Latest news with #Kan
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
German-Israeli leader slams far-right Israeli ministers for Gaza plan
The president of the German-Israeli Society in Berlin has strongly criticized the far-right members of Israel's government for comments he says amount to calls for "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza. "My job to defend Israel is becoming more and more difficult because there are voices in the Israeli government which are totally unacceptable," Beck said in an interview with the Israeli television channel Kan, which is to be aired on Friday. "If ministers are calling for starving the population in Gaza, or for 'sending them abroad,' which is nothing else than ethnic cleansing, this makes our task very difficult," he added. The 64-year-old, a well-known supporter of Israel, was referring to recent statements by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Smotrich recently said he wants Gaza "completely destroyed" and that residents should be concentrated in a "humanitarian zone" in the far south of the coastal territory. From there, he said, they should leave Gaza in large numbers for other countries. Ben-Gvir spoke out against the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip after Israel's blockade. The Israeli government rejects the accusation of ethnic cleansing and maintains that the military operations in the Gaza Strip are aimed at destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. When asked by Kan what message he had for the two ministers, Beck said: "I would ask them to stop the racist talk to all Palestinians, and make it clear that Israel is fighting Hamas, and not Arabs."
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Netanyahu accepts new truce plan as hopes rise for Gaza hostage deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza, presented by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The development marks a potential breakthrough in efforts to halt the months-long conflict and secure the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas. According to Israeli state broadcaster Kan, Netanyahu conveyed his government's acceptance of the US-brokered proposal during a closed-door meeting with families of hostages, some of whom are believed to be deceased. The Prime Minister's Office has not yet issued an official statement. Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed that it had received the proposal through mediators and is currently reviewing its contents. Citing senior Israeli officials, Kan reported that the proposal outlines a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others, to be carried out in two phases. In return, Israel would release 1,236 Palestinian detainees, including the bodies of 180 Palestinians. Notably, the agreement does not require Israel to permanently end its ongoing military campaign in Gaza but commits both parties to begin negotiations for a long-term truce. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar would act as guarantors of the proposed agreement. Israel believes 58 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are thought to be alive. They were taken during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered Israel's full-scale offensive in the enclave. A previous ceasefire agreement, implemented in phases, collapsed in March 2024 after Hamas released 33 hostages. Israel halted further negotiations and resumed military operations on March 18. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians. Gaza's health authorities report that more than 54,000 people have been killed in the territory since the start of Israeli operations in October 2023. The new initiative underscores renewed US efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table. The inclusion of Egypt and Qatar — key regional stakeholders — signals a multilateral push to stabilize the worsening humanitarian crisis. The coming days will be critical as Hamas reviews the proposal and Israeli authorities face increasing pressure from hostage families and the international community to reach a deal. If accepted, the ceasefire could provide a much-needed reprieve for Gaza's civilians and open the door to broader political negotiations aimed at ending one of the region's most devastating conflicts in decades.
NBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Mortgage rates rose to the highest level since January, but demand from homebuyers still grew. Here's why.
Mortgage rates rose for the third straight week last week to the highest level since January, but some homebuyers were undeterred. Mortgage applications to purchase a home climbed 2% compared with the previous week and were 18% percent higher than the same week one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. This as the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, increased to 6.98% from 6.92%, with points decreasing to 0.67 from 0.69, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment. 'Purchase applications were up over the week and continue to run ahead of last year's pace as increased housing inventory in many markets has been supporting some transaction volume, despite the economic uncertainty,' said Joel Kan, an MBA economist. Applications to refinance a home loan took the rate increase harder, falling 7% for the week. Refinance demand was, however, still 37% higher than the same week one year ago. 'Conventional refinances were down 6%, and VA refinances dropped 16%,' added Kan. Mortgage rates edged slightly lower to start this holiday-shortened week, after a monthly report on consumer confidence. 'The Consumer Confidence Index was stronger than expected, but one of its components raised concern over the labor market,' wrote Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily. 'Weaker labor conditions tend to push rates lower, all else equal. The underlying bond market improved after that and several mortgage lenders issued revised rates in response.'
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Mortgage rates rose to the highest level since January, but demand from homebuyers still grew. Here's why.
Mortgage rates rose for the third straight week last week to the highest level since January, but some homebuyers were undeterred. Mortgage applications to purchase a home rose 2% compared with the previous week and were 18% percent higher than the same week one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. This as the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, increased to 6.98% from 6.92%, with points decreasing to 0.67 from 0.69, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment. "Purchase applications were up over the week and continue to run ahead of last year's pace as increased housing inventory in many markets has been supporting some transaction volume, despite the economic uncertainty," said Joel Kan, an MBA economist. Applications to refinance a home loan took the rate increase harder, falling 7% for the week. Refinance demand was, however, still 37% higher than the same week one year ago. "Conventional refinances were down 6%, and VA refinances dropped 16%," added Kan. Mortgage rates edged slightly lower to start this holiday-shortened week, after a monthly report on consumer confidence. "The Consumer Confidence Index was stronger than expected, but one of its components raised concern over the labor market," wrote Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily. "Weaker labor conditions tend to push rates lower, all else equal. The underlying bond market improved after that and several mortgage lenders issued revised rates in response."
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: HK actress Jessica Kan weds actor Derek Mackesy in Italy
HONG KONG: Nearly four years after confirming their romance in 2021, Hong Kong actress Jessica Kan Shuk Yi and her fellow artiste Derek Mackesy have officially tied the knot. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Kan, 35, revealed that she and Mackesy, 39, were married earlier this month in Italy. The wedding was attended by close friends and family, with a separate ceremony held in Hong Kong on Sunday. "All I can remember is that I enjoyed every moment of it," the former TVB star wrote. Her post featured five photos from their special day, including a shot of the couple walking hand-in-hand while being showered with flower petals. Many celebrity friends, such as actresses Roxanne Tong, Amber Tang, and Kelly Gu, left comments congratulating Kan and Mackesy on their new chapter. "So sweet. Congrats," said Tong. Kan confirmed her relationship with Mackesy, who is also a pilot, in June 2021. The pair became close after working together on the variety show Super Five.
