WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

UN experts demand investigation following Israel’s killing of Lebanese journalists
  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…

Two states is the best path forward' says US President Obama on Israel-Palestine

Mar 23, 2015
US President Barack Obama reiterated his support for a two state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, where he criticised comments made by the newly re-elected Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a joint press conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday, Mr Obama said,

India overturns controversial social media expression law

Mar 23, 2015

The Indian Supreme Court has overruled a controversial law which enabled the prosecution of people for comments on social media networks.

The Supreme Court decided section 66A of the Information Technology Act was unconstitutional.

"Section 66A is unconstitutional and we have no hesitation in striking it down," news agency AFP quoted Justice RF Nariman as saying in court.

"The public's right to know is directly affected by section 66A," he said.

US slows military withdrawal from Afghanistan

Mar 23, 2015
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday approved requests by the Afghan government to slow down the removal of US troops from Afghanisatan, reports Reuters.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Barack Obama said,

“It was my assessment as commander in chief that it made sense for us to provide a few extra months for us to be able to help on things like logistics.”

Netanyahu's campaign comments draw criticism from White House

Mar 22, 2015
Newly re-elected President of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu apologised for comments he made shortly before the Israeli election last week in which he claimed Arabs were coming out to vote en masse against him and calling on his supporters to go to the poll on Monday.

Mr Netanyahu also made a statement the day before the election last week rejecting a two-state election, increasing tensions between the United States and Israel.

While Mr Netanyahu has since seemingly backtracked on these statements, US President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff made a statement saying, “[w]e cannot simply pretend that those comments were never made” and “[a]n occupation that has lasted for almost 50 years must end.”

World mourns death of Singapore's founding leader

Mar 22, 2015
Singapore’s first ever elected Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, has died at the age of 91.

The world renowned leader is most admired for the role he played in transforming Singapore from a small port city into one of the wealthiest and most industrious nations in the world, whilst serving as the nation’s prime minister for 31 years.

The US President Barack Obama described him as a “giant of history” whose advice has been sought by other world leaders, reports the BBC.

In statement made on Monday, Mr Obama said,

“I personally appreciated his wisdom, including our discussions during my trip to Singapore in 2009, which were hugely important in helping me formulate our policy of rebalancing to the Asia Pacific.  He was a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one the great strategists of Asian affairs.”

IMF to cooperate with Chinese-led AIIB

Mar 22, 2015

The head of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde said the IMF would be "delighted" to cooperate with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a Chinese-led development bank, with over 30 international members, with a similar remit as the World Bank.

Ms Lagarde said there was "massive" room for IMF co-operation with the AIIB on infrastructure financing.

PKK leader calls for end to armed struggle

Mar 22, 2015

The jailed leader of the PKK, Abudllah Ocalan, has reiterated his call on his fighters to lay down their arms in their fight against Turkey.

Pro-Kurdish politician Sirri Sureyya Onder, who visited Mr Ocalan in prison last week, read out a statement by the leader at an event marking the Kurdish Newroz festival.

Mr Ocalan called for a congress to decide on abandoning the armed struggle, in a message heard by hundreds of thousands of supporters at a rally in Diyarbakir.

Yemen's president calls for international intervention as Houthi seize Taiz

Mar 21, 2015
Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi called on the United Nations to dispatch “urgent intervention” to the country, as Houthi militants took over Yemen's third largest city.

Israel’s current status quo makes stability in region difficult says US president

Mar 21, 2015
US President Barack Obama, reiterating his belief that a two state solution was the best way to ensure the long term security of Israel, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pre-election stance would make it “hard to find a path were people are seriously belieiving that negotiations are possible.

Report finds sexual abuse and rape in Australian detention centre in Nauru

Mar 20, 2015
An Australian asylum camp at Nauru has been plagued by reports of rape, "indecent assault, sexual harassment and physical assault", according to a report by former integrity commissioner Philip Moss.

Guards traded drugs for sexual favours and a minor was amongst those who were raped, said the report, which made 19 recommendations. The Australian government said it has accepted all the recommendations.
 
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the findings were "very disturbing", adding, "these are very important, very important claims, very disturbing findings - and that's why we have fully accepted the recommendations of the report."

The heavily redacted report also rebuffed Australian government claims that Save the Children charity workers had lied about abuse claims at the centre. “The Moss Inquiry shows beyond a doubt that there was and is no basis to these claims," said Save the Children chief executive Paul Ronalds. "There was never any need for fabrication or exaggeration by Save the Children staff – the evidence is clear."
Two states is the best path forward' says US President Obama on Israel-Palestine
India overturns controversial social media expression law
US slows military withdrawal from Afghanistan
Netanyahu's campaign comments draw criticism from White House
World mourns death of Singapore's founding leader
IMF to cooperate with Chinese-led AIIB
PKK leader calls for end to armed struggle
Yemen's president calls for international intervention as Houthi seize Taiz
Israel’s current status quo makes stability in region difficult says US president
Report finds sexual abuse and rape in Australian detention centre in Nauru