Gaza ceasefire takes priority over Israel ties, says Saudi FM
The local health ministry in Gaza says more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's assault on the region since an October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
According to Israel, 1,200 people were killed in that attack and more than 250 taken hostage into Gaza.
Earlier, former US President Donald Trump has said that several more countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords, indicating a potential expansion of the Middle East peace agreements initiated during his administration.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump also claimed that Iran no longer poses a nuclear threat. However, he voiced frustration over a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating: 'I don't think President Putin wants to stop the war.'
Mr Trump further announced that tariff notices would be sent out to 10 to 12 countries, with duties ranging from 10% to 70% set to be imposed on various nations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan reacts cautiously to Russia's Taliban recognition
Listen to article Pakistan on Friday reacted cautiously to the Russian decision recognising the Afghan Taliban government, saying the matter was between the two sovereign states. "We have seen the news about Russian recognition of the government in Kabul," said Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan at a weekly news briefing. "Russia is an important country in the region. It has legitimate security interests in this part of the world and is also friends with all countries in the region. Pakistan enjoys very warm and cordial relations with Russia," he added. "Both countries are maintaining the positive trajectory and further expanding the cordial relations. Russia-Afghanistan relations are a matter between two sovereign states. We have taken note of Russian recognition," he said without offering any further comments. Unlike Pakistan's guarded reaction, China welcomed the Russian decision to formally recognize the Taliban government. China was the first country to send a full time Ambassador to Kabul in March last year and accepted the Taliban appointed envoy in Beijing. However, unlike Russia, China never formally announced that it had recognized the Taliban government. Diplomatic sources said other countries may also follow suit as regional countries earlier decided to take decision on Afghanistan with consensus. The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan are in the process to appoint full time Ambassadors to Kabul. There was, however, no clarity if Pakistan would immediately or formally recognise the Taliban government. Pakistan has had a difficult relationship with the Taliban government over its failure to curb cross border terrorist attacks. Pakistan wanted to use the recognition as leverage with the Taliban government. However, China recently tried to mediate between Pakistan and China. Recently, China hosted a trilateral meeting in Beijing after which Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to upgrade their diplomatic ties. The spokesperson said the process of appointment of ambassadors was underway. It is believed that in return for Pakistan upgrading the ties, the Taliban government had agreed to address Pakistan's security concerns. Officials familiar with the development said the Taliban government in recent weeks took some steps to address Pakistan's security concerns. However, they were of the view that a lot needed to be done as far as terrorist sanctuaries were concerned. Pakistan this week neutralised a major infiltration bid by terrorists from Afghanistan. As many as 30 intruders were killed in two operations in Hassen Kheil District of North Waziristan. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement urged the Afghan Taliban government to fulfill its promise of not allowing its soil to be used by terrorist groups.
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
In July 4 ceremony, Trump signs tax and spending bill into law
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a massive package of tax and spending cuts at the White House on Friday, staging an outdoor ceremony on the Fourth of July holiday that took on the air of a Trump political rally. With military jets flying overhead and hundreds of supporters in attendance, Trump signed the bill one day after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly approved the signature legislation of the president's second term. The bill, which will fund Trump's immigration crackdown, make his 2017 tax cuts permanent, and is expected to knock millions of Americans off health insurance, was passed with a 218-214 vote after an emotional debate on the House floor. Trump wins 'phenomenal' victory as Congress passes flagship bill "I've never seen people so happy in our country because of that, because so many different groups of people are being taken care of: the military, civilians of all types, jobs of all types," Trump said at the ceremony, thanking House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for leading the bill through the two houses of Congress. "So you have the biggest tax cut, the biggest spending cut, the largest border security investment in American history," Trump said. Trump scheduled the ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House for the July 4 Independence Day holiday, replete with a flyover by stealth bombers and fighter jets like those that took part in the recent U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Hundreds of Trump supporters attended, including White House aides, members of Congress, and military families. After a speech that included boastful claims about the ascendance of America on his watch, Trump signed the bill, posed for pictures with Republican congressional leaders and members of his cabinet, and waded through the crowd of happy supporters. The bill's passage amounts to a big win for Trump and his Republican allies, who have argued it will boost economic growth, while largely dismissing a nonpartisan analysis predicting it will add more than $3 trillion to the nation's $36.2 trillion debt. While some lawmakers in Trump's party expressed concerns over the bill's price tag and its hit to healthcare programs, in the end just two of the House's 220 Republicans voted against it, joining all 212 Democrats in opposition. The tense standoff over the bill included a record-long floor speech by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who spoke for eight hours and 46 minutes, blasting the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy that would strip low-income Americans of federally-backed health insurance and food aid benefits. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin predicted the law would cost Republicans votes in congressional elections in 2026. "Today, Donald Trump sealed the fate of the Republican Party, cementing them as the party for billionaires and special interests - not working families," Martin said in a statement. "This legislation will hang around the necks of the GOP for years to come. This was a full betrayal of the American people. Today, we are putting Republicans on notice: you will lose your majority."
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
15 killed in Gaza as Trump awaits Hamas reply to truce proposal
A view of the site of Israeli strike that damaged and destroyed residential buildings, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City on July 4, 2025. Photo Reuters At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an airstrike on a tent encampment west of the city around 2 a.m., killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight. "The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed. Adlar Mouamar said her nephew, Ashraf, was also killed. "Our hearts are broken. We ask the world, we don't want want them to end the bloodshed. We want them to stop this war." Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian group and Israel. On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war. Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement. While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the group has so far refused to discuss.
