Tehran threatens Israel: 'Stop bombing Gaza or the conflict will escalate'

Today's news: Hamas thanks Putin in a statement for 'his support over the years'; Tensions continue to rise between South and North Korea with a mutual display of powerful weapons and alliances; Australia has rejected the inclusion of Aboriginal peoples in the Constitution; India 'dreams' of the 2036 Olympics.

IRAN-ISRAEL-PALESTINE

Iran has warned Israel of a possible escalation if it does not end its bombing of Palestinians. Tehran's foreign minister said other "parties in the region" were ready to act. “If Zionist aggression does not stop, all parties and factions in the region will be on the trigger,” Hossein Amirabdollahian said. Meanwhile, the Israeli army continues preparations for the ground invasion in the northern Gaza Strip in search of the Islamic militants who killed and devastated the areas around the Strip last Saturday.

PALESTINE - RUSSIA

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas publicly thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin in a statement for the support given to the Palestinian cause: "We in the Islamic opposition movement appreciate the condemnation of the Zionist aggression against our people, and the disapproval of the siege of Gaza with the cessation of humanitarian aid, attacking its inhabitants."

NORTH KOREA - SOUTH KOREA

A US B-52 strategic bomber is expected to land at a South Korean air base later this week, US forces in South Korea said today, amid growing tensions over the threat posed by North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile programs. The USFK - a US Indo-Pacific command - said this shows that US commitment to the alliance with South Korea is at an all-time high, in recognition of the alliance's 70th anniversary.

ARMENIA - RUSSIA

The President of Armenia, Vaagn Khačaturyan, confirmed the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which issued the arrest order against Vladimir Putin for war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children, effectively denying him the access to the country. This is one of the reasons for the greatest tension between Moscow and Yerevan.

JAPAN

Today the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and experts from China, South Korea and Canada will collect seawater samples near the Fukushima nuclear complex in northeastern Japan following the release of water radioactive substances treated by the site to monitor its safety. China has imposed a blanket ban on imports of Japanese seafood products since August.

SRI LANKA

The Kataragama Devalaya sanctuary is facing accusations of deforestation, landgrabbing and land expropriation as farmers from the surrounding Meegaswewa area are evicted from their farmlands. These are then demolished and sold to businessmen for the development of shopping malls. Approximately 1,000 acres of the Forest Preserve have been affected by these projects.

AUSTRALIA

Over the weekend, Australia said no to recognizing indigenous peoples in its constitution. It is a major setback in the country's efforts to reconcile with its first inhabitants. The “No” obtained almost 70% of the votes, doubling the “Yes” votes. Indigenous leaders commented: “It is a bitter irony that people who have lived on this continent for 235 years refuse to recognize those who have lived here for 60,000 years.” Aboriginal communities have called for a week of silence to decide how to proceed.

INDIA

India is interested in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympic Games. This was reiterated by the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The country has never hosted the Olympics, but the 2010 Commonwealth Games which were held in Delhi. Modi said hosting the Games would be "a dream" for India.

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