Instagram recently introduced its one-time ‘Instants’ photo-sharing feature that allows people to send images right to their friends or close friends’ inboxes. The feature appears to be a way to encourage users to send short-term, spontaneous shots to their close contacts via messages
A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak is scheduled to arrive in the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Monday morning (May 18, 2026). The MV Hondius has spent the past six days sailing from the Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers were escorted off the vessel by
Malaysia said on Monday (May 18, 2026) it had ended a search for passengers of a migrant boat from Indonesia that sank off the country's western coast last week after the bodies of all 16 missing were recovered. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak state said 23 people were
Quote of the day by Bella Hadid: ‘I can’t wait to be a mom, I think that would make me truly happy’When Bella Hadid got candid on her vision for the future, family, and being an auntie to Khai, sister Gigi Hadid's daughter. Read her exact quote on motherhood. Published on: May 18
Dark mode vs light mode: Ophthalmologist explains when you should toggle which mode on phone for lower vision stressInstead of aesthetic purpose, medically approach the display modes on your phone to lower visual stress. Updated on: May 18, 2026 5:17 PM IST By Adrija Dey Share via Copy link Your
Trump sets off for the Middle East to mark a ceasefire deal and urge Arab leaders to seize the moment
"I think people are tired of it," he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.
It is a moment, the Republican president says, that has been helped along by his administration's support of Israel's decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The White House says momentum is also building because Arab and Muslim states are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.
Trump has said that he expects wealthy regional players to take the lead in rebuilding war-torn Gaza, but acknowledged that the work would take years.
In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called " the Riviera of the Middle East." But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more circumspect.
"I don't know about the Riviera for a while," Trump said. "It's blasted. This is like a demolition site." But he said he hoped to one day visit" onclick="showFullScrImg(this)"/>
President Trump embarks on a trip to Israel and Egypt. He aims to solidify a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal. The goal is to encourage regional allies to pursue lasting peace. Trump believes a narrow window exists to reshape the Middle East. He also seeks to advance normalization ties between Israel and Arab nations.
President Donald Trump set off for Israel and Egypt on Sunday to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas and urge Middle East allies to seize the opportunity to build a durable peace in the volatile region.
It's a fragile moment with Israel and Hamas only in the early stages of implementing the first phase of the Trump agreement designed to bring a permanent end to the war sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants.
Trump thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the Mideast and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors. "The war is over, OK?" Trump told reporters traveling with him to the region ahead of the expected release of hostages from Gaza.
"I think people are tired of it," he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.
It is a moment, the Republican president says, that has been helped along by his administration's support of Israel's decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The White House says momentum is also building because Arab and Muslim states are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.
Trump has said that he expects wealthy regional players to take the lead in rebuilding war-torn Gaza, but acknowledged that the work would take years.
In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called " the Riviera of the Middle East." But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more circumspect.
"I don't know about the Riviera for a while," Trump said. "It's blasted. This is like a demolition site." But he said he hoped to one day visit the territory. "I'd like to put my feet on it, at least," he said.
A tenuous point in the agreement The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final 48 hostages held by Hamas, including about 20 believed to be alive; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza's main cities.
Israeli troops on Friday finished withdrawing from parts of Gaza, triggering a 72-hour countdown under the deal for Hamas to release the Israeli hostages, potentially while Trump is on the ground there. He said he expected their return to be completed on Monday or Tuesday.
Trump will visit Israel first to meet with hostage families and address the Knesset, or parliament, an honor last extended to President George W. Bush during a visit in 2008. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said Trump also was likely to meet with newly-freed hostages, too.
"Knock on wood, but we feel very confident the hostages will be released and this president is actually traveling to the Middle East, likely this evening, in order to meet them and greet them in person," Vance told CBS' "Face the Nation."
Trump then stops in Egypt, where he and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will lead a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with leaders from more than 20 countries on peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
It is a tenuous truce and it is unclear whether the sides have reached any agreement on Gaza's postwar governance, the territory's reconstruction and Israel's demand that Hamas disarm. Negotiations over those issues could break down, and Israel has hinted it may resume military operations if its demands are not met.
"I think the chances of (Hamas) disarming themselves, you know, are pretty close to zero," H.R. McMaster, a national security adviser during Trump's first term, said at an event hosted by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies on Thursday. He said he thought what probably would happen in the coming months is that the Israeli military "is going to have to destroy them."
Israel continues to rule over millions of Palestinians without basic rights as settlements expand rapidly across the occupied West Bank. Despite growing international recognition, Palestinian statehood appears exceedingly remote because of Israel's opposition and actions on the ground,
The war has left Israel isolated internationally and facing allegations of genocide, which it denies. International arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister are in effect, and the United Nations' highest court is considering allegations of genocide brought by South Africa.
Hamas has been militarily decimated and has given up its only bargaining chip with Israel by releasing the hostages. But the Islamic militant group is still intact and could eventually rebuild if there's an extended period of calm.
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would continue with its demilitarization of Hamas after the hostages are returned.
"Hamas agreed to the deal only when it felt that the sword was on its neck - and it is still on its neck," Netanyahu said Friday as Israel began to pull back its troops.
Trump wants to expand the Abraham Accords Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble and the territory's roughly 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions.
Under the deal, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.
Trump is also standing up a U.S.-led civil-military coordination center in Israel to help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance into Gaza.
Roughly 200 U.S. troops will help support and monitor the ceasefire deal as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players. U.S. troops will not be sent to Gaza, Adm. Brad Cooper, the U.S. military commander for the region, said in a social media post Saturday.
The White House has signaled that Trump is looking to quickly return attention to building on a first-term effort known as the Abraham Accords, which forged diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
A permanent agreement in Gaza would help pave the path for Trump to begin talks with Saudi Arabia as well Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, toward normalizing ties with Israel, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.
Such a deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, has the potential to reshape the region and boost Israel's standing in historic ways.
But brokering such an agreement remains a heavy lift as the kingdom has said it won't officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Trump aims to clinch deal with China's Xi during Asia trip Donald Trump aims to clinch deal with China’s Xi during Asia trip Israel, Hamas Set for Talks Over Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan in Egypt on Monday Israel, Hamas Begin Egypt Talks On US-Backed Gaza Peace Plan Theegala off to a solid start Bumper Debut! Meesho share price lists at solid 46% premium over IPO price All in one desktop PCs for clean setups and solid performance for daily tasks Insights from a Gandhian approach to solid waste management in urban India After solid Q2 show 18-karat solid gold functional toilet
IU, Byeon Woo-seok apologise after 'Perfect Crown' faces criticism for historical inaccuraciesIU, Byeon Woo-seok apologise after 'Perfect Crown' faces criticism for historical inaccuracies May 18, 2026, 16:19:57 IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi
4 hours ago
Heart diseases kill approximately 28.6 lakh (2.86 million) Indians annually, with heart attacks acting as a primary contributor to this figure. While there is a lot of awareness about heart attacks, their causes, prevention and the symptoms that might occur
4 hours ago
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (May 18, 2026) accused the government of lacking foresight and keeping the state of the economy hidden from the people before Assembly elections. ALSO WATCH Watch: CNG prices hiked again in Delhi
4 hours ago
MHADA lottery 2026 sees over 77,000 applications for 2,640 affordable homes in the Mumbai real estate marketMHADA lottery 2026: The state housing authority has extended last date for applications twice in the last one month, and also reduced price of over 1,200 homes Updated on: May 18
4 hours ago
Mumbai landlord regrets renting out ₹80 lakh flat after dispute over unpaid electricity bill: 'Full-time stress job'A Mumbai-based landlord recently shared his frustration over managing a rented flat in Mira Road. Updated on: May 18, 2026 4:36 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link Owning a
4 hours ago
The Supreme Court on Monday criticised its own January verdict that denied bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, saying that “bail is the rule and jail is an exception” even in prosecutions under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
4 hours ago
A month after carrying out its biggest retrenchment exercise, India’s largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reportedly asked managers to place around 5% of employees in the company’s lowest performance category during the latest appraisal cycle
4 hours ago
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it compulsory for Class 9 students to study three languages. This new three language policy will come into effect from July 1, 2026. From the new academic session, Class 9 students will have to study three languages (R1, R2, R3)
4 hours ago
The CBI’s investigation into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has now shifted focus to Rajasthan’s Sikar district, where a family is accused of paying lakhs of rupees to get access to the leaked exam paper for their son. The case has drawn attention after investigators found that the student
4 hours ago
Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship docks in the Netherlands for disinfectionThe MV Hondius was still carrying 25 crew members and two medical personnel as it reached Europe's largest port on Monday morning. Published on: May 18, 2026 5:02 PM IST AP Share via Copy link The cruise ship hit by a deadly
4 hours ago
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has allayed concerns about private investment in the Big Bash League. He stated that fears of Indian Premier League franchise owners taking control are overblown. Greenberg emphasised that Cricket Australia is seeking valuable partners
4 hours ago
For many people living abroad, going back home can bring a feeling of comfort that is hard to explain. A Kerala-based content creator recently shared how returning to his village from London reminds him of the simple life he grew up with and the emotional cost of living away from home
4 hours ago
‘Only four more months’: DMK leader's bold forecast on Vijay-led TVK regimeHe said that DMK president MK Stalin, who served as chief minister before Vijay’s sweeping victory in the April Assembly election, would soon return to power. Published on: May 18
4 hours ago
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa played out a draw with Dutchman Jorden Van Foreest even as Germany's Vincent Keymer surged ahead following a facile victory in the fourth round of Super Chess Classic in Bucharest. With a sole win over Alireza Firouzja of France and three draws
4 hours ago
‘People are earning more but losing peace’: Techie explains why life in Tier 1 cities is mentally drainingA techie said Tier 1 city life looked exciting from outside, but came with high rent, traffic and stress. Published on: May 18, 2026 5:00 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
4 hours ago
India’s higher education admissions are evolving as students and parents prioritise relevance over legacy. Curriculum quality, faculty readiness, employability, and visible modernisation are reshaping trust in universities. As AI transforms jobs and skills
7 hours ago
‘Never give up’: Bengaluru engineer reveals how he landed Amazon job after 7 rejectionsA Bengaluru man revealed he faced 7 Amazon rejections in 5 years before finally landing his dream job there. Published on: May 18, 2026 1:51 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A Bengaluru
7 hours ago
Road crash in UP leaves 10 deadRoad crash in UP leaves 10 dead Published on: May 18, 2026 1:56 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Lakhimpur Kheri , Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said
7 hours ago
Maha coaching firm director received NEET paper 10 days before exam, was ‘part of organised gang’HT has learnt that Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar was part of an organised gang who had the paper on his phone and had leaked it to several people. Updated on: May 18
7 hours ago
Spinach malfati is a comforting, vegetarian twist on Italian dumplings, where soft spinach‑paneer parcels meet a rich, roasted‑pepper walnut tomato sauce. Instead of a simple cream‑based pasta, these malfati celebrate earthy flavours: blanched spinach and creamy paneer are shaped into rustic
7 hours ago
ASI grants Hindus unrestricted daily access to MP’s disputed Bhojshala complexThe site will continue to be a protected monument under the AMASR Act 1958, with worship timings to be determined by the superintending archaeologist Published on: May 18, 2026 2:02 PM IST By Harsh Yadav
7 hours ago
Who is Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff who said he will not hire any more engineers?Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, announced no new engineer hires due to reliance on AI for coding tasks. While AI increased productivity by 30%. Updated on: May 18
7 hours ago
Feeling backed up for days? Gastroenterologist shares a simple bathroom hack that can help with constipationIf you're struggling with constipation and incomplete bowel clearing, try out this simple hack. Dr Salhab explains why it works. Updated on: May 18
7 hours ago
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake in China’s southwest region of Guangxi early on Monday (May 18, 2026) killed two and forced more than 7,000 in the city of Liuzhou to evacuate as search and rescue operations continue and authorities warn of transport disruptions.A magnitude 5
7 hours ago
An Indian court has told Apple to "fully cooperate" with investigators in an antitrust case related to the , not agreeing with the U.S. company's request to put the case on hold while it challenges the law governing antitrust penalties.The Delhi High Court said in an order posted on its
7 hours ago
₹3 lakh stipend, hotel stay: IIT student’s Bengaluru internship sparks debateAn IIT student’s internship package in Bengaluru has sparked a wave of reactions online after investor and entrepreneur Kush Agarwal shared details of the offer Updated on: May 18
7 hours ago
Drinking iced drinks in summer? Gastroenterologist warns why it actually may backfire and make you feel ‘hotter’The cooling effect of iced drinks may actually be a deception. Know why the instant cooling feeling in your body may be unhealthy. Updated on: May 18
7 hours ago
