Hamas was set to release six more hostages from Gaza on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This came after Israel confirmed that a body handed over earlier was that of Shiri Bibas, who had been abducted along with her husband and two sons during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Initially, the truce faced a serious threat when a body misidentified as Bibas was handed over on Thursday. However, on Friday, Hamas returned another body, which was confirmed by Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine to be hers. Armed Hamas militants gathered in Rafah and Nuseirat…
Author: Web Desk
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron for what he perceives as their lack of action in ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking on Friday, February 21, 2025, Trump said both leaders have “not done anything” to resolve the conflict, just days ahead of their planned visits to Washington. Comments on Ukraine and Zelensky Trump dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s role in the peace talks, claiming that Zelensky has “no cards” in negotiations. He further stated, “I don’t think he’s very important to be in meetings.” Despite his earlier criticism, Trump…
Germans went to the polls on Sunday in an election expected to return Friedrich Merz’s conservatives (CDU/CSU bloc) to power while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is forecasted to secure its strongest result yet. Conservatives Lead, Coalition Challenges Ahead While Merz’s conservatives are leading in polls, they are unlikely to gain an outright majority due to Germany’s fragmented political landscape. Coalition talks are expected to be difficult, with deep divisions over migration policies and how to handle the rising popularity of the AfD—a party with a controversial far-right stance linked to Germany’s Nazi past. Chancellor Olaf Scholz could remain…
Lebanon’s Hezbollah will hold a mass funeral for its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, on Sunday—nearly five months after he was martyred in an Israeli airstrike. The funeral is expected to serve as a demonstration of political strength for the group, which has been significantly weakened by the recent war. Nasrallah was killed on September 27 in an Israeli airstrike targeting a bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where he was meeting with commanders. His death dealt a major blow to Hezbollah in the early stages of Israel’s military campaign, which has inflicted heavy losses on the Iran-backed organization. A Symbol of…
Pope Francis’ health has deteriorated over the past 24 hours, the Vatican confirmed in a statement on Saturday. The pontiff experienced a prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis and required blood transfusions. Although the Pope remains alert and spent the day seated in a chair, his condition has worsened compared to the previous day. The Vatican stated that “the prognosis remains guarded at the moment.” The Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days. Doctors diagnosed him with double pneumonia, a severe infection affecting both lungs. On Saturday, it was disclosed that doctors…
At least eight workers are feared trapped after a section of an under-construction tunnel collapsed behind the Srisailam dam in Telangana on Saturday. The incident took place on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) in Nagarkurnool district while workers were fixing a leak inside the tunnel. Officials reported that while dozens of workers managed to escape, at least eight remain missing. Over 10 meters of the tunnel’s structure collapsed, spreading mud across a 200-meter stretch. An official statement explained, “A portion of the SLBC tunnel near Domalapenta collapsed at the 14 km mark. The roof of the left-side tunnel caved…
In a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, discussions centered on energy, particularly the Alaska LNG project. Trump and his energy advisor Doug Burgum presented the project as a way for Japan to reduce its reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports and address its trade imbalance with the US. While Ishiba expressed interest in the $44 billion project, Japan remained cautious due to the project’s cost and logistical hurdles but was eager to maintain positive relations and avoid US trade tariffs. Japan’s Potential Role As the world’s second-largest LNG importer, Japan could play a…
In a significant restructuring of US military leadership, President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles “CQ” Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with several other senior military officers. Announcing the decision on social media, Trump praised Gen Brown’s service, saying, “I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” Gen Brown, the second Black officer in US history to hold this prestigious position, was appointed by former President Joe Biden and was set to serve until 2027. Senior Officers…
Hamas was set to release six more hostages from Gaza in exchange for 602 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as part of a fragile ceasefire deal that began on January 19, 2025. This comes shortly after the body of Shiri Bibas, who was kidnapped with her family during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, was confirmed and returned to her family. Hostage Releases and Exchanges The six hostages expected to be freed include: Eliya Cohen (27) Tal Shoham (40) Omer Shem Tov (22) Omer Wenkert (23) Hisham Al-Sayed (36) (held by Hamas for nearly a decade) Avera Mengistu (39)…
The Trump administration has instructed federal employees to submit a report detailing their weekly achievements by Monday night or risk termination, a move seen as part of efforts to restructure the U.S. government workforce. This directive was communicated through emails sent on Saturday evening to workers at various federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The emails followed a social media post by Elon Musk, head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on platform X. Musk made it clear that failure to…
