Daily News Brief

Amnesty slams EU’s 'shameful' stance on Gaza "Amnesty International has condemned the European Council’s latest position on Gaza, calling it a “shameful attempt” to justify Israeli attacks while failing to denounce air strikes and blocked aid. Amnesty’s Eve Geddie blasted EU leaders for their “selective compassion,” saying their refusal to hold Israel accountable after 17 months of war amounts to complicity in genocide. She urged immediate action to prevent further war crimes in the besieged Palestinian enclave. " Trump backs Israel’s brutal war as death toll soars "Donald Trump “fully supports” Israel’s latest assault on Gaza, which has killed at least 700 Palestinians—including 200 children—since Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Hamas for the bloodshed, insisting the war is their fault for not releasing hostages. Meanwhile, Gaza’s health officials warn of a deepening humanitarian disaster as Israeli strikes level homes and entire families are buried under rubble." Trump moves to boost US minerals, eyes Ukraine deal "Trump has invoked emergency powers to ramp up domestic production of critical minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on China. The executive order fast-tracks mining permits and directs agencies to identify federal land for extraction. As part of this push, Trump said he will sign a minerals deal with Ukraine “very shortly.” The move signals an aggressive bid to secure key resources for electronics and EV batteries amid intensifying global competition." Zelenskyy: Keep sanctions on Russia until war ends "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the EU to keep sanctions on Moscow until Russia withdraws from Ukrainian territory. Speaking via video to EU leaders, Zelenskyy accused Putin of making “unnecessary demands” to prolong the war. He insisted economic pressure must continue until Russia not only pulls out but also compensates Ukraine for the devastation caused by its military offensive." After nine months in space, astronauts struggle to reclaim their bodies "After 288 days in orbit, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth—only to face a battle with their own bodies. Months in microgravity weakened their muscles, thinned their bones, and even altered their vision. Experts say long space missions mimic a decade of ageing in just months, despite rigorous exercise."

Israeli army begins ground invasion to occupy Netzarim, bisect Gaza Gaza enters famine phase as Israel blocks aid Armenia’s Pashinyan ‘ready’ to sign peace deal with Azerbaijan Bosnia issues arrest warrant for separatist leaders of Republika Srpska Canada explores European defence options to reduce reliance on US

Israel again kills hundreds of Palestinians in 'horrifying' war "Israeli air strikes on besieged Gaza have killed at least 404 Palestinians, including 150 children, a Geneva-based rights group reported as Benjamin Netanyahu decides to resume his war on enclave. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor also reported hundreds of wounded Palestinians. Separately, images emerging from Gaza following Israel's attacks are beyond horrifying, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said. She noted that some of the strikes reportedly hit makeshift shelters with sleeping children and families. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on January 19. Israel has killed over 48,500 Palestinians since October 2023. The rights group warned that global inaction is enabling further massacres." Netanyahu calls intensified Gaza strikes are 'only the beginning' "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that deadly strikes on Gaza were only the start of intensified military attacks. In a televised speech Netanyahu said Hamas has already felt the strength of Israel in the past 24 hours, noting that this is only the ""beginning."" Meanwhile, pro-Palestine protests erupted in Washington and London, with demonstrators demanding an end to US military aid to Israel. Crowds outside the White House and Downing Street chanted, “Free Palestine” and “Arms embargo now,” calling for immediate international action." Zelenskyy backs 30-day ceasefire proposal on energy infrastructure "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for a proposed 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure, following talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine had initially proposed the ceasefire, stressing that Washington's involvement as a guarantor was essential. However, he accused Putin of seeking to weaken Ukraine, reiterating that Russia isn’t ready for peace. Zelenskyy also confirmed a prisoner exchange of 175 soldiers from each side and noted ongoing fighting in the Russian Kursk region." US releases final JFK assassination files after decades of secrecy "The US National Archives has released the final batch of files on John F. Kennedy’s assassination, a case still shrouded in conspiracy theories six decades later. It fulfills a prior executive order by president Donald Trump mandating the unredacted release of records on JFK, his brother former attorney general Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Millions of pages have been released over decades, but these final files, held back due to national security concerns. While past investigations concluded Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the slow declassification of documents has only fueled speculation of a deeper plot behind Kennedy’s 1963 murder." Astronauts return to Earth after unexpected nine-month stay in space "After an unexpected nine-month stay in space, four astronauts have finally returned to Earth, ending a mission that captivated global attention. A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams alongside fellow American Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov splashed down off Florida’s coast yesterday evening. The mission garnered worldwide interest. NASA confirmed the successful landing, concluding a mission that far exceeded its original timeline."

Houthis vow to attack US warships, carriers "Yemen’s Houthi leader Abdul Malik al Houthi vowed to intensify attacks in response to US military operations, warning that drones and missiles will target American warships and aircraft carriers. Speaking in a video statement, al Houthi declared they would respond to escalation with escalation and accused the US of turning the sea into a battlefield. He also said that the US would now be included in the Houthi-imposed naval blockade, alongside Israel, as long as its aggression persists." Armenian forces attack Azerbaijani troops: Baku "Azerbaijan on Sunday said that its military positions were fired upon by Armenian forces in three separate incidents along the border. The Defence Ministry reported gunfire from Armenian troops near the Khazinevar, Burun and Digh settlements. Armenia has denied the claims. The renewed friction comes just days after both nations announced progress on a draft peace deal aimed at ending decades of conflict." Russia seeks 'ironclad' guarantees in Ukraine war "Moscow is demanding ""ironclad"" guarantees in Ukraine peace talks, insisting on Kiev's neutrality and exclusion from NATO. This comes as Washington pushes for a 30-day ceasefire, with talks expected between the US and Russian presidents this week. Separately, Ukraine's military leadership sees a shake-up with the appointment of Major General Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of General Staff, aiming to bolster operational efficiency." Deadly suicide attack strikes Pakistan military forces "A vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in southwest Pakistan, killing at least five, including three Frontier Corps troops and wounding over 43 others, according to officials. Security forces suspect the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is behind the bombing. Three suspected terrorists were killed in the security operation in the volatile district of Noshki in Balochistan after the attack, the Pakistani military said. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as several victims remain in critical condition. The attack followed Pakistan’s recent anti-terror operation against the BLA, which killed dozens of terrorists after a deadly train hijacking ambush." Netanyahu moves to dismiss Shin Bet chief over Hamas attack fallout "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to propose the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to the government, citing a ""lack of trust."" The decision follows tensions over an internal investigation into the agency’s failure to foresee Hamas’s October 7 attack. While Shin Bet admitted lapses, it also pointed to Netanyahu’s policies as a contributing factor. The dismissal is poised to stir significant controversy within Israel."

* Netanyahu orders prep for ceasefire talks under US proposal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with a delegation that returned from Qatar to discuss ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. At the end of the meeting that included ministers and security officials, Netanyahu ordered preparations for negotiations under a proposal by US President Donald Trump's Special Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff. The proposal includes the immediate release of 11 Israeli hostages and the remains of half of the deceased captives. Israeli media previously reported that Witkoff presented a new proposal during ceasefire talks in Doha. * US, Russia discuss Ukraine, Yemen strikes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to discuss the next stage in talks on ending the Ukraine war. According to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, the top diplomats "agreed to continue working towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia". Rubio also updated Lavrov on military activity in the Middle East, where US forces carried out deadly strikes against Houthis in Yemen. * Over 100,000 rally in Serbia against Vucic government At least 100,000 people descended on Belgrade for a mass rally seen as a culmination of months-long protests against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. Large crowds of flag-waving protesters clogged the downtown area of the capital despite occasional rain, with people hardly able to move and many stuck hundreds of metres away from the planned protest venue. Police said the crowd reached 107,000 people with no major incidents reported. Serbian independent media described the rally as the biggest ever in the country, saying the numbers were much higher. * Bangladeshi students urge UN to seek ICC trial for Hasina Bangladeshi student representatives urged the United Nations to assist in taking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's case to the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising last year. The demand was made on Saturday during a meeting between a student delegation and visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Dhaka. Guterres is in Bangladesh for a four-day visit, set to conclude on Sunday. * Trump mutes Voice of America, employees put on leave President Donald Trump's administration has begun making deep cuts to Voice of America and other government-run, pro-democracy programming, with the organisation's director saying all VOA employees have been put on leave. On Friday night, shortly after Congress passed its latest funding bill, Trump directed his administration to reduce the functions of several agencies to the minimum required by law. That included the US Agency for Global Media, which houses Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia and Radio Marti, which beams Spanish-language news into Cuba.

Hamas says won't renegotiate Gaza truce deal Rubio declares South African ambassador to US persona non grata Putin calls on Ukrainian troops in Kursk to surrender Canada's new PM Carney says his country will never be part of US SpaceX launches replacement crew, paving way for stuck astronauts' return

Hamas warns of attempts to undermine Gaza ceasefire Jewish protesters in US flood Trump Tower over student arrest Qatar steps in to ease Syria’s energy crisis Türkiye offers to help rebuild war-torn Ukraine Trump's trade war sparks North American backlash

Israeli army chief admits paying 'heavy price' in Gaza Syrian president issues decree to establish National Security Council Putin urges troops to 'fully liberate' Kursk from Ukraine Peace talks between DRC, M23 rebels to start March 18 — Angola Türkiye's anti-ship missile Atmaca successfully hits target

US envoy Witkoff starts talks in Qatar as Israel proposes truce extension "US presidential envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has begun talks in Qatar to push for progress on releasing Israeli captives amid a proposal by Tel Aviv to extend a ceasefire deal in besieged Gaza for 60 days, Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported. The first 42-day phase of a three-phase ceasefire and prisoner swap deal, each of equal length, between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US, ended March 1 after starting on January 19. Israel has reneged on the truce deal announced by Biden administration last year and wants to impose its own new deal on Palestine." White House puts pressure on Columbia University as it seeks to deport pro-Palestine activists "The White House says Columbia University is refusing to help federal agents find people being sought as part of the government's effort to deport participants in pro-Palestine demonstrations. In a briefing with reporters in Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said federal authorities have been ""using intelligence"" to identify other people involved in campus demonstrations critical of Israeli aggression. She said Columbia had been given names and was refusing to help the Department of Homeland Security ""to identify those individuals on campus""." Syrians rally in support of new government after attacks by Assad loyalists "Hundreds of civilians have gathered in Syria's Latakia to express support for the government forces following recent incidents in the province. People assembled in Sheikh Dahir Square in the centre of Latakia, holding banners with Arabic messages, including: ""The forces of the deposed regime have destroyed the infrastructure"", "The Alsharaa government represents me", and ""We stand with the security forces"". Some demonstrators carried flags of the Syrian Army, while others displayed photos of security personnel who died in clashes between March 6 and 10." Portuguese government loses confidence vote, paving way for snap elections "Portugal could be heading to its third general election in three years after the centre-right government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a vote of confidence. The vote was called over conflict-of-interest accusations against Montenegro involving a family business. A last-minute attempt to avoid the vote failed when terms could not be agreed for setting up a mooted parliamentary inquiry. The country's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, must now decide whether to dissolve the assembly and call new elections." India bans Kashmir political parties days after criticising 'obscene' fashion show "The Indian government has imposed a five-year ban on two local political parties in India-administered Kashmir, declaring them ""unlawful associations"" threatening India's sovereignty, integrity and security. According to Indian Home Ministry, the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), were accused of ""supporting terrorism, spreading anti-India narratives, and raising funds for secessionist movements in the region"". The Indian government invoked Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to enforce the five-year ban."

US court halts Trump’s bid to deport pro-Palestine activist "A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist and permanent resident, following his weekend arrest. The judge ruled that Khalil could not be removed from the US until further notice and scheduled a court hearing for Wednesday. Khalil's detention in Louisiana sparked nationwide outrage, with mass protests in New York and Washington. Earlier, President Donald Trump praised the arrest, warning it was the first of many. Khalil, who holds a master's degree from Columbia's School of International Affairs, had not been charged with any crime related to his activism." Syria reaches integration deal with SDF, led by YPG terror group "Syria has sealed a deal with the SDF, led by the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organisation, declaring a nationwide ceasefire while reaffirming the country's territorial unity. Announced by the Syrian Presidency, the agreement integrates northeastern Syria into state institutions and rejects partition. It also ensures political participation for all Syrians, recognises Kurdish citizenship rights, and mandates control over key assets like borders, oil and airports." Boat capsizes in DRC, killing dozens, including football players "A boat tragedy in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo has left 25 dead, many of them football players, after capsizing on the Kwa River. The team was returning from a match in Mushie when disaster struck, possibly due to poor visibility, according to the provincial spokesperson. At least 30 survived as deadly boat accidents remain common as overcrowded vessels navigate DRC’s vast waterways." Elon Musk cites potential cyberattack as major outage hits X "The social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, faced major disruptions, with thousands of users reporting outages. The company's owner Elon Musk said the platform was hit by a ""massive cyberattack,"" possibly from a coordinated group or even a nation-state. Complaints peaked at 40,000 users affected, according to reports. The outage, which lasted over an hour, hit hardest on the US coasts. In March 2023, similar issues plagued the platform, disrupting links, logins, and image loads." Global markets slump over Trump’s trade policies, recession fears "Stock markets tumbled as tech shares led the charge, spooked by concerns over President Trump’s trade policies potentially pushing the US into recession. Wall Street saw the Nasdaq drop over 3.6 percent, with Trump leaving the door open to a downturn. Meanwhile, global markets, including London and Paris, closed lower. Investors also reacted to weakening consumer confidence and rising trade uncertainties. Separately, China’s deflationary pressure deepens as tariffs escalate."

Hamas blames Netanyahu for derailing Gaza truce "Palestinian resistance group Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing the Gaza ceasefire deal for his political gains. Hamas official Izat al-Rishq warned that Netanyahu's actions are a waste of time and an attempt to manipulate the captives' fate. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks stormed Palestinian city of Jenin, in a dramatic escalation of military raids in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses reported indiscriminate Israeli gunfire before the tanks retreated, with videos capturing the chaos and thick smoke. No injuries were reported. " US is 'just about' lifting intelligence freeze on Ukraine "President Donald Trump has said that the US has ""just about"" lifted its intelligence-sharing freeze with Ukraine, a decision with major security stakes. The reconciliation move from the US comes as top officials gear up for crucial talks in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine may face pressure to make concessions to Russia. However, the fate of a key minerals deal between Washington and Kiev also hangs in the balance. Despite these challenges, President Trump expresses optimism that substantial progress will be made this week." Liberal Party elects new leader, Canada's next PM "Mark Carney has been elected leader of Canada's Liberal Party and he is set to become the country's next prime minister. He replaces Justin Trudeau, who resigned in January following declining approval ratings after nearly a decade in power. The 59-year-old former central banker, known for tackling crises, secured over 85 percent of the vote. Carney, an outsider with no prior political office experience, is poised to face his toughest challenge yet. Managing Canada's response to US tariffs under President Donald Trump remains key issue." Iran shows openness to discuss nuclear concerns with US "Iran signalled openness to talks with the US on Sunday, but only if discussions focus on concerns about the militarisation of its nuclear programme. Tehran's UN mission stressed that it would not negotiate away its peaceful nuclear ambitions. Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who dismissed US offers for a broader deal, said that such talks would aim to limit Iran's missile capabilities and regional influence. Khamenei underlined that military and influence demands wouldn't resolve the tensions with the West." Türkiye warns against provocations in Syria's clashes "Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned against efforts to provoke the Syrian government’s policy of restraint amid over clashes in Syria between government forces and loyalists of ousted regime leader Bashar al Assad. He stressed the need for Alawites, Christians, Druze and Nusayris to stay clear of provocations. Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Syria’s new government in restoring peace. The summit in Jordan, which included key regional officials, focused on regional security, counterterrorism, and Syria’s stability."

*Qatar calls for safeguards for all Israeli nuclear facilities Qatar reiterated its call for intensified international efforts Saturday to subject all of Israel’s nuclear facilities to the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Qatar’s Ambassador Jasim Yacoub Al Hammadi highlighted “the need for the international community and its institutions to uphold their commitments under resolutions of the UN Security Council, which called on Israel to subject all of its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards.” He also highlighted “the urgency for the international community and its institutions to take decisive action to compel Israel to implement international resolutions, recognise the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state. *Russia says France has repeatedly lied Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused France of lying and violating international agreements, including the implementation of the Minsk agreements for a settlement in Ukraine and violated security guarantees given to Viktor Yanukovych, a former Ukrainian president. He stressed: "France, like other countries, didn’t fulfill its guarantees. It was a real lie," adding that when French President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of posing a threat to Europe, he did not mention France's mistakes. The Minsk Agreements were meant to resolve the Crimea crisis in 2014, as well as Eastern Ukraine. *Arab League denounces attack on security forces in Syria The Arab League condemned acts of violence and attacks on government security forces to fuel internal tensions and threaten civil peace in Syria. It expressed "condemnation of violence, attacks on government security forces, and reckless killings, threaten civil peace, and exacerbate the challenges Syria is facing at this critical stage."​​​​​​​ The Arab League emphasised that "such circumstances require a focus on policies and measures that strengthen and safeguard stability and civil peace to thwart any plans aimed at destabilising Syria and undermining its chances for recovery." *North Korea unveils nuclear-powered submarine for the first time North Korea has unveiled for the first time a nuclear-powered submarine under construction, a weapons system that can pose a major security threat to South Korea and the US. The naval vessel appears to be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-ton-class one which can carry about 10 missiles, South Korean submarine expert said, adding the use of the term “the strategic guided missiles” meant it would carry nuclear-capable weapons. *Un warns South Sudan’s peace process at risk amid growing violence A recent surge in violence and escalating political tensions in South Sudan are putting a fragile peace process in jeopardy, a UN human rights commission warned. "We are witnessing an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress," Yasmin Sooka, chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, said. She urged leaders to "urgently refocus on the peace process, uphold the human rights of South Sudanese citizens, and ensure a smooth transition to democracy."

* Islamic nations adopt Arab counter to Trump’s Gaza takeover plan * Syria to brings remnants of Assad regime to justice through fair trial * Trump woos cryptocurrency industry's elite at White House * Russia hits Ukraine as US cuts Kiev's access to satellite images * Israeli plans to expel Gaza's Palestinians 'totally unacceptable' — Türkiye

Palestinians point to Israel's retention of 600+ bodies after Trump's remark "Palestinians are pushing back against US President Donald Trump's fiery demand that Hamas return Israeli captives and bodies of those killed, reminding him that Israel has long been keeping hundreds of bodies of Palestinians. According to multiple media sources, Israel is holding 665 bodies, including those of 59 children. Israeli officials say they keep Palestinian bodies as leverage — to deter attacks, to trade in future negotiations. Palestinians and human rights groups call it something else — collective punishment." Ukraine, US to hold talks next week to end war "President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia and his team would stay on to hold talks with US officials about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia. The talks follow a letter from Zelenskyy to US President Donald Trump. "There was an apology, there was an acknowledgment that the United States has done so much for the country of Ukraine, and a sense of gratitude,"" US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters in describing the tone of Zelenskyy's letter." EU leaders agree to boost defence following decades of hesitation "European Union leaders have committed to a massive step in defence cooperation following decades of hesitation. The 27 leaders signed off on a move on Thursday to loosen budget restrictions so willing EU countries can increase military spending. They also urged the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, to explore new ways to facilitate significant defence spending in all member states, a statement said." CAIR urges Muslim immigrants not to leave US ahead of potential Trump ban "The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) warned regular immigrants in the US not to travel overseas this month ahead of potential President Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban. CAIR Government Affairs Director said they do not know ""for sure"" whether the administration will issue a new ban or which countries would be targeted. CAIR encourages the Trump administration to reconsider any plans to impose any new total travel bans on Muslim-majority countries under the guise of protecting national security, the official said." Turkish researcher to study women astronauts’ health on all-female spaceflight "Begum Aydogan Mathyk, an obstetrics and gynecology researcher at the University of South Florida, will investigate the health of an all-women flight team scheduled for 2026. Underlining the lack of studies on women’s health in space, she pointed out that while animal reproduction studies have been conducted in space, her approach is different. Mathyk highlighted the importance of moving women’s health studies from Earth to space, as the long-term effects of space on women astronauts’ reproductive health and hormonal systems remain unknown."

Trump issues deadly ultimatum to Palestinians over captives "US President Donald Trump has issued a dire ultimatum to Palestinians once again. He warned that Palestinians in Gaza will face deadly consequences if hostages are not released. ""Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is over for you,"" he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Pledging unwavering support for Israel, Trump vowed to send, what he calls, ""everything it needs to finish the job."" At least 48,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's genocidal war on Gaza amid a stalled ceasefire agreement reached on January 17." Israel’s occupation is the real issue, not Hamas: Palestinian official "The head of Gaza’s Government Information Office Salama Maroofa fired back at US President Donald Trump’s call for Palestinians to release Israeli hostages or face death. He stated that Israel’s occupation is the core issue, not Hamas. In a statement, Maroof accused Trump of emboldening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, enabling further ""crimes against 2.4 million people."" He added that the ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem is proof of Israeli crimes." Syria vows to destroy Assad's chemical weapons legacy "Syria’s foreign minister has pledged to swiftly eliminate the country’s remaining chemical weapons and is calling on the world for support. Speaking at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, Asaad Hassan al Shaibani became the first Syrian official to address the disarmament agency. , New government's decision comes after years of controversy, despite Syria’s 2013 pledge to destroy its stockpile, multiple probes confirmed chemical attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime. For over a decade, chemical weapons watchdog's inspectors have faced roadblocks in uncovering the full extent of Syria’s arsenal." US nixes intelligence-sharing with Ukraine "The US has halted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed, a move that could shake Kiev’s battlefield strategy. The Trump administration's tough stance aims to push Ukraine toward a mineral deal with the US and peace talks with Russia. President Trump earlier revealed that he received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressing willingness to negotiate. Amid concerns, Ratcliffe suggested it may soon be reversed as Washington reaffirms its support for Ukraine." UN warns of drastic food ration cuts for Rohingya refugees "The United Nations has warned it may reduce food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from $12.50 to $6 starting April 1, unless it raises $81 million. Bangladesh's top official, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, expressed concern over the potential impact of this cut, noting current rations are already insufficient. The UN's World Food Programme is scrambling for funds to avoid further worsening the humanitarian crisis. With over a million refugees, many already facing hunger, the cuts threaten to undermine basic survival needs."

Arab leaders reject Trump’s Gaza plan, offer alternative Lapid to Netanyahu: Apologise for October 7 failures Somalia hunger crisis worsens, one million more at risk Trump’s 'dumb' tariffs ignite global trade war US lists Department of Justice, FBI buildings for potential sale

Gaza food prices surge 100-fold after Israeli border closure Israeli drone strikes kill multiple Palestinians, violating the ceasefire Trump orders halt to US aid in Ukraine Austria's first three-party gov't since WW2 takes office, keeps far-right out Türkiye's Erdogan calls for Muslim veto power at UNSC

Starvation as a weapon': Israel blocks Gaza aid Plan Hell': Israel set to escalate Gaza war Ukraine ready to sign US minerals deal – Zelenskyy Syria forms committee for transition constitution No Other Land' wins Oscar for Best Documentary

* Messages of support for Ukraine after Trump berates Zelenskyy * Rubio says Zelenskyy owes Trump apology after White House clash * Türkiye advances in its quest for 'terror-free' future: Erdogan * Bangladesh students whose uprising ousted Hasina unveil new political party * Gaza marks Ramadan amid ruins, hunger after months of Israel's brutal war

Gaza truce talks underway in Cairo Israeli army admits to 'colossal failure' on October 7 8,500 killed in DRC violence since January Putin warns the West against blocking US-Russia thaw Jailed PKK leader calls for group’s dissolution