*) Netanyahu prolonging Gaza war to stay in power

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al Maliki has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the Gaza conflict to maintain power.

Al Maliki criticised Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war, citing nearly 600,000 Palestinians on the brink of famine, and expressed disappointment with the international community's lack of action.

Al Maliki emphasised the need for the international community to address the Palestinian cause, urging pressure on Netanyahu for a ceasefire.

*) Israel 'lost the war' in Gaza even if it invades Rafah — Hezbollah

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared Israel's defeat in Gaza, stating that even an invasion of the southern city of Rafah would not change the outcome.

Nasrallah emphasised Israel's failure to achieve any victories or objectives after six months of fighting, asserting that the Israeli army is exhausted on all fronts.

According to Nasrallah, Israel's casualties are much higher than officially reported, and the army lacks sufficient troops to sustain the conflict.

Official figures show Israel has killed over 31,270 Palestinians and wounded more than 73,020.

*) UN to send aid to Haiti via 'airbridge' as 'Barbecue' vows to fight on

United Nations aims to establish an "airbridge" between Haiti and the Dominican Republic to bolster aid delivery and facilitate personnel movement amid Haiti's ongoing crisis, according to the UN's Haiti mission.

The initiative seeks to ensure seamless assistance and anticipates the arrival of additional crisis management personnel to address the dire situation.

Efforts are underway to form a transitional governing body to replace the outgoing prime minister Ariel Henry.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Cherizier, a prominent Haitian gang leader known as "Barbecue," has declared his coalition's intent to continue the fight for Haiti's liberation, despite the prime minister's resignation.

*) Islamophobia 'an unacceptable form of racism' — Russia

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said Islamophobia is "an unacceptable form of racism" during a news conference in Moscow.

She emphasised Russia's solidarity with the stances of Muslim nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on this matter. Zakharova stressed the importance of combating discrimination and harassment against Muslims based on religious affiliation, advocating for religious freedoms that respect both the individual and collective rights of believers.

Moreover, Zakharova announced Russia's support for a draft resolution proposed by Muslim countries at the UN General Assembly titled "Measures to Combat Islamophobia."

This resolution is dedicated to the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed annually on March 15.

And finally…

*) Adidas reports first loss in over three decades

Adidas faced its first loss in over three decades due to the fallout from ending its collaboration with Kanye West, now known as Ye.
The German sportswear giant terminated its contract with the US rapper in late 2022 after he sparked controversy with anti-Semitic social media posts.

The end of their partnership disrupted Adidas' revenue flow and left the company burdened with a surplus of unsold Yeezy trainers.

The company reported a loss of $82 million in 2023, a sharp decline from the previous year's profit of $670 million.