Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree Monday “to end” a system of payments to families of Palestinians imprisoned or killed after carrying out attacks against Israel, but critics called it window dressing as disbursements would continue under a new scheme.
Tensions were rising in the Middle East on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald J. Trump warned Jordan and Egypt he could “conceivably” withhold aid to them if they don’t take Palestinian refugees he seeks to relocate from the Gaza Strip, which was partly destroyed in the Israel-Hamas war.
Over a dozen U.S. citizens and an Indian national were detained last week in southeastern Nepal for alleged evangelistic activities, as reported by Nepalese media. Civil society sources and religious leaders said that this act by the Nepalese government was meant to intimidate the Christian community, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).
Iran successfully tested its Russian-made Bavar-373 and S-300 air defense systems last Wednesday, shooting down a simulated enemy drone as part of an exercise that mimicked a large-scale drone attack, the Washington Times reported.
With the ceasefire at risk due to Hamas’ refusal to release hostages, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have raised readiness levels in the Southern Command and postponed leave for combat soldiers and operational units, the Israeli military announced Monday night.
Christians in Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, expressed concern Tuesday over the whereabouts of a 12-year-old Christian girl who was reportedly kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam, and married against her will.
President Donald Trump warned Hamas on Monday, demanding the release of all hostages in Gaza by noon Saturday. “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock — I think it’s an appropriate time — I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump stated, threatening to cancel the ceasefire deal.
Kosovo’s ruling party, Vetevendosje, or Self-Determination Movement, has won the parliamentary election, official results showed Monday.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo declared three days of national mourning Monday after over 50 people died and others were injured in a bus accident on Monday morning on the outskirts of Guatemala City.
Gold moved to $2,900 per ounce, and market analysts said the next stop could be $3,000 as fears of a trade war fueled a dash for safe assets.