December 21, 2023

*) Israel's unlawful executions in Gaza may amount to 'war crime' — UN The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has said it has received alarming reports, accusing the Israeli army of summarily executing at least 11 unarmed Palestinian men in the Al Remal neighbourhood of Gaza City. The incident, which unfolded in front of family members, has raised concerns “about the possible commission of a war crime" and the accusations follow earlier claims of Israeli forces deliberately targeting and killing civilians, the statement said. *) Exporters mull other ways to move goods as Houthi sway on Red Sea persists Exporters are scrambling to find alternative air, land and ocean routes as disarray ripples through freight supply chains around the world, during a wave of attacks in the Red Sea amid Israel's war on besieged Gaza. Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November 19 to show support for Palestine enduring more than two months of Israeli aggression and siege. The attacks have disrupted a key trade route linking Europe and North America with Asia via Egypt's Suez Canal. *) Russian troops said to have seized Ukraine stronghold in Donetsk Russian paratroopers have stormed a Ukrainian military stronghold northwest of Artyomovsk in Donetsk region, according to Moscow-based TASS news agency. The report said the paratroopers discovered the Ukrainian main fire weapons and control points during an aerial reconnaissance. Paratroopers reportedly suppressed and disrupted their control system before capturing the positions of the Ukrainian armed forces, after which they carried out a complete clearing of the stronghold. *) DRC extends voting after chaotic presidential, legislative elections The Democratic Republic of Congo's election authorities have said that voting would continue the following day in areas where voters could not cast ballots, after a general election marked by severe logistical problems and delays. There had long been fears that the four concurrent polls on Wednesday — to elect a president, national and regional lawmakers, as well as local councillors — would turn chaotic in the impoverished but mineral-rich central African nation. President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, is running for a second term in office, against a backdrop of years of economic growth but soaring inflation and conflict in eastern DRC where some 120 rebels groups including powerful M23 hold sway. *) Warner Brothers Discovery, Paramount Global in mega merger talks Warner Brothers Discovery shares slid more than 5 percent after reports emerged that the media and entertainment giant is exploring a merger with rival Paramount Global. Warner Brothers Discovery chief executive David Zaslav met with Paramount Global boss Bob Bakish for several hours to discuss the possibility of merging the companies, according to Axios. The talks were described as preliminary, with the outcome uncertain.