Sep 23, 2026, 09:30 AM UTC

Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan, demanding Hamas disarm

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a US-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan, insisting Israeli troops will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework backed by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed. Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and formally dismissed the proposal, which Hamas had previously endorsed.

The decision highlights growing friction between Washington and Tel Aviv despite a recent reduction in Israeli strikes in Gaza. Netanyahu's announcement comes as he prepares for Israel's general election on October 27, balancing pressure from far-right coalition partners opposed to concessions against diplomatic demands from the US administration.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

AI-generated

China constructs major data centers in rural Inner Mongolia

Rural areas in China's Inner Mongolia are becoming key centers for AI data infrastructure, with facility construction accelerating alongside traditional farmlands.

Rural areas in northern China are rapidly transforming into tech hubs as the country expands its artificial intelligence infrastructure. In Ulanqab, an Inner Mongolian region historically known as China's "potato capital," massive rectangular data facilities are emerging alongside traditional agricultural farmland. The construction boom reflects Beijing's strategic push to build physical capacity for domestic AI platforms amidst intensifying global technological competition. Local steppes and agricultural fields are increasingly shared by farmers and technology firms establishing server farms. These developments mark a significant shift for rural communities, integrating remote agricultural regions directly into the nation's digital network expansion.

Sources: BBC News.

AI-generated

Hurricane Polo intensifies into category 5 storm off Mexico

Hurricane Polo has rapidly intensified into a category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast with sustained winds reaching 180 mph.

Hurricane Polo has rapidly strengthened into a category 5 storm off the Pacific coast of Mexico, making it one of the most severe weather events in the region this season.

A reconnaissance flight conducted on Tuesday by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded sustained winds reaching approximately 180 mph (285 km/h), accompanied by even stronger gusts. Forecasts from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center indicate the system has become one of the most powerful storms of the Pacific season as it continues off the Mexican coastline.

Sources: BBC News.