Israel weighs future of ceasefire as Netanyahu praises Trump's plan to take over Gaza
Israel's security Cabinet was set to meet Monday to discuss the second phase of the government's ceasefire deal with Hamas, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his support for President Donald Trump's plan to take over the Gaza Strip. Following a call with Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Netanyahu instructed Israel's negotiating team to depart for the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Monday to discuss the "continuation of the implementation" of the first stage of the deal that has brought a pause to deadly fighting in Gaza, the Israeli leader's office said in a statement Sunday.
Barred from US-Russia talks on Ukraine, Europe scrambles for response with Paris summit
Reeling from shocks delivered by the Trump administration last week, European leaders held emergency talks in Paris on Monday as US and Russian officials prepare to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine – without European or Ukrainian involvement. Aside from a brief call Monday between French President Emmanuel Macron and his US counterpart Donald Trump, European leaders have been sidelined at the start of a pivotal week for the continent’s security.
Disconnected helplines, undiagnosed HIV cases and unfinished classrooms: Ukraine counts the costs of USAID suspension
Some 400 calls for help went unanswered when the helpline at Ukraine’s Veteran Hub went silent for a week after key funding from the United States was abruptly cut last month. The Ukrainian NGO gets all sorts of calls. Some come from military families who have just found out their loved one was killed on the frontline. Some are from injured veterans who are struggling to cope with their return to civilian life or need help navigating the bureaucracy. And some calls can save lives.
China accuses U.S. of 'serious regression' in its Taiwan position after change to State Dept. website
The U.S. fact sheet on the self-governing island claimed by Beijing was amended to remove the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence.”
Why is Saudi Arabia hosting talks between the US and Russia?
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of top American and Russian officials for a high-stakes rapprochement meeting underlines the kingdom’s aspirations to become a global actor capable of successfully mediating international conflicts. Another likely aim: added leverage for Riyadh in future talks on the fate of postwar Gaza. At the Tuesday meeting between the US and Russia, the kingdom expects to go beyond hosting to play a mediation role, a Saudi official told CNN. The Saudi team will be led by the country’s national security adviser.
Israel prepares to receive the remains of several hostages
Israel is preparing to receive the remains of an unknown number of hostages from Gaza on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The identities of the hostages have not been released. This marks the first handover of deceased hostages since the ceasefire deal with Hamas went into effect in January. The Israeli military had previously retrieved the bodies of multiple hostages in Gaza.
Man hailed as world’s first imam to say he was gay is shot dead in South Africa
A man hailed as the world’s first imam to say he was gay was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday, local police said, in what rights groups fear could be a hate crime. Eastern Cape provincial police said in a statement it was investigating the death of Muhsin Hendricks, 58, in Bethelsdorp stating that the motive behind the killing was unclear. The statement said that at around 10 a.m. Saturday, “Hendricks and a driver was inside a gold-colored VW TRoc in Haley Place, Extension 24, Bethelsdorp when a silver-colored Hilux double cab stopped in front and blocked them from driving off.”
Emergency teams respond to Delta plane crash at Toronto Pearson Airport
A Delta Air Lines commuter plane arriving from Minneapolis has crashed at Canada’s Toronto Pearson Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, with images of the incident showing the aircraft flipped upside down. “Emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crew are accounted for,” the airport said in a statement on X. All 80 people aboard Delta flight 4819 have been evacuated, the FAA said. “Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada around 2:45 p.m. local time,” the statement said, noting the airplane had departed from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron dead at 24
South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday, nearly two years after she retreated from the public eye following a drunk driving conviction. She was 24. Kim’s body was discovered by a friend, according to police. There were no signs of foul play and officers are investigating the circumstances of her death, a police official told CNN. Kim began her career as a child actor and gained widespread recognition, including an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, for her role as a girl abandoned at an orphanage in 2009 movie “A Brand New Life.”
Rebels seen in center of key DR Congo city after claiming takeover
Rebel forces have been seen in the center of Bukavu, the second largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on Sunday, residents told CNN, as the fighters push to expand their foothold in the mineral-rich region. Rebel coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 armed group, said in a statement Saturday it had taken control of the Kavumu airport in South Kivu and forced government forces to retreat “in disarray, abandoning the city of Bukavu.” Bukavu is the provincial capital, where residents also reported looting and fighters in the streets Saturday.