World

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war took effect early Friday, setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza in return for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The halt in fighting promised some relief for Gaza’s 2.3 million people, who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families …

A cease-fire agreement between the Hamas militant group and Israel has been confirmed by both parties, along with Washington and Qatar, which helped broker the deal that would bring a temporary halt to the devastating war that is now in its seventh week. Palestinians mourn the members of the Abu Shalama family killed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on …

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke again with his Israeli counterpart Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, the Pentagon said Tuesday.  The two discussed Israel’s operations against Hamas as well as the “criticality of increasing and sustaining humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in Gaza,” according to the statement. Austin also emphasized to Gallant the US’ support for Israel and “the …

A federal appeals court on Monday ruled against a key tool used to enforce the Voting Rights Act – possibly setting up another Supreme Court showdown over one of the nation’s landmark civil rights laws. A voter fills out their ballot at the U.S. Air Force MEPS Liaison building on November 7, 2023, in Jackson, Mississippi.Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesCNN —  In a ruling that …

The Israeli military announced a brief suspension on Sunday of “military activities” in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, for “humanitarian purposes.”  A relative tries to salvage items from a destroyed home in Rafah, Gaza, on November 19. Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images The pause took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time (3 a.m. to 7 a.m. …

Six doctors will stay behind to take care of 120 patients who cannot move due to poor health conditions at Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, the facility’s Head of Plastic Surgery Ahmed El Mokhallalati said Saturday, after others left following a reported evacuation order.    “Most of the medical staff had left Al-Shifa hospital, as the Israeli occupation army ordered everyone to …

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Internet and phone service was partially restored to the Gaza Strip on Saturday, ending a telecommunications blackout that forced the United Nations to shut down critical humanitarian aid deliveries because it was unable to coordinate its convoys. Meantime, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building on the outskirts of the town of Khan Younis, killing at least …

United States and the Philippines, on Thursday signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, commonly known as a “123 Agreement,” at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco.  According to the State Department, upon entry into force, the agreement will facilitate and enhance “our cooperation on clean energy security and strengthen our alliance. This signing marks the successful culmination …

It happened, therefore it was a success. President Joe Biden’s summit with China’s President Xi Jinping south of San Francisco Wednesday may have closed a trap door under the world’s most critical diplomatic relationship, which has plunged to its most acrimonious level in 50 years. But with expectations set so deliberately low and with each side having significant incentives to declare the meeting productive, …

The Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS Africa Focus Group, co-chaired by Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, has reaffirmed its commitment to confronting and defeating Daesh/ISIS in West Africa and elsewhere in the world. The reaffirmation was contained in a joint statement issued today by the governments of the United States of America and the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of …