Daily News

The armed wing of Hamas, Qassam Brigades, has revealed the names of the captives in a statement on Telegram. The statement said Alexander “Sasha” Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Yair Horn will be released on Saturday.

Muhanad Seloom ,Assistant Professor in Critical Security Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says Israeli leaders are under immense pressure to continue with the exchange of captives for Palestinian prisoners.

'This is the beginning of the end' That's the message the US president is sending to the leaders of Russia and Ukraine Donald Trump seems confident a deal can be struck to bring a permanent end to the war in Ukraine, which is now entering its third year. But who will come out on top? Trump and Putin have plans to meet in Saudi Arabia and follow with mutual state visits. Is that a sign that Zelenskyy might be sidelined from the negotiations? And what about Europe? With Ukrainian NATO membership seemingly off the table, how can the region's future security be guaranteed?

With a new president and new prime minister, a new chapter is being written for Lebanon. A new story many hope will signal real change. There are few places on Earth where politics and geography collide more catastrophically than they have in Lebanon. As various countries have vied for influence, the Lebanese people have repeatedly faced the consequences. Pinch Point delves into how the past continues to affect the country's present and future.

A stabilising force enhancing the sovereignty of African nations - or the focal point for increasing Russian influence across the continent? This documentary is an exploration of Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategic ambitions in Africa, seen through the prism of the Central African Republic (CAR). At the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in July 2023, Putin announced military agreements with more than 40 African countries. The agreements have already started to reshape geopolitical relationships and have significant implications for local populations. Russian paramilitary organisation the Wagner Group has been in the CAR since 2018, and while some support its presence, independent investigations have reported terrible human rights abuses with little or no accountability. Russia's Shadow on Africa includes insights from former Wagner commander Marat Gabidullin, French political analyst Emmanuel Dupuy, and an adviser to CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera. They shed light on the complex situation in the CAR - a combination of military engagement, resource exploitation and geopolitical manoeuvring - and how it's becoming a template for Russia's expanding influence in Africa.

Seizing land of its white citizens without compensation – that’s the claim US President Donald Trump has used to justify cutting off aid to South Africa, pointing to the recently passed Expropriation Act. His South African-born advisor, Elon Musk, has added fuel to the fire, accusing the country of having openly racist laws. But what’s really behind South African land reform?

As the climate crisis worsens in Pakistan’s rural areas, women are paying the ultimate price. With temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius (122°F) and torrential monsoons causing widespread flooding, health services are at breaking point. For many women, childbirth has become a matter of life or death. Fewer than one in two women give birth in a hospital, leaving many to deliver at home in unsafe conditions where poor hygiene and lack of clean water are constant threats. As a result, one woman dies every hour due to pregnancy complications, contributing to Pakistan having one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in South Asia. In this desperate situation, a dedicated team of midwives and doctors is working tirelessly to make childbirth safer for these women.

Yossi Mekelberg, an analyst at the think tank Chatham House, says that after Hamas has confirmed that the captives will be released on Saturday, he cannot see any chance that Israel will not go ahead with the exchange. “As far as most Israelis are concerned, we know for many … months that 60 to 70 percent … say they wanted a ceasefire deal, the return of hostages, … even [an] end [to the] war.” He said that despite the majority of the Israeli public calling for a deal for many months, the government had placed “obstacles” to reaching an agreement, which raises questions over negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire. “We saw when the deal was signed, part of the far right led by [then-National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir left the coalition and … [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich and his party stayed there, but they stayed … to derail the second phase, and Netanyahu is desperate to keep the … coalition together,” Mekelberg said.

The Israeli military has been carrying out a large-scale assault in the occupied West Bank for more than three weeks. The operation has largely focused on the Jenin refugee camp in the north, where thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes. In one of the latest attacks, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Jenin. It was reportedly bombed three times. Israeli forces have been raiding the camp accompanied by bulldozers, which are being used to destroy critical infrastructure.

After a lengthy phone call between the two leaders, US President Donald Trump says Russia's Vladimir Putin has agreed to peace talks on the Ukraine war. Trump also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and warned Ukraine may need to make concessions to stop the fighting. Pavel Felgenhauer is an independent Russian defence analyst.