Hamas criticized the Board of Peace for refusing to work with the UN agency UNRWA in Gaza, accusing it of siding with Israel and undermining Palestinian aid and rights. The Board said it only wants to work with trusted partners and claims UNRWA fails to meet its standards, while attacks continue in Gaza and the West Bank.
Key Facts
Hamas called the Board of Peace’s rejection of UNRWA “aligned with the Israeli position.”
The Board of Peace declared UNRWA will have no role in Gaza’s aid delivery.
UNRWA was created in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees and protect their right of return.
The Board of Peace says it works only with partners who help stabilize Gaza and reject UNRWA.
UNRWA officials have met privately with Board members despite the public rejection.
UNRWA’s former leader said the Board has failed to stop Israeli blocking of aid into Gaza.
Israeli attacks recently killed and injured Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli forces raided a university in Ramallah and arrested a man in Tulkarem as part of ongoing operations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pope Leo XIV held an outdoor Mass in central Paris attended by more than 800,000 people during his four-day visit to France. The pope also visited Lourdes, met with migrants, and is scheduled to speak with victims of clerical abuse.
Key Facts
Over 800,000 people gathered for the open-air Mass at Place de la Concorde in Paris.
The pope rode through Paris in the "popemobile" along the Champs-Élysées.
This is the first official papal visit to France in nearly 20 years.
France is officially secular but has strong Catholic traditions.
The pope met migrants and spoke about living together in peace and the role of women in society.
He plans to meet with seven victims of clerical sex abuse during his visit.
The visit occurs before the upcoming French presidential election.
Several presidential candidates attended the Mass, but President Emmanuel Macron was represented only by his wife.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of people protested in Madrid against the Spanish government's handling of a recent migrant crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa. The protest was organized by right-wing groups and criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for border failures during a large migrant arrival in late July.
Key Facts
Around 20,000 to 180,000 people attended the protest in Madrid, according to government and organizers.
In late July, over 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco; most were returned but thousands remain stranded.
Protesters accuse the government of not protecting Ceuta’s borders and want early elections.
Vox party demands Prime Minister Sanchez be tried for treason and all migrants returned.
The government says Moroccan border controls did not manage the migrant arrival well and is investigating.
Spain plans to speed up the process to send stranded migrants back to Morocco.
The protest was supported by Spain’s conservative People’s Party and far-right Vox.
This was the second large protest under the “March for Dignity” name, with the first held before the June migration surge.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Saudi Arabia spoke at the United Nations General Assembly and accused Iran of making clear attacks on civilian and economic sites in the region. Saudi Arabia also urged the world to condemn the Houthis, a group threatening shipping in the Red Sea.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia made these accusations during its speech at the UN General Assembly.
Saudi Arabia said Iran attacked civilian and economic targets in the region.
The Saudi Foreign Minister called these attacks "flagrant," meaning very obvious and serious.
Saudi Arabia warned about threats to shipping in the Red Sea caused by the Houthis.
The Houthis are a group involved in conflicts in Yemen and the region.
Saudi Arabia asked the international community to take action against the Houthis.
The focus of the speech was on regional security and protecting trade routes in the Red Sea.
This speech reflects ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Houthis.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the UN General Assembly that Russia will continue its military actions in Ukraine until its goals are met. He described Russia's involvement as a fight for truth and justice.
Key Facts
Sergey Lavrov is the Russian Foreign Minister.
He spoke at the United Nations General Assembly.
Lavrov said Russia’s war in Ukraine will go on until it reaches its objectives.
He described the military operation as a fight for truth and justice.
The statement reflects Russia’s position on the conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow aims to complete its military plans in Ukraine.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
China and the United States agreed to create a communication channel to handle AI-related incidents and to improve talks about military crises after a summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping in Washington. They also agreed to continue cooperating on trade through a new Board of Trade and set plans for future meetings.
Key Facts
China and the U.S. will set up a channel to discuss AI incidents and risks.
A military crisis communication agreement was also made to help prevent conflicts.
Both countries agreed to keep working on trade issues via a new Board of Trade, which started this week.
They extended a trade truce by two months and agreed on some tariff reductions for goods worth about $30 billion.
China agreed to import at least 10 million metric tons of coal from the U.S. in 2027 and 2028.
President Trump prefers calling AI "super intelligence" because he believes it better describes the technology.
The U.S. will not slow down its AI development despite cooperation efforts.
Both sides plan to meet again at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, and at the G20 summit in Florida later.
They agreed that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons and that international waterways should remain free of tolls.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Colombia extradited Geovany Andres Rojas, an alleged drug trafficking leader, to the United States as part of a new government policy aligning more closely with Washington. The Colombian president has ended previous peace talks with armed groups and is increasing military action against drug-related organizations linked to former rebels.
Key Facts
Colombia extradited Geovany Andres Rojas to the U.S. on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
Rojas led a group formed by former members of the FARC rebel group involved in cocaine trafficking.
The current Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, supports a tougher stance on criminal groups, ending prior negotiation efforts.
Former president Gustavo Petro had protected Rojas to use him as a mediator in peace talks with armed groups.
Rojas was taken to California and is now in U.S. federal custody.
Colombia’s new government is working closely with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking through military operations.
Human rights groups warn that increased military action could cause more violence and abuse, though many Colombians support it.
The U.S. plans to expand military operations in Latin America to fight crime and drug trafficking under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The German and Russian foreign ministers met briefly at the United Nations General Assembly, marking their first direct talks since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Germany urged Russia to stop escalating tensions and end the war, while the Russian minister defended Russia’s actions and criticized the West.
Key Facts
The meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lasted about 20 minutes.
This was their first known direct meeting since Russia's war in Ukraine began in 2022.
Germany accused Russia of escalating conflict, including blaming Russia for a drone attack on Leipzig airport.
Lavrov called out the West in his UN speech and opposed Germany and Japan getting permanent U.N. Security Council seats.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed many diplomats showed support for Lavrov after the meeting.
Most U.N. member countries have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged countries to continue sanctions against Russia and stop funding the war.
The war has seen heavy missile and drone attacks by both Russia and Ukraine, causing civilian deaths.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Police in Johannesburg, South Africa, found the body of a woman, the tenth in a recent series of similar deaths in nearby suburbs. Authorities are investigating if a serial killer is involved, but have not confirmed this yet. The case highlights ongoing concerns about high levels of violence against women in South Africa.
Key Facts
The tenth woman’s body was found in Tembisa, a suburb north-east of Johannesburg.
The woman was identified by a friend who had been with her at a bar the night before.
Police are investigating if the deaths share a common pattern, but have not confirmed a serial killer.
Nine other similar bodies were found since July, mostly in Kempton Park near Tembisa.
Most victims were young women who suffered extreme violence before death.
South Africa has very high homicide rates and issues with gender-based violence.
From April to June 2024, 569 women were killed and 1,052 survived attempted murder, according to human rights data.
Three men have appeared in court related to one of the murders, and police continue to search for others involved.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pope Leo XIV held a large Mass in Paris, drawing about 700,000 people to the Place de la Concorde. He also visited Lourdes, where he prayed at the grotto and plans to celebrate another Mass.
Key Facts
The Pope celebrated Mass in central Paris on a special altar.
Around 700,000 people attended the Mass in the city.
The Pope’s visit to France lasts four days.
After Paris, the Pope traveled to Lourdes and prayed in a grotto.
He will hold another Mass in Lourdes on Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron met the Pope on Friday but did not join Saturday’s events.
Macron avoided attending to respect France’s rules separating Church and state.
The Pope’s visit is significant to the history of Catholicism in France.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
South African police found the body of a 10th woman near Johannesburg, increasing concerns about violence against women in the area. Authorities are investigating if the killings are connected, while the country's leader expressed sadness over the ongoing violence.
Key Facts
Police found the 10th female body in Thembisa, east of Johannesburg.
The woman appeared to have been stoned to death; a post-mortem is planned.
Since mid-July, 10 women’s bodies have been found close to one another in Ekurhuleni.
South Africa has a very high rate of femicide, with about 15 women killed every day.
Police think some murders may be linked but have no proof of one killer or group responsible.
Two women have been charged in the murder of the ninth victim, which may be related to a personal relationship.
Some victims were found naked or partially naked and were in their 20s or 30s.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sadness about the killings during a local election campaign.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Protests are happening in Madrid over the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who lived in her apartment since the 1950s. Demonstrators want better tenant protections because housing is scarce and expensive in the city, and both the Spanish government and Madrid city council are blaming each other for the problem.
Key Facts
Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from her apartment in the Retiro district of Madrid after her lease ended.
The Retiro area is a popular and expensive neighborhood near major museums in Madrid.
Protests use slogans like “Maricarmen vs the Vultures” and “Not one more Maricarmen.”
People want to prevent evictions and improve social protections for renters.
There is a housing shortage in Madrid, making affordable housing hard to find.
The national government and Madrid city council disagree about responsibility for the housing crisis.
The eviction has become a symbol of a wider social issue affecting many Spaniards.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Six people died after a two-story house collapsed in Athens following an explosion, with four of the victims identified as U.S. citizens. The blast was likely caused by a gas leak, and rescue teams are still searching the area while investigating the cause.
Key Facts
A two-story house collapsed in Athens’ Plaka district after an explosion.
Six bodies were recovered from the rubble.
Four of the victims were Americans (two men and two women).
The explosion was probably caused by a major gas leak.
Neighboring buildings were damaged and evacuated.
Two women were injured in a nearby building.
Firefighters and rescue dogs took part in the search operation.
The investigation into the explosion is ongoing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump has refused Iran’s recent offer to allow ships to pass again through the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran made the offer because its money supply is shrinking due to a U.S. naval blockade.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for shipping.
Iran made the offer to reopen it for shipping.
President Trump said Iran’s offer is linked to reduced income caused by a U.S. naval blockade.
The U.S. is enforcing a naval blockade against Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla told the United Nations that the United States is intentionally causing economic harm to the Cuban people. He described the U.S. blockade as a crime that punishes the whole country and said it aims to create a humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
Key Facts
Cuba’s Foreign Minister is Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.
He spoke about U.S. actions at the United Nations.
Cuba accuses the U.S. of waging an economic war against its people.
The U.S. has a blockade (a set of restrictions) against Cuba.
Cuba calls this blockade a crime and collective punishment.
The blockade is said to cause hardship for all Cubans.
Cuba claims the U.S. wants to provoke a humanitarian crisis on the island.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
China and the United States agreed to set up a communication channel to handle artificial intelligence (AI) incidents and to improve talks on military crises. They also decided to continue trade talks and extend a trade truce by two months following a summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
China and the U.S. will create a system to communicate about AI risks and benefits, with a dedicated AI dialogue planned for November.
Both countries will strengthen crisis communication between their militaries through a memorandum of understanding.
The trade truce between the two nations was extended by two months during the summit.
China agreed to import at least 10 million metric tons of coal from the U.S. in 2027 and 2028.
They plan to reduce tariffs on about $30 billion of goods, focusing on non-sensitive items like farm products and holiday decorations.
The U.S. wants to ensure the supply of rare earth materials returns to proper levels after China limited exports last year.
Both sides stressed Iran should not develop nuclear weapons and supported free shipping in international waterways, referencing the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. welcomed China's decision to control exports of chemicals used to make fentanyl and acknowledged recent fentanyl-related arrests.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A court in Belfast has temporarily stopped a planned Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road, a nationalist area in Portadown, due to concerns about possible sectarian violence. The parade, which has been banned for 28 years, will not proceed until further legal review takes place, as tensions remain high between the parade organizers and local residents.
Key Facts
A high court judge temporarily halted the Orange Order parade planned for Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
The parade had been banned for 28 years due to violent clashes in 1998.
The ruling came after a five-hour court hearing and a legal challenge by local residents.
The judge urged both sides to reach an agreement to avoid violence and maintain peace.
The Parades Commission had previously allowed the parade with restrictions, such as limiting participants to 35 and an 8am start.
Loyalists appealed the temporary suspension and planned another hearing.
Police and the Parades Commission were involved, considering the social impact of the parade.
Political leaders called for calm and careful handling of the situation to protect community relations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump rejected Iran's recent proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stop fighting, calling it unacceptable. However, he said he is open to future talks with Iran to reach a deal.
Key Facts
Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and restart nuclear program talks.
Iran wanted relief from economic sanctions and other concessions in exchange.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global oil shipping, and its closure has disrupted oil supplies.
President Trump dismissed the Iranian offer but said he wants to make a deal that is acceptable.
Iran’s Foreign Minister said Tehran is willing to resume nuclear talks if a wider agreement is reached.
Trump warned Iran at the United Nations that they face a choice between agreement or destruction.
Both the U.S. and Iran have kept indirect diplomatic contacts during the U.N. General Assembly.
The U.S. continues military and economic pressure on Iran while remaining open to negotiations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump said the United States will not slow down the development of artificial intelligence (AI) despite calls from lawmakers and tech leaders to regulate it. He also rejected cooperating with China on AI, saying the US leads China by a large margin and does not want to share progress.
Key Facts
President Trump opposed slowing the pace of AI development in the US.
Some US lawmakers and tech CEOs want to regulate AI to reduce risks to humanity.
Trump compared AI regulation fears to what he called previous "hoaxes" like climate change and the Russia investigation.
He rejected working with China on AI, saying the US leads and should not open cooperation.
A recent summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not result in an agreement on AI collaboration.
The US and China agreed to set up a communication channel for AI-related incidents but did not deepen AI cooperation.
Trump proposed renaming artificial intelligence as "super intelligence" (SI), a change that China’s government said it respects.
Chinese President Xi Jinping supports AI development under human control and has taken a more cautious approach than Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iraq is asking the United States to allow some Iraqi airports to keep flights to and from Iran despite new U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines. Iraqi airports stopped Iranian flights after Washington’s sanctions, affecting travel and the movement of pilgrims and students between the two countries.
Key Facts
The U.S. recently imposed aviation sanctions targeting companies that work with Iranian airlines.
Four Iraqi airports (Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, Sulaimaniyah) stopped flights to and from Iran.
Iraq is requesting exemptions from the U.S. to allow flights for medical, educational, religious, and civilian reasons.
Flights between Iraq and Iran are important for Shia Muslim pilgrims and many students studying abroad.
The suspension has forced travelers to take long land trips of at least 12 hours.
Iraqi leaders are trying to reduce tension and promote dialogue between the countries.
Iraq has strong ties with both the U.S. and Iran, placing it in a difficult position between the two.
Both Iraqi and Iranian officials say they are working to restore flights soon.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
