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57 Palestinians in Gaza dead from starvation amid Israeli blockade

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

“The number of victims of the starvation policy has risen to 57 martyrs and the toll is likely to increase amid the continued closure of crossings and the ban on the entry of food, infant formula, nutritional supplements, and dozens of essential medications,” warned the office in a statement.

Earlier Saturday, a medical source told Anadolu that a child had died from malnutrition and dehydration at Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza City.

The media office condemned Israel’s use of food as a weapon of war, accusing it of imposing a suffocating siege on more than 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza by closing all border crossings for the 63rd consecutive day.

The majority of those who have died from starvation are children, elderly individuals, and patients with chronic illnesses, according to the office.

It also denounced “the international silence in the face of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza,” urging the global community, humanitarian organizations, and rights groups to “take immediate action to open all border crossings and ensure the urgent entry of food and medicine before it is too late.”

Palestinian and UN officials have repeatedly warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis as Israel has kept Gaza’s crossings closed since early March.

Nearly 52,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Official: Iran advances key AI document implementation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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AI

Abdolhossein Khosropanah said substantial progress has been made in executing the national AI framework, which aims to boost the country’s AI development, despite the absence of a National AI Organization.

Khosropanah emphasized that once the document is formally approved by the council, the president will issue an executive order for its implementation.

He expressed hope that with the full implementation of the plan, Iran will accelerate its efforts to develop AI technologies in the coming decade.

Additionally, Khosropanah revealed that the Quantum Technology document was approved by the designated council and is currently under review by the Supreme Council.

If no objections arise in the next two weeks, it will be sent for final approval before being communicated to the president, he noted.

Khosropanah also underscored the importance of government investment and private sector involvement in advancing AI and urged universities to adopt modern, smart methodologies rather than relying on traditional approaches.

UN calls for independent probe into Gaza aid ship attack

By
IFP Media Wire
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“We have seen the worrying reports on the incident. We are unable to independently confirm them. However, it is crucial that there be independent, impartial, and effective investigation by competent authorities into the incident leading to apparent fire on board the vessel and a distress call in international waters, with a view to ensuring accountability,” human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told Anadolu in a statement.

The vessel Conscience, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, caught fire after reportedly being bombed by drones early Friday while carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Maltese government confirmed the fire was contained with the help of a nearby tugboat and that all 12 crew members and four civilians aboard were safe, although they refused to abandon the ship.

The vessel remains in international waters under monitoring.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition blamed Israel for the attack, calling for Israeli ambassadors to be summoned over what it described as violations of international law, including the blockade and the bombing of the civilian ship.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for Palestine, also condemned the attack and urged EU leaders to denounce it and demand an urgent investigation.

The Palestinian group Hamas similarly accused Israel and appealed to the UN Security Council to act against Israeli “violations.”

Al-Kheetan also pointed to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying restrictions on movement and the flow of goods have severely affected the population for more than 17 years.

“It amounts to the collective punishment of Gaza residents,” he said.

He added that conditions have worsened recently, with Israel blocking all goods from entering Gaza since March 2, which has only intensified the already dire situation. “Collective punishment is prohibited by international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime,” he stressed.

“As the occupying power, Israel has the obligation — under international humanitarian law — to ensure food and medical supplies for the population to the fullest extent of the means available to it, or to agree to and facilitate by all means at its disposal humanitarian relief schemes by other States or impartial humanitarian organizations,” the spokesperson added.

“We call on Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material,” he concluded.

Nearly 52,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

Israeli military calls up tens of thousands of reservists to expand Gaza war

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israel Army

“The tens of thousands of reservists being called up would begin to show up in the military in the coming week,” it said.

The move comes amid an already deteriorating humanitarian situation in the enclave.

Israel has blocked all aid, medicine, food and commercial goods from entering Gaza since March 2.

Nearly 52,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.​​​​​​​

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Trump could skip NATO upcoming summit over tensions with Europe: Spiegel

By
IFP Media Wire
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Trump NATO

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has repeatedly demanded that European member states shell out 5% of their GDP on defense, as opposed to the military bloc’s previous target of 2%, according to the outlet, citing “confidential reports” from German officials in Brussels. Whitaker reportedly warned that failure to meet the new benchmark could result in Trump declining to attend NATO’s summit in The Hague scheduled for late June.

Der Spiegel noted that during a phone call with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius last month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “conveyed the administration’s intent for European allies to assume primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defenses,” and urged his counterpart to “actualize defense spending increases,” as reported in a readout published by the Pentagon.

In an interview with The Free Press last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the current arrangement within the military bloc as the US and a “bunch of junior partners that aren’t doing their fair share.”

Hegseth has echoed the sentiment, proclaiming that the “time of the United States… being the sole guarantor of European security has passed. It’s long overdue Europe has to step up, fund its military, and lead.” He similarly stated that NATO’s current 2% defense spending target is insufficient.

Last month, Trump said he would not rule out withdrawing some or all of the 84,000 US troops currently stationed in Europe since Washington foots the bill for the continent’s security, while not getting “reimbursed by much.”

As of 2024, 23 of the 32 NATO member countries had reached the 2% benchmark set in 2014, according to the bloc’s own estimates cited by the BBC. The US currently spends around 3.5% of its GDP on defense and is NATO’s biggest overall contributor.

Dust storm in southern Iran sends over 800 to hospitals due to respiratory, cardiac issues

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Dust Storms

“Of those affected, 92 have been hospitalized while the rest received outpatient treatment and were discharged”, Dr. Moazzi said.

He urged residents, especially vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions, to remain indoors during periods of poor air quality.

The Khuzestan Meteorological Organization had issued a red-level warning ahead of the storm, noting that the dust originated from neighboring Iraq and was expected to impact the region from Thursday through Friday.

Dust storms are a recurring issue in Khuzestan. The storms, often originating from Iraq or Syria, pose significant public health risks, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Ahvaz.

Airborne particulate matters during such events frequently exceed global safety standards and lead to spikes in hospitalizations, school closures, and reduced outdoor activity.

Families of missing victims rally outside site of Iran port blast

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Holding photographs of their loved ones, the protesters demanded clarity on the fate of those still unaccounted for, Fars News Agency reported.

“We urge the authorities to return the bodies of our loved ones without further delay”, one participant told Fars.

Meanwhile, efforts are still underway to confirm the identities of the deceased.

Earlier on Saturday, the director general of the Hormozgan Province Forensic Medicine Organization announced that three more bodies had been identified, bringing the total number of identified victims to 36.

Due to the severity of the explosion and subsequent fire, several of the recovered bodies were initially unrecognizable. The incident claimed the lives of at least 70 individuals.

The deadly explosion happened last Saturday Shahid Rajaee Port, one of Iran’s key commercial hubs located near the Strait of Hormuz. The blast triggered a massive fire.

An official investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, and authorities continue to work to identify the deceased and provide answers to grieving families.

India blocks Pakistani exports, transit amid tensions

By
IFP Media Wire
-

According to the notification, “all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether directly or indirectly, freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.”

The statement notes that the restriction is imposed in the wake of national security and public policy.

The notice comes amid deteriorated India-Pakistan relations following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The incident claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali. India allegedly uncovered evidence of Pakistani inter-services intelligence involvement in the attack, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba.

In the wake of the attack, Indian authorities decided to halve the embassy staff in Islamabad, suspend the bilateral agreement on water allocation, and freeze visa issuance for Pakistani citizens. New Delhi also declared the military advisers of the Islamic republic’s diplomatic mission personae non gratae.

On April 29, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level security meeting at which, sources said, he declared that the Indian Armed Forces have full freedom to choose the manner, objectives, and timing of their response to the terrorist strike in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ukraine refutes Russia’s Victory Day truce proposal

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

“[Ukraine will not be] playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s exit from isolation on 9 May,” Zelensky was quoted as saying by Ukrainian media.

The Ukrainian president also warned that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign guests who will attend the May 9 parade in Moscow.

Earlier, Russia declared a ceasefire during the 80th anniversary of the World War II Victory: from midnight on May 7-8 until midnight on May 10-11.

Russia will fully guarantee the security of all the guests at the Victory Parade, the chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky stated. He also added that Zelensky is undermining peace efforts with his threats and is once again trying to derail the negotiation process.

Pakistan says successfully test-fired ballistic missile as tensions with India rise

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The surface-to-surface missile, named the Abdali Weapon System, with a range of 450km (280 miles), was successfully tested as part of an exercise on Saturday, Pakistan’s government said.

It added that the launch was “aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features”.

The tactical missile, which can carry conventional and nuclear warheads, is named after Ahmad Shah Abdali, the 18th-century founder of modern Afghanistan who led numerous invasions of the Indian subcontinent.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the scientists, engineers and those behind the successful missile test.

The ballistic missile’s test-firing came three days after Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated Islamabad had “credible intelligence” that India intends to launch a military strike within 24 to 36 hours in response to the killing of 25 male tourists and a Kashmiri last month in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India and Pakistan both stake a claim on the entire Kashmir region, but rule over parts of it. They have seen tensions spike over the issue frequently since their independence from British rule in 1947.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of backing the April 22 attack in the scenic Pahalgam area by suspected Kashmiri rebels, and alleges that Pakistani nationals were involved in the killings. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that he has given his military “full operational freedom” to respond as he promised to pursue those who had supported the attack “to the ends of the Earth”.

Pakistani minister Tarar said the Indian leaders want to use the Pahalgam attack as a “false pretext” to potentially strike Pakistan.

On Friday, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over a meeting of his top commanders about the “current Pakistan-India standoff”, a military statement read.

Munir “underscored the critical importance of heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts”.

Since the attack – the deadliest in Kashmir on civilians in years – India and Pakistan have exchanged tit-for-tat diplomatic barbs and expulsions, and shut border crossings. India also suspended its participation in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.

The two nuclear-armed countries have also exchanged gunfire along the militarised Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing Kashmir between them, while Pakistan has threatened to suspend its participation in the 1972 Simla Agreement that underpins the LoC.

People in Indian-administered Kashmir have been concerned about the devastating ramifications of a potential military conflict between the two nations.

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