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LTFRB now led by board member

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) confirmed on Tuesday that Mercy P. Leynes is now the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), following the suspension of its chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz III for alleged corruption.

In a special order, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the appointment of Ms. Leynes, who currently serves as LTFRB board member, will be effective on Oct. 10, 2023 to Oct. 9, 2024.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered the relief of Mr. Guadiz as LTFRB chairman after Jeffrey G. Tumbado, a former executive assistant of the suspended official, appeared in a transport group’s press conference to expose alleged corruption in the agency.

In a separate statement on Monday, DoTr has asked Mr. Guadiz to explain the allegations against him.

“We already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB. While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [Chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations,” Mr. Bautista said.  — Ashley Erika O. Jose

3 delivery men killed in ambush

KJPARGETER-FREEPIK

COTABATO CITY — Motorcycle-riding gunmen armed with M-16 assault rifles opened fire at a truck loaded with dozens of motorcycles along the highway in Gingoog City on Tuesday morning, killing the driver and his two delivery crew members.

The Gingoog City Police Station said the ambush happened at 11 a.m. along a secluded stretch of the highway in Barangay Aracan. During the attack, the driver lost control of the delivery truck, causing it to tip over to its side and crash in the middle of the road.

All the victims were working for a motorcycle store in Cagayan de Oro City, where the motorcycles loaded on the truck were supposed to be delivered.

The Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office, in a separate statement, said the motive in the attack was still under investigation. — John Felix M. Unson

Pagdanganan climbs world golf rankings

REJUVENATED Bianca Pagdanganan soared to a year-high 160th in the women’s world golf rankings after turning in third and second place finishes in the last two weeks.

From No. 314 in late September, Ms. Pagdanganan made a big 81-spot leap to 233 with joint third place in the NW Arkansas Championship on Oct. 1.

Not stopping there, the 25-year-old big hitter followed this career-best-equaling feat with a new all-time high of shared runner-up in Sunday’s Ascendant LPGA Benefitting Volunteers of America in Texas.

This feat enabled Ms. Pagdanganan to make a jump of 73 in the latest rankings released yesterday. Overall, the Tokyo Olympics veteran enjoyed a climb of 154 spots over the last weeks, giving her a big boost going into her next competitions.

At the same time, Ms. Pagdanganan’s pair of superb performances netted her combined earnings of $256,186.

Meanwhile, Dottie Ardina moved 12 spots up to No. 325 after tying for 24th in the Ascendant LPGA.

Yuka Saso, who formerly represented the Philippines, shared 28th in the Stanley Ladies Honda of the LPGA of Japan Tour over in Shizuoka, and remained at No. 24.

American Lilia Vu maintained her hold of top spot as Chinese Ruoning Yin, South Korea’s Jin Young Ko, American Nelly Korda and France’s Celine Boutier stayed at Nos. 2 to 5. — Olmin Leyba

Wembanyama, Holmgren star in preseason debuts

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA put on an impressive display in his preseason debut Monday, but was outdone by another big man playing in his first NBA exhibition contest, Chet Holmgren.

Mr. Holmgren logged 21 points and nine rebounds, guiding the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 122-121 win over Mr. Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

Mr. Wembanyama wound up with 20 points and five rebounds.

Mr. Wembanyama, the first overall pick in this year’s draft out of France, said of Mr. Holmgren, the second overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2022 draft, “I feel like he hurt us. … I know it’s just preseason but for sure the games against OKC are gonna be interesting.” Mr. Holmgren said.

“I feel like Vic as well as myself really did a good job (Monday) of understanding that it’s not the Chet versus Vic Show. We want that to be a charity game in the summer or something, but this is the Thunder versus Spurs.”

”It’s preseason. We’re trying to get better within our teams, and sometimes that comes down to making a play individually, but going out there and making it about ourselves wasn’t what I was trying to do and I’m sure it wasn’t what he was trying to do on his end.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said about Mr. Holmgren, “He’s fantastic. … He’s got a complete game, he’s smart, he knows how to play, he’s a good one for sure.”

Speaking about the two rookie big men, Mr. Popovich said, “They’re gonna be a lot of fun for everybody to watch over their careers.”

Mr. Holmgren played 16 minutes, all in the first half, and hit seven of his 10 field-goal attempts, including both of his shots from 3-point range. Mr. Wembanyama played 19 minutes before sitting out the fourth quarter. He shot 8 of 13 from the field and 2 of 5 from 3-point range.

Mr. Wembanyama grabbed two steals but committed a game-high four turnovers.

The Thunder led by 13 points with less than five minutes left in the game before holding on for the win.

Oklahoma City’s Ousmane Dieng blocked a layup attempt by Charles Bediako with 4.1 seconds left, and San Antonio’s Devonte’ Graham missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

The Spurs open the regular season against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 25, the same day the Thunder begin on the road against the Chicago Bulls. The first of four regular-season meetings between the Spurs and Thunder is scheduled for Nov. 14 in Oklahoma City. — Reuters

Raiders ride three interceptions to victory

LAS VEGAS cornerback Amik Robertson intercepted a pass from Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love in the end zone with 44 seconds to go, and the Raiders held on for a 17-13 win over the visiting Packers on Monday night.

Linebacker Robert Spillane added two interceptions for Las Vegas (2-3), which won for the first time since its season opener.

Jimmy Garoppolo completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Raiders.

Love connected on 16 of 30 passes for 182 yards and threw three interceptions for Green Bay (2-3).

AJ Dillon scored the Packers’ lone touchdown and finished with 20 carries for 76 yards.

Defensive end Maxx Crosby finished with one sack and four tackles for loss for the Raiders, who allowed a season low in points.

Las Vegas scored the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Josh Jacobs rushed for a 2-yard score to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive.

The Packers trailed by a touchdown at halftime but scored 10 straight points in the third quarter to take a 13-10 advantage.

Mr. Dillon evened the score at 10-10 on a 5-yard rushing touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. It marked his first trip to the end zone this season.

Green Bay pulled ahead 13-10 on Anders Carlson’s 22-yard field goal with 5:16 to go in the third quarter.

A 77-yard completion from Love to Christian Watson set up the score.

The Packers opened the scoring with 2:38 left in the first quarter. Carlson made a 37-yard field goal to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive.

Las Vegas grabbed a 7-3 lead with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter. Garoppolo found Jakobi Meyers on a slant route across the middle, and Mr. Meyers outmuscled a defender to reach the end zone for a 9-yard TD.

The Raiders made it 10-3 less than two minutes later. Four plays after Spillane’s first interception of the night, Daniel Carlson, the older brother of the Packers’ kicker, made a 26-yard field goal.

Green Bay played without running back Aaron Jones, who was inactive because of a hamstring injury. — Reuters

FIA boss Ben Sulayem wants more F1 teams and fewer races

DOHA — Formula One needs more teams and fewer races and should welcome Michael Andretti’s entry bid as good for business and the spirit of the sport, according to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The Emirati told Reuters at the Qatar Grand Prix he was optimistic the planned American 11th team with General Motors’ Cadillac brand would make it to the starting grid despite opposition from existing competitors.

The governing FIA announced last week it had approved Mr. Andretti’s application and sent it on to Liberty Media-owned Formula One Management (FOM) for commercial discussions.

Those detailed talks could take some time.

“Saying no to a team which has been approved by the FIA, it’s very hard to say no,” Ben Sulayem said in his office at the Lusail circuit.

“You can call me optimistic, I’m always optimistic. I think yes,” he added when asked whether he thought Mr. Andretti would prevail. Ben Sulayem said Liberty Media’s share price had gone up when the FIA’s approval of Andretti was announced.

The FIA should be asking, begging, OEMs (car manufacturers) to come in. We should not just say no to them,” he said. “If you say what is my dream, it is to fill up the 12 (slots) and to have one US team from an OEM and a PU (power unit) and a driver from there driving. And then go to China maybe and ask for the same thing and do it.”

Teams are opposed to increasing the grid beyond the current 10 because it would reduce their share of the prize pot and dilute their overall value, but they have no say in the decision.

Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali has sounded lukewarm and said any expansion had to be right for the business. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has said anyone wanting to join the party should buy an existing team, an expensive option with the sport’s popularity surging and valuations around the $1-billion mark.

A new team must pay a $200-million dilution fee, to be shared among existing competitors, under the current rules but some say that is not enough.

“You cannot force Andretti/GM to buy another team just because they (the owners) want to sell,” said Ben Sulayem. “I won’t mention names but they were after me to go on and convince GM to do that. It’s not my job. I was not elected to do that. I am not a broker.”

“We are allowed to have 12 teams (in the rules). Some of the teams said ‘Oh, it will be crowded’. Really? We are already running a Hollywood team with us,” he said, referring to Brad Pitt’s F1 movie being filmed at some races.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said in May that new teams would be hard to fit in.

“The circuits are supposed to have enough garages and space for 12 teams…I think the number of races is too much (rather) than the number of teams. We need more teams and fewer races,” continued Ben Sulayem. “The teams are looking at the piece of cake. I understand their worries…but our worries are different.”

Next season will have a record 24 rounds, up from 22 this year and 19 a decade ago, and staff burnout is a concern.

Ben Sulayem said Mr. Andretti could also enter without a commercial agreement, although whether they would want to is another matter. “We hope not. But it could happen. It can happen,” he said.

He dismissed talk of a power struggle between Formula One and the FIA but emphasised the governing body’s position as ‘landlord.’

“We are not a service provider. We own the championship. We leased it, we are the landlord. So that has to be respected also,” he said. “My intention was never to embarrass or to put someone in a corner, Liberty or FOM (Formula One Management). I am here for the spirit of the sport.” — Reuters

LA 2028 Olympics proposes adding flag football, cricket, other sports

LOS ANGELES — Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics want cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash and baseball-softball added to the event, they said Monday.

The organizers’ recommendations are subject to final approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with a session set for Mumbai later this month.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the sports are likely to be approved. “In building the Olympic sport program, we were willing to challenge the status quo and think differently about what’s possible for the Games in Los Angeles,” LA28 Chief Executive Officer Kathy Carter said in a statement.

“We’ve landed on a bold and balanced proposal that will energize the Games with culturally relevant competition and boundless possibility.”

Of those five sports, three have never been included in an Olympic program. Flag football, squash and lacrosse would make their Olympic debut, if approved.

“We are one huge step closer to a monumental milestone for our sport and international community,” said World Lacrosse, the sport’s governing body, in a statement.

“We are on a path of ascendancy, and will be a great partner for LA28 and the IOC.”

Cricket, which enjoys enormous global appeal, would return after appearing once at the 1900 Games, following the tremendous success for women’s cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“While this is not the final decision, it is a very significant landmark towards seeing cricket at the Olympics for the first time in more than a century,” International Cricket Council Chairman Greg Barclay said in a statement.

Baseball was featured in several previous Games. It was added to the 2020 Tokyo program after being left off in 2012 and 2016, but it will not be a part of the Paris Games.

Softball, the female counterpart to baseball, has appeared at five previous editions of the Summer Games and was also left off the Paris agenda.

An IOC spokesperson said the LA28 proposal for the additional sports was “well received.”

“Following the review by the Olympic Program Commission, a recommendation will be made to the IOC Executive Board (12-13 October in Mumbai). If accepted, it will then be presented to the IOC Session (15-17 October in Mumbai) for approval,” the spokesperson said. “We are looking forward to the upcoming resentations.” — Reuters

Aces live up to ‘favorite’ tag

Forget about the hype. If there’s anything the Aces proved the other day, it’s that they deserve to be the heavy favorites in the 2023 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals. For all the talk about the Liberty having closed in on them through the second half of the season, they showed with their blowout victory that there is, in fact, still a gap, and that no less than a collective effort is needed to upend them, especially when they’re in front of a capacity crowd at the Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Admittedly, it looked as if the Aces would have their hands full early on in Game One. Perhaps caught up in the moment, they suffered from lapses in judgment — poor passes, ill-advised shots, missed rotations — that enabled the Liberty to keep pace and subsequently build an advantage. They were likewise shaken by the early entry of erstwhile supersub Marine Johannes in the set-to; her unorthodox playing style and penchant for taking — and making — shots out of position caught them off-guard.

Clearly, however, 2022 Coach of the Year awardee Becky Hammon managed to right the ship at the break. Whatever she said in the locker room paid huge dividends as the Aces hit the ground running in the second half and outscored their supposed equals by a whopping 20 points the rest of the way. They exposed the Liberty’s sieve-like defense in the backcourt and took advantage of ensuing mismatches that highlighted their strengths. And with their deadly three-guard combo of Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray plowing through time and again, the outcome became a foregone conclusion.

Make no mistake. The Liberty have the talent — and, yes, the depth — to take the measure of the Aces. And when they’re able to bring their pluses on paper to the court, they’re close to unstoppable. With chief bench tactician Sandy Brondello tightening the rotation (and not without reason), though, they’ve effectively limited their options. While there’s theoretically nothing wrong with placing the burden on their heavy hitters, they didn’t exactly play that way in their runup to the playoffs.

It’s fair to argue that the Aces’ deliberate reliance on just six cogs leaves them open to fatigue as the series progresses. On the other hand, it’s not as if they aren’t already used to the load; also, the turnaround time between contests is ample enough to stimulate recovery. Also, the result cannot be denied; they claimed the Finals opener with just six players, and one did not even get to score. Evidently, they’re rolling with what got them the opportunity to defend their crown, and they’re betting that the opposition won’t be able to make them pay for their stubbornness.

Meanwhile, the Liberty are hard-pressed to make better use of the weapons at their disposal. Questions abound. How can Johannes be consistently productive, and not just in spurts? Is there need to dust off Stefanie Dolson? Should Kayla Thornton have more than just a token appearance? Brondello and company are, no doubt, sifting through tape and making adjustments. How well they do will determine the final score in Game Two tomorrow.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Smartphone makers seen to ramp up foldable production as demand rises 

TRUSTPAIR.COM

Smartphone makers are expected to increase and diversify their foldable offerings due to their rising popularity, according to market research firm Counterpoint.

Counterpoint, in its study commissioned by electronics manufacturer Oppo, expects global shipments of foldable units to reach 55 million by 2025, up from 13.1 million last year.

The research firm has projected a 114% compound annual growth rate from 2019 to 2025.

“We expect the next generation of foldable phones to surpass traditional flagships in overall performance and offer users an unprecedented experience,” Counterpoint said.

The foldable market is poised for further growth due to technological advancements, declining prices, and the expanding presence of Chinese OEMs in overseas markets,” it added, noting that China had the largest share in the foldable market last year at 26%.

“This segment represents a key area of opportunity within the broader global smartphone industry.”

Foldables are expected to hold a 16% share in the ultra-premium segments of the global smartphone market in 2025, up from the 7% recorded last year, Counterpoint said.

“The next generation of foldable smartphones will deliver reliability and image performance comparable to regular flat flagship models while surpassing them in interactive experiences and productivity.”

Oppo, Huawei, Samsung, Vivo, Motorola, and Google are among the current industry providers of foldable smartphones. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

Sony says BRAVIA TVs prioritize child safety, cinematic experience

Company Handout

Sony is keen on providing safety features in its televisions to mitigate the prevalent lack of adult supervision among children, the multinational electronics company said on Monday.

“Television can play a role in a child’s cognitive development,” Sony said in an e-mailed press statement. “However, the impact of screen exposure depends on viewing habits and consumption.” 

“With proper regulation, guidance, and by using the right tools and devices, parents can maximize the benefits of TV and ensure a safe home entertainment experience for children,” it added.

A study from the National Council for Children’s Television said that 48.3% of its respondents aged nine to 17 watching TV were supervised by an adult. 

Additionally, a review published in Frontiers in Psychology last year said that the viewing context is a major determinant of children’s development, which begs consideration given the “impossible removal” of screens from any environment. 

“Indeed, supervised viewing of appropriate-age content in the foreground can be beneficial, particularly when interactions occur,” it said. 

“It is imperative to inform caregivers… about the risks associated with prolonged exposure to screen viewing in the wrong context and instead reinforce contexts that promote learning, such as viewing chosen age-adapted content and viewing with adult supervision.” 

According to Sony, its BRAVIA TVs are equipped with the Google TV Kids feature, which allows parents to select apps, create watch lists, and apply content restrictions for their children. Sony’s BRAVIA TVs have large screens with 4K resolution and immersive sound. 

The XR line comes with a camera and proximity alert to establish a recommended viewing distance and prevent audio-visual complications. 

“It’s worth noting that while [these] can offer safety in TV consumption, watching with guardians and parents is still the best way to guarantee a safe viewing experience for children,” Sony said. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

IMF says global economy ‘limping along,’ cuts growth forecast for China

REUTERS

MARRAKECH, Morocco — The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday cut its growth forecasts for China and the euro area and said overall global growth remained low and uneven despite what it called the “remarkable strength” of the U.S. economy.

The IMF left its forecast for global real GDP growth in 2023 unchanged at 3.0% in its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO), but cut its 2024 forecast by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9% from its July forecast. World output grew 3.5% in 2022.

IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told reporters the global economy continued to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and last year’s energy crisis, but growth trends were increasingly divergent across the globe, and prospects for medium-term growth were “mediocre.”

Gourinchas said the forecasts generally pointed to a soft landing, but the IMF remained concerned about risks related to the real estate crisis in China, volatile commodity prices, geopolitical fragmentation, and a resurgence in inflation.

A fresh unexpected risk emerged in the form of the Israel-Palestinian conflict just as finance officials from 190 countries gathered in Marrakech for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, but came after the IMF’s quarterly outlook update was locked down on Sept. 26.

Gourinchas told Reuters it was too early to say how the major escalation in the long-running conflict would affect the global economy: “Depending how the situation might unfold, there are many very different scenarios that we have not even yet started to explore, so we can’t make any assessment at this point yet.”

Stronger growth is being throttled by the lingering impact of the pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and increasing fragmentation, along with rising interest rates, extreme weather events and shrinking fiscal support, the IMF said. Total global output in 2023 is slated to be 3.4%, or roughly $3.6 trillion, below pre-pandemic projections.

“The global economy is showing resilience. It’s not knocked out by the big shocks it’s experienced in the last two or three years, but it’s not doing too great either,” Gourinchas told Reuters in an interview. “We see a global economy that is limping along and it’s not quite sprinting yet.”

The medium-term outlook is no better. The IMF is projecting growth of 3.1% in 2028, well below the 4.9% five-year forecast it had on the eve of the global financial crisis in 2008-2009.

“You have uncertainty. You have geoeconomic fragmentation, low productivity growth, and low demographics. You put all these things together and you have a slowdown in medium-term growth,” he told Reuters.

NOT QUITE THERE ON INFLATION
Inflation continued to decline around the globe due to a fall in energy prices and to a lesser extent food prices. It is expected to drop to an annual average of 6.9% in 2023, from 8.7% in 2022, and to 5.8% in 2024.

Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, is coming down more gradually, and should drop to 6.3% in 2023, from 6.4% in 2022, and to 5.3% in 2024, given still-tight labor markets and stickier-than-expected services inflation, the IMF said.

“We’re not quite there,” Gourinchas said in a separate meeting with reporters, adding the IMF was warning monetary authorities not to ease interest rates too soon.

Labor markets were generally quite buoyant and unemployment rates were at historical lows in most advanced economies, but there was not much evidence of a wage-price spiral that could trigger a second round of price inflation, even with a major strike by U.S. autoworkers in the United States.

“We’re not seeing strong signs of an out-of-control sequence of wages chasing prices and prices chasing wages,” he said.

The IMF said uncertainty had narrowed considerably since its April forecasts were released, but there were still more downside than upside risks for 2024. The chance of growth falling below 2% – which has only occurred five times since 1970 – was now seen at 15%, compared with 25% in April.

The IMF noted that investment was uniformly lower than before the pandemic, with businesses showing less appetite for expansion and risk-taking amid rising interest rates, withdrawal of fiscal support and stricter lending conditions.

Gourinchas said the fund was advising countries to remain vigilant on monetary policy until inflation was durably coming down toward targets, while urging them to rebuild thin fiscal buffers to address future challenges or shocks.

US GROWTH BEATING PRE-PANDEMIC FORECASTS
The IMF raised its forecast for growth in the United States, the world’s largest economy, by 0.3 percentage point to 2.1% for 2023, and by 0.5 percentage point to 1.5% for next year, citing stronger business investment and growing consumption. That makes the U.S. the only major economy to beat pre-pandemic forecasts.

In China, by contrast, GDP was expected to expand 5.0% in 2023 and 4.2% in 2024, reflecting respective downward revisions of 0.2 and 0.3 percentage point, mainly due to the country’s real estate crisis and weak external demand.

Gourinchas said “forceful action” was needed in China to clean up the real estate sector and while authorities had taken some steps, more work was needed. “If that doesn’t happen, then there is a chance that that problem could fester and become worse,” he said.

The IMF also cut its growth estimates for the euro area to 0.7% in 2023 and 1.2% in 2024, down from respective July forecasts of 0.9% and 1.5%.

The UK, which like the euro area has been hit hard by the shock of high energy prices, saw its growth forecast raised by 0.1 percentage point to 0.5% for 2023, but cut by 0.4 percentage point to 0.6% for 2024.

Japan is expected to see growth of 2.0% in 2023, a 0.6 percentage point upward revision, buoyed by pent-up demand, a surge in inbound tourism, its accommodative monetary policy and a rebound in auto exports, the IMF said. It left Japan’s 2024 growth outlook unchanged at 1.0%. — Reuters

Israel says Gaza border secured after another night of air strikes

REUTERS

JERUSALEM/GAZA — Israel said on Tuesday it had re-established control over the Gaza border and was planting mines where Hamas militants had toppled the barrier during their bloody weekend assault, after another night of relentless Israeli air raids on the enclave.

Israel’s latest round of air strikes came after Hamas threatened to execute an Israeli captive every time Israel bombed a Palestinian home without warning.

The Israeli military also called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, raising fears it planned a ground assault in response to the most audacious and deadly Hamas attack in decades.

The violence, which has claimed more than 1,500 lives, prompted international declarations of support for Israel, street protests in support of Palestinians, and appeals for an end to the fighting and protection of civilians.

Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 injured, and dozens taken captive. Among the Israeli dead were 260 mostly young people gunned down at a desert music festival, where some of the hostages were abducted.

In remarks aired by Israel’s Army Radio, chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said there had been no new infiltrations from Gaza since Monday. In an apparent response to rumors that gunmen used cross-border tunnels, he said the military had no such findings.

Gaza’s Health Ministry on Monday said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday’s attacks by Hamas.

Apartment blocks, a mosque and hospitals were among the sites attacked, and the strikes destroyed some roads and houses, according to media reports and eyewitnesses.

Israel also bombed the headquarters of the private Palestinian Telecommunication Co., which could affect landline telephone, internet and mobile phone services.

The strikes continued into the night on Monday. The Israeli military said it hit targets in the Gaza Strip from the sea and air, including a weapons depot it said belonged to Islamic Jihad and Hamas targets along Gaza’s coast line.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida issued the threat on Monday to kill Israelis among the dozens held captive after the surprise attack on Saturday morning. He said Hamas would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, and broadcast the execution.

There was no immediate response from the Israeli military to that threat. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said more than 100 people had been taken captive by Hamas during the deadly cross-border incursion over the weekend.

FORCED FROM HOME
Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there.

Dozens of people in Gaza City’s Remal neighborhood fled their homes.

“We took ourselves, children and grandchildren and daughters-in-law and we ran away. I can say that we became refugees. We don’t have safety or security. What’s this life? This is not a life,” resident Salah Hanouneh, 73, said.

In Israel’s south, scene of the Hamas attack, Israel’s chief military spokesperson said troops had re-established control of communities inside Israel that had been overrun, but isolated clashes continued as some gunmen remained active.

The announcement that 300,000 reservists had been activated in just two days added to speculation that Israel could be contemplating a ground assault of Gaza, a territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago.

“We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale,” Mr. Hagari said. “We are going on the offensive.”

Washington — which provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military assistance each year — said it was sending in fresh supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance to Israel.

The United States’ top general warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis and said he did not want the conflict to the broaden. Iran makes no secret of its backing for Hamas and has applauded the weekend attack while denying any involvement.

“We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear,” General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters traveling with him to Brussels.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed US support for Israel in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the State Department said in a statement early Tuesday.

Mr. Blinken “reaffirmed our efforts to secure the immediate release of all hostages,” the statement said.

Governments including Italy, Thailand and Ukraine reported that their citizens had perished in the Hamas attacks. In Washington, President Joseph R. Biden announced that at least 11 Americans had been killed and it was likely US citizens were among those held hostage.

As Israel conducted intense retaliatory strikes on Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing a tightened blockade to prevent food and fuel from reaching the strip, home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas-affiliated media said at least 20 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on houses in the Gaza Strip late on Monday. Palestinian media also reported that an Israeli air strike on a building in Gaza City had killed two Palestinian journalists and seriously wounded a third.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the reports. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said some 137,000 people were taking shelter with UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides essential services to Palestinians.

The British, French, German, Italian and US governments issued a joint statement recognizing the “legitimate aspirations” of the Palestinian people and supporting equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

They also said they would remain “united and coordinated” to ensure Israel can defend itself.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan called on Hamas and Israel to immediately end violence and protect civilians, the Egyptian presidency said.

Qatari mediators held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by Hamas in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.

The prospect that fighting could spread alarmed the region and world.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in response to at least three of its members being killed in Israeli shelling of Lebanon. Israel said one of its deputy commanders was killed in an earlier cross-border raid from Lebanon. — Reuters

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