A group of French social and political figures and mayors who have lost their sense of shame made a ridiculous appeal as a sign of protest against the decision to hold the UN Climate Summit (COP29) in Azerbaijan in 2024.
Day: December 18, 2023
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, on the occasion of the National Day. The message reads as follows,
“I sincerely congratulate you and the friendly people of Qatar on the occasion of the National Day.
We highly value the friendly relations with the State of Qatar, considering your country as one of the most important partners of the Republic of Armenia in the Arab world and the Gulf region.
We are impressed by Qatar’s achievements and innovative approaches and are ready to deepen our cooperation in various fields.
I sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to host you in Armenia in the near future.
Taking this opportunity, I wish you and the friendly people of the State of Qatar continued progress, stability and prosperity.”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has claimed victory in snap parliamentary elections, saying his party is heading for an absolute majority, the BBC reports.
His Serbian Progressive Party, or SNS, is set to win almost 47% of the vote, according to projections.
Opposition parties under the Serbia Against Violence banner were well behind with 23.1%.
Their biggest hope is in challenging the president’s party in Belgrade in Sunday’s local elections.
Results overnight from Serbia’s 8,273 polling stations confirmed the ruling party’s lead, although projections in the capital itself gave it a far narrower margin of victory of four points.
Mr Vucic declared that his “Serbia must not stop” election list was heading for 127 seats in the 250-seat National Assembly.
UN aid has entered Gaza directly from Israel for the first time, as aid trucks from Egypt are stripped by desperate crowds, the BBC reports.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency says hungry people are helping themselves to food, making it almost impossible to distribute aid.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says Israeli air strikes have killed at least 90 people in the Jabalia refugee camp. The BBC has been unable to confirm the toll.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to meet Israeli officials today, as the UK, France and Germany step up global calls for a ceasefire.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will “fight to the end” in order to achieve its objectives of eliminating Hamas and freeing hostages.
Hamas broke through Israel’s heavily guarded perimeter on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages – some of whom were released during a brief truce.
The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says more than 18,700 people have been killed and 50,000 injured in the enclave since the start of the Gaza war.