Cuba’s Power Grid Collapses, Triggering Nationwide Blackout
Cuba’s power grid has collapsed, causing a nationwide blackout and internet disruptions.
Israel and Hamas indicated on Saturday that preparations for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations were underway, as mediators pushed to extend the fragile 42-day truce that began in January.
Hamas announced that there were “positive indicators” for the start of the second-phase talks, although details were not disclosed. Israel also confirmed its readiness for negotiations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announcing that Israel would send a delegation to Doha on Monday, as invited by U.S.-backed mediators, to advance the talks.
Hamas is currently engaged in ceasefire discussions in Cairo with Egyptian mediators, alongside officials from Qatar. These talks aim to move towards the next stage of the ceasefire deal, which could potentially pave the way for a more lasting end to the war.
“We are ready to engage in second-phase negotiations that meet the needs of our people, and we call for increased efforts to support Gaza and lift the blockade on the suffering population,” said Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua.
In a separate development, Hamas expressed approval of the formation of an administrative committee made up of "national and independent" figures to govern Gaza until elections can be held. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi previously stated that Cairo had cooperated with Palestinian leaders to create such a committee to oversee Gaza's governance post-conflict.
Despite the ongoing diplomacy, tensions remained high, with Israeli airstrikes killing two Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted a drone that crossed into Gaza from Israel, hitting several individuals involved in a suspected smuggling attempt. This strike followed an Israeli drone attack on Friday, which killed two people in northern Gaza.
The ceasefire deal, which began in January, calls for the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas in the next phase of negotiations, along with final discussions aimed at ending the war. The first phase of the ceasefire concluded last week, but Israel imposed a total blockade on all goods entering Gaza, demanding the release of hostages before further negotiations.
Since the truce began on January 19, Hamas has freed 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli authorities believe that fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has claimed more than 48,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities. The violence has displaced nearly Gaza’s entire population and has led to accusations of genocide and war crimes against Israel, which it denies.
As the ceasefire talks progress, the situation in Gaza remains fragile, with both sides and their respective mediators working to avert further escalation.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
In Tuesday’s closely watched parliamentary election, Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party took a commanding lead after over 90% of the ballots were counted.
BioNTech forecasts a revenue decline for 2025, expecting between 1.7 billion and 2.2 billion euros, down from 2.75 billion euros last year. This drop is due to Pfizer write-downs and stable vaccination rates. BioNTech also plans significant job cuts and new hires.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
The United States has proposed a "bridge" plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza through April, aiming to facilitate negotiations for a permanent halt to hostilities and ensure the release of U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander.
Hamas announced on Friday that it agreed to release an American-Israeli dual national, believed to be the last American hostage held in Gaza. The release follows a proposal from mediators to resume negotiations for the second phase of a ceasefire deal.
The European Union will convene its 9th international Conference in support of Syria on 17 March, in Brussels. For the first time, Syrian interim authorities have been invited, together with representatives of the United Nations, Syria's neighbouring states and other regional partners.
The UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has dismissed Armenia’s claims regarding the detention of Ruben Vardanyan. The group confirmed that his detention by Azerbaijan is based on serious criminal charges, not political motives.
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