After four failed attempts, the U.N. Security Council scheduled a vote Wednesday on a resolution which would call for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip" in the Israel-Hamas war. The final draft watered down language from a “demand” to a “call.” It also watered down a demand for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups” to a call. Malta, which sponsored the resolution, called for the vote after lengthy negotiations. Several diplomats said they expect it to be adopted. That requires nine “yes” votes from the 15-member council and no veto by any of its five permanent members: the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France. The draft resolution makes no mention of a cease-fire. It also doesn’t refer to Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed around 1,200 people and took some 240 others hostage. Nor does it cite Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza that Gaza's health ministry says has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children. The draft asks that “all parties comply with their obligations under international law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially children.” U.N. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, but in practice many parties choose to ignore the council’s requests for action. Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, said the Security Council has called for cease-fires in wars from the Balkans to Syria “with little or no impact.” The Security Council, which has the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, has been paralyzed since the war began by its internal divisions. This is especially the case between China and Russia, which want an immediate cease-fire, and the United States, which has called for humanitarian pauses but objects to any mention of a cease-fire which its close ally Israel strongly opposes. The resolution calls for humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a “sufficient number of days” for unhindered access by the U.N., Red Cross and other aid groups to get water, electricity, fuel, food and medical supplies to all those in need. It says the pauses also should allow for repair of essential infrastructure and enable urgent rescue and recovery efforts. In the four previous tries for Security Council approval, a Brazil-drafted resolution was vetoed by the United States, a U.S.-drafted resolution was vetoed by Russia and China and two Russian-drafted resolutions failed to get the minimum “yes” votes. After the fourth failure, frustrated Arab nations turned to the 193-member General Assembly and succeeded in getting wide approval for a resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza meant to lead to a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. It was the first United Nations response to the war. But unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are a barometer of world opinion. The vote was 120-14 with 45 abstentions. Of the five veto-holding Security Council members, Russia, China and France voted in favor, the United States voted against and Britain abstained. The General Assembly resolution was adopted Oct. 27, and Israel agreed Nov. 9 to four-hour pauses. But only very limited aid has been delivered to Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt, and a humanitarian catastrophe has been brewing. The Crisis Group's Gowan said U.S. opposition to a cease-fire “is a gift that keeps on giving for Russia diplomatically.” He said that while many diplomats think Russia is demanding a cease-fire “for largely cynical reasons to make the Americans look bad,” Moscow’s position “is closer to the mainstream of council thinking, and the U.S. looks isolated.” “A U.N. cease-fire call would embarrass but not really constrain the Israelis,” he told the AP. “But the U.S. clearly feels that even such a symbolic move is too much of a political risk.” Read More Tourists find the Las Vegas Strip remade for its turn hosting Formula One Ohio commission approves fracking in state parks and wildlife areas despite fraud investigation The UK government wants to send migrants to Rwanda. Here's why judges say it's unlawful Vatican plans to gradually replace car fleet with electric vehicles in deal with VW Discrimination charge filed against Michigan salon after owner's comments on gender identity Advocates scramble to aid homeless migrant families after Massachusetts caps emergency shelter slots

Uber has reported that its revenue ticked up 14% last quarter, marking a slower pace of growth than recent quarters when sales surged as riders returned to pre-pandemic habits.

President Joe Biden's aides privately acknowledge a rematch with Donald Trump in 2024 could be his best path to reelection, but they are terrified by what would happen if he lost -- which operatives on his campaign and throughout the Democratic Party worry is a very real possibility.

Police have arrested a "popular" Tennessee soccer coach after police say they found videos on his cell phone depicting unconscious boys being raped.

A prosecutor is asking jurors to impose a death sentence on the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, saying Robert Bowers targeted them because of their faith and has never once expressed remorse

Qatar Investment Authority is set to hire Hussam Qasim from Credit Suisse Group AG for its domestic investment

Ilkay Gundogan explains why he joined Barcelona from Man City & believes he must prove himself to a new audience.

June 2022’s free PlayStation Plus games have been teased early by a Spanish website.

France’s first lady has revealed how she thought her husband Emmanuel Macron would fall in love with someone his own age after he was sent away to boarding school as a teenager for pursuing his teacher. The president was 15 when he fell for Brigitte Macron, then a 39-year-old drama teacher at the Catholic Providence school in Amiens, in northern France. The schoolboy’s parents had believed their son was dating his teacher’s daughter, Laurence, until the truth came out through a family friend. Shocked at the illicit affair, the Macrons removed their teenager from the school and sent him to boarding school in Paris. In an interview with Paris Match magazine, Ms Macron said she thought Emmanuel would move on when he was sent to Paris. But while his parents hoped distance would cool the burning embers of passion, the young Emmanuel vowed to marry the former Ms Auziere and held fast to his oath. “For me, such a young boy was crippling. Emmanuel had to leave for Paris. I told myself that he would fall in love with someone his [own] age. It didn’t happen,” Ms Macron said. The couple, who have a 24-year age gap, married in 2007. Becoming a very youthful stepfather at the age of 29 to Brigitte’s three adult children, he told them at the wedding reception: “Thanks for accepting us, a not-quite-normal couple.” Ms Macron said her children were the “obstacle” that caused her to wait a decade before marrying Emmanuel. She said: “I took time so I would not wreck their lives. That lasted 10 years, the time to put them on the rails. You can imagine what they were hearing. But I didn’t want to miss out on my life.” Mr Macron became France’s youngest ever president at the age of 39 – the same age that his wife, now 64, was when they met. Praising her husband, the first lady said his sharp intellect still surprises her every day. She said: “I have never seen such a memory ... such an intellectual capacity. I had many brilliant pupils, and none had his capability. I have always admired him.” Many commentators have said the obsession with their age gap is an example of deeply ingrained misogyny, since men in positions of power are frequently married to much younger women. Read More EU commission to prolong use of glyphosate for 10 more years after member countries fail to agree King’s busy coronation year of milestones and royal tours Somber bugles and bells mark Armistice Day around the globe as wars drown out peace messages Watch as Macron commemorates anniversary of First World War Armistice in Paris Growing concerns from allies over Israel's approach to fighting Hamas as civilian casualties mount Watch view over Israel-Gaza border as thousands continue to flee

These steps President Jimmy Carter took while in office are still shaping the United States more than four decades later. But they didn't help him at the polls.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission further delayed its review of applications from BlackRock Inc., Invesco Ltd. and

By Jacqueline Thomsen (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Thursday narrowly confirmed civil rights lawyer Nusrat Choudhury to the U.S. District