Israel resumed heavy airstrikes on Gaza this weekend after ending a short-lived ceasefire with Hamas, as thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. Gaza health officials reported that 51 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes within 24 hours. Many of the strikes hit areas that were previously marked as humanitarian zones, where displaced families have taken shelter in tents. Since March 18, Israeli forces have expanded their ground operations, now controlling about half of Gaza’s territory. At the same time, Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine, and other supplies from entering…
Author: Rudolph Angler
On Sunday morning, people began lining up well before dawn to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who passed away last Easter Monday. Thousands of mourners gathered at Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome to honor the late pontiff. Faithful from around the world started streaming in as early as 7 am when the doors opened to the public. Many had arrived hours earlier to secure their place. By midday, around 20,000 people had reached the basilica, with 13,000 already inside, according to Rome’s Questura. Visitors could only pause briefly to pray at the pope’s tomb due to the overwhelming crowd.…
Former President Donald Trump voiced serious concerns about the possibility of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine shortly after attending Pope Francis’ funeral. On social media, Trump posted, “Putin had no justification for firing missiles into cities, towns, and civilian zones recently,” hinting at his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump’s comments came just hours after he met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican. Their meeting took place before the funeral ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica and marked their first direct conversation since a tense exchange at the Oval Office earlier this year. A Symbolic…
A huge explosion shook the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, over the weekend, killing at least four people and injuring more than 500 others. Local media outlets reported widespread damage to port infrastructure and nearby cities, though the cause of the explosion remains unknown. At Least Four Confirmed Dead in Blast According to officials, the blast occurred on Saturday and sent shockwaves throughout the region. The powerful explosion destroyed administrative offices at the port and shattered windows in buildings located several kilometers away. State television later announced that at least 516 people were injured in the disaster,…
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with top U.S. officials in Washington on Thursday, just two months before he chairs the NATO summit in the Netherlands. During his visit, Rutte called on all 32 NATO member countries to increase defense spending and political unity. His message comes at a time when the U.S. appears to be shifting its focus away from European security, raising concerns about future cooperation. NATO Pushes for Higher Defense Budgets In his annual report, Mark Rutte stressed that NATO’s strength relies on every member sharing both costs and responsibilities. “Our freedom and prosperity require NATO to…
The United Kingdom has lifted sanctions on a dozen Syrian entities after the sudden removal of President Bashar al-Assad in December. The move signals a shift in the UK’s stance toward Syria. Officials now focus on helping the country rebuild after over a decade of civil war. The change is part of a broader Western trend of cautious re-engagement with Syria’s new leadership. UK Government Ends Restrictions on Key Institutions The UK had originally placed sanctions on Syrian ministries and media outlets. These were linked to Assad’s violent crackdown on civilians and the spread of false information. Among the groups…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to track down and punish those responsible for the deadly attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people. He made a strong statement during a rally in Bihar, sending a clear message that terrorism will not shake India’s unity. Modi called for calm but also urged for national strength, stating that every terrorist and their supporters will face justice. Modi Sends a Strong Message to Terrorists Modi’s address came just hours after the tragic killings in Pahalgam, a popular tourist town in Jammu and Kashmir. A group of armed attackers opened fire on civilians,…
US stocks slowed down on Wednesday after two days of strong gains. Conflicting messages from the Trump administration about tariffs on China made investors nervous again. While President Trump promised to reduce tariffs, he shared few details. These unclear signals caused market gains to fade by the end of the day. Stocks Rally Early but Lose Strength Late The S&P 500 index jumped 3.6% at one point on Wednesday. But by the close, it was only up 1.67%. This still marked its second straight day of gains. However, hopes for a longer rally weakened when different reports and official statements…
Private-sector growth across the eurozone came to a halt in April, as the services sector dragged overall momentum down. The Composite PMI, which measures business activity across both manufacturing and services, dropped to 50.1, from 50.9 in March. This slight decline still keeps the index barely above the key growth-contraction threshold of 50. Despite the overall slowdown, business activity showed a clear divergence across sectors. Manufacturing saw slight improvement, while services posted their first decline in five months. The Services PMI fell to 49.7 from 51, while Manufacturing PMI edged up to 48.7, slightly surpassing expectations. Low business confidence remains…
Protests erupted across India this week following a deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir. At least 26 people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a tourist group traveling through the region. The violence, which occurred on Tuesday, has become one of the worst incidents in the area in recent years. Among the victims, 24 were Indian tourists visiting the area. One person was from Nepal, and another was a local guide helping the group. At least 17 more people were injured in the shooting. The region, long a source of conflict between India and Pakistan, remains tense as authorities continue…