Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized a delegation to engage in renewed negotiations with Hamas for a potential ceasefire and the release of hostages. The decision follows recent discussions with Qatari and Egyptian mediators and has received backing from the United States.

During a phone call on Thursday, President Joe Biden supported Netanyahu’s decision to engage in talks, emphasizing the importance of reaching an agreement, according to a readout of the conversation issued by the White House. Mossad chief David Barnea will lead the Israeli delegation, scheduled to travel to Qatar to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.

Israeli officials have expressed optimism about the new Hamas proposal, describing it as the most promising since the conflict began nearly nine months ago.

Despite progress in negotiations, internal political challenges pose risks to the deal. Far-right elements within Netanyahu’s coalition have threatened to withdraw support if the war concludes before their objectives are fully achieved. The Israeli response to the Hamas proposal, delivered through mediators, was notably different from previous instances during the nearly nine-month war in Gaza, where Israel had said the conditions attached by Hamas were not acceptable.

Hamas stated on Wednesday that it had consulted with the mediators about the proposed deal. “We exchanged some ideas with the mediator brothers to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people,” the group said in a statement.

The potential ceasefire deal represents a critical juncture in the conflict, offering a glimmer of hope amid the devastation and ongoing hostilities. This development also marks a renewed attempt to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that broke out in early October 2023, which has claimed over 38,000 Palestinian lives according to Gaza health authorities.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The death toll continues to rise, and essential services are on the brink of collapse due to fuel shortages. The Hamas-run health authorities have reported that in the past 24 hours alone, 58 Palestinians were killed and 179 injured. Many victims remain trapped under rubble, with rescue efforts hampered by the ongoing conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), has faced significant obstacles in delivering aid due to the closure of the Rafah crossing. Hundreds of trucks loaded with food and medical supplies are stuck, with fears that the perishable items may spoil before reaching those in need. Abdullah al Rabeeah, head of KSRelief, has urged Israel to lift the restrictions and allow the aid to reach Gaza.

In parallel, Israel’s actions in the West Bank have exacerbated tensions. The Israeli government has approved plans to construct 5,295 new settler homes, a settlement monitoring group said on Thursday.

The move came a day after Israeli authorities approved the appropriation of 12.7 square kilometers of land in the Jordan Valley, marking the largest single appropriation since the 1993 Oslo accords. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called it “a step in the wrong direction,” emphasizing the need for a negotiated two-state solution.

In 2024, Israel has designated approximately 23.7 square kilometers of West Bank territory as “State Lands,” according to Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog. This bureaucratic process allows the Israeli government to nullify Palestinian ownership rights over the declared lands, allowing the land to be leased exclusively to Israelis for settlement expansion.

Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East war and has since expanded its settlements in the region.

Furthermore, the conflict has extended to the Lebanese border, where Israeli forces have launched air strikes in response to Hezbollah attacks. Hezbollah fired at least 175 rockets, missiles and drones at northern Israel, retaliating for the assassination of a senior commander by Israeli forces.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that their aerial defense systems intercepted several of these projectiles, although some caused damage and fires in northern Israel. The situation remains volatile, with both sides exchanging heavy fire.

The ongoing conflict has severely impacted tourism in Israel. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of foreign tourists visiting Israel dropped by 74.9 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. The outbreak of violence in October 2023 has deterred tourists, with monthly arrivals plummeting since then.

Source(s): CGTN

SINGAPORE, July 4 (Xinhua) — Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized over 350,000 e-cigarettes and components worth more than 6 million Singapore dollars (4.4 million U.S. dollars) in operations from June 14 to June 18, it said Thursday.

Two men and two women are assisting with investigations.

HSA noted that it had seized e-cigarettes and components worth over 18 million Singapore dollars this year.

It is illegal to import, distribute, or sell e-cigarettes and their components in Singapore.

Source(s): Xinhua

A resolution proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries including the U.S. was passed unanimously at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday.

The resolution calls for “human-centered” development of AI and that it should benefit all nations.

The resolution puts a particular emphasis on equality, stresses that international cooperation should help developing countries build their AI capacity. Meanwhile, their voice should also be included more in global AI governance in an “open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment.”

China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, pointed out that many developing countries have not been able to access or benefit from the use of AI as the global digital divide continues to widen.

“The goal is to help all countries, especially developing ones, equally benefit from AI development, bridge the digital divide, improve global AI governance, and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” said Fu.

The adoption of the resolution was warmly welcomed and highly appreciated by many developing countries, according to the Chinese permanent mission to the UN.

They unanimously agreed that the resolution’s focus on AI capacity building and its series of practical measures are of milestone importance in bridging the global digital divide and promoting the shared benefits of AI development among countries, according to the mission.

“Past global discussions may have focused on the issues of AI safety, ethics and governance. However, for many low- and middle-income countries, they lack even the most basic AI infrastructure, let alone the capability for AI innovation and application,” said Zeng Yi, a member of the United Nations AI Advisory Body and professor at the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“The original purpose of AI technology was to empower sustainable development and bridge the digital divide. However, this divide has now widened, making governance issues critically important. Capacity building is a crucial core element aimed at helping these low- and middle-income countries bridge this digital divide and ensuring that the benefits of AI reach them,” Zeng said.

Meanwhile, AI technology is already showing its potential in developing countries. A survey of 11,900 people in the Asia-Pacific region conducted by Deloitte in May found that generative AI is already transforming how people work. According to the company, the AI revolution is unsurprisingly led by the younger generation who grew up being surrounded by smart devices, voice assistants and recommendation algorithms.

“They’ve experienced AI in various aspects of their lives, from entertainment and education to health care and daily interactions since early childhood. As such, they’re characterized by their digital fluency and ability to navigate and use AI technologies,” said the company in a report.

Developing economies in the region are at the forefront of adopting generative AI, with adoption rates roughly 30% higher than those in developed economies. Notably, daily usage is significantly higher in India (32%) and Southeast Asian countries (19%), compared to Australia (8%) and Japan (4%).

Deloitte attributes this adoption gap partly to the larger proportion of “digitally native” individuals in developing economies. In India, 46% of those surveyed were aged between 18 and 35, whereas only 30% of respondents in Japan fell within this age group.

Source(s): CGTN