Author: ALJAZEERA

Counterterrorism prosecutors failed to have warrant annulled on grounds that al-Assad enjoys immunity as head of state.A Paris appeals court has upheld the validity of an arrest warrant issued for the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad over alleged complicity in war crimes committed during the country’s civil war, according to lawyers. The judges ruled on Wednesday that the warrant, which French anti-terrorism prosecutors had sought to annul on the grounds that al-Assad enjoys immunity as a serving head of state, remains in force. “This is a historic decision. It’s the first time a national court has recognised that a sitting head…

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Bahrain had cut ties with Iran in 2016, but relations improved following the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement last year.Bahrain and Iran have agreed to begin talks aimed at restoring political relations between the two countries, after a meeting between their foreign ministers in Tehran, the Bahraini foreign ministry has said. The meeting between Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani and the acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani took place on Sunday, during al-Zayani’s visit to Iran, where he is participating in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue summit. “The two sides agreed in this meeting to establish the necessary mechanisms to begin…

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The Gaza Strip remains at high risk of famine as Israel’s war on the enclave persists and access to aid is restricted, although the delivery of limited supplies has slowed the projected spread of extreme hunger in the north, a global monitor has said. More than 495,000 people across the besieged Palestinian territory are facing “catastrophic food insecurity,” according to the United Nation’s hunger monitoring system, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). That is down from a forecast of 1.1 million in the previous update three months ago, but is still more than one-fifth of Gaza’s population, the IPC…

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The most closely watched border in the Middle East lies between Israel and Lebanon, the site of eight months of tit-for-tat attacks and a possible Israeli land assault on its northern neighbour. Israeli officials have repeatedly threatened to intensify attacks, saying they’re necessary to defeat Hezbollah and return 90,000 Israelis evacuated from their homes in the north since fighting started in early October. But as Israel’s rhetoric escalates, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has responded with defiance, warning that such a conflict would not only impact Israel more than it thinks, but that it would be felt regionally. Backing Hezbollah up regionally, analysts…

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Huge numbers trapped beneath rubble, buried in unmarked graves, detained by Israel, says Save the Children.Nearly 21,000 children are missing in Gaza, British aid group Save the Children has claimed. In a report published on Monday, the group said the thousands of missing Palestinian children are believed to be trapped beneath rubble, buried in unmarked graves, harmed beyond recognition by explosives, detained by Israeli forces, or lost in the chaos of conflict. “It is nearly impossible to collect and verify information under the current conditions in Gaza,” the group said, “but at least 17,000 children are believed to be unaccompanied…

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Mujahed Abadi says has not been able to sleep since Israeli forces shot him, beat him and strapped him to the hood of a military vehicle two days ago, apparently using him as a human shield. Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic from Ibn Sina Hospital in the West Bank on Monday, Abadi said Israeli troops did not offer an explanation for their “crimes”. Video footage of the incident in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday has sparked international outrage and calls for accountability. Abadi, 24, said he had stepped outside his uncle’s house in Jenin while Israeli…

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We look at the violence and intimidation that face those in Germany calling for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.Public shaming in national newspapers, arbitrary arrests and even beatings by police – these are just a few of the consequences that those protesting for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza say they face in Germany. But why are German authorities so committed to stifling any criticism of Israeli actions, and what does it mean for democracy and human rights in the country? Presenter: Anelise Borges Guests:Sarah Said – German-Palestinian activistTariq Suleiman – Student Coalition BerlinCinin Abuzeed – Student…

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