July 7, 2024

Daily News Brief

*) Hamas condemns targeting of school sheltering Palestinians The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has condemned Israel’s targeting of a UN agency school which shelters displaced residents in central Gaza. Palestine’s Health Ministry in Gaza stated that Israeli forces committed a “massacre” at the school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the besieged enclave, killing 16 Palestinians and injuring 50 others. Hamas demanded the international community and the UN take immediate action to stop the ongoing war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. The attack comes as Israel’s war on the territory enters its ninth month. *) Israeli delegation heads to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks An Israeli negotiating team will leave on Monday for Qatar to continue talks on a hostage swap deal and ceasefire in Gaza with Palestinian factions, according to Israeli media, citing informed sources. Israeli media reported that CIA Director William Burns, Mossad Chief David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel will participate in these discussions. *) Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger sign 'confederation' treaty The military leaders ruling Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger entered a new "confederation" as they signed a treaty during their first summit in Niamey, after having severed ties with an existing West African bloc. The heads of the three countries, who took power through coups in recent years, "decided to take a step further towards greater integration between the member states" and "adopted a treaty establishing a confederation". The "Confederation of Sahel States", which will use the acronym AES, will group some 72 million people. *) Ethnic fighters advance into key north Myanmar town Myanmar ethnic minority fighters were battling their way into a town housing a regional military command. Soldiers were "surrounding" the northern Shan state town of Lashio, home to the junta's northeastern command, an official of the National Liberation Army (TNLA) said. A member of a local group of volunteers said that at least 16 civilians had been killed since fighting broke out in Lashio. *) Oscar-winning producer, Jon Landau dies at 63 Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” films, has died. He was 63. Landau's partnership with Cameron led to three Oscar nominations and a best picture win for 1997's “Titanic.”