WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

  Three United Nations (UN) experts called for a full and independent investigation into the killing of three Lebanese journalists by Israel last week, which they described as ‘another attack on press freedom by Israeli forces.’ On March 28, Israeli forces killed Al Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni, her brother and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, and Al Manar TV reporter Ali Shoeib as they were…

Militants kill 22 civilians including 3 MSF in CAR

At least 22 people including 3 workers from the medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), were killed in an attack on a town in the Central African Republic today, officials said on Sunday.

Two state solution to resolve Palestine Israel conflict says US secretary of state

The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, concluded in a closed door meeting today, that  a two state solution looked to be the best way to solve the tensions between the Palestinian and Israeli communities, reports The Guardian.

Reports suggest that, expressing frustration at the failing peace-talks between the two parties, Kerry said,

US implements further sanctions on Russia

The US imposed further sanctions on Russia today as a warning message against Russia’s destabilising actions in Eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions targeted 17 companies linked to the Russian president’s inner circle, 3 banks and deny export licence applications to Russia, reports the Financial times.

The sanctions came after the G7 nations agreed to intensify sanctions over the weekend. Further sanctions are expected to be announced by the EU this week.

G7 nations set to launch further sanctions against Russia

Leaders of the G7 major economies agreed to intensify sanctions against Russia this weekend, reports The Guardian.

A statement released by several heads of states and senior officials, including David Cameron, Barack Obama and Angela Merkal, and expressed ‘deep concern at the continued efforts by separatists backed by Russia to destabilise eastern Ukraine.’

Palestine commits to seeking membership of international bodies

The Palestinian Authority today reaffirmed its commitment to seek membership of United Nations bodies and international conventions.

A statement by the central council said that the it “affirms the need for Palestinian leadership to continue membership of UN agencies and international conventions, under the Palestinian plan that was adopted.”

See related article:
Palestinians to seek membership of UN agencies if talks fail (03 Dec 2013)

UN sends genocide prevention envoy to South Sudan, Kenya vows to prevent genocide

The Kenyan president said that he would not let the conflict in South Sudan descend into genocide, reports Reuters today.

“We especially reject the possibility that we are creeping into genocide again in our region. We shall not stand by and allow it to happen,” Uhuru Kenyatta said, in a statement made late on Friday.

Calls for secession surface amidst ethnic conflict in CAR

Rebels in the Central African Republic today called for secession as the conflict worsened between ethnic communities, reports The Guardian.
 
A petition on independence of the northern region of CAR called for a new ‘Republic of Northern Central Africa’ to solve the ethnic conflict was carried out last week reported Reuters.

ICC to investigate crimes against humanity in Ukraine

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced today that a preliminary investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity had begun, reports Reuters.

Though Ukraine has not ratified the statute which makes it answerable to the ICC, special permission has been granted that give the court jurisdiction over crimes committed from 21 November 2013 to 22 February 2014.

Israel must stop shooting Palestinian civilians demands HRW

Human Rights Watch urged Israel to stop shooting civilians in Gaza in a press brief released today.

Citing over 60 civilian shooting in 2014, Human Rights Watch emphasised that Israel were repeatedly violating international law by shooting at unarmed civilians near the Gaza perimeter.

The Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, condemning the shootings, said,

“Month after month, Israeli forces have wounded and killed unarmed Palestinian’s who did nothing but cross an invisible, shifting, line that Israel has drawn inside Gaza’s perimeter."

China and India in joint naval drills

War ships from the Indian fleet took part in drills with the Chinese Navy to celebrate its 65th anniversary, off the coast of China.

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei also took part in the drills, codenamed ‘Maritime Cooperation 2014’, organised by the People’s Liberation Army.