International News
Gaza War: Palestinian Prime Minister Steps Down
Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh has announced the resignation of his government ruling parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Monday.
The decision, attributed to the need for change after the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, was submitted to Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, who accepted it.
The move aligns with calls from the United States and other powers for a reformed Palestinian Authority to oversee all territories post the conflict sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack.
Shtayyeh cited developments related to the aggression against the Gaza Strip and the escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem as reasons for the resignation.
Shtayyeh revealed that he had initially presented his resignation to President Mahmud Abbas last Tuesday, emphasizing that he officially submitted it “in writing” on Monday.
In concise remarks, the 66-year-old Shtayyeh emphasized that “the next stage and its challenges require new governmental and political measures that take into account the new reality in the Gaza Strip.”
He advocated for intra-Palestinian consensus and urged for the “extension of the Authority’s rule over the entire land of Palestine.”
Responding to the resignation, President Abbas issued a decree accepting it and entrusted Shtayyeh’s government to continue “temporarily until a new government is formed,” as stated in a release from the presidency.
Israel has firmly rejected any prospective political role for the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.
However, it has suggested the possibility of local Palestinian officials playing a role in the region.
President Abbas, 88, faces widespread unpopularity in the West Bank, with mounting anger since the Gaza war commenced on October 7.
Criticism revolves around his perceived failure to strongly condemn the Israeli offensive in Gaza and address the escalating violence in the West Bank.
According to Khalil Shikaki from the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, a think tank, Abbas has been criticized for failing to protect his own people.
Shikaki pointed out, “Now he wants to be present for the day after, but he didn’t do anything during the war. Most Palestinians are harsher than I am. Abbas is going to have a government that is loyal to him. He is a one man show.
On the streets of Ramallah, Palestinians express skepticism about the potential government change.
Basil Farraj highlights the Palestinian Authority’s shortcomings, citing corruption, lack of security, and suppression of freedom and resistance as contributing factors.
Another resident, Rula Abu Daho, asserts, “Whether the government changes or not, it is appointed by American and occupation decisions,” alluding to Israel.
The divide between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has persisted since 2007, creating a complex political landscape.
The Gaza war erupted after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
The retaliatory Israeli military offensive in Gaza has claimed at least 29,782 lives, with the majority being women and children, as reported by the territory’s health ministry.
Throughout the conflict, violence in the West Bank surged to levels not seen in nearly two decades. Israeli troops and settlers have been responsible for the deaths of at least 400 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, according to the health ministry in Ramallah.
There are indications that Mohammed Mustafa, an executive committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation dominated by the ruling Fatah movement, might be named to head the new cabinet, according to Palestinian media reports.
Mohammed Mustafa, who has previously served as deputy prime minister and a senior adviser to Abbas on economic affairs, emerges as a potential candidate for heading the new cabinet.
International mediators are actively engaged in discussions for a ceasefire in Gaza, and Washington, as Israel’s top ally, is exploring potential governance structures for post-war Gaza.
Palestinian analyst Ghassan Khatib sees Abbas’s resignation as a demonstration of flexibility, signaling readiness for a government of technocrats that could operate in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip post-war.
Khatib suggests that if Abbas and Hamas can reach an agreement, it would mark a significant and new phase in the internal political scene.
Prime Minister Shtayyeh defended his record, highlighting that despite significant challenges, his government managed to fulfill its responsibilities.
Speaking about the achievements during his tenure that began in 2019, he stated, “The government was able to achieve a balance between meeting the needs of our people and providing services like infrastructure.”
Shtayyeh expressed determination, affirming, “We will continue to struggle to establish a state on the lands of Palestine.”
International News
Miracle in Venezuela: Toddler Rescued Alive Six Days After Deadly Earthquakes
A three-year-old child has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela, six days after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the South American nation, offering a glimmer of hope amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The remarkable rescue took place in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, which struck less than a minute apart on June 24.
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Rescue workers have continued round-the-clock search operations despite the challenges posed by repeated aftershocks.
The United Nations described the rescue as a powerful reminder that every life matters as emergency teams continue combing collapsed buildings for survivors.
According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, while more than 6,400 people have been rescued since the disaster struck.
Tens of thousands of survivors remain without adequate shelter, with humanitarian agencies warning that urgent needs continue to grow.
The UN refugee agency said the scale of the disaster has left thousands of families in desperate need of emergency assistance, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that national and international rescue teams remain active in the affected communities.
UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams are also assessing the extent of the destruction and identifying communities most in need of humanitarian support.
Officials said about 1,000 buildings, including hospitals, have either been damaged or completely destroyed.
More than 400 schools and water systems have also been severely affected, worsening living conditions for residents.
To support relief efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered an initial 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency medical kits, water purification materials, safe birth supplies, wheelchairs, child-friendly tents and educational materials. The shipment follows an earlier consignment that arrived from Panama.
UNICEF said the combined aid will support more than 100,000 children and their families over the next three months.
Speaking from La Guaira, UNICEF representative Gabriel Vockel said the organisation is working around the clock to reach as many children and families as possible, while appealing for more donations to expand its life-saving operations.
UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, said many affected families are sleeping outdoors for fear of continued aftershocks and remain in urgent need of clean water, healthcare and safe shelter.
The agency estimates that about 680,000 children across six affected states require humanitarian assistance following what has been described as Venezuela’s most significant earthquake disaster in more than a century.
Authorities also reported that more than 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, increasing concerns over further damage and risks to survivors.
UNICEF is seeking $52 million to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which remains significantly underfunded.
International News
Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case
France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.
The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.
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According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.
The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.
The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.
The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.
International News
“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.
Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.
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“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.
Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.
Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.
Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.
However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.
As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.





