Heads of Churches in Jerusalem say no to deportations from Gaza
Today's headlines: China alarmed by US-Philippine military drills alarm described as “purely defensive” by Washington. In India, the Chhattisgarh High Court throws out a marital rape case because the act does not constitute a crime. Thailand deports 10 Chinese nationals linked to cyber fraud centres in Myanmar. Putin has his first telephone conversation with Ahmed ash-Sharah, Syria's interim leader.
ISRAEL – PALESTINE
After the truce between Israel and Hamas came close to collapse, three Israeli hostages were released this morning in Khan Younis. Alexander Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Yair Horn were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, in exchange for 369 Palestinians to be freed by Israel. Hamas said it expects indirect negotiations to begin for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel. Meanwhile, the heads of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem issued a joint statement in which they renew their call for the release of all hostages and take a stand against Trump's plan of mass displacement of the population of Gaza, “an injustice that strikes at the very heart of human dignity.”
PHILIPPINES – UNITED STATES – CHINA
US-Philippines military exercises are “purely defensive” and intended to keep forces on high readiness, a spokesman for the US State Department said, responding to a request for comment after China's Defence Ministry urged the Philippines to withdraw US Typhon intermediate-range missiles. The temporary deployments of US missile arsenals in the Philippines are intended to preserve regional security and stability for all, the spokesperson added.
INDIA
A ruling by a high court judge in Chhattisgarh saying that marital rape is not a crime has sparked great outrage. The judge released a 40-year-old man convicted in 2019 of raping his wife, who died a few hours after the attack. This was possible because this form of violence is not deemed an offence in India. The ruling was met with anger, with activists, lawyers and militants renewing their call to criminalise marital rape in India.
THAILAND – CHINA
Thailand has deported 10 Chinese nationals linked to the alleged kidnapping of an actor rescued from a cyber fraud centre in Myanmar, Thai police said. Wang Xing, known as Xing Xing, had flown to Thailand after believing he had landed a role in a Thai film production. After he was reported missing near a Thai border town, he was found safely in Myawaddy (Myanmar).
RUSSIA – SYRIA
Russian President Vladimir Putin had his first telephone conversation with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed ash-Sharah, expressing Russia’s readiness to contribute to the improvement of Syria’s economic and social situation, including the offer of humanitarian aid, which is welcomed if “it meets Syria's interests”.
VIETNAM – NICARAGUA
The Nicaraguan Navy has rescued three Vietnamese nationals after a boat carrying 17 migrants sank in Nicaraguan waters. The vessel was carrying Indians, Iranians, Egyptians and Vietnamese, who were trying to reach the United States illegally. It set sail from the island of San Andrés in Colombia on 4 February and sank in the waters near Nicaragua’s Corn Islands. Five people are reported to have died and four are missing. Among the Vietnamese, the first two had a Hungarian residence permit, while the third had a Vietnamese driver's license.
AZERBAIJAN – TURKEY
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev, received the credentials from Turkey's new ambassador to Baku, Birol Akgün, noting that “Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship is a guarantee of stability, security, serenity and peace, in the South Caucasus and beyond, and even among the closest allies in the world there is no similar example to our relations.”
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