Pope Francis condemns growing ‘spiral of death’, calls for ‘sincere search for peace’

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2:14 p.m. : It is a little after 2 p.m., here is an update on the news:

• Pope Francis today condemned in Rome a “death spiral” in Israel and Palestine which “extinguishes the rare glimmers of trust that exist between the two peoples”. The Pope also called on both countries to “commit to a sincere search for peace”. Follow our live.

• The Ukrainian army claimed to have repelled an attack near the village of Blahodatne located in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. For its part, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner claims, on the contrary, to have taken control of this locality. Follow our live.

Memphis police dismantle the unit involved in the fatal arrest of Tire Nichols. Yesterday, the publication of images of the arrest of the 29-year-old African American sparked anger and outrage in the country.

Novak Djokovic won his 22nd Grand Slam title and equaled Rafael Nadal’s record by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3, 7-6, 7-6) in the Australian Open final.

1:54 p.m. : Pope Francis today condemned in Rome a “death spiral” in Israel and Palestine which “extinguishes the rare glimmers of trust that exist between the two peoples”. The Pope also called on both countries to “engage in a sincere search for peace”.

12:16 p.m. : It is a little after noon, here is an update on the news:

Israeli security guards killed an 18-year-old Palestinian near a settlement in the northern occupied West Bank “near Kedumim settlement”, the ministry announced. The Israeli army said that a “civil security team” opened fire on a person “armed with a pistol”. Follow our live.

• Memphis police dismantle the unit involved in the fatal arrest of Tire Nichols. Yesterday, the publication of images of the arrest of the 29-year-old African American sparked anger and outrage in the country.

• Novak Djokovic is closing in on victory. He won the first two sets (6-3, 7-6) of the Australian Open final match against Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas

• In Irana 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit the city of Khoy in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, killing three and injuring 800.

11:37 : At least 32 Palestinians (including attackers, fighters and civilians) have been killed since the beginning of the year, according to a tally by Agence France Presse, based on official sources.

11:34 am : A Palestinian was killed by Israeli security guards near a settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported on 29 January. Karam Ali Ahmad Salman, 18, was killed by “Israeli occupation near Kedumim settlement”, the ministry said. Follow our live.

11:28 : Hello @Ricou33, thank you for your question, which gives me the opportunity to make a point on the subject. Indeed, a few tens of thousands of people demonstrated last night in Tel Aviv against a disputed justice reform project. The demonstrators marked a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Neve Yaacov district. Here are some pictures of this event:

(JACK GUEZ / AFP)

(JACK GUEZ / AFP)

(JACK GUEZ / AFP)

11:23 : Again nothing on the citizens’ demonstration last night in Tel Aviv?

09:52 : “The path of cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible”. Ofer Bronchtein, President of the International Forum for Peace, speaks on the situation in the region following the attacks in East Jerusalem. Find his interview here.

09:49 : It is 9 a.m. and dust, here is an update on the news:

• The postponement of the legal retirement age to 64 is not “more negotiable”, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told franceinfo the day before the text arrived at the National Assembly.

• The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu announced overnight that it was taking action against “terrorist families”, by removing their right to social security. The announcements come amid heightened tension between Israel and Palestine, following two Palestinian attacks in East Jerusalem yesterday and Friday, and an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. Follow our live.

Three people were killed in a Russian strike on Konstantynivka in eastern Ukraine, according to the region’s governor. For its part, Moscow accuses the kyiv army of having deliberately hit a hospital with a rocket launcher in the Lugansk region.

In the men’s final of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic will try to win his 22nd Grand Slam title, facing Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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