Israeli military inquiry says it ‘failed to protect’ civilians on October 7
JERUSALEM – The Israeli military drastically underestimated the capabilities of Hamas before its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and “failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians”, a…
Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich to meet US Treasury secretary next week
JERUSALEM – Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a right-winger kept at arms length by Washington under former President Joe Biden, will meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington next…
Explainer-A call for peace in Turkey: what’s in it for key actors?
ISTANBUL – Turkey’s 40-year battle against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) could be nearing an end after its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, called on the militant group on Thursday to…
G20 finance meeting fails to agree joint communique
CAPE TOWN – A meeting of finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 nations in South Africa failed on Wednesday to come up with a joint communique,…
German court jails two Afghans for planning attack on Swedish parliament
BERLIN – Two Afghan nationals, aged 30 and 24, have been handed prison sentences in Germany for planning an attack on the Swedish parliament and for supporting the Islamic State…
Services collapsing as USAID cuts health contracts worldwide
LONDON/JOHANNESBURG – U.S.-funded health projects around the world, including those providing lifesaving care, received termination notices from Washington on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s administration neared completion of a review…
Italy readies $3 billion package to help families, firms cope with energy costs
ROME – Italy will unveil a set of measures on Friday worth roughly 3 billion euros ($3.14 billion) to help families and firms cope with high energy costs, Deputy Prime…
Cyprus should have investigated UK woman’s gang rape claim, European Human Rights Court rules
Cyprus failed in its legal duty to investigate a British woman’s allegation in 2019 that she had been gang-raped by Israeli tourists on the holiday island, the European Court of…
Actor Gene Hackman and wife found dead in home – local media
LONDON – Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead in their home in the U.S. state of New Mexico, the Santa Fe…
Hamas says it’s ready for more ceasefire talks after prisoner exchange
JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV/GAZA – Militant group Hamas said on Thursday it was ready to begin talks on the second phase of a ceasefire in Gaza after several hundred Palestinians were released…