Category World News

More than 800 lawyers, judges call for UK sanctions on Israel over Gaza war

By in News, World News

More than 800 lawyers, academics, and former judges signed a letter calling on the United Kingdom to “prevent and punish genocide” in Gaza, as well as impose sanctions on the Israeli government and its ministers.

The British government was urged by the open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday to take concrete steps to stop Israel’s “serious violations of international law.”

The letter stated that “genocide is occurring in Gaza or that there is a serious risk of genocide,” adding that “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of international humanitarian law are also occurring.”

It demanded that Starmer take immediate action because “urgent and decisive action is required to prevent the Palestinian people of Gaza from being destroyed.” Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister, recently stated in the letter that Israel intends to “take control of all the territory of the Gaza Strip” and “conquer, cleanse, and stay – until Hamas is destroyed.”

The letter, which included former supreme court and court of appeal judges, included a statement by UK, French, and Canadian leaders that the suffering in Gaza was “intolerable,” expressing the governments’ willingness to act.

The letter urged the British government to “use all available means to secure an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure the urgent, unconditional, and unimpeded resumption of aid” to Palestinians.

In order to achieve this, it demanded that the government review existing trade ties with Israel, impose trade sanctions, and suspend a roadmap for a closer UK-Israel partnership. It also requested that the government take action to impose sanctions on Israeli government ministers and other civilian and military personnel.

Last week, the UK began to work on a new trade agreement with Israel.

A letter from a lawyer in the UK to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, urges him to sanction Israel for Gaza.

Unrelenting violations of international law

In response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, the letter also asked the UK to confirm that it would comply with its obligation to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are currently facing charges of genocide in Gaza from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for crimes against civilians, as well as a genocide case.

According to Sir Alan Moses, a former judge of the appeals court and signator of the letter, “We, in the UK, cannot expect peace until we fulfill our obligations under international law.”

If a government doesn’t demonstrate it, it is futile to say it upholds the rule of law.

Another signatory claimed that “the very future of international law itself” was threatened by Israel’s “unrelenting breaches of international law.”

Conor Gearty, a professor of human rights law at the London School of Economics, said in a statement, “Imagine a world without rules: anarchy loosed upon the world.”

“These attorneys are desperate to avoid it,” they say, “and because they know what that would look like.”

In a previous open letter from UK lawyers, it was stated that the UK was arming Israel in violation of international law.

South Korea bars two former acting presidents from overseas travel

By in News, World News

According to local reports, South Korean authorities have placed travel bans on two former acting presidents as part of an investigation into alleged insurrection related to Yoon Suk-yeol’s alleged campaign to become a martial law leader last year.

Han Duck-soo and Choi Sang-mok, both of whom were being investigated as suspects in the insurrection case, were told by police to avoid traveling abroad in mid-May, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Yoon, who presided over the country for three years, claimed that anti-state and North Korean forces had hacked into the government and ordered troops to the capital’s streets in December 2024.

Parliament revoked the declaration hours later, leading to a unprecedented constitutional crisis in which Han and Choi served as acting presidents.

A special police unit interrogated the former acting presidents on Monday about the part they had played in Yoon’s short-lived martial law.

There have been questions about whether they had resisted the move as they had claimed since his impeachment.

Elections in June

Yoon was formally removed from office last month after a judge at South Korea’s Constitutional Court determined that he had overstepped his authority by deploying troops in the capital.

Senior military and police officers testified that rival politicians were given orders to detain them.

The former president is currently facing insurrection-related charges, which could lead to the death penalty or life in prison.

He would become the third South Korean leader to be found guilty of insurrection following two military leaders’ convictions in connection with a coup in 1979.

Next week will see the election of Yoon’s successor, ending months of political unrest since the declaration of martial law.

Photos: A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia’s economy

By in News, World News

According to the United Nations, Ethiopia is home to one in five of the world’s total donkey populations.

The Donkey Sanctuary, a free clinic run by a British charity, is essential in Addis Ababa because it is the backbone of the country’s economy. It cares for animals that are frequently essential to their owners’ livelihoods, and is located close to Merkato, the city’s sprawling open-air market.

At the clinic, there are several dozen donkeys squatting in cages, some irately kick their legs, and others snuck their food into their cages. Moving from one animal to another, caregivers and veterinarians deal with a wide range of ailments, including colic, eye conditions, and injuries.

Guluma Bayi, 38, was one of them as they led his two donkeys to the clinic after walking for more than an hour and a half.

“My donkeys have been ill for three weeks,” Guluma said. One person has a leg issue, the other a stomach issue.

Guluma, like many others, relies on his donkeys to transport jerrycans of water for sale in his community.

He claimed that he was unable to buy bread for my children after they developed ill. I pleaded with a man to take me here.

In Ethiopia, there were roughly nine million donkeys as of 2018 according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Donkeys are a major economic player in this East African nation of 130 million people, ploughing fields and moving goods, providing a low-cost alternative to cars at a time when fuel costs have skyrocketed.

Chane Baye, a regular visitor, makes money from moving sacks of grain across the city for clients with his two donkeys. His daily income ranges from 200 to 400 birr (roughly $1.50 to $3), which is a respectable amount for a nation where the World Bank’s poverty line is $2.15 per day.

The 61-year-old visits the clinic “every three months or so when they start sluggish or have a stomach issue,” he said.

Before this clinic, he explained, describing how nails were once crudely removed from the animals’ legs with a knife. “We used traditional ways to treat them,” he said. He is relieved that his donkeys now receive medical attention from professionals for their wounds and infections.

Vet Derege Tsegay performs a routine but unpleasant procedure by dipping into a depressed donkey’s rectum while wearing a rubber glove at the clinic.

The animal’s digestive tract had a large mass of stool that had accumulated after the discharge.

He said, “It happens frequently.”

Donkeys frequently ingest whatever they find, including plastic bags, which can wreak havoc on their digestive health because there isn’t enough food in the city.

Derege is proud of what he does, despite the frequently challenging nature of the work.

Ronaldo-Al Nassr split possible after star hints at Saudi Pro League exit

By in News, World News

After declaring that a “chapter is over,” shortly after the Saudi Pro League was over, Cristiano Ronaldo indicated he could leave Al Nasrr.

Ronaldo, who poses in an Al Nassr shirt late on Monday, cryptically declared, “This chapter is over.”

“The narrative” Still being written. grateful to everyone.

The 40-year-old Portuguese international left Manchester United for Al Nassr in 2022, and his contract expires this summer.

The 32 FIFA Club World Cup participating clubs will have a special transfer window open between June 1 and June 10.

Al Nassr, in contrast to Al Hilal, and other Saudi clubs, did not qualify for the Club World Cup.

The former United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Sporting Lisbon superstar will play in the enlarged tournament in the United States starting on June 14th, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino last week.

Al Nassr finished third in the Saudi Pro League and lost to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League semifinals last month.

With 24 goals, Ronaldo was the league’s top scorer.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner announced last year that he could leave Al Nassr for Al Nassr.

Lionel Messi’s greatest rival Ronaldo will compete against Inter Miami in the Club World Cup.

And Ronaldo might participate in one of the teams at the Club World Cup, Infantino said in a recent interview with YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed.

Who knows, who knows, because there are discussions with some clubs about hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup.

Ronaldo scored 24 goals in the Saudi Pro League.

Thunder-Timberwolves: SGA scores 40 as OKC win Game 4 in NBA West finals

By in News, World News

In Game 4 of the Western Conference finals in Minneapolis, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists.

Oklahoma City, which held the best-of-seven series to a 3-1 lead, added 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting. On 9-for-14 shooting, Chet Holmgren added 21 points.

In the final fifteen seconds of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander sank five of the six free throws to win on Monday night.

Off the bench, Minnesota led with 23 points. Donte DiVincenzo finished with 21 points off the bench, including Jaden McDaniels, who scored 22 points.

On Wednesday night, the Thunder will return to Oklahoma City for Game 5, where they will have the chance to wrap up the series and advance to the NBA Finals.

In the final moments, the Thunder and Timberwolves battled it out.

With 3:34 left, Gilgeous-Alexander showed his athleticism when he found Williams for a 3-pointer from the left wing. The 6-foot-6 inch guard slipped a pass between McDaniels’ legs to the open Williams while he was falling on the field.

With 1:11 remaining, the Thunder were able to extend their lead to seven when Williams hit a third 3-pointer.

In Game 4, Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards (Centre) shot 5-for-16 from the field and added 16 points.

With 1:10 left, McDaniels made a powerful layup and the Timberwolves won with a 3-pointer with 23.1 seconds left. The Thunder’s lead was sliced by the latter hoop, 123-121.

In the final seconds, both teams exchanged free throws.

With 3.5 seconds left, the Thunder were 128-125 before Anthony Edwards reached the free-throw line. With 0.33 seconds left, Edwards made the first attempt, but he intentionally missed the second attempt, but Gilgeous-Alexander chased down the rebound and fired a long pass out of bounds to put a stop to the clock.

As time ran out, Williams intercepted Julius Randle’s inbound pass.

At the conclusion of the third quarter, Oklahoma City held a 90-85 lead.

With five minutes left in the third half, the Timberwolves cut their deficit to 77-76 with an 8-0 run. To end the run, DiVincenzo buried a 3-pointer from the left.

With 4:41 remaining in the quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a jump shot to give his team a 79-76 lead.

At the half, Minnesota had a 65-57 lead. Before the break, Edwards finished the game with 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting. Only one of his seven 3-point attempts was made.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in action.
Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from earning their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012 [Matt Krohn/AP].

ASEAN kicks off summits with China, Gulf states amid US tariff threat

By in News, World News

Southeast Asian leaders are set to hold their first ever summit with China and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as they seek to insulate their trade-dependent economies from the effect of steep tariffs from the United States.

The meeting, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, is taking place on Tuesday, on the second day of the annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The meeting will follow separate talks between leaders of the ASEAN and the GCC, which comprises of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, opening the ASEAN-GCC summit, said stronger ties between the two blocs would be key to enhancing collaboration, building resilience and securing sustainable prosperity.

“I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges,” Anwar said.

In written remarks before the meetings, the prime minister had said that “a transition in the geopolitical order is underway” and that “the global trading system is under further strain, with the recent imposition of US unilateral tariffs.”

With protectionism surging, the world is also bearing witness to “multilateralism breaking apart at the seams”, he added.

China calls for stronger ties

China’s Premier Li Qiang, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, will join ASEAN and the GCC for their first meeting on Tuesday. He met with Anwar on Monday and called for expanded trade and investment ties between Beijing, ASEAN and the GCC.

“At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and world economic growth is sluggish,” Li said, China, ASEAN and GCC countries “should strengthen coordination and cooperation and jointly uphold open regionalism and true multilateralism”.

China is willing to work with Malaysia to “promote closer economic cooperation among the three parties” and respond to global challenges, Li told Anwar.

ASEAN has maintained a policy of neutrality, engaging both Beijing and Washington, but US President Donald Trump’s threats of sweeping tariffs came as a blow.

Six of the bloc’s members were among the worst hit, with tariffs between 32 percent and 49 percent.

Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs in April for most of the world, and this month struck a similar deal with key rival China, easing trade war tensions.

Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said ASEAN members are “very much looking at building ties with other parts of the world, in particular China, but also the Middle East” to strengthen their economic resilience.

“A measure of the importance that the GCC is also placing on this meeting is the delegation that has been sent here and the seniority of its members,” he added. “The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is here, and we have crown princes from Kuwait and also Bahrain. We also have a deputy prime minister from Oman.”

Anwar said Monday he had also written to Trump to request an ASEAN-US summit this year, showing “we observe seriously the spirit of centrality.” However, his Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Washington had not yet responded.

‘Timely, calculated’

ASEAN has traditionally served as “a middleman of sorts” between developed economies like the US and China, said Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

“Given the uncertainty and unpredictability associated with economic relations with the United States, ASEAN member states are looking to diversify,” he told the AFP news agency.

“Facilitating exchanges between the Gulf and People’s Republic of China is one aspect of this diversification.”

Malaysia, which opened the bloc’s 46th summit on Monday, is the main force behind the initiative, he said.

China, which has suffered the brunt of Trump’s tariffs, is also looking to shore up its other markets.

Premier Li’s participation is “both timely and calculated”, Khoo Ying Hooi from the University of Malaya told AFP.

“China sees an opportunity here to reinforce its image as a reliable economic partner, especially in the face of Western decoupling efforts.”

Beijing and Washington engaged in an escalating flurry of tit-for-tat levies until a meeting in Switzerland saw an agreement to slash them for 90 days.