Gaza rescuers say Israeli forces kill 48 as ceasefire calls mount
The swift resolution of Israel's 12-day war with Iran has revived hopes for a halt to the fighting in Gaza,...Geostrategy
Iran voices ‘serious doubts’ over Israel’s commitments, including the ceasefire
Iran also writes to the UN chief to recognize the Israeli regime and the United States as the "initiators of...Geostrategy
Israel seizes 800 hectares of land in West Bank on Blinken’s arrival
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared as "state lands" the area in the northern Jordan Valley. Israeli settlement watchdog Peace...Settlements in the Palestinian territories are illegal under international law. Smotrich, who heads the extreme-right Religious Zionism party, lives in a settlement.
They are now home to more than 490,000 Israelis, who live alongside around three million Palestinians in the territory.
Finland to resume funding to UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Australia, Canada and Sweden, which were among those states, announced earlier this month they were resuming aid. Ten percent of...Finland suspended its yearly funding of five million euros in January, following Israel's allegations that 12 of the UN agency's 30,000 employees were involved in the Hamas attack
Finland's minister Tavio said in a statement that preventing misconduct and initiating close monitoring give sufficient guarantees at this point for resuming the support
Middle East oil policies not dictated by US, says Russia
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – US will no longer be able to dictate oil prices in the Middle East, Director of the...The US cannot dictate prices, although they would like to as the world is becoming a multipolar one, a Russian official said.
"This multipolarity is expressed in particular in the existence of the group of countries known as OPEC+," he added.
UK, Australia call for ‘immediate cessation of fighting’ in Gaza
Adelaide, Australia--Britain and Australia declared the need for an "immediate cessation of fighting" in Gaza, as diplomatic pressure built on Israel...The allies issued a statement that stressed the "urgency of an immediate cessation of fighting in Gaza to allow aid to flow and hostages to be released"
The UK's call for an "immediate cessation of fighting" is a sign that Britain is also growing anxious about the toll of what Israel calls Operation Swords of Iron.
Blinken heads to Israel to press for ‘immediate’ truce in Gaza war
After talks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Blinken flies to Israel on Friday, his sixth trip to the region since...United States said it would submit for a vote on Friday a draft to the Security Council on the need for an "immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal."
Fighting in Gaza this week has centered around Al-Shifa hospital, with Israel also vowing to launch a new ground assault in overcrowded Rafah
Israel spy chief to return to Qatar for Gaza truce talks
The Israeli prime minister's office said that Benjamin Netanyahu approved an Israeli delegation led by Mossad head David Barnea to...Barnea is to meet CIA director, Qatari prime minister and Egypt's intelligence chief
Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead
Death toll in Israeli attack on West Bank refugee camp rises to 4
"Palestine Red Crescent ambulance teams have just transported an 18-year-old young man who was killed by the Israeli occupation forces...Two of the four Palestinians were killed by an air strike and two by live bullets, the Red Crescent said.
More than 430 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since Oct 7.
Russia not in danger of trading oil at a loss, says Lavrov
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Russia does not see the risk of trading oil at a loss due to the redistribution of...Lavrov expressed confidence that Moscow is not frightened of relying on countries that will buy Russian oil and gas.
OPEC+ regulates the market and prices in an equitable manner, taking into account the interests of consumers, the minister said.
UN General Assembly to address AI’s potential risks, rewards
The resolution focuses more on the technology's positive potential, and calls for special care "to bridge the artificial intelligence and...The text, co-sponsored by dozens of countries, emphasizes the necessity of guidelines "to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems"
The draft resolution seeks "to promote, not hinder, digital transformation and equitable access" to AI in order to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals
‘US circulates draft UN resolution calling for immediate truce in Gaza’
"Of course, we stand with Israel and its right to defend itself... but at the same time, it's imperative that...We actually have a resolution that we put forward right now that's before the United Nations Security Council that does call for an immediate ceasefire, Blinken said
The United States had previously used its UN Security Council veto to block the world body from calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian territory
