News

Conflict between Israel and Hamas militants continues, world leaders plead for calm

Published

5 years ago

May 18, 2021

William Howard

Violence in Gaza has officially reached its second week

This grim milestone follows Israel launching another round of airstrikes on Gaza on Monday.

This comes as the Israeli military bombed much of the underground Hamas’ tunnel system.

Israel says it has attacked more areas in Gaza over the past week than it did in all of 2020.

It’s also being reported that Gaza has fired around 3,150 rockets into Israel since the conflict began.

Despite the high number of rockets fired, most have either fallen short or been intercepted by Israel’s so-called “Iron Dome” aerial defence system.

READ: Why Biden wants Israel-Gaza war to end, now | TICKER VIEWS

The toll on both sides of the Israel-Gaza war is horrendous, and the rockets and air strikes continue unabated.
Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre and Ticker News US political contributor

What’s it like on the ground as civilian?

“There is a tremendous amount of heartbreak here on the ground for the senseless loss of life in Gaza at the hands of Hamas”

Journalist @talexander_i24 is live on the ground in Tel Aviv and details the scenes.

International concern continues to build

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Israel should avoid civilian casualties. He also added that he is aware that “Hamas is again using civilian infrastructure and populations as cover for its operations”.

In the US, the nation’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken says both sides have an extra duty of care. He said, “a democracy has an extra burden” to protect innocent lives.

The United Nations is also expressing concern about the growing level of infrastructure damage in the Gaza region. The area was already struggling and impoverished.

NOW IN PALESTINE: Gaza bombed at 4:31AM. Israel is still going to play the victim. #GazaUnderAttackk pic.twitter.com/Mw0GEvRmuo
— Malak|FREE PALESTINE (@whaatdidusayy) May 18, 2021

The outbreak of violence began after months of rising tensions between the two parties.

These tensions escalated at a Holy site that is worshipped by both Muslims and Jewish individuals.

Hamas warned Jewish citizens to vacate the site before firing rockets in retaliation.

News

Russia bans WhatsApp and promotes state-backed messaging app

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

Published

16 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

The Kremlin has officially blocked WhatsApp, urging Russians to switch to MAX, a state-backed messaging app. This move comes after Meta refused to comply with local regulations, sparking debates over digital freedom in the country.

Critics warn that MAX could be used for government surveillance, though authorities deny these claims. The ban highlights Russia’s growing control over foreign tech platforms and its push for locally regulated alternatives.

Activists in Moscow have staged protests calling for an open and unregulated internet, while the public reacts with a mix of concern and resignation.

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News

U.S. secretly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran after protests

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

Published

16 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

U.S. officials report that the Trump administration covertly sent around 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following widespread protests. The move was designed to bypass strict internet blackouts imposed by authorities in Tehran.

The terminals reportedly enabled activists and dissidents to reconnect with the outside world during periods of severe digital restriction, raising fresh questions about foreign involvement and cyber strategy.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the revelation underscores how connectivity has become a powerful tool in modern conflict.

#Iran #Starlink #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #GlobalPolitics #TechNews #InternetFreedom #BreakingNews

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News

Anthropic secures 30 billion in fresh funding as valuation surges

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Published

16 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Anthropic has secured a staggering $30 billion in fresh funding, catapulting its valuation to $380 billion and cementing its place among the most valuable AI companies in the world. The raise marks the second-largest private technology funding round ever, trailing only OpenAI’s $40 billion deal.

Major backers in this latest round include Singapore’s GIC and Coatue Management, alongside existing heavyweight partners Microsoft and Nvidia. The scale of the investment underscores intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence as capital continues to flood into the sector.

Anthropic’s valuation has more than doubled in just five months, fuelled by rapid enterprise growth. The company now works with eight of the Fortune 10 and boasts more than 500 customers spending over $1 million annually, highlighting surging demand for advanced AI tools across corporate America.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Anthropic #TechNews #VentureCapital #BigTech #Innovation #Startups