take steps to build a sustainable and thriving paper for the next generation. We are committed to doing so," L.A. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong said in a statement.

A total of 115 people will be laid off in one of the largest workforce reductions for the 142-year-old newspaper. The laid-off workers will remain on the payroll through March 25.

While the job cuts include reporters, editors and columnists, the newspaper's union blasted ownership for targeting journalists of color.

"The company has reneged on its promises to diversify its ranks since young journalists of color have been disproportionately affected," the Los Angeles Times Guild said in a statement Tuesday.

"The Black, AAPI and Latino caucuses have suffered devastating losses. Voluntary buyouts could have helped prevent this, but that's not the path the company chose."

Soon-Shiong said the cuts were vital as the L.A. Times could no longer afford to lose $30 million to $40 million a year without building more readership.

"The irony is that a free press isn't free," the billionaire said.

Soon-Shiong and his family bought The Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune from Tribune Publishing in 2018 for $500 million. Before COVID-19 hit, Soon-Shiong increased hiring at both papers. The family sold the San Diego Union-Tribune in July.

On Friday, more than 350 union workers staged a one-day strike to protest the paper's impending job cuts, after 74 newsroom jobs were eliminated in July.

"Slashing a quarter of the newsroom is devastating by any measure -- to our members and their families, to our morale, to the quality of our journalism, to the bond with our audience and to the communities that depend on our work," said the Guild.

"Today has been gutting. But the Guild will not be deterred or intimidated. We will continue to fight for our members and for the future of the Los Angeles Times."

U.N. global migration agency issues urgent appeal for $7.9 billion in funding


A migrant crisis at the United States souther border with Mexico continues to put the federal government at odds with state leaders. 

Photo by Carlos Moreno/UPI | License Photo


Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The global migration arm of the United Nations launched an urgent public appeal Monday, calling for $7.9 billion in funding to aid crisis relief efforts for refugees and displaced populations around the world.

The effort by the International Organization for Migration, dubbed the IOM Global Appeal, calls for donations from governments, private-sector entities, philanthropists and other partners to "create a system that realizes migration's promise as a force for good throughout the world."

"The consequences of underfunded, piecemeal assistance come at a greater cost, not just in terms of money but in greater danger to migrants through irregular migration, trafficking and smuggling," the IOM said in a statement. 

The migration agency relies on voluntary contributions to carry out its global objectives, and demand for funding has increased in recent years due to the rise in climate-related disasters.

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The multi-billion dollar investment package would allow the IOM to safeguard 140 million displaced people and establish secure channels for future global migrations, aligning with the IOM's new five-year Global Strategic Plan.

The IOM pointed to insufficient support for global migration efforts after the U.N. released data last June that showed more than 110 million people worldwide had been forced to abandon their homes since 2022 as war, climate disasters and humanitarian crises led to record-level displacement.

Without funding, refugee populations become vulnerable to violence, exploitation and other dangers, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and disappearances over nearly the past decade, the agency said.

"The consequences of underfunded, piecemeal assistance come at a greater cost, not just in terms of money but in greater danger to migrants through irregular migration, trafficking and smuggling. 

Funding will also help communities that host refugees and expand development work by the IOM to prevent further displacement. 

"Irregular and forced migration have reached unprecedented levels and the challenges we face are increasingly complex," said IOM Director General Amy Pope, who announced the funding goals in Geneva. "The evidence is overwhelming that migration, when well-managed, is a major contributor to global prosperity and progress. We are at a critical moment in time, and we have designed this appeal to help deliver on that promise. We can and must do better."

According to a breakdown of how the money will be distributed, $3.4 billion will go toward "saving lives and protecting people on the move."

Another $2.7 billion is slated to find "solutions to displacement including reducing the risks and impacts of climate change."

Work to chart new migration pathways will cost an additional $1.6 billion, while $163 million will be spent to help the IOM deliver services more effectively in trouble spots around the world.

"This funding will address the large and widening gap between what we have, and what we need in order to do the job right," Pope said. "For this reason, we are for the first time proactively approaching all partners to fund this vital appeal."

Korean open-source AI model interprets pictures

By Jeong Hyeon-hwan & Kim Tae-gyu, UPI News Korea

Korean tech company Kakao unveils an AI model that interprets words and pictures at the same time. Photo courtesy of Kakao



SEOUL, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- South Korean tech giant Kakao has unveiled an open-source artificial intelligence program named Honeybee that can interpret pictures as well as words.

After introducing the program Friday during the Korea Ministry of Science and ICT-hosted AI strategy meeting, Kakao made the large-language app available online.

Honeybee, with its ability to comprehend image and text concurrently, can answer questions involving varied content types, according to the company.

For example, when prompted to create a conversation between two animals in a photo with a cat sitting on the back of a dog, Honeybee produced a dialog in which the cat says, "Hey there, big guy. Thanks for letting me ride you," and the dog responds, "You're welcome, feline friend. I love having you on my back."

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In another example, a user who is shown a photo of two basketball players asks, "How many times did the player on the left win a championship?" and receives an answer from Honeybee.

Kakao has uploaded Honeybee's source code on GitHub, an online software developer platform that enables users to create, store and manage code.

The company said it was sharing the Honeybee program with global developers to contribute to the improvement of multi-modal large-language models.

"In the AI age, the collaboration between corporations and establishment of eco-systems are critical," Kakao CEO nominee Chung Shin-a said during the meeting.

Kakao said the large-language app could prove to become an effective educational tool.

U.S. consultancy Allied Market Research expects the AI-powered education market to grow more than 40% annually over the next decade, from $2.5 billion in 2022 to $88.2 billion by 2032.

POSTMODERN NECROMANCY
Korean firm creates AI avatars for dead loved ones that can converse

By Jeong Hyeon-hwan & Kim Tae-gyu, UPI News Korea

South Korean firm DeepBrain AI has come up with a service for recreating a digital replica of a deceased parent with a picture and short audio clips. Image courtesy of DeepBrain AI



SEOUL, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- South Korea's DeepBrain AI said Tuesday it has succeeded in creating digital avatars of former loved ones that can engage in a two-way communication.

The Seoul-based company said a single photo plus some 10 seconds of the deceased's recorded voice is all that's needed for creating a virtual clone that can converse in real time.

The advantage of AI machine learning will enable an avatar with close similarity to the client's loved one in appearance with synchronized lips, mouth and head gestures.

"Let's say a client wants an avatar of his mother. In the past, we needed around three hours of interview material from when she was alive in order to create a digital replica of the deceased," a DeepBrain AI executive told UPI News Korea.

"But now, we can generate a replica even after the loved one has passed away because all we require with the advancement in AI technology is a picture plus a short audio clip of her voice," she said.

The firm said it planned to team up with memorial halls and funeral service providers in widening its services to more customers. In 2022, it agreed to a partnership with the country's leading funeral service operator Preedlife to offer a similar service.

Asked about the price, the DeepBarain executive said it would depend on various factors of the service provided.

"Currently, we offer the service only in Korean language, but it will be expanded to English and Chinese in the near future," she said.

With AI technology constantly evolving, this is not the first time that a company has recreated people as avatars to enable a connection between the living and the deceased.

But there are also ethical debates about such contact.

"We are in the early stages of such technology, this talking with an AI version of a person. There could be challenges, including ethical ones such as copyright issues," Seogang University Professor Yoon Seok-bin said in a phone interview. "However, it's too early to predict how such controversies might play out down the road."

Symbolic 'Doomsday Clock' signals continued risk of global catastrophe


 The National Press Club in Washington, D.C., conducted a panel discussion about the so-called Doomsday Clock in 2020. Citing "ominous trends," the group behind the symbolic clock on Tuesday said it remains set at 90 seconds before midnight. 

File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo


Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Because of current world events and turmoil, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' "Doomsday Clock" on Tuesday remains close to midnight, signaling a dangerous potential risk of global catastrophe.

Citing "ominous trends," the report says the symbolic clock remains at 90 seconds before midnight.

Among some of the dangers raised by the report are climate change, artificial intelligence, nuclear threats related to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and the escalation of diplomatic tensions between China and the United States.

Created in 1947 by Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "Doomsday Clock" is a public warning about the threats posed by nuclear weapons and other factors that represent how close the human race is to potentially destroying the world with manmade technology.

The furthest the clock has been set was 17 minutes to midnight after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 2023, the clocked moved the closest it had ever been to the point of annihilation, the current 90 seconds to midnight.

In announcing the news Tuesday, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said it did so because "humanity continues to face an unprecedented level of danger."

"Our decision should not be taken as a sign that the international security situation has eased," the report's authors said. "Instead, leaders and citizens around the world should take this statement as a stark warning and respond urgently, as if today were the most dangerous moment in modern history. Because it may well be."

Recent news events and other analyses have supported that conjecture.

A new report by the World Economic Forum said world nations are facing the growing threat from extreme weather, artificial intelligence and geopolitical tumult. Artificial Intelligence has "great potential to magnify disinformation and corrupt the information environment on which democracy depends."

"Military uses of AI are accelerating. Extensive use of AI is already occurring in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, simulation, and training," according to The Bulletin. "Of particular concern are lethal autonomous weapons, which identify and destroy targets without human intervention. Decisions to put AI in control of important physical systems -- in particular, nuclear weapons -- could, indeed, pose a direct existential threat to humanity."

Aside from emerging threats such as AI and climate, the threat of nuclear devastation remains noteworthy as it was before, according to the report.

The report's authors cited how Iran continues to enrich uranium to close to weapons grade as it continues "stonewalling" the International Atomic Energy Agency on important points. And they noted how Pakistan and India continue to expand their nuclear programs "without pause or restraint."

Recent news events have highlighted the potential threat brought by different nations' nuclear aspirations, too.

North Korea recently test fired a new solid-fuel ballistic missile which traveled over 310 miles before landing in the East Sea. In January 2023, the World Health Organization updated its list of medicine to stockpile for a nuclear emergency.

In December, Russia completed its delivery of nuclear weapons to Belarus. The same month, the US Department of State said Iran had increased its production of enriched uranium by 60%.

The Doomsday Clock's time is determined by atomic scientists associated with the group, as well as a board of sponsors, which includes nine Nobel laureates.

WAR IS ECOCIDE
Ukraine war increases greenhouse gas emissions, study says

 Fires burn in the aftermath of a Russian rocket attack in Ukraine's Dnipro region Jan. 8. A study released Friday suggests Russia's war on Ukraine has caused significant greenhouse gas emissions. The study suggests that GHG emissions from Ukraine's territory during the 1.5-year period exceeded the annual emissions of some European countries, such as Austria, Portugal, and Hungary. 

Photo handout courtesy of Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration/EPA-EFE

Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A new study released Friday suggests that during a one-and-a-half year period, Russia's war on Ukraine exceeded the annual greenhouse gas emissions of European nations such as Austria, Portugal and Hungary.

The research team was led by Rostyslav Bun of Ukraine's Luviv Polytechnic National University and WBS University in Poland and includes co-author Dr. Tomohiro Oda from the Universities Space Research Association.

The research paper was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

The research scientists said their paper focused on emissions processes due to wartime activities that may not be covered in official national reporting.

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"The sum of such 'unaccounted' for emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide for 18 months of the war in Ukraine is, by our first-order estimate, 77 MtCO2-eq. (relative uncertainty estimated at 22 %, 95 % confidence interval)," the researchers wrote. "These emissions are greater than the annual total GHG emissions of Austria, Portugal or Hungary."

Researchers said the study focused on "the latest additional emissions caused by: missile launches and projectile firings and explosions; the use of petroleum products by military vehicles; fires at oil depots; fires in buildings and industrial infrastructure; fires in forests and on agricultural lands; and the destruction of wooden constructions."

"On the one hand, in many sectors of human activity in Ukraine, emissions substantially decreased in 2022 (from public power and heat production, metallurgy, transport, the commercial and residential sectors, and others)," the study said. "

At the same time, emissions related to refugees and internally displaced persons have increased, and even larger additional emissions are expected in the future because of the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The study said Russia and Ukraine are both significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions and in 2020 were the 4th and 33rd largest emitting countries, respectively.

They concluded by saying the increased emissions should not considered Ukraine's responsibility and should instead be attributed to Russia, the "aggressor country."

But regardless of responsibility, they wrote, these war-related untracked emissions "are currently entering the atmosphere, and the international community, scientists, and policy makers should be aware of this problem and its magnitude."

Scandal-hit Olympic surf tower in Tahiti wins local backing

Paris (AFP) – The head of French Polynesia said Tuesday that construction on a beach tower to be used by judges during this year's Olympics surfing contest was "going well" after a scandal-hit start.


Issued on: 23/01/2024 -

An old wooden judges' tower is being upgraded for the Olympics heats this July

 © Jerome Brouillet / AFP

Work on the tower at Teahupo'o beach on the French Pacific island of Tahiti was suspended in December after a barge used by workers damaged coral at the site.

Polynesian government leader Moetai Brotherson had long questioned whether the surfing heats as part of the 2024 Paris Olympics should take place at Teahupo'o.

But after changes to the plans and schedule, he told AFP that he now wanted the chance to showcase his region of more than 100 islands during the Games from July 26 to August 11.

"I'm totally happy with how the work is going after the controversy over the judges' tower," he said. "Polynesians have accepted the solution that was proposed.

"So far, around two thirds of the drilling has been done and they are going to start laying the foundation blocks," he added.

The new aluminium tower will replace a wooden version previously used at Teahupo'o, a site long used for world surfing championships.

"We've changed the format. We are being very, very demanding with the builders," Brotherson added. "All the work is being followed by our services and everything is going well.

"We've not had any (more) coral broken."

Local surfers and environmentalists were outraged by the damage to the coral in December and an online petition against the project attracted more than 200,000 signatures.

Tahiti, around 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) from Paris, was selected to host the second Olympic surfing competition in history with the the aim of including France's overseas territories in the Games.

The new judges' tower is expected to be completed by May 13 in time for a World Surf League (WSL) event which will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics.

Palestine reach Asian Cup knockouts for first time

Doha (AFP) – Palestine reached the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 on Tuesday for their maiden win in the history of the competition.

Issued on: 23/01/2024 - 

Oday Dabbagh scored twice for Palestine against Hong Kong 

© Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

They just missed out on second spot in Group C but advance as one of the four best third-placed teams, with Oday Dabbagh the hero for his two goals.

United Arab Emirates went through in second place despite losing 2-1 to group winners Iran.

The historic victory in Doha comes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

"Thank you to the fans who are coming to support Palestine and the national team of Palestine. Thank you from our heart," captain Musab Al-Battat told beIN SPORTS after the game.

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"We will do our best to put a smile for the people."

Palestinian players and staff have lost loved ones in the conflict and said before the tournament that they hoped to provide some comfort to those suffering back home.

A pre-match moment's silence was overrun by shouts of "Free Palestine".

No side had played more Asian Cup matches without a win than Hong Kong (12 games) or Palestine (eight), but victory would offer either side a chance of making the last 16.

In the 12th minute, Palestine scored their first goal on the way to breaking that duck.

Battat made an overlapping run from right-back and launched a cross into the box which Dabbagh headed into the net.

Hong Kong were dealt a blow when centre-back and match-day captain Vas Nunez sustained an arm injury and had to be replaced by Li Ngai-hoi.

But they started creating chances as the half wore on, Philip Chan and Everton Camargo blazing over.

Throughout the game the 6,568 people inside the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium were almost entirely supporting Palestine, like at most grounds during the team's campaign.

But a dense and boisterous red-clad bloc of Hong Kong fans provided an unending beat of encouragement for the 150th-ranked side from southern China.

Minutes into the second half Palestine doubled their lead, Battat again the provider from the right wing, this time Zeid Qunbar taking him up on a generous invitation to score.

Palestine got a third after the hour, Tamer Seyam's long-range effort hitting the bar and falling to Dabbagh, who tapped in his second of the match.

They were given a scare during the eighth minute of added time when referee Shaun Evans awarded Hong Kong a penalty after a VAR review for a handball by Battat.

But Everton's spot-kick thudded against the bar as Hong Kong headed home.

© 2024 AFP

Palestine reach Asian Cup last 16 for first time as China go out

Doha (AFP) – Palestine reached the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time on Tuesday with their maiden win in the history of the competition, but China's fate was sealed at the first hurdle.


Issued on: 23/01/2024 - 

Palestine's forward Mahmoud Wadi and midfielder Oday Kharoub celebrate

 © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
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Syria also made history by reaching the last 16 in Qatar, with Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates advancing as well on another night of high drama.

Palestine narrowly missed out on second spot in Group C but squeezed through as one of the four best third-placed teams after beating Hong Kong 3-0.

The victory in Doha comes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Palestinian players and staff have lost loved ones in the conflict and said before the tournament that they hoped to provide some comfort to those suffering back hom


Oday Dabbagh scored once in each half and Zeid Qunbar grabbed another before Palestine were given a late scare when Hong Kong missed a penalty.

"Thank you to the fans who are coming to support Palestine," captain Musab Al-Battat told beIN SPORTS after the game.

"Thank you from our heart."

UAE went through in second place despite losing 2-1 to group winners Iran.

Syria's players celebrate reaching the last 16 

© KARIM JAAFAR / AFP

Syria also reached the knockout rounds for the first time with a 1-0 win over Igor Stimac's India in Group B.

Omar Khribin was Syria's hero, his 76th-minute goal also confirming China's early exit from the competition.

China had hoped to sneak through with their third place and two points in Group A.

They failed to score in any of their three matches.
'We don't want to stop'

Australia topped Group B following a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan, with Hector Cuper's Syria progressing with those two teams as one of the best third-placed teams.

India came bottom and are heading home with no wins or goals.

"We are very happy with the qualification, very proud of my players, they made huge sacrifices to get this result," the veteran Argentine coach Cuper said.

"We played the game with one aim in our mind -- to win, and we managed to do that.

"We don't want to stop here."

Despite another early exit -- in what was a hard group -- Stimac said India would take home "good lessons".

"It was a learning experience for the boys," he said, having seen his team beaten 2-0 by Australia and 3-0 by Uzbekistan.

"My satisfaction is that we managed to create chances against Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria."

In the other game between Uzbekistan and Australia, who had already qualified, the Socceroos took a controversial lead through a Martin Boyle penalty in first-half stoppage time.

A VAR check harshly ruled that the ball had hit Uzbek defender Odiljon Hamrobekov's hand in the build-up as he slid in to tackle Australian forward Kusini Yengi.

Boyle dispatched the penalty low into the corner.

"If this is a penalty I don't understand the rules. There is no intention," said Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec.

The Uzbeks, who have been touted as outsiders for the title, levelled 12 minutes from time when substitute Azizbek Turgunboev got on the end of a cross to head home.

On Wednesday, pre-tournament favourites Japan will look to get their tournament back on track and seal their spot in the knockouts when they face Indonesia, who can also still advance.

Japan were stunned 2-1 by Iraq last time out, putting the Iraqis through.

© 2024 AFP

Syria beat India to reach Asian Cup knockouts for first time

Doha (AFP) – Syria reached the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over India, sending their opponents home.


Issued on: 23/01/2024 -

Ibrahim Hessar delivered a cutback from the left for Omar Khrbin (left) to score for Syria © KARIM JAAFAR / AFP
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Hector Cuper's side finished Group B with four points and go through to the last 16 as one of the best four third-placed teams.

Omar Khribin was Syria's hero, his 76th-minute goal the winner.

Igor Stimac's India head home from Qatar with three defeats and no goals.

"We are very happy with the qualification, very proud of my players, they made huge sacrifices to get this result," the Argentine coach Cuper said.

"We played the game with one aim in our mind -- to win, and we managed to do that.

"We don't want to stop here."

Syria did most of the attacking in the opening exchanges in Doha but were restricted to speculative shots, as they sought their first goal and win at this Asian Cup.

They were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men after 25 minutes when Mahmood Al-Aswad violently chest-barged Mahesh Singh Naorem to the ground, having been dragged back in possession.

Referee Sivakorn Pu-udom booked both players, in a generally lenient performance.

Moments later, the Thai official declined fierce penalty appeals from the Syrians for a trip in the box on Ammar Ramadan.

By half-time, with Uzbekistan trailing Australia 1-0 in the other match in the group, a win would have seen Syria tie the Uzbeks on four points.

But they trailed their rivals on goal difference and would need to score a few to take second place and an automatic place in the knockouts.

With 20 minutes left and goals needed, Cuper sent on forward Alaa Al-Dali, replacing Ramadan.

As Indian legs tired, Syria finally mustered a moment of slick football 14 minutes from time, Ibrahim Hesar delivering a cutback from the left for Khribin to drill into the net.

"Congratulations to Syria, they deserved their win," said former Croatian international defender Stimac.

"They were stronger than us and more calm."

Despite falling once more at the first hurdle -- in what was a hard group -- Stimac said India would take home "good lessons".

"It was a learning experience for the boys," he said, having seen his team beaten 2-0 by Australia and 3-0 by Uzbekistan.

"My satisfaction is that we managed to create chances against Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria."

© 2024 AFP

'The war can wait': Israel hostage families 'building pressure' on govt for ceasefire, hostage deal

Issued on: 23/01/2024 - 

05:21  Video by: Jean-Emile JAMMINE

Israel has proposed to Hamas via Qatari and Egyptian mediators a pause in fighting of up to two months as part of a deal to free all the hostages being held in Gaza, the US news site Axios reported Monday. The report, citing unnamed Israeli officials, said the deal would take place in multiple stages, the first of which would see the release of women, men over 60 and those in critical medical condition. Subsequent phases would involve the release of women soldiers, younger civilian men, male soldiers and the bodies of dead hostages. The officials said the deal would also see the release of an as yet undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel, but not all of them. The proposal does not include promises to end the war, but it would involve Israeli troops reducing their presence in major cities in Gaza and gradually allowing residents to return to the territory's devastated north. The officials said the deal was expected to take around two months to implement. With 132 hostages still in Gaza and pressure mounting to reach a ceasefire deal, FRANCE 24's Jean-Emile Jammine is joined by Gershon Baskin, Israeli Negotiator, Columnist, Speaker, Social / Political Activist, Founder and Director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute.

 

Netanyahu under pressure over Israel troop losses, hostages

Jerusalem (AFP) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a mounting crisis after Israel's worst day of troop losses in the Gaza war as well as growing protests over his failure to bring hostages back.


Issued on: 23/01/2024 -

Questions are being asked about Israel's military strategy in Gaza after troop losses 

© RONEN ZVULUN / POOL/AFP

The military's strategy in the Palestinian territory is under intense scrutiny following the death of 24 troops on Monday, Israel's biggest one-day loss since its ground offensive in Gaza started in late October.

Among those killed were 21 reservists, who died in a single incident.

The incident, which saw rocket-propelled grenade fire hit a tank and two buildings the soldiers were trying to blow up, was deemed a "disaster" by Netanyahu.

Emmanuel Navon, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University, told AFP the troop losses "affect everybody, because almost everybody in the country has a son or brother or a relative (fighting in Gaza)".

Israelis would now be increasingly asking "what is the strategy... Do we really keep going until we finish Hamas?", he added.

At the same time, splits have emerged in Netanyahu's war cabinet following protests in Tel Aviv and outside his Jerusalem home, where relatives of hostages staged a rally Monday chanting "everybody and now" to urge the return of captives.

"The current mood in the war cabinet is very bad," said Julia Elad-Strenger, a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu's steadfast vow to eliminate the Palestinian militant group Hamas in response to the October 7 attack is increasingly seen within the cabinet as incompatible with returning hostages held in Gaza, experts told AFP.

- War cabinet divided -

Two members of the five-person war cabinet, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, have rejected Netanyahu's stance that only military pressure on Hamas will allow the return of hostages, the experts said.

"According to Netanyahu there can be no victory with Hamas left standing, according to Gantz and Eisenkot there can be no victory with hostages lost," said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Israeli troops carry the coffin of a fellow soldier killed fighting in the Gaza Strip

 © Menahem Kahana / AFP

Eisenkot, whose son died fighting in Gaza, gave an interview last week in which he split from Netanyahu's long-held position.

"It is impossible to return the hostages alive in the near future without an agreement (with Hamas)," he told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Netanyahu has vowed "total victory" over Hamas in response to the unprecedented attack by its fighters on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The militants seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 remain in besieged Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli data.

In response to the attack, Israel has launched a relentless offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 25,490 people, around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, according to the latest toll issued Tuesday by Gaza's health ministry.
'Worst point'

Netanyahu has rejected suggestions that his government should hold another round of talks with Hamas to reach a similar deal to one struck in November that led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages.

Under that deal, brokered by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, a seven-day humanitarian pause was agreed that allowed aid deliveries into Gaza, while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for hostages.

The Israeli premier doubled down on his refusal to enter talks with Hamas on Sunday, saying: "The conditions demanded by Hamas demonstrate a simple truth: there is no substitute for victory."

Netanyahu said Hamas had set conditions for the release of more hostages that included an end to the war, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and guarantees that the group will stay in power.

Experts said they expected the Israeli premier to continue the war as a tactic to remain in power, even as pressure to change course mounts.

"I think he has made a decision to keep this war going and not just for his political interests, but endless war is his strategy in general," said Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

Israelis have been staging protests calling for a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza © AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP

"As far as Netanyahu is concerned, if the war lasts beyond 2024 that's better for him politically because it gets October 7 further away from us and it gives him a chance to rebuild," said Hazan of Hebrew University.

"Right now he is at the worst point in his entire career," said Hazan.

© 2024 AFP

24 Israeli soldiers killed in largest military loss suffered in war with Hamas


Smoke billows during Israeli bombardment over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Monday, the same day 21 Israeli soldiers were killed when a building they were in collapsed following an explosion. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Twenty-four Israeli soldiers were killed and several others were injured in central Gaza on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces said, the largest military loss suffered by the Middle Eastern country since its war against Hamas began in October.

"A terrible day," IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said in a statement on X.

"Many of our reserve warriors lost in the last 24 hours. We're determined. May their memories be a blessing."

Twenty-one of the soldiers were killed when a two-story building they were in collapsed at around 4 p.m. as a result of an explosion, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a Tuesday night statement.

He said the soldiers were removing Hamas buildings and infrastructure near the Gaza border with the Israeli kibbutz of Kissufim when mines they had laid detonated.

A preliminary investigation has found that explosion occurred as Hamas fired rocket-propelled grenades, one of which hit a tank guarding the soldiers inside the building while a second hit the building itself, setting off the explosives, which caused the structure to collapse, Hagari said.

Most of the soldiers died as a result of the explosion, he said, adding two people in the tank were also killed.

Three other soldiers were killed in separate incidents.

The IDF has released the names of the deceased, stating their families have been notified.

"War has a very painful and heavy price," Hagari said. "The dedicated reservists, who stood up for the flag, sacrificed the most precious of all, for the security of the State of Israel and so that we can all live here safely."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel described Monday "one of the most difficult days" of the war.

"The IDF has launched an investigation into the disaster. We must draw the necessary lessons and do everything to preserve the lives of our warriors," he said in a statement on X, while vowing to continue the war against Hamas.

"In the name of our heroes, for the sake of our lives, we will not stop fighting until the absolute victory."

War Cabinet member Benny Gantz called on the nation to remain united in the face of the tragedy and remember "the heavy price we are forced to pay for such a just war."

"Especially today, we are sending strength to all IDF soldiers and their commanders," he said in a statement. "We are all behind you."

According to the IDF's website, more than 550 Israeli soldiers have died in the war that started Oct. 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people with some 240 more taken hostage.

The Hamas-controlled Palestinian Ministry of Health states that more than 25,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, have died in the three-month-old war.

Palestinian families flee Khan Younis in Gaza  I/10

Palestinian families flee Khan Yunis on the coastal road leading to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on January 22, 2024. 

Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo

United Nations boss slams Netanyahu for refusal of two-state solution to war in Gaza


António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General speaks during the High-Level Segment for Heads of State and Government session at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 2, 2023. 

File Photo by COP28/ UN Climate Change/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Antonio Guterres, the director-general of the United Nations, blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday after he twice refused in recent days to accept a two-state solution to the dispute over land claimed by Palestinians and Israelis.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden -- who has stated that the U.S.-backed Israel has a right to defend itself in the wake of the October 7 attacks by the Iran-backed militant group Hamas -- seemed to indicate that the same promise of security might not be offered to the Palestinian state.

"There are a number of types of two-state solutions," Biden told reporters after a call with Netanyahu. "There's a number of countries that are members of the U.N. that are still -- don't have their own military; a number of states that have limitations, and so I think there's ways in which this can work."

Hamas has stated that its attack last year came after raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, by Israeli Police and violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians in a decades-long conflict that has been on-and-off since before the Israeli state existed.

In his remarks, Guterres said that the denial of the right to full statehood for Palestine, which is already recognized as a nation by most countries around the world, is "unacceptable."

"The right of the Palestinian people to build their own state must be recognized by all," Guterres said.

But some high-ranking Israeli politicians don't agree, like Itamar Ben-Gvir -- who lives in an illegal Israeli settlement in Palestine's West Bank."I do deny a Palestinian state," Ben-Gvir said on Twitter on Saturday. "Always!" His post was liked by nearly 3,000 people as of Sunday morning.