A disciplinary court in Poland on Thursday lifted the immunity of a judge who fled the country to neighboring Belarus, an autocratic ally, paving the way for an international arrest warrant for him on espionage allegations. Poland’s prosecutors and special services launched an investigation this week after Belarus media reported that the judge, Tomasz Szmydt, […]
Rights group says Sudanese paramilitary carried out ethnic cleansing in Darfur region
A leading rights group said on Thursday that attacks by the paramilitary and their allied militias, which killed thousands in the western region of Darfur last year, constituted a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the area’s non-Arab population. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting Sudan’s military for over a year, allied with […]
Palestinian reports allege theft and resale of UN aid by agency staff: watchdog says
A watchdog group is sounding the alarm, saying Gazans are reporting that employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are allegedly stealing and selling off humanitarian aid materials. UN Watch, a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday cited numerous reports published by Palestinians in an UNRWA-related chatroom […]
India says Canada has provided no proof regarding its alleged involvement in killing of Sikh separatist leader
India said on Thursday that Canada has informed it about the three men who have been charged with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year, but insisted that no relevant information or specific evidence about Delhi’s involvement has been shared by the Canadian authorities till date. India’s External […]
Many Israelis feel ‘betrayed’ as Biden threatens to withhold arms that could help defeat Hamas in Rafah
JERUSALEM — After compared Hamas to the Nazis in a Holocaust remembrance day speech on Tuesday, his Israeli critics argue he is now backpedaling from his ironclad commitment to the Jewish state by delaying deliveries of vital precision weapons to Jerusalem.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are closing in on the last major bastion of Hamas […]
Iranian director sentenced to prison ahead of planned Cannes trip
The award-winning Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison and lashings just ahead of his planned trip to Cannes, his lawyer told The Associated Press Thursday. Rasoulof, 51, known for his film “There Is No Evil,” has become the latest artist targeted in a widening crackdown on all dissent in […]
One dead, four injured in chemical storage tank fire in Thailand
At least one person was killed and four others were injured after a huge fire broke out at a massive chemical storage tank in an industrial park on Thursday. Firefighters battled the flames for over six hours before containing the fire, and estimated it may take more than 10 hours to fully extinguish it, according […]
Xtep Announces Strategic Divestiture of K-Swiss and Palladium and Enhanced Financial Structure
HONG KONG, May 9, 2024 – (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Leading PRC-based professional sportswear enterprise Xtep International Holdings Limited (the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group” or “Xtep”) (Stock code: 1368.HK) today announced the strategic divestiture of its wholly owned subsidiary KP Global Investment Limited (“KP Global”), which owns the K-Swiss and Palladium brands, […]
Report: Saudi authorities approve lethal force to clear land for futuristic eco-city
A former colonel is claiming that the national government is killing individuals for refusing eviction ahead of construction of a futuristic eco-city. Colonel Rabih Alenezi, who was taken into protection by the authorities last year, told the BBC that lethal force has been approved for clearing residents from land sanctioned for the Neom development project.”Whoever […]
Putin characterizes planned Russian-Belarusian tactical nuclear weapons drill as “nothing unusual”
said on Thursday that there was nothing unusual about a planned exercise involving practicing the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in southern Russia along with ally Belarus. According to Russia, it would practice deploying tactical nuclear weapons as part of a military exercise after what Moscow said were threats from France, Britain and the United […]
New security deal between Australia and Tuvalu clarifies arrangements with other countries
Australia and Tuvalu agreed to a new security deal on Thursday after critics complained that a previous pact gave Australia a veto power over any other agreement the tiny South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu pursued with a third country, such as China. Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong committed […]
Japan’s Fisheries Agency seeks input on plan to commercially fish fin whales, stirring conservation concerns
On Thursday, Japan’s Fisheries Agency proposed a plan to allow the commercial catching of fin whales in addition to three smaller whale species that are currently permitted under the country’s commercial whaling around its coasts. The proposal comes five years after Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International […]
Russian deputy defense minister appealing denial of house arrest while facing bribery charges
rejected Wednesday an appeal filed by lawyers for a Russian deputy defense minister who sought to have him moved from prison to house arrest as he faces bribery charges. Timur Ivanov, who was in charge of military construction projects, was arrested on April 23 and charged with accepting bribes on a large scale. After the […]
Haiti’s transitional council adopts new rotating leadership model as gang violence grips the country
A transitional council tasked with choosing new leaders is altering the way it operates in a move that surprised many as gang violence consumes the country. Instead of having a single council president, four longtime politicians will each take turns leading the council every five months, according to two members who were not authorized to […]
ISIS claims responsibility for bomb attack that killed a dozen Afghan police officers
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a bombing northeast that killed police officers who were part of an anti-poppy crop campaign. A motorcycle was booby-trapped and exploded, targeting a Taliban patrol in Faizabad town in Badakhshan province, killing and wounding 12 members of the patrol as well as destroying a four-wheel drive vehicle, according […]
Ukrainian-American pastor joins faith leaders in counseling and reinvigorating chaplains on the front lines
A Ukrainian-born American pastor is contributing to supporting efforts for chaplains on the front lines against Russia. Andrew Moroz — a lead elder at Gospel Community Church in Lynchburg, Virginia — is currently helping military chaplains to recuperate from the traumas of the conflict. “I show up where I’m needed and invited. I come to […]
South Korea President Yoon rejects demands for independent probe into wife’s stock price controversy
South Korea’s president on Thursday dismissed calls for independent investigations into allegations involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. After his conservative win in the recent April 10 parliamentary elections, President Yoon Suk Yeol faces what appears to be his biggest political challenge yet as opposition parties would […]
US military ship passes through Taiwan Strait ahead of new Taiwanese leader taking office, drawing condemnation from China
criticized a U.S. destroyer’s passage through the Taiwan Strait less than two weeks before the island’s new president takes office and while Washington and Beijing are making uneven efforts to restore regular military exchanges.Navy Senior Capt. Li Xi, spokesperson for China’s Eastern Theater Command, stated that the U.S. had “publicly emphasized” the passage of the […]
Former Fijian Prime Minister Sentenced to Prison for Interfering in a Criminal Investigation
Former Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison for interfering in a criminal investigation while he headed the government of his island nation. Acting High Court of Fiji Chief Justice Salesi Temo sentenced the 70-year-old in the capital Suva on a conviction for attempting to influence the normal progression […]
Experts say US law could force Biden to pull UN funding if Palestinian recognition maneuver succeeds
The U.S. will face a difficult decision if the Palestinians should succeed in establishing a , which could trigger America pulling all funding from the U.N. in protest, according to experts.”If the draft resolution as it currently stands is adopted, U.S. law demands that the U.S. withhold all funds from the U.N.,” Anne Bayefsky, director […]