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 UN General Assembly vote highlights Israel's isolation

UN General Assembly vote highlights Israel's isolation

Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall on Friday as countries endorsed a declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.  The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month. The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document. Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries – Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States – while 12 nations abstained. The vote highlights the current Israeli international isolation as a result of its current policies. Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution”. This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign. The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalization between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees.
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Stumbling blocks for Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Road to SCO Membership

Stumbling blocks for Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Road to SCO Membership

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held on August 31–September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China, brought together leaders of the 10 member states, as well as representatives from over 20 countries and 10 international organisations. The summit resulted in the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, outlining key directions for cooperation and security. Armenia officially announced its intention to join the SCO on July 3, 2025, emphasising its commitment to the organisation’s core principles, territorial integrity, non-use of force, and inviolability of borders. Azerbaijan submitted its application later, in August. Currently, the process of admitting Armenia and Azerbaijan to the SCO is in the preliminary co-ordination stage, involving the attainment of partner status with the prospect of transitioning to full membership in the future.

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The world reacts to the death of Pope Francis

The world reacts to the death of Pope Francis

World leaders remembered Pope Francis as "a beacon of compassion", reacting with sadness after the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics died on Monday. From King Charles III to Russian president Vladimir Putin, leaders from across the globe took a moment to hail the 88-year-old pontiff, whose death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica.
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Pope Francis dies aged 88

Pope Francis dies aged 88

Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, has died Monday 21 April aged 88. He will go down in history as a radical pope, a champion of underdogs who forged a more compassionate Catholic Church while stopping short of overhauling centuries-old dogma. Dubbed "the people's Pope", the Argentine pontiff loved being among his flock and was popular with the faithful, though he faced bitter opposition from traditionalists within the Church.
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Pope Francis dies. A courageous Pope who changed the Catholic Church but failed to change the world

Pope Francis dies. A courageous Pope who changed the Catholic Church but failed to change the world

Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church and of hundreds of millions of Catholics worldwide, died on Monday (21 April) aged 88. In the time he was Pope, since 2013, Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church, though his attempts to change the world through his numerous calls for peace failed.
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Amputee Palestinian boy image wins World Press Photo award

Amputee Palestinian boy image wins World Press Photo award

A haunting portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms during an Israeli attack on Gaza City won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year Award Thursday. The picture, by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, depicts Mahmoud Ajjour, evacuated to Doha after an explosion severed one arm and mutilated the other last year. 
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High level U.S. talks with Europeans on ending the Russia-Ukraine war

High level U.S. talks with Europeans on ending the Russia-Ukraine war

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, is travelling to Paris for talks with European allies on U.S. efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The State Department said Rubio and Witkoff would be in the French capital Thursday for the meetings. The officials will have “talks with European counterparts to advance President Trump’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement on Wednesday.
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EU greenlights first set of tariffs hitting back at US

EU greenlights first set of tariffs hitting back at US

The EU on Wednesday adopted its first measures hitting back at President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught, targeting more than 20 billion euros of US goods including soybeans, motorcycles and beauty products. The levies of up to 25 per cent are retaliation for US duties on steel and aluminium imposed last month - with Europe's response to Trump's latest tariffs salvo yet to be announced.
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Finland, Poland and Baltic countries to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban treaty due to Russian threat

Finland, Poland and Baltic countries to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban treaty due to Russian threat

Finland's prime minister has announced that Finland plans to withdraw from the international treaty banning the use of anti-personnel mines, citing the threat from Russia. The announcement comes two weeks after Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia took a first step towards also quitting the treaty, with them all pointing to the increased security risk from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.Finland's prime minister has announced that Finland plans to withdraw from the international treaty banning the use of anti-personnel mines, citing the threat from Russia. The announcement comes two weeks after Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia took a first step towards also quitting the treaty, with them all pointing to the increased security risk from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
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Trump tariffs shock global economy

Trump tariffs shock global economy

Stock markets and the dollar have tumbled after US President Donald Trump's latest worldwide tariffs caused a trade war that many fear will spark recession and ramp up inflation. The dollar slumped by as much as 2.6 percent versus the euro, its biggest intraday plunge in a decade. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was "preparing for further countermeasures" but she emphasised it was "not too late to address concerns through negotiations". China announced on Friday that it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10 as a retaliatory measure.