Gaza
Iranian supreme commander says missile attack on Israel ‘will be done again if necessary’
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers his first statement at Friday prayers in five years, following Iran's launch of at least 180 missiles toward Israel on Tuesday night. Iran's supreme leader has asserted that its missile attack on Israel was "fully legal and legitimate," warning that it will be repeated if necessary. In an unusual speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei characterized Hamas' strike on Israel on October 7 as a "legitimate" act, urging Tehran's allies to "double your efforts and capabilities" against a "common enemy".
Netanyahu receives stern Biden remarks on peace accord and electoral influence
Joe Biden had terse words for Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Friday, saying he didn't know if the Israeli prime minister was holding up a Middle East peace deal - where Israel is at war with Hamas in Gaza and on a military offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon - to influence the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election. "No administration has done more for Israel than I have. None. There are none. And I think Bibi should remember that," Biden remarked, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. He went further: "And whether he's trying to influence the election, I don't know - but I'm not counting on that."
Iranian President Accuses Israel of Escalating Conflict
Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has accused Israel of intensifying tensions in the Middle East. Speaking during his first official visit to the U.S. at the UN General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian warned that no one would benefit from a wider war in the region. The reformist leader, who assumed office in July after advocating for improved relations with the West, emphasized that Israel is pushing for a broader conflict. “If a larger war erupts, it benefits no one, and Israel is the one seeking this escalation,” he said.
A missile fired from Yemen lands in Israel, creating a fire
According to the Israeli military, a long-range ballistic missile fired from Yemen landed in central Israel, starting fire. The missile activated air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and throughout central Israel, including the Ben Gurion International Airport, sending civilians fleeing for safety. There were no reports of injuries or damage, and the airport administration stated that normal operations resumed shortly after that. They also displayed images of a chunk that landed on an escalator at Modiin's principal train station.
As presidential contenders debate on TV, Kamala Harris says ‘Putin would devour you for lunch’
The highly anticipated event occurred less than two months before election day and may be the only opportunity for voters to see the contenders face off. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battled on abortion, the economy, and illegal immigration in their first - and likely only - debate before the US election. Ms. Harris' attacks appeared to get under her opponent's skin at times, suggesting that people left his rallies out of "boredom" and that Russian President Vladimir Putin "would eat him for lunch."
Harris to conclude Democratic convention on day four
Democrats will gather in Chicago on Thursday night to hear Vice President Kamala Harris deliver the most important speech of her life as she prepares for the presidential race in November. Ms Harris will formally accept her party's nomination on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, following a ceremonial roll call earlier this week in which state delegates confirmed their support. Her running mate Tim Walz appeared on Wednesday night, pleading to middle America with a "pep talk" in the style of an American football coach.
Blinken travels to Israel for Gaza ceasefire talks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Israel shortly in his latest attempt to broker a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement in Gaza. His eleventh journey to the region since the conflict began in October comes just days after the United States submitted a modified proposal aimed at closing long-standing gaps between the two sides. The United States and Israel have voiced hope about a solution since discussions resumed in Doha last week, but Hamas claims any progress is an "illusion".
PwC fined £15 million for fraud at London Capital & Finance
PWC has been fined £15 million for failing to warn about alleged fraud at London Capital & Finance (LCF). The auditor is the first accounting company to be penalised by the City authority. The Financial Conduct Authority's inquiry discovered that while working on the minibond company's 2016 accounts, PWC's audit team discovered several red lights but neglected to notify the regulator.
Joe Biden ‘optimistic’ about Middle East ceasefire despite Israeli bombings in Gaza and Lebanon
The US president's words come as regional tensions have risen in recent weeks, with fatal Israeli attacks reported in Gaza and Lebanon. US President Joe Biden has expressed greater optimism about a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas than in previous months. "As of an hour ago, we were still playing. I am optimistic. It's still not over. "Just a couple more issues, and I believe we have a shot," he told reporters on Friday.
Israeli strike on Gaza school building reportedly kills dozens
An Israeli air assault on a school facility housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City killed dozens of people, according to Hamas-run authorities in the area. According to an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokeswoman, al-Taba'een school "served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility" with roughly 20 "militants" working there. The health ministry's ambulance service reported that at least 60 people were killed and 47 injured.
Why has America risked everything in Gaza?
It has been nearly ten months since Israel launched a horrific war in Gaza. Its army has broken practically every aspect of international humanitarian law in its relentless attack on an unimaginably vulnerable populace. Israel has denied the Gaza concentration camp the bare essentials of life, including food, water, medication, sanitation, electricity, and fuel. And its attacks on civilian infrastructure have rendered the bulk of Gaza inhabitants homeless. No Israeli military purpose necessitates the destruction of Gaza. Killing 40,000 Palestinians and injuring many more serves no apparent strategic purpose, with some estimates putting the death toll as high as 186,000. Neither does the systematic and widespread damage to Gaza's universities, schools, hospitals, and neighbourhoods. If Israel wants to invade and absorb Gaza, it should expect to inherit more than just a bombed-out area.
Gaza: Israel requested to release relief worker deaths report
The food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) has demanded that an impartial inquiry be conducted into the Israeli drone strikes in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of seven of its employees. It follows the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) assertion that "grave errors" were responsible for the laborers' fatal targeting. Due to an investigation by the Israeli military, two senior officers were demoted.