Below is a summary of current world news.
Netanyahu fires minister, complying with Israeli high court order
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired a senior cabinet member with a criminal record on Sunday, complying with a Supreme Court ruling even as he pursues contested judicial reforms that would limit his powers. Pledged to find “all legal means” to keep Aryeh Deri in public office in the future, Netanyahu told him he had been removed from the interior and health ministries during the weekly cabinet session, according to an official transcript .
India blocks BBC documentary on PM Modi from airing in India
India has blocked the airing of a BBC documentary questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying it is barred from even sharing any clips via social media. The instructions to block sharing of the clips have been issued using emergency powers available to the government under the country’s information technology norms, Kanchan Gupta, an adviser to the government, said on his Twitter account on Saturday.
At least five injured after the explosion in Mogadishu’s mayor’s office, an ambulance worker
At least five people were injured in an explosion outside the city hall gates of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, and gunfire continued, a member of the ambulance service and a witness said. Somalia’s Islamist group Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Britain says it still wants Ukraine to get German-made tanks
Britain still wants an international deal to provide Ukraine with German-made tanks that Kyiv says it needs in its fight against Russia, but whose transfer needs German consent, the foreign minister said on Sunday British James Cleverly.
Western allies pledged billions of dollars in arms to Ukraine last week, despite failing to persuade Germany to lift its veto on the supply of Leopard battle tanks, which are held by a number of NATO nations, but whose supply to Ukraine would require Berlin’s approval.
Anti-monarchists plan protests for the coronation of Britain’s King Charles
British anti-monarchists said on Sunday they planned to protest during the coronation of King Charles in May, saying the ceremony was “a slap in the face” to most people struggling with high inflation. Campaign group Republic said it had contacted London police about its plans to hold a peaceful demonstration in Parliament Square, which overlooks Westminster Abbey, where monarchs are crowned British
Putin ally says new West arms deliveries to Kyiv will cause global catastrophe
A close ally of President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that deliveries of offensive weapons to Kyiv that threaten Russian territories will trigger a global catastrophe and make arguments against the use of weapons of mass destruction untenable. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, warned that US and NATO support for Ukraine is leading the world to a “terrible war”.
New Zealand picks ‘Chippy’ Hipkins to replace charismatic Ardern
New Zealand’s ruling Labor Party on Sunday chose former COVID minister Chris Hipkins to replace the charismatic Jacinda Ardern as its new leader and become the country’s next prime minister. Hipkins, 44, was the sole nomination for the job and his confirmation at a party meeting on Sunday, known as the Labor caucus, was largely a formality.
Indonesian President Jokowi’s approval rating is at an all-time high: poll
Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s approval rating has hit an all-time high after the government eased COVID-19 restrictions last month, a poll showed on Sunday. Figures released by the Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) poll showed satisfaction with the president, known as Jokowi, had risen steadily in recent months to reach 76.2% in early 2023.
The Pope calls for an end to violence in Peru, respect for human rights
Pope Francis on Sunday called for an end to violence in Peru, where nearly 50 people have died during anti-government protests in recent weeks. “No to violence, regardless of where it originates. No more deaths,” the Argentine pope said in Spanish in his weekly address to thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, deviating briefly from the rest of the speech, which was in Italian.
Ten dead in mass shooting in Los Angeles area, police say
Ten people were killed in a mass shooting in Monterey Park, Calif., at a ballroom venue Saturday afternoon as residents in the predominantly Asian American city celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year, police said. The suspected gunman fled the scene and police were still trying to find him, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday morning, about five hours after the attack.
(With contributions from agencies.)
