Diplomats stage walkout during Netanyahu's UN speech amid Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
New York: Scores of diplomats walked out during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, protesting Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and recent airstrikes in Lebanon.
As Netanyahu took the podium, several diplomats exited the hall, prompting the presiding official to call for "order, please" while the Israeli leader began his speech. This incident occurred shortly after a senior Hamas official called on world leaders to boycott Netanyahu’s address.
During his speech, Netanyahu affirmed that Israel’s military would continue striking Hezbollah militants in Lebanon “with all our might,” despite ongoing efforts by the US, European allies, and several Arab nations to broker a three-week cease-fire. His arrival in New York coincided with intensified international appeals for cease-fires in both Gaza and Lebanon, as global leaders warned of the growing threat of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Israel has ramped up its offensive on Hezbollah’s strongholds in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. The latest airstrikes, which began last night, resulted in thick plumes of smoke and panic in densely populated civilian areas, further escalating fears of widespread devastation.
The Gaza attacks, now nearing its one-year mark, has left the territory in ruins. Over 42,000 people have been killed, and nearly the entire population has been displaced multiple times. In northern Gaza, residents are grappling with severe food shortages as relentless airstrikes have destroyed homes, schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure.
Mass walkout of UN delegates at the UNGA as diplomats exit the assembly in protest of Netanyahu’s address pic.twitter.com/oJGWZHyUFF
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AIMIM wins Malegaon Central seat by 162 votes
Malegaon (Maharashtra), Nov 23: In a closely contested election, Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has retained the Malegaon Central assembly seat, winning by a razor-thin margin of 162 votes.
This victory in the north Maharashtra constituency marks a significant turnaround for Khalique, who previously enjoyed a commanding lead in the 2019 elections, winning by over one lakh votes.
Khalique, an Islamic scholar, received a total of 1,09,653 votes this time, narrowly defeating his nearest rival, Asif Shaikh Rasheed of the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra party, who got 1,09,491 votes.
There were a total of 13 candidates contesting in this Muslim dominated constituency. Barring Khalique and Rasheed, two other candidates -- Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed of Samajwadi Party and Ejaz Baig Aziz Baig managed below 10,000 votes. Other remaining candidates were below 1,000 votes.
This election marks Khalique's third term as an MLA. He initially represented the Malegaon Central seat in 2009 as a member of the Jan Surajya Shakti party.
However, Khalique faced a setback in the 2014 elections when he contested under the banner of the Nationalist Congress Party and lost.
His return to the assembly in 2019 under the AIMIM banner solidified his political presence, and despite the significantly reduced margin this year, he has once again emerged victorious.
The results highlight the competitive nature of the Malegaon Central constituency and underscore Khalique's resilience in maintaining his position amidst changing political dynamics.
