Australia to recognize Palestinian state at UN
Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, following similar moves by the UK, France and Canada, BBC reported.
Albanese said the decision came after the Palestinian Authority agreed to demilitarize, hold elections, recognize Israel’s right to exist, and exclude Hamas from any future government.
Israel condemned the move as “rewarding terrorism,” while the US reiterated it would not recognize Palestine. The Palestinian Authority says the recognition reflects growing global support for self-determination.
Palestine is recognized by 147 UN member states and holds “permanent observer” status without voting rights, according to BBC.
Zelenskiy wins EU, NATO backing as he seeks place at Trump-Putin talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won diplomatic backing from Europe and the NATO alliance on Sunday ahead of a Russia-U.S. summit this week where Kyiv fears President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump may try to dictate terms for ending the 3-1/2-year war, Reuters reported.
Trump, who for weeks had been threatening new sanctions against Russia for failing to halt the war, announced instead on Friday that he would meet Putin on August 15 in Alaska.
A White House official has said Trump is open to Zelenskiy attending but preparations are underway for only a bilateral meeting.
Russian strikes injured at least 12 in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, the country's foreign affairs ministry said on Sunday, according to Reuters.
Meteorite that hit home is older than Earth, scientists say
A meteorite that crashed into a home in the US is older than planet Earth, scientists have said.
The object flew through the skies in broad daylight before exploding across the state of Georgia on 26 June, Nasa confirmed.
Researchers at the University of Georgia examined a fragment of the rock that pierced the roof of a home in the city of McDonough.
They found that, based on the type of meteorite, it is expected to have formed 4.56 billion years ago, making it roughly 20 million years older than Earth.
Turkey earthquake flattens buildings in north-east Balikesir province
One person has died in Turkey after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the north-west province of Balikesir on Sunday evening, BBC reported.
An 81-year-old woman passed away shortly after she was pulled out from rubble in the town of Sindirgi, which was the epicentre of the quake, Turkey's interior minister said.
Sixteen buildings collapsed as a result of the tremors, and 29 people had been injured, Ali Yerlikaya added.
Turkey's disaster management agency said the quake was recorded at around 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT), and was felt as far away as Istanbul, according to BBC.
