Israel: the government gives the green light to a truce agreement in Gaza

Israel has given the green light to an agreement aimed at securing the release of 50 hostages from Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a truce in the Gaza Strip, the first tangible sign of relief after weeks of war. Around 240 people were abducted during the bloody attack launched on 7 October against Israel by the Islamist movement, which is ruling in the Gaza Strip

“The government has approved the outline of the first stage of an agreement under which at least 50 abductees - women and children - will be released for four days during which there will be a lull in the fighting,” according to a government statement in Hebrew sent to AFP.

Netherlands: People at the polls for tense parliamentary elections

The Dutch go to the polls on Wednesday for suspenseful parliamentary elections, in which outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte will give way to a new face after 13 years at the helm of the Netherlands, a record.

The polls were particularly volatile. For weeks, they indicated a head-to-neck race between three candidates, before announcing, a few days before the vote, an unexpected breakthrough by the extreme right, which is now also in the

These early elections are under close scrutiny in Europe, with Mr. Rutte playing a leading role on issues ranging from the eurozone bailout - on which his hard line often put him at odds with southern European countries - to the war in Ukraine.

European Parliament: The EU at 35? Reform proposals against vetoes that “paralyze”

Fewer decisions taken unanimously by the member states to avoid blockages, more power in the European Parliament: MEPs adopt their EU reform proposals on Wednesday, intended to feed the debate on the prospects of enlargement. “Since the Lisbon Treaty - signed in 2007 - the world has changed radically,” said Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt, one of the five authors of the report put to the vote on Wednesday

"We are currently not prepared for the more brutal world we have entered, and also not prepared for the absolute necessity of an enlarged European Union to 35 or 37 member states”, added the Renew Europe delegate (centrists and liberals) during a debate on Tuesday in plenary session Beer in Strasbourg.

IN A NUTSHELL

South Korea has partially suspended a military agreement with North Korea, which announced it had put a spy satellite into orbit in violation of UN resolutions.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has entered the Assembly arena to defend his immigration bill, facing severe opposition and a majority that is itself cautious.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne ruled out leading the majority list in the June 2024 European elections, thus dispelling rumours about her possible candidacy.

No Grand Slams for the Blues, who let him slip by conceding two goals in five minutes in Greece (2-2), but players like strikers Randal Kolo Muani and Youssouf Fofana scored points in Athens in Euro-2024 qualifiers.