AFP 0900 GMT News Advisory

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2023) Duty Editor: Joshua Melvin

Tel: +33 1 40.41.46.36

-- TOP STORIES --

+ Gazans flee as Israel readies offensive

+ Poland opposition headed for vote win

+ France mourns teacher killed in attack

+ S.Africa edge France for rugby final 4

Israel-Palestinians-conflict,WRAP

GAZA STRIP

More than one million people have fled their homes in Gaza in scenes of chaos and despair as Israel bombards the Hamas-ruled territory and continues amassing troops in preparation for a full-blown ground invasion.

1,100 words 1000 GMT by Mai Yaghi, with Jay Deshmukh in Jerusalem. Picture. Video. Live Video. Graphic

Poland-vote,WRAP

WARSAW

Poland's liberal opposition celebrates exit polls showing it won a parliamentary majority in weekend elections, paving the way for huge change after eight years of nationalist rule.

700 words 1000 GMT by Magdalena Paciorek. Picture. Video

France-attacks-education,WRAP

PARIS

French schools are to hold a minute of silence for a teacher killed by a former pupil in what the government has described as an Islamist terror attack, as President Emmanuel Macron called for a "ruthless" approach towards extremists.

700 words 1030 GMT by Sophie Laubie. Picture. Video

RugbyU-WC-2023-ENG-FIJ,3rdlead

MARSEILLE

Owen Farrell scores a late drop goal and penalty to send England into the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a tense and nervy 30-24 victory over Fiji.

650 words moved by Barnaby Chesterman. Picture. Video. Graphic

-- ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR --

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Gaza-bodies,SCENE

RAMLA, Israel

Rabbi Israel Weiss came out of retirement to help identify the more than 1,400 killed in last week's Hamas attack.

550 words moved. Picture. Video

-- EUROPE --

EU-environment-climate-politics-COP28,WRAP

LUXEMBOURG

EU environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg are working on setting a common position for the bloc on the phase-out of fossil-fuelled energy ahead of the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai.

500 words 1100 GMT by Julien Girault

Italy-politics-budget,WRAP

MILAN

A year after her first budget drew praise for its prudence, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sets out her 2024 tax and spending plans amid market fears over a loosening of the purse strings.

650 words 1100 GMT by Brigitte Hagemann

Albania-Balkans-diplomacy,WRAP

TIRANA

Leaders from the Western Balkans and several European countries meet for an annual summit in the Albanian capital Tirana, with few concrete decisions expected amid heightened regional tensions.

650 words 1100 GMT by Francesco Fontemaggi and Briseida Mema

EU-economy-budget,FOCUS

LUXEMBOURG

For EU finance ministers gathering in Luxembourg this week, there is one headache at the top of their agenda: reforming the bloc's fiscal rules.

650 words moved by Raziye Akkoc

-- AMERICAS --

Ecuador-vote,WRAP

QUITO

car horns in Quito blare in celebration as banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35, becomes the youngest-ever president-elect president-elect, vowing to "restore peace" to a country ravaged by a bloody drug gang war.

750 words moved by Santiago Piedra Silva. Picture. Video

-- ASIA --

China-Russia-diplomacy,WRAP

BEIJING

China begins welcoming representatives of 130 countries for a conference that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence.

750 words 1100 GMT by Oliver Hotham. Picture. Video. Live video

Russia-Japan-nuclear-Fukushima,WRAP

MOSCOW

Russia follows its ally China in suspending all Japanese seafood imports over Tokyo's release of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

500 words 1000 GMT

Thailand-economy-population-age,FEATURE

BANGKOK

Unless she lines up in the hot sun for a free meal, ketchup on bread is the only food Thai widow Noi can afford on her small government pension.

750 words moved by Lisa Martin and Chayanit Itthipongmaetee. Video. Picture

China-economy-growth,ADVANCER

BEIJING

China's economy is expected to have seen moderate growth in the third quarter, according to an AFP survey ahead of data this week, while experts warn that there were still significant hurdles for its recovery.

700 words moved by Peter Catterall

-- SPORT --

RugbyU-WC-2023-FIJ-Raiwalui

MARSEILLE, France

The future is bright for Fijian rugby despite the agony of their World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of England, according to coach Simon Raiwalui.

680 words Moved by Barnaby Chesterman. Picture

RugbyU-WC-2023-IRL-Sexton,PROFILE

PARIS

Johnny Sexton's career may have ended with the crushing disappointment of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat but he bows out as "the best captain" Ireland have ever had, former fullback Hugo MacNeill told AFP.

700 words Moved by Pirate Irwin. Picture

Oly-2028-Cricket, 2ndlead

MUMBAI

cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, squash and lacrosse have been added for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the International Olympic Committe announced.

500 words moved by Julian Guyer

afp