Israeli occupation war troops break into east Khan Yunis
Gaza, May 13 (QNA) The Israeli occupation war troops broke into Khuza'ah town, east Khan Yunis, south Gaza strip, on Tuesday at dawn. Local sources said tens of Israeli army vehicles with armoured bulldozers swept into the town under cover of intensive rapid fire shooting indiscriminately at Palestinian homes, but there were no casualties. The occupation war troops stormed into the town several days ago and pulled out after reaping havoc of the town killing and wounding a number of Palestinians and leaving behind a trail of destruction of homes, properties and infrastructure. (QNA)


Palestinian resistance shell assembly of Israeli tanks
Gaza, May 13 (QNA) Palestinian Resistance gunners shelled as assembly of Israeli tanks near Sofa crossing point last night, it was announced today. Abu Ala Mustafa brigades in a statement issued Tuesday said the shelling was in response to the massacres Israeli is committing against the Palestinian people and to emphasize the option to stick to resistance and struggle against the occupiers. (QNA)


Israel women settler killed in Negev
Occupied al Quds,May 13 (QNA) An Israeli woman settler was killed in Ashkol settlement, western Negev desert, after a missile fired by Palestinian resistance landed on her home, Israeli sources said. The sources added Ashkol had not been target of Palestinian missiles and for that matter warning sirens were not sounded. Saraya Al Quds claimed responsibility for firing an advanced Al Quds missile at the western Negev. (QNA)


UN officials express sorrow and pledge help after deadly earthquake hits China
New York,May 13 (QNA) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim have voiced their sorrow and sympathy for the victims of the earthquake that struck south-western China today, killing thousands of people, and pledged the support of the United Nations in any humanitarian efforts following the disaster. ?We do not yet know the extent of the tragedy,? Mr. Ban told journalists at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York. ?But you have seen the reports of the hundreds of students trapped at a local university, and potentially many others are dead. My thoughts are very much with them and their families.? In a separate statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction of property, and extended his condolences to the families of the victims. ?The United Nations stands ready to support the Government of China in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,? the statement added. Media reports said the earthquake, measuring about 7.8 on the Richter scale, was centred in Sichuan Province and struck early in the afternoon local time. Local authorities have reported that thousands of people are dead and the toll is expected to keep rising. In a separate statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Kerim extended his support to Chinese authorities as they attempt to mitigate the after-effects of the earthquake. He ?welcomes the readiness of the international community - including and especially on the part of the United Nations system - to assist the country and the people of China to overcome the immediate humanitarian as well as longer-term infrastructural effects of the devastation of this natural catastrophe.?(QNA)


Still in pain, quake-hit China races against time as death toll nears 10,000 Still in pain, quake-hit China races against time as death toll nears 10,000
BEIJING,May 13 (QNA) -- Rescuers are racing against time to reach survivors a day after the strongest quake that hit China in more than three decades jolted the southwestern province of Sichuan. The country was immersed in immense grief as the death toll rose to nearly 10,000. China's English-language newspaper China Daily silhouetted the front page in black to mourn the victims. The headline reads: "The Day the Earth Moved." A pain-stricken nation has been mobilized. Premier Wen Jiabao, who flew to Sichuan Monday evening, urged "calm, confidence and courage" in face of the catastrophe. By 7 a.m. Tuesday, the death toll from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake has climbed to 9,219, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Of the killed, 8,993 were in Sichuan, Xinhua news agency reported. Wenchuan County, the epicenter, has reported 57 confirmed deaths, and about 60,000 locals were still out of reach. "I am so worried! I am so worried!" He Biao, a government official with the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Sichuan Province, exclaimed to Xinhua over phone in an anxious tone. Wenchuan is part of the prefecture. Wenchuan and neighboring areas were set amid steep hills north of Sichuan's provincial capital Chengdu. Attempts to reach the epicenter "via land, air and water were all thwarted", said an official with the Sichuan provincial relief headquarters, citing blocked transport, disrupted telecom and rainy weather as the key factors to hold back efforts to access the epicenter. Premier Wen has ordered the removal of the rocks and mud slides that blocked the roads to the epicenter before 12 p.m. Tuesday. "People are trapped in debris, we must treasure every second," he told an emergency meeting at 7 a.m.(qna)


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