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…

Car bombings kill 40 people in eastern Libya

As many as 40 people have been killed in a series of car bombs in the city of Qubbah, in eastern Libya, according to latest reports.

At least three bombs are reported to have exploded in the city, hitting a petrol station, the security headquarters and the town council headquarters.

Though no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Libya's  parliamentary speaker, Aguila Saleh, said the bombs appeared to have been in response to Egyptian air strikes on Islamist targets in Derna this week.

Talks with Afghan Taliban could begin soon says Pakistan

A senior Pakistani military official travelled to Kabul on Thursday to tell Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that formal talks with the Afghan Taliban could begin in the coming weeks.

Pakistan's army chief, General Raheel Sharif, reportedly delivered the message to Mr Ghani and signalled Pakistan's support for such a move.

"[The Afghan Taliban] have expressed their willingness and there will be progress in March. But these things are not so quick and easy," an anonymous Pakistani official told Reuters. "But there are very clear signals ... and we have communicated it to the Afghans," the official added. "Now many things are with the Afghans and they are serious."

Reuters
also reported a senior member of the Afghan Taliban telling them that a first round of talks with the United states was scheduled to be held in Qatar on Thursday.

However the US and the Taliban have both denied this.

Myanmar requests help from China to prevent 'terrorist attacks'

Myanmar's government has asked China to help prevent "terrorist attacks" from Chinese territory.

Martial law was declared in the Kokang region earlier this week, after clashed between the MNDAA, who are ethnic Han Chinese and the Burmese army, the Tatmadaw.

An official from the office of Myanmar President Thein Sein, intimated attacks came from across the border.

"It is necessary to co-operate…on the understanding that terrorist attacks on Myanmar are not allowed from Chinese territory," Hmuu Zaw said.

IS is committing genocide, Iraq tells UN Security Council

Iraq's UN Ambassador told the United Nations Security Council that the Islamic State (IS) is committing genocide in Iraq and called for them to face international justice.

Reuters reported Iraq's UN Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim as saying “these terrorist groups have desecrated all human values.” “They have committed the most heinous criminal terrorist acts against the Iraqi people whether Shi'ite, Sunni, Christians, Turkmen, Shabak or Yazidis”.

"These are in fact crimes of genocide committed against humanity that must be held accountable before international justice," he further told the UN Security Council, adding “Iraq continues to require assistance to reconstruct liberated areas”.

Libya, Egypt call for arms embargo lift

Libya and Egypt asked the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday to lift an arms embargo to allow the countries to build their armies to combat the Islamic State Militants.

The Security Council met to discuss footage of Egyptian citizens being beheaded by Islamic State militants in Libya.

"Libya needs a decisive stance from the international community to help us build or national army's capacity and this would come through a lifting of the embargo on weapons ... so as to deal with this rampant terrorism," said the Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Dayri at the Security Council.

Martial law declared in Kokang region of Myanmar

Myanmar’s government has declared martial law in the eastern region of Kokang, after fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and an ethnic Kokang militant group called the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

At least 47 Myanmar soldiers and 26 MNDAA fighters have been killed since then, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, and thousands have fled across the border into China.

A Red Cross convoy, which was transporting displaced civilians, was attacked by unknown gunmen on Tuesday, leaving two volunteers injured.

"We haven’t had such an attack before," said Red Cross spokeswoman Shwe Cin Myint to Reuters. "This would be the very first."

Farc to ‘discharge child soldiers’

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) announced it will release fighters who are under 15 years old, saying it was not the group’s policy to recruit children.

The announcement comes a week after the group announced it would stop recruiting children under 17.

Farc leader Ivan Marquez told Colombia's Caracol Radio that 13 children under 15 are currently in their ranks.

Civilian casualties rise in Afghanistan's deadliest year

Civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan rose by 22 percent in 2014, making it the deadliest year since records began being kept in 2009, according to figures released by the United Nations.

A total of 10,548 civilians were dead or wounded in 2014, and for the first time ground operations surpassed roadside bombs as being the biggest killer.

"In communities across Afghanistan, increased ground fighting among parties to the conflict and more (improvised explosive device) attacks exacted a heavy toll on Afghan civilians," said Nicholas Haysom, the UN special representative in Afghanistan. "Mortars, IEDs, gunfire and other explosives destroyed human life, stole limbs and ruined lives at unprecedented levels."

Russia calls on Ukraine's troops to surrender

Russian President Vladmir Putin told Kiev to allow its soldiers to surrender to pro-Russian rebels, who have encircled them whilst taking the eastern town of Debaltseve.

The agreed cease disintegrated after both sides refused to withdraw heavy weaponry form their front lines and pro-separatist militants carried on an offensive reports Reuters. 

“I hope that responsible figures in the Ukrainian leadership will not hinder soldiers in the Ukrainian army from putting down their weapons,” said Mr Putin.

Boko Haram kill dozens in blast at military check point

A suspected Boko Haram bomb blast at a Nigerian military checkpoint, killed 20 civilians reports the BBC.
 
The latest attack comes after elections in Nigeria were postponed until March due to heightening security concerns.

In a separate attack, a political rally held by the All Progressives Congress (APC), was hit with several bomb blasts and gun fire, reporters from the Agence France Presse stated.

The attacks come as Nigeria and surroudning African nations intesnified their fight against Boko Haram militants.