(August 24, 2026)
The next leader of the United Nations could, for the first time, be a woman. But first she’ll need Trump’s approval.
Archiv: gütige Gnadenakte Ihrer Majestäten / gracious acts of mercy of Their Majesties
Israel, Lebanon talks to take place next week in Washington: AFP
Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered direct talks, a source familiar with the situation told AFP Thursday.
The talks are expected to take place at the U.S. State Department, the source said on condition of anonymity, after Israel said that a U.S.-Iran ceasefire did not apply to Lebanon.
Gov. Kemp signs 60-day Georgia gas tax suspension, bringing some relief at the pump
Relief is on the way for Georgia drivers who have been feeling the pain at the gas pump. Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a bill that temporarily suspends the state‘s gas tax for 60 days.
On Thursday, the Senate passed House Bill 1199 with a 51-0 vote, sending the bill to Kemp‘s desk for his signature. Officials are hoping that putting it on pause will help lower fuel prices.
DOJ to allow lawmakers access to unredacted Epstein files starting Monday
“I am writing to confirm that the department is making unredacted versions of the more than 3 million pages of publicly released documents available for review by both houses of Congress starting Monday,” Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis wrote in a letter to all 535 members that was obtained by The Hill.
Justice Department will allow lawmakers to see unredacted versions of Epstein files
The letter obtained by The Associated Press says that lawmakers will be able to review unredacted versions of the more than 3 million files that the Justice Department has released to comply with a law passed by Congress last year.
To access the files, lawmakers will need to give the Justice Department 24 hours’ notice. They will be able to review the files on computers at the Department of Justice. Only lawmakers, not their staff, will have access to the files, and they will be permitted to take notes, but not make electronic copies.
Kremlin’s military goals in Ukraine will be met, Putin says at annual news conference
(December 19, 2025)
Putin, 73, has ruled the country for 25 years and uses the event to cement his power and air his views on domestic and global affairs during a broadcast that mixes criticism of the West with promises of more social payments. Although he is sometimes asked about his personal life, he gives scant details.
This year, the news conference took place against the backdrop of a peace plan in Ukraine put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite the extensive diplomatic push, Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv.
Limited number of humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing from Egypt
Earlier, US President Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan stated that full aid would be immediately sent into the Strip once the plan is accepted
Egypt Red Crescent says 153 aid trucks cross Rafah border to Gaza
„153 aid trucks entered through the Rafah crossing‘s bypass road, en route to the Kerem Shalom crossing, to be brought into the Gaza Strip“, sources told Reuters.
Among the trucks were 80 from the UN, 21 from Qatar and 17 from the Egyptian Red Crescent, they added.
Netanyahu and Hamas: A symbiotic relationship that costs Israel dearly
(November 22, 2024)
Hamas political bureau member Mousa Abu Marzouk knows a thing or two about Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s decades-long support for the group.
In fact, Mr. Abu Marzouk is Exhibit A.
Thanks to Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Abu Marzouk operates from the luxury of Doha instead of rotting in an Israeli jail since 1996 when Mr. Netanyahu first became prime minister.
In a move never adequately justified, Mr. Netanyahu, in his first year in office, dropped a request by his predecessor, Shimon Peres, for Mr. Abu Marzouk’s extradition from the United States, where he was a resident.
Saudi foreign minister traveling to occupied West Bank for first time in more than 50 years
Farhan will lead a delegation to Ramallah, a Palestinian embassy source told the AFP, in the first such trip since Israel conquered the territory from Jordan in 1967.
Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States and the Republic of Iraq
The two leaders expressed their commitment to the ongoing Higher Military Commission (HMC) process and its results, and the three working groups that will assess: the continued threat from ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and bolstering Iraq’s security force capabilities. The two leaders affirmed they would review these factors to determine when and how the mission of the Global Coalition in Iraq would end, and transition in an orderly manner to enduring bilateral security partnerships, in accordance with Iraq’s Constitution and the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.
US, Iraq agree on talks for withdrawal of US-led coalition from region
„The two leaders affirmed they would review these factors to determine when and how the mission of the Global Coalition in Iraq would end,“ the statement noted.
According to AP, the objective would be to transform talks into a bilateral agreement that could still keep a few US troops in Iraq, which already exist as 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the coalition, knowing that in Syria they are officially considered occupation forces.
U.S. raises treatment of imprisoned Palestinian leader Barghouti with Israel
The State Department has not named Barghouti in public statements, but U.S. officials said they are aware of allegations of abuse. The department said in a statement to The Post that it has informed Israel that it must “thoroughly and transparently investigate credible allegations of and ensure accountability for any abuses or violations.”
U.S. allows U.N. cease-fire vote, but it’s too late for many in Gaza
We are already halfway through Ramadan, a month-long holy period marked by pronounced grief and suffering in the Palestinian territories. The Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, forced the overwhelming majority of people in Gaza to flee their homes and plunged more than half of Gaza’s population into a de facto famine. Small children are dying of malnutrition in what U.N. officials describe to be the broadest and most severe food crisis in the world.
WATCH: UNSC Chamber Bursts Into Applause As Gaza Ceasefire Resolution Is Adopted | Dawn News English
Amid growing global pressure for a truce in the fighting that has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, the US abstained from the vote to allow the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramazan, which ends in two weeks.
It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Gaza: UN Security Council demands ‚immediate‘ ceasefire for first time, US abstains
(25.03.2024)
After more than five months of war in Gaza, the UN Security Council for the first time on Monday, March 25, demanded an immediate ceasefire after the United States, Israel‘s ally which vetoed previous draft resolutions, abstained. Drawing unusual applause in the often staid Security Council, all 14 other members voted in favor of the resolution which „demands an immediate ceasefire“ for the ongoing Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Dropping aid from planes is expensive and inefficient. Why do it?
“No excuses, because the truth is aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough,” he said. “I won’t stand by, we won’t let up and we’re trying to pull out every stop we can to get more assistance in.”
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday the airdrops were intended to “supplement delivery on the ground,” not replace it.
“You can’t replicate the size and scale and scope of a convoy of 20 or 30 trucks,” he said.
US carries out first airdrop of aid into Gaza
(today)
The U.S. airdrop used C-130 transport aircraft which dropped more than 38,000 meals along Gaza‘s Mediterranean coastline, the U.S. military said in a statement. (…)
A second U.S. official told Reuters the airdrops took place over southwestern Gaza and the town of Mawasi.
Biden’s response to Jordan attack is likely to be powerful, but US is wary of triggering a wider war with Iran, officials say
President Joe Biden is under increasing pressure to respond in a way that stops these attacks for good. Iran-backed militants have targeted US military facilities in Iraq and Syria over 160 times since October, and several Republican lawmakers have called for the US to hit inside Iran directly to send a clear message.
But the biggest challenge now for the Biden administration is how to respond to the drone strike – the deadliest attack on US forces in the region since the bombing at Abbey Gate killed 13 US service members in the closing days of the Afghanistan withdrawal – without sparking a regional war.
US abstains on UN vote, allowing Gaza aid resolution to pass
The resolution, sponsored by Arab states, called for a major increase in aid to desperate civilians in the Gaza Strip, dropping calls from an earlier version for a suspension of hostilities.
The U.S. did not vote in favor of the resolution, but rather abstained, allowing it to pass. As a permanent member of the council, the U.S. has veto power, and a “no” vote would have killed the measure.
Boom: US gives Israel 2 more weeks for Gaza campaign
Digitale Bürgerrechte sind keine Bürgerrechte zweiter Klasse. Es ist nicht in Ordnung, wenn jede private Kommunikation im Netz staatlich anlasslos überwacht werden soll. Daher lehnen wir eine #Chatkontrolle ab. Wir setzen uns dafür ein, dass digitale Kommunikation privat bleibt.
Israel-Hamas War: Foreigners Leave Gaza As Rafah Border Opens For First Time
Scores of people holding foreign passports left the war-torn Gaza for Egypt after the Rafah border crossing opened for the first time since the beginning of the war on October 7, reported AFP. Scores of people and cars moved through the gates as Gaza suffered „complete interruption of all communications and internet services” for a second time, reported Al Jazeera.
Foreigners left the war-torn Gaza for Egypt after the Rafah border crossing opened for the first time since the beginning of the war
First Foreigners Leave Gaza For Egypt Through Rafah Crossing
Convoys of desperately needed aid have passed between Egypt and Gaza but no people have been allowed to cross.
LIVE: View of Gaza‘s Rafah crossing as it opens for humanitarian aid
View of the Rafah crossing as humanitarian aid enters Gaza.