Thursday, June 1, 2023

World

Australian veteran loses defamation lawsuit over Afghan war crimes

An Australian court has found that war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, probably killed unarmed civilians in Afghanistan. According to media reports, Roberts-Smith, now 44, had murdered at least six unarmed Afghan civilians when he was a member of the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) in Afghanistan.

Moscow says CIA hacked iPhones of Russian diplomats, citizens

The CIA installed malware on thousands of Apple phones used by Russian diplomats and citizens, Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed on Thursday.

Tape recording reveals Trump kept classified Pentagon document on Iran: Report

US Federal prosecutors have obtained a 2021 audio recording of former President Donald Trump showing he kept a classified Pentagon document about a possible attack on Iran after leaving the White House, according to a CNN report.

Young Saudi woman sentenced to more than 30 years in prison over tweets on human rights

A Saudi woman has been sentenced to more than three decades in prison for anonymously tweeting about political prisoners, women's rights and unemployment in the kingdom, the UK-based rights group Alqst has told Middle East Eye.

US says Biden prefers diplomacy with Iran over JCPOA

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby says the White House supports a diplomatic solution in dealing with Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says the revitalization of the nuclear deal, JCPOA, is contingent upon a Washington's decision.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 463

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

5 Palestinian fighters killed, several wounded in Lebanon blast blamed on Israel

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has blamed Israel for the killing of five of its members in a blast in eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border.

UAE announces withdrawal from US-led maritime bloc

The United Arab Emirates pulled out from a US-led Middle East maritime security coalition two months ago after evaluating its security relationships, the Persian Gulf state announced on Wednesday.

Source says Qatar PM, Taliban chief hold secret talks on Afghanistan

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held secret talks with leader of the Taliban Haibatullah Akhunzada this month on resolving the ruling Taliban's tension with the international community, a source briefed on the meeting has revealed.

Israel ‘in a fog’ over US-Saudi talks on normalisation

A top Israeli official played down prospects for a US-brokered diplomatic breakthrough with Saudi Arabia, describing the Israeli government as being "kept in a fog" on any progress in negotiations between Riyadh and Washington.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 462

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Israeli man shot dead in West Bank

An Israeli man has succumbed to his wounds after being shot near the entrance of an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli Army has confirmed.

Iran’s Raisi calls for closer ties with Turkey during Erdogan’s new term

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi offers congratulations to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his re-election, calling for the further expansion of relations between the two neighbors during Erdogan’s new term in office.

Official: Iran totally open to resumption of ties with Egypt

The spokesman of Iran’s administration says the Islamic Republic is fully open to a resumption of relations with Egypt, as Tehran pushes to boost relations with Persian Gulf Arab neighbors and other regional states.

Armenia and Azerbaijan exchange accusations ahead of peace talks

Armenia and Azerbaijan Republic traded bars two days before the new round of talks aimed at resolving decades of territorial disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Saudi Arabia executes two Bahrainis over terror charges

Saudi Arabia has executed  two Bahrainis convicted of "plotting terrorist operations", the Saudi Interior Ministry has announced, raising the number of similar executions to nine this month.

Arab League calls for global action to end Israeli crimes against Palestinian children

The Arab League has urged the international community to intervene to end the Israeli crimes against Palestinian children across the occupied territories.

Moscow mayor says Russian capital attacked by drones

Drones attacked the Russian capital on Tuesday morning, damaging several buildings, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has confirmed.

Ukraine’s parliament approves sanctions against Iran

The Ukrainian parliament has approved a sanctions package against Iran. Kiev has accused Tehran of sending combat drones to Moscow, an allegation the Islamic Republic denies.

UN envoy urges parties to Yemen conflict to take ‘serious steps’ to end war

UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has called on both parties to the war in Yemen to take “serious steps” toward lasting peace amid intensified mediation efforts and end the eight-year conflict.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 461: Drones hit several buildings in Moscow as fresh wave of Russian airstrikes pound Ukraine

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

UN says acute food insecurity to deteriorate in several countries, including Afghanistan and Yemen within months

Severe food shortage is likely to grow in 18 "hunger hotspots" in 22 countries further in 2023, according to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme published on Monday.

Turkish lira sinks to record low after Erdogan’s victory

Turkey's lira slipped towards fresh record low against the dollar on Monday following President Tayyip Erdogan's victory in the presidential runoff on Sunday.

Ukraine official says Iran to face consequences over drone attacks, Tehran denies involvement

Despite Iran’s repeated rejection of no involvement in the transfer of military drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, a top Ukrainian official says there will be “consequences” after the European state capital, Kyiv, was targeted with Iranian drones.

European countries call on Israel to halt demolition of Palestinian homes

Ten European states have urged Israel to halt demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. In a joint statement, the consulates general of Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland and the Office of the European Union Representative to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, called on Tel Aviv to stop “all confiscations and demolitions.”

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