Author: WTX News

US, Egypt and Qatar call on Israel and Hamas to resume talks The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have issued a joint statement urging Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage-release deal. The three nations have reportedly reached a “framework agreement” with only the implementation details left to finalise. Israel has agreed to send negotiators to the talks, scheduled for August 15 in Doha or Cairo, while Hamas has yet to respond. This diplomatic push aims to prevent further regional tensions, particularly after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, an act Iran blames on…

Teen planned ‘explosives and knives’ attack at Swift concert Austrian authorities arrested a 19-year-old on Wednesday for plotting a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The suspect, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), admitted to planning an attack using explosives and knives. Swift’s three sold-out shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, expected to draw over 195,000 attendees, were cancelled as a result. The suspect had reportedly stolen chemicals from his former workplace and made significant progress in bomb-making. Authorities also discovered weapons and evidence of his plans to drive a car into the crowd.…

Yunus sworn in as interim Bangladesh leader Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, has been sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim leader, pledging to uphold the constitution and restore democracy. He took the oath at Dhaka’s presidential palace, accompanied by his new cabinet members, including student leaders Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, who played key roles in the recent anti-government protests. This transition comes after Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s long-time prime minister, resigned and fled to India following weeks of deadly student-led protests demanding her removal. Yunus’ appointment as interim leader was the result of a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military officials,…

Polish man jailed for four months for punching Danish PM A Polish man has been sentenced to four months in jail for assaulting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The incident occurred in June in Copenhagen, where the 39-year-old man, whose name has not been disclosed, punched Frederiksen on the shoulder.  In addition to his jail term, the man will be deported from Denmark and banned from entering the country for five years. The court also found him guilty of several counts of fraud and indecent exposure related to other incidents. During the trial, the man claimed he was too drunk…

State of emergency declared as Ukraine launches raid into Russia A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Kursk region following a rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops. Acting regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated this move was necessary to address the consequences of the incursion. Russian officials reported that at least five civilians have been killed and 31 wounded, including six children, since the attack began. Ukraine has not officially commented on the situation, and the extent of the incursion remains unclear. On Tuesday, up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops, along with 11 tanks and over 20 armoured vehicles, reportedly…

Iran will respond at ‘right time’ to killing of Hamas leader Iran’s acting foreign minister has vowed the country will respond to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at the “right time” and in an “appropriate” manner. His statement followed a day of intense diplomacy in the Middle East, including an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia. During the OIC meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Baqeri Ali Bagheri Kani urged member states to support Iran’s response, framing it as a defence of regional stability and security. The OIC later issued a statement holding Israel…

Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new overall leader Following two days of intensive negotiations in Doha, Hamas has appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new overall chief. Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran last week. Previously serving as the leader of Hamas inside the Gaza Strip since 2017, Sinwar will now head the group’s political wing. His appointment was confirmed by a senior Hamas official, who described the decision as a unanimous one by the Hamas leadership. The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Iran and its allies threatening retaliation for…

Threat made against Irish PM Simon Harris and his family The Gardaí (Irish police) are currently investigating a threat made against Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris, his wife, and children. The threat, which included references to knives, was posted on Instagram over the weekend, as reported by RTÉ. Despite the intimidation, Harris remains steadfast in his commitment to his role. “The laws of the land apply to people online just as much as offline,” the Taoiseach stated. “There can be no hiding place for anyone seeking to threaten, attack or harm people or to incite others to do so.”…

Nobel Peace Prize winner to lead Bangladesh interim government Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, a prominent critic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been appointed as the interim leader of Bangladesh. The 84-year-old economist and microloan pioneer was chosen following Hasina’s abrupt departure from the country, which came after weeks of violent protests demanding her resignation. The protests, initially sparked by university students opposing civil service job quotas, quickly evolved into a widespread anti-government movement. The unrest has resulted in over 400 deaths, predominantly civilians, due to clashes with police. The violence reached a peak on Monday, with more than…

Bangladesh celebrates after PM Sheikh Hasina flees country Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stepped down following weeks of violent anti-government protests, ending her over two-decade-long dominance in the country’s politics. The 76-year-old leader reportedly fled to India on Monday. Celebrations erupted in the streets, with some protesters storming the prime ministerial palace and causing damage. In the wake of Hasina’s resignation, President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and students detained during recent demonstrations against a government job quota system. President Shahabuddin announced plans to form an interim government, call new elections, and lift…

Mexican journalist killed while under police protection Alejandro Martínez, a Mexican journalist known for reporting on violent crime, was killed while under police protection in Guanajuato. Martínez, also known as “The Son of the Lone Ranger,” was shot by unknown gunmen while travelling with two security guards. He succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with over 150 media workers killed since 1994, according to Reporters Without Borders. Martínez, in his 50s, operated a popular news outlet on Facebook with over 340,000 followers and had been under protection since surviving…

UN staff fired over possible links to 7 October attack The United Nations announced that nine staff members from the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) may have been involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that these individuals would be terminated following an investigation prompted by Israeli allegations. The attack resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 people being taken as hostages to Gaza. In the aftermath, the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza have reportedly led to over 38,400 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. While Haq did…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Bangladesh clashes: 90 killed in anti-government protests At least 90 people were killed in Bangladesh on Sunday during escalating clashes between police and anti-government protesters. The violence follows a campaign of civil disobedience led by student leaders demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The unrest, initially sparked by a call to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, has evolved into a broader anti-government movement. In one of the deadliest incidents, 13 police officers were killed when thousands attacked a police station in Sirajganj district. Both police and some government supporters were reported to have used live ammunition against…

IDF failures led to aid workers’ deaths – Australia An Australian government review has concluded that “serious failures” by the Israeli military led to a deadly drone strike on an aid convoy in Gaza on April 1, which killed seven workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK). The victims included aid workers from Australia, Canada, Poland, the UK, the US, and a Palestinian colleague. The review found that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not follow proper procedures and made critical errors in identifying the convoy, mistakenly believing it to be carrying Hamas gunmen. This incident occurred in the city…

Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets from the US Ukraine has received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a ceremony at an undisclosed airbase. Standing beside two of the jets, Zelensky expressed gratitude to allies for providing the aircraft, which they had initially been reluctant to send. He emphasised that while these jets significantly enhance Ukraine’s air force, which mostly uses outdated Soviet-era planes, more F-16s are still needed.  Zelensky did not reveal the exact number of jets that had arrived or the contributing countries, although he thanked Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S. for…

At least 30 dead in third Israeli strike on a school in a week Dozens of people have reportedly been killed in Israeli air strikes on two schools in Gaza, according to Palestinian rescuers and news outlets. Many of the victims were displaced individuals seeking shelter at these schools. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Hamas “command and control centres” located within the schools in Gaza City. This incident marks the third time in a week that schools in Gaza have been struck. The IDF claimed that the schools were used by Hamas’s al-Furqan Battalion…

Calls for foreigners to leave Lebanon as war fears grow Several nations have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, fearing a broader Middle Eastern conflict. This comes after Iran threatened severe retaliation against Israel, blaming it for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has not commented on the incident, which occurred just hours after Israeli forces killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Western officials are concerned that Hezbollah, supported by Iran, could escalate tensions, potentially provoking a strong Israeli response. As a result, the US, UK, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey,…

Italy opens controversial migrant centre in Albania Italy has launched its first of two planned migrant camps in Albania, marking the start of Europe’s first “offshoring” scheme for managing migrant arrivals. The camp, located in the northern Albanian port of Shengjin, will house up to 3,000 migrants per month who are rescued en route to Italy. These centres, fully managed and funded by the Italian government, are designed to handle migrants picked up in international waters, excluding women, children, and vulnerable individuals. Migrants housed there can apply for asylum in Italy, and if rejected, they will be returned to safe…

Hamas leader’s funeral draws crowds in Iran Thousands gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, who was killed in a strike on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the prayers before Haniyeh’s body was transported to Qatar for burial. While Israel has not directly commented on the assassination, Iranian officials allege that the attack was carried out by Israel. US media reports indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered a direct response against Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without addressing the assassination specifically, mentioned recent “crushing blows” delivered to enemies, including…

Canadian police thwart alleged Toronto terror plot Canadian authorities have arrested Ahmed Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, in connection with a planned terrorist attack in Toronto. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrests on Wednesday, stating that the pair were taken into custody on Sunday at a hotel in Richmond Hill, Toronto. The Eldidis are accused of plotting a “violent, serious attack” in Toronto, allegedly in support of the Islamic State group. They face charges of terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offences, including possession of an axe and a machete. RCMP Assistant Commissioner…

Hezbollah confirms commander died in Israeli strike Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Fuad Shukr, a senior military commander, in an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. The strike, which occurred on Tuesday, also killed four others, including two children. Shukr’s body was found in the rubble on Wednesday. The Israeli military described the operation as an “intelligence-based elimination,” targeting Shukr in response to a recent rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 people. Israel accuses Shukr of planning the Golan Heights attack – which killed mostly children – but Hezbollah denies any involvement. The air…

Israel claims it killed senior Hezbollah commander in strike on Beirut Israel has announced the death of a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, following an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut. The Israeli military described the operation as an “intelligence-based elimination.” While Hezbollah has not confirmed Shukr’s death, they acknowledged that he was in a building targeted during the strike and mentioned that rubble was still being cleared. The airstrike comes after a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, which resulted in 12 fatalities, mostly children. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, but the group has…

Fresh protests in Venezuela as anger grows at disputed election result Fresh protests have erupted in Caracas following the contentious results of Venezuela’s presidential election. Thousands gathered in the capital to oppose President Nicolas Maduro’s declared victory, with many demanding a new government. Some protesters believe change will only come if the security forces join their cause. However, the military and police remain loyal to Maduro, using tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators. Authorities report around 750 arrests, while NGOs indicate several fatalities and numerous injuries. Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Gen Vladimir Padrino, condemned the protests as an attempted “coup,”…

Belarus pardon for German hints at wider prisoner swap Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has pardoned German citizen Rico Kroeger, who had been sentenced to death. Kroeger was arrested in October on charges of acting as a mercenary and planting explosives. His death sentence became widely known only last week, but Lukashenko’s intervention has commuted it to life imprisonment, sparing him from execution. The case’s sudden attention and Kroeger’s swift pardon have sparked speculation about a potential high-profile prisoner swap involving Germany and Russia, a close ally of Belarus. Recently, Kroeger appeared on Belarusian state TV, tearfully pleading for help…