Israel, Hamas ceasefire begins Sunday, includes hostage deal, phased Israeli withdrawal, more aid for Gaza
The deal, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, includes Hamas releasing 33 hostages and Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian...Geostrategy
Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera broadcasts
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera across the Palestinian territories, accusing the...Geostrategy
OPEC Fund provides US$50m loan to support agriculture in quake-hit Türkiye
VIENNA, AUSTRIA – The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is extending a US$50 million loan to Türkiye to...The Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB) will on-lend the funds to small and medium-sized enterprises.
This will help efforts to overcome the calamity’s impact and to promote a more resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.
US military says struck 3 Houthi underground storage sites in Yemen
The Houthis began attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in November, a campaign they say...US forces "conducted self-defense strikes against three Houthi underground storage facilities in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen," CENTCOM said
US forces had also "successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles" in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen throughout Friday
UN Security Council vote on new Gaza ceasefire text postponed to Monday
Eight of the council's 10 non-permanent members have been working on the draft, which also calls for the "immediate and...The new, tougher draft resolution, seen by AFP, "demands an immediate ceasefire" for the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan that leads "to a permanent sustainable ceasefire"
Eight of the council's 10 non-permanent members have been working on the draft, which also calls for the "immediate and unconditional" release of hostages seized by Hamas
UN chief to visit Gaza border as Israel vows to go ahead with Rafah attack
On Saturday, UN chief Guterres plans to meet with aid workers on the Egyptian side of Rafah, just across the...During his visit, Guterres plans to reiterate his call for ceasefire, though international pressure has so far failed to dissuade Israel from the planned ground offensive in Rafah
Despite warnings that such an invasion would cause mass civilian casualties and worsen the humanitarian crisis, Netanyahu said he must press ahead with the attack
UN official urges $4bn humanitarian aid for cash-strapped Syria
Beirut, Lebanon - A UN official on Friday appealed for about $4 billion in humanitarian assistance for Syria, warning funding was..."In 2024, we are appealing for $4.07 billion to provide lifesaving aid to 10.8 million Syrians, out of 16.7 million people assessed to be in need of assistance," he said
Abdelmoula also noted "Syria's vulnerability to climate shocks", exacerbated by conflict, warning of water scarcity and "heatwaves impacting agriculture and livestock"
Iraqi PM to visit Washington for troop talks
Washington, US – President Joe Biden will welcome Iraq's prime minister on April 15 for talks on the US troop presence,...The visit will mark the first trip to Washington by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, who took office in October 2022.
Sudani in the past has called for an exit of US forces, redeployed nearly 10 years ago as part of a campaign to defeat the Islamic State
EU to tell big tech firms to curb election risks or face fines
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The EU will put more pressure on the most popular online platforms, like X and TikTok, to tackle...The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is expected to adopt new guidelines.
They will come under the EU's mammoth content moderation law, the Digital Services Act.
US, Israel hold talks as Gaza truce plan fails at UN
Israel plans to send troops into Gaza's Rafah even without US support, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Antony Blinken, as...US has repeatedly blocked ceasefire resolutions at the UN Security Council but tried to pass a text mentioning an "immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal".
World leaders including staunch allies of Israel backed the renewed diplomatic push.
Libya to continue Tunisia border closure till end of smuggling
Tripoli, Libya - Libya's shutdown of its main border crossing with Tunisia this week will remain in force until authorities put...Authorities aim to "ensure the security of the borders and combat crime and smuggling," Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi said.
The crossing was shut down on Tuesday after clashes between armed groups and security forces on the Libyan side the night before.
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.
