US & World

A review of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has found it has “robust” frameworks to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles, though issues persist, in a report that could prompt some donors to review funding freezes.  Panel led by France’s former foreign minister says agency takes steps to …

Passover is a celebration of freedom for Jews, commemorating the exodus of ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. However, this year the Israel-Hamas war is making the mood more sombre.  Weeklong observances are about freedom, but many remain captive after Oct. 7. Every year, Alon Gat’s mother led the family’s …

WASHINGTON D.C.: The US House of Representatives passed legislation Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that would ban TikTok in the United States if the popular social media platform’s China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake within a year, but don’t expect the app to go away anytime soon. The decision by House …

Pedestrians watch Ukrainian tanks at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, on September 29, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP / Yasuyoshi Chiba)  STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Global military expenditure saw its steepest increase in over a decade in 2023, reaching an …

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards his plane at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on August 6, 2022. (Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP)  WASHINGTON, United States — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken next week will pay his second visit in less than a …

Tokyo, Japan – A major search operation continued off Japan on Monday for seven people missing after two navy helicopters apparently collided over the weekend, with one crew member confirmed dead.  The SH-60K helicopters each with four crew on board were conducting submarine location drills late on Saturday off the …

Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, while an ambulance driver was killed as he went to pick up wounded from a separate attack by violent Jewish settlers, Palestinian authorities said.  Israeli military said a number of militants were killed or arrested. …

The U.S. House of Representatives swiftly approved $95 billion US in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies in a rare Saturday session as Democrats and Republicans banded together after months of hard-right resistance over renewed American support for repelling Russia’s invasion.  Action on Saturday follows months of …

The overnight attacks, which were confirmed by the Defence Ministry in Moscow, came amid a Russian airstrike campaign that has battered Ukraine’s energy system and pounded its cities in recent weeks.  Kyiv hits fuel depot, power substations as it targets Russia’s energy system in response to ongoing airstrikes. Ukraine attacked …

It appears that Israel has retaliated against Iran for its massive missile attack last weekend, but heeded international calls to avoid escalating the crisis further. Iran says it has no plans to retaliate.  Iran says it has no plans to retaliate after drones, presumably launched by Israel, are shot down. …