Reuters World News Summary

Milei was speaking during a Holocaust remembrance event in Buenos Aires, where he signaled support for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, adding that Argentina would "not remain silent in the face of Hamas terror." Key takeaways from the World Court decision in Israeli genocide case The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel on Friday to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Colombia human rights ombudsman urges action to prevent fires

Colombia's human rights ombudsman on Friday urged local authorities of high-risk areas for wildfires to take preventative action, while the environment minister warned the Andean country faced new climate dangers. Earlier this week, the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro said it will declare a natural disaster to free up resources for tackling fires ravaging Colombia as a dry season has been exacerbated by a strong El Nino, a weather phenomenon that typically causes hotter and dryer conditions.

Ecuador top court blocks nine questions for referendum

Ecuador's top court has blocked nine questions that President Daniel Noboa wanted to put to Ecuadoreans in a referendum on security issues, arguing they failed to meet constitutional requirements, it said on Friday. Noboa declared a state of emergency with a nighttime curfew for 60 days at the beginning of January over spiraling violence in the Andean country, and designated 22 criminal bands as terrorist groups, declaring a military offensive against them at the same time.

Canadian cardinal temporarily steps down after lawsuit alleging abuse

Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, one of the top Roman Catholic clergymen in Canada, on Friday stepped down temporarily after he was named in a class-action lawsuit against the church that alleged sexual assault. Local media said Lacroix's name had been added to a list of alleged perpetrators filed in a Quebec court on Thursday.

Argentina's President Milei to visit Israel in display of support

Argentina's President Javier Milei said on Friday he would travel to Israel in the "coming weeks," one of his first overseas trips since the libertarian economist took office last month after pledging strong support for Israel during his campaign. Milei was speaking during a Holocaust remembrance event in Buenos Aires, where he signaled support for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, adding that Argentina would "not remain silent in the face of Hamas terror."

Key takeaways from the World Court decision in Israeli genocide case

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel on Friday to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire. The top United Nations court for handling disputes between states was ruling in a case brought by South Africa.

Venezuela court upholds ban on leading opposition presidential candidate Machado

Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal on Friday upheld a ban which prevents presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding office, upending the opposition's plans for elections planned later this year. With its ruling, Venezuela's top court has barred Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer, from registering her candidacy for presidential elections scheduled for the second half of 2024.

North Korea, China agree to defend common interests as senior envoys meet

North Korea and China agreed to strengthen tactical cooperation and defend common interests, the North's official KCNA news agency said on Saturday, reporting on Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui's meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. On Friday, China said the two countries pledged to strengthen strategic communications "at all levels" and reaffirmed "unswerving stance" on deepening ties as Sun met his North Korean counterpart, Pak Myong Ho, in Pyongyang.

UN agency probes staff suspected of role in Oct 7 attacks on Israel

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas and that it had severed ties with those staff members. "The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General.

Russia's Putin says Ukraine shot down plane, deliberately or in error

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a Russian military plane that crashed near the border with Ukraine was shot down by Ukrainian air defences, whether on purpose or by mistake. Moscow accuses Kyiv of downing the Ilyushin Il-76 plane in Russia's Belgorod region on Wednesday and killing 74 people on board, including 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers en route to be swapped for Russian prisoners of war. It has not presented evidence.

World Court says Israel must prevent genocide in Gaza, stops short of ceasefire order

The World Court ordered Israel on Friday to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians, although it stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by the plaintiff South Africa. While the ruling denied Palestinian hopes of a binding order to halt the war in Gaza, it represented a legal setback for Israel, which had hoped to throw out a case brought under the genocide convention established in the ashes of the World War Two Holocaust that targeted European Jews.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)