Emma De Ruiter
USA
Erik Menendez denied parole due to misbehaviour in prison, board says
A panel of two California commissioners denied Menendez parole for three years, after which he will be eligible again. A parole hearing for his brother Lyle Menendez, who is being held at the same prison in San Diego, is scheduled for Friday morning.
USA
Texas House approves redrawn maps to benefit Republican party in 2026
The approval came at the urging of US President Donald Trump, who pushed for the extraordinary mid-decade revision of congressional maps to give his party a better chance at holding onto the US House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections.
West Bank
West Bank settlement project approved as IDF begins Gaza City assault
Israel gave final approval Wednesday for a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank that would effectively cut the territory in two. Meanwhile, the IDF said it had begun the first stages of its planned assault to seize Gaza City.
Gaza
Israel yet to respond to ceasefire proposal as strikes on Gaza persist
Qatar has stressed the urgency of brokering a ceasefire in Gaza after Hamas showed a “positive response” to a proposal from Arab countries, but Israel has yet to weigh in as its military prepares an offensive in some of the territory's most densely populated areas.
Europe News
European leaders show cautious optimism towards Ukraine talks outcome
European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.
Europe News
European leaders to support trilateral meeting following Alaska summit
European leaders issued a statement after being debriefed by US President Donald Trump on his meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. They said they are ready to work towards a trilateral meeting, insisting on "ironclad security guarantees" for Ukraine.
World News
UN Security Council ambassadors meet in emergency session on Gaza
UN chief António Guterres described Israel's planned expansion of military operations earlier as a “dangerous escalation” for the two million civilians trapped in the enclave as well as the remaining Israeli hostages still held captive.
Culture news
UNESCO has announced its new World Heritage List, including Sardis and Thousand Hills from Türkiye
The ancient city of Sardis and the Thousand Hills Tumulus were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming Türkiye's 22nd cultural heritage site; Ludwig's castles from Germany, the Carnac stones from France, and the Minoan palaces from Crete were also added to the list.