In Brief

Hamas responds to US truce proposal

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Tel Aviv: Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza while seeking amendments to it. A senior Hamas official said, “There need to be some notes and amendments on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces”. It added 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released.

UN to cut 20% staff over funding woes

united nations: More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20% of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday.