Thursday, April 3, 2025

BIG Wrap

U.S. signals it will block proposed Gaza ceasefire resolution at UN

(Al Jazeera Media Network) The United States has said it will block another resolution that will soon be presented at the United Nations urging a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. Algeria has proposed a new resolution be put to a vote on Tuesday at the UN Security Council (UNSC) that seeks an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, while demanding an “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” “Should it...

Pakistan official admits involvement in rigging election results

(Al Jazeera Media Network) A senior bureaucrat in Pakistan has said he helped rig Pakistan’s elections, a week after polls marred by allegations of manipulation returned no clear winner. On Saturday, Liaqat Ali Chattha, commissioner of the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where the country’s powerful military has its headquarters, said he would hand himself over to police and step down from his position. “We converted the losers into winners, reversing margins of 70,000 votes in...

Moon Race 2.0 – why so many nations and companies aim for lunar landing

(BBC News) Five decades on from the last of the Apollo missions, the Moon is once again a target for space exploration. But NASA no longer has lunar exploration to itself. The number of astronauts who walked on the Moon hasn't changed in over 50 years. Only 12 human beings have had this privilege – all Americans – but that will soon increase. The historical two-nation competition between the US and Soviet space agencies for lunar exploration...

Russia announces death of opposition leader Navalny in prison

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died, state media reported, citing the prison service of the region where he had been serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. There was no immediate confirmation of the 47-year-old’s death from his team on Friday. Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said his lawyer was travelling to the remote prison colony north of the Arctic Circle, but later expressed that there was “almost no hope” that...

Russia developing ‘troubling’ new anti-satellite weapon, says U.S.

(BBC News) Russia is developing a "troubling" new anti-satellite weapon, the US has said, but it emphasized that Moscow has yet to deploy it. White House spokesperson John Kirby made the comments a day after a senior House Republican issued vague warnings of a "serious national security threat." The weapon is space-based and armed with a nuclear weapon to target satellites, CBS News reported. But Kirby did not confirm this and refused to offer precise details on...

UN envoy warns of dangerous escalation cycle in war-wracked Yemen

(Al Jazeera Media Network) The United Nations special envoy for Yemen has called for immediate action to end the “dangerous escalatory cycle” in the war-wracked country, as Houthi rebels continue their attacks in the Red Sea and western powers retaliate with strikes on Yemen.   “I am engaging the Yemeni parties and relevant regional actors to support de-escalation in the Red Sea to protect the mediation space in Yemen,” Hans Grundberg told the UN Security Council...

Prabowo claims presidential win in Indonesia election

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has claimed victory in Indonesia’s presidential election after unofficial figures showed him well ahead of opponents Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo. More than 200 million people registered to vote across the archipelago in one of the world’s biggest and most complex elections. Turnout in the race to succeed President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, who is serving the last of his two terms in office, appears high. Heavy...

Israel launches ‘extensive wave’ of strikes in Lebanon after rockets hit army base

BBC News) Four people have been killed in an "extensive wave" of Israeli air strikes in Lebanon launched after Hezbollah rocket fire killed a soldier in Israel. A woman and two children were killed in the southern Lebanese town of Souaneh, state media and security sources said. A man who Hezbollah identified as one of its fighters was killed in Aadchit. Israel's military said it hit Hezbollah infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on its...

Court orders Netherlands to halt delivery of fighter jet parts to Israel

(Al Jazeera Media Network) A Dutch court has ordered the government to halt the delivery of parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The verdict, delivered by an appeals court on Monday, said there is a “clear risk” that the parts the Netherlands is exporting are being used in “serious violations of international humanitarian law.” The court said it is likely that Israel was using its F-35s in attacks...

Planespotting causes bad blood between Taylor Swift and university student

(BBC News) A university student from Florida has made a habit of getting under the skin of some of the world's richest and most powerful people. How? By telling the rest of us where their private planes are – and how much carbon they emit. Jack Sweeney would like to clarify a few details. For one thing, he thinks Taylor Swift has produced some good tunes. However, he believes – despite the threat of legal action...