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Top 10 world news: Israel seeking Palestinians to manage civilian affairs; IPL 2024 schedule; and more

Admin — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:25:15 +0000

Israel is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in areas of the Gaza Strip. The Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule is finally released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. In other news, at least five students were said to be injured after a knife attack at a school in the German city of Wuppertal, on Thursday (Feb 22). Read this and more in Top 10 world news.

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday (Feb 22) that the nation is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in areas of the Gaza Strip.

IPL 2024 Schedule Announcement: After days of excitement, the Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule is finally released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (Feb 22). Keeping in mind the dates of the upcoming general elections in India; the BCCI had delayed the announcement of the schedule.

At least five students were said to be injured after a knife attack at a school in the German city of Wuppertal, on Thursday (Feb 22), according to media reports citing the police. The suspect, a 17-year-old knife-wielding fellow student, has been arrested, said the local officials.

Imran Khan, the imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan, plans to write to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), urging them to advocate for an impartial audit of the national elections contested on February 8 before resuming discussions with Islamabad, as stated by his lawyer on Thursday.

Calls for Lindsay Hoyle to step down as the Speaker have intensified following his controversial decision to prioritise a Labour amendment to the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) Gaza ceasefire motion. 57 MPs are urging his resignation, criticising his departure from convention by allowing the debate and vote on Labour’s amendment for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire before the original SNP motion.

A massive data leak showed that a Chinese technology firm I-Soon hacked Indian government offices as well as institutions in various other nations, media reports said citing a large data leak confirmed as legitimate by experts.

Humpback whales have found a unique way to establish communication among their fellow species however noisy humans are causing massive disruptions here too.

Raising children can be expensive, irrespective of which country you are a resident of. However, as per a recent report from the YuWa Population Research Institute, China is one of the most expensive places to raise children. The report released on Wednesday says that the high costs have a disproportionate impact on women.

Russian troops have taken over the village of Pobieda in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, said the Russian defence ministry, on Thursday (Feb 22). Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said it was repelling attacks in the region.

The American airline announced on Tuesday (Feb 20) that it is increasing the cost of a first checked bag to $40 on most flights, or $35 if paid before reaching the airport. This marks the first time the airline has raised the fee since 2018, when the charge was $30 for a first checked bag on most flights.

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Top 10 world news: Indian farmers suspend Delhi march; US supports Israel in UN court; and more

Admin — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:16:06 +0000

Agitating farmers in India have suspended their march to the national capital New Delhi for two days. It has been reported that the leaders of the agitation will take a call on further action on Friday. In other news, the United States urged the United Nations court not to order Israel to vacate the occupied West Bank and Gaza without security guarantees. The US said Israel has “very real security needs”. Read this and more in Top 10 world news.

This comes after a protester died and about 12 police personnel were injured as thousands of Indian farmers resumed their march to the capital after talks with the government failed to end an impasse over their demands for guaranteed crop prices

ICJ hearing about Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands: The hearings are based on the UN General Assembly’s request in 2022 to issue a non-binding opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons that Navalny died for a cause to which he dedicated his whole life, freedom

The potential vice president candidates include Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, entrepreneur and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and former Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

Reports in Pakistani media say that the committee has already recorded statements of District Returning Officers (DRO) and Returning Officers (ROs) of 13 National Assembly constituencies and 26 assembly constituencies of Rawalpindi division

The Belgian presidency announced that “EU ambassadors have reached a principle agreement on the 13th package of sanctions in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” referring to it as “one of the biggest adopted by the EU.”

Cold wave in China: Chinese meteorological officials warned that some regions including Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi and Jiangxi will be witnessing a temperature drop of more than 20 degrees Celsius.

Multiple shots had been fired at the residence of an associate of the pro-Khalistan figure Nijjar since then Khalistani separatist groups in Canada, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had alleged the involvement of the Indian government in the shooting which took place at Simranjeet Singh’s residence on February 1.

The American Gaming Association said that the total earnings were 10 per cent higher than those in 2022, the year which had set the previous record

The campaign, organised by Elena Cardone, wife of Grant Cardone, has raised $658,597 so far, sparking outrage and boycott appeals against GoFundMe.

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Tripadvisor names world’s best beaches for 2024 – UPI.com

Admin — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 15:51:54 +0000

Visitors flock to beaches in Italy in 2023. Travel guide Tripadvisor has announced its best beaches of 2024, with many overseas in places like Portugal, Italy and Spain. Photo by Ceasare Abbate/EPA-EFE

Feb. 21 (UPI) — Travel guide Tripadvisor is listing the best beaches of 2024 — with many overseas in places like Portugal, Italy and Spain.

The online travel guide on Wednesday announced its “Best of the Best Beaches” list, which ranks the top 10 beaches on the quality and quantity of global reviews and ratings gathered over a 12-month period.

The top three beaches are all in Europe, ousting the perennially popular Caribbean from those spots, Sarah Firshein, head of editorial at Tripadvisor, said in a statement, adding that it’s “a sign that some travelers are eager to swap typical resort vacations for the coastlines of Portugal, Italy and beyond.”

The top beach on the list, 12-mile-long Praia da Falésia is ln the town of Olhos de Agua, Portugal, and received praise for its scenic walks and sunbathing options. According to Tripadvisor, spring is the best time to visit for more affordable prices and fewer crowds.

Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach) in Lampedusa, Italy, and La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Donostia, Spain, rounded out the Top-3 destinations.

Only two U.S. beaches made the list. Three-mile-long Ka-anapali Beach in Lahaina, Hawaii, was chosen for its wildlife sightings and water sports, while Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Fla., was chosen for its sunbathing and family options.

Manly Beach in Sydney, was a new entry in 2024, and picked for its walking, shopping and cultural areas. The best time to visit the area, according to Tripadvisor, is in March, as the area boasts comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds.

Rounding out the list were evergreen hotspots like Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, Praslin Island in the Seychelles and Palm Eagle Beach in Aruba.

Varadero Beach in Cuba made the list even though U.S. citizens may need to “jump through a few hoops to visit” the country, the tourism company said.

Tripadvisor also compiled a list of the best beaches in the United States, which span from Maine to the Pacific shores of Oregon.

According to the list, Ka’anapali Beach on the island of Maui achieved the best in the U.S. title for the second year in a row. Last year’s top beaches included Baia do Sancho beach in Brazil and Reynisfjara Beach, located in Vik, Iceland.

Other popular locations included Hollywood Beach in Florida, La Jolla Cove in California, Cannon Beach in Oregon, Driftwood Beach off of Jekyll Island in Georgia and Ocean City Beach in Maryland.

A new ranking of sustainable beaches, includes Sandbanks Beach in Poole, U.K., Radhanagar Beach off Havelock Island in India, Corniche Beach in Abu Dhabi, Galissas Beach in Greece and Camp’s Bay Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.

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‘World’s biggest snake’ discovered in Amazon; 26-feet long, weighs 200 kg- Video

Admin — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 15:14:14 +0000

A team of scientists has discovered a new species of green anaconda in the Amazon rain forest. One of the scientists, Prof. (Dr) Freek Vonk has recorded a video of a 26-feet-long green anaconda, believed to be the biggest snake in the world.

One of the scientists, Prof. dr. Freek Vonk has recorded a video of a 26-feet-long green anaconda, believed to be the biggest snake in the world.(Instagram)

Sharing a video of the anaconda on Instagram, Vonk wrote, “The BIGGEST anaconda I’ve ever seen can be seen in the video, as thick as a car tyre, eight meters long and over 200 kg heavy – with a head as big as my head. From total awe and admiration a ‘monster’!”.

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“I’ve discovered a new species before, but that was a small snake from Australia. Now it’s about a mythical and legendary animal, one that I can fit four times! Definitely one of the highlights of my scientific career. Also because this snake can be found in the Amazon, a place that feels like home to me,” he added.

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The news species has been given the Latin name Eunectes akayima, which means the “northern green anaconda”. The word “akayima” comes from several indigenous languages of northern South America, and means “big snake.”

Earlier, the new species was found during filming for National Geographic’s Disney+ series Pole to Pole with Will Smith, reported Independent. The findings have been published by the team of scientists in the journal Diversity.

“The size of these magnificent creatures was incredible – one female anaconda we encountered measured an astounding 6.3 metres long. There are anecdotal reports from the Waorani people of other anacondas in the area measuring more than 7.5 metres long and weighing around 500 kilograms,” Dr Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland said in a statement.

Where are green anacondas found?

The green anaconda is found in the tropical parts of South America such as the basins of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Esequibo rivers. The green anacondas have two species- southern green anaconda and northern green anaconda.

These snakes feed on caimans, capybara, deer, tapirs etc. They kill their prey by throwing coiling around them and then constricting them. The green anaconda can hunt their prey even under water.

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UN top court shouldn’t urge Israel to immediately withdraw from Palestinian-claimed lands, US says

Admin — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:13:43 +0000

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States said Wednesday the United Nations’ top court should not issue an advisory opinion that says Israel should “immediately and unconditionally withdraw” from territories sought for a Palestinian state.

Acting State Department legal adviser Richard Visek said the 15-judge panel at the International Court of Justice should not seek to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict “through an advisory opinion addressed to questions focusing on the acts of only one party.”

Visek spoke on the third day of hearings at the court into a request by the General Assembly for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s policies in the occupied territories.

He said the court “can address the questions before it within the established framework based on the land for peace principle and within the parameters of established principles of occupation law.”

Visek added that the court’s opinion “will have consequences for the parties to the conflict and for the ongoing efforts of all of those working to achieve a durable peace.”

Earlier this week, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki called on the court to uphold the Palestinian right to self-determination and declare “that the Israeli occupation is illegal and must end immediately, totally and unconditionally.”

The idea of land for peace has been the cornerstone of U.S.-led diplomacy for decades and was the basis of the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, in which Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for peace and recognition.

The same principle has been applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the peace process has repeatedly stalled because of Palestinian attacks, Israel’s expansion of settlements in occupied territory, and the inability of the two sides to agree on thorny issues like final borders, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

The U.S. arguments at the world court came a day after Washington vetoed an Arab-backed and widely supported U.N. resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire of the Israel-Hamas war in the embattled Gaza Strip, saying it would interfere with negotiations on a deal to free hostages held by militant Palestinian group Hamas.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining. It reflected the strong support from countries around the globe for ending the war, which started when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking nearly 250 others hostage. Since then, more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory military offensive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says the vast majority were women and children.

“Hamas’s attacks, hostage-taking and other atrocities, the ongoing hostilities and the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the violence in the West Bank reinforce the United States resolve to urgently achieve a final peace that includes the full realization of Palestinian self-determination,” Visek said.

Visek’s comments were preceded Wednesday by condemnations of Israel’s policies by representatives of Colombia, Cuba and Egypt. Along with the Palestinians, a total of 51 nations and three international organizations are scheduled to speak at the hearings. The court will likely take months to issue its non-binding advisory opinion.

The Palestinians argue that Israel’s open-ended military occupation has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest and the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and has imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid.

On Tuesday, South Africa argued that Israel’s policies amount to apartheid against the Palestinians and that Israel’s occupation of land sought for a Palestinian state is “inherently and fundamentally illegal.” Israel rejects such claims.

In a written submission filed last year, Israel argued that the questions put to the court are prejudiced, ignore “Israel’s right and duty to protect its citizens,” fail to address Israeli security concerns or acknowledge past agreements with the Palestinians to negotiate “the permanent status of the territory, security arrangements, settlements, and borders.”

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state. Israel considers the West Bank to be a disputed territory and says its future should be decided in negotiations.

Israel has also built settlements across the West Bank, many of which resemble fully developed suburbs and small towns. The settlements are home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers, while around 3 million Palestinians live in the territory. The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal.

Israel has also annexed east Jerusalem, home to the city’s most sensitive holy sites, and considers the entire city to be its capital. The annexation is not internationally recognized.

___

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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26-Foot-Long Anaconda Discovered In Amazon Rainforest Is The World’s Biggest Snake

Admin — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:19:06 +0000

This snake species is claimed to be the largest and also heaviest snake in the world.

Scientists have discovered the world’s biggest snake in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. A giant anaconda, which was previously undocumented, was recently found by TV wildlife presenter, Professor Freek Vonk during a National Geographic expedition. The huge anaconda measures 26 feet long, weighs 440 pounds and its head is the same size as a human’s, Independent reported. This snake species is claimed to be the largest and also heaviest snake in the world.

The species was found during filming for the National Geographics Disney+ series ‘Pole to Pole’ with Will Smith. Researchers have given the new species the Latin name ‘Eunectes akayima’, which means the Northern Green Anaconda.

In a video shared on Instagram, Professor Vonk is seen fearlessly swimming alongside the enormous anaconda, showing off his discovery. ”The BIGGEST anaconda I’ve ever seen can be seen in the video, as thick as a car tire, eight meters long, and over 200 kg heavy – with a head as big as my head. From total awe and admiration a monster,” he captioned the video.

Watch the video here:

Notably, these anacondas often move faster than their prey and use their strong bodies to suffocate and swallow them whole.

Previously, the Amazon was thought to host only one species of Green Anaconda, also known as the Giant Anaconda. However, Mr Vonk and his team of 14 other scientists from nine countries, determined that the northern green anaconda is a completely separate species from the green anaconda.

The new species, described in the journal Diversity, diverged from the previously known southern green anaconda about 10 million years ago, differing genetically from it by 5.5 percent.

”Genetically, the differences are massive. They’re five-and-a-half percent different, genetically. To put that into context, we’re about two percent different from chimps,” explained Bryan Fry, the expedition’s leader, a biologist at the University of Queensland, and co-author of the research.

The finding, according to researchers, is pivotal for the conservation of anacondas, which are apex predators and vital to maintaining balance in their ecosystems.

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India, the US looking into exciting joint science & technology projects to further expand ties: says top American scientist

Admin — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 04:05:43 +0000

Describing the US-India Partnership as a very important one for the Biden-Harris administration and also in Congress,

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Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Foundation said there’s total bipartisan support for a strong partnership between two great democracies, the US and India.

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Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his visit to Washington DC, for the historic State Visit, with a trip to the National Science Foundation headquarters in Alexandria wherein he interacted with the scientific community and the young scientist minds.

“Now, in terms of the National Science Foundation (NSF), we have started to work with India in the science and technology front with threads of partnerships, as I call them,” Panchanathan told PTI in an interview.

NSF started first with the Department of Science and Technology. Working together, they have already had two rounds of funding.

“We had started with 35 projects that we funded with the six digital technology hubs. This was in 2022,” he said. They are now looking into various exciting joint proposals between US and Indian researchers, many of whom are going to be funded.

“The Ministry of Information Technology met with us. They signed an implementation agreement last summer, and we already have put out a call for proposals. We are in the final stages of deciding on the specific projects that will be funded,” he said, describing it as the second thread.

The third thread is establishing a partnership with the Department of Biotechnology.

“With the Department of Biotechnology, we are just about to announce the joint funding proposal opportunity for people to be able to work together in the areas of Bioeconomy and Biomanufacturing,” he said.

“This is in line with President Biden’s executive order not too long ago on Bioeconomy and Biomanufacturing. There’s a similar interest in India. Therefore, bringing the two sides together, and the research groups together to work on that is truly a great opportunity,” he said.

During the interview, Panchanathan also said, “In the last 10 years, I’ve seen a marked, sort of, intentional intensity, if I can put it that way, in wanting to make sure that science and technology innovations are inspired at scale everywhere. It’s also that the entrepreneurial outcomes from that are being made possible everywhere across India. I see it.”

Panchanathan, one of the topmost scientific advisors to President Joe Biden, has made several trips to India in the last year and a half to intensify the scientific collaboration between the two countries as directed by the president and the prime ministers.

“When I go to India and when I speak to people, I can see the palpable difference in terms of wanting the entrepreneurial ventures of the future, industries of the future. Of course, science and technology aspirations are being realised at scale. I see multiple institutions across India wanting to engage in fundamental discovery research as well as applied research. I find a lot more desire to work in partnership with industry,” he said. “So, there is a clear acceleration of the trajectory of wanting to build a science and technology-based innovative economy into the future. I see that,” Panchanathan told PTI when asked about the development of India’s science and technology in the last 10 years.

“That is something that the US and India clearly share a value that we believe that we are able to deliver for our citizens if we have such a prosperous innovation ethos that we build in both of our nations, that can then be prosperity for all our citizens in both our nations. So clearly, I can see that marked an intentional effort with intensity over the last 10 years,” he said.

Panchanathan said he finds the launch of the National Research Foundation (NRF) by India a good step and then trying to see how you can synergise the investments that are being made by the various departments in promoting science and technology, innovations and discoveries being brought together; and also trying to build a lot more research intensity, not only in the premier institutions but in a range of institutions across the nation.

“That would be an important thing. Considering that there’s a lot of youth in India to build skilled technical workforce-based institutions that ensure that people are trained for the industries of the future so that jobs of the future are then opportunities for everyone, but more importantly ensure the success of industries of the future,” he said.

The 15th Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) since June 2020, Indian American Panchanathan is a computer scientist. An IIT Madras alumni, Chennai-born Panchanathan was recently elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering.

The Department of Telecommunications has also expressed interest in wanting to work with NSF in areas where they have shared interest like the next generation of telecommunication systems Six G and beyond, the top American scientist said.

“We are thinking about how we might bring our assets together and see how we might bring both research groups wanting to work together in these areas. Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Mines, they have also expressed interest in wanting to work with us,” he said.

“So, as you can see, what we started off with, Department of Science and Technology and with the Prime Minister’s (State) visit has already taken shape in terms of five or six threads of opportunity that we’re working on,” he said.

During a meeting with the Chief Scientific Advisor, in Ahmedabad, before the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, they talked about how they might further enhance the partnerships by working together not only as bilateral between India and the United States but also looking at other like-minded partners who can work together to do bigger and better things for all nations, he said.

“We have also been exploring the Quad as a framework for how we might work together. India, US Australia, and Japan are the four countries working together, and we have identified AI for Agriculture. This is a great topic that’s of interest to everyone.

Clearly has tremendous impact possibilities in the United States, in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

“What we might do in bringing technologies like AI is to see how we can have much more efficient, effective, and technologically inspired agriculture and better outcomes through that. We are already advancing on that. We’re about to announce some projects where we’ll have some co-funding that we do for AI institutes that we are funded in the United States so that they can partner with companion institutions and researchers in Japan, India and Australia to further see how we can work together,” he said.

“We’ll also be ensuring a joint call for proposals, bringing all the nations together around this thematic topic in the near future. With these several threads of bilateral partnerships and what we are doing as well as the multilateral partnerships, clearly, the researchers on both sides, India and the US, have got a tremendous amount of interest in wanting to work together for the global good and of course the economic vitality and the national security objectives of both nations,” Dr Panchanathan said.

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Rochester ranks in top 10 for quality of life in U.S. News and World Report list

Admin — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:51:12 +0000

U.S. News and World Report has released its annual list of the “Best Places to Live” and Rochester made the top 10 for “Quality of Life.”

Rochester ranked ninth behind cities that included Ann Arbor, Michigan; San Jose, California; and Boston, Massachusetts.

The publication praised Rochester’s affordability, relatively short commute times, and rich history. But it listed the region’s people as it’s biggest asset, saying they are “considered warmer, kinder, and more welcoming than their downstate brethren.”

This follows a recent accolade from Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, which named Rochester the second friendliest U.S. city.

“We’ve often had folks tell us that Rochester gives off a Midwestern feel in terms of the friendliness of the community,” said Rachel Laber Pulvino, spokesperson for the local tourism agency, Visit Rochester.

She said good reviews like this not only have the potential to draw more tourists to the region, they also boost local pride.

Laber Pulvino believes visitors experience a certain authenticity here.

“There’s no Times Square of Rochester,” she added. “Nothing here is a manufactured place.”

Rochester will have a chance to show off its strong points in April when out of towners are expected to flock to the region to view the total solar eclipse.

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Top 10 world news: US blocks push for Gaza ceasefire; Navalny’s mother demands her son’s body; and more

Admin — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:05:53 +0000

The US on Tuesday vetoed a proposal by Algeria at UNSC to announce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, despite US President Joe Biden facing pushback for supporting Israel. X account of deceased Russia’s opposition leader and Putin critic Alexei Navalny’s wife was briefly blocked today. Less than an hour later, X restored Navalnaya’s access to the social media platform. Meanwhile, Navalny’s mother has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand over her son’s body after his death five days ago in an Arctic jail. Lyudmila and her son’s lawyer visited the “Polar Wolf” IK-3 penal colony in Russia’s Arctic north, where Navalny had been held since last year.

Click on the headlines to read more.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tuesday that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, even as President Joe Biden faced mounting pressure to dial back support for Israel.

Lyudmila Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny’s mother, on Tuesday (Feb 20) urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand over her son’s body after his death five days ago in an Arctic jail.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar repeated New Delhi’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war and said that the country’s ties with Moscow are based on historical experiences — western sanctions notwithstanding.

Twelve days after India’s western neighbour went to polls, there remains inconclusive progress on a power-sharing deal between the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP).

Deceased Russian dissident and politician Alexei Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya has had her account suspended on Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of a US-Russian woman in Yekaterinburg on suspicion of treason and raising funds for the Ukrainian Army.

Son of an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been found dead under ‘strange’ circumstances, reported Newsweek.

The World Health Organization (WHO) voiced alarm on Tuesday (Feb 20), about the measles cases that have been rising so quickly. Last year, there were over 306,000 cases worldwide, which is a 79 per cent rise from 2022.

It is a boy! Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have become parents for the second time. The actress took to her Instagram page to announce the birth of their second child, a baby boy whom they have named Akay. The couple has a three-year-old daughter Vamika.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is all set to begin on March 22, confirmed the chairman Arun Dhumal on Tuesday (Feb 20).

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South Africa tells top UN court that it’s accusing Israel of apartheid against Palestinians

Admin — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:52:32 +0000

World News

“South Africa bears a special obligation, both to its own people and the international community, to ensure that wherever the egregious and offensive practices of apartheid occur, these must be called out for what they are and brought to an immediate end.”

Pro-Palestinians demonstrators wave flags as they protest outside the United Nations’ highest court during historic hearings, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. AP Photo/Peter Dejong

By MIKE CORDER, Associated Press

February 20, 2024 | 8:52 AM

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — South Africa argued at the United Nations’ top court on Tuesday that Israel is responsible for apartheid against the Palestinians and that Israel’s occupation of land sought for a Palestinian state is “inherently and fundamentally illegal.” Israel rejects such claims.

The South African representatives were speaking on the second day of hearings at the International Court of Justice into a request by the General Assembly for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s policies in the occupied territories.

“South Africa bears a special obligation, both to its own people and the international community, to ensure that wherever the egregious and offensive practices of apartheid occur, these must be called out for what they are and brought to an immediate end,” the country’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, told the panel of 15 international judges.

Israel rejects accusations of apartheid and usually dismisses U.N. bodies and international tribunals as unfair and biased against it. Israel is not making a statement during the hearings, which are taking place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza that has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel sent a written submission last year in which it argued that the questions put to the court are prejudiced and “fail to recognize Israel’s right and duty to protect its citizens,” address Israeli security concerns or acknowledge past agreements with the Palestinians to negotiate “the permanent status of the territory, security arrangements, settlements, and borders.”

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state. Israel considers the West Bank to be disputed territory and says its future should be decided in negotiations.

Israel has also built settlements across the West Bank, many of which resemble fully developed suburbs and small towns. The settlements are home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers, while around 3 million Palestinians live in the territory. Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers the entire city to be its capital.

The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal. Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem, home to the city’s most sensitive holy sites, is not internationally recognized.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Monday that Israel does not recognize the legitimacy of the discussions at the International Court of Justice. He called the case “part of the Palestinian attempt to dictate the results of the political agreement without negotiations.”

South African representative Pieter Andreas Stemmet told the court on Tuesday that the settlements have extended the “temporary nature of the occupation into a permanent situation in violation of the Palestinian right to self-determination.”

South Africa’s legal arguments echoed those made a day earlier by Palestinian representatives as six days of hearings opened before the Netherlands-based court. After the Palestinians opened hearings, a total of 51 nations and three international organizations are scheduled to address the court, which will likely take months to issue its advisory opinion.

“This occupation is annexation and supremacist in nature,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Tuesday. He called on the court to uphold the Palestinian right to self-determination and declare “that the Israeli occupation is illegal and must end immediately, totally and unconditionally.”

South Africa has a long history of support for the Palestinians. Its governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Blacks to “homelands” before ending in 1994.

That led to South Africa launching a separate case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in its assault on Gaza that followed the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel. At hearings in January, Israel strongly rejected the allegation. Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker said that the country is fighting a “war it did not start and did not want.”

A final ruling in that case is likely years away, but the court has issued a preliminary order that Israel do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in its campaign in Gaza.

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