World Echo

Dozens of international law experts in the US have signed an ​open letter saying that American strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes, after ‌President Donald Trump reiterated his threats this week to strike Iran's power and desalination plants. Trump, who has previously offered shifting timelines and objectives for the war, said in a televised speech on Wednesday that the war could escalate if ​Iran did not give in to Washington's terms, with strikes on its energy and oil ​infrastructure possible. Over 100 international law experts in the US, including from schools like ⁠Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the University of California, said in the letter, opens new tab released on Thursday, that ​the conduct of US forces and statements by senior US officials "raise serious concerns about violations of international ​human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes". The letter particularly noted a mid-March comme...

US Army Chief ​of Staff Randy George was fired on Thursday by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, three US defence officials told Reuters, in ‌the latest purge among the Pentagon's most senior ranks. Even as Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved quickly to reshape the department, firing a general during wartime is nearly without precedent. The Pentagon confirmed that George, who had more than a year left in his term, "will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief ​of Staff of the Army effective immediately." The Pentagon said in a statement it was grateful for George's decades of service. "We wish ​him well in his retirement," it said. Two of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Hegseth has ⁠also fired General David Hodne, who leads the Army's Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, head of the Army's Chaplain ​Corps. The department did not give a reason for George's departure, which comes ...

The UN Security Council is to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, but veto-wielding China made clear its opposition to authorising any use of force. Two diplomats said the meeting of the Council's 15 members and the vote were set for Saturday morning, rather than Friday as earlier planned. Friday is a UN holiday. Oil prices have surged since the United States and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, unleashing a conflict that has run for more than a month and effectively closed the key shipping artery. Diplomats said Bahrain, the current chair of the Security Council, finalised a draft resolution seen by Reuters that would authorise "all defensive means necessary" to protect commercial shipping. Earlier on Thursday, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the council that a vote would be held on Friday, "God willing", adding that Bahrain looke...

The 40 leading patisserie chefs and chocolatiers in Belgium came together to showcase artisanal chocolate with Easter egg-themed edible artworks in ​the country's capital on Wednesday. Bel’Oeuf is an initiative by Belgian chocolatier ‌Marc Ducobu in collaboration with Carlo Ferrigno, the manager of Hotel Amigo, a luxury hotel near the Brussels town hall in the historic Gothic Grand-Place square. The fourth annual event's theme ​was "fun in movement", with sculptures in the shape of rocket ships, carriages, ​and hot-air balloons, some taking up to 25 hours to complete ⁠and using up to 18 kilograms of chocolate. A Belgian chocolatier looks at his giant chocolate egg, featuring the theme "Pleasure in Motion". PHOTO: REUTERS "Chocolate in a way, it's ​a medium that you can sculpt with," said Michael Lewis-Anderson, a British-Belgian pastry chef ​who baked the wedding anniversary cake for Belgian King Philippe. “All of a sudden, all these chocolate ...

India's defence exports "skyrocketed" to an all-time high of more than $4 billion in the last fiscal year, as it looks to boost its arms manufacturing sector, the government said on Thursday. The figures mark a rise of more than 60% from 2024, the defence ministry said, and provide a shot in the arm for the South Asian country, which is determined to recast itself as a major producer and exporter of weapons. "India is marching ahead towards becoming a global defence manufacturing hub," the ministry quoted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as saying. "This big jump ... in defence exports reflects the growing global trust in India's indigenous capabilities and advanced manufacturing strength," Singh said, adding that it had hit an "all-time high" in the fiscal year 2025-26 of $4.15b. Government defence companies produced nearly 55% of the exports, with the rest made by private companies. Read More: India’s arms build-up "This milestone sh...

Britain will host talks ​on Thursday aimed at forming a coalition of countries to explore ways to reopen ‌the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said securing the vital waterway was a problem for other nations to resolve. British foreign minister Yvette Cooper will chair the virtual meeting of about 35 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Canada and ​the United Arab Emirates around midday in London to explore ways to restore freedom of ​navigation in the area. The United States is not due to attend. Also Read: Iran will take ‘necessary actions’ to block military use of Strait of Hormuz: foreign ministry spox The meeting takes ⁠place after Trump said in an address to his nation on Wednesday evening that the Strait could open "naturally", ​and it was the responsibility of countries that rely on the waterway to ensure it was open. Focus on mines, protecting tankers Iran has effectively shut down the Strait, which carries about a fifth of the world's tot...