Macron says France will recognise State of Palestine, angering Israel, US
At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel...Geostrategy
India expulsions to Bangladesh unlawful, target Muslims: HRW
New Delhi, India - India has pushed hundreds of ethnic Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process, Human Rights Watch...Geostrategy
India’s quandary in Gulf: How to maintain foothold as China steps into US breach
Dubai, UAE - Indian officials are concerned about China's growing influence in the Middle East and how it will impact...India until now has allowed it to maintain robust relations wit all three poles of power - Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia - while countering China's influence.
New Delhi's strategy involves building new institutions, such as the I2U2 grouping, with a focus on geoeconomics and high technology.
EU clears biodiversity bill seeking natural habitat protection
The parliament's biggest political grouping, the conservative European People's Party (EPP), had sought to shoot down the text, arguing that...The text endorsing the Nature Restoration Law passed with 336 votes in favor, 300 against and 13 abstentions.
The Nature Restoration Act, initiated by the European Commission, aims to resuscitate degraded ecosystems.
OECD says sizeable progress made on sharing tax revenue on multinationals
Nearly 140 countries have taken a first step towards reaching agreement on a fairer distribution of tax revenues from multinational...Multinationals, especially tech firms, are currently able to easily shift profits to countries with low tax rates.
In 2021, in talks led by the OECD, an agreement was reached on a minimum tax rate of 15 percent on multinationals.
UN rights council condemns Quran burnings despite splits
Despite overwhelming condemnation of the Muslim holy book being desecrated, the vote brought more division than unity as Western nations...The United Nations' top rights body backed the resolution by 28 votes in favor, with 12 against and seven abstentions.
The wording of the resolution condemns all manifestations of religious hatred, including "public and premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Quran"
Syria’s White Helmets say volunteer killed by missile
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a wide network of sources on the ground in Syria,...The first responder was killed "while conducting inspections in areas that had been targeted by artillery shelling from regime forces", the group said
The Observatory said that since the beginning of the year, 243 people including 16 civilians have been killed in the region despite a ceasefire
Both sides in Sudan must be made accountable, says UN official
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Sudan's warring sides must face "accountability" for the "crimes" committed in their conflict, which risks spiraling into a...The fighting, which began in mid-April, risks morphing into a tribalized and ideologized conflict, head of UN mission in Sudan said.
Around 3,000 people have been killed, and the UN has warned of possible crimes against humanity in the western region of Darfur.
UAE first Arab country to get observer status at money laundering group
Vancouver, Canada - The United Arab Emirates has become the first Aarb country to be granted observer status at the...A part of the global network of similar Financial Action Task Force-style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), the APG is the largest in terms of membership numbers and geographical size
The APG plenary is also attended by key international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, OECD, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, etc
Abbas to make landmark Jenin visit after deadly Israeli raid
Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in the two-day raid on Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp, a...Soon after the raid, several top officials of Abbas's Fatah party, including deputy chairman Mahmoud Aloul, had visited the camp only to be heckled by crowds of angry residents
On Wednesday, Abbas was expected to visit the city as well as the camp to review "progress of work in the reconstruction of the camp and the city", his office said in a statement
Iran president Ebrahim Raisi holds talks with Kenya’s president
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani has described the three-day trip as "a new turning point" which could bolster economic...The visit comes as the Islamic republic tries to shore up diplomatic support to ease its international isolation, with Raisi also due to travel to Uganda and Zimbabwe
In addition to meeting Williams Ruto, Raisi will hold talks with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Israel’s thorny judicial overhaul: What are the proposed changes?
Opponents have accused Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charge he denies, of trying to use the reforms to...Parliament voted overnight Monday-Tuesday on the so-called "reasonability" clause, which will be put through second and third readings at a later stage.
Netanyahu's coalition also wants to change the system through which judges are appointed, giving the government a de facto majority in the nomination process.
