Palestinian sources close to talks report progress in ending Gaza truce crisis

Palestinian sources close to negotiations on Thursday reported progress in efforts to salvage the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, with a view to ensuring that a hostage-prisoner exchange goes ahead this weekend as planned. "There is progress," one source told AFP, adding that mediators had obtained from Israel a "promise... to put in place

Trump admin sues New York over immigration enforcement

US President Donald Trump's administration filed a lawsuit against New York on Wednesday accusing the Democratic-ruled state of hindering federal efforts to crack down on undocumented migrants. The legal action comes a week after the Justice Department sued so-called "sanctuary" city Chicago and the Midwestern state of Illinois on similar grounds. "We

WHO launches plan for free child cancer medicines

The World Health Organization launched on  Tuesday a new platform providing cost-free cancer medicines for thousands of  children living in low- and middle-income countries, in a bid to improve  lagging survival rates. The first medicines were being delivered to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, the WHO  said, with further shipments planned for Ecuador,

UN chief welcomes formation of new Lebanon government

UN chief Antonio  Guterres has welcomed the formation of a new government in Lebanon, affirming the international body's commitment to that country's "territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence," a spokesman said Sunday. "The United Nations looks forward to working in close partnership with the new government on its priorities, including the