Submit your Article

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday called for a complete victory in Gaza, saying the country is close to achieving its war goals. Speaking with top military officials, he stressed the need to defeat Hamas and secure the return of Israeli hostages, according to Al Jazeera.

Katz also warned of renewed threats from Iran and highlighted the importance of maintaining military presence in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and the West Bank to protect Israeli communities. His remarks came as ceasefire talks continue in Doha, with reports of progress.

Columbia University has expelled and suspended nearly 80 students for participating in pro-Palestinian protests opposing Israel’s war on Gaza. The university said the disciplinary action was due to disruptions at Butler Library and an earlier encampment during Alumni Weekend, Al Jazeera reported.

Student group CUAD, which has called for divestment from Israel, condemned the punishments as excessive but vowed to continue their activism.

The crackdown follows federal pressure, with the Trump administration freezing $400m in funding over concerns about anti-Semitism on campus. Protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, recently released from immigration custody, met with lawmakers in Washington this week, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran condemned Israel on Tuesday for worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza through ongoing military attacks and blockade. The Iranian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to act quickly to stop the suffering of Palestinians, describing the situation as “genocide”, Al Jazeera reported.

Gaza health officials reported over 8,200 deaths and 30,000 injuries since March 18, with a total toll of more than 59,000 killed and 142,000 injured since last October. Starvation has claimed at least 101 lives, including 80 children, since March.

China’s Ministry of Commerce welcomed a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that found it had not violated intellectual property rules in a dispute with the European Union. However, it criticized the panel’s view that WTO members must avoid affecting patent rights in other countries, calling it an overreach, Xinhua reported.

The ministry reaffirmed support for the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), a temporary appeals system under the WTO, and pledged to uphold a fair, rules-based multilateral trading system.

French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Berlin on Wednesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders are expected to discuss US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 30 percent tariffs on EU goods if a trade deal is not reached.

They will also address nuclear energy policy, a long-standing point of tension between the two countries. France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, hopes for greater EU support as Merz, a known advocate of nuclear energy, takes office. The meeting aims to set the stage for the upcoming Franco-German Council of Ministers in August, according to Firstpost.

A third round of ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is set to take place on Wednesday in Istanbul, Turkey. The talks follow earlier rounds in May and June, which ended without any breakthroughs, Firstpost reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the discussions would be held today. However, the Kremlin has tempered expectations, stating there is little hope for a breakthrough and declining to provide a timeline for any potential agreement.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26. His UK visit, at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marks his fourth trip to the country since taking office in 2014, according to Firstpost.

During his stay, Modi will meet Prime Minister Starmer for talks on strengthening bilateral ties, with a focus on finalising the India-UK Free Trade Agreement. He is also scheduled to call on King Charles III and engage with leading business figures from both nations.

Discussions will cover a broad range of issues, including concerns over Khalistani activities in the UK, Firstpost reported.

United States announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO, just two years after rejoining the UN cultural agency.

The State Department cited concerns over the agency’s focus on “divisive social and cultural causes,” particularly in relation to the Israel-Palestine issue, as the reason for its exit, Xinhua reported.