World Echo

Gunmen launched a violent assault during a wedding celebration in Thionville, located in northeastern France, resulting in the death of one person and leaving at least five others injured. The incident occurred late Saturday night into Sunday morning at a wedding hall where approximately 100 guests had gathered. Reports indicate that three heavily armed assailants arrived at the scene and opened fire on a group of people who had stepped outside to smoke. Law enforcement officials initially indicated that the attack was likely linked to ongoing disputes within the drug trafficking network in the northeastern part of the city. Although the wedding itself was not specifically targeted, individuals attending the event became victims of the violent escalation. Following the shooting, two individuals sustained grave injuries, with one reported to be in critical condition. The gunmen quickly fled the scene, reportedly arriving and departing in a 4x4 vehicle. Authorities are currently investig...

Israel’s finance minister has extended a waiver that allows cooperation between its banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank, the minister’s spokesman said today. The waiver, which was due to expire at the end of June, allows Israeli banks to process shekel payments for services and salaries tied to the Palestinian Authority. Without it, the Palestinian economy would have taken a hit. Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich extended the waiver during a recent cabinet meeting, his spokesman said. US treasury secretary Janet Yellen has said it was important to keep open the Israeli-Palestinian correspondent banking relationships to allow battered economies in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to function and help ensure security. The Palestinian economy relies heavily on this relationship to process transactions made in Israeli shekels. Some 53 billion shekels were exchanged at Palestinian banks in 2023, official data show. from Latest World News, International News | Br...

Iran's sole reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili are leading in snap presidential elections, according to early results on Saturday from the Interior Ministry. According to the latest count, Pezeshkian has won more than 8,300,000 votes and Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, has over 7,100,000. Should the current trend continue, both candidates would head into a runoff set for July 5. The second round is required if no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote, plus one. Out of Iran's 13 previous presidential elections since the Islamic revolution in 1979, only one has led to runoffs in 2005. The Interior Ministry reported that more than 19,000,000 ballots had been counted so far. Coming third in the early results is the conservative parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with about 2,600,000 votes. from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/UzXLDSV

Three people, including a minor, were killed late Thursday during anti-government protests in Kenya. Police and demonstrators clashed in the town of Ongata Rongai in Kajiado County, around 17 kilometers (11 miles) south of the capital Nairobi, with 50 people arrested after being caught looting a supermarket. Gunshots echoed through the area a few minutes past midnight as police continued efforts to disperse the remaining protesters. "We are working to clear the area and restore order. We have also arrested 50 others, who have been taken to the police station for processing," Hussein Abduba, the area’s superintendent of police, told reporters. The demonstrators were part of a larger group in Ongata Rongai protesting government tax hikes before other people took advantage and began looting after breaking into stores, stealing merchandise and causing significant property damage. There have been widespread reports of mass looting across Kenya, particularly in the Central Business...

On June 18, 2024, a dramatic scene unfolded at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) as India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained Guru Sewak Singh for attempting to board an Air Canada flight using the passport of a 67-year-old man named Rashvindar Singh Sahota. This  raised suspicion due to his peculiar appearance. Officials quickly noted inconsistencies between his youthful skin texture and the aged persona he was trying to portray, enhanced by dyed white hair and glasses. Upon closer inspection and questioning, Singh was compelled to reveal his true identity after officials insisted on verifying his actual passport. Following this revelation, Delhi Police took him into custody for further investigation. Now Toronto contacted Air Canada for a comment on the incident but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Previously, a roof collapsed under heavy rainfall and winds at the main airport in India's capital New Delhi on Jun...

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh in Beijing on Wednesday. Chinh is in China to attend the 2024 Summer Davos. Xi asked Chinh to convey his cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and to Vietnamese President To Lam. Xi said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Trong announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, ushering bilateral relations into a new stage. Over the past half a year, the two parties and the two countries have enjoyed close exchanges among high-ranking officials and smooth cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said. Noting that the world today is going through changes unseen in a century, Xi said both China and Vietnam have maintained rapid economic development and long-term social stability, demonstrating the strengths of t...

 China has approved the use of AstraZeneca's (AZN.L), opens new tab blockbuster cancer drug Tagrisso in combination with chemotherapy as a first line of treatment for adults with a type of advanced lung cancer, the company said on Wednesday. AstraZeneca said the approval by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) was based on trials which showed that patients given the combination treatment lived without the disease getting worse longer than those given just Tagrisso. The median progression-free survival of patients treated with Tagrisso and chemotherapy was 25.5 months, 8.8 months more than those treated with just Tagrisso. The decision by China's National Medical Products Administration was supported by findings from a phase 3 trial demonstrating that Tagrisso plus chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 38% compared to Tagrisso alone, as assessed by investigators. This approval is significant for the treatment of EGFR-mutated lu...

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday the government would work to correct the European Union ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, saying the decision made no sense. Meloni was speaking in the lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, ahead of a EU summit in Brussels later this week. Previously, expressing “strong dissatisfaction” after the EU Commission announced higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EV), Beijing called the move a “protectionist act.” “This is a naked protectionist act, creating and escalating trade frictions, and ‘destroying fair competition’ in the name of ‘maintaining fair competition’,” China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement. The commission said it will impose additional custom duties of as much as 38.1% on Chinese electric vehicles as of July 4. However, the ministry accused the EU of “disregarding the facts and World Trade Organization rules” as well as “ignoring” China's repeated strong oppositio...

India's current account balance posted a surplus for the first time in 10 quarters in the January-March period, helped by higher service exports and private transfer receipts, the central bank said on Monday. The current account surplus (INCURA=ECI), opens new tab stood at $5.7 billion, or (INCAPA=ECI), opens new tab 0.6% of the GDP, in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2023/24, compared with a deficit of $8.7 billion or 1% of the GDP in the preceding quarter, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a statement. The deficit stood at $1.3 billion or 0.2% of the GDP in the same quarter a year earlier. The current account had last recorded a surplus in April-June 2021. For the full fiscal year, the deficit more than halved to a seven-year low of $23.2 billion, or 0.7% of the GDP, from $67 billion, or 2% of the GDP last year, on the back of a lower merchandise trade deficit. "Services exports grew by 4.1% on a year-on-year basis in the fiscal fourth quarter on the ba...

Every year, millions of Muslims travel from around the world to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage, known as Hajj. Over the years, this religious pilgrimage has been marred by fatal accidents and tragedies. This year, extreme weather conditions led to the deaths of more than 1,300 people. Here is a look at some of the deadly incidents: 1975: A fire at a tent in Mina, caused by the explosion of a gas canister, killed 200 pilgrims. 1987: An unauthorised anti-US and anti-Israel rally was suppressed by Saudi security forces, resulting in the deaths of 400 pilgrims, including 275 Iranians. 1990: A stampede at a tunnel in Mina, following a ventilation system failure, killed 1,426 pilgrims. 1994: Another stampede during the stoning ritual at Mina led to the deaths of 270 pilgrims. 1997: A fire, fuelled by strong winds, in a tent at Mina resulted in the deaths of 343 pilgrims. 2004: A stampede during the stoning ritual at Mina killed around 250 pilgrims and injured more than 240 others. 20...

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a quarterly report on Friday, detailing a surge in attacks by armed groups opposing Taliban rule in the country. The report, which was submitted by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the Security Council, also highlighted ongoing internal tensions among Afghan leaders. The report notes that while the armed opposition has not significantly challenged the Taliban's territorial control since their return to power in August 2021, two groups, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) and the National Resistance Front (NRF), have conducted verified attacks, primarily targeting Taliban security forces in Kabul. According to the UN, the NRF carried out 29 confirmed attacks in the past three months, with 20 in Kabul and others in the northern provinces of Takhar, Baghlan, and Parwan. The AFF conducted 14 attacks, all in the national capital. These groups employed hit-and-run tactics, including grenade attacks and improvised explosive de...

At least nine people died on Monday and 15 others remained unaccounted for after a fire broke out at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea. Most of the missing individuals are foreigners, including Chinese nationals. The blaze, which broke out around 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) at the "Aricell" battery manufacturing company, quickly spread from the factory’s warehouse, engulfing the entire facility. According to initial investigations, the fire was triggered by the explosion of battery cells stored in the warehouse, which contained approximately 35,000 units. Kim Jin-young, a local fire official, confirmed that the fire was caused by a series of battery cell explosions. The flames were largely brought under control after a four-hour battle by firefighters. Reports from international news agencies and Korean news agency Yonhap indicate that the final death toll may rise, with 20 bodies recovered from the site. Authorities have launched an inquiry to determine the exact ...

A landslide in a mountainous area of central China has left eight people dead, state media said on Sunday, as parts of the country were placed on high alert for bad weather. Heavy rain caused a deadly landslide in a village in Hunan province, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Four houses collapsed early on Sunday and all eight missing people “have been found with no vital signs”, the channel said. China has been experiencing extreme weather conditions and unusually high temperatures in recent months. Climate change driven by human-emitted greenhouse gases makes extreme weather events more frequent and intense, and China is the world’s biggest emitter. Meteorological authorities issued several red alerts – the highest in China’s four-tier warning system – for torrential rain on Sunday, including in Hubei and Anhui provinces. Downpours in southern and densely populated Guangdong province sparked inundations and landslides, with at least 38 people killed in China’s manufacturing heartl...

Moscow has said that Russia will continue responding to Japan's "hostile policy" and "anti-Russian course," as Tokyo announced fresh sanctions on the country over the ongoing war in Ukraine. A statement by Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday said this was conveyed to Tokyo during talks between Lyudmila Vorobyova, director of its Third Asian Department, and Masashi Nakagome, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s European Affairs Bureau. The statement said the Russian side outlined Moscow's assessment of bilateral ties, blaming Tokyo's "short-sighted hostile policy" for their decline to an "unprecedented low level." Thursday's sanctions, which Moscow called Japan's latest step towards the "complete destruction" of bilateral relations, included the freezing of assets held by dozens of financial institutions and individuals over their alleged involvement in or support for Russia in the Ukraine war. ...

Israeli army forces strapped a wounded Palestinian man to the hood of a military jeep during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Saturday. A video circulating on social media and verified by Reuters showed a Palestinian resident of Jenin, Mujahed Azmi, on the jeep that passes through two ambulances. The Israeli military said Israeli forces were fired at and exchanged fire, wounding a suspect and apprehending him. Soldiers then violated military protocol, the statement said. "The suspect was taken by the forces while tied on top of a vehicle," it said. The military said the "conduct of the forces in the video of the incident does not conform to the values" of the Israeli military and that the incident will be investigated and dealt with. The individual was transferred to medics for treatment, the military said. Reuters was able to match the location from corroborating and verified footage shared on social media that shows a vehicle transporting ...

A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britain's richest family, the Hindujas, on Friday, labelling them "selfish" for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. Lawyers for the Swiss-Indian family members, who were not present in court, said they would appeal the verdict. The defendants were acquitted of human trafficking but convicted on other charges. The family's fortune is estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion) by the Sunday Times. Prakash Hinduja, 78, and his wife Kamal, 75, received four years and six months each. Their son Ajay, 56, and his wife Namrata, 50, were given four-year terms, ruled the presiding judge in Geneva. They were convicted of "usury" for exploiting their vulnerable immigrant staff, paying them meagre wages. "The employees' inexperience was exploited," Judge Sabina Mascotto said. "They had little education or none at all and had no knowledge of their rights. The defendants' motives were s...

Dr Saleh bin Zain al-Abidin Al-Shaibi, the long-time custodian and key holder of the Holy Kaaba, has passed away, according to Saudi media. He had been suffering from a prolonged illness. Dr Saleh was the 109th key holder of the Kaaba. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences over his passing. Dr Saleh had visited Pakistan last year for a six-day tour, during which he met with top leadership. Also read: Imam-e-Kaaba delivers Hajj sermon to millions gathered at Arafat The honour of serving as the custodian of the Kaaba has been held by the al-Shaibi family for centuries. The duties of this sacred role include the care and maintenance of the Kaaba, opening and closing its doors, washing it, preparing and repairing the Kiswa (the covering of the Kaaba) as needed. from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/yW62dDx

The United States on Friday issued draft rules for banning or requiring notification of certain investments in artificial intelligence and other technology sectors in China that could threaten U.S. national security. The U.S. Treasury Department published the proposed rules and a raft of exceptions after an initial comment period following an executive order signed by President Joe Biden last August. The rules put the onus on U.S. individuals and companies to determine which transactions will be restricted or banned. Biden's executive order, which directed regulation of certain U.S. investments in semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum computing and artificial intelligence, is part of a broader push to prevent U.S. know-how from helping the Chinese to develop sophisticated technology and dominate global markets. The U.S. is on track to implement regulations by the end of the year as anticipated. Public comments on the proposed rules will be accepted until Aug. ...

An Indian court stopped on Friday the release from jail of one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chief opponents, a day after he was granted bail in a long-running corruption case, reports said. Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and the leader of the opposition Aam Aadmi party, denies the charges as a “political conspiracy” by Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was released from detention to campaign partway through India’s weeks-long general election but returned to jail after voting ended this month. A trial court ordered his release late Thursday, but before he could walk out of jail on Friday the country’s top economic crimes investigative agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), appealed to the Delhi High Court. It suspended his release until it could decide on the appeal, local media reported. Read also: India opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal granted bail in corruption case The decision could come in “two-three days”, legal news porta...

Russia sees a pressing need for security talks with the United States but they must be "comprehensive" and include the subject of Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Friday. "It is impossible to rip out any individual segments from the general complex of accumulated problems, and we will not do this," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked if Moscow was ready to talk to Washington about nuclear risks. "So we are open to dialogue, but to a broad comprehensive dialogue that covers all dimensions, including the current dimension related to the conflict around Ukraine, related to the direct involvement of the USA in this conflict," Peskov told reporters. The United States rejects Russia's contention that by arming Ukraine it has become a direct protagonist in a war aimed at inflicting a crushing "strategic defeat" on Moscow. The US says any negotiations over the war are a matter for Ukraine. The Russian stance, as outlined by Peskov, is not new...

The Armenian government has officially recognized the State of Palestine, joining a growing list of countries making similar declarations amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The decision was announced by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, emphasizing Armenia's stance against "violence towards civilian populations." The Armenian Foreign Ministry's statement declared, "Confirming its commitment to international law, equality of nations, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine." The ministry also expressed Armenia's genuine interest in establishing long-term peace and stability in the Middle East. However, Armenia has criticized both sides of the conflict. It condemned Israel's military conduct in Gaza, particularly the use of civilian infrastructure as shields during armed conflicts. Additionally, Armenia deplored Hamas for holding civilians captive and urged for their immediate relea...

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London recently saw the unfolding of a remarkable but pungent bloom known as the corpse flower on June 18. This plant, scientifically named Amorphophallus titanum or titan arum, is notorious for its brief lifespan of just 24 to 36 hours. Named for its foul odour resembling rotting flesh, the corpse flower emits a scent so strong it can travel hundreds of meters, attracting unconventional pollinators like flesh flies and carrion beetles. This odour is crucial for its reproduction, as the plant may not bloom again for many years. Despite its size—reaching up to 3 meters—the bloom technically consists of numerous small flowers clustered around a central spike called a spadix, which emerges from a purple collar known as a spathe. Interestingly, the odour emitted by the corpse flower can vary during its short flowering period, sometimes resembling excrement or warm garbage rather than the expected scent of decay. Although native to the rainforests of Sumat...

 Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed in Vietnam with a 21-gun salute during a military ceremony on Thursday, as one of the Communist-run country's top leaders hailed a comprehensive strategic partnership with Moscow and vowed to boost ties. Vietnamese President To Lam congratulated Putin on his re-election and praised Russia's achievements, including "domestic political stability", as the two met in Hanoi. "Once again, congratulations to our comrade for receiving overwhelming support during the recent presidential election, underlining the confidence of the Russian people," Lam said Putin responded by saying strengthening a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam was one of Russia's priorities. The Russian leader said he respected dialogue with the regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in which he said Vietnam played an active role. Russia was hit with U.S.-led Western sanctions after it invaded Ukraine in February...

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defence agreement with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who offered his "full support" on Ukraine. The pledge of military cooperation on Wednesday was part of a strategic treaty signed during a summit in Pyongyang, where Putin was making his first visit in 24 years. "The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement," Putin said. Ahead of the visit North Korea appears to have made preparations for a possible military parade in downtown Pyongyang, commercial satellite imagery showed. In a letter published in North Korea's Rodong Sinmun, a ruling Workers' Party mouthpiece, the Russian president prior to his visit said that the two countries have developed good relations and partnerships over the past 70 years based on equality, mutual respect and trust. Meanewhile US State Department spoke...

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the country’s federal domestic intelligence agency, has classified the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a “suspected extremist case.” A new report issued by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Tuesday said the BDS movement was supported by over 170 Palestinian organisations, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The report said the movement has "links to secular Palestinian extremism," and that “there is sufficient, strong, factual evidence to suggest that [the] BDS thereby violates, among other things, the idea of international understanding.” Furthermore, the report stated that after October 7, 2023, BDS-affiliated groups organised and participated in numerous calls for an end to "Israeli apartheid" and boycotts of Israeli-related companies and goods. The UN recognises Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land as apartheid Many international huma...

Pakistan's Ambassador Munir Akram has called for a "concerted campaign" to recover weapons from terrorist groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) at the 4th UN Conference to review the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). He stated that TTP have been using safe havens in Afghanistan to launch deadly cross-border attacks into Pakistan. "Pakistan is particularly concerned about the acquisition and use of modern, sophisticated small arms by terrorist groups such as TTP—a UN-listed terrorist organization," stated Pakistan's envoy. The 2001 UNPoA, backed by all member states, provides a framework to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Since then, the UN has supported its implementation at national, regional, and international levels. "Terrorists and criminals do not manufacture these arms," the Pakistani envoy told delegates, emphasising they acquire them from illicit ar...

Four Indian intelligence officers were quietly asked to leave Australia in 2020, according to a report by Australia's national broadcaster ABC. The ABC report published on June 16, 2024 is titled 'Infiltrating Australia.' It contends that the "long arm of the Indian state is reaching Australians and threatening national security" The report said the "Indian intelligence officers were trying to gain access to sensitive defence technology and airport security protocols." They also were suspected of targeting politicians, and monitoring the Indian-Australian community. This incident occurred against the backdrop of growing political and economic ties between Australia and India, including defense cooperation aimed at countering China's influence in the region. Despite these strengthening ties, Australian authorities had reportedly raised concerns about the alleged activities of the Indian officers. In 2021, Australia's intelligence chief, Mike Burge...

India now possesses more nuclear weapons than Pakistan, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) annual review for 2024. The report on global armaments, disarmament, and security revealed that the United States leads in nuclear capabilities, followed by Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel. SIPRI's analysis indicated that India had increased its nuclear arsenal, surpassing Pakistan in the number of warheads. Both countries are involved in ongoing efforts to modernise their nuclear forces. While India traditionally aimed its nuclear strategy at Pakistan, there's a noticeable shift towards bolstering longer-range capabilities, potentially extending to targets within China. India is actively working on developing new systems, including ballistic and cruise missiles, to enhance its nuclear capabilities. Pakistan, while slightly behind India in terms of sheer numbers, is also focused on modernising its arsenal...

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on Tuesday to deepen trade and security ties with North Korea and to support it against the United States, as he headed to the reclusive nuclear-armed country for the first time in 24 years. The US and its Asian allies are trying to work out just how far Russia will go in support of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose country is the only one to have conducted nuclear weapon tests in the 21st century. In a signal that Russia, a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council, is reassessing its entire approach to North Korea, Putin praised Pyongyang for resisting what he said was US economic pressure, blackmail and threats. In an article published by North Korean state media, Putin praised "Comrade" Kim, and promised to "jointly resist illegitimate unilateral restrictions", to develop trade and strengthen security across Eurasia. "Washington, refusing to implement previously reached agreements, continuously p...

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Kremlin said, a rare trip that underscores Moscow's burgeoning partnership with the reclusive nuclear-armed state. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended an invitation to Putin during a visit to Russia's Far East last September. Putin last visited Pyongyang in July 2000. "At the invitation of the Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin will pay a friendly state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on June 18-19," the Kremlin said. Putin will then visit Vietnam on June 19-20, the Kremlin said. Both visits had been expected, although the dates had not previously been announced. Russia has gone out of its way to publicise the renaissance of its relationship with North Korea since the start of the war in Ukraine, sparking alarm among the United States and its allies in Europe and Asia. Washington says North Korea has supplied weapons to Russ...

Yemen’s Houthi group said Sunday that it targeted a US destroyer and two civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea with ballistic and naval missiles as well as drones. "In support of the oppressed Palestinian people and in response to the American and British aggression against our country, the (group’s) missile and naval forces carried out two military operations in the Red Sea,” spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised speech. He said the first operation “targeted a US destroyer with several ballistic missiles.” The second operation "targeted the ship Captain Paris with a number of suitable naval missiles due to the owner's violation of the group's decision to ban entry to the ports of occupied Palestine,” said Saree. According to Saree, "A third military operation targeted the ship Happy Condor in the Arabian Sea with several drones after the owner violated the decision to ban access to the ports of occupied Palestine.” Read also: There has been ...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet, an Israeli official said on Monday, in a widely expected move that came after the departure from government of the centrist former general Benny Gantz. Netanyahu is now expected to hold consultations about the Gaza war with a small group of ministers, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer who had been in the war cabinet. The prime minister had faced demands from the nationalist-religious partners in his coalition, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, to be included in the war cabinet, a move which would have intensified strains with international partners including the United States. The forum was formed after Gantz joined Netanyahu in a national unity government at the start of the war in October and also included Gantz's partner Gadi Eisenkot and Aryeh Deri, head of the religious party Shas, as observers....

An Indian man suspected by the US of involvement in an unsuccessful plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil has been extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website and a source familiar with the matter. Nikhil Gupta has been accused by US federal prosecutors of plotting with an Indian government official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India. Gupta travelled to Prague from India last June and was arrested by Czech authorities. Last month, a Czech court rejected his petition to avoid being sent to the US, clearing the way for the Czech justice minister to extradite him. An inmate search by name on the Bureau of Prisons website showed on Sunday that Gupta, 52, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, a federal administrative detention facility. A source familiar with the matter, who did not wan...

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Italy for the G7 summit, it wasn't his diplomatic meetings that grabbed headlines in India, but rather his relationship with the Italian Prime Minister. "Hello from the 'Melodi' team," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a video shared on social media, waving alongside Modi, her fellow right-wing leader, both sporting broad smiles.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by MyGov, Government of India (@mygovindia) The two leaders have cultivated a visible friendship, evident during previous events like the G20 summit in India last year and the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. Modi, who reposted Meloni's video and praised the ties between Rome and New Delhi in Italian, was at Borgo Egnazia during the G7 summit, attended by Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. He mentioned having meetings with Meloni to en...

China views the annexation and "elimination" of Taiwan as its great national cause, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday, telling cadets at the military's premier academy they must know their enemy and not give in to defeatism. Lai has faced sustained personal attacks from China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, since assuming office last month, with Beijing calling him a "separatist". China staged war games around Taiwan shortly after Lai's inauguration. Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing but been rebuffed. Speaking in Kaohsiung in the south of the island on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Whampoa Military Academy, Lai said today's cadets must recognise the challenges of the "new era". "The biggest challenge is to face the powerful rise of China, (which is) destroying the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and regards Taiwan's annexation and...

France, Germany and Britain on Saturday condemned Iran’s latest steps, as reported by the IAEA, to further expand its nuclear programme. "Iran has taken further steps in hollowing out the JCPoA, by operating dozens of additional advanced centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment site as well as announcing it will install thousands more centrifuges at both its Fordow and Natanz sites." the joint statement said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed with Iran in 2015. "This decision is a further escalation of Iran’s nuclear programme, which carries significant proliferation risks," it added. Read:G7 warns Iran over escalation of nuclear programme The joint statement stressed that "Iran’s decision to substantially increase its production capacity at the underground Fordow facility is especially concerning". "Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement, which is separate to the JCP...

The Day of Arafat was marked by a profound sermon delivered by the Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, Sheikh Maher Bin Hamad Al Muaiqly, as millions of pilgrims gathered on the plains of Arafat on Saturday, emphasising the fundamental principles of Islam. The sermon commenced with praises to Allah, extolling His attributes as the Most Wise, Most Aware, Most Knowledgeable, and Most Capable. the Imam highlighted Allah’s absolute sovereignty over the universe, drawing from Quranic verses that illustrate His omnipotence and the creation's submission to His command. Quoting the Quran, he said, “He promptly covers the light of the day with the darkness of the night and has subjected the sun, the moon, and the stars to His command. To Him alone belong all creation and command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all creation.” [7:54] Underscoring the Quran's role as a guiding mercy for humanity, he highlighted its capacity to rectify conduct and lead toward righteousness. He cited the Qura...

More than two million Hajj pilgrims will perform the essential ritual of standing at Arafat today by offering combined and shortened Zuhr and Asr prayers and listening to the Hajj sermon. Sheikh Maher Hamad Al-Mueaqly, the Imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque, will deliver the sermon at Masjid Namira, which will be broadcast in 50 languages, including Urdu. Throughout the day, pilgrims will engage in worship and prayers at Arafat. After listening to the sermon and performing combined prayers, they will depart for Muzdalifah before sunset. At Muzdalifah, they will offer combined Maghrib and Isha prayers and collect pebbles for the Rami al-Jamarat ritual. Read More: Start of Hajj Rituals, Echoes of 'Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik' Fill the Air On Sunday morning, pilgrims will return to Mina to perform the stoning of the devil ritual, followed by the sacrifice, thus completing their Hajj pilgrimage. According to Arab media, preparations have been made at Masjid Namira in Arafat, the s...

A rare tissue-damaging bacterial disease is spreading in Japan following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. According to Japan Times, Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) reached 977 by June 2 this year, surpassing the previous record of 941 cases reported for all of last year, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, which has tracked the disease since 1999. Group A Streptococcus (GAS), typically causing "strep throat" in children, can sometimes lead to severe symptoms like limb pain, swelling, fever, low blood pressure, necrosis, breathing problems, organ failure, and death. People over 50 are more vulnerable to the disease. "At the current rate, Japan could see 2,500 cases this year with a mortality rate of 30%," said Ken Kikuchi, a professor of infectious diseases at Tokyo Women’s Medical University. "Most deaths occur within 48 hours. Swelling can start in the morning and spread rapidly, leading to death within two da...

Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah to perform Hajj, the sacred Muslim pilgrimage. Hajj became obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim adult with financial means after Prophet Muhammad’s “farewell pilgrimage” in 632 AD. Typically, between two and three million people participate in the pilgrimage annually. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of pilgrims was drastically reduced to 10,000 in 2020. The following year saw 58,700 pilgrims, and last year's numbers picked up again to one million. Hajj is a spiritual, emotional, and physical challenge that tests the patience and temperament of the pilgrim. It occurs in Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, between the eighth and 13th days of the month. Here is a step-by-step guide to the rituals on each day of Hajj: Day 1: Intent and Ihram The very first rite of Hajj is to make a pure intention and enter the ihram, a pilgrim’s sacred state, when crossing the...

Police in a remote Australian town have taken decisive action to eliminate a problem crocodile that had been causing fear among residents, CNN reported on Wednesday. According to Northern Territory Police, the crocodile had been terrorising the town of Bulla by aggressively approaching children and attacking multiple dogs. Authorities swiftly addressed the safety concerns posed by the troublesome reptile. Unfortunately, the crocodile had to be shot as it was posing a significant threat to residents. After ensuring community safety, officials transported the 3.63-meter-long (11.9-foot-long) crocodile to town, where locals prepared it for a traditional feast. Police reported that the crocodile had moved into the Baines River near residential areas following floods earlier this year, exacerbating public safety concerns. In response, Parks and Wildlife conducted a crocodile safety session to educate children about the risks associated with waterways, providing them with an up-close look at...

A fierce brawl erupted in the Italian parliament on Wednesday evening over the far-right government's plans to grant regions more autonomy, triggering widespread uproar and drawing comparisons to the days of fascism. The altercation began when Five Star Movement (MS5) deputy Leonardo Donno attempted to tie an Italian flag around the neck of regional affairs minister Roberto Calderoli from the pro-autonomy Northern League. Donno's stunt aimed to denounce plans for greater regional autonomy, which critics argue would undermine Italy's unity. In response, deputies from Calderoli's League party swarmed Donno, turning the debate into a chaotic free-for-all involving about 20 men. Donno, injured in the scuffles, had to be evacuated in a wheelchair and taken to hospital. The brawl sparked a torrent of reactions from political leaders and dominated the front pages of Italian newspapers. La Repubblica decried the incident with the headline, "The squadrist right is fighting ...

Global emissions of nitrous oxide -- a potent greenhouse gas -- are outpacing expectations and putting climate change goals in peril, a major study published on Wednesday found. Drawing on millions of atmospheric measurements from around the world, the report revealed a sharp rise in human-related nitrous oxide levels. The findings raised researchers' concerns that too little is being done to rein in the gas, the vast majority of which is produced by agriculture. Nitrous oxide heats the Earth's atmosphere 300 times more effectively than carbon dioxide, scientists say, and can linger for more than a century. Emissions soared 40 percent in the four decades to 2020, said the Global Nitrous Oxide Budget, which relied on the expertise of 58 international researchers. As a result, levels of the gas in the atmosphere climbed to 336 parts per billion in 2022 -- a 25 percent increase over pre-industrialised levels. The surge was far greater than previous predictions by the UN panel of c...

Hezbollah said it had launched rockets and weaponised drones at nine Israeli military sites in a coordinated attack on Thursday, ramping up hostilities on Lebanon's southern border for the second consecutive day. The attacks were carried out in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Tuesday that killed a senior Hezbollah field commander. A security source told Lebanon it was the largest attack waged by Hezbollah since October, when the group started exchanging fire with Israel in parallel with the Gaza war. Hezbollah said in a statement it had fired volleys of Katyusha and Falaq rockets at six Israeli military locations. Its Al-Manar television reported more than 100 rockets fired at once. Hezbollah's statement said it had also launched attack drones at the headquarters of Israel's northern command, an intelligence headquarters and a military barracks. A security source told Reuters that involved firing at least 30 attack drones at once, making it the group's largest dron...

Despite widespread criticisms and condemnation of Israel's war on Gaza, military dialogue between Tel Aviv and Arab countries remains strong under the guidance of the US Central Command. Earlier this week, IDF Chief of Staff General Hertzi Halevi met with Arab counterparts in Manama, Bahrain to discuss regional security cooperation. The meeting, led by US Central Command's General Eric Corella, remained undisclosed publicly due to the political sensitivities surrounding the Gaza war. Senior generals from militaries of Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt participated in the meeting. Key discussion points included air and missile defence cooperation in the region in recent years. US officials highlighted that regional cooperation has significantly enhanced intelligence gathering and early warning capabilities, involving active participation from Jordan, the UK with the US. US officials say that cooperation with Israel and Arab countries in the region has allowed for...