25 July 2014 Last updated at 07:10
Palestinians killed in West Bank Gaza solidarity march
At least two Palestinians have been killed and 200 wounded in the West Bank during protests against Israel's campaign in Gaza, officials say.
About 10,000 protesters marched from Ramallah towards East Jerusalem, where they were met by Israeli forces.
At least 15 people died and scores were injured when a UN-run shelter came under fire in Gaza on Thursday.
More than 800 Palestinians and 35 Israelis have died since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on 8 July.
Palestinian leaders in the West Bank have called for a "day of anger" on Friday, one of the last days of Ramadan.
Dutch may deploy troops and police to secure plane crash site
Netherlands seeking approval from all countries involved for mission
Peter Cluskey
The Dutch government is examining the possibility of deploying its own troops and police in volatile eastern Ukraine to secure the MH17 crash site and allow international investigators to gather the remaining forensic evidence in safety.
It’s understood the idea of putting “boots on the ground” was considered during a two-and-a-half hour cabinet meeting in The Hague on Wednesday evening – just hours after the Dutch Safety Board took over formal responsibility for the Malaysia Airlines disaster investigation.
The cabinet also looked at the possibility of using independent peacekeepers to secure the perimeter of the scene, but some ministers are believed to have been uneasy about “depending on a third party” to protect the investigators.
Ex-Israeli Security Chief Diskin: 'All the Conditions Are There for an Explosion'
In an interview with SPIEGEL, Yuval Diskin, former director of Israel's internal security service Shin Bet, speaks of the current clash between Israel and the Palestinians, what must be done to achieve peace and the lack of leadership in the Middle East.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Diskin, following 10 days of airstrikes, the Israeli army launched a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip last week. Why now? And what is the goal of the operation?
Diskin: Israel didn't have any other choice than to increase the pressure, which explains the deployment of ground troops. All attempts at negotiation have failed thus far. The army is now trying to destroy the tunnels between Israel and the Gaza Strip with a kind of mini-invasion, also so that the government can show that it is doing something. Its voters have been increasingly vehement in demanding an invasion. The army hopes the invasion will finally force Hamas into a cease-fire. It is in equal parts action for the sake of action and aggressive posturing. They are saying: We aren't operating in residential areas; we are just destroying the tunnel entrances. But that won't, of course, change much in the disastrous situation. Rockets are stored in residential areas and shot from there as well
Japan's atonement for war not enough, says former minister Yohei Kono
July 25, 2014 - 12:48PM
Maiko Takahashi
Tokyo: Japan has failed to atone sufficiently for its actions in World War II, said a former foreign minister who wrote an apology over the use of wartime "comfort women".
"They are insufficient," Yohei Kono, 77, said when asked about the apologies expressed to date by his nation's officials. "This is because the people who suffered and have extremely painful memories aren't saying they are sufficient."
The remarks by Mr Kono, a former senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, echo calls by China and South Korea for a clearer expression of responsibility for the deaths of millions in Asia in the 1930s-1940s. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has criticised the "propaganda" he says taints his nation's image, has seen his efforts to hold summits with China and South Korea rebuffed by their leaders.
A Tree In India Is Bigger Than The Average Wal-Mart
By Megan Willett
It may sound hard to believe, but the world's widest tree, located near Kolkata, India, is bigger than the average Wal-Mart.
The gigantic Banyan tree may look like a forest from far away, but it's actually comprised of a myriad of aerial roots that cover 3.5 square acres of land, which equals roughly 156,000 square feet , or 14,400 square meters.
Compare that to data from the most recent unit count and square footage report from Wal-Mart, which says that the average store size (that's not a Supercenter) is just under 105,000 square feet or 9,750 square meters.
Medics Risk Their Lives to Save Lives in Gaza
Just as the U.N. school in northern Gaza was under attack Thursday, two Red Crescent ambulances raced through the streets of Gaza City — we were in the second ambulance, the lead ambulance was 20 yards ahead. As we approached the market in Shejaiya, a dangerous neighborhood just east of the city, we heard a single gunshot followed by an explosion. The ambulances slammed their brakes and reversed. The driver of the lead vehicle thought he was shot at directly — a warning, he thought, to advance no further. He said it happens all the time. The medics couldn’t go deeper into Shejaiya without risking their lives.
Dozens of medical workers have been injured so far in the current conflict, and one medic has been killed. Palestinian medical officials say Israeli forces don't hesitate to fire on them. Israel says ambulances in Gaza have been used to move Hamas fighters and weapons, but there were no militants or weapons in the ambulances we were with today.
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