US envoy to visit Gaza, as hospital says dozens killed seeking food
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution sites, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed, BBC reported.
Leavitt said Witkoff would visit the territory along with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and "secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear first-hand about this dire situation on the ground".
Witkoff, who is on a visit to Israel, also had a "productive" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the press secretary added, according to BBC.
US to deny visas to Palestinian officials
The US says it is going to impose sanctions on the Palestinians' self-governance organisation as well as the body that represents it on the international stage, BBC reported.
The sanctions affect both the Palestinian Authority (PA) which was established by the Oslo peace accords, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) which was recognised after the same process as the official representative of the Palestinian people in return for it recognising Israel and renouncing violence.
The State Department said it would deny visas to PLO members and PA officials, according to BBC.
Indonesia, Somalia agree to boost bilateral ties
Indonesia and Somalia have agreed to strengthen ties in trade, agriculture, maritime affairs, and education following a meeting in Jakarta between Foreign Minister Sugiono and his Somali counterpart, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, according to Xinhua.
Sugiono reaffirmed Indonesia’s support through technical assistance in key sectors, including fisheries, agriculture, and health—highlighting an ICU project at the University of East Africa Hospital in Bosaso.
He also encouraged Somali students to take advantage of Indonesian scholarships and training programs to help deepen future cooperation, Xinhua reported.
Syria seeks stronger ties with Russia after regime change
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, on his first official visit to Moscow, said Damascus wants Russia “by our side” as the country rebuilds after last year’s regime change. He called for ties based on “mutual respect” despite existing challenges, Al Jazeera reported.
The visit marks a shift under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has taken a pragmatic approach to Moscow. Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria and continued economic ties, including oil shipments.
