Author: Agencies And A News

The Kremlin on Friday said Russia’s launch of an experimental ballistic missile against Ukraine should be understood as a warning to the West, as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte convened a key meeting to discuss the implications of the strike. “The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow, one day after the Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit with a new type of intermediate-range missile labelled Oreshnik. Peskov said the attack was a consequence of “reckless decisions” by Western countries, pointing to the move by the United States and its allies to authorize…

Arab countries welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to formally issue arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Iraqi government “values the courageous and just stance taken by the International Criminal Court in issuing arrest warrants against the head of the Zionist entity’s government and its former defense minister,” government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi said in a statement. “This historic decision affirms that no matter how much oppression persists and tries to prevail, justice and truth will confront it and prevent it from dominating the world,” he added. Al-Awadi…

Outgoing US President Joe Biden denounced a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants Thursday for Israel’s prime minister and his former defense minister. “The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous,” said Biden in a statement. “Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.” He said the US “will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” In a landmark move, the court announced that it had issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for…

China on Friday urged the International Criminal Court to remain objective and fair after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and just position (and) exercise its powers in accordance with the law,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in response to a question about the court’s warrant for Netanyahu.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered important remarks during the Istanbul Energy Forum held at the Istanbul Congress Center. Key highlights from Erdoğan’s speech: “Türkiye’s goal is to be among the top 3 in renewable energy in Europe, and the top 9 in the world by 2025. Türkiye has the potential to become one of the world’s leading energy trade hubs with 7 natural gas pipelines, 2 floating LNG terminals, and 15 entry points. Without valuing humanity and the environment, the global economy cannot prosper, energy security cannot be ensured, and world peace cannot be achieved. Türkiye is one of the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that his country struck a plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro using a new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile. Initially, Ukraine’s Air Force claimed that Moscow launched an intercontinental ballistic missile during an attack on the city of Dnipro early in the morning, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed in a later video address. But, he said that expert evaluations to confirm the exact model of the missile used are underway. “One of the largest and well-known industrial complexes from the Soviet Union, which today produces missile technology and other weapons, was hit…

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday that Ukraine would be permitted to use American-made anti-personnel mines to help it slow Russia’s advances on the battlefield. During the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Austin told reporters that Washington’s policy shift on anti-personnel mines for Ukraine was in response to Russia’s evolving tactics. He emphasized that the Biden administration would enable Ukraine to deploy the mines as a measure to counter Russia’s ground forces, which he described as leading the charge on the battlefield. He said the Ukrainian army needs “things that can…

Ukraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time, according to multiple British media reports on Wednesday. The attack comes a day after Ukraine’s first use of U.S. long-range ATACMS missiles on Russian soil, following authorization from U.S. President Joe Biden. The Guardian reported earlier this week that the UK would soon approve the use of Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian territory. Earlier, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the international community had to “double down” in its support for Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Tuesday a decree approving Russia’s updated nuclear…

The US State Department on Tuesday authorized a potential $100 million sale of military equipment and services to Ukraine. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. The package includes vehicle refurbishment, technical assistance, training, publications and logistics and support, said the agency. The announcement came amid reports that the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use long-range US missiles to target deep…

The UN expressed grave concern Tuesday over ongoing hostilities in southern Lebanon, with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations describing the situation as “appalling.” Noting that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is currently operating under “very challenging and difficult conditions,” Jean-Pierre Lacroix, speaking at a news conference, said “UNIFIL remains at all its positions and is carrying out a number of activities” to sustain its presence. Lacroix noted that the volatile environment has limited the mission’s activities and reported three separate incidents impacting UNIFIL peacekeepers Tuesday, including clashes, exchanges of fire and airstrikes. “The level of…