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About Our Company

Orbit World Travel, formally World Travel Professionals, is proud of its 25-year heritage growing from one leisure travel agency located in the Sydney suburb of Double Bay to now six offices in six cities around Australia. In 2016, we joined forces with Orbit World Travel New Zealand and in 2017 we opened an office in Singapore.

Our team of highly qualified globetrotters means the Orbit World Travel client receives not only the latest information but also the wisdom that only comes with years of experience in the travel industry.  Representing the best of the best, we are delighted to be a part of the Virtuoso travel network. As the travel industry’s leading luxury   network, we can offer our clients exclusive Virtuoso benefits, deals and experiences.

We look forward to providing you with insider tips, exclusive offers and unsurpassed personal service.

Click here  to learn about our  Corporate ,  Events  and  Group Travel  Management Services.

Meet the Team

Read why our team are the best Travel Consultants to manage your school groups plans.

Katerina Dzvezdakoska

Katerina developed her love and enthusiasm for travel while living and working in Europe. She has visited many countries and tourist landmarks, which makes her knowledge extensive and exceptional. Working in the travel industry for 20 years, she has experienced many aspects of organising group travel, and she is passionate to be part of our Educational Group Travel. She can guide you through every step of organising the tour and create a lifetime of memories for each student, as she believes that learning out of the classroom, is an essential lesson for life.

Heaven Hansen

Heaven’s passion for travel sees her spearheading our team and leading our vision for creating the very best in personalised travel experiences for our customers. With a special affection for the UK and Europe, Heaven’s travel highlights include hiking the pathways of the iconic Cinque Terre in Italy and enjoying the peaceful passing of time over wine and cheese on the Rhine. Heaven believes that the best things about travel are the exotic places you go, the friendly people you meet along the way and the joy of crafting unforgettable experiences for her clients.

Vanesa Brcic

Vanesa has always had a burning passion for the travel industry. Ever since she was young, she has dreamt of travelling the world. She has made her dream a reality, having travelled to each edge of the map while exploring new places and cultures. She loves to share the knowledge that she’s picked up along the way. Her wealth of first-hand knowledge ensures that she can provide extraordinary experiences for students. Vanesa has worked in the travel industry for over 13 years and is ready to make your school's trip a stunning success!

Aaron Spriggs

After spending 6 years living in Canada and touring the world, Aaron chose to keep his lust for travel alive by joining the travel industry upon his return to Australia. His passion is curating group travel experiences which will provide great learning and lasting memories. Aaron loves getting to know each of his clients so he can tailor-make the perfect trip that is going to meet their expectations and cater to the needs of their curriculum.

Amy Ferguson

Amy has worked in the travel industry for 10 years in wholesale, corporate and the education sectors. Her focus is on consistently delivering a high standard of customer service and has a well-recognised ability to build effective professional relationships with colleagues and clients alike. With extensive experience in senior and higher education and group resourcing travel, Amy brings a wealth of knowledge to her clients. Amy is excited to be working with Anglican Schools Australia and is heading up our corporate consulting team to ASA schools nationally as well as working within the Educational Group Tour team.

Renee Hobbs

Renee has been with Orbit World Travel for 17 years and remains the longest tenured member of our groups and events team. Starting her career as part of a global hotel chain co-ordinating sporting and tour groups, Renee quickly found her passion for organisation and management of groups. With programs ranging from tours all over the world as well as amazing experiences in our own backyard her commitment to ensuring all logistical details of each group is meticulously planned and executed, is top priority.

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Orbit World Travel Announces Ground Breaking Partnership with Sustainable Travel International to Power Green Business Travel at Scale

Sydney, Australia (September 27, 2023)  – Orbit World Travel is proud to announce their Australian first partnership with Sustainable Travel International, a collaboration that brings environmentally-conscious travel solutions to businesses and travellers. This partnership marks a significant stride toward sustainable travel and eco-friendly tourism. 

Introducing Orbit Offset: A Revolution in Sustainable Travel

Through the Orbit Enterprise platform, powered by Kudos, Orbit World Travel introduces Orbit Offset, an innovative feature integrated into Orbit’s sustainable travel program. This cutting-edge feature empowers businesses to effortlessly offset emissions generated by air travel, accommodations, and car rental. It offers a straightforward and impactful approach to proactively manage environmental footprints while facilitating eco-conscious travel choices.

World Tourism Day Launch: A Perfect Match​

The timing couldn’t be more impeccable, as this announcement coincides with World Tourism Day, celebrated globally with the theme “Tourism & Green Investments.” Orbit World Travel is proud to be at the forefront of the sustainable travel movement, launching Orbit Offset on this special occasion.

“Travel is responsible for 8% of world carbon emissions, and corporate travel is a major part of this,” says Orbit World Travel’s Founding Partner and Director Lisa Story. “We’re excited to be able to offer this solution to our clients so that they can understand their carbon footprint, take action to reduce it, and offset what remains. Orbit Enterprise, powered by Kudos and with Sustainable Travel International have delivered a powerful set of tools for the corporate travel industry.”

Key Features of Orbit Sustainability program include:

• Individual and Corporate Measurement: Analyse emissions at the individual, departmental, or company level.
• Industry Benchmarking: Compare your carbon footprint with similar industries to make informed decisions.
• Comprehensive Emissions Offset: Offset carbon emissions for air travel, accommodations, and rental cars seamlessly from the Orbit Enterprise platform.

Orbit Offset purchases support Sustainable Travel International’s curated portfolio of high quality climate projects . This includes a mix of forestry, energy, and blue carbon projects that remove or reduce emissions around the world. These projects allow companies to go beyond internal emissions reductions, accelerating the global net zero transition by preventing or reversing the loss of nature’s carbon sinks and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

A Commitment to Sustainability Beyond Emissions

Orbit Offset supports sustainable development beyond climate action, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity, strengthening indigenous land rights, improving health and sanitation, and creating opportunities for local communities. All projects are vetted by  rigorous third-party standards and Sustainable Travel International’s proprietary due diligence process, ensuring scientifically-proven emissions reductions and meaningful impacts beyond CO2 reduction.

“Corporate travel managers are time strapped. They can’t spend a lot of time figuring out their impact and how to address it,” says Paul Bennett, board chair at Sustainable Travel International. “With Orbit Enterprise, Kudos has built a dashboard that makes that footprint very clear, while our API makes addressing it a straightforward process.”

Contact Us for More Information

For more information on this exciting new initiative and Orbit World Travel’s commitment to sustainable corporate travel, please visit Orbit World Travel or reach out to our Founding Partner and Director, Lisa Story: [email protected]

Orbit World Travel and Sustainable Travel International are excited to embark on this journey toward sustainable tourism. Together, we aim to create a greener, more responsible, and eco-conscious future for travellers and businesses.

Media Contact: Lisa Story, Orbit World Travel –  [email protected] , +61 418 495 914

About Orbit World Travel:

Orbit World Travel is a leading travel management company based in Australia, committed to delivering innovative and sustainable travel solutions to businesses and individuals.

About Sustainable Travel International:

Sustainable Travel International is a global social enterprise dedicated to transforming tourism’s impact by promoting responsible practices and providing tools for travellers, businesses, and destinations to protect the environment and improve lives.

• September 28, 2023
• Climate Change , Conscious Business , Press Releases

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Our Orbit Enterprise technology provides a single point of entry to all your travel management services - your very own travel portal. The Orbit Enterprise dashboard also lets you access Orbit Online and Orbit Analytics, our online booking and reporting tools. If you’re managing a large team, you can now connect with all of your people, in every corner of the globe.

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Moscow Travel Guide

Despite the Soviet past, today’s Moscow is a dynamic, cutting-edge city – and the most populous in Europe. Well-heeled Muscovites flaunt their wealth by sipping Champagne with sushi at elite restaurants and shopping for designer labels at frighteningly expensive boutiques. Meanwhile, a growing middle-class has seen a proliferation of hip bars and trendy cultural centres.

While the Russian capital has striven to move on, recent tensions with the West have stirred up memories of the past. Moscow has previously led the way with protests against Vladimir Putin, but even with the tumbling ruble and economic sanctions, his popularity remains strong.

This doesn’t make Russia a no-go area, and Moscow – with its cosmopolitan, globe-trotting denizens – is not the formidable crucible often depicted. In summer, temperatures soar and the city’s vast parklands flourish. The historic Gorky Park received a complete makeover in 2012, installing free Wi-Fi and even a beach, while the Soviet behemoth that was the Rossiya Hotel has been demolished to make way for an ambitious central park.

Before that project comes to fruition, there is Red Square to marvel at, not least the mind-boggling St Basil’s Cathedral. Built by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, its multi-coloured domes and acid-trip patterns seem to defy logic. Nearby is the 14th-century Kremlin and seat of the tsars.

Indeed architecture is one of the city’s main attractions, especially for aficionados of Soviet buildings. All too many have been destroyed to make way for gleaming 21st-century skyscrapers, but Stalin’s unmistakable Seven Sisters still stand tall against the modern towers.

The city is naturally keen to celebrate its great writers, composers and artists too. This sophisticated city boasts world-class institutions like the Bolshoi Theatre, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

As for nightlife, the city is becoming increasingly hedonistic – whether jazz, rock or vodka is your thing, there are plenty of options. Even the culinary circuit has come on leaps and bounds, though an evening at one of the city’s growing stable of world-class restaurants requires considerable investment. This is, after all, a capital of oligarchs.

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Featured hotels, golden apple.

A boutique hotel on a refreshingly human scale, the Golden Apple offers imaginative styling and a personal touch that many 5-star hotels lack. Behind the baroque facade, its minimalist rooms are cosy, and there's an onsite restaurant and an open-plan bar too. Staff speak excellent English and there's Wi-Fi access, a gym and a sauna.

Historical Hotel Sovietsky

In the 1950s, Joseph Stalin decreed that the famous Yar restaurant should be upgraded to a hotel and the Historical Hotel Sovietsky was born. It quickly became a showcase for the image of sophistication that the Soviet government wished to present to the world, and its 107 rooms still conjures up the nostalgia of this period in history.

Hotel Danilovsky

It's hard to imagine a more atmospheric place to stay than the 12-century precincts of the historic Danilovsky Monastery. Set amidst chapels and gardens, the hotel is a modern construction, but the rooms are comfortable and all have a view of the stately monastery buildings. There's a sauna and bar onsite too.

Hotel National

With perhaps the perfect Moscow location, overlooking the Kremlin, Hotel National offers a unique blend of history and luxury. Frescoed ceilings, Damask wallpaper, oil paintings and antique furniture all add to the classic Russian baroque experience. The best rooms afford splendid views of the Kremlin, and all have all the expected mod-cons, including Wi-Fi.

Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy

This eye-catching modernist hotel looms above the Moscow River. The most expensive rooms have sweeping views towards the Kremlin and the Seven Sisters, but they can be found from the hotel's rooftop bar too. There are 233 sleek rooms, all with flatscreen TVs and Wi-Fi access. There's also a spa, pool, gym and an organic restaurant.

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski

Facing the Kremlin across the Moskva River, the opulent Baltschug Kempinski is elegance incarnate. Rooms are lavish, with flowing drapes, piles of soft linen and every imaginable convenience, but it's the views of domes and spires across the river that steal the show. There's a plush restaurant with a view of St Basil's, plus a swish spa too.

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You’re in Moscow to take in the sights and sounds of Russia’s capital city, but instead, you’re in the arrivals terminal struggling to organise a safe and affordable transfer to your accommodation. This would not happen with Shuttle Direct. Our reputation is built on reliability, affordability, and world-class service. Our team are here to help you start your visit on the right foot. That means a safe, comfortable, and direct transfer from the airport to your destination of choice. We have shared rides, private rides, shuttle buses, and even limited care hire options. Find the right fit for you and experience airport transfers that make travel easy. Get a quote.

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Explore russia’s capital city.

Moscow is a vibrant mix of old and new: Mother Russia meets Modern Russia. Visitors can enjoy cultural artefacts like the treasures found in the Armoury or the varied delights of the Kremlin Museums. High-brow, low-brow, any-brow will be raised in amazement at one of the performances at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre. The six-tier auditorium is the perfect place to take in an evening of dance and music. To really get in touch with the modern Russia, there is a thriving nightlife that has something for everyone. On a warm summer day a trip to the city’s green lung, Gorky Park, is truly essential.

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étant dans une zone sans connexiion => je n'étais pas atteignable, et ne recevais pas de messagerie. Shuttle s'est aperçu du retard de l'avion, le chauffeur était présent, comme convenu. j'ai reçu un sms,, mais n'ai étè connectée que juste a la sortie de l'aèroport,.. précisions donnes sur le sms, contrôle phonique fait par la centrale avec le chauffeur (qui parlait anglais) voiture impeccable, et conduite délicate et confortable dans le traffic , donc,

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Kremlin says staff of some govt departments are subject to foreign travel bans

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At least five rockets were launched from Iraq's town of Zummar towards a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, two Iraqi security sources told Reuters.

Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Bohdanivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Russia's defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

I've been to 54 countries and have lived in 10. These 5 underrated places are worth the trip.

• Kate Boardman has visited 54 countries around the world and lived in 10, including the US.
• She's enjoyed spots like France and Bali but says people should visit underrated places like Oman.
• In Ecuador, she climbed an active volcano, and in Guatemala, she swam with hammerhead sharks.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Boardman , a 36-year-old former teacher and current content creator from Massachusetts who has lived and traveled all over the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I first lived abroad when I was 15, when I participated in an exchange program in Germany. I lived there for a year, attending school and staying with a host family.

That was my first exposure to living overseas and truly immersing myself in other cultures. From there, the travel bug hit me hard. It inspired me to study international business in France while I was at university, and future trips after that.

I've been to 54 countries and lived in 10, including the US. The sense of freedom and self-growth that comes from traveling is unbeatable. I also love being able to see the world in a different way.

The most popular destinations are popular for a reason.

Everyone talks about Paris, London , Bali — all travel destinations that are super popular, in part thanks to social media.

I lived in Bali in early 2012 and saw it expand firsthand. There was a lot of construction — with many beach clubs being built — and it became overcrowded by foreigners. It's led to locals being priced out of their homes.

I also think spots like Cancun are super overrated; there are way cooler places to visit in Mexico. Many tourists spend a week in an all-inclusive resort and think that's fun — but that couldn't be more unattractive to me.

Obviously, there's still beauty in places that are oversaturated and famous. But I think that there's an excitement that comes from experiencing places that are off the beaten track.

It's often in those places that you can have the most surprising experiences.

I was treated like family in Iran

I would say my favorite country that I have visited is Iran. I went in 2018 and was there for 10 days.

Normally, when I'm traveling, I backpack alone and stay in hostels as a solo traveler. However, in Iran, if you're American, Canadian, or from the UK, in order to get permission to enter the country, you need a set itinerary and a licensed travel guide.

It was a very coordinated trip and a bit more challenging to visit, but it was so rewarding because I was welcomed with the warmest hospitality.

One of the unique aspects of this trip was how close my guide and I became. He went above and beyond, inviting me over to his family's house for dinner, where I got to meet and hang out with his friends and family. It was truly special.

Because I had a guide, everything was kind of set for me in Iran. He arranged different accommodations, including a road trip through the country, where we stayed in various cities at different guesthouses.

It only cost me around $1,000.

The nature and landscape of Iran are absolutely beautiful and amazing. The sights, attractions, and history are mind-blowing. You've got these gorgeous mosaics everywhere. All of the architecture had my jaw dropping in awe while walking around.

The food is also delicious, and the markets are incredible, each filled with gorgeous textiles, jewelry, turquoise, and rugs.

I would totally visit there again. I hope the political situation changes because that would definitely be one of my group trip destinations. I think it's just incredible.

Georgia took me by surprise

Georgia is just one of those countries that's not on a lot of people's radar. And then they go there and they're like, 'Whoa, that's awesome. Why didn't I know about this before?'

I knew very little about Georgia before I visited in 2018. I spent only five days in the country, but I was completely blown away.

I stayed in Tbilisi, which is the capital city. It's a really beautiful, trendy, and artsy kind of city. It has amazing wine and incredible food.

Probably one of my favorite things about the trip is that I stayed in this hostel called Fabrika . It was an old Soviet Union sewing factory that they turned into a super cool, industrial, hipster hostel.

In Tbilisi, I also went on a pub crawl throughout the Old Town, which featured a bunch of underground cellars and bunkers that have been turned into trendy nightclubs and bars.

During my time in the country, I took a trip out to the countryside to an area called Kazbegi, which is absolutely stunning. There were gorgeous and breathtaking mountains, hills, and massive churches.

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In the city, I also had a Turkish bath, which is a big thing in Georgia. I got a full scrub down.

Guatemala has something for everyone

When most people from the US think about going to Central America, they're focused on Mexico or Costa Rica. Guatemala seems to be a place that kind of gets overlooked.

But life is great in Guatemala.

You've got beautiful weather all year round, the jungle, rainforests, and the Caribbean's white sand beaches, while the Pacific side has its black sand beaches. It's got a little bit of everything.

I first lived in Guatemala in 2021, where I worked as a teacher at an international school. They provided housing in Guatemala City. However, after I finished working for them, I moved to a beach town on the Pacific coast and lived there for about six months.

I've traveled there on other occasions too, staying for periods of four or five months.

The typical salary for a Guatemalan is about $500 a month, with a good salary being $1,000. I would say that $2,000 a month is more than enough to live there extremely comfortably.

There are a lot of digital nomads moving there, especially to Antigua — an old colonial town with a lot of charm, cobblestone streets, and painted buildings.

There's just so much to do in Guatemala; it's so magical.

The biggest must do is hiking the active volcano called Acatenango . Sometimes, you can see it erupting right from its base camp. There's not many places in the world where you can experience that.

Another good place to visit is El Paredon, a super up-and-coming hippie surf town. The surfing is great, and you've got these black volcanic sand beaches. It's just a really laid-back place.

Lake Atitlan is also an incredible spot. It's surrounded by volcanoes and several Mayan villages, each with its own personality and vibe.

Oman's deserts are magical

Oman is in the Middle East, bordering the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. I've been there three times between 2016 and 2018.

The country is culturally rich, and the capital city, Muscat, is really beautiful. It has old traditional marketplaces and gorgeous architecture — the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is definitely worth checking out.

The deserts there are incredible, so doing a desert trip is a must. I camped out in the desert with the locals, rode camels, and drove Jeeps over the sand dunes.

Having tea and watching the sunset in the desert was magical too.

Oman also has wadis, which are basically big canyons in the middle of the desert with swimming holes. There, you'll find bright turquoise water contrasting with the orange rock.

The country's islands are also beautiful and incredible for snorkeling. They look like you'd be in the Caribbean, but you're in the Middle East.

The Galapagos Islands are truly like nowhere else in the world

I visited Ecuador last year for about six weeks. I was leading a gap year program with a group of high school students. We split our time between the Galapagos Islands and the mainland, which consisted of cities and the Amazon.

Because Ecuador has incredibly unique biodiversity that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, The Galapagos Islands are an absolute must. I've never seen such incredible wildlife in my life; so many species exist only on those islands.

While visiting The Galapagos, my group went snorkeling with 50 to 100 hammerhead and Blacktip sharks. We also swam with sea lions and saw giant tortoises.

Another amazing aspect of Ecuador is learning about the Aztec or Inca culture. My group did a homestay and lived with a family for about 10 days and learned about their way of life.

We experienced how connected they are with Mother Earth, whom they refer to as Pachamama, and learned about their traditional medicine: They grow their own food and seek out plant medicine when they're sick, rather than relying on processed foods.

Learning about and sharing their way of life was truly special.

I want to show people how to travel the world

There are many beliefs people have about different countries and cultures, sometimes considering them too dangerous, expensive, or unattainable.

I want to inspire more people to explore, step out of their comfort zones, and experience more of the world. In the future, I plan on hosting group trips with the goal of bringing people to these countries and showing them why they are so life-changing.

Watch: The true cost of Mexico's Maya Train

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• International

April 15, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Kathleen Magramo, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury and Amir Vera, CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

Israel delays Rafah offensive as it weighs response to Iranian attack. Catch up here

From CNN Staff

Israel was set to take its first steps toward a  ground offensive in Rafah  this week, but has delayed those plans as it mulls a response to Iran’s attack, two Israeli sources have told CNN.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long stressed the importance of invading Rafah to dismantle Hamas’s remaining battalions, despite significant international pressure to call off an all-out ground offensive. But, a military response that risks escalating the conflict with Iran further would pull the military’s attention and resources away from Gaza.

Here's what to know if you're just joining our coverage:

• War cabinet meeting : Israel's war cabinet reviewed military plans for a potential response against Iran, an official said. The cabinet remains determined to act , but it's not clear if a decision has been made. Israel has vowed to "exact a price" after the unprecedented large-scale drone and missile attack .
• White House urges de-escalation: US President Joe Biden is focusing on preventing Iran's attack from spiraling into a wider regional conflict , spokesperson John Kirby said. Kirby said ultimately the US wanted tensions to de-escalate.
• Countries urge restraint : Biden's sentiment is echoed by various countries who are urging Israel and Iran to avoid further confrontation that could plunge the area deeper into conflict. Indonesia, Malaysia , Jordan , Germany , the UK , South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Somalia — among others — have all expressed concern about rising tension in the region.
• Iran's stance : Iran maintains its attack on Israel was a "legitimate" and “responsible” reaction , the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.
• Flight operations resume : Airports in the Iranian capital of Tehran resumed flights at 6:00 a.m. local time on Monday, according to Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency.
• Israel warns Palestinians to avoid the north : After thousands of Palestinians attempted to return to their homes in northern Gaza, Israel's military warned it was a "dangerous combat zone" through social media and airdropped leaflets .
• Gaza death toll : The Health Ministry in Gaza says that 68 people were killed in the territory over the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli military operations. A further 94 were injured. CNN cannot verify the figures, and the Ministry does not provide a breakdown of civilians and fighters among the casualties. The Ministry said that since October 7, 33,797 people have been killed and 76,465 injured.
• West Bank shooting: Israeli gunfire killed one person and critically wounded another in Nablus , in the occupied West Bank, on Monday, the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health said. Israeli police described the man as a "terrorist" and said he threw an explosive device at their forces.
• Palestinians released : Israeli authorities have released 150 people previously detained in Gaza according to the Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and borders on Monday. Two of the detainees were ambulance workers for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
• Israeli soldiers wounded : An explosion near the northern border has injured four Israeli soldiers , one severely, the military says.
• Gaza aid : The Israeli government agency that coordinates the delivery of aid into Gaza says that a new crossing in the north has again been used to deliver food aid .
• Hostage talks: Hamas has slashed the number of hostages it is willing to release during the first phase of a ceasefire deal by more than half, from 40 down to 20, an Israeli source close to the negotiations said. This represents a significant step backward in the talks.

The post has been updated with details on the war cabinet meeting and the hostage talks.

2 Palestinian farmers killed after confrontation with Israeli settlers near West Bank city of Nablus

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq

Two Palestinians were killed Monday south of the West Bank city of Nablus, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

The Palestinian official news agency WAFA, citing a local official, said the two were killed by Israeli settlers in Khirbet at-Tawil, which is near the settlement of Gitit. 

According to WAFA, Israeli settlers attacked and killed two farmers who were tending their farmland. 

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah identified the deceased as Abdul Rahman Maher Bani Fadel, 30, and Muhammad Ashraf Bani Jame, 21.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement it received a report Monday "about a Palestinian suspect who attacked a Jewish shepherd" in the Gitit area in the West Bank's Jordan Valley. "A violent confrontation developed there between Palestinians and Israeli citizens," the statement said. 

When IDF forces arrived, they "worked to disperse the confrontation," and "during the incident, two Palestinians were killed," the statement said. 

A preliminary investigation into the shooting appears that IDF forces did not do it, the statement concluded. 

The IDF and the Israel police are investigating the incident, the IDF spokesperson added.

China notes Iran's position on Israel attack and does not condemn strikes

From CNN’s Manveena Suri, Simone McCarthy and Wayne Chang

China said it noted Iran’s statement that the actions against Israel were an “exercise of the right of self-defense” during a phone call between the foreign ministers of the two nations on Monday, and did not condemn the weekend strikes.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that China condemned the attack on a consulate building in the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus, according to a statement issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Chinese foreign minister added the incident “seriously violates international law and is unacceptable.”

“China has noted Iran's statement that the actions it took were limited and it was an exercise of the right of self-defense in response to the attack on the embassy building,” the statement said. “The current regional situation is very sensitive, and Iran is willing to exercise restraint and has no intention of further escalating the situation,” the statement added, quoting Amir-Abdollahian.

Separately, China’s Special Envoy on the Middle East, Zhai Jun, met with Irit Ben-Abba Vitale, Israel’s Ambassador to China, on Monday, in which the latter expressed Israel's position and concerns on the conflict in Gaza.

Zhai said China was “deeply concerned about the current escalation of regional tensions, and conflicts and bloodshed serve the interests of no one.”

“What is pressing now is to achieve an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, ensure humanitarian aid, release all detained personnel as soon as possible, and achieve a political settlement of the Palestinian question based on the two-state solution for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.

15 more bodies recovered from around Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital as exhumation process continues

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem

Fifteen bodies were recovered Monday from around Al-Shifa Hospital following the withdrawal of the Israeli military from the area two weeks ago, Gaza residents and medical crews told CNN.

Health workers and residents in northern Gaza have been searching for what they believe are mass graves and looking for their loved ones after they said Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians and left their bodies to decompose during their two-week siege of the complex.

Hundreds of bodies have been recovered from areas around the hospital complex since the siege ended April 1, a Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson told CNN last week.

Video filmed by CNN Monday shows medical workers, some wearing UN-marked vests walking around the site over mounds of sand, digging up bodies. White body bags can be seen on the side of the excavation site, some marked with text that read “unidentified body” and some with names of people on them.

“Today I bid farewell to my mother who was inside Al-Shifa Hospital during the invasion and attack by the vicious Israeli occupation on this medical complex that has been turned into a big mass of rubble,” Mohammad Al-Khateeb, a resident of Gaza told CNN. “The Israeli military deprived patients, nurses, doctors and the displaced of water, medicine and food."

 Al-Khateeb’s mother, Khawala Al-Khateeb, was 75 years old when she was brought to the hospital three days before the Israeli military siege on the complex and surrounding neighborhood of Al-Rimal, and was killed three days after, he said.

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment on these allegations but has not received a response.

Waleed Abu-Laila told CNN he had been searching for his mother since the Israeli siege on the hospital ended on April 1. On Monday, he said he found her body and was only able to identify her "from the specific markings on her feet and hands" from when she had a toe and finger amputated back in November.

Video shows Abu-Laila opening a white body bag, revealing his mother’s decomposed body.

“The hospital was blocked from all sides and there were bodies were scattered all over, squashed on the streets from the tank rails. When I got a call to come check the unidentified bodies, I opened a bag that was marked 'unidentified' and immediately found my mother’s body decomposed,” he said.

Khadr Al-Za’anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed to this report.

Hamas lowers number of hostages it's willing to release as part of a ceasefire deal, Israeli source says

From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv

Hamas has slashed the number of hostages it is willing to release during the first phase of a ceasefire deal by more than half, an Israeli source close to the negotiations said.

In its latest counterproposal, Hamas offered to release fewer than 20 hostages in exchange for a six-week ceasefire, more than halving the number of 40 hostages that has been the basis of negotiations for months now, representing a significant step backward in the talks.

A senior Biden administration official confirmed that Hamas is focused on those 20 for the first phase of a potential ceasefire deal. The official also confirmed Hamas is telling mediators that it only has around 20 remaining hostages who are women or sick, wounded and elderly men.

Hamas also called for the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for fewer hostages, the source said, as well as a higher number of prisoners serving life sentences.

The Israeli source said the latest Hamas counterproposal signals that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, does not want a deal, seeking to exploit fissures between the US and Israel over Israeli military operations in Gaza and domestic pressure on the Israeli government.

Basem Naim, a Hamas spokesperson, said Hamas had proposed “releasing (three) captured Israelis each week,” but said “no one is talking about final numbers.”

Beyond the ratio of Palestinian prisoners, Hamas is continuing to demand assurances about a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and unrestricted access for Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

“I think part of this is Hamas thinks they're winning. Because their definition of success is survival and they've survived so far,” the Biden official said. “The longer the conflict has gone on the more recalcitrant Hamas has become rather than the other way around.”

This post has been updated with remarks from a Biden official.

Israeli prime minister says international community must "stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression"

From CNN’s Eugenia Yosef in Haifa and Larry Register in Atlanta

It's imperative the international community "stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression, which threatens world peace," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Monday statement from his office on X .

Netanyahu added:

“Directly and through its terror proxies Hamas and others, Iran is conducting a full-scale campaign of aggression that threatens not only Israel but the entire Middle East.”

Netanyahu's comments follow an Iranian strike against Israel over the weekend in which more than 300 missiles and drones were launched.

Tehran said the attack was in retaliation for a deadly Israeli attack against a consulate building in the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.

Golden Gate Bridge reopens after protestors against the war in Gaza block traffic  

From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow and Jeffrey Kopp

The Golden Gate Bridge has reopened after demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza shut down the busy roadway Monday morning, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay told CNN. 

Traffic is beginning to flow again as both sides of the bridge reopened, Barclay added. 

Earlier in the day, protestors also blocked Interstate 880 in Oakland and the roadway remains impacted, Barclay said. The northbound side of the interstate is almost completely clear, while the southbound side remains closed, the officer detailed. Protests continue on the interstate, aerial and ground video from CNN affiliate KGO showed .

“Arrests have been made, and are continuing to be made,” Barclay said in an email early Monday. 

Before the law enforcement response, protesters held signs, including one that read “Stop the world for Gaza.”

I-880 reopened traffic later Monday, California Highway Patrol Officer Art Montiel told CNN. Protesters are still demonstrating on city streets near the interstate, the officer added. 

Montiel was not able to say how many people were arrested in the incident.

US military assets remain in Middle East as Israel debates response to Iran attack, Pentagon says

From CNN's Haley Britzky

Additional US military assets that had been moved into the Middle East before Iran’s attack on Israel remain in place, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday.

Ryder's comments come as Israel debates possible retaliation to Iran’s attack. 

"As (Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin) has said, both publicly and privately, we don't want to see escalation, but we obviously will take necessary measures to protect our forces in the region and as was demonstrated over the weekend, we'll take necessary measures to defend Israel," Ryder said.

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