All posts by Luis Moreno

Moreno Luis - is a business and economics reporter based in Barcelona. Prior to joining the BNE24 he was economics editor of the BBC Spaine and worked as an economics and political reporter for Murcia Tuday.

Telefónica's ERE will affect more than 5,100 employees in its three main subsidiaries in Spain until 2026

Telefónica's Employment Regulation File (ERE) will affect some 5,100 jobs in the company's three companies in Spain, as reported this Monday by union sources after the first meeting to establish negotiating tables.

This Monday the constitution of the negotiation tables of the three legal entities of Telefónica in Spain – Telefónica Móviles, Telefónica Soluciones and Telefónica España – was completed, where some 16,000 people work.

After the formation of the tables, the unions point out that the company has proposed a total of 5,124 dismissals until 2026, and that the measure is planned for people born in 1968 and previous years, with a minimum seniority of 15 years.

Specifically, the initial proposal that the company has conveyed to the unions is 81 layoffs in Telefónica Soluciones, 958 in Telefónica Móviles and 4,085 in Telefónica de España.

In this context, Telefónica has linked the voluntary nature of the collective dismissal to reaching the figures desired by the company, although these may vary throughout the negotiation process.. “The company indicates that if voluntariness does not achieve the output figures they want, well…. which we will see,” a Sumados-Fetico spokesperson told Europa Press, who also explained that Telefónica has justified the need for this collective dismissal for “organizational reasons.”

In this sense, CC OO has indicated in a statement that within the framework of the ERE conversations, other issues such as its universality will also be addressed, in addition to economic and social conditions and that it is linked to retirement.. “The company proposes a 'functional surplus' caused by technological changes, market needs and other causes that are included in the mandatory report that will justify its decision and that we will analyze in detail,” added CC OO.

Despite this context, the union has stated that “it is time to value the staff” of Telefónica, given that they are in a “constant state of adaptation” due to “commitment, responsibility and professionalism.”

“Today, negotiation tables have been formally established in Telefónica de España, Telefónica Móviles España and Telefónica Soluciones. Within this framework, the company has communicated to the different worker representatives the adjustment corresponding to each of these companies to adapt them to the demanding process of transformation and adaptation required by the new digital era,” Telefónica indicated for its part.

Staff in Galicia

In Galicia, the workforce is made up of about 600 people and last week they were “expectant” after the company announced its intention to apply this ERE.

According to the numbers of the head of Communications at FESMC UGT Galicia, José Ramón Vizcaíno, a Telefónica worker, the company's employees in the Galician community are currently 573: in Lugo 44 and also 44 in Ourense, 321 in A Coruña and 164 in Pontevedra.

For his part, fellow worker and CIG representative Henrique Vieitez manages similar staff numbers: 41 in Lugo, 44 in Ourense, 318 in A Coruña and 197 in Pontevedra, which puts the total at 600.

The province of Pontevedra, which once had more than a thousand employees, has stood out – at the state level – for small percentages of acceptance of regulation files or individual suspension plans.

The last ERE that Telefónica raised occurred in 2011, when it laid off more than 6,000 employees, a measure that caused a change in legislation.

Gas VAT, TUR, thermal bonus, Iberian mechanism or gasoline discount: fossil subsidies in the spotlight at COP28

Reach the peak of fossil fuel consumption in 2025 and from then on begin to “strongly” cut their use, starting with the subsidies that governments give to gas or oil. This position, which the Government defends like a mantra at the COP28 in Dubai, contains very concrete measures, which have served to moderate electricity bills and especially gas bills in the last two years of energy price crisis.. Subsidies are the regulated gas rate (TUR), fuel discounts, the thermal bonus or, “by default”, the VAT reduction on gas and, in a more complicated way to calculate, electricity.. The Government has just one month to decide whether to extend them for next year and also whether to ask Brussels again for a new extension of the Iberian mechanism. If it does not continue, there will be millionaire savings in the public budget but also an obvious social cost for eliminating aid that today buoys many domestic budgets.

According to a study by the Renovables Foundation and the Institute of Applied Ecology, if we take into account the significant disbursements that EU countries have made to help households in the energy crisis, Spain would need to disburse 1.5 billion a year to help them cover only a third of your additional energy costs. If prices returned to their maximum in 2022, the cost would be even higher, 4 billion per year.

For now, last year the Government approved an extraordinary credit of 3,000 million from the General State Budgets to cover the cost of the regulated gas rate, the Last Resort Rate (TUR) by which, whether to households individuals and small businesses or neighborhood communities, maintains a fixed price that is cheaper than the market price, which is only reviewed – up or down – every three months if the variation in the real price is more than 2%.

Directly reflected in the bill is also the thermal bonus, an annual payment for the payment of hot water in the most vulnerable homes that was created in 2018 to accompany the electricity bonus and which increased its endowment last year, with a budget of 75 million .

The neighborhood TUR was an extraordinary measure for the energy crisis that, if there is no decision to the contrary, will expire on December 31, while the Government promised months ago to review the income criteria of large families that receive electricity and thermal bonuses.

Depending on income

Redirect these and other energy aid to the groups that need it most, with a lower level of income. It is the way in which Greenpeaceo or the Renovables Foundation consider that it is the only way to justify their survival, an idea that also spreads in the Government in the face of imminent decisions in this area.. “That they are proportional and take into account income and national distribution. A subsidy for those in the south with 10 or 15 degrees is not the same as those in the north with zero degrees,” says Ismael Morales.. Head of Communication and Climate Policy at the Renovables Foundation. Aid today is “very inefficient, because it goes to all types of income, to people who can afford it and who cannot,” adds the coordinator of Greenpeace's Fossil Fuels campaign, Francisco del Pozo.

Other extraordinary measures are also under review, such as the discount on the liter of gasoline or diesel that started at 20 cents provided by the Government – plus another ten that some companies contributed – per liter of fuel that any driver refueled to go progressively, until the current discount of 10 euro cents only for temporary transport.

In the same way, it remains to be seen if the Government remains uncertain about whether it will extend the VAT reduction on electricity and gas beyond 2023, which went from 21 to 5%.. Although this does not represent a public contribution to cover part of the price of gas, it is aid “by omission”, that is, because the State stops levying taxes on it.

Asked about these two questions a few days ago in an interview on TVE, the president, Pedro Sánchez, did not reveal what the final decision will be, although he pointed out the possibility of modifying some of these instruments, in line with the idea that his third vice president and minister of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, has slipped on other occasions from maintaining subsidies for the most vulnerable sectors, in line with what Greenpeace or the Renovables Foundation defend.

“We are going to speak with the affected sectors, also with the transporters and with the [Congressional] groups because the coalition government has a parliamentary minority and we will try to address the most urgent needs but adapt them to a situation, fortunately, that is not the same as last year. two years,” when skyrocketing energy prices pushed inflation above 10%, Sánchez said.

The Renovables Foundation also demands an end to tax breaks on kerosene and Greenpeace, an end to the regulated butane rate, and other instruments to support households, but also to the fossil fuel industry.

Extension of the Iberian mechanism

More mysterious is the Government's position regarding a possible new extension of the Iberian mechanism, the cap on gas to generate electricity that in the worst of the crisis managed to contain prices, but which also increased the use of natural gas in Spain – to a large extent, because exports to Portugal and France were also much higher than usual – and it meant transferring billions to combined cycle plants, to electricity plants for generating electricity with gas. Although it has not been activated since February, the current extension expires on December 31 and the Government must decide whether to request another. In theory, it has the wind in its favor, with the Commission extending other emergency measures due to the energy crisis – such as the 180 euro cap, which was never activated – and Ribera assured a few weeks ago that she was in favor of extending it “until necessary” or even that she would defend it in the Energy Council as semi-annual president. However, the Ministry has since assured that the decision has not yet been made.

The Iberian exception is another gas subsidy for which the European Commission calculated a cost of 6.3 billion when authorizing state aid for that amount in March 2022.. They were not disbursed by the State -via budgets, such as the thermal bonus, for example- because the Government decided that the compensation to the electricity companies for the difference between the cap of 40 euros Mwh and the real price would be paid by consumers in depending on your consumption, through the famous compensation.

Payment for emitting CO2

In addition to subsidies like these, which households notice directly, there are many other types, indirect, with which the Government dedicates public funds to help industries pay the energy bill, sometimes contrary to their international obligations to emit less gases. greenhouse effect.

This is the case of the compensations that it approves every year to pay for the surplus emissions that the EU emissions trading market allows for each sector and company, with the intention that these companies do not relocate to countries that do not have these requirements. Just a few weeks ago, the Ministry of Industry announced that it will distribute 229 million among 185 industries, especially in Asturias, the Basque Country and Andalusia.

Cheaper to invest in efficiency

Returning to these 1,500 million that the Government would need to disburse in energy aid each year or the 4,000 in the most extreme case, the report also shows how these same amounts would spread much more if they were used to help households pay their bills and be more efficient and installing heat pumps instead of gas boilers or aerothermal energy instead of heating.

He proposes making “more intelligent use” of the Budget” and calculates that, if the same 4,000 million were taken, he would only need 470 million a year to compensate the most vulnerable households for the increase in energy bills and could allocate another 150 year year to invest in renewables and be more efficient.

At the same time, it would eliminate another obstacle that environmentalists see in supporting fossil fuels, in addition to the direct damage in terms of emissions.. “They discourage investment in efficiency and renewable energy,” “they constrain change,” says Del Pozo, about many of the measures that Moreno defines as “a temporary relief” for families and businesses but that should now be rethought, in most cases. cases based on income.

Labor proposes increasing aid to the unemployed up to 660 euros during the first six months and closes the reform

The Ministry of Labor wants the subsidies for the unemployed to increase up to 660 euros per month during the first six months of validity and to extend the beneficiaries also to those under 45 years of age and to temporary agricultural workers from outside Extremadura and Andalusia.. A measure that would benefit some 400,000 more unemployed people, who have already exhausted their benefits but are currently left outside the assistance system.

This was detailed this Thursday by sources from the department headed by Yolanda Díaz, who have accused the Ministry of Economy of trying to cut subsidies to the unemployed, both the amounts they receive and the period in which they have the right to enjoy the aid.. The department led by Díaz claims that the responsibility for this reform is its own, not Economy's, and considers that the text is ready and the debate is closed.. However, other knowledgeable sources indicate that the negotiation is still ongoing and there is no closed proposal yet.

The Ministry of Labor is finalizing the reform of the unemployment benefit system, aid to which unemployed people who have already exhausted their contributory benefit can apply as long as they meet a series of income and age requirements.. The Government committed to the European Union to leave the text closed in 2022, but the strong discrepancies between Labor and Economy, which is also giving its opinion on the approach of the regulation, have delayed the process.

The department led by Díaz is committed to increasing the amount of aid during the first twelve months of benefit and maintaining the current level during the remaining 18 up to a limit of 30 months.. In this way, the unemployed who enjoy this aid would receive 660 euros per month during the first six months of subsidy (110% of the Iprem); The next semester they would earn 540 euros per month (90% of the Iprem) and the last 18 months they would receive 480 euros per month (80% of the Iprem, the current amount). Furthermore, these amounts would rise if the Iprem is revalued in 2024, something that Labor takes for granted will happen.

From the Ministry of Labor they point out that Calviño's approach is to cut the maximum period in which this benefit can be enjoyed from the current 30 months to 12. According to the aforementioned sources, the Economy proposal would involve raising the subsidy up to 600 euros during the first three months and then gradually reducing it.. The second quarter would fall to 480 euros, the third to 390 and the last four months it would remain at 300.

In this way, Díaz's proposal would give the right to collect a benefit that would amount, on average, to 528 euros per month for a maximum of 30 if it is completely exhausted.. That is, 10% more than with the current system. On the other hand, the approach that Economy is pursuing, according to Labor, would involve cutting up to 442.5 euros per month on average for only 12 months (8% less than until now).

Hard clash with Calviño

The amount and duration of the subsidies have become a huge focus of dissent between the two economic souls of the Government. To the point that, from Trabajo, they accuse Calviño of designing a neoliberal reform, based on suspicion, that goes against the minimum living conditions and that many right-wing political forces would share.

The aforementioned sources even go so far as to accuse the Economy of trying to eliminate the unemployed from the statistics by reducing the duration of the subsidies.. With the current system, unemployed people who have exhausted their contributory benefit must be registered with the SEPE in order to receive aid.. Following this reasoning, if the maximum period is reduced from 30 months to 12, many registered unemployed would unsubscribe by losing the right to aid, which would facilitate an artificial decrease in unemployment.

In this sense, other knowledgeable sources reject these statements and point out that the Economy's focus is to go from subsidizing to supporting employment.. They also maintain that the current system does not help enough, condemns the unemployed to structural unemployment and is far from the standards of other European countries, where subsidies are decreasing. The Economy approach seeks to introduce incentives to reincorporate these unemployed into the labor market and to opt for the minimum vital income to cover part of the needs that now depend on these subsidies.

Agreement on the rest

In the rest of the proposals, Economy and Labor agree in general terms. Díaz's plan also aims to ensure that the unemployed who receive the subsidy can make it compatible with a job during the first 45 days.. Similarly, the scope of the measure is extended to those under 45 without family responsibilities, who until now were excluded, and also to temporary agricultural workers beyond Andalusia and Extremadura.. Labor estimates that around 400,000 more unemployed people, 150,000 people under 45 years of age and around 250,000 potential agricultural workers would join the system.

The text used by Díaz eliminates the month of waiting between when the contributory benefit is exhausted and the subsidy can begin to be received, and proposes that the review of whether the income thresholds are met be done every quarter and not every month as until now.. In this regard, Labor proposes that to define eligibility, individual or family income be analyzed, but that the criterion that is most favorable for the unemployed be applied.

The White House alerts the United States Congress that there will be no funds for Ukraine at the end of the year

The White House warned this Monday that at the end of the year the US Government will not have money to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and has asked Congress to urgently approve measures so that funds can continue to be sent.

In a letter signed by Shalanda Young, head of the United States Office of Management and Budget, the US Executive assures that, without action by Congress, “by the end of the year” the Government will run out of resources to acquire more weapons and equipment for Ukraine.

“There is no magic pool of financing available to face this moment. We have run out of money and almost out of time,” says the letter, addressed to the president of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson; to the Democratic leader of this chamber, Hakeem Jeffries; to the leader of the Senate majority, Chuck Schumer, and the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell.

Stopping the shipment of weapons and equipment, the letter adds, “will put at risk the achievements made by Ukraine” and “increase the probability of Russian military victories.” “Our security assistance packages have already become smaller and aid deliveries more limited. “If our aid stops, it will cause major problems for Ukraine,” he said.

And the money given to Ukraine “has stopped Russia's advances in Ukraine, helped Ukraine achieve important military victories and revitalized the US Defense Industrial Base (DIB).”

In a later press conference, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated that the United States is “running out of money” for Ukraine.

“I believe that any member of Congress who does not support funding Ukraine is voting for an outcome that will make it easier for Putin to prevail.”. “A vote against supporting Ukraine is a vote to improve Putin's strategic position,” he said.

To date, the United States has provided $111 billion in financing to support Ukraine. Of these, 67 billion, approximately 60%, has strengthened the defense capabilities of the United States.

“Our own military readiness has improved, as the Department of Defense is purchasing new equipment to replace what we sent to Ukraine, boosting and expanding production lines, and supporting good-paying jobs in dozens of states across the country,” the letter details. .

As of mid-November, the Department of Defense had used 97% of the 62.3 billion it received, and the State has used 100% of the 4.7 billion in military assistance it obtained. Approximately 27.2 billion has been used for economic and civil security assistance (such as demining) in Ukraine, “which is as essential to Ukraine's survival as military assistance.”

“If Ukraine's economy collapses, they will not be able to continue fighting. “Putin understands this well, which is why Russia has made the destruction of Ukraine's economy a central element of its strategy, which can be seen in its attacks on Ukraine's grain exports and energy infrastructure,” says the letter.

Following the budget extension approved last November and ratified by Biden, legislators have until February to negotiate the fiscal budget for fiscal year 2024, which has already begun.

US says US soldiers killed five militants in Iraq 'in self-defense'

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced this Monday that its forces killed five pro-Iran militiamen in Iraq on Sunday “in self-defense” who were “preparing to launch a drone” against their positions, amid a spike in tension. between armed groups and US troops in the Arab country.

The note added that coalition forces “responded in self-defense with a US unmanned aerial system, killing five militiamen and destroying the drone,” an action that was notified to Iraqi authorities, who have accused Washington of carrying out attacks in their territory without their consent.

“The United States will continue to defend itself against attacks on US and coalition personnel,” CENTCOM stated. The US response came a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al Sudani conveyed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken his rejection of “any attack on Iraqi territory” by Washington.

The pro-Iran militia group Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced yesterday that five of its members were killed in a US attack, after the armed group resumed its attacks against US positions. in the country after the end of the truce in the Gaza Strip, to which it joined.

Subsequently, the armed group claimed responsibility for two attacks against bases with a US presence in Iraq and Syria, actions that they have repeated since the war broke out in Gaza on October 7, due to Washington's “unwavering” support for Israel.

These actions have left dozens of people injured and have caused damage to US facilities, but although Washington has hit back in Syria, in Iraq, a country with which it maintains strategic relations, it has only responded once before.

On November 21, an AC-130 military plane fired at a vehicle belonging to members of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, also part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and killed at least eight militiamen accused of launching a short-range ballistic missile against a base with an American presence.

The Iraqi Government then described the US response as “unacceptable” and accused Washington of “violating” Iraq's sovereignty by not informing the authorities about the action in advance.

Former US ambassador, Manuel Rocha, arrested, accused of spying for Cuba for more than 40 years

Víctor Manuel Rocha, who was the United States ambassador to several Latin American countries, was arrested and will be tried in a court in Miami (USA) accused of spying for the Government of Cuba, the US Attorney's Office reported this Monday.

Rocha, 73 years old and of Colombian origin, is accused of “committing multiple federal crimes by acting secretly for decades as an agent of the Government of the Republic of Cuba,” the US Executive says in a statement.

“This action exposes one of the most far-reaching and longest-running infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent,” said US Attorney General Merrick B.. Garland.

“For more than 40 years, Víctor Manuel Rocha served as an agent of the Cuban Government and sought and obtained positions within the United States Government that would provide him access to non-public information and the ability to affect the foreign policy of the United States,” the prosecutor stated.

According to the statement, the former US State Department employee served on the National Security Council from 1994 to 1995 and was US ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002.

According to the complaint, beginning in approximately 1981 and continuing to the present, Rocha, who had U.S. citizenship, “secretly” supported the Republic of Cuba.

In a press conference, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stressed that Rocha has no longer worked for the US diplomatic service for more than 20 years.

Miller praised the work of the Prosecutor's Office and the FBI in the accusation against Rocha and assured that the State Department will work with the intelligence services to analyze “the implications for national security” of this case.

Rocha served between 1991 and 1994 as deputy principal officer of the United States Interests Section in Havana, as well as director of Inter-American Affairs at the National Security Council in Washington.

The now accused studied in the United States, including at the Taft School and the universities of Yale, Harvard and Georgetown, and worked as a US official and diplomat in delegations from several countries, including Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. , as well as in Italy.

“For decades, Rocha allegedly worked as an undercover agent for Cuba and abused his position of trust in the United States Government to promote the interests of a foreign power,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. said for his contribution.. Olsen of the Department of Justice's National Security Division.

London raises the minimum wage required to grant visas to foreign workers

The British Foreign Minister, James Cleverly, announced this Monday that the minimum wage required to grant a work visa to foreigners who want to go to the United Kingdom to starting next spring.

In an appearance before Parliament, the head of the Foreign Office today toughened the rules for those foreign workers who want to obtain a permit to work in this country, as part of the Executive's plans to cut the number of immigrants.

Among the measures detailed in the House of Commons (lower), Cleverly also said that foreign social and health workers, who will be exempt from that salary threshold as they are considered critical sectors, will no longer be able to bring dependent family members with them.

“We will stop immigration from undermining the wages of British workers. “We will increase the earnings threshold for skilled workers by a third to 38,700 pounds – from around 26,000 (30,340 euros) currently – from the spring in line with the average salary for the type of job,” the minister said.

Cleverly pointed out that “those who come on health or social work visa routes will be exempt in order to continue bringing in health workers on whom our health and social care system depends.”

Until now, the minimum salary required of a foreign worker to obtain a work visa in this country was around 26,000 pounds (30,341 euros).

The conservative politician maintained that the Government “recognizes” that foreign workers “do a great job in our NHS – the country's public health service – and in the social care sector” but considered that it is “important that migrants make a sufficient contribution to finances”.

Starting in January 2024, the right of international students to bring dependents will be withdrawn “unless they are in postgraduate courses designated as a research program,” explained Cleverly, who justified this measure on the grounds that this country wants ” always attract the best and brightest globally.

As part of the changes announced, these international students will no longer be able, as specified, “to move from the student route to the work routes before their studies have been completed”, changes that “will have a tangible impact” on migration.

According to the minister, his strategy will lead to “the largest reduction ever undertaken in net migration”, which in 2022 stood at around 745,000 people, well above the conservative government's objectives.

“In total, this package, in addition to the reduction in student dependents, will mean that about 300,000 fewer people will come in future years,” Cleverly noted.

Rishi Sunak's Government considers it a priority to reduce immigration to the United Kingdom, both legal and through irregular channels, such as through boats through the English Channel.

Russia confirms the death of one of its generals after a mine explosion in Ukraine

General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of the Russian Army Corps, died on Tuesday in Ukraine due to the explosion of a mine placed by his own men, according to the Russian newspaper Lenta.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the matter, but rumors of the death had been circulating on social networks for several days.. Confirmation of the death was published by the governor of Voronezh, Alexander Gusev, on his Telegram channel.

“A stabbing pain. “Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet, died in the line of duty in a special operations zone,” the governor declared.

In addition, Gusev dedicated some words of praise to him, stating that he is convinced that “the name of Vladimir Zavadsky, a brave officer, a true general and a worthy man, will remain forever in the annals of Russian glory.”

Although the governor did not refer to the details of Zavadsky's death, other Telegram channels, close to the Russian army, reported that the high-ranking general died after a mine explosion far from the front line.

This information suggests that the explosive could have been placed by the Russian forces themselves.. Zavadsky is the seventh Russian general to die since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Israel confirms the death of 15 of the 137 hostages that Hamas continues to hold in Gaza

The Israeli government confirmed this Monday the death of 15 of the 137 hostages still held captive by the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office released a statement publishing the names of “15 civilians and soldiers who were killed and remain kidnapped in Gaza.”

Among them are Shaked Dahan, Tomer Achims, Kirill Borovsky, Assaf Hammi, Mia Goren, Ofra Kidar, Aryeh Zalmanovitz, Eliyahu Margalit, Ronen Engel, Aviv Azili, Ravid Aryeh Katz, Shani Luke, Oren Goldin, Yonatan Samarno and Guy Iloz.

Thus, there are still 122 hostages alive in Gaza of the more than 240 that Hamas kidnapped during its attack on October 7, according to figures from the Israeli government, which confirmed the death of the 15 hostages based on intelligence information and evidence collected. by the troops deployed in the Strip.

Among the hostages considered alive are two children, brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas, aged 4 years and 10 months respectively, who were kidnapped along with their mother Shiri Silverman Bibas – of Argentine origin – and their father Yarden Bibas.

Israel accused Hamas of breaking the agreements of a truce that lasted from November 24 to 30 by refusing to release Mrs. Bibas and her two children, but the Islamist group alleges that those three people were killed by Israeli bombings, which offered to hand over their bodies and that Israel rejected them.

On Saturday, thousands of people, including some of the hostages who were recently freed, demonstrated in Tel Aviv to demand the government rescue the rest, but Netanyahu has insisted that the priority now is to increase the military offensive in the Strip.

A total of 105 hostages – 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners (23 Thais and one Filipino) – were freed during the seven-day truce, which included the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails. They are joined by four other hostages who were previously released: an Israeli-American mother and daughter and two elderly Israeli women. On the other hand, Israel has recovered the bodies of three hostages who perished in Gaza: a man, a soldier and an elderly woman.

Thus, there are 122 live hostages and fifteen dead in Gaza; a total of 110 were released alive and three were rescued after they died.

The Hamas attack that sparked the war on October 7 left more than 1,200 dead in Israel. Since then, the military offensive in Gaza has left more than 15,500 dead, 41,316 injured, more than 7,000 missing and 1.8 million displaced, 80% of the total population.

War between Israel and Hamas, live | Houthis attack US destroyer and two merchant ships in Red Sea

The United States Army has reported at least four attacks launched this Sunday by the Yemeni Houthi rebels against several vessels that were in the Red Sea, including their destroyer 'USS Carney'. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has noted that “these attacks represent a direct threat to international trade and maritime security,” as they have “endangered the lives of international crews representing several countries around the world.”. “We have every reason to believe that these attacks, although launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully permitted by Iran,” reads a CENTCOM statement, warning that Washington “will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international partners and allies.

Outstanding news
  • Iran warns the EU that it is “possible” that the war in Gaza “expands” throughout the region.
  • Israel redoubles its attack on Gaza and warns of total war in Lebanon while Hamas rules out releasing more hostages.
  • More than 700 Palestinians die in Gaza from Israeli attacks in just 24 hours, according to Hamas.
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War between Israel and Hamas, live