Sunken ferry, carrying 300, not found

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A full day after a passenger ferry with as many as 300 people on board sank in Bangladesh, hundreds of anxious people waited on the bank of the Padma river until late evening as a search for bodies failed to turn up any sign of survivors.

Indeed, the rescuers failed even to trace the sunken ferry, leading to frustration and anger among those awaiting news of loved ones.

The crowds on the riverbank launched an impassioned protest against what they said was the administration’s inept handling of the situation.

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Authorities blamed conditions for the slow pace of the rescue.

The rescuers believed that the strong current may have moved some of the bodies a significant distance from the scene of the accident.

Saiful Hassan Badal, chief administrator of Munshiganj district told CNN the ferry had about 300 people on board when it sank, according to witnesses. Nearly 100 passengers were rescued shortly after the capsizing.

However, he said they were yet to be sure about how exactly how many people were missing because there were no records detailing how many people were traveling on the ferry.

 

180 bananas, 8kgs of potatoes and 14kgs of rice a week … and STILL hungry: Meet the nine-year-old girl with an insatiable appetite who weighs the same as a Great Dane

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Standing at just 3ft 5ins, and tipping the scales at a flabbergasting 14st 5lbs (203lbs), this child weighs five times more than she should.

Meet nine-year-old Suman Khatun – one of the fattest kids in the world.

In one week, Suman, from West Bengal, India, munches her way through an incredible 14kgs of rice, 8kgs of potatoes, 8kgs of fish and about 180 bananas.
The shocking video also shows her gorging on her favourite Bengali sweets and cream cakes, dwarfing her classroom peers and seemingly struggling to get out of bed.

All my friends are thin, but I am fat,’ says young Suman disconsolately.

ՍումաSuman Khatun2

‘I have problems in standing, sitting, sleeping, playing and running with my friends.’

Her parents claim they are powerless to prevent her stomach-defying eating habits.

‘I am very concerned about her future, as my other kids are normal,’ says mum Beli Bibi.

‘It’s painful,’ she adds.

They have requested the help of the local doctor to manage her weight, who says:

‘We think she has hyperthyroidism, but she needs to be examined.

‘If it’s not controlled, she might get diabetes or heart diseases.’

 

Massive explosion caused by ‘gas leak in sewage system’ kills 15 and injures hundreds as it rips through city in Taiwan

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տայվան,պայթյուն

 

At least 15 people have died and almost 230 injured after a huge explosion in Taiwan caused by a suspected gas leak.

Multiple explosions happened early on Friday in Kaohsiung city in the south of the island after reported leaks in the sewage system.

Witnesses said the gas leaks started at about 9pm, forming white fog, before fire could be seen and explosions heard on several streets.

Photographs from the scene showed overturned cars and destroyed roads, while some observers saw bodies on the streets.

Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said 15 people were killed and 228 were injured. It added that five firefighters were among the dead.

 

‘You fancied a shower too? Snap!’ Shocked homeowner discovers a crocodile hiding in his bathroom

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Dad Finds Croc In Bathroom When Going For A Shower

 

Kalpesh Patel could be forgiven for making a snap decision not to take a shower.

After entering the bathroom of his home in western Indian the 41-year-old discovered a five-foot long crocodile had beaten him to it, and had taken up residence under his shower taps.

He said when he told his wife and children not to go in the bathroom because there was a reptile there, not surprisingly, they didn’t believe him.

So Mr Patel got his neighbours at Sojitra village, Gujarat, located about 80 kilometres from the city of Ahmedabad, to take a look, and they confirmed the find.

Mr Patel said he had no idea how the crocodile got into his home, ‘but we weren’t prepared to let it out again’.

The police were called and forestry officials then captured the crocodile.

Police said that the crocodile had been transported to a lake in the nearby Malataj village of Anand district where it had been released unharmed.

 

Paris for 80p a night? Hotel in the French capital launches innovative ‘pay want you want’ scheme – and prays not to go bankrupt

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Paris-towerParis is known as many things – a city of romance, fine restaurants, epic landmarks and grand architecture.

But it all comes at a price, boasting some of the most expensive accommodation in the world.

However, one hotel is hoping to change all that, by allowing holidaymakers to pay what they believe is a reasonable rate for their stay this summer.

Hotelier Aldric Duval has launched the enterprising ‘Payez ce que vous voulez’ (‘Pay what you want’) promotion in a bid to draw extra guests to Tour d-Auvergne, his three-star hotel in the central Opera district of the city.

The idea is simple. A visitor can pay exactly what they want to stay the night.

Normally, double rooms at the hotel would cost at least €190 (£150) – but should they decide that it is an appropriate amount, visitors can pay as little as €1 (80p).

The promotion runs until August 10.

The point of the scheme, he says, is to give customers a little financial freedom in a city of notoriously high costs.

He hopes that visitors to the city will treat the scheme as a good deal, but not abuse it.
The scheme has proved sufficiently inspiring that Mr Duval has had enquiries from other hoteliers in Paris – and further afield in Nice and Cannes – as to how it works.

 

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem Write Open Letter Condemning Israel’s Actions as ‘Genocide’

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bardem-cruzSome celebrities have voiced their opinion over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Penelope Cruz, her husband, Javier Bardem, and Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar were among some Spanish stars who described Israel’s actions against Palestinians in Gaza as “genocide.”

Penelope, Javier, Pedro and other Spanish actors, directors and writers wrote an open letter to Spanish-language news wire Europa Press.

The group urged Israel to “lift the blockade, which the Gaza Strip has suffered for more than a decade.” They also asked the country to “open border crossings to facilitate the mobility of the population, the entry of medical equipment, medicines and food.”

Meanwhile, Madonna expressed her opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict via Facebook on July 23. She posted a picture of flower arrangements and captioned it with, “These flowers are like the innocent children of Gaza! Who has a right to destroy them? No one!!! Cease fire! #peaceinthemiddleeast.”

Official: Landslides trap 150 people or more in western India

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india-landslideLandslides caused by heavy monsoon rains may have trapped 150 people or more in a village in western India, a senior official said Wednesday.

“There are reports that up to 30 to 40 houses have been affected,” said Suresh Jadhav, a district administrator in Maharashtra state.

About 40 ambulances and 200 volunteers were sent to the scene to help with the rescue effort, he said.

The landslides were reported around midnight in Malin, a village in Maharashtra’s Pune district near Mumbai.

HE SECRETARY-GENERAL — MESSAGE ON WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

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պանգի մուն

 

Human trafficking is a callous global industry that denies victims their rights and dignity and generates billions of dollars for organized criminal networks.  Most of those trafficked are vulnerable women and children deceived into a life of suffering.  They are exploited for sex and forced to work in conditions akin to slavery.

 

This first World Day against Trafficking in Persons is a call to action to end this crime and give hope to the victims, who often live unrecognized among us.  To stop the traffickers, we must sever funding pipelines and seize assets.  I urge all countries to ratify and fully implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.

 

Enforcement, cross-border cooperation and information-sharing can all be effective, but ending human trafficking also means tackling the root causes.  Extreme poverty, entrenched inequality and a lack of education and opportunity create the vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit.  Ultimately, the best protection is to accelerate development for all.

 

Victims of trafficking who are fortunate enough to be freed need assistance to regain their rights and reintegrate into society.  The UN Trust Fund for the Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, works on their behalf but needs additional funding.  I appeal to everyone to support the UN campaign, “Have a Heart for Victims of Human Trafficking”.

 

Let us open our eyes to this crime and our hearts to the victims.  It is time to say no to human trafficking.

Report: Dozens killed, injured in China terror attack

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A gang wielding knives and axes attacked civilians, a police station, government offices and smashed vehicles in a restive region of China, the country’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday, citing local police.

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The incident — called an “organized and premeditated” terror attack — occurred Monday in northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Police officers at the scene shot dead dozens of people in the mob. Thirty-one cars were vandalized, including six that were set ablaze.

It was not immediately known how many people were killed and injured.

The location, Shache County, is where nine people authorities describe as terrorists attacked a police station, hurled explosives and torched police cars in December. Police shot and killed eight people in that attack.

There have been other attacks in the region in recent months.

 

Australia Must Dismiss Foreign Minister For Denying the Armenian Genocide

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By Harut Sassounian

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

The Turkish Sabah newspaper published last week the following disturbing news: “Australian FM: Armenian Case not Genocide.”

 

Sabah described the events that led to its nefarious headline. Gunay Evinch, board member and past president of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), had recently visited Australia to brief local Turkish groups on the Movsesian lawsuit. He told them that “the United States Supreme Court let stand a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision invalidating a California law that had defined the Armenian case as genocide, because it was US federal policy not to define the Armenian case as genocide.”

 

Sabah also reported that Evinch’s visit was “a part of a broader Anglo-Turkish Diaspora Cooperation Program in which Turks in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Jersey (sic) share best practices based on a common jurisprudential and political heritage.”

 

Following Evinch’s advice, Ertunc Ozen, President of Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance, wrote to Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on May 5, “expressing concern at motions passed by the parliament of New South Wales in May 2013 regarding Turkey and the fate of various communities of the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I.”

 

Foreign Minister Bishop wrote to Ozen on June 4: “The Australian Government acknowledges the devastating effects which the tragic events at the end of the Ottoman Empire have had on later generations, and on their identity, heritage and culture.” Astonishingly, she added: “We do not, however, recognize these events as ‘genocide.’ Australian states and territories have no constitutional role in the formulation of Australian foreign policy. While respecting the rights of individuals and groups to have strong views on the matter, the long-standing and clear approach of the Australian Government has been not to become involved in this sensitive debate.”

 

The Foreign Minister is wrong on three counts: 1) She erred in stating that Australia does not recognize the Armenian Genocide. While the Australian government prefers not to use the term genocide in order not to antagonize Turkey, no other official has ever stated that it was not genocide; 2) She incorrectly wrote that the Australian states that recognized the Armenian Genocide were formulating foreign policy. These states had simply acknowledged a historical fact; and 3) She contradicted herself by stating that the Australian Government does not get involved “in this sensitive debate,” yet she did permit herself to get involved by stating that it was not genocide!

 

Vache Kahramanian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, immediately dispatched a strongly-worded letter to the Foreign Minister, calling her ‘misguided statement’ ‘deeply insulting and hurtful to the Armenian-Australian community.’ He also characterized Bishop’s views as ‘intolerable,’ ‘inexcusable,’ ‘a grave offense,’ and ‘a disservice to all Australians.’ Kahramanian justifiably wondered, “How can Australia’s moral conscience become so corrupted?”

 

ANC-Australia’s Executive Director reminded the Foreign Minister that her statement was in stark contrast to “the views held by many senior ministers in the current government. As recently as April 2014, Australia’s Treasurer, the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, issued an official statement on the 99th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide marking April 24 as the day ‘we gather to remember the 1.5 million people who perished in the genocide.’ Ministers Turnbull, Morrison, along with ranking members from Labor, the Greens, minor parties and Independents have called on the Australian Parliament to officially recognise the events of 1915 as genocide. Australia’s Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, during his years as Opposition Leader, issued an annual statement referring to the Armenian Genocide with no qualifiers or euphemisms.”

 

Kahramanian also told the Foreign Minister: “By denying the Armenian Genocide you are also denying Australia’s very own history. Located within Australia’s National Archives are countless numbers of testimonies by ANZAC prisoners of war who were held captive in the Ottoman Empire…. These testimonies vividly recall the suffering and annihilation of the Armenian people.”

 

ANC-Australia Chairman Greg Soghomonian urged the Foreign Minister to “immediately reverse this critical error of judgment,” and requested a meeting with her.

 

I suggest that Australian-Armenians ask Prime Minister Tony Abbott whether the Foreign Minister had cleared her deeply offensive letter with him beforehand. If she had not, the ANC-Australia should demand her immediate dismissal. ANC should ask all three Australian state parliaments that have recognized the Armenian Genocide to adopt a new resolution condemning Foreign Minister Bishop’s denialist stand and urging the Prime Minister to fire her!

 

Millions of Muslims across the world celebrate the start of Eid to mark the end of fasting for Ramadan

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Muslims in Indonesia

 

Millions of Muslims across the world have been celebrating the start of the Eid al-Fitr holiday this week, which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.

Celebrations have been taking place across the world for the three-day holiday to mark the end of Ramadan which sees observant Muslims refrain from eating or drinking anything from dawn to sunset in a show of spiritual devotion.

The festival of Eid al-Fitr – the ‘breaking of the fast’ – sees devout Muslims meeting to exchange gifts, enjoy food and decorate their homes in a show of thanksgiving.

While celebrations have been taking place across the world, the mood has been dark for millions of people affected by the Syrian civil war, the Gaza war and the militant advance in Iraq.

During Eid celebrations, Muslims traditionally greet each other with the greeting of Eid Mubarak, which translates roughly as ‘Eid blessings’.

As well as the special prayers and celebrations, customs of Eid include dressing up in new clothes, eating special delicacies, giving presents and, for women, decoration of the hands with henna.

This year’s celebrations however have been darkened across many parts of the world.

 

 

Ռամադանի ավարտ

In Gaza City yesterday, streets were largely deserted, as residents huddled indoors for safety. More than 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, more than 6,500 wounded and tens of thousands displaced in the last three weeks of fighting between Israel and Hamas, according to Palestinian officials. Israel has seen 53 Israeli soldiers and three civilians killed.

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It’s about BEE-ing the best: The men and women who have got Ontario abuzz in annual Best Bee Beard competition

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Օնտարիոյում տեղի է ունեցել Մեղուներից մորուք ամենամյա մրցույթը

It’s not exactly a competition for the faint-hearted, but let’s hope there was no sting in the tale for any of these brave bee beard growers.

The remarkably daring men and women have got Ontario all abuzz after taking part in the tenth annual Clovermead Bee Beard Competition.

The contest sees four teams of competitors entice swarms of bees to the head and torso of a ‘beard grower’ before two winners are chosen by the audience and the official judges.

 

 

Օնտարիոյում տեղի է ունեցել Մեղուներից մորուք ամենամյա մրցույթը

Մեղուներից մորուք

 

Beebearding is thought to date back to the 1700s when an English beekeeper discovered he could create a beard of bees by tying the queen to a thread around his neck and would parade through the streets wearing the unusual costume.

At the Clovermead competition however, once in place, the beards are weighed before each wearer goes on to strut their stuff and perform a little dance in front of the watching crowds.

The Bee Beard Champion is then chosen by judges, while the audience is also able to pick their Crowd Favourite.

Islamic State offering HONEYMOON bus tours across Syria and Iraq after opening ‘marriage bureau’ for women looking to marry the jihadist of their dreams

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Islamic State's buses

 

Extremist Islamists may well have wondered how they could possibly celebrate the happiest day of their lives – their wedding – while at the same time re-affirming their commitment to violent jihad.

Or they may not have. In any case, the gap in the market has now been filled by the Islamic State, which is offering honeymoon bus tours across its self-declared caliphate spanning Iraq and Syria.

The move into tourism comes after the group, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, opened a marriage bureau for women who want to meet the jihadi of their dreams.

The matchmaking service is operating from Al-Bab, in Syria’s Aleppo province, for ‘single women and widows who would like to marry IS fighters,’ said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Newlywed couples can then join other civilians on Islamic State’s bus tours around the various parts of the newly declared Muslim theocracy.

Running twice a week from Raqa in Syria to Anbar, Iraq, IS buses fly the group’s distinctive black flag and play jihadist songs throughout the journey, reports AFP.

It is not known whether tourists are invited to sing along.

Islamic State now controls massive swathes of northern and eastern Syria, the Iraq-Syria border, and parts of northern and western Iraq.

 

‘Who?’ New York judge admits he has no idea who Rihanna is when her ‘stalker’ appears in court on harassment charges

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Rihanna -singerBeing a global superstar, it seems, is no guarantee people will know who you are.

Rihanna might have sold more than 30million albums worldwide, but when her alleged stalker appeared in an American court, the judge found himself rather confused as to her identity.

On being told that homeless Kevin McGlynn, 53, was ‘arrested for stalking Rihanna’, veteran New York judge Abraham Clott admitted he had no idea who she is.

McGlynn is accused of threatening the singer – real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty – in three notes dropped off at her rented $14.5million New York apartment on July 8 and 11.
In court, he accused Rihanna, 26, along with rappers Jay Z and Kanye West of stealing his ‘material’ and branded Judge Clott a ‘liar’ when told he could not defend himself.

Rihanna was said to be scared for her safety after reading the letters that reportedly allude to a personal relationship that does not exist between the pop star and the homeless man.

He already has a criminal record, including four arrests for trespassing.

He is due back in court on September 2 but if his psychiatric evaluation finds him unfit to stand trial the charges could be dropped and he would be admitted to a hospital for treatment.

 

Cutting corners: Sport officials build rectangular running circuit with 90-degree bends ahead of Chinese Communist Party visit because it was quicker than constructing an oval track

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bizarre running track-china1Bungling sport officials in China have built a rectangular running track because they were concerned they wouldn’t get an oval one finished in time for a Communist Party inspection.

The bizarre circuit was built as a part of a major refurbishment of a 10,000 square foot stadium in Tonghe County in the north-eastern Heilongjiang province.

With the big-budget project running behind schedule and an inspection by notoriously finicky Communist Party officials imminent, managers made the decision to quite literally cut corners and create a running track with awkward 90-degree bends as they are easier to measure and lay out.

Almost everything about the stadium is impressive – from the the perfectly laid grass in the centre of the sports field to the massively improved seating facilities for spectators.

But there is one glaringly obvious issue making the sleek Tonghe County stadium one of the strangest in the world.

Locals invited to test the new running track for an episode of regional television programme Newsnight had little positive to say about its unorthodox design.
After appearing on the Newsnight show, the designers of the Tonghe County running track were widely ridiculed on Chinese social media website Weibo.

Despite being the butt of many jokes, some experts have raised concerns about the design, saying it presents a risk of serious injury to athletes.

 

Costa Concordia reaches end of final voyage

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costa-concordiaThe crippled Costa Concordia cruise ship reached the end of its final voyage.

Refloated by salvage crews earlier this month, the rusting hulk docked at Voltri port in the Italian city of Genoa early Sunday.

The cruise ship, which ran aground in January 2012 off Giglio Island with more than 4,200 passengers aboard, was eased into a dry dock at the port for salvage.

It managed to make the four-day journey in a convoy of vessels from Giglio to Genoa without major incident, despite one night of storms.

The ship will be searched for the remains of Russel Rebello, a 33-year-old waiter who is the only victim still missing in the tragedy. A total of 32 people were killed in the disaster.

Searches for Rebello are also underway in Giglio at the site where the ship had rested for the past 30 months.

The lengthy process of dismantling the wrecked ship is expected to take two years.

More than 80% of the Concordia will be recycled or reused, including copper wiring, plumbing pipes, kitchens and some of the plastic room fittings that can be repaired.

The remaining 50,000 tons of steel will be melted down and sold at the market price to be used to make construction girders, cars and even other ships.

 

U.N. Security Council demands humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza

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un-security councilWith more than 1,000 people killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York early Monday to push for “an immediate and unconditional humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.”

The halt in violence would allow for the delivery of urgently needed assistance, the 15-nation council said.

At its midnight meeting, the Security Council also proclaimed its support for “a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders as envisioned in Security Council resolution 1850 (2008).”

But the statement did not appease the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, who wanted the Security Council to pass a resolution calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

At least 1,062 Palestinians have been killed and 6,037 wounded since the Israeli operation against Hamas in Gaza started almost three weeks ago, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra said.

Hamas and Israel began firing at each other again Sunday after a temporary cease-fire Saturday failed.

 Անկախ

Russia: EU Sanctions Weaken Anti-Terrorism Efforts

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Russia is lashing out at the latest round of Ukraine-related sanctions imposed by the European Union, saying they endanger the fight against international terrorism.

The sanctions, announced on Friday, impose travel bans and asset freezes on 15 people, including the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service and the head of the agency’s department overseeing international operations and intelligence. Four members of Russia’s national security council are also on the list.

A Foreign Ministry statement Saturday denounced the sanctions, saying they show the EU is taking “a complete turn away from joint work with Russia on international and regional security, including the fight against the spread of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism (and) organized crime.”

“We are sure the decisions will be greeted enthusiastically by international terrorists,” the ministry said.

River In China Mysteriously Turns Bloody Red Overnight

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A waterway in eastern China has mysteriously turned a blood red color.

Residents in Zhejiang province said the river looked normal at 5 a.m. Beijing time on Thursday morning. Within an hour, the entire river turned crimson. Residents also said a strange smell wafted through the air.

Inspectors from the Wenzhou Environmental Protection Bureau said they have not found the cause of the incident, although water samples seem to indicate the suspicious color was a result of illegal dumping in the river.

“We suspect that somebody dumped artificial coloring in the water because he thought the typhoon yesterday would cause heavy rain, and nobody would notice [the color],” Jianfeng Xiao, Chief of the bureau told China News.

“It turned out there wasn’t heavy rainfall yesterday, so the evidence is left behind,” Xiao said.

Xiao said there is a paper manufacturer, a food coloring company and clothing-maker a long the river. The bureau is still investigating the incident.

China river

No Truce, but 12-Hour Lull in Gaza Fighting Begins

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Israel and Hamas began a 12-hour humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza Saturday after the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry failed to produce a longer truce aimed at ending nearly three weeks of fighting.

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The temporary lull appeared unlikely to change the course of the current hostilities amid ominous signs that the war was spilling over into the West Bank and a warning by Israel’s defense minister that it might soon expand its Gaza ground operation “significantly.”

The Israeli military said the 12-hour pause began Saturday at 8 a.m. (1:00 a.m. EST, 0500 GMT). It said troops “shall respond if terrorists choose to exploit” the lull to attack Israeli soldiers or civilians. The military also said “operational activities to locate and neutralize tunnels in the Gaza Strip will continue.”

Israel launched a major aerial offensive in Gaza on July 8 and later sent ground troops into the Hamas-ruled territory in a bid to halt Palestinian rocket fire and destroy a vast network of cross-border tunnels used by militants to stage attacks.