Today in History - August 7: Saddam Hussein kills son-in-laws after daughters defect
Attribution: Nine Archives
Hussein Kamel al-Majid, a senior military officer and government minister, then gave critical details of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program to the UN and the Atomic Energy Agency.
"Saddam Hussein surrounds himself with inefficient ministers and advisers who are not chosen for their competence but according to the whims of the Iraqi president," he told CNN.
"And as a result of this the whole of Iraq is suffering."
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The Advertiser
42 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'Human catastrophe': PM condemns Israel's plan for Gaza
Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if". Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if". Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if". Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if".
9 News
8 hours ago
- 9 News
Hegseth reposts video on social media featuring pastors saying women shouldn't be allowed to vote
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The man who oversees the America's military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote. The extraordinary repost on X from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, made Thursday night, illustrates his deep and personal connection to a Christian nationalist pastor with extreme views on the role of religion and women. In the post, Hegseth commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN examining Doug Wilson, cofounder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. The man who oversees the nation's military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote. (AP) The report featured various pastors of the denomination advocating the repeal of women's right to vote from the Constitution and congregants saying that women should 'submit' to their husbands. 'All of Christ for All of Life,' Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video. Hegseth's post received more than 12,000 likes and 2000 shares on X. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defence secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell told The Associated Press on Friday that Hegseth is 'a proud member of a church' that is affiliated with CREC and he 'very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings.' Hegseth's post received more than 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X. (AP) In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defence Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails. 'I'd like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I'd like to see the world be a Christian world,' Wilson said in the CNN report. USA Politics Donald Trump World US POLITICS CONTACT US
The Age
13 hours ago
- The Age
Heba's days are spent thinking about a city on the other side of the world
Two cousins and her aunt are dead, and Heba Kassoua's grandfather's home has been burned to the ground. The 36-year-old Australian citizen lives and works in Parramatta but, over the past month, most of her days have been spent thinking about her family in Sweida, a city in southern Syria. Violence broke out in mid-July, one of the first major surges of conflict since dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. Clashes had been escalating between armed groups of Syrian Bedouin tribes and the militia representing the local Druze population, a religious minority native to the region, before the interim Syrian government had sent local security forces in and further inflamed the situation. Israel, which has its own Druze minority, launched air strikes on Sweida and Damascus, which it says were in support of the Druze. In addition to the more than 1500 people killed during the violence, about 349 of whom were executed according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the UN estimates more than 190,000 people have been displaced. A fragile ceasefire has mostly held since July 19. Five members of Kassoua's family – all Druze – are among the dead. Her aunt, Ghossen Kassoua, died after spending five days inside her sister's home in a village that came under attack. 'There wasn't anyone who could go out and get her medication [for a heart condition and diabetes],' Kassoua said. 'The doctors were either attending to the injured or couldn't do house calls and her condition got much worse. She ended up passing away while she was still in lockdown. She was dead and they couldn't even bury her until two days after.' More than 300 members of Australia's Druze community have written to the federal government pleading for Australian support for aid in the region. 'We are calling for the government to condemn the sectarian violence publicly and demand an independent investigation. We want humanitarian aid,' Kassoua said.
