US slaps sanctions on four ICC judges over Israel, US cases
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court including over an arrest warrant...Geostrategy
Israel arms exports to UAE, Bahrain, Morocco rise sharply after 2023
Sales to countries considered part of the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco who signed groundbreaking...Business Geostrategy
Indian man fighting for Russia against Ukraine killed in action
New Delhi, India - India's embassy in Moscow has confirmed the death of a citizen recruited by the Russian army, days...The embassy did not state the circumstances behind Mohammed Asfan's death but said it was in touch with his family and Russian authorities.
Asfan is the first death confirmed by Indian authorities among its citizens serving with the Russian army and the second confirmed overall.
‘UAE leads humanitarian efforts in Gaza, seeks truce’
“Following the outbreak of the crisis between Palestinians and Israelis, the UAE initiated extensive diplomatic efforts at all levels to...UAE rejects Israel's collective punishment policies against Palestinians.
The Gulf country calls for a truce and establishment of a Palestinian state.
US vows to hold Houthis ‘accountable’ for deadly strike
The Houthi rebels have been defiantly hitting ships in vital commercial waters in professed solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel...Houthi ship strikes "have not just disrupted international commerce but now tragically killed a number of them," State Department spokesman said
Matthew Miller said that US was also encouraging other countries to make clear to the Houthis that "these attacks are irresponsible"
China top diplomat terms war in Gaza a ‘disgrace for civilisation’
The foreign minister said that the catastrophe in Gaza once again reminded the world that "the fact that the Palestinian...Wang Yi said that no reason can justify the continuation of the conflict
He also said China supports "full" UN membership for a Palestinian state
Envoys push for Gaza truce before Ramadan begins next week
While negotiators in Cairo tried to surmount tough stumbling blocks, fighting again raged in Gaza where the UN warns famine...US President Joe Biden called on Hamas to accept the truce plan
Hamas has insisted on a complete halt to the fighting in Gaza
Bulk carrier hit by missile from Yemen, crew says three dead
An anti-ship ballistic missile struck the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence, after which its crew reported "three fatalities, at least...The Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting merchant vessels transiting the vital Red Sea trade route for months and have previously hit ships in the area
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on social media that the True Confidence was targeted with multiple missiles "after the ship's crew rejected warning messages."
Israel to start building 3,500 settler homes in occupied West Bank
The administrative step forward comes after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich last month vowed to expand settlements, in response to Palestinian...Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said there were 3,426 homes advanced through a planning committee, across Maale Adumim and Kedar, east of Jerusalem, and Efrat.
Despite opposition abroad, Israel has in recent decades build dozens of settlements across the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.
18 killed in suspected IS attack on Syria truffle hunters: Monitor
Beirut, Lebanon - Gunmen thought to be linked to the Islamic State group in Syria killed 18 people searching for truffles...The gunmen attacked the group with machine guns, said the Britain-based monitoring group with a network of sources inside Syria
More than 50 people remained missing after the attack that saw heavy clashes with pro-government forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said
2023 deadliest year in a decade for migrants, says United Nations
"The 2023 death toll represents a tragic increase of 20 percent compared to 2022, highlighting the urgent need for action...The IOM said that because safe and regular migration pathways remain limited, hundreds of thousands of people attempt to migrate via irregular routes in unsafe conditions.
The Mediterranean ocean crossing continues to be the deadliest route for migrants, with at least 3,129 deaths and disappearances registered last year.
BRICS to create blockchain-based payment system: Kremlin aide
Moscow, Russia – BRICS will work to create an independent payment system based on digital currencies and blockchain, Kremlin aide...Ushakov said that the specific task for this year is to increase the role of BRICS in the international monetary and financial system
The BRICS group of emerging economies has welcomed 2024 by officially adding five developing nations
