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…

At least 50 missing after Yemeni refugees 'deliberately drowned'

Over 50 people are missing off the coast of Yemen after human traffickers "deliberately drowned" refugees on Thursday, the UN Migration Agency said. 

Almost 200 refugees are believed to have been "thrown" into the sea by smugglers. 

"They were in a boat with smugglers, who dropped them at sea before arriving at the shore. Some people have disappeared. But others were actually buried by their friends on the beaches," the  International Organization for Migration's chief for Yemen, Laurent de Boeck, told Al Jazeera from Brussels. 

Tensions rise between US and North Korea

The leaders of both countries on Thursday warned of retaliatory actions if provoked by an attack as tensions escalate day by day. 

North Korea said it planned to launch four missiles to strike the US territory of Guam, which was the launch site for recent US military flights over North Korea. 

Responding to the threat, Mr Trump said North Korea should be "very, very nervous" if it even thinks about attacking the USA. 

Jacob Zuma narrowly defeats no confidence vote

South Africa's president Jacob Zuma narrowly defeated a no confidence vote after a secret ballet on Tuesday. 

Of the 400 member parliament, 198 voted against the attempt to oust him, 177 in favour and nien abstained. 

Celebrating his win, Mr Zuma exalted the ANC's credentials.

"It's difficult to defeat the ANC. They always try," he was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying. 

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance said, "today's motion of no confidence result is closer than anyone expected."

Venezuela is a 'dictatorship' says new 17 member bloc

In a joint declaration released on Tuesday, a new 17 member bloc of countries including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Canada condemned the situation in Venezuela, concluding it was a "dictatorship". 

The group described the new constituent assembly as "illegitimate" and said they would not acknowledge any of its actions. 

"What we have in Venezuela is a dictatorship," Peru's foreign affairs minister Ricardo Luna was quoted by Reuters as saying at a press conference following a meeting in Lima. 

UN says genocide early warning signs present in CAR

The UN aid head, Stephen O'Brien warned on Monday of early warning signs of genocide in the Central African Republic after there was renewed violence. 

"The early warning signs of genocide are there," Mr O'Brien was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying at a UN meeting. 

"We must act now, not pare down the UN's effort, and pray we don't live to regret it."

Mr O'Brien's comments came following a recent visit to the country. 

China vows to adhere strictly to UN sanctions on North Korea

China reiterated its support for the UN Security Council's sanctions on North Korea, saying it would adhere to them very strictly. 

"Owing to China's traditional economic ties with North Korea, it will mainly be China paying the price for implementing the resolution," China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted by Reuters as saying in a statement on Tuesday. 

"But in order to protect the international non-proliferation system and regional peace and stability, China will, as before, fully and strictly properly implement the entire contents of the relevant resolution."

Prosecutor quits war crimes panel on Syria citing frustration at UN inaction

One of the three members of an independent United Nations appointed panel documenting war atrocities in Syria has resigned in frustration, reports the New York Times.

Swiss prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, told reporters that she had hoped the UN Security Council would refer the case in Syria to the International Criminal Court or set up a special tribunal.

“I was expecting to persuade the Security Council to do something for justice. Nothing happened for seven years. Now I resigned. We are going nowhere,” she said on the phone to reporters.

Al Jazeera vows to continue professional reporting of 'occupied Palestinian territories' despite Israeli shut down

Al Jazeera news vowed to continue reporting on “events of occupied Palestinian territories professionally and accurately,” despite official plans by Israel to shut down its offices in Jerusalem.

Israel confirmed that it would revoke media credentials of Al Jazeera journalists and close the network’s office in Jerusalem reports Al Jazeera news.

“We have based our decision on the move by Sunni Arab states to close the Al Jazeera offices and prohibiting their work,” said Israel’s Media Minister Ayoub Kara.

Kagame wins landslide presidential election in Rwanda

Rwanda’s ruling president Paul Kagame has won a third term in office after a landslide victory in the country’s presidential elections, winning 98.7% of the vote.

Turnout in the state is expected to top 90% in Friday’s election, with the victory set to extend Mr Kagame’s 17 years in power.

Mr Kagame, the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front which helped end the 1994 genocide, has won two previous presidential elections in 2003 and 2010. This victory though is his largest margin.

On Saturday morning Mr Kagame told a victory rally

UN Security Council unanimously votes for sanctions on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for fresh sanctions on North Korea, in response to intercontinental ballistic missile tests by the state last month.

The new set of sanctions imposes bans on North Korea’s export of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood, and is expected to cut the state’s export revenue by up to a third.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley hailed the move which she said had raised the penalty on North Korea "to a whole new level".

"Today the Security Council has come together to put the North Korean dictator on notice," she added.