BRUSSELS, March 4 (Reuters) - The European Commission will propose on Tuesday ways for the European Union to boost its arms industry so it can shift to "war economy mode" in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thierry Breton, the European industry commissioner, will lay out proposals to encourage EU countries to buy more weapons together from European companies, and to help such firms increase production capacity, according to EU officials.

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China will strive to modernize the industrial system and develop new quality productive forces at a faster pace, according to a government work report submitted Tuesday to the national legislature for deliberation.

Tehran, IRNA – Over a hundred Australian lawyers have endorsed a move to refer prime minister Anthony Albanese to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for being an “accessory to genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

According to reports, the lawyers argued that Albanese has provided the Israeli regime with “rhetorical support in their public statements, their press conferences, their speeches” as well as material assistance.

Albanese was referred to the ICC in a communiqué presented to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan KC on Monday.

MELBOURNE, March 4 (Bernama) — The 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit is commencing today, bringing together Southeast Asian (SEA) and Australian leaders, business and community leaders, experts and academics to discuss key focus areas such as business; emerging leaders; climate and clean energy; and maritime cooperation. 

The three-day summit, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), also marks the 50th anniversary of Australia’s dialogue partnership with ASEAN.

04 March 2024; MEMO: Yemen’s Houthi group reported fresh US-British airstrikes in the northern province of Saada on Monday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said three strikes targeted Yasnam area in Baqim district in Saada.

There were no reports yet of casualties or damage.

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China targets economic growth of around 5 percent in 2024, according to a government work report submitted Tuesday to the national legislature for deliberation.

The country expects to create over 12 million jobs in urban areas and keep the surveyed urban unemployment rate at around 5.5 percent this year, according to the report.

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Centre over the State Bank of India moving the Supreme Court to seek more time to disclose electoral bond details, alleging that the Modi government is using the country's largest bank as a shield to hide its "dubious dealings".

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese zoologists have identified a genetic source making the coat color of some giant pandas appear unusually brown and white.

The world's first brown panda was discovered in 1985 in the Qinling Mountains in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. All recorded photographs of the wild brown pandas were taken in the area. A recent adopted one is the male brown-and-white panda Qizai born in 2009.

COLOMBO, Mac 5 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet, approved a proposal to absorb SriLankan Airlines’ outstanding debt of 510 million U.S. dollars, by the government, a minister said, today.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, told the media that, the cabinet approval was also given to allocate funds to maintain services of the national carrier for another six months.

New York, IRNA – The United States is piling up pressure on the Palestinian resistance movement Hams to accept a temporary ceasefire with Israel, in yet another attempt to back the Zionist regime while talks in the Egyptian capital are underway to find ways to hammer out a deal.

US National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby said on Monday that Washington wants a temporary ceasefire in Gaza "as soon as possible" in order to free Israel captives held in Gaza, without mentioning Israel’s illegal detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians.

MELBOURNE, March 4 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia is willing to reopen the investigation into the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 should fresh and compelling evidence emerge.

“On the 370, we have taken a position that if there is compelling case evidence that needs to be reopened, we will certainly do so.

04 March 2024; MEMO: Jordan has asked Israel to extend a water supply deal between the two countries by an additional year, according to Israeli media on Monday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Jordanian-Israeli water agreement is set to expire in May.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, Israel has not yet responded to the Jordanian request to extend the deal.