Reuters: Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal Talks Paused Amid Rafah Fighting

“Talks for a hostage deal and cease-fire between Israel and Hamas have paused — in part because of the ongoing fighting in Rafah, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. Hamas is still willing to negotiate a deal but has largely stepped back from the table because of Israel’s operation in the city, the people said. Both were granted anonymity to speak freely about the talks. The people stressed that this does not mean talks have broken down completely. Hamas has told Doha that it is willing to keep negotiating. The U.S. has people in the region to participate in future talks, but all those who were involved in the negotiations in recent days have left, they said. CIA Director Bill Burns was heading back to Washington on Thursday after days of trying to negotiate with officials from Egypt, Israel and Qatar to seal a deal that would institute a temporary cease-fire and allow for the release of dozens of hostages from Gaza, along with potentially hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israel.”

Reuters: Pakistani Taliban Faction Claims Hospital Bomb That Killed 70

“The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ur-Ahrar on Monday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a hospital in southwestern Pakistan that killed at least 70 people. "The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat-ur-Ahrar takes responsibility for this attack, and pledges to continue carrying out such attacks. We will release a video report on this soon," spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said in an email. The Islamist movement is the same that carried out the Easter Day bombing the eastern city of Lahore in March that killed 72 people, many of them children, in a crowded park.”

Turkey

The Washington Examiner: Turkey’s Threatened Syria Strike Puts Us-Backed Forces Fighting Isis In Jeopardy

“Turkey’s threats to strike a Kurdish militia in Syria continued even as Pentagon officials met with their counterparts in Ankara in an attempt to hammer out a deal to protect the American-backed forces fighting ISIS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave a televised speech Tuesday promising an imminent invasion in northern Syria to attack Kurdish YPG forces. “God willing, we will carry the process started with [previous offensives] to the next stage very soon,” Erdoğan said. “Turkey has the right to eliminate all threats against its national security.” He added a message for the United States: “Turkey expects steps from the US befitting of a NATO ally and strategic partner.” Defense Secretary Mark Esper has been in regular contact with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, about Turkey’s security interests in the area. But he warned the NATO ally against any incursions.”

Afghanistan

Voice Of America: Taliban Ban Cooperation With Diaspora Broadcaster

“The Afghan Taliban on Thursday warned reporters and experts against working with the London-based broadcaster Afghanistan International TV, saying they would be committing a crime if they worked with the station. A spokesperson for the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Information and Culture alleged that the station, which is accessible through satellite, cable and social media, was committing violations and crossing moral and legal boundaries. “At the commission's meeting held [Wednesday], it was decided that participating in discussions and facilitating the broadcast of this media outlet in public places is prohibited,” said Habib Ghofran, the spokesperson. Zia ul Haq Haqmal, deputy minister for broadcasting, said people would be committing a crime if they collaborated with the station. He listed 10 reasons people should not work with the broadcaster, including its alleged distortion of information.”

Pakistan

Associated Press: Militants Bomb A Girls School In Northwestern Pakistan, Once A Taliban Stronghold. No One Was Harmed

“Militants detonated a bomb at a girls school in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s volatile northwest, badly damaging the structure, police said Thursday. No one was harmed in the overnight attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack late Wednesday that targeted the only girls school in Shawa, a town in the North Waziristan district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, local police chief Amjad Wazir said. UNICEF condemned the bombing as “despicable and cowardly act that could jeopardize the future of many young and talented girls.” According to the police chief, the attackers first beat up the school guard before setting off the explosives at the private Aafia Islamic Girls Model School, which has 150 students. Suspicion is likely to fall on Islamic militants and specifically the Pakistani Taliban, who have targeted girls schools in the province in the past, saying that women should not be educated.”

Middle East

Associated Press: UN To Vote On Resolution That Would Grant Palestine New Rights And Revive Its UN Membership Bid

“The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote Friday on a resolution that would grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine and call on the Security Council to favorably reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The United States vetoed a widely backed council resolution on April 18 that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent, and U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood made clear Thursday the Biden administration is opposed to the assembly resolution. Under the U.N. Charter, prospective members of the United Nations must be “peace-loving,” and the Security Council must recommend their admission to the General Assembly for final approval. Palestine became a U.N. non-member observer state in 2012.”

Associated Press: The Latest | More Than 100,000 Flee Rafah As Netanyahu Vows To Widen Gaza Assault Despite US Warning

“About 110,000 people have fled Rafah in southern Gaza and food and fuel supplies in the area are critically low, a U.N. official says. All crossings into southern Gaza remain closed, cutting off supplies and preventing medical evacuations and the movement of humanitarian staff, said Georgios Petropoulos, an official for the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs working in Rafah. Some 1.3 million Palestinians — over half Gaza’s population — had sought refuge in Rafah. The World Food Program will run out of food for distribution in southern Gaza by Saturday unless more aid arrives, Petropoulos said. U.N. officials warn that the lack of fuel is undermining medical facilities, water supplies and sewage systems across Gaza.”

Somalia

Garowe Online: Somalia: Al-Shabaab Mourns Loss Of Prominent Member In Army Raid

“Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants have mourned one of the senior officers with was killed by the Somali National Army (SNA) during a recent operation in southern parts of the country, in what they termed as a "huge" setback to "our" mission. The group confirmed the demise of the traditional elder who was killed by government forces in Garasweyne, Bakool region of Southwest state on May 7. The government of Somalia confirmed the death in a separate presser as reported by state media. Abdullahi Mohamed Yare alias “Malaaq Qori” acted as the traditional elder of one of the local clans and has supported the group with recruitment, collection of zakat, and opening of madrasas, according to reports from the region. On Thursday, state media published an interview with a government commander who said he led the operation that killed Malaaq Qori. His death was described as a 'major' win in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants.”

Africa

Associated Press: Sudanese Paramilitary Forces Have Carried Out Ethnic Cleansing In Darfur, Rights Group Says

“A leading rights group said on Thursday that attacks by Sudanese paramilitary forces and their allied militias, which killed thousands in the western region of Darfur last year, constituted a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the area’s non-Arab population. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting Sudan’s military for over a year, allied with armed militias to carry out attacks against the ethnic Masalit and other non-Arab groups in El Geneina, the capital city of West Darfur state, Human Rights Watch said in a new report. Sudan has been rocked by violence since mid-April 2023, when tensions between the military and the rival paramilitary erupted into open fighting. Clashes quickly spread to other parts of the country, and Darfur was engulfed in brutal attacks on African civilians, especially the Masalit tribe.”

United Kingdom

BBC: Police Guard Homes After Terror Suspects Arrested

“Police remain at the scene of several cordoned-off homes across Greater Manchester after three men were held on suspicion of planning acts of terrorism. The men, aged 35, 36, and 31, were arrested in raids in Bolton, Great Lever, and the Abram and Hindley areas of Wigan on Wednesday. One of the men was dramatically held after police stormed a gym. Mayor Andy Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester it was a "worrying development". A resident of Crankwood Road in Abram, where another of the men was arrested, described seeing at least 20 police officers arrive with tactical support and a riot van. Dave Evans said it was “unsettling not knowing what has gone on there and what could have happened”. He said neighbours had tried to talk to those living in the house after they moved in during the last 12 months, but “they don’t speak”. “