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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

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According to people involved with the negotiations, a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that would liberate Israeli detainees and mark the first lull in the conflict in more than three months is unlikely to be reached before the start of Ramadan, as the Biden administration had hoped.

Negotiators had planned to reach a draft deal this week following days of sessions in Cairo, “but it won’t happen,” according to one diplomat familiar with the discussions. The diplomat described the last few days of talks as “very hectic.”

Two American officials acknowledged that Israel and Hamas’ chances of reaching an agreement on a temporary truce by the start of the Muslim holy month early next week are poor.

“Hope is fading,” a US official stated.

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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

A failure to reach an agreement in the coming days would follow weeks of US President Joe Biden and administration officials stating that an agreement must be in place by Ramadan to avoid escalation of the five-month conflict. He cautioned on Tuesday that without a ceasefire, the region may become “very, very dangerous.”

Israel has also warned that if the Israeli captives detained in Gaza do not return home by Ramadan, it will launch a military attack into Rafah, southern Gaza, where over 1.5 million Palestinians are attempting to flee the violence.

Representatives from Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States met in Cairo this week for fresh discussions, but Israel declined to send a delegation because Hamas has failed to produce a list of hostages who are living and dead, as Israel has recently demanded.

The Biden administration argues that Israel has already agreed to the general terms of a six-week truce, but Hamas refuses.

A Hamas team left Cairo on Thursday following days of talks that yielded no apparent progress in achieving a ceasefire in exchange for hostage releases. According to Egypt’s Al Qahera news, the group has left to consult on the recommendations, and negotiations will resume next week.

“It’s in the hands of Hamas right now,” Biden told reporters as he boarded Air Force One Tuesday. He had expressed hope last week that a ceasefire could be in place by this past Monday, which he later recognized was improbable.

The administration and Hamas agree on one thing: they want a temporary, six-week truce to turn into a permanent ceasefire with no resumption of combat. Biden officials have stated that they believe the halt could lead to a more lasting peace, while Israel has stated that they intend to continue operations to dismantle Hamas, notably in Rafah.

The diplomat cautioned that hope is still possible for a first phase to begin soon, stating that an agreement may be reached in the first week or two of Ramadan.

However, the terrible episode last week in Gaza City, in which more than 100 Palestinians were killed when an aid convoy was surrounded and Israeli forces opened fire, “took us back 10 steps,” according to the diplomat. Hamas subsequently provided mediators with a response to a negotiated framework that “no one is happy about.”

If a deal is successful, it is likely to have several phases. During the first stage, when the violence is likely to stop for at least six weeks, around 40 Israeli-old, female, sick, and injured prisoners will be released. Concurrently, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons.

According to CNN sources, Hamas had relaxed some of its more rigorous demands, but following last week’s “Flour Massacre,” the group pressed for further assurances. According to the diplomat, the Israeli force would pull back from Gazan cities in the first phase and then completely withdraw from the enclave in the second.

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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

Not only do Palestinians from northern Gaza need to be able to return to what remains of their homes, Hamas has said in the discussions, but they must do so without passing through IDF checkpoints. According to the diplomat, Hamas has requested specific machinery for moving rubble, as well as field hospitals and clinics.

Hamas claimed its delegation left Cairo on Thursday “to consult with the movement’s leadership, as negotiations and efforts continue to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and bring relief aid to our Palestinian people,” according to a statement.

On Wednesday, Hamas claimed that it had “shown flexibility” while Israel continued to “evade the obligations of the agreement” under consideration.

“We have affirmed our conditions for a ceasefire: complete [IDF] withdrawal from the sector, the return of displaced persons to the areas they left, especially in the north, and the provision of sufficient aid, relief, and reconstruction,” Hamas senior leader Osama Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut on Tuesday.

Ramadan, a month of fasting and piety for Muslims, is a “period in which you have calm and you’re able to do the essential humanitarian work,” according to a senior administration official speaking to reporters over the weekend.

According to the United Nations, around one-quarter of Gaza’s population is on the verge of hunger. The Biden administration has stepped up its criticism of Israel’s refusal to open more border crossings to let aid into Gaza, particularly to meet needs in the north.

“There are no excuses,” wrote Biden on X.

Even in the absence of a truce, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday that it is crucial to “dramatically increase the humanitarian assistance that is reaching people inside of Gaza” because the situation with children, women, and adults caught in the crossfire that Hamas has created inside Gaza is untenable and unsustainable.

Blinken made the remarks before a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, a key actor in the ceasefire negotiations. According to a person acquainted with the meeting, Blinken recognized that the pause and hostage arrangement are unlikely to occur before Ramadan begins.

According to the same person, CIA Director Bill Burns, who has been driving the administration’s efforts in the negotiations, met with Thani for an extended period during his visit to Washington.

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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

According to a US official and another person familiar with the trip, Bill Burns has returned to the Middle East.

According to sources, Burns visited Egypt on Wednesday before heading to Qatar on Thursday. According to a US official, Burns is not anticipated to visit Israel during this trip, nor is a “quad” format meeting with Egyptian and Israeli intelligence chiefs, as well as the Qatari Prime Minister, planned, as it was in Paris two weeks ago.

“We continue to believe that the obstacles are not insurmountable and that a deal can be reached,” State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Wednesday when asked about the lack of progress. “The pact benefits Israel. It is in the interests of the Palestinian people. And it is in the best interests of the entire area, so we will continue to fight for one.”

SOURCE – (CNN)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Dan Rather Synonymous with CBS News Dies at Age 92

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Dan Rather Synonymous with CBS News Dies at Age 92
Dan Rather CBS Evening News

Dan Rather was synonymous with CBS News before the veteran anchorman left in bitterness in 2006, following a discredited report on then-President George W Bush has died at the age of 92.

Dan Rather returned to the CBS News airwaves for the first time since his bitter exit 18 years ago, appearing in a reflective interview on “CBS Sunday Morning” days before the debut of a Netflix documentary on the 92-year-old newsman’s life.

After 44 years at the network, 24 as anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” Rather left under a cloud following a botched investigation into then-President George W. Bush’s military record. Rather signed off as anchor for the last time on March 9, 2005, and exited the network when his contract ended 15 months later.

With continued enmity between him and since-deposed CBS chief Leslie Moonves, Rather essentially became a nonperson at the news division he dominated for decades.

“Without apology or explanation, I miss CBS,” Rather told correspondent Lee Cowan in the interview that aired Sunday. “I’ve missed it since the day I left.”

Dan Rather

Rather questioned Bush’s Vietnam War-era National Guard service: Image Vox

Dan Rather escaped official blame for the report that questioned Bush’s Vietnam War-era National Guard service but, as the anchor who introduced it, was identified with it.

CBS could not vouch for the authenticity of some documents upon which the report was based, although many people involved in the story still believe it was true.

In the documentary “Rather,” debuting Wednesday on Netflix, Rather said he thought he would survive the incident, but his wife, Jean, told him, “You got into a fight with the president of the United States during his reelection campaign. What did you think was going to happen?”

Rather did not retire after leaving CBS, doing investigative journalism and rock star interviews for HDNet, a digital cable and satellite television network. Over the past few years, he has become known to a new generation as a tart-talking presence on social media.

This past week, he posted on X during former President Trump’s hush money trial: “Is it just me or did today seem sleazy even for Donald Trump?”

“You either get engaged and you get engaged in the new terms … or you’re out of the game,” Rather said in the CBS interview, filmed at his home in Texas. “And I wanted to stay in the game.”

The Netflix documentary traces his career from coverage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Vietnam War and Watergate, through his anchor years and beyond. It includes some of the then tightly-wound Rather’s odder incidents, including an assault in New York City by someone saying, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth,” then later appearing onstage with R.E.M. when the group performed its song of the same name.

In both the documentary and in the CBS interview, Rather bypasses his career when talk turned to his legacy.

“In the end, whatever remains of one’s life — family, friends — those are going to be the things for which you’re remembered,” he said.

Source: The Associated Press

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Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

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AP - VOR News Image

The city of Omaha, located in Nebraska, is the subject of this article. On Saturday, residents began examining the debris following a tornado that tore through suburban Omaha, Nebraska. The tornado caused extensive damage to homes and businesses as it traveled miles across farmland and into residential areas.

A crowd assembled in the streets of the Elkhorn region in Omaha amidst the fragmented remnants of the residences. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen intends to visit the area and after that conduct a press briefing on Saturday in Omaha.

The tornadoes that occurred on Friday night caused extensive destruction in the Midwest. One building collapsed, trapping numerous individuals inside, while hundreds of residences were either destroyed or damaged.

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AP – VOR News Image

Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

Multiple injury incidents have been documented. However, no deaths have been reported.

Three individuals sustained injuries in Lancaster County, Nebraska, as a result of a tornado striking an industrial structure, leading to its collapse while containing 70 occupants. Multiple individuals were confined. However, all individuals were successfully removed from the premises, and the injuries sustained were deemed non-fatal, as stated by the police.

A devastating tornadoes traveled a considerable distance on Friday, first affecting agricultural land before causing significant damage to residences and other buildings in the suburban areas of Omaha. Omaha has a population of 485,000 people and a metropolitan area of approximately 1 million.

Images shared on social media platforms also depict extensive destruction in the small town of Minden, Iowa, which is located approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Omaha.

During a briefing on Friday, Jeff Theulen, the top deputy of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, stated that 40 to 50 homes had been entirely demolished. Two injuries were documented, but none risked the individuals’ lives.

According to him, school buses have been sent to provide transportation for residents who require it to leave the area. He requested that others refrain from entering the area due to its high level of hazard, characterized by fallen power lines and heaps of debris where houses once stood.

“It is truly distressing to witness these individuals who have suffered the loss of their homes, vehicles, and essentially their entire livelihood until they are able to reconstruct it,” he expressed.

The Saturday forecast was foreboding. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for northern Texas and western Oklahoma on Saturday morning.

“There is a possibility of tornadoes, potentially significant tornadoes, occurring on Saturday afternoon and evening,” stated Bruce Thoren, a meteorologist from the weather service in Norman, Oklahoma.

Areas of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Arkansas were under tornado warnings. Meteorologists warned that significant hail and powerful gusts of wind could occur.

Omaha police Lieutenant Neal Bonacci reported that numerous residences in Omaha, particularly in the Elkhorn district in the city’s western region, sustained damage on Friday. In response, police officers and firefighters visited households to provide assistance.

Several recently constructed, spacious residences in a specific section of Elkhorn sustained significant damage. A minimum of six structures were severely damaged, with one completely demolished and others experiencing significant damage to their upper sections. A multitude of emergency cars swiftly arrived at the location.

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AP – VOR News Image

Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

According to Pat Woods, a resident of Elkhorn, we observed the touchdown of the object approximately 200 yards away before seeking shelter. “We were able to perceive its approach.” Upon our arrival, we discovered that our fence had disappeared. As we gazed towards the northwest, we observed that the entire neighborhood had vanished.

Kim Woods, his spouse, stated, “The entire residential area located to the north of our location has been severely devastated.”

According to Dhaval Naik, who claims to work with the owner of the residence, three individuals, including a toddler, were present in the basement of the destroyed house during the tornadoes. However, they managed to escape unharmed.

A video from KETV-TV depicted the evacuation of a woman from a destroyed residence in Blair, a city located to the north of Omaha. The woman was transported on a stretcher.According to Bonacci, two individuals were brought for medical care, both of whom sustained minor injuries.

“The few serious injuries were prevented because people were given warnings,” stated Omaha Police ChiefTodd Schmaderer.

A tornado warning was issued in the Omaha vicinity on Friday afternoon, coinciding with the scheduled departure of students from school. Several schools implemented a shelter-in-place protocol for kids until the storm subsided.

“Was it a single continuous tornado or were there multiple tornadoes?” Kern from the National Weather Service inquired.

According to her, the agency intended to dispatch numerous teams in the next few days to assess the quantity and intensity of the tornadoes. This process could last up to a fortnight.

A tornado struck an area on the eastern periphery of Omaha, causing direct damage to sections of Eppley Airfield, the city’s airport. Aircraft operations were temporarily suspended to assess the damage, but the facility was subsequently reopened, according to Steve McCoy, Chief Strategy Officer of the Omaha Airport Authority.

tornadoes

AP – VOR News Image

Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

Although the tornadoes did not directly strike the passenger terminal, McCoy stated that individuals promptly sought refuge in storm shelters until the tornadoes subsided.

Following its path through the airport, the tornado over the Missouri River entered Iowa, specifically to the north of Council Bluffs.

According to sheriff’s officials, in Lancaster County, three individuals sustained injuries as a result of the collapse of an industrial facility. Additionally, there have been reports of a train that has tipped over near Waverly, Nebraska.

Approximately 10,000 customers in the Omaha area experienced a power outage, as reported by the Omaha Public Power District. On Saturday morning, the number had decreased to slightly over 4,300.

Pillen, the governor of Nebraska, announced on the social media platform X that he had directed the allocation of state resources to assist in the emergency response and help first responders evaluate the extent of the damage.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Andrew Tate Human Trafficking Trial to Proceed in Romania

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Andrew Tate Human Trafficking Trial to Proceed in Romania

The trial of popular influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan will proceed, the criminal court in Romanian has announced. Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian female suspects were accused in June on charges of human trafficking, rape, and organizing a criminal gang to sexually exploit people, which they deny.

Under Romanian law, the case was then sent to the Bucharest court’s preliminary chamber, which was responsible for inspecting the case files and evidence to guarantee validity. The process is now complete, and the criminal trial may begin.

“The court notes the legality of evidence management by… prosecutors, and rules that the case can go to trial,” the Bucharest court said, adding that the decision can be appealed. There is no definite date for the trial.

Eugen Vidineac, the brothers’ principal defence lawyer, stated that he has filed an appeal against the ruling.

“The preliminary chamber judge’s decision lacks a legal basis and reasoning,” he stated in a statement. “We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful.”

The Tates’ counsel stated that no trial date had been set, and that “the decision is going to be appealed.”

Britain’s request to extradite Andrew Tate

In March, a Romanian court authorized Britain’s request to extradite Andrew Tate and his brother on sexual assault claims stretching back to 2012-15, but only after Romanian trial processes had concluded.

The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers with dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom, are the most high-profile accused facing human trafficking trials in Romania, and their case will serve as a test for Romania’s anti-organized crime prosecuting arm DIICOT.

Adult trafficking, like rape, carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

From late December 2022 to April 2023, the Tate brothers were in police custody to prevent them from escaping the country or tampering with evidence.

They were subsequently held under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a less stringent arrangement that allows them to move freely but not leave the country.

According to Romanian prosecutors, the Tate brothers recruited their victims by charming them and making false claims about wanting a relationship or marriage.

The victims were subsequently driven to homes outside of Bucharest and sexually exploited through physical abuse and mental intimidation by being forced to create pornographic content for social media platforms that produced a lot of money, according to prosecutors.

Tate, a self-proclaimed sexist, has amassed millions of followers by preaching an ultra-masculine lifestyle that opponents argue denigrates women.

Who is Andrew Tate?

Andrew Tate is a controversial internet celebrity who promotes toxic masculinity and holds misogynistic ideas. The former kickboxer rose to prominence after posting sexist, homophobic, and nasty messages on social media and in viral videos.

Tate’s incendiary words frequently objectify women, excuse sexual assault, and reinforce damaging gender stereotypes. Despite being banned from multiple platforms, his cult-like following spreads his harmful views online.

Tate’s unabashed embrace of hypermasculinity and a lavish lifestyle appeals to disillusioned young men looking for approval. However, many see his ideas as a breeding ground for internet radicalism, which fuels real-world violence and persecution of women.

Tate’s unbridled anger has triggered a global response, with critics accusing him of spreading hate speech that normalizes women’s degradation.

Source; Reuters

 

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