ICC prosecutor urges judges to urgently rule on warrants for Israeli, Hamas officials
The Hague, The Netherlands Reuters The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stressed the court had jurisdiction to investigate Israeli nationals and asked judges to urgently decide on arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters in […]
Massive blackouts roil Cuba
Cardenas, Cuba Reuters Power outages totalling 14 hours or more per day were reported on Thursday across much of crisis-racked Cuba, leaving millions of residents defenceless in the summer heat and humidity. The state-run power company said breakdowns had forced six plants off-line on the outdated and poorly maintained grid. People sit in a street […]
RFK Jr ends US presidential campaign, endorses Trump
Reuters Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, Jr, abandoned his campaign on Friday and endorsed Republican Donald Trump, ending a run that he began as a Democrat trading on one of the most famous names in American politics. Hours after announcing the endorsement in a press conference, Kennedy joined Trump at a campaign event in […]
Quick facts – Countries with confirmed cases of new mpox variant
Reuters The World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries. A new form of the virus, clade Ib, triggered global concern as it seems to be spreading […]
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill eight fighters, one child, security sources say
Beirut, Lebanon Reuters Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Friday killed at least eight fighters and one child, according to security sources, as armed group Hezbollah responded with artillery rounds and rockets across the border. The Israeli military has been trading fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah across Lebanon’s southern border in parallel with the Gaza war, […]
Orthodox Church: US churches boomed during pandemic, study finds, but calls growth “mixed bag”
MEAGAN SALIASHVILI, of Religion News Services, reports that almost half of US Orthodox churches remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to only 12 per cent of all religious congregations…
Floods, landslides in India’s Tripura displace tens of thousands
Guwahati, India/Dhaka, Bangladesh Reuters Soldiers in lifeboats ferried people to safety in India’s north-eastern state of Tripura on Friday after heavy rain triggered floods and landslides, forcing more than 65,000 people from their homes and killing 23, authorities said. Television images showed army personnel manning the rescue craft, while cars and buses were marooned in […]
Biden speaks with Zelenskiy, announces new military aid for Ukraine, while in Kyiv, Indian PM urges Zelenskiy to sit down for talks with Russia
Washington DC, US/Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters US President Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday and announced a new military aid package ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day on Saturday, their offices said. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov on Friday, said on social media the […]
Russian snipers kill Islamist hostage-takers to end prison siege
Reuters Russia’s security services shot dead four inmates on Friday who had taken hostages at a penal colony, fatally stabbed four of its staff and posted online videos describing themselves as Islamic State militants, officials said. “Snipers of the special forces of the Russian National Guard in the Volgograd region, with four precise shots, neutralised […]
Biden speaks to Egypt, Qatar leaders in Gaza ceasefire push
Buellton, California Reuters President Joe Biden spoke by phone to the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday, pushing for an elusive Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal as negotiators met in Cairo to try to overcome remaining obstacles. A White House description of the calls said Biden spoke to Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and […]