Author: News Desk

The president of the International Criminal Court lashed out Monday against attacks on the court, which finds itself under the spotlight after issuing arrest warrants over wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The ICC has faced criticism in some quarters after judges issued an arrest warrant last month for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and a top Hamas leader. We speak to Anthony Dworkin, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. ICC president hits back at 'attacks', 'threats'

Iranian-backed militias from Iraq have entered Syria to assist the government’s counteroffensive against rebels who have taken control of Aleppo, the largest city. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, approximately 200 Iraqi militiamen traveling in pickups crossed into Syria overnight. “These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the front lines in the north,” a senior military official told the Reuters news agency. Syria’s government and allies bomb rebel-held territoriesTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fighting continues around Aleppo and Idlib Led…

The Emir of Qatar will begin a two-day state visit to the UK hosted by the King.Charles will welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, during a ceremony of pomp and pageantry staged in Whitehall.But missing will be Queen Camilla who, on Monday evening, pulled out of the official open-air greeting on Horse Guards Parade and a carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace, due to lingering effects of a recent viral chest infection.Queen Camilla contracted the illness a month ago following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa (Aaron Chown/PA) Camilla…

Hard-pressed families in Cork and around the country are facing the choice of heating their home or buying food on any given day, a leading charity has said.The Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP) said it continues to receive a high volume of calls, particularly as we head towards Christmas.“The main thing is having enough money to cover food on the table and heat their homes, but trying to manage Christmas at the same time is difficult,” said SVP’s southwest regional co-ordinator Gerry Garvey.“In a country that’s comfortably well-off, we should ensure that families have a basic standard of…

  President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic partnership on Monday, December 2, aiming at deepening bilateral ties and de-escalating conflict in the Middle East, including Lebanon, where the two leaders called for presidential elections. After a meeting with Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of the oil-rich Gulf kingdom, Macron’s office announced the signing of a new partnership aimed at improving cooperation in “defense, energy transition, culture, mobility between the two countries”. The two leaders also “agreed to make every effort to contribute to de-escalation in the region”, including helping to consolidate the…

  What would happen if the Social Security budget for 2025 were not approved? On Monday, December 2, Prime Minister Michel Barnier forced the bill through the Assemblée Nationale without a vote, by activating Article 49.3 of the Constitution. The decision prompted two motions of no confidence to be tabled by the left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN). If the government falls, the social security budget (PLFSS) would be dead and gone. Former prime minister Elisabeth Borne spoke of such a possibility: “If the Social Security budget is censured, it means that, on January…

Díaz “welcomes” a public housing company but says he will not lower pricesThe second vice president of the Government and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, “welcomed” this Monday the announcement by the Chief Executive, Pedro Sánchez, to create a large public housing company, but pointed out that it will not serve to lower prices and blamed the 11 communities governed by the PP to maintain the high rental amounts.“The news is welcome, it is a form of management, it is good and therefore we design collective strategies as a country, from the public, in terms of housing, but this does…

Thursday, December 12. D-Day has arrived for José Luis Ábalos, former all-powerful right-hand man of Pedro Sánchez and now banned by a PSOE that wants to turn him into a firewall and, if possible, a human shield. If he Koldo case does not escalate beyond the former Minister of Transport and former Secretary of Organization of the Socialists, in Ferraz’s engine room there will be a song in their teeth: «We act immediately for the responsibilities Ábalos will go on the attack in the Supreme Court: “I will dismantle the UCO and Aldama”

In California, the legislature met for a special session. It is planning targeted moves to torpedo Donald Trump’s plans for deportations, for example. The state is already releasing millions of dollars for legal disputes with Washington. The Democratically dominated US state of California is preparing to face the coming Trump administration. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have been in a special session since Monday to protect the state’s progressive politics from another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, wants to make California once again the center of resistance to the conservative agenda. He…

Jaguar once stood for elegance in car manufacturing. But the British car manufacturer, which is now relying entirely on electricity, is also throwing design traditions overboard with the study of a Gran Turismo. The future will be… edgy. Jaguar: Type 00 – this is what the future of the luxury car brand looks like