Dec 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary ​of State Marco ​Rubio said on Thursday ⁠that the U.S. was sanctioning two judges of the International ​Criminal Court for ‍targeting Israel.

"Today, I ​am designating two International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and ⁠Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia, pursuant to Executive Order 14203," Rubio said in a statement, referring to the order President Donald Trump signed ​in February ⁠sanctioning the ⁠ICC.

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two more judges of the International Criminal Court after they rejected a challenge by Israel which sought to end a war crimes probe in Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had already ordered sanctions on judges and prosecutors in the case, explicitly linked the new sanctions to a vote Monday in which the judges sided with the majority and upheld arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Dec 18 (Reuters) - ​Islamic ​State ⁠said on Thursday the killing ​of ‍15 people ​at a Jewish event ⁠at Sydney's Bondi Beach was a "source of ​pride', ⁠in ⁠an article published on the ‌group's telegram ​channel.

The group did not ‍explicitly claim responsibility ‌for ‌Sunday's attack.

(Reporting by Dubai NewsroomEditing by ⁠Alexandra Hudson)

Women swaying to dance music at a DJ set, strolling without headscarves through cutting-edge art exhibitions and in coffee shops showing off trendy styles that could have come from the streets of Europe.

Until recently, such scenes would have been unthinkable in the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose strict dress code for women has required they wear the hijab in public since shortly after the 1979 revolution that ousted the pro-Western shah.

Launched after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to monitor the truce and facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid, the Civil-Military Coordination Center for Gaza is struggling to live up to its promises.

The CMCC, a US initiative, is meant to set the stage for the next steps of President Donald Trump's peace plan for the Palestinian territory following more than two years of devastating war.

"At first nobody knew what it was but everyone wanted in," one European diplomat told AFP.

By John Irish and Jana Choukeir

PARIS/BEIRUT, Dec 18 (Reuters) - French, Saudi Arabian and American ​officials will hold talks with the head of ​the Lebanese army on Thursday in Paris aimed at finalising a roadmap to enable a ⁠mechanism for the disarmament of the Hezbollah group, diplomats said.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024, ending more than a year of fighting between Israel ​and Hezbollah that severely weakened the Iran-backed militants.

DUBAI, Dec ​18 (Reuters) - Oman ​and ⁠India signed a comprehensive economic partnership ​agreement, ‍Oman's state ​news agency reported on Thursday.

"The ⁠agreement is designed to enhance trade and investment cooperation, ​facilitate ⁠the ⁠seamless flow of goods and services, establish ‌a strategic ​framework for expanding bilateral collaboration", ‍the news agency said.

(Reporting ‌by Ahmed ‌Elimam; Writing by Elwely Elwelly; Editing ⁠by Alexandra Hudson)

ANKARA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister ​Hakan Fidan said ​on Thursday that Turkey did ⁠not want to resort to military action again against Syria's Kurdish-led ​Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), ‍but warned that the ​patience of the actors involved was running out over what he described as delays ⁠in implementing an integration deal.

By Kate Holton

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The European Union must reform or risk becoming irrelevant as ​the rivalry between China and the U.S. sparks a ​new era without precedent, posing challenges on security, energy, technology and trade, a report led by Tony Blair ⁠and Jamie Dimon says.

By Christine Chen, Scott Murdoch and Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday promised a crackdown on hate speech in the wake ​of an attack on a Jewish holiday event at Sydney's Bondi Beach, as the ​youngest of 15 victims was laid to rest.

Yellow toy bees topped the coffin of 10-year-old Matilda, who was remembered as a 'ray of sunshine' who loved animals and dancing.