Global Outlook

  Since Israel ‘s war with Hamas began more than two years ago, Israel has erected nearly 1,000 barriers in cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, further stifling movement for Palestinians and hindering daily lives, a local government body says. While Israel’s military has long imposed movement and access constraints after capturing the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, the number of new barriers is unprecedented, residents say. According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, an official Palestinian governmental body, 916 gates, barriers and walls have been installed since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. Israeli military raids throughout the West Bank have also increased, with Palestinians killed or detained. Israel says it is trying to root out militancy. Among the new barriers are metal gates stationed at many village and town entrances and between cities, blocking access in and out. Sometimes the Israeli military is stationed at them. Palestinian...

  Sweden is redefining its social contract. Under the leadership of Education and Integration Minister Simona Mohamsson, the nation is embarking on one of the most ambitious policy overhauls in recent memory, aiming to shield its democratic foundations from foreign ideological influence. This is not merely a domestic policy shift; it is Sweden aligning itself with a proactive new European standard. Minister Mohamsson's strategy is built on a "values-based integration model." She argues that successful integration requires a clear commitment to the host country's democratic principles. "The time has passed to go by gut feeling and guesswork in integration policy," she has stated. "With facts on the table, we can talk about Swedish values and then come up with clear initiatives." Her ministry is pioneering a detailed mapping exercise to understand the values held by immigrant communities, focusing on critical issues like gender equality, children...

  “Israel won’t do anything in the West Bank, don’t be afraid,” Donald Trump said at the White House in response to a French reporter’s question whether the Knesset vote for sovereignty over that territory was a challenge to him. The question arises from the fact that the right-wing rivals of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have narrowly passed a West Bank annexation bill in the first parliamentary reading, prompting criticism from the US, while the allies promote a peace plan for Gaza whose regional support depends on the recognition of Palestinian territorial claims. “Personally, I consider it an insult,” said US Vice-President J.D. Vance, at the end of his visit to Israel, in response to Wednesday’s vote in the Knesset, with 25 votes in favour and 24 against. Last month, Trump declared that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, an area where, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, Palestinians want to establish an independent state. “Don’t worry abou...

  Egypt's Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad arrived in Israel on Tuesday for Gaza ceasefire talks with Israeli officials. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said Rashed met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News channel said Rashad’s talks in Israel will also take up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Egyptian intelligence chief will also meet with US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff during the visit. The visit is the first by a senior Egyptian official to Israel since Tel Aviv’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. The ceasefire deal took effect on Oct. 10 in Gaza, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump. Phase one included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas. Since October 2023, the Israeli gen...

  When the final whistle blew at Santiago's Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos on October 19, 2025, history had been written. Morocco's under-20 national team had achieved the unthinkable—a decisive 2-0 victory over Argentina, the six-time champions, to claim their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title. This landmark victory sent waves of celebration across the African continent and Arab world, marking Morocco as only the second African nation to win this prestigious tournament since Ghana's 2009 triumph. The match showcased Moroccan football at its finest—organized, resilient, and brilliantly effective. Yassir Zabiri, the 20-year-old forward who plays for Portuguese side Famalicão, became an instant national hero with both goals in the final. His opening strike in the 12th minute was a masterpiece—a sumptuous free-kick curled into the top right corner of Argentina's goal, leaving goalkeeper Santino Barbi with no chance. Just seventeen minutes later, Zabiri complet...

  Israel said Thursday that the date for the opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would be announced at a later stage and that it would only be open for the movement of people. “The date for the opening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people only will be announced at a later stage, once the Israeli side, together with the Egyptian side, completes the necessary preparations for the crossing’s opening,” said a statement from COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories. “It should be emphasised that humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing. This was never agreed upon at any stage,” the statement said, adding that “aid continues to enter the Gaza Strip” through other crossings. The Rafah crossing is a strategic gateway to the outside world for the Gaza Strip, and international organisations hope that the crossing point will enable a surge of aid to be delivered to the devastated territory...

  Israel says Hamas has handed over the first seven hostages to the Red Cross in the first phase of the Israel-Gaza ceasefire. There are 48 hostages still in captivity, and 20 are believed to be alive. According to the hostage families forum, those released are: Eitan Mor, Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Engerst, Omri Miran, Guy Gilboa Dalal and Alon Ohel. Families and friends of hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that the hostages were in the hands of the Red Cross. Tens of thousands of Israelis are watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv. The packed crowd in Hostages Square erupted in cheers as the names of the hostages to be released were read on local television. They clapped and chanted “bring them home now”. The hostage release is the first stage of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, which is also set to release hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli jails. All 1,966 Palestin...

  United States President Donald Trump has announced that both Hamas and Israel have agreed to the first phase of his proposed plan for a ceasefire in Gaza and an exchange of captives. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Wednesday. According to him, all hostages will be released soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to a mutually agreed line. Qatar, one of the main mediators, confirmed that an agreement had been reached on the first phase of the ceasefire. “The mediators announce that tonight an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement,” said Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He added that the plan would lead to an end to the war, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Full details will be shared l...