US:
State Department spokesperson: Nuclear agreement with Iran isn't imminent
State Department spokesman says Washington is prepared to take "difficult decisions" to make nuclear deal happen.
News writer based in North America
Elad was born in Haifa, Israel, and currently resides in Canada.
News by Elad Benari
Biden:
Biden: Putin considering using biological and chemical weapons against Ukraine
US President: Russia's accusations that Kyiv has biological and chemical weapons illustrate that Putin is considering using such weapons.
Zelenskyy:
Zelenskyy: Meeting with Putin is needed to end the war
Ukrainian President says meeting with Russian counterpart "in any format" is needed to stop the war in the country.
Houthi missiles hit Saudi refinery
Houthi rebels fire missiles and drones at Saudi energy and water desalination facilities, cause temporary drop in output.
Russia demands surrender of Mariupol
Ukraine rejects Russia's demand that Ukrainians in Mariupol lay down their arms in exchange for safe passage out of town.
Zelenskyy:
Zelenskyy: We are grateful for Bennett's peace efforts
Ukrainian President suggests peace talks with Russia could take place in Jerusalem.
Saudi Arabia executes four more people
This brings to 100 the number of executions in the kingdom since the start of the year.
Blinken:
Blinken: I believe Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine
Secretary of State says he agrees with Biden that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine.
Italy offers to help rebuild bombed Ukraine theater
Italian culture minister offers help in rebuilding Mariupol Theater that was bombed while hundreds were hiding inside.
Burger King says it is unable to close restaurants in Russia
Burger King's parent company says it is unable to close its 800 restaurants in Russia because its independent operator there refuses.
Dennis Ross:
Dennis Ross: IRGC promises are about as credible as Putin's
Former Middle East advisor criticizes reports that Biden considering removing terror sanctions from IRGC.
B’nai Brith Canada urges action to disqualify anti-Israel UN commission chief
B’nai Brith Canada asks UN Ambassador to help remove Navi Pillay who heads probe of Israel at UNHRC.
Iran:
Iran: Two issues remain unresolved in nuclear talks with US
Iran's Foreign Minister: If the American side fulfils our two remaining demands today, we will be ready to go to Vienna tomorrow.
Biden calls Putin a 'war criminal'
Biden offers harshest condemnation of Putin's actions from any US official since the war in Ukraine began.
Top US general:
Top US general: Iran has 3,000 ballistic missiles that can hit Tel Aviv
CENTCOM chief Kenneth McKenzie warns US lawmakers that Iran’s ballistic missiles pose a great threat.
North Korean launch of projectile fails
South Korea says North Korea fired an unidentified projectile but the launch apparently ended in a failure.
Senate condemns Putin as a war criminal
US Senate unanimously passes resolution condemning Russian President as a war criminal.
Second Gentleman tests positive for COVID-19
Husband of Vice President Kamala Harris tests positive for COVID-19. Harris tests negative but will not attend event at White House.
Jewish Democrats blast Amnesty International director
Jewish House Democrats condemn Amnesty International USA Executive Director who said Israel shouldn't be a Jewish state.
Republican senators:
Republican senators: We will not back new Iran nuclear agreement
49 of 50 Republican senators say emerging nuclear deal weakens sanctions and lessens restrictions on Iran.
Ukraine repels Russian takeover of Mariupol
Ukrainian military says Russian forces retreated from the strategic port after suffering heavy losses.
Was building attacked in Iraq an Israeli training facility?
Senior US official tells New York Times that building struck by Iranian missiles in Erbil served as an Israeli training facility.
Iran suspends talks with Saudi Arabia
The decision comes a day after Saudi Arabia executed 81 suspected terrorists.
Moroccan airline operates first direct flight to Israel
Royal Air Maroc operates flight from Casablanca to Israel, for the first time since the two countries normalized ties in 2020.
Netanyahu:
Netanyahu: Iran deal endangers not just Israel, but also the US
Opposition leader urges world powers to end talks with Iran following its missile attack on US consulate in Iraqi city of Erbil.
Obama tests positive for COVID-19
Former US President announces he tested positive for coronavirus. His wife, Michelle, tested negative.
Congressmen raise concerns over Iran nuclear deal
Bipartisan group of 21 Members of Congress write to Biden, urge him to address concerns on looming agreement with Iran.
US official:
US official: North Korea tested ICBM system, they will be sanctioned
Senior US official says two recent missile tests by North Korea were of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system.
Senate approves Iron Dome funding for Israel
US Senate approves spending package which includes defense aid for Israel. The bill will now go to Biden, who will sign it.
Iran's Foreign Minister:
Iran's Foreign Minister: Nuclear deal is within reach if US acts realistically
Iran's Foreign Minister says a good and durable nuclear deal is within reach, but places onus on the Americans.
Ukraine War:
Russian forces shell nuclear research institute in Kharkiv
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s second-largest city sets buildings on fire, but no change in background radiation reported.
Antisemitic graffiti found at schools north of Toronto
Swastikas and N-word drawn at three schools in Newmarket.
House approves funding for Iron Dome
House of Representatives passes spending package which includes $1 billion in emergency funding for Iron Dome.
Toronto university hailed for withholding funds to student union over BDS support
FSWC welcomes University of Toronto’s decision to withhold funds from Graduate Students’ Union which supports BDS.
Sony, Amazon stop operations in Russia
Sony stops selling PlayStation consoles and software in Russia, while Amazon stops shipping orders to Russia and Belarus.
German court rules against far-right AfD party
Court rules that Germany's domestic intelligence agency can designate Alternative for Germany as a suspected case of extremism.
France: More delays could jeopardize Iran nuclear talks
France warns that further delays in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal could jeopardize the chances of reaching an agreement.
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo suspend sales in Russia
Soft drink giants become latest high-profile Western consumer brands to curtail operations in Russia following Ukraine invasion.
US welcomes Israel's mediation between Russia and Ukraine
White House press secretary says US welcomes attempts to engage with Putin, so long as Ukraine is kept up to speed.
Toronto:
Toronto university to withhold fees from student union over BDS support
University of Toronto announces it will withhold fees from Graduate Students’ Union over its pro-BDS policy.
