Palestinian president expresses hope for dialogue with new Israeli gov't
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he hoped the formation of a new Israeli government would create an opportunity to resume serious political dialogue and achieve peace in accordance with international law, according to Palestine's official news agency WAFA.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, Abbas said Palestine attached great importance to achieving regional security and stability, including ensuring peace and security between Palestinians and Israelis, according to WAFA.
He stressed that the Palestinian side sought to achieve peace based on international law, relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and the principles of human rights.
Saudi-led coalition says intercepted Houthi missiles, Houthis claim 27 killed in Saudi airstrikes
Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi group toward the Saudi capital Riyadh, the Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday evening, while the Houthis said 27 people were killed in Saudi airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
Loud explosions were heard in Riyadh earlier in the day. Local residents received alerts via mobile apps.
In a separate statement on Thursday morning, the coalition said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launched toward the kingdom's Eastern Province.
European Commission president proposes "association without accession" for Canada
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that Canada should become an "associate member" of the European Union (EU), as the EU-Canada summit opened in Montreal.
"We both want to bring our relationship to the highest level possible. This is why we are discussing the idea of Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union," von der Leyen said in her opening address, describing the proposed status as "association without accession."
Commenting on global affairs, von der Leyen pointed out that the international order is undergoing a deeper decay, with alliances and assumptions that have enabled prosperity and security changing rapidly.
Death toll of Spain train collision revised to 69
Spain's independent transport accident investigation authority AITAT on Thursday revised the death toll of Wednesday's high-speed train collision in Toledo province to 69, shortly after reporting 74 fatalities.
The authority initially published the preliminary figure of 74 deaths at around 5:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) on the Spanish Ministry of Transport's website. However, it later corrected the figure to 69, matching the number announced earlier Thursday by Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government.
Iran received Vance's letter, not responded yet -- media
Tehran has received a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance to the Iran's top security official, but has not responded yet, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
Citing follow-ups by its correspondent, Tasnim said Iran insists the United States fulfill its seven conditions and that "any position that disrupts this definitive framework of Iran is unacceptable."
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Vance had sent a letter to Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei to restart peace negotiations and avoid another war between the two countries.
Russia, Ukraine launch humanitarian missions to frontline town of Oleshky
Russia and Ukraine on Thursday dispatched representatives on humanitarian missions to Oleshky, a frontline town in Ukraine's Kherson region, to deliver aid to residents and help civilians leave safely amid a worsening humanitarian situation.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the operation had begun, telling the Zvezda television channel that a flight had departed from Moscow and that demining was underway as part of a complex operation.
Russia's Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova said she had set off for Oleshky on Thursday to carry out the mission. ■
