Cpp spokesman sok eysan

The Kremlin branded the court decision as "null and void" with respect to Russia. The tribunal, with 123 member states, has no police force of its own and relies on member countries to detain and transfer suspects to The Hague for trial. While it is unlikely that Putin will end up in court any time soon, the warrant means that he could be arrested and sent to The Hague if travelling to any ICC member states. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia found the very questions raised by the ICC "outrageous and unacceptable". Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel that the arrest warrants had "no meaning for our country" as it is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty underpinning the world's permanent war crimes tribunal. In its first warrant for Ukraine, the ICC called for Putin's arrest on suspicion of unlawful deportation of children and unlawful transfer of people from the territory of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. … [Read more...] about ICC judges issue arrest warrant for Putin

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday as New York prosecutors consider charges over a hush money payment to a porn star, and called on his supporters to protest. "Illegal leaks from a corrupt & highly political Manhattan district attorney's office ... indicate that, with no crime being able to be proven ... the far & away leading Republican candidate & former president of the United States of America, will be arrested on Tuesday of next week," Trump wrote on Truth Social. A spokesman for Trump said the former president had not been notified of any arrest. Trump provided no evidence of leaks from the district attorney's office and did not discuss the possible charges in his post. "Protest, take our nation back!" said Trump, whose supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, to try to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat. The probe comes as Trump seeks the Republican nomination for the … [Read more...] about Trump says he expects to be arrested on Tuesday, calls for protests

Love never gets old We always suspected it, but media mogul Rupert Murdoch has revealed himself to be an incurable romantic. The Fox News owner is to tie the knot for a fifth time at 92. "I was very nervous. I dreaded falling in love -- but I knew this would be my last. It better be," said Murdoch, who has only just disentangled himself from a short-lived fourth marriage to model Jerry Hall. His bride-to-be, Ann Lesley Smith, the widow of country singer Chester Smith, seems to have her eyes wide open. "It's not my first rodeo," she said. The multibillionaire, a quarter century her senior, wants them to spend "the second half of our lives together". Which means Murdoch counts on living to 180. 'Own the feels', Rupert A veteran right-winger, Murdoch has long raged against the nanny state. But we might make an exception for New Zealand, where the government is reaching out to console those who have been unlucky in love. "Break-ups suck... but you can channel it for … [Read more...] about Funny old world: The week’s offbeat news

It was Xi's first trip abroad since he obtained an unprecedented third term last month. The Chinese leader has been trying to portray Beijing as a potential peacemaker in Ukraine, even as he deepens economic ties with his closest ally. Putin and Xi greeted one another as "dear friend" when they met in the Kremlin on Monday, and Russian state news agencies later reported they held informal talks for nearly 4-1/2 hours, with more official talks scheduled for Tuesday. In televised comments, Putin told Xi he viewed China's proposals for resolution of the Ukraine conflict with respect. He confessed to being "slightly envious" of China's "very effective system for developing the economy and strengthening the state". Xi, for his part, praised Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year. Moscow has been publicly promoting plans for a visit by Xi for months. White House spokesman John Kirby said Xi should use his influence to press Putin to withdraw troops from … [Read more...] about Putin meets Xi in Kremlin as Ukraine war grinds on

Philippine Secretary of National Defence Carlito Galvez (left) and US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall preside a groundbreaking ceremony for the runway rehabilitation of Basa Air Base in Pampanga province, the Philippines, on March 20. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines and the US will hold security talks in Washington on April 11, the first in about seven years, a spokesman of the US Embassy in Manila said on March 20. The dialogue, which involves their foreign and defence chiefs, is the latest sign that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s government is eager to enhance its alliance with the US, reported Kyodo news agency. Also, from April 11, the two countries will kick off their annual Balikatan military exercise with a total of over 17,000 soldiers, including those from Australia, Philippine defence chief Carlito Galvez said. Plans are also underway for Manila and Tokyo toward signing a Visiting Forces Agreement so that Japan 's … [Read more...] about Philippines, US to hold 2-plus-2 security talks in April

PM Pham Minh Chinh extended Vietnamese leaders’ greetings to Cambodia on the occasion of the country’s coming traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival. He congratulated Cambodia on its enormous achievements over the past years, especially in the COVID-19 fight, inflation control, economic growth, the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022, and the fifth-tenure commune/ward council elections last June. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn affirmed that Cambodia always attaches importance to the reinforcement and development of the “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability” with Vietnam. He expressed his delight at the flourishing bilateral relations in all aspects. Leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent meetings and mutual visits. Bilateral trade topped 10 billion USD in 2022, rising nearly 11% from 2021. As of the end of last year, Vietnam had 205 investment projects worth 29.4 billion USD in Cambodia, … [Read more...] about PM Pham Minh Chinh welcomes Cambodian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister

Myanmar will accept the return of around 1,000 Rohingya refugees in a pilot repatriation programme, with a junta spokesman telling AFP Wednesday the resettlement would likely begin by mid-April. Major Rohingya refugee camp populations in Bangladesh, as of January 31, 2023. / AFP / Gal ROMA AND AFP AND Laurence CHU "We will receive people back according to both countries' agreement... About 1,000 people will be in (the) first batch," Zaw Min Tun told AFP. "Myanmar side is checking some lists at this moment." Bangladesh is home to around a million Rohingya, most of whom fled neighbouring Myanmar following a 2017 military crackdown, now subject to a UN genocide investigation. A delegation of 17 officials from Myanmar's military regime met with around 480 refugees over the past week in a process brokered by China and partly facilitated by the United Nations. The team were officially there to assess refugees for potential return, based partly on whether they could … [Read more...] about Myanmar to take 1,000 Rohingya refugees in pilot programme: junta

The picture was not uploaded by social media influencers on an adventurous vacation -- it's an advertisement by people smugglers. Technology-savvy criminals using the popular video-sharing app are posing a growing challenge to Mexican and U.S. authorities fighting a regional migration crisis. "Departing this weekend. People from Mexico interested in crossing to the United States, leave your messages," the TikTok post said. Another account offering to smuggle irregular migrants through the violence-wracked Mexican border state of Tamaulipas shows a photo of minors in an inflatable boat on a river. "We also make crossings with children and family," it said. An AFP investigation found dozens of similar accounts around the region, including in Guatemala, Colombia and Ecuador. And using the hashtag #pollero -- a slang term for a people smuggler -- one account offered "safe work" for drivers in the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona for payment of up to $15,000. "If you have … [Read more...] about People smugglers use TikTok to promote their services

The death toll from a fire at an Indonesian fuel storage depot run by state energy firm Pertamina has risen to 33 with nearly a dozen more in critical condition, health authorities said Friday. Top officials called for an audit of Indonesia's energy facilities after the March 3 blaze ripped through a nearby residential area, gutting houses and burning cars next to the depot in capital Jakarta. "As of today, 33 people in total have died and 11 are still being treated. They are in the ICU and their condition is serious," Jakarta health agency spokesman Luigi, who like many Indonesians has one name, told AFP Friday. Authorities previously gave a death toll of 18 the day after the explosion. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate when the fire broke out but the local disaster mitigation agency said all evacuees have since left shelters. Witnesses likened the fire to a bomb blast after an initial explosion sent panicked locals screaming and fleeing through narrow roads … [Read more...] about Indonesia fuel depot fire death toll rises to 33