WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Al-Shabab fighters are claiming to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia, on Wednesday.  Adan Yabaal is situated about 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu and serves as the logistical hub for government forces. Raids were launched by al-Shabab fighters before dawn on Wednesday, forcing the army to retreat after fierce battles, according to a security officer quoted…

Cyprus rescues 60 Syrian migrants stranded at sea for 6 days

Sixty Syrian migrants have been rescued by Cypriot authorities on Wednesday after being lost at sea for 6 days. 

The migrants were spotted by a merchant vessel on a small wooden fishing boat about 30 nautical miles off Cape Greco. 

According to Cyprus’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, all migrants have been hospitalized, including three children and one man who were found unconscious. Officials stated that they were all dehydrated. 

The boat reportedly left from Lebanon on 18 January. 

Bangladesh Police Abuses Rampant in Rohingya Camps - HRW

A recent article published by Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlights the Bangladeshi police abuse occurring in Rohingya camps. 

In the past decade, nearly a million Rohingya have fled persecution by the Myanmar military. Those who have fled currently live in refugee settlements in Bangladesh. 

Argentine unions begin 12 hour strike in response to new austerity measures

Tens of thousands of Argentines took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday to protest economic and labor reforms proposed by President Javier Milei.

The 12-hour strike coordinated by Argentina's largest union, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), is the most significant opposition to Milei's proposed austerity measures since he took office in December 2023. 

Turkey parliament votes to back Sweden joining NATO

Turkey’s parliament has voted in favour of Sweden joining Nato, leaving Hungary the sole Nato member yet to ratify Sweden's accession.

The vote late on Tuesday paves the way for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to give Turkey’s seal of approval on Nato membership for Sweden, which dropped its centuries-old policy of military non-alignment after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Egypt backs Somalia in dispute over Ethiopia-Somaliland deal

The president of Egypt, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, has expressed his support for Somalia in a dispute over an offer by Somaliland to give land-locked Ethiopia access to its coast in exchange for recognition of its independence.

In a press conference in Cairo alongside the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sisi said: “My message to Ethiopia is that trying to seize a piece of land to control it is something no one will agree to.”

Sudan accuses IGAD of violating country's sovereignty

Sudan suspended its involvement in mediation efforts with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) after it invited the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to a meeting in Uganda. 

For nine months, the Sudanese military and the RSF have been engaged in a brutal conflict that has displaced over 7 million people and has left nearly half of Sudan's population in need of aid. 

IGAD has taken on the role of mediator, attempting to broker talks between the state military and the RSF.

China brokers ceasefire between rebel alliance and Myanmar military

 

China has brokered a "formal ceasefire" between a rebel guerrilla alliance and Myanmar's military.

Myanmar's military took power in a coup in February 2021. The military regime, the State Administration Council, has been under pressure due to attacks from the "Three Brotherhood Alliance".

The "Three Brotherhood Alliance" consisting of ethnic rebel groups has claimed they have taken over dozens of towns, including border crossings crucial for trade with China. 

China says it will "crush" Taiwanese independence efforts before vote

The Chinese military has stated that it will "crush" any efforts to promote Taiwan's independence.

On Friday, hundreds and thousands of people attended pre-election rallies in Taiwan in preparation for Saturday's critical presidential and parliamentary polls.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, stated, "The Chinese People's Liberation Army maintains high vigilance at all times and will take all necessary measures to firmly crush 'Taiwan independence' attempts of all forms."

Experts accuse UK of hypocrisy for not backing claim of genocide in Gaza before ICJ

The UK government is facing accusations of hypocrisy for not supporting South Africa's case accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. 

Six weeks earlier, the UK submitted legal arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague supporting claims that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic group. 

In its submission on Myanmar, the UK argues that the threshold for determining genocide is lower if it is the case that damage has been inflicted on children as opposed to adults. 

Fire rages through Rohingya refugee camp leaving thousands homeless

 7,000 displaced Rohingya Muslim refugees have been made homeless yet again after a fire tore through their camp in southeastern Bangladesh, according to the UN refugee agency.

 Fire swept through a Rohingya refugee camp in southeastern Bangladesh in the early hours of Sunday, destroying about 800 shelters and rendering thousands homeless, officials said.