US, Philippines, Japan to tackle South China Sea incidents (www.bangkokpost.com)
Wanted American man flees to Russia, signs military contract (www.themoscowtimes.com)
A former American city council member who is wanted in the United States on child pornography charges appears to have fled to Russia and joined the Russian military, according to footage shared by regional authorities in the northern Khanty-Mansi autonomous district....
UN rights council demands halt to arms sales to Israel (www.france24.com)
The UN Human Rights Council on Friday demanded a halt in all arms sales to Israel, highlighting warnings of “genocide” in its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 people....
Over 150 elementary schools have no 1st graders: Korean ministry (www.koreaherald.com)
Israeli advocacy star Eylon Levy launches private public diplomacy project (www.ynetnews.com)
After being dismissed from his position as English-language government spokesperson, Eylon Levy launched a new crowdfunding campaign on the JGive website in order to fund a private international advocacy project under his leadership, which will promote his and other spokespersons’ independent public diplomacy efforts. Four...
New mass graves in Rwanda reveal cracks in reconciliation efforts, 30 years after the genocide (apnews.com)
The diggers’ hoes scrape the brown soil, looking for — and often finding — human bone fragments. The women then wipe the bone pieces with their hands as others watch in solemn silence....
At Indonesia’s biggest bank, customers’ savings can vanish with a click | Business and Economy | Al Jazeera (www.aljazeera.com)
Health ministry in Gaza says war death toll at 33,091 (today.lorientlejour.com)
The health ministry in Gaza said Friday that at least 33,091 people have been killed in the territory during nearly six months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants....
President Macron says France and its allies 'could have stopped' the 1994 Rwanda genocide (apnews.com)
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France and its allies could have stopped the 1994 Rwanda genocide but lacked the will to do so, a strong declaration ahead of the African country’s 30th anniversary of the slaughter that left over 800,000 people dead....
Slovakia: pro-western diplomat contests Russia-friendly politician for presidency (www.theguardian.com)
Polls show Ivan Korčok and Peter Pellegrini, an ally of prime minister Robert Fico, neck-and-neck before Saturday’s runoff...
Russian military ‘almost completely reconstituted,’ US official says (www.defensenews.com)
Ukraine: NATO membership a question of 'when, not if' (www.dw.com)
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has reportedly floated a five-year, €100 billion package that allies are set to discuss in Brussels. Ahead of the meeting, he said Ukraine’s NATO membership was a question of “when, not if.”
Argentina battles dengue surge and repellent shortage (www.bbc.com)
Argentina is facing an insect repellent shortage as the country prepares for its worst-ever dengue season....
France: Audrey Mondjehi jailed for obtaining Strasbourg attacker's gun (www.bbc.com)
A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for helping an Islamist attacker who killed five people at a French Christmas market in December 2018....
Senior U.S. diplomat links AUKUS submarine pact to Taiwan (www.cnbc.com)
The State Department’s No. 2 diplomat suggested on Wednesday that the AUKUS submarine project between Australia, Britain and the U.S. could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan....
JK Rowling, Joe Rogan and Elon Musk are fuming over Scotland’s hate crime law (www.politico.eu)
It was no April Fool’s joke....
Russia says NATO, at 75, has returned to Cold War mindset (www.reuters.com)
Monkey attack leads to first human case of B virus in Hong Kong (www.bloomberg.com)
Man admitted to the hospital March 21 is in critical condition...
Palestinians in Northern Gaza Only Have Access to 245 Calories a Day (truthout.org)
Denmark: Faulty missile launcher shuts down shipping lane (www.dw.com)
A missile launcher which “cannot be deactivated” has prompted the Danish military to close the Great Belt strait, a route used by cargo ships to access the Baltic Sea....
Ukrainian man jailed for life over role in Russian strike on pizzeria (www.theguardian.com)
Man provided information on restaurant in Kramatorsk that was hit last June, killing 13 people including novelist Victoria Amelina...
President Javier Milei fires 24,000 government workers in Argentina: ‘No one knows who will be next’ (english.elpais.com)
## Public sector employees denounce that the cuts will put many state functions on hold...
Finland's eastern border to remain shut indefinitely, including boat harbours (yle.fi)
As expected, the Finnish government on Thursday decided to extend the closure of the border with Russia....
[US] DOJ takes a stand against war crimes in Ukraine. In Gaza war, it's been nearly silent (www.npr.org)
Israel won't release journalist whose sick baby is solely reliant on breast milk (www.middleeasteye.net)
An Israeli court has refused to release a female Palestinian journalist whose prematurely born baby is solely reliant on her mother’s breast milk for nutrition, her family told Middle East Eye....
