The military ship Duilio shot down a drone launched by the Houthis in Yemen against the Italian destroyer in the Red Sea yesterday. “The terrorist attacks” by the Iranian-backed rebels represent a serious violation of international law, comments Crosetto. Our navy “defends freedom of navigation,” Tajani emphasizes. Israel has accepted the six-week ceasefire agreement and “the ball is now in Hamas’s court,” Washington says. The talks continue today in Cairo. The first aid operation in the Gaza Strip was carried out by the USA. Fourteen victims died in an Israeli raid near Rafah last night, including four overnight north of Gaza. A 13-year-old killed in West Bank
Houthis: “We will continue to attack British ships”
Following the sinking of the British ship Rubymar in the Red Sea, pro-Iranian Houthi fighters in Yemen have vowed to continue attacking and sinking British ships passing through the Gulf of Aden. “Yemen will continue to sink more British ships, and any impact or other damage will be added to the British bill,” Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister of the Houthi-led government, said in a post on X, as reported by Al Jazeera online. He added that Britain is “a rogue state attacking Yemen and working with America to support ongoing crimes against civilians in Gaza.” The Rubymar sank after being hit by an anti-ship missile fired by the Houthis on February 18.
Salvini, congratulations to Trump, changes are coming
“Three more steps forward for change in the White House. From Brussels to Washington, change is coming!” This is how Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini commented on X about Donald Trump's victory in the caucuses in Idaho after the results in Michigan and Missouri.
Middle East: Pope: “End the war, negotiate an immediate ceasefire”
“Every day I carry with pain in my heart the suffering of the people of Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities. The thousands of dead, injured, displaced people and the immense destruction cause pain and suffering for the small and defenseless, who see their future at risk.” At the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis returns to the conflict in the Middle East and calls for a ceasefire . “Do we really believe we can build a better world this way? Are you thinking about achieving peace? Please stop. Let's all say: Please stop. To stop. I encourage continuing negotiations for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and across the region so that the hostages are released and returned to their eagerly awaiting families, and civilians can have safe access to the necessary and urgent humanitarian response.”
Eight Palestinians were killed in a bomb attack in Deir al-Balah
At least eight Palestinian civilians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip today. This was reported by the Palestinian agency Wafa, citing eyewitnesses who said that Israeli warplanes attacked a civilian vehicle in Deir al-Balah, killing eight civilians and injuring many more.
EU warns: “Prepare for worst-case gas scenario”
With the transit agreement between Moscow and Kiev expected to expire at the end of the year, the EU must prepare for the “worst-case” scenario for Russian gas deliveries. This emerges from an internal document from the EU Commission. Security of supply requires “close monitoring” to “ensure the winter of 2024/2025,” writes Brussels, also highlighting progress on the front of dependence on Moscow: “In 2023, Russian gas accounted for only 15% of the total EU gas. Imports out.” compared to over 50% before the war. Stopping the transit agreement could result in a loss of around 5% of this share.
Pakistan: Imran Khan's party elects new leader
In Pakistan, lawyer Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the new president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in prison for corruption: this was announced by PTI spokesman Roof Hasan, who explains that the The election of the new leader was unanimous as there were no other candidates and that Omer Ayub Khan, who was the minority candidate for Prime Minister in the National Assembly today, was appointed as party secretary, which majority went to Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan's Election Commission recently forced the PTI to remove the cricket bat from its election symbol, alluding to convicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan's past as a cricket champion.
Media: The Israeli delegation is not traveling to Cairo for the time being
The Israeli delegation is not traveling to Cairo for the time being, where talks are underway today about a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange. This was announced by the Kan public broadcaster, according to which there was no confirmation of the information previously published by Arab media about the impending arrival of Israeli delegates in Cairo today. According to Kan, Israel still insists on knowing the names of the hostages it should release at this point and also verifying the number of Palestinian prisoners it should release in return.
Red Sea: Coldiretti, food exports worth 6 billion euros at risk from Houthi attacks
16% of olive oil, 15% of products obtained from grain processing and 14% of processed tomatoes of Italian agricultural and food exports pass through the Suez Canal, which in total is worth around 6 billion euros and is at risk from Houthi terrorist incursions against ships. This emerges from a Coldiretti analysis of data from the Centro Studi Divulga on the effects of the escalation following the drone attack on the Italian destroyer Duilio. The agri-food products that leave our country or enter Italy via Suez are mainly destined for Asia and Oceania or arrive from these countries, transport being almost exclusively by sea. In addition to oil, cereals and tomato puree, there is also tobacco (33% of total exports) and animal feed (40%), but an important share falls on fruits and vegetables, which are also the most affected by the effects of the extension of the route sea connections between East and West, which will be forced to avoid the Suez Canal, which could cause problems with the storage of fresh produce and bring with it the risk of losing important market segments that would then be difficult to regain.
Israeli army: “We did not attack the aid convoy”
“The initial investigation confirmed that the IDF did not carry out any attacks on the aid convoy and that the majority of Palestinians were killed or injured as a result of a 'stampede' (out-of-control crowd),” repeated Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari, referring to the serious accidents on Thursday on the coastal road in Gaza, where crowds of people stormed trucks carrying humanitarian aid: an incident in which 115 people died. Hagari added that an even more in-depth investigation is underway, the results of which “will be announced in the coming days.”
Egyptian media, “Delegates from Hamas, Qatar and the USA in Cairo”
Representatives of Hamas, Qatar and the United States are in Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, pro-government media reports from Egypt, a country that has taken on a mediating role in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas, our request for a ceasefire is possible within 24 to 48 hours
A senior Hamas official said a Gaza ceasefire was possible “within 24 to 48 hours” if Israel accepted the demands of the Palestinian Islamic movement. “If Israel accepts Hamas' demands, which include the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip and an increase in humanitarian aid, this could pave the way for an agreement (on a ceasefire) within the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said. the Hamas source said on condition of anonymity. Negotiations continue in Cairo today.
The United States says Israel has essentially agreed to a six-week ceasefire if Hamas agrees to release hostages deemed vulnerable after American and Jordanian planes completed a food drop on Gaza.
Pro-Palestine protest, Trudeau's reception for Meloni canceled
The reception organized by Justin Trudeau in honor of Giorgia Meloni in Toronto has been cancelled. As far as we know, the Prime Minister of Canada personally communicated this to the Prime Minister. A decision related to security concerns for the pro-Palestine demonstration that gathered outside the Art Gallery of Ontario. After the event was canceled, Meloni contacted representatives of the Italian community by telephone to convey his greetings.
Ukraine, Moscow: 38 Kiev drones shot down over Crimea
According to Moscow, up to 38 Ukrainian drones were destroyed by Russian air defense over Crimea this evening. “An attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack on targets in the Republic of Crimea using unmanned fixed-wing aircraft was foiled,” said a Russian Defense Ministry statement quoted by Tass news agency. Meanwhile, Russian authorities in Crimea have announced that vehicle traffic on the Kerch Bridge, which was suspended overnight following explosions in the area, has resumed.
10 others were missing in the raid in Odessa in which a building was hit
Around ten people are still missing after the Russian attack in Odessa on the night of Friday to Saturday, in which a nine-story building was hit. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said this in Telegram, reports the Guardian. Nearly 100 rescuers continued search and rescue operations overnight. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that in the attack in question, the Odessa region was attacked by eight drones and seven of them were shot down.
Taiwan, 21 jets and 6 Chinese military ships around the island
Taiwan's defense ministry said it detected 21 aircraft and six Chinese warships near Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. local time, prompting a surge in activity on the eve of the opening of annual sessions of the Mandarin parliament in Beijing. According to a statement from the ministry, one of the 21 confirmed People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the southwest corner of the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (Adiz). While 9 aircraft entered the southwest sector. In response, Taipei Armed Forces have deployed military aircraft and ships as well as anti-aircraft missiles to track, monitor and potentially take appropriate action on Chinese activities. So far this month, Taiwan has spotted Chinese aircraft and 14 naval vessels 30 times.
Since September 2020, Beijing has intensified the use of “gray zone” tactics against Taipei, which the Pentagon has previously defined as strategies located in the “ambiguous no-man's land between peace and war, reflecting the type of aggressiveness, stubbornness and resistance.” . certain features of warfare, but without the overt use of military force” – all with the aim of changing the status quo by force. At the parliamentary negotiations in Beijing, the Taiwan issue will be addressed based on the “Report on Government Work,” which Prime Minister Li Qiang will present in the opening speech of the National People's Congress, the legislature. The People's Republic views Taipei as a part of its territory that can be reunified by force if necessary.
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