Russian Attacks Continue in Wake of Putin Arrest Warrant



News Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Widespread Russian attacks continued in Ukraine following the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.

According to news agency AP, Ukraine was attacked by 16 Russian drones on Friday night, the Ukrainian Air Force said in the early hours of Saturday. Writing on Telegram, the air force command said that 11 out of 16 drones were shot down “in the central, western and eastern regions.” Among areas targeted were the capital, Kyiv, and the western Lviv province.

The head of the Kyiv city administration, Serhii Popko, said Ukrainian air defenses shot down all drones heading for the Ukrainian capital, while Lviv regional Gov. Maksym Kozytskyi said Saturday that three of six drones were shot down, with the other three hitting a district bordering Poland. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the attacks were carried out from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov and Russia’s Bryansk province, which borders Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military additionally said in its regular update Saturday morning that Russian forces over the previous 24 hours launched 34 airstrikes, one missile strike and 57 rounds of anti-aircraft fire. The Facebook update said that falling debris hit the southern Kherson province, damaging seven houses and a kindergarten.

According to the Ukrainian statement, Russia is continuing to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraine’s industrial east, focusing attacks on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Shakhtarsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province. Pavlo Kyrylenko, regional Gov. of the Donetsk province, said one person was killed and three wounded when 11 towns and villages in the province were shelled on Friday.

Further west, Russian rockets hit a residential area overnight Friday in the city of Zaporizhzhia, the regional capital of the partially occupied province of the same name. No casualties were reported, but houses were damaged and a catering establishment destroyed, Anatoliy Kurtev of the Zaporizhzhia City Council said.

The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine, together with Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.

It is the first time the global court has issued a warrant against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

The move was immediately dismissed by Moscow — and welcomed by Ukraine as a major breakthrough.

Its practical implications, however, could be limited as the chances of Putin facing trial at the ICC are highly unlikely because Moscow does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction or extradite its nationals.

U.K. military officials said Saturday that Russia is likely to widen conscription. In its latest intelligence update, the U.K. defense ministry said that deputies in the Russian Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, introduced a bill Monday to change the conscription age for men to 21-30, from the current 18-27.

The ministry said that, at the moment, many men aged 18-21 claim exemption from military service because they are in higher education. The change would mean that they would eventually still have to serve. It said the law will likely be passed and come into force in January 2024.

Israeli attacks on Gaza: death toll rises to 39,175



International Desk, Barta24.com
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In the past 24 hours, 21 more people were killed in Israeli military strikes in the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip. 39175 people have lost their lives so far.

This information was revealed in a report by Al-Jazeera, a Qatar-based media outlet, on Thursday (July 26).

At least 18 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza, according to reports. Two more deaths were reported in northern Gaza City and one in Nuseirat refugee camp. 21 Palestinian citizens have been killed in the last 24 hours.

Since October 7 of last year, 39175 people have been killed by Israeli military attacks. Another 90703 people were injured. Besides, several lakhs of people have been displaced. Most of the dead and injured are children and women.

On the other hand, 1139 Israelis were killed in Hamas attacks.

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South Africa gets first woman Chief Justice



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
South Africa gets first woman Chief Justice

South Africa gets first woman Chief Justice

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A woman has been appointed as the Chief Justice for the first time in South Africa. Her name is Mandisa Maya. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced May's name on Thursday (July 25).

This information was published in a report of ABC News. According to reports, President Cyril Ramaphosa has named current Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya as the country's new senior-most judge. Her tenure as Chief Justice will take effect from September 1. He will replace the current Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. Zondo is retiring.

Maya (60) served as Chief Justice of South Africa's second highest court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, before her elevation to the Constitutional Court.

Ramaphosa nominated Maya for Chief Justice in February and was interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission in May.

Ramaphosa said in a statement that the commission recommended her and appointing her to the post is a significant milestone for the country. 

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Indian media apologized for misleading news about the Prime Minister



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Indian media apologized for misleading news about the Prime Minister

Indian media apologized for misleading news about the Prime Minister

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An Indian media has apologized for publishing misleading news about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

During the violent agitation over the quota in Bangladesh, India Today NE, a media outlet based in the northeastern state of India, reported that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had been airlifted out. After the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi protested the report, the outlet's website read: 'India Today NE- sincerely apologizes for this unintentional mistake and regrets any confusion or tension it may have caused in our neighboring country.'

It added, "As a respected news publication, we are committed to both factual and ethical journalism."

The Bangladesh High Commission in India has denied the accuracy of a report published in India Today NE on July 21, titled 'Indian students leave Dhaka due to violent clashes, PM Sheikh Hasina airlifted out', reports India Today NE ' is also shared on social media platforms.

At a critical moment, such news as reported by the High Commission of Bangladesh can confuse the common people and even inflame tension.

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The US is monitoring what is happening in the quota movement: Miller



International Desk, Barta24.com
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The US Embassy in Dhaka and Washington are keeping a close watch on what is happening in Bangladesh in the student quota reform movement, the State Department said. In addition, spokesperson Matthew Miller commented that the United States continues to convey its concerns on the Bangladesh issue from the podium of the State Department.

This spokesperson said that there can be no direct talk about listing the organization as a banned organization due to the torture and violence that the Chhatra League has been carrying out on students for the past one and a half decades.

Participating in the briefing, State Department Correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari raised the issue of violence conducted by Chhatra League and law enforcement forces in the ongoing movement of students and wanted to know, 'The ruling government has continued to attack the movement of students in Bangladesh. At least 6 students have lost their lives so far at the hands of government-backed law and order forces. Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student body of the ruling government, is brutally torturing students, especially female students. This organization has been doing such activities for the past decade and a half. Will you list BCL as a terrorist organization?'

In response, Miller said, 'I'm not going to say anything about the issue you mentioned (banning Bangladesh Chhatra League). We have observed the violence that has spread during the student protests in Dhaka. I am once again calling for the movement to be peaceful. At the same time condemn any form of violence in peaceful protests.'

In another question, this reporter wants to know, 'Abu Sayed, a student of the English department of Begum Rokeya University, stood with his chest in front of the police gun during the protest for the safety of his classmates. The police did not hesitate to shoot him. He himself could not understand that the police would shoot him like this while protecting his classmates. After the fraudulent election, Sheikh Hasina has held on to her power by torturing her like this. Foreign Minister Anthony  Blinken said, 'The whole world's eyes are on the Bangladesh elections. The United States will take whatever steps are necessary for this election.' But the moment the people's rights are taken away, you become completely silent. Why did this happen?'

In response, Miller said, 'First of all, what you said is not true. We are not silent. You've seen me speak over and over throughout the week. As I said last Monday and I say again today, we condemn any form of violence against peaceful protests.'

He said, 'The US Embassy in Dhaka and our officials from Washington are closely monitoring what is happening in Bangladesh. Students are being killed in protests, people are dying, it is under our watch.'

"We call on the government to respect a citizen's right to peaceful protest," Miller said.

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