Palestinian officials vote to create a vice presidency under Mahmoud Abbas

Under the leadership of 89-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, who hasn’t named a successor, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has announced the creation of a vice presidency.

The organization’s central council approved creating the position of vice chairman of the PLO Executive Committee after a two-day meeting on Thursday. The Palestinians hope that the State of Palestine’s vice president will eventually receive full international recognition for their contributions.

Although it’s unknown when or exactly how that position will be filled, it is anticipated that someone with that position will be in the lead candidate to succeed Abbas. The other 15 members of the PLO’s executive committee will select Abbas as his vice president.

The Palestinian Authority (PA), which is the Palestinian people’s internationally recognized representative, is in charge of some of the areas of Israeli-occupied West Bank where the PLO exercises limited autonomy. For 20 years, Abbas has taken charge of both organizations.

Hamas is not a member of the PLO, having won the last national elections in 2006. Since the PA security forces seized control of Gaza in 2007, reconciliation efforts have repeatedly failed.

Recent polls have revealed a decline in his and his Fatah party support.

For the PA to play a role in post-war Gaza, donors from the West and the Arab world have demanded reforms. The organization has long been accused of corruption and poor governance, but it is incredibly unpopular. His critics might be at ease if they were to name an heir apparent.

Abbas was criticized by Hamas on Thursday for remarks he made the day before, in which he called the group “sons of dogs” and demanded that it be free of Israeli prisoners and lay down weapons.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim stated, “Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously places the blame on our people for the crimes committed during the occupation and its ongoing aggression.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that at least 1 928 people have died there since Israel’s war broke out in October 2023, bringing the total toll to at least 51,305.

After being largely sidelined, Abbas has been looking for more relevance and a place in post-war planning for the Gaza Strip.

At least 59 Palestinians killed as Israel escalates Gaza bombardment

According to medical sources, at least 59 people have died as a result of Israeli-related attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip.

At least 12 members of the same family were killed on Thursday when their home in northern Gaza’s Jabalia was targeted, according to rescue teams and medical personnel in the enclave.

A couple and their four children were among the six people killed when an airstrike levelled their home in Gaza City, according to a statement from the civil defense.

After the attack, first responder Ahmed Arar in Gaza City reported that there were “a large number of body parts and remains,” many of which were children.

“We have only hands, legs, and heads,” he said. They have all been severed and torn, according to Arar.

A statement from the Indonesian Hospital, where the casualties were taken, claimed that another 10 people were killed and several others were hurt in a bombing of a former police station in the Jabalia region of northern Gaza.

Abdel Qader Sabah, 23, from Jabalia, described the attack that hit the station near a market as “everyone started running and screaming, without knowing what to do from the horror and severity of the bombing.”

Palestinian woman reacts when Israeli forces attack a home in Gaza City [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]

Without revealing whether it was aiming at the police station, Israel’s military said it attacked what it described as a Hamas “command and control center” in the Jabalia neighborhood. Similar justifications have previously been used by the army in attacks on hospitals and numerous shelters for Palestinian refugees.

According to the civil defense agency and the medical staff, at least 26 people have been killed in previous Israeli attacks on the same area.

According to Tareq Abu Azzoum of Al Jazeera, who is based out of Deir el-Balah, there is “an ongoing increase in the rate of Israeli attacks on the entire Gaza Strip.”

He claimed that civil defense personnel are still attempting to clear the debris from the most recent attack in Jabalia.

One rescuer, he cited, claimed that many of the victims had burned themselves.

Offensive to say “larger”?

On March 18, Israel resumed its military assault on the Gaza Strip, ending a two-month ceasefire that had temporarily put an end to fighting in the squablocked area.

In addition to bombardment, the military is still securing crucial border crossings for the eighth week in a row, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis by preventing access to desperately needed humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and fuel.

If Israeli soldiers aren’t freed in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel’s army chief, who was visiting soldiers in Gaza on Thursday, threatened a “larger” offensive.

We will move our operations to a larger, more significant operation if we don’t see any progress in the hostages’ return in the near future, according to Eyal Zamir.

In the meantime, the Israeli military instructed the residents of Beit Hanoon and Sheikh Zeid, both in the north, to leave their homes.

The UN has warned that Israel’s expanding evacuation orders for Gaza are causing “forcible transfers” of people into ever-shrinking areas.

Since the start of the war, aid organizations have estimated that the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been forced to move somewhere else.

The Durra Children’s Hospital in Gaza City was declared nonoperable on Thursday by the Gaza Health Ministry after an Israeli bomb struck the building’s upper part, causing damage to the intensive care unit and the destruction of the facility’s solar power system.

Israel’s 18-month-old military campaign has devastated Gaza’s healthcare system, putting many of its hospitals in jeopardy, killing doctors, and reducing essential supplies.

Important mediators Qatar and Egypt have so far failed to reach an effective ceasefire despite their best efforts being supported by the US.

At least 1, 978 people have died in Gaza since Israel resumed its assault, bringing the total to at least 51, 355 people dead since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

According to the initial findings of an investigation, a UN worker was killed last month by an Israeli tank fire in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on Thursday.

It had initially denied operating in the area where a UNOPS employee from Bulgaria was killed on March 19.

The findings follow a separate investigation into the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza, which the military reported on Sunday.

A field commander would be fired, and it was finally stated that operational failures caused their deaths.

Trump makes rare criticism of Putin after Russia’s deadly Kyiv attacks

After a Russian missile attack in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, that left at least 12 people dead and dozens injured, President Donald Trump has killed-in-kyiv-as-moscow-us-scold-zelenskyy”>condemned Vladimir Putin.

Trump claimed in a statement posted on his own Truth Social platform on Thursday that the attacks were “not necessary” and “very badly timed.”

Stop! “Vladimir! The post stated that 5, 000 soldiers per week are passing away.

After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his allies to put pressure on Russia to end the more than three-year-old conflict, Trump made a direct appeal to Putin.

Zelenskyy stated at a press conference in South Africa that “we do not see any signs of the US putting strong pressure on Russia as part of its peace push. We think putting more pressure on Russia will bring our two countries closer together.

Mika Hanna, a reporter for Al Jazeera, claimed that Trump’s tweet on Truth Social is a eminently rare attempt to pressure Putin.

Trump “is using Vladimir” again, which is what might be interpreted as an almost affectionate term, to indicate the nature of his relationship with Putin as opposed to the Ukrainian leader, he said.

In recent days and weeks, Trump and his administration have been pressing the Ukrainian leadership, basically saying they must give up territory in order to reach a peace deal, Hanna noted.

There does appear to be bias as the US attempts to broker a truce between the warring nations because he has not put the same pressure on the Russian leader, he added.

The US can put more pressure on Putin, according to George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War in the US.

“The US has the power to make Vladimir stop,” he said. In a social media post, Barros stated that Putin has flaws that he is either overlooking or choosing not to exploit.

Putin added that, given Russia’s own precarious situation, Putin is betting on the US to let them off the hook.

“Windows sags and doors sags out of hinges”

In its attack on Kyiv on Thursday, the Ukrainian military claimed that Russia used at least 11 ballistic missiles, 55 cruise missiles of various types, and four guided bombs launched from tactical aircraft.

The projectiles were launched from Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, and other Russian regions, according to the report, which included at least 145 Iranian-designed Shahed drones and various types of simulator drones.

During the barrage, Olena Davydiuk, a 33-year-old lawyer in Kyiv, reported to the AFP news agency that she witnessed doors “falling out of their hinges” and windows “falling out of their hinges.”

“People were being rescued from the rubble,” the statement read. They added that there were also dead people present.

According to the Ukrainian army, 68 drone simulators fell and 68 drones were intercepted without causing any damage, along with 37 cruise missiles, all guided bombs, and 64 drones.

The Russian Ministry of Defense declared that the strike’s goals had been accomplished. All objects were struck by the bullet.

In the previous day, hundreds of Ukrainian service members were killed and dozens of tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed in Russian military operations on the front lines of the conflict, including in eastern Ukraine, according to the ministry.

In the midst of discussions about the potential recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which the Trump administration has suggested, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Ukrainian president of “wrecking” diplomacy aimed at achieving peace.

Zelenskyy lacks the ability to reach a deal, according to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the ministry, adding that continued EU weapons transfers to Ukraine encourage further conflict.

Putin is also being demonized by Europe.

However, Kaja Kallas, the head of the European Union’s foreign policy, claimed that Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine are “a mockery of it” and not a result of negotiations.

Russia’s war goals have not changed, she said, and not Ukraine.

Putin should stop lying, according to French President Emmanuel Macron, who is still attacking Ukraine.

Macron stated during a visit to Madagascar on Thursday that “President Putin has to finally stop lying.”

Macron claimed that Putin was the only one who was opposing the US-proposed and European-backed truce proposal as the attacks on Kyiv on Thursday cast yet more doubt on US-proposed and already fraught efforts to halt fighting.

Does President Putin consent to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine? said McMann.

Iran signals willingness to hold nuclear talks with Europeans

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says he is willing to travel to Europe to meet with Iranian leaders about Tehran’s nuclear program, and France has indicated that European countries would be interested in dialogue if Tehran showed signs of serious engagement.

After discussions with Russia and China this week, Iran plans to build on the momentum of its nuclear negotiations with the United States, which will resume on Saturday in Oman. Tehran is keeping its options open, according to its message to the European powers that were parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Tehran and the three European countries known as the E3 — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — have been having discussions about their ties and the nuclear issue for a while now.

The most recent meeting was held in March, technical wise, and covered the requirements of a potential agreement to end Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Although Iran’s momentum toward talks appeared to be waning as soon as indirect negotiations with US President Donald Trump’s administration began this month, European diplomats had stated that they were looking into resuming contact with the US.

Trump threatened to attack Iran unless it can’t develop nuclear weapons until a new deal is reached quickly and the landmark 2015 agreement is broken during his first term.

In recent years, Iran’s relations with the E3 have had ups and downs. They are currently down, according to Araghchi, who posted the picture on X.

“I once more suggest diplomacy.” I’m now prepared to make the first move with visits to Paris, Berlin, and London following my recent consultations in Moscow and Beijing. The court of E3 is now where the ball is.

A “diplomatic solution”

The European countries’ ties to Iran have gotten worse as a result of its ballistic missile program, foreign nationals’ detention, and Russian support for their conflict in Ukraine.

Christophe Lemoine, a spokesman for France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responded to a question about Araghchi’s comments by saying the E3 favored dialogue but wanted to know how serious Iran was.

At a press conference, he said, “The only solution is a diplomatic solution, and Iran must resolutely engage in this path, and we will continue to talk with the Iranians.”

Germany and Britain did not respond to the inquiry right away.

Even though the US knew about the nuclear talks in Oman before Trump’s announcement, the rest of the world knew.

Two European diplomats claim that the coordination between the US and its lead technical negotiator, Michael Anton, gave an E3 briefing in Paris on April 17. This suggests that things have improved.

A third round of high-level nuclear talks are scheduled for the same day in Oman, according to Tehran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.

A team of about a dozen US government officials will be led by Anton, who served as the White House National Security Council’s spokesman from 2017 to 2021.

Iran has long been suspected of having nuclear weapons, but it has consistently denied that. According to diplomats who were quoted by Reuters, the threat of new sanctions is intended to pressure Tehran into making concessions. In order to have in-depth discussions about strategy between Americans and Europeans is necessary.

The US is unable to reimpose sanctions at the UN Security Council through a mechanism known as snapback because the US brokered the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015.

That leaves the E3, the only other party to the 2015 agreement capable of and interested in pursuing snapback.

Median CEO pay in US hits record high even as markets tumble

A new study found that as a result of big stock grants, the median pay among US CEOs increased by 7.5 percent to a record $ 16.8 million for 2024, which outpaces the median pay for US CEOs.

According to a review of pay among S&amp and P 500 CEOs conducted by ISS-Corporate, the corporate advisory arm of Institutional Shareholder Services, the CEOs of Axon and Union Pacific were among those who received significant pay increases from stock awards.

Other CEOs performed well, according to Roy Saliba, managing director at ISS-Corporate, who oversaw the study, whose goals were set during the comparatively stable years of 2023. Before Donald Trump started a trade war that has stymied global markets recently, that was before that president.

These figures don’t align with the looming uncertainty, stock performance for the year, current company performance, and other factors that “spout out.” According to Saliba, the pay decisions for 2024 would have been made at least a year ago because of the time difference, Saliba said.

He claimed that his company’s unit advises businesses to wait before altering pay plans to reflect market uncertainty. According to him, boards could use a different set of performance indicators to evaluate an executive’s performance against their peers.

According to Saliba’s study, 320 businesses in the S&amp and P 500 have reported pay data so far this year. The executives had a respectable job. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, average hourly earnings for US employees increased by 4% last year, while inflation data from the Department of Commerce shows that it will increase by only 3% in 2024.

The CEO’s gains were aided by the company’s performance above those rates. The 320 Saliba companies that were analyzed had a median annual shareholder return of 15.1% in 2024.

CEO Patrick Smith at Axon, the maker of the Taser stun gun, was at one extreme, receiving a $ 164.5 million salary last year, up from $ 40 to $ 058 in 2023. He only received $ 31, 201 and $ 8, 857 in other compensation, including private air transportation, in that year.

According to Axon’s filing, the stock units that made up the majority of Smith’s 2024 pay serve as “an incentive for future performance in the form of a high-risk, high-reward compensation plan,” and the value can only be realized once each set of stock price and operational goals is met.

Axon’s comment was not forthcoming.

After being hired in August of that year, CEO James Vena received a salary of $ 17.6 million for his service to Union Pacific, versus $ 2 million for his portion of that year. The majority of his pay came from significant stock and option bonuses, according to a railroad spokesperson, which are performance-based.

His actual bonus and equity will reflect that and be less, according to the spokesperson.

Under the influence of progressive theory&nbsp,

Progressive Democrats in Washington have long urged progressive Democrats to support high CEO pay, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has introduced legislation to increase taxes on businesses whose executive compensation is 50 percent of the worker’s average salary.

Thousands more queue to see Pope Francis on second day of lying in state

Tens of thousands of people have lined up in Vatican City to catch a final glimpse of Pope Francis as he lay in state for a second day and Italian authorities stepped up security arrangements before his weekend funeral.

Francis died aged 88 on Monday morning in his rooms at the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse, having only recently left hospital after five weeks of being treated for double pneumonia.

About 61,000 people had filed past the late Catholic leader’s red-lined wooden coffin in the first 26 hours since Francis began lying in state at St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, the Vatican said.

Such was the demand to see him that authorities extended visiting hours on Wednesday from midnight (22:00 GMT) until 5:30am (03:30 GMT) on Thursday.

After a break of just one and a half hours, the doors opened again with authorities saying the window might again be extended on Thursday night if necessary.

Each mourner was ushered past the casket within seconds while authorities on Thursday banned the use of smartphones inside the basilica.

A day earlier, the flow of mourners was slower as many people tried to take photos and videos.

“It was a brief but intense moment next to his body,” Italian Massimo Palo, 63, told the AFP news agency after his visit.

“He was a pope amongst his flock, amongst his people, and I hope the next papacies will be a bit like his,” he added.

“He was a wonderful pope,” Rome resident Alessandra Caccamo told the Reuters news agency as she queued outside the Vatican.

“I’m going to miss him so much because it’s like I’ve lost a piece of me.”

Pallbearers, flanked by Swiss Guards, carry the coffin of the late Pope Francis as it is transported from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter’s Basilica [Alberto Pizzoli/AFP]

The head of the pontiff’s medical team said in interviews published on Thursday that Francis had died quickly from an unexpected stroke and did not suffer undue pain.

“I entered his rooms and he had his eyes open,” Sergio Alfieri told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“I ascertained that there were no respiratory problems, and then I tried to call his name, but he did not respond to me.”

“In that moment, I knew there was nothing more to do,” Alfieri said.

Funeral preparations under way

The coffin is due to be sealed on Friday at 8pm (18:00 GMT) in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo who is running the Vatican’s day-to-day affairs until a new pope is elected.

More than 170 delegations – including heads of state and government and other dignitaries, such as United States President Donald Trump, Argentinian President Javier Milei and Britain’s Prince William – are expected in St. Peter’s Square for Saturday’s funeral as millions more people watch on television across the globe.

Italy’s Civil Protection Department estimated that “several hundred thousand” people will descend on Rome on what was already set to be a busy weekend due to a public holiday.

After the funeral, Francis’s coffin will be taken to his favourite church, Rome’s papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

A group of “poor and needy” will be present at the basilica to welcome the coffin, the Vatican said.

He will be interred in the ground, his simple tomb marked with just one word: Franciscus. People will be able to visit it from Sunday morning, the Vatican announced.

Election for new pope

After that, all eyes will turn to the process of choosing Francis’s successor.

“A chapter in the church’s history has been closed,” Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Mueller told the Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published on Thursday.

Mueller is one of the 135 cardinals eligible to vote in the secret conclave that will be held next month to elect the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff.

Before the conclave, which is not expected to begin until at least May 6, cardinals already in Rome are meeting each day, primarily to discuss logistical matters for the day-to-day running of the 1.4 billion-member church.

Thursday’s meeting lasted about three hours and 113 cardinals took part, the Vatican said. The next meeting is expected on Friday morning, but the cardinals will not meet on the day of the funeral.

Every cardinal taking part in the meetings must take an oath to “scrupulously maintain” secrecy over any discussions about the election of the next pope.