Paris
CNN
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France said Paris had received letters from Palestinian authorities, including a “specific and unprecedented commitment” to reform, to co-chair the Conference on the Palestinian State in New York.

The letter said by France was that President Mahmoud Abbas signed the President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and condemned Israeli leadership on October 7, 2023, Hamas called for all hostages to be released immediately, and according to an excerpt shared with CNN, he pledged to hold elections and reform authority.

“Hamas no longer controls Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to Palestinian security forces, which, with Arab and international support, will oversee their removal outside of occupied Palestinian territory,” Elise Palace quoted Abbas as writing.

The letters that France says it has received arise when President Emmanuel Macron focuses on whether he recognizes Palestinian state at next week’s summit. France co-chairs the summit with Saudi Arabia.

CNN contacted the PA for comment. WAFA, the official news agency that often reports on the president’s newsletter, has not mentioned the letter.

France said Abbas has pledged to organize presidential and general elections within a year to “rejuvenate Palestinian governance.”

Abbas, 89, is deeply unpopular among Palestinians. He has led the PA since the death of Palestinian leader Jaser Arafat in 2004, and is still stuck in power despite critics being deemed as lack of democratic legitimacy. The proposals presented by Arab countries for post-war Gaza removed Hamas from governance and called for reform of the PA.

The Guardian reported on Saturday that France may have withdrawn from its plans. The meeting “want to undermine its ambitions and instead agree to a step towards recognition,” the Guardian quoted the diplomat, adding that “French officials describing their Israeli counterparts this week have reassured that the meeting is not a moment of recognition.”

However, an Elisé source told CNN that the French presidency rebutted such reports, and that Paris is moving towards recognizing the Palestinian state.

“We can clearly see that we are interested in suggesting that we are not moving in the direction of awareness. That’s wrong,” the source said Tuesday, adding, “We are determined to recognize the Palestinian state to create the conditions for the existence of the nation.”

Sources emphasized the importance of future meetings at the United Nations.

“Recognizing the Palestinian state is consistent with France’s position in favour of the Palestinians’ legal aspirations,” the source said. “As part of the June 18th meeting, we must contribute meaningfully to the momentum behind the implementation of the two state solutions, based on principles reaffirmed by the President of the Republic.”

France will become the most prominent Western nation to recognize the Palestinian state. Last year, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized the Palestinian state in a move that sparked backlash from Israel.

CNN
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The European Union announced a new sanctions package against Russia on Tuesday, saying that despite recent diplomatic efforts, Moscow’s daily deadly attacks on Ukraine showed no interest in peace.

The 18th new package since Russia launched a full-scale unprovoked invasion of its neighbors in 2022 is designed to further target the Kremlin’s ability to make money from oil and gas production.

The proposal includes lowering the price cap for Russian oil exports from $60 per barrel to $45, and introducing a complete trading ban on third-country Russian banks and financial institutions that will help Russia avoid existing sanctions.

The EU also suggests banning the use of Russia’s energy infrastructure, prohibiting EU operators from directly or indirectly involved in all transactions, including node stream pipelines.

The new package must be approved by 27 EU member states. It could be complicated by previous concerns raised by more Kremlin governments, such as Hungary and Slovakia, about further sanctions targeting Russia.

These countries have previously threatened to block new sanctions, but so far they have ultimately voted in their favour.

The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said sanctions are “strength is the only language that Russia understands.”

“We want peace in Ukraine. Despite weeks of diplomatic attempts, Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine despite the unconditional ceasefire of the President of (Ukrainian) (Voldiemi) Zelensky. Russia’s goal is not peace.

Last month, leaders from Germany, France, the UK and Poland told Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face “large” sanctions. Putin ignored the ultimatum and instead proposed a “in-person meeting” between Moscow and Kiev.

However, two rounds of talks in Turkey’s Istanbul revealed that Russia is sticking to its biggest demand, essentially equivalent, for Ukraine’s surrender.

“Russia’s ability to continue the war is equivalent to its ability to sell oil and bypass financial barriers,” Zelensky said Tuesday night, calling the European sanctions package a “critical step” and also denounced the lack of similar measures from the US.

“Russia has been constantly increasing the number of ammunition for its strikes. This is a steady trend, meaning that Moscow is afraid of anyone in the world,” the Ukrainian leader added.

“President Putin wants to continue killing and takes advantage of the fact that he hasn’t received a strong response. He hasn’t heard of Washington, and this speaks volume to the world, everyone.”

Explaining why the EU targeted Russia’s energy sector, the committee chief said oil exports still represent a third of the Russian government’s revenue.

“We need to cut this revenue stream,” she said.

The oil price cap was introduced in December 2022 by the EU and G7 countries.

The CAP, which applies to Russian maritime oil exports, prohibits Western companies from providing the transportation, insurance and other services necessary to export fuel unless below the threshold.

By enforcing the price cap, the EU and its allies have sought to reduce the Kremlin’s important revenue streams while simultaneously allowing oil to flow into the global energy market.

Von Der Leyen said Tuesday that global oil prices have fallen since the cap was first introduced, and now they’ve been trading “very close” to the $60 level, so the price cap needs to drop.

The global oil benchmark Brent crude barrel price has fallen 18% since the Russian crude price cap came into effect on December 5, 2022.

The Bloc also wants to step up sanctions on Russia’s banking sector. Shortly after the invasion, the US, the EU, the UK and Canada jointly banned Russian banks from Swift Messaging Services, a high-security network that connects thousands of financial institutions around the world. This has made it much more difficult for these banks to send and receive money from overseas.

Now, the committee wants to go a step further and prevent EU operators such as AA businesses from carrying out transactions on a list of authorized Russian banks. They will also add 22 of Moscow’s banks to that list. Additionally, the bloc wants to extend the trading ban on third-country financial institutions that will help Russia avoid existing sanctions.

Von Der Leyen said the latest sanctions package will also expand the current ban on materials and technologies that can be exported to Russia, “I want to make sure Russia cannot find a way to modernize its weapons with European technology.”

The sanctions also include new measures against 22 Russian and foreign companies that provide direct or indirect support to Russian military and industrial facilities.

CNN’s Victoria Butenko contributed to this report.

London
CNN
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The UK, Canada and other allies have announced sanctions against two hard-line Israeli government ministers to “repeated violence against Palestinians.”

According to the UK government, National Security Ministers Itamar Ben Gwil and Finance Minister Bezarel Smotrich will face a travel ban and a freeze on assets.

Both Ben Gwyr and Smotrich lead far-right parties that will help maintain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition of government. Both men face criticism of inflammatory comments about their status in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Sanctions are being implemented jointly by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the UK. Foreign Ministers of five countries.

“We are steadily committed to the two state solutions, the only way to ensure the safety and dignity of Israelis and Palestinians and ensure the long-term stability of the region, but are at risk for the violence and widespread reconciliation of extremist settlers.” The joint statement said.

“Itamar Ben Gwil and Bezarel Smotrich have caused extremist violence and serious abuse of Palestinian human rights. The rhetoric of extremists forcing the forced evacuation of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is horrifyingly dangerous,” the statement added. “We have been extensively involved with the Israeli government on this issue, but violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and immunity.”

Sanctions imposed by the five Western countries represent a corruption of policy with the United States. While European and federal allies are increasingly putting pressure on the Netanyahu government, the Trump administration has repeatedly reaffirmed its US-Israel alliance. The US has also called for an end to the conflict in Gaza, but last week the US rejected a UN Security Council resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

While the sanctions are linked to the West Bank, a joint statement from the Western Allies added, “Of course, this will not be seen isolated from the Gaza catastrophe. We will continue to be all but all the immeasurable suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid.”

Both Smotrich and Ben Gwil live in settlements on the West Bank, and are held by the Palestinians and the majority of the international community as part of the future Palestinian state.

Both ministers responded Travel bans and financial sanctions On Tuesday afternoon, he vowed to continue their agenda, accusing them of reflecting colonial restrictions on the British Jewish migration to Palestine.

Ben Gwil, leader of the Jewish power party, added, “Sansions don’t scare me.” “I will continue to act for our nation. For our people, I will continue to act and make sure they do not let Hamas provide humanitarian assistance.”

Speaking during the inauguration of Mitzpe ZIV’s new Jewish settlement on the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Smotrich said, “I heard that Britain has decided to impose sanctions on me as it is blocking the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“The UK has already tried to prevent us from setting up our home cradle. We will never let it happen again. With God’s help, we are determined to continue the building.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said the government will hold a “special meeting” early next week to “determine our response to this unacceptable decision.”

“It’s ridiculous that elected representatives and government members are exposed to this type of measure,” Saar said.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers of the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway said in a statement: “The measures announced today do not deviate from unwavering support for Israel’s security and continue to condemn Hamas’ horrifying terrorist attacks on October 7th.

Ben Gwil left the Netanyahu government in January, protesting a ceasefire in Gaza and rejoining the government after Israel returned to the war in March. He repeatedly called for Palestinians to be kicked out of Gaza, and previously said that Israel should “encourage Gazan’s voluntary migration to countries around the world.”

Smotrich, who has a seat in Israeli security minister as finance minister and has a major shaking over Netanyahu, previously called for the official annexation of the settlement on the West Bank of Israeli people. In May, he said the idea of ​​victory in Gaza would mean that territory would be “destroyed” and civilians would be moved to the “human belt” south of the strip or depart for a third country.

Last month, British Foreign Minister David Lamy denounced Smotrich’s comments on the possibility of destruction and cleansing Gaza, telling British lawmakers:

At the time, the UK suspended trade talks with Israel and imposed sanctions on settlers in the West Bank, but stopped sanctions by far-right Israeli ministers.

CNN’s Rob Picheta, Sharon Braithwaite and Abbas al Lawati contributed to this report.

CNN
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A series of explosions were reported in the city of Cali, Colombia on Tuesday morning.

City mayor Alejandro Edder said the authorities “respond to two explosive devices in our city: one at the Melendez Police Station and the other at Manuela Bertran Cai.”

“Our law enforcement officers are already on the scene and our health team is responding to all sorts of unforeseen circumstances,” the mayor said on social media.

Authorities are also responding to other explosion sites, sources from Cali Metropolitan Police have been confirmed to CNN.

Several people were injured in the explosion, sources said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.