[지구촌 오늘] France promises large-scale aid to Lebanon… Enthusiasm for US presidential election ‘early voting’ high

This is ‘Global Village Today’, which brings you important news from various countries around the world. Let’s find out what’s happening at this moment with reporter Kim Jeong-woo.

Host) What news is there today?

Reporter) Yes. French President Emmanuel Macron said he would provide $108 million in aid to Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah are fighting. Nearly 25 million people have already voted in the US presidential election so far.

Host) Global Village Today, first, news from the Middle East. France has promised to provide large-scale aid to Lebanon, which is suffering from Israel’s fight against the Islamic militant group Hezbollah.

Reporter) Yes. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would provide approximately $100 million in aid to Lebanon at the International Conference on Support for Lebanon held in Paris on the 24th. President Macron emphasized, “There is an immediate need for large-scale aid for the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese who have fled their homes due to war and the communities that host them.”

Host) How many countries participated in this meeting?

Reporter) Yes. Earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Varro announced on the 23rd that representatives from about 70 countries and 15 international organizations would participate in the meeting. The United Nations said that Lebanon urgently needs $426 million in humanitarian aid. The French hope that such support will be pledged at this meeting.

Host) In addition to France, Germany also announced that it would support Lebanon?

Reporter) That’s right. The German Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 24th, saying, “At this International Conference on Aid to Lebanon, Germany pledges to provide approximately $100 million in aid to help deal with the crisis in Lebanon.” Italy also announced this week that it would provide approximately $10 million in additional aid.

Host) As the Israeli military conducts large-scale attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the damage is increasing, right?

Reporter) Yes. One million people were evacuated, and more than 2,500 people lost their lives. In addition, economic difficulties are increasing. Prime Minister Najib Mikati said at a meeting on the 24th that international support is needed to strengthen and expand the Lebanese army and rebuild destroyed infrastructure. For reference, the size of the Lebanese Army is approximately 80,000 troops.

Host) Meanwhile, the Israeli military attacked Tire, Lebanon, which is well-known to the international community?

Reporter) That’s right. The British BBC reported that the Israeli military carried out air strikes on targets in Tire at least four times on the 23rd. Lebanon’s state news agency said the airstrikes caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, but there were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah command and control centers, including the Southern Front headquarters.

Host) It looks like there were Hezbollah facilities in Tyre, right?

Reporter) Yes. This is an area where Hezbollah is active. Tire city councilors are members of Hezbollah or its allies. But there are also people with no ties to Hezbollah, including a sizable Christian community. Citing a local official, the Associated Press reported on the 23rd that the population of Tire was originally about 100,000, but that since the war began, it is estimated that about 15,000 remain.

Host) Tire is a very historic city, right?

Reporter) Yes. It is a city with a history of 2,500 years and is located approximately 80km south of Beirut. It is a place with pristine beaches, an ancient port, and Roman ruins, and has been designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Tire is one of the largest cities in Lebanon and is a vibrant city visited by many tourists.

Host) The Israeli army and Hezbollah exchanged attacks on the 23rd and 24th, right?

Reporter) That’s right. The Israeli military announced on the 24th that based on information it received, it attacked several Hezbollah weapons depots and manufacturing facilities in the southern suburbs of Beirut last night. Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced on the 24th that it had fired a large rocket into Safed, northern Israel.

Host) Meanwhile, Israel claimed that some reporters from Al Jazeera, an Arab broadcaster, were agents of Hamas, a Palestinian armed organization designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Reporter) Yes. The Israeli military announced on the 23rd that six Al Jazeera reporters covering the Gaza war are agents who are receiving or have received money from a Palestinian rebel organization. All of the people designated by Israel are Palestinians. The Israeli military claimed that four of them were Hamas and the other two were current and former members of Islamic Jihad.

Host) How did Al Jazeera react to such claims?

Reporter) Yes. Al Jazeera accused the Israeli military announcement of being manipulated to target pan-Arab networks and being part of a broader pattern of hostility. Previously, an Israeli court suspended Al Jazeera’s broadcasts and activities in Israel last May. However, there is also an Al Jazeera reporter who died in an Israeli military attack while working in the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera said four journalists have lost their lives in the past 12 months.

Citizens are voting at an early voting station in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, on October 22, 2024.

Host) This time, it is news about the US presidential election. The official election date is November 5th, but I heard that many people have already voted?

Reporter) That’s right. Citing data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab, Reuters reported that nearly 25 million people have already voted early or by mail. The news agency reported that in some places, including the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia, the number of voters who voted on the first day of early voting last week set records.

Host) It is known that Democratic voters are usually more active in early voting, but is it said that this presidential election is showing a slightly different phenomenon than before?

Reporter) Yes. The New York Times newspaper recently reported that voters who support the Republican Party are participating in early voting in this presidential election in greater numbers than before. The newspaper pointed out that this phenomenon would work to the advantage of former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. Candidate Trump also mentioned early voting at an event held in Georgia on the 23rd. “Voting in Georgia is at a record level,” he said. “To be honest, it’s the same in every other state,” he said. “We’re doing really well, and hopefully we can fix America.”

Host) Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris accused candidate Trump of being a ‘fascist’?

Reporter) Yes. John Kelly, who served as Trump’s chief of staff during his term, recently stated that candidate Trump is a fascist. Candidate Harris commented on this remark. Let’s listen to candidate Harris.

“It is clear from John Kelly’s words that Donald Trump is someone who, I quote, “certainly falls into the general definition of fascist. So the bottom line is this: we know what Donald Trump wants. He wants unchecked power.”

Reporter) Yes. “In John Kelly’s words, it is clear that Donald Trump clearly falls under the general definition of a fascist.” He emphasized, “The bottom line is, we know what Donald Trump wants, and he wants unchecked power.” For reference, a fascist is a person who believes in fascism. Fascism refers to an extreme totalitarian and xenophobic political ideology, or a ruling system that follows that ideology.

Host) In addition to former Chief of Staff Kelly, several other high-ranking Trump administration officials also said something similar, right?

Reporter) That’s right. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley revealed in a book written by journalist Bob Woodward that candidate Trump is a fascist. Meanwhile, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on CNN on the 23rd that it is “difficult to say” that candidate Trump does not fall into the category of a fascist.

Host) What did candidate Trump say about former Chief of Staff Kelly’s comments?

Reporter) Yes. Stephen Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, issued a statement accusing John Kelly of making a complete fool of himself with fabricated false stories because he did not serve Trump well during his time as chief of staff.

Host) Candidate Trump campaigned in Georgia on the 23rd, right?

Reporter) That’s right. Candidate Trump declared at a campaign rally that he would scrap all of the Biden administration’s eco-friendly policies. Let’s listen to candidate Trump.

“And on day one of the Trump administration, I will terminate Kamala’s insane electric vehicle mandate and we will end the green new scam once and for all. Once and for all.”

Reporter) Yes. On the first day of the Trump administration, candidate Trump said he would end Harris’ crazy electric vehicle mandate and scrap the new green scam once and for all.

Host) Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, an American electric car company, who declared his support for candidate Trump, announced that he would pick one person every day who signed a petition launched by his political action committee (PAC) and give them $1 million. You promised recently, right? But the Federal Ministry of Justice has notified me that this may be illegal?

Reporter) That’s right. This is what the New York Times reported citing sources. The Justice Department sent a letter to Mr. Musk’s PAC this week warning that giving $1 million to selected voters may be violating federal law. In the United States, it is illegal to pay voters to get their votes.

Host) Global Village concludes today. This was reporter Kim Jeong-woo.