Palestinians join International Criminal Court
Smarting from having its resolution at the United Nations Security Council voted down, the Palestinians announced on Wednesday that they will be joining the International Criminal Court to pursue war crimes charges against Israel. The resolution wanted Israel to evacuate Palestinian-staked territories by 2017. In the UNSC, both the US and Australia voted against the resolution, while eight countries voted in favour and five abstained. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Palestinians are in trouble because of their association with Hamas, a terror outfit.
Mass murder in Canada possibly a case of domestic violence
In what is being called one of Canada’s worst mass murders, a man with a lengthy criminal record on Tuesday shot dead six adults and two children before killing himself in Edmonton, Alberta. The police said in a statement that they could not find any links with gang violence, and that the murders appeared to be linked to domestic violence. The shooter Phu Lam was 53 and had a criminal record stretching back to 1987.
Pyongyang welcomes Seoul invitation to resume dialogue
A day after South Korea invited North Korea to resume dialogue, the latter’s leader on Wednesday accepted the proposal. Speaking during a New Year’s address, dictator Kim Jong-un said, "If South Korean authorities sincerely want to improve relations between North and South Korea through talks, we can resume stalled high-level meetings." The message appeared to be pre-recorded. While reunification of the Korean Peninsula has been a stated goal of both governments, military tensions between them have often thwarted a peaceful resolution.
Malaysian floods displace 230,000
On Wednesday, the United Nations confirmed that 14 people had been killed and over 230,000 displaced in north-eastern Malaysia, currently paralysed by heavy rains and widespread flooding. Evacuation operations have been hampered by insufficient shelters in the region, where tens of thousands have been leaving their homes over the past few days. China has expressed concern over the situation, while the Chinese Red Cross donated $100,000 to flood relief efforts.
Indian-origin doc in Leicester to be knighted
Nilesh Samani, an Indian-origin doctor in Leicester in the United Kingdom, has been selected for a knighthood in the New Year Honours List for his contribution to the cardiovascular sciences. Samani is among several Indian-origin individuals who are recipients of Britain’s highest civilian honours this year, including the 103-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh and actor Meera Syal. Samani is being honoured for his work in identifying the genetic basis of heart disease risks.
Smarting from having its resolution at the United Nations Security Council voted down, the Palestinians announced on Wednesday that they will be joining the International Criminal Court to pursue war crimes charges against Israel. The resolution wanted Israel to evacuate Palestinian-staked territories by 2017. In the UNSC, both the US and Australia voted against the resolution, while eight countries voted in favour and five abstained. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Palestinians are in trouble because of their association with Hamas, a terror outfit.
Mass murder in Canada possibly a case of domestic violence
In what is being called one of Canada’s worst mass murders, a man with a lengthy criminal record on Tuesday shot dead six adults and two children before killing himself in Edmonton, Alberta. The police said in a statement that they could not find any links with gang violence, and that the murders appeared to be linked to domestic violence. The shooter Phu Lam was 53 and had a criminal record stretching back to 1987.
Pyongyang welcomes Seoul invitation to resume dialogue
A day after South Korea invited North Korea to resume dialogue, the latter’s leader on Wednesday accepted the proposal. Speaking during a New Year’s address, dictator Kim Jong-un said, "If South Korean authorities sincerely want to improve relations between North and South Korea through talks, we can resume stalled high-level meetings." The message appeared to be pre-recorded. While reunification of the Korean Peninsula has been a stated goal of both governments, military tensions between them have often thwarted a peaceful resolution.
Malaysian floods displace 230,000
On Wednesday, the United Nations confirmed that 14 people had been killed and over 230,000 displaced in north-eastern Malaysia, currently paralysed by heavy rains and widespread flooding. Evacuation operations have been hampered by insufficient shelters in the region, where tens of thousands have been leaving their homes over the past few days. China has expressed concern over the situation, while the Chinese Red Cross donated $100,000 to flood relief efforts.
Indian-origin doc in Leicester to be knighted
Nilesh Samani, an Indian-origin doctor in Leicester in the United Kingdom, has been selected for a knighthood in the New Year Honours List for his contribution to the cardiovascular sciences. Samani is among several Indian-origin individuals who are recipients of Britain’s highest civilian honours this year, including the 103-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh and actor Meera Syal. Samani is being honoured for his work in identifying the genetic basis of heart disease risks.
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