The United States has launched an air assault on several
sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iran backed militias.
The attacks come in retaliation to the drone strike that
killed three US service members in Jordan last weekend.
The US Central Command said that the strikes were targeted
at Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard caused Quds Force and affiliated
militias.
The White House said that the American strikes against Iran
linked targets in Iraq and Syria took place over 30
minutes and were apparently successful.
The Iraqi military has condemned the strikes and said they
could ignite further instability in the region.
Now the strikes come hours after President Biden met with
the families of the three troops who were killed in
Jordan.
Palestinian militant group Hamas is demanding Israel to release Marvin
Barghouti,
a man some Palestinians see as their Nelson Mandela,
who's also a prime candidate to become the president in
the future.
Barghouti is the highest profile prisoner held by the Israeli
authorities.
His freedom is now at stake in the ceasefire negotiations
between Hamas and Israel.
Hamas leaders demanded on Friday that Israel released Barghouti as
part of any deal to end the fighting in Gaza.
Iran is on high alert as the United States has
targeted Iran linked targets in Syria and Iraq.
This after three U.S. soldiers were killed in Jordan.
While the Red Sea continues to be on the boil,
the Houthis, who have been targeting vessels,
aren't deterred. The support for the Iranian backed rebel group
seems to be rising.
Thousands gathered to support the Houthis in Yemeni capital of
Sana
holding banners supporting Gaza and the Houthis.
While the massive gathering raised anti US and anti Israel
slogans,
such rallies have taken place in other parts of Yemen
as well.
The people say that the tensions will only stop when
Israel stops its assault on Gaza.
They also equally blame the Americans for backing Israel.
In what seems like a long wait for the Ukrainian
president,
Vladimir Zalenski, the UN top court has ruled that it
will hear parts of Ukraines case against Russia.
Now, the case argues that Moscow has pressed,
quote UN, quote, baseless allegations of genocide on Kiev
to justify its February 2022 invasion.
However, the ICJ has made it clear it will not
address whether or not the Russian invasion violated the
1948 Genocide Convention.
The case is rather set to investigate if Ukraine did
commit a genocide in eastern Ukraine,
an area which the court said falls under its jurisdiction.
Russias intensifying attacks against Ukraine.
And once again, its target is the energy infrastructure.
A volley of Russian drones hit Ukraine.
The massive drone strike has left over
40,000 Ukrainians without power. According to Ukraine.
Moscow launched 24 Iranian drones targeting energy facilities.
Keith says its defense system down 11 drones.
Energy substations in the affected region suffered damage,
leading to massive power outage in the region.
Two mines were also left without power after the Russian
attack.
Officials say around 100 miners trapped underground were brought out
unharmed.
The northeastern Khaki region. Around 64 towns and settlements were
left without power.
Now the attack comes just a day after Ukraine claimed
sinking a Russian warship in the Red Sea,
continuing a fresh streak of weapons testing as Kim Jong
UNS regime ramps up what it calls war preparations.
North Korea has yet again fired multiple cruise missiles.
Source Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the military had
detected at around 11:00 AM local time the firing of
multiple unidentified cruise missiles into the sea of the countries
West Coast.
Now the South Korean military said that it has stepped
up surveillance in close coordination with the United States.
North Korean state media KCNA said that the launch tested
a super large warhead cruise missile and a new type
anti aircraft missile.
State media KCNA said that the most recent tests were
a part of the normal activities of the administration.
Well, let's see. Election season in the United States and
the Democrats nomination contest has officially begun in South Carolina.
Notably, South Carolina transformed Joe Bidens fortunes in 2020 presidential
polls,
while Republican candidate and former governor Nikki Haley struggles in
her home state.
Now, in the South Carolina primary,
U.S. President Biden will appear on the ballot for the
first time as the state will launch the race for
presidential nominations for the Democratic Party.
Interestingly, Democrats picked the South Carolina state as it allows
the 17 year olds,
who will be 18 by the
2024 general elections, to vote in presidential primaries.
The polling will be conducted from 7:00 AM to 7:00
PM local time.
Protesters from leftist groups clashed with the police outside Argentinas
Congress on Friday.
This comes as the Argentine Congress debates on President Javier
Millay's economic reform bill.
The bill, ranging from economic policy to privatization of state
entities,
aims to tackle the South American countries worst economic crisis
in decades.
Vilay faces a major challenge to push the bill through,
with his coalition only having a minority in both the
chambers.
If the law is approved in the lower chamber,
a debate that will likely extend beyond Wednesday
as the US Mexico border crisis continues.
Drone footage has now emerged showing the Texas National Guard
officers
putting up wire along the US Mexico border in Eagle
Pass.
This comes as the migrants crossed the Rio Grande but
were deterred by the border Force from crossing the border.
However, the installation of barbed wire has led to a
legal and political dispute within the Bible administration.
One of Italys most violent Mafia heads has been arrested
in France.
Marco Raduano escaped from Italys maximum security prison last year.
Radwano is one of Europes most wanted criminals and has
been recaptured in Frances Corsica Island.
Now the fugitive got away from a heavily secured prison
in Italy,
Sardinia, by scaling down the walls using a pet sheet.
The 40 year old was imprisoned for running and heading
the rural Gargano clan
which is an organized crime syndicate.
As for the Europol, which is the law enforcing body
of the European Union,
Raduano had been serving a
24 year jail term over multiple offenses.
India and Maldives held talks on Friday over the presence
of Indian military personnel in the island nation.
The second round of the core group meeting focused on
finding a,
quote, UN quote, mutually acceptable solution
for the continued humanitarian operations of the Indian military in
Maldives.
As per the statement released by Indias Foreign Ministry,
the two countries have agreed on the continued operation of
Indian aviation services
which provides humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people
of Maldives.
Well, the statement also asserts that India and Maldives review
the existing bilaterals to enhance defense development and security ties.
Former Indian Deputy Prime Minister and veteran leader of the
BJP Lal Kishan Advani will be conferred Bharat Ratna,
the highest civilian owner of India,
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
And I quote, I'm very happy to share that Sri
LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna.
I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being
conferred this honor.
The Prime Minister further said that his contribution to the
development of India is monumental.
His is a life that started from working at the
grassroots to serving the nation as a Deputy Prime Minister,
veteran BJP leader LK Advani said.
And I quote with utmost humility and gratitude,
I accept the Bharat Ratna
that has been conferred on me today.
It is not only an honor for me as a
person,
but also for the ideals and principles that I have
stroked to serve throughout my life
to the best of my ability.
An explosion has been reported outside the Election Commission office
in the port city of Karachi.
Just days, Six days in fact,
before the South Asian nation
is going for the 16th National Assembly elections.
Pakistans Election Commission took note of the blast incident
and requested reports from the senior police officials and the
district monitoring officer.
According to the senior Karachi police official,
No casualty has been reported in the blast.
The senior Superintendent of Police also said that the explosive
material was placed in a shopping bag
along the wall of the Election Commission office in cities
red zone area.
After days of speculation, Malaysias former Prime Minister Najib Razak
is set to be released from jail earlier than expected.
Razak was convicted and sent to jail in 2020 for
12 years over the multibillion dollar
One MDB scandal.
This comes as the countries pardon board has decided to
halve Razaks jail sentence.
Moreover, the pardon board has also reduced the fines imposed
on Razak to
$10.6 million from $44.5 million.
Malaysias Pardon Board consists of five members appointed by the
countries king.
The One MDB was a state funded strategic company
launched by Razak in 2009 to spur economic development in
the country.
In South Africa, supporters of former President Jacob Zuma carried
out a series of rallies and motorcades in the northern
part of Durban.
The rallies in support come just days after the ruling
party
African National Congress suspended Zuma for extending his support to
a new new political party.
Head of the 2024 national elections,
Jacob Zuma addressed a series of rallies of the newly
formed NK Party in Durban,
which is ANC's biggest region
by membership in the country and the party's key stronghold
as well.
Zuma's address is seen as a message to the ruling
party that the newly formed political outfit
will pose as a potential challenger in the upcoming provincial
and national elections.
The South American country of Chile is battling massive forest
fires.
According to Chile's national forestry body,
over 7000 hectares have been burned in Chile's Valparaiso region
alone.
High temperatures with strong winds have been blamed for fanning
the wildfires as firefighters battle
to keep the flames away from residential areas.
According to local media, at least
ten people have died and over 1000 homes have been
burned due to the flames so far.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been cleared of a public
order offense.
On Friday, a judge ruled that police had no power
to arrest her during the protest
during an oil and gas conference in London last year.
Khanberg was acquitted at Westminster Magistrates Court,
with the applause ensuring by supporters present in the court.
Khanberg was among dozens of people arrested on October 17th
outside a London hotel where the Energy Intelligence Forum was
hosting oil and gas industry leaders.
Six individual Air Jordan sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during
NBA Finals have been sold for $8 million
at a New York auction.
As for the auction house Sotheby's,
the amount has set a new global record for game
worn sneakers.
This became the second highest price achieved for Michael Jordan
sports memorabilia.
Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Opening Game jersey from the Fames
last dance season
still holds the first world record for any game worn
sports memorabilia.
It fetched over $10 million.
The BRICS block, comprising Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa,
has long advocated for a shift in the global power
structure.
In August 2023, they took a decisive step by inviting
6 new members to join their ranks.
Five of those invitations have now been officially accepted.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
have confirmed their intention to become full members of bricks.
This expansion will significantly increase the bloc's collective economic and
political clout.
These five nations represent diverse regions and industries,
from oil rich Gulf states to populous African economies.
The US has announced significant changes for its visa services.
They include a sharp increase in fees for many non
immigrant visa categories
including the
H1BL1 and EB5.
The EU, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services or the
USC
is announced. The has announced the updated fees for registration
and visa applications.
The US Department of Homeland Security disclosed these heights in
a statement.
Now, the
H1BL1 and EV5 visas are mainly availed by Indians
and this is the first time since
2016 that their fees have been hiked.
The maximum height was for H1B visas whose registration fees
have been raised by an astounding
2015%.
Now As for the reports,
the changes will be effective from the 1st of April.