An Israeli attack on Gaza was imminent, and not because of any provocations by Palestinian groups in the besieged, impoverished Gaza Strip. The Israeli military escalation was foreseeable because it factors neatly in Israel’s contentious political scene. The war was not a question of “if”, but “when”. The answer came ... Read More »
Norway’s capital Oslo has now banned all Israeli settlement products and services
“The Palestinian people, who have to deal with the illegal occupation of their territory every single day, deserve international attention and support. It is a shared global responsibility to help ensure that human rights and international law are not violated.” The City Council of Oslo, Norway’s capital, has passed ... Read More »
Chile’s finance minister expects job losses, fuel hike in wake of protests
Chile’s finance minister predicted on Thursday that as many as 300,000 jobs could be lost because of the impact of four weeks of rioting on one of Latin America’s strongest economies. Newly appointed Finance Minister Ignacio Briones told a legislative committee it was “highly likely” unemployment would jump 3% in ... Read More »
North Korea says it will remove Mt Kumgang resort facilities if South insists on talks
North Korea said on Friday it had sent South Korea an “ultimatum” about its Mt Kumgang tourist resort, saying it will unilaterally remove South Korea’s facilities there if Seoul insists on talks about the issue. South Korea had proposed talks with North Korea on how to handle its facilities in ... Read More »
Climate change poses unprecedented health risks to children, major study warns
Children are still developing, leaving them more susceptible to disease and environmental pollutants’ Climate change poses an unprecedented health risk to children and is already having “persistent and pervasive” effects that will last throughout their lives, a major new study has warned. Without drastic reductions in emissions, escalating temperature increases will ... Read More »
Morales’ shadow looms large in Bolivia as clashes test new leader
Bolivian security forces clashed on the streets of La Paz with supporters of unseated president Evo Morales on Wednesday, firing tear gas to clear crowds who hurled rocks and set fires in a test to Bolivia’s new interim leader. With Morales thousands of miles away in Mexico City after he ... Read More »
Aoun Says May Call for Consultations Thursday, Warns against Continued Protests
President Michel Aoun said that he might call for parliamentary consultations to name a new premier on Thursday or Friday if the parties concerned respond positively to the proposals, as he warned protesters against continued blocking of roads and state institutions. “The consultations might be held Thursday or Friday pending ... Read More »
A $5 billion bill and Japan tensions in focus as U.S. defense heads visit South Korea
A $5 billion demand to meet the cost of hosting American troops, and tensions between Seoul and Tokyo that threaten to undercut regional cooperation are set to top the agenda when senior U.S. defense officials visit South Korea this week. U.S. President Donald Trump’s insistence Seoul take on a greater ... Read More »
Project Nightingale: Google secretly given access to medical data of millions of Americans
Technology giant says access to private medical records through deal with Ascension is ‘standard practice’ Google has secretly amassed the health records of millions of patients in the US through a partnership with the country’s second largest healthcare provider. The initiative, dubbed “Project Nightingale,” gives the technology giant access ... Read More »
Judiciary must fight corruption, including Hezbollah officials: Nasrallah
Fighting corruption should be Lebanon’s priority, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said Monday, saying the party was ready to cooperate with the judiciary in cases involving its members. “If there is any case related to a Hezbollah official, I urge you to start with us, and I guarantee Hezbollah’s respect,” ... Read More »