Author: Erirah

Moscow faced stinging criticism at the UN on Monday over a deteriorating rights situation inside Russia as it pushes ahead with its war in Ukraine, but far from all countries chimed in. During a regular review of Russia’s rights record at the United Nations in Geneva, Western countries again slammed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and decried its crackdown on civil society and jailing of journalists and political opponents at home. But few other countries even mentioned Ukraine, urging only small improvements to its domestic situation, while a number congratulated Russia for progress on rights issues. “We condemn the Russian…

The Israeli military said late Wednesday that its aircraft struck at Lebanon in retaliation for the earlier launch of a surface-to-air missile. “A short while ago, the IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon at an IDF UAV (drone),” the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. “In response, IDF aircraft struck the source of the launch,” it added. Israel has engaged in regular tit-for-tat exchanges with the militant group Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions in southern Lebanon since the start of its war with Hamas on October 7. Its military also struck military targets inside…

Two US fighter jets struck weapons and ammunition facilities in Syria on Friday in retaliation for attacks on US forces by Iranian-backed militia as concerns grew that the Israel-Hamas conflict may spread in the Middle East. US President Joe Biden ordered strikes on the two facilities used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Cops and militia it backs, the Pentagon said, warning the US will take additional measures if attacks by Iran’s proxies continue. US and coalition troops have been attacked at least 19 times in Iraq and in Syria by Iran-backed forces in the past week. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Lebanon’s Hezbollah are…

A Palestinian teenager was left bleeding to death after a shooting attack at Qalandia military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. Ishaq Hamdi Ajlouni, 17, was shot and killed by Israeli forces after he opened fire at the checkpoint on Saturday, lightly wounding a security guard, the agency said. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed Aljouni as a member. The group is the armed wing of Fatah – the movement that controls the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-rule in the occupied territory. “Our heroic fighters … were able to directly target occupation [Israeli] soldiers at Qalandia…

Protesters in Lebanon have attacked several bank buildings, set tyres alight and smashed windows to demand their money back. The angry demonstrations took place on Thursday in a suburb outside the capital, Beirut, and targeted the branches of Bank Audi, Bank of Beirut and Byblos Bank in Sin el-Fil in Mount Lebanon Governorate. The protesters were angry about financial controls which have destroyed many people’s life savings. People demanded the return of their money, also calling for officials involved in corruption, including the central bank Governor Riad Salameh, to be held accountable. “We are done with them. We’ve waited too…

AKIPRESS.COM – Turkmenistan banned the sale of electronic cigarettes, turkmen.news sources say. These cigarettes spread widely in a country where conventional tobacco products are almost completely banned. Buying disposable electronic cigarettes, reusable vape devices, spare parts for them, as well as filling liquids has recently become almost impossible. Officially, no regulations were issued, the goods simply disappeared from sale. Sellers tell buyers that they have been banned. Previously, it was easy to buy electronic cigarettes, they were sold online and offline. In particular, high-end night shops throughout Ashgabat have become a popular place to sell this product. These shops are owned…

The United States’ top international development official on Friday said Washington is focusing on the urgency of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia in EU-brokered talks between the two former war foes. USAID Administrator Samantha Power has been in Kosovo for the past two days, after a three-day visit to Serbia. As the most senior representative of U.S. President Joe Biden to visit Kosovo recently, she said her country’s focus now was on “the importance of implementation of the agreements that will produce a normalization that will be incredibly important for Kosovo and for Serbia.” Over the two days of…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon, and the US for their roles in the reaching of an agreement on a ceasefire between the Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza, and Israel, the Qatar News Agency reported on Monday. Guterres welcomed the agreement and urged all parties to respect its provisions. The secretary-general conveyed his deep condolences to the families of those killed in the violence, noting that the hostilities led to unjustified human suffering. Guterres also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to achieving a two-state solution based on applicable UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements. He also emphasized…

MP Elias Hankash confirmed on Wednesday the existence of an alignment between the Kataeb Party, the Lebanese Forces, and other blocs. He also pointed out that the issue of assuming responsibility is in the translation, action, and by heading to the parliament to vote. Hankash stated during a phone call on LBCI’s “Naharkom Saïd” TV show that “there is a trust issue with the Free Patriotic Movement, and mistake or failure must be acknowledged.” Hankash believed it is up to the new president to raise problematic issues and called for “a comprehensive dialogue table where concerns and fears can be…

– The future of the united country is bright! We thank God, Kazakhstan is a blessed place where more than 100 nations are united. Nowadays, the people live under one roof. On today’s occasion, people go out into the streets and wear their national clothes to celebrate the Day of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan. On Unity Day, Dumansuyer brothers flocked to the main square. The territory is decorated for the holiday as usual. Sports events have already started. The visiting community is endless. In front of the public, the Terekoi talents performed at a high level this time as well. Among them is the “Mangilik” dance…