• After 50 years, US-Cuba ties officially restored

    The Cuban flag flies in Washington DC officially for the first time in over 50 years, as the two nations restored diplomatic ties, with the opening of their respective embassies.

    A ceremony in the US capital, attended by the Cuban Foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez, saw over 500 people cheer, as the flag was raised, including by chanting former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's name.

  • UN Security Council unanimously passes resolution on Iran nuclear deal
    The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that agreed on sanctions relief for Iran provide the terms of its nuclear agreement with world powers were implemented.
  • FARC militants release Colombian soldier ahead of ceasefire
    A Colombian army officer who was detained by the FARC militants was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, on Sunday.

    Colombia’s president Juan Manual Santos confirmed that the FARC militants had handed over the soldier.
  • David Cameron pledges to seek approval to support attacks against Islamic State militants
    Britain’s premier David Cameron pledged to increase support in the fight against Islamic State militants by looking to gain parliamentary approval to join US led airstrikes.

    Speaking to US TV broadcasters, NBC, Mr Cameron said,
  • Ayatollah pledges to continue support for Assad

    Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country's policy towards the US, Syria and other countries will not change, despite the nuclear deal signed earlier this week.

    During a speech in Tehran, marking the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, the ayatollah said Iran still had sharp differences with the US, especially over the Middle East, and pledged continue to back Syria, Iraq, the Palestinians and "oppressed people" in Yemen and Bahrain, he said.

    "Whether the [nuclear] deal is approved or disapproved, we will never stop supporting our friends in the region and the people of Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon," Ayatollah Khamenei said. "Even after this deal our policy towards the arrogant US will not change."

  • Saudi king holds talks with Hamas

    The leader of Saudi Arabia, King Salman, held rare talks with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, the firsttime in four years the Saudi monarchy acknowledged talks with the Palestinian group.

    Mr Meshaal, who was on pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, "praised the positive stance of the kingdom's leadership towards the Palestinian cause", Saudi Arabia's SPA state news agency reported.

  • ICC judges ask prosecutors to review decision over Gaza flotilla raid
    Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) were asked by judges to review their decision not to investigate the raid on a humanitarian flotilla destined for Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 2010, reports Reuters.

    The ICC judges sought the review in a ruling published on Thursday.


    Last year, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda said that Israel will not face prosecution for the attack on the flotilla, which left nine activists dead, despite a “reasonable basis” that war crimes were committed.

  • ‘Book keeper of Auschwitz’ convicted by German Court
    A 94 year old man has been convicted for his role in the extermination of 300,000 people in a Nazi Concentration Camp.

    Reuters has described the trial as one of the last big Holocaust trials.

    Mr Groening remains free until the court decides how much of his four year sentence he will need to serve.
  • UN to vote on resolution to lift sanctions on Iran
    The UN will vote on a resolution that looks to endorse the recently agreed nuclear deal with Iran and end targeted sanctions next week, reports Reuters.

    The US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, briefed the 15 member Security Counci

  • Protests in in Budapest against anti-migrant fence

    Close to one thousand people gathered in Budapest on Tuesday to protest against an anti-migrant fence, currently being built by Hungary, along its border with Serbia. The fence is aimed at preventing increasing numbers of migrants, most of whom are refugees, from entering Hungary from the south. Around 80,000 migrants and refugees have reached the country so far this year.

  • Pro independence Catalan parties unite to fight Spain's regional elections
    The two main pro-independence parties in Catalonia announced on Monday that they would unite to fight Spain's regional election in September in order to further the independence campaign, reports Reuters.

    Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya (CDC), the party of Catalan's governor Artur Mas, and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) would be campaigning for a mandate of pursuing independence for the region.

    "It is an agreement to win the elections with the aim of Catalonia becoming an independent state," the CDC's Josep Rull was quoted by Reuters as saying.

  • Iran agrees nuclear deal that sees lifting of international sanctions

    Iran and six world powers reached a deal on Tuesday, with an agreement that concluded over a decade of negotiation over the nation's nuclear programme.

  • Civilians in Iraq face dire rights violations under Islamic State control finds UN
    Civilians in Islamic State held territory in Iraq are facing a “terrible”  existence found a UN report released on Monday.

    The joint report compiled by the Office of t

  • Clashes in Belfast during Orange Order march

    At least eight police officers were injured during the annual Orange Order march by protestants in Belfast, after loyalists were stopped from passing a Catholic estate.

    PSNI officers were pelted with bottles and other missiles, in response to which a water cannon and plastic bullets were deployed.

  • Colombia agrees to de-escalate conflict with Farc

    Colombia's government has agreed to reduce attacks on Farc positions, after the militant group announced a unilateral ceasefire earlier this week.

    The government and the rebels in  join statement said government forces will refrain from military attacks on rebel positions from July 20, if Farc fulfils the terms of its ceasefire.

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