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Pro-Palestinian Protesters Disrupt Blinken's Senate Hearings with Accusations of War Crimes
During a series of Senate committee hearings, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced repeated interruptions from pro-Palestinian protesters, who labeled him a 'war criminal' and accused him of complicity in genocide. The protests, which took place as Blinken was testifying on Capitol Hill, underscored the deep divisions and heated emotions surrounding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly its support for Israel. The protesters, some with hands stained red to symbolize blood, made their accusations loudly, disrupting the proceedings and drawing attention to their… Read more
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New Caledonia Faces Renewed Uprising Amid Decades of Political Struggles
New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, is once again in the throes of political unrest, echoing conflicts that have simmered and occasionally boiled over for decades. The latest uprising has caught the attention of the international community, with countries like New Zealand mobilizing resources to evacuate their citizens caught in the crossfire. This recent flare-up of violence is not an isolated incident but a manifestation of deep-rooted political and social issues that have plagued the island for years. Despite efforts by local independence leaders to quell the unrest, the spon… Read more
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Biden Authorized "Deadly Use Of Force" In Trump Raid
The Biden administration authorized the use of deadly force during the FBI’s raid on former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in August 2022 as part of its investigation into classified records, court documents revealed.
An "Operations Order" produced in discovery as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s alleged improper retention of classified records revealed that the "FBI believed its objective for the Mar-a-Lago raid was to seize ‘classified information, NDI, and US Government records,’" as descr… Read more
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Global Tensions Rise as ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Israeli and Hamas Leaders
In a move that has sparked international debate and diplomatic tensions, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced its intention to seek arrest warrants against key Israeli and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes. Among those targeted are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas officials, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh. This unprecedented step has drawn criticism and support from various quarters, highlighting the complex and contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the global stage.
Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney was part of… Read more
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Russia Launches Tactical Nuclear Drills
Troops of Russia’s Southern Military District launched the first stage of recently announced tactical nuclear drills on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has confirmed.
It will involve delivery of nuclear weapons to troops from storage sites, arming tactical nuclear missiles, and preparation of missile launches, Moscow announced in a statement on Telegram.
The troops will be using the Iskander-M systems, which can fire 9M723-1 ballistic missiles or 9M728 cruise missiles, both of which can carry tactical nuclear warheads with yields between five and 50 kilotons.
The Southern Military… Read more
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South Carolina Bans Gender Transition Care for Minors
South Carolina’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, signed a bill on Tuesday that bars health professionals from performing gender-transition surgeries, prescribing puberty blocking drugs and overseeing hormone treatments for patients under 18. The state now joins about two dozen others that have passed laws restricting or banning what doctors call gender-affirming care for minors.
The law, which goes into effect immediately, also requires principals, teachers and other school staff members to tell parents when their children want to use a name other than their legal one, or pronouns… Read more
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Slovakia Stands United Against Political Violence Following Attempt on Prime Minister's Life
In a remarkable display of unity, Slovakian lawmakers have come together to denounce political violence, following a harrowing assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico. The incident, which has shocked the nation and drawn international attention, occurred just days ago, prompting a swift and unified response from the country's political leaders. All 130 members of the National Council of Slovakia present in the chamber voted in favor of a declaration that unequivocally condemns acts of violence aimed at political figures, underscoring the nation's commitment to democracy… Read more
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France Backs ICC Arrest Warrants for Israel and Hamas Leaders
France, Belgium and Slovenia released statements supporting the world’s top war crimes court and its chief prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas, after Israel and the United States both harshly condemned the effort.
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders — Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh — of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. While Netanyahu and Gallant do not face imminent arrest, the announcement Monday was a symbolic blow that deepened Israel’s isolation over the war in Gaza.
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Russia Takes Over Niger As U.S. Exits
Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting U.S. troops, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel U.S. forces.
The military officers ruling the West African nation have told the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.
A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces… Read more
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Israeli Government Cracks Down On Foreign Journalists
Israeli officials seized a camera and broadcasting equipment belonging to The Associated Press in southern Israel on Tuesday, accusing the news organization of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera.
The Qatari satellite channel is among thousands of clients that receive live video feeds from the AP and other news organizations. The AP denounced the move.
Officials from the Communications Ministry arrived at the AP location in the southern town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon and seized the equipment. They handed the AP a piece of paper, signed by Communications Minister Shl… Read more
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Poland Says Europe Must Build Its Own Israel-style Iron Dome
Europe must create its own Israel-style Iron Dome to protect against missile and drone attack, the prime minister of Poland has said.
Donald Tusk said he and other leaders would propose plans for the £3.4 billion European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) to the European Council and Commission “in a few days”.
“Creating an iron dome against missiles and drones is necessary,” he said on Monday.
“The recent attack on Israel showed how essential such systems are. There is no reason for Europe not to have its missile defence shield.”
The Iron Dome was crucial in… Read more
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U.S. Sanctions Played A Role In Death Of Iranian President
Much of Iran’s air fleet is in dire need of spare parts that Tehran has been unable to buy due to US and other western sanctions.
“Iran’s air fleet is a metaphor for the regime as a whole,” said Ali Ansari, founder of the Institute of Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews. “It’s old, should not be able to keep flying, and yet does — until it doesn’t.”
Tehran has yet to give an official explanation for the crash.
The likely culprit is an aging fleet, battered by decades of wear and tear. Blocked for years by western sanctions on Ira… Read more
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U.S. Urges Europe To Join China Exports Crackdown
Janet Yellen has urged the EU to join US efforts in clamping down on Beijing’s green-tech exports, warning that a glut of cheap Chinese goods could threaten the survival of factories across the world.
The US and its western allies must react “in a united way” to China’s growing manufacturing power or put their own industries at risk, the Treasury secretary said in a speech in Germany on Tuesday.
Yellen also rejected criticism from European allies that the US’s own sweeping tax breaks and subsidies for green manufacturing represented “a turn towards American protectionism”.
She said the tariff increases, which included a quadrupling of the rate on Chinese electric vehicles to 100 per cent, were “strategic and targeted steps”.
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Is the US falling out of love with India?
After India pursued a deal with Iran on the Chabahar Port, the US responded by threatening New Delhi with sanctions. This has exposed a possible growing geopolitical incompatibility between the two countries over the past several years, even as the US championed India as a critical strategic partner against China.
Since 2017, the US has promoted India as one of its key partners. It even went so far as to rename an entire region “the Indo-Pacific,” eyeing New Delhi as a key strategic asset in its longstanding strategic ambition of containing the rise of China.
India has an independen… Read more
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Estonia Calls For Breaking Up Russia
The conflict between Moscow and Kiev should end with the defeat and breakup of the Russian Federation, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has said.
Kallas offered the suggestion on Saturday during a debate which was part of the 17th Lennart Meri Conference in the country’s capital, Tallinn, dedicated to supporting Ukraine.
"Russia’s defeat is not a bad thing because then you know there could really be a change in society,” the prime minister argued.
She argued that the Russian Federation is comprised of “many different nations” and suggested that they… Read more
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Bill Maher and Greg Gutfeld Spar Over Trump's Influence and Future
In a series of heated exchanges that have captured the attention of viewers across the political spectrum, Bill Maher and Fox News' Greg Gutfeld have found themselves at odds over the influence and intentions of former President Donald Trump. During their discussions, Maher, a well-known critic of Trump, expressed his concerns that Trump's refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election could foreshadow a similar scenario if he were to lose in the upcoming 2024 presidential race. The debates, which took place on Gutfeld's show, highlighted the deep divisions that continue… Read more
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UN Security Council Divided Over Russian Proposal to Ban Space Weapons
In a significant development at the United Nations, a Russian-drafted resolution aimed at preventing the militarization of outer space has failed to pass. The proposal, which sought to ban the placement, threat, or use of any weapons in space 'for all time,' was met with a divided response from the 15-member UN Security Council. This outcome underscores the complexities and diverging interests among global powers regarding the future of space security and warfare. The resolution's failure highlights the challenges of achieving consensus on international security issues, particu… Read more
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F.B.I. Cuts Russian Spy Program
The F.B.I. cut ties to at least a handful of informants and issued warnings about dozens of others after an internal review prompted by concerns that they were linked to Russian disinformation, current and former U.S. officials said.
The review was carried out in 2020 and 2021 by a small group within the bureau’s counterintelligence division, with the findings then passed along to field offices, which handle informants.
It led to the severing of sources — some of whom had offered information about Russia-aligned oligarchs, political leaders and other influential figures — at… Read more
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UK says it doesn’t want ‘direct conflict with Russia’
The West has no appetite for a direct military confrontation with Russia over Ukraine, UK Defenсe Secretary Grant Shapps has stated. He also suggested that Berlin is unwilling to provide its long-range missiles to Kiev for fear that they would be used to hit Russian targets in Crimea.
Shapps had previously claimed Britain has no problem with its weapons being used by Ukraine to strike the peninsula, which joined Russia in 2014 following a referendum but is still claimed by Kiev.
Earlier this month, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also gave the green light to UK-made weapons being deploy… Read more
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US Politician Said the ICC "was built for Africa and thugs like Putin”
In a CNN Interview, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan says a senior American official told him “this court [the ICC] was built for Africa and thugs like Putin.”
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