Israel intensifies attack on Rafah
In targeted retaliation for last weekend's Hamas rocket attack, Israeli forces yesterday shelled strongholds in Rafah after ordering some 110,000 Gazans to evacuate the city. The action came after Hamas offered to accept a temporary ceasefire offer. Israeli authorities plan to review the agreement, which experts say has slightly changed wording from the one recently presented by Israel and the United States.
The development comes as Israel's closest allies, including the United States, urge the White House not to carry out large-scale ground operations in Rafah, citing the heavy harm it would cause to civilians evacuated there. Officials are scrambling to broker an agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office rejected these calls, saying his war cabinet had unanimously decided to “continue the action in Rafah.” Analysts say the invasion of Rafah is a necessary step toward a complete victory over Hamas that Netanyahu has vowed to placate his hardline coalition partners, no matter how difficult that may be. states that it will be. Check out the latest updates.
education: Most schools in Gaza, including all universities, have been severely damaged and are no longer usable, aid groups said, potentially negatively impacting entire generations.
Russian nuclear weapons training
Russia has announced that it will conduct military exercises with its troops near Ukraine to train for the potential use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield. The move has heightened tensions with the West and was Russia's clearest warning that it could use such weapons in Ukraine. NATO criticized the announcement as “irresponsible”.
The Kremlin said this was in response to comments by European politicians suggesting further Western intervention, including French President Emmanuel Macron's refusal to rule out sending French troops to Ukraine. Britain's top diplomat, David Cameron, recently said that Ukraine is free to use British weapons to attack inside Russia.
detail: These nuclear weapons, often called “tactical,” are designed for use on the battlefield and have smaller warheads than those aimed at urban targets.
Xi Jinping in Paris
China's supreme leader, Xi Jinping, joined French President Emmanuel Macron in speaking out against criticism of his country for its close ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine. “We oppose this crisis being used to shift responsibility to third countries, tarnish their image, and incite a new Cold War,” Xi said.
His comments appeared to be aimed at the United States, which believes China is aiding Russia's war efforts by providing satellite imagery and critical equipment. President Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are pressuring Mr. Xi to ask Russia to end the war.
Trade: China's manufacturing boom and weak domestic demand were also issues, and Ms. von der Leyen took a firm stance. “The world cannot absorb China's surplus production,” she said.
Other top news
For generations, immigrants to New York City have played soccer in Queens parks on Sundays. The team is loosely organized around national identity, and the community that has grown around the field gives it a sense of home.
“It's our first time in this city, but it helps us to share our experiences with others,” said a 36-year-old man from Venezuela. “Some people just come to talk.”
Life lived: Laurent Cantet, the French director who made such sharp films as “Entre les Murs'' (“The Class''), died on April 25 in Paris. He was 63 years old.
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Fashion's biggest night
The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted one of the year's most glamorous parties last night, the annual Costume Institute Benefit, or as it is better known, the Met Gala. The event became famous for its bold red carpet and extremely exclusive guest list.
This year's dress code, “Garden of Time,'' is inspired by the spring exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,'' a reference to J.G. Ballard's 1962 short story, and is botanical, vintage, or both. was widely interpreted as “This is like the greatest fashion show on the planet,” said fashion critic Vanessa Friedman.
On the red carpet, the big trend of the night was 'naked dressing'. Participants protesting against the war in Gaza gathered on the sidelines, creating an atmosphere different from the atmosphere at the venue. Summarize the live broadcast.