French local elections measure far-right support ahead of presidential vote
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a t...
Hamas has postponed the release of Israeli hostages, citing Israeli breaches of the ceasefire, including delays in aid and return of displaced Gazans. Israel has rejected the claims and ordered military readiness at the highest level. Talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt show little progress.
Hamas announced on Monday that it would halt the scheduled release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire deal that came into effect on January 19. The group claims Israel delayed the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, obstructed humanitarian aid, and targeted civilians.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz dismissed Hamas' claims, stating that the militant group itself had violated the agreement. He said he had instructed the military to maintain the highest level of readiness in Gaza and to protect Israeli communities.
The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., has largely held, but sporadic incidents have heightened tensions. Mediators now fear the agreement is on the brink of collapse.
So far, 16 out of 33 Israeli hostages scheduled for release in the first phase of the deal have been freed, along with five Thai nationals. In return, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas argues that Israel has failed to uphold key conditions, particularly regarding aid deliveries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations on Monday, while the security cabinet is set to convene on Tuesday. Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation returned from ceasefire talks in Qatar, but negotiations remain deadlocked due to growing mistrust between both sides.
In a separate development, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested relocating Palestinians out of Gaza to develop the enclave into a U.S.-controlled waterfront real estate project. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu endorsed the remarks, sparking tensions with Egypt, which accused Israel of stalling ceasefire progress.
As talks for a second phase of the ceasefire remain stalled, uncertainty looms over the agreement’s future and the fate of the remaining hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub and urged allies to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran vowed to step up its response and the war showed no sign of ending on Sunday ( 15 March).
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly considering sending thousands of interceptor drones to the Middle East as Western allies move to bolster regional defences amid escalating tensions with Iran. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Two Indian-flagged tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying 92,700 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are en route to India despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (14 March).
A sandstorm swept across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, worsening conditions for displaced civilians already living in fragile shelters amid the ongoing conflict, according to local reports.
A media briefing in Baku has outlined preparations for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place in Baku from 17 to 22 May 2026.
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