Russia boycotts UN court hearing on Ukraine invasion

14 Sept 13:03 Key points summarised by AI

Russia boycotted a UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing where Ukraine sought an immediate halt to Moscow's invasion.
Ukraine accused Russia of illegally justifying its war by falsely alleging genocide in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, invoking the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide.
The ICJ President expressed regret over Russia's non-appearance, while Ukraine emphasized the court's responsibility to act and stop Russia's aggression.
Experts noted the case's symbolic and rhetorical value, despite doubts about Russia's compliance with any potential ICJ order to suspend military operations.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

Yesterday 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.