live Ceasefire strains as Israel intensifies attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon killing hundreds - Thursday 9 April
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace d...
President Donald Trump will meet Qatar’s prime minister in New York on Friday, days after Israel targeted Hamas leaders in Doha in a strike condemned across the region.
The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump is set to meet Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York on Friday. The announcement comes just days after a controversial Israeli airstrike in Doha attempted to eliminate senior Hamas figures, risking a setback to months of U.S.-backed mediation efforts in Gaza.
The White House did not release the specific agenda of the Trump-al-Thani meeting. However, the timing follows Israel’s strike in Qatar on Tuesday, which aimed to kill Hamas’s political leadership and drew widespread regional condemnation. Many warned that the incident could derail ceasefire negotiations and heighten already fragile tensions.
President Trump publicly criticised the Israeli move, calling it a unilateral action that failed to support either American or Israeli strategic interests. He also reaffirmed the importance of Washington’s alliance with Qatar, a key player in Gulf diplomacy.
Qatar has served as a primary mediator in the talks for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages and discuss a post-conflict roadmap for Gaza. Despite the attack, Prime Minister al-Thani insisted that Qatar would not retreat from its mediation role, accusing Israel of trying to sabotage peace prospects.
In addition to the White House meeting, al-Thani is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a late Thursday statement from the State Department.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
North Korea has tested a new cluster-bomb warhead mounted on a tactical ballistic missile, alongside advanced electromagnetic and infrastructure-targeting weapons, in a significant escalation of its military capabilities.
A barrage of Russian drones targeted and damaged a critical power substation in Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 9 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from 1 January 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
Trade discussions between China and the U.S. are expected to remain virtual for now, with no major investment initiatives planned before a potential meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
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