Hamas armed wing says fired ‘large rocket barrage’ at Tel Aviv
Rocket sirens blared in Tel Aviv for the first time in months, with an AFP correspondent reported hearing at least...Geostrategy
Norway, Ireland, Spain to recognize Palestinian state
The announcement is the second diplomatic blow this week after the International Criminal Court prosecutor said he would seek arrest...Geostrategy
Qatar brokers release of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero Paul Rusesabagina
His detention sparked criticism in the West and among rights groups, and highlighted Rwanda's record of crushing political dissent and...Shortly before midnight on Friday, Rusesabagina arrived at the Qatari ambassador's residence in Kigali, a US official said
He will likely stay there for "a couple of days" before flying to Qatar, which helped broker his release, and then to the United States
China has not yet delivered arms to Russia: US President
Ottawa, Canada--US President Joe Biden on Friday said he believed China has not sent arms to Russia after President Vladimir Putin's...The president told reporters in Canada that he had been hearing that China will provide weapons to Russia, but they haven't yet
While maintaing that he didn't take China or Russia lightly, he added that reports of their rapprochement were "exaggerated"
US enters into deal with Canada on illegal migration during Biden trip
Face-to-face talks between Biden and Trudeau covered a range of areas where both sides are pushing for improvements. A joint...Biden signalled a resolution to one irritant in the close relationship, with a deal on managing the growing issue of undocumented migration on US, Canada border
The two leaders also reaffirmed support for pro-Western Ukraine "for as long as it takes" in its war to push back Russian invasion, and issued a warning to China
Biden says not seeking conflict with Iran after strikes that killed 14
The US president sought to lower the temperature on Friday, saying the United States "does not seek conflict with Iran,...Pentagon said a US contractor died, and another contractor and five military personnel were wounded by a kamikaze drone "of Iranian origin"
In response, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that, at Biden's direction, he had ordered the precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria
Greece, Italy to discuss rail ‘restart’ after tragedy: PM
Following last month's rail tragedy, Greece's prime minister said that he would discuss with Italy safety improvements on Geek trains...The prime minister said that his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni accepted an invitation to talks in Athens before the Greek general election in May
Late last month, two trains collided head-on after running on the same track for several kilometers (miles), killing 57 people
Dozens of sub-Saharan migrants missing in latest Tunisia shipwreck
The boat carrying 38 people had set off Thursday from near Sfax and was attempting to reach Italy, said Fawzi...Tunisia's population of 12 million hosts an estimated 21,000 migrants from other parts of Africa, representing 0.2 percent of the population.
Earlier Friday, Alarm Phone, a charity monitoring migrant boats, said that 40 people were at risk on a "boat in distress trying to escape Tunisia".
France bars public employees from using TikTok on work phones
Paris, France - France on Friday banned public-sector employees from downloading "recreational applications" on their work phones, the public services ministry...The ban would include "game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix and recreational apps like TikTok".
Recreational applications do not present sufficient levels of cybersecurity and data protection to be deployed on administrative equipment," said the public services ministry.
Funding for UN refugee operations swells via Zakat Fund
Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani of Qatar, who serves as a UNHCR advocate, has been the biggest contributor..."Last year, we raised more than $20 million in Ramadan alone," said Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR's representative to the GCC countries. "We are hoping to exceed that this year."
The agency said it was increasingly able to channel obligatory donations under Islam to help fund its activities.
Israel attorney general criticizes judicial reform move
JERUSALEM -Israel's attorney general on Friday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "illegal" public intervention on the government's divisive judicial...The prime minister must avoid any involvement in changes in the judicial system, Israel’s attorney general said.
Israel’s PM pledged to do everything to find a solution that would satisfy both supporters and critics of the judicial reforms.
Those who sow the wind reap the whirlwind: Iran on French protests
Kanani was referring to criticism, including from France, of Iran's response to months-long protests triggered by the death of Mahsa...Protesters clashed with French security forces on Thursday in the most serious violence yet of a three-month revolt against Macron's decision to increase the retirement age
Kanani was referring to criticism, including from France, of Iran's response to months-long protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini after the 22-year-old's arrest
