Israel on Friday said Hamas must accept a hostage deal in Gaza or "be annihilated", as US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement was "very close". " accept the terms of the 'Witkoff Deal' for the release of the hostages -- or be annihilated."
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A domestic tourist climbed over a fence and jumped into a section of the world-famous display of China's Terracotta Army, damaging two ancient clay warriors, authorities said Saturday. He "pushed and pulled" the clay warriors and two were "damaged to varying degrees", the statement said.
A devastating fire ripped through a drug rehabilitation clinic in central Mexico, claiming the lives of 12 individuals and leaving several others injured. Authorities are investigating the cause, with suspicions of criminal gang involvement due to past cartel attacks on similar facilities.
Jimmy Sham, a prominent pro-democracy figure, is now free after spending four years in jail. He was arrested under national security law. Sham played a key role in 2019 protests. He was among 47 activists arrested for primary election involvement. Sham continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights while incarcerated. He acknowledges self-censorship and uncertainty about his future freedom.
The Dutch government has set aside 5.7 million euros for a likely payout following the brazen theft of an ancient Romanian pure-gold helmet from a museum in the Netherlands. In this case, the state had guaranteed insurers that it would cover 5.7 million euros ($6.5 million) if the works were stolen.
Harvard University is seeking a summary judgment to unfreeze $2.5 billion in federal research funding, arguing the Trump administration's freeze is unlawful and politically motivated. The university claims the suspension jeopardizes critical research projects, including those related to national security and public health.
Poles are set to vote on Sunday in a knife-edge presidential election with major implications for the country's role in Europe and for abortion and LGBTQ rights. Malgorzata Wojciechowska, a tour guide and teacher in her fifties, said Polish women "unfortunately do not have the same rights as our European friends".
The German Cabinet has approved stricter asylum laws, aiming to streamline the deportation process by easing the designation of "safe countries of origin." This move, spearheaded by interior minister Dobrindt, seeks to bypass parliamentary approval for such designations. The cabinet also approved the abolition of a rule calling for people in pre-deportation custody to be automatically be assigned a lawyer by the state.
In Dalian, China, two Japanese men were killed. Police arrested Yuan, a Chinese business partner, in connection with the deaths. Yuan, a long-time resident of Japan, had business dealings with the victims. The incident occurred after previous attacks on Japanese schoolchildren in China. Dalian has historical significance as a former Russian naval base seized by Japan.
Italy's foreign minister on Wednesday again urged Israel to stop its strikes on Gaza, while warning that expelling Palestinians from the territory "is not and never will be an acceptable option". "I want to reiterate today in this chamber with the utmost clarity -- the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza is not and will never be an acceptable option," Tajani said.
Flash flooding in north-central Nigeria last week killed more than 200 people, the Niger state humanitarian commissioner said Tuesday, while hundreds more remain missing and are feared dead. Given the number of people still missing nearly a week later, the toll from a single morning of flooding in Mokwa could be worse than all of 2024 combined, which saw 321 deaths from flooding across the country.