Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516210
THE United States has vetoed a draft UN Security Council reso- lution presented by Algeria, de- manding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Malta and 12 other council members voted in favour, while the UK abstained. This was the third US veto since the start of the war in Oc- tober last year. "A vote in favour of this draft resolution is support to the Palestinians' right to life. Con- versely, voting against it im- plies an endorsement of the brutal violence and collective punishment inflicted upon them," Algeria's UN ambassa- dor, Amar Bendjama, told the council before the vote. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the resolution would "neg- atively impact" ongoing negoti- ations. "Demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire with- out an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about a durable peace. Instead, it could extend the fighting between Hamas and Israel," she said. The US has proposed a rival draft resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire "as soon as practicable", linked to the release of all hostages and the removal of barriers to human- itarian assistance. On 7 October 2023 Hamas militants from Gaza entered Is- rael and attacked several villag- es, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 200. More than 100 hostages are still being kept in undisclosed locations in Gaza. In the aftermath of the Ha- mas attacks, Israel launched retaliatory military action in Gaza that has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, mostly ci- vilians. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and insists a cease- fire will play into the militant group's hands. 16 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 21 FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS ACROSS 1) Put on the back burner 6) Find fault 11) "Top Gear" airer 14) Clio's sister muse 15) Dress style with a flare 16) "Who ___ you kidding?" 17) Wet stopper 19) Little guy or little amount 20) Common grain unit 21) Display fallibility 22) Fasten with rope 23) "Family" member 27) Gets back in business 29) Roth plan 30) Like a dental school exam? 32) Definitely not a slacker 33) Do a portrayal 34) Bit of gossip 36) "You never know..." 39) Damon of films 41) Teapot part 43) Practice boxing 44) Muhammad's religion 46) Relative of "thud" 48) "Long ___ and far away..." 49) Biblical birthright seller 51) Heat-cracked 52) Cape color in a big ring 53) Committing a computer crime 56) What champagnes do 58) Last name among Bos- ton hockey legends 59) Majors worth $6 million 60) Valuable rock 61) Form of flattering poet- ry 62) Place to take one's cuts 68) Unharden a garden 69) Autumn bloom 70) Sky supporter of myth 71) Ancient flood insurance 72) Crystal-lined cavity 73) Garden mix DOWN 1) Cotillion star, informally 2) Period of history 3) Far from slim 4) Body of beliefs 5) Pitcher's "cuff' 6) Vehicle making pick-ups 7) Monte Rosa is one 8) More repulsive 9) Made tough by habitual exposure 10) What limos provide 11) Section of the Big Apple 12) Organ with ideas 13) Formally gives up 18) Where we all began 23) It's in Florida 24) Dangerous whales 25) City known for cereal 26) Some accessways 28) TV-dinner veggies 31) Some aerial maneuvers 35) Essentials for all sports 37) Bread roll 38) Crumble to the sea 40) Kind of force 42) Atlantic game fish 45) Postal worker's burden 47) Riot queller 50) Anxiety 53) Uproarious commotion 54) Intense passion 55) Affect 57) Right-hand page, in printing 63) Danson of TV shows 64) Feeling of anger 65) Surname among boxing legends 66) Square dance invitee 67) Feminizing suffix F Solution to last week's crossword The answers to today's crossword will be published in next week's Midweek edition Weather Fine with high clouds becoming rather cloudy by evening Visibility Good Wind West Southwest force 3 to 4 locally force 4 to 5 becoming force 4 to 5 locally force 5 to 6. TOMORROW Crossword WEATHER WINDY 18 0 / 10 0 TODAY WINDY 17 / 11 0 FEELS LIKE 18 0 FEELS LIKE 18 0 KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt US blocks UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States votes against the draft resolution in the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East (Photo: UN/Manuel Elías) The US vetoes a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza • Malta and 12 council members vote in favour, UK abstains