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…

Kurdish council reveals evidence of chemical weapon attacks by Islamic State

Mar 14, 2015
Kurdish authorities in Iraq, confirmed on Saturday, that they have evidence that holds Islamic State militants accountable for using chemical weapons against Peshmerga fighters in Tikrit.

Reports that Islamic State militants used chlorine gas as a chemical weapon against the fighters stem from a suicide attack in January in northern Iraq, reports the Associated Press.

ISIS accepts Boko Haram's pledge of allegiance

Mar 13, 2015
Islamic State said it accepted the Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram's pledge of allegiance, and announced an expansion of its territory.

In an audio message released on Thursday, an IS spokesperson said that the pledge had allowed the Islamic State's 'caliphate' to be established in West Africa.

“We announce to you to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to west Africa because the caliph... has accepted the allegiance of our brothers of the Sunni group for preaching and the jihad," the spokesperson, Mohammed al-Adnani was quoted as saying, urging Muslims to join Boko Haram.

Myanmar 'drops bomb' on Chinese territory

Mar 13, 2015

Myanmar's air force is reported to have dropped a bomb in a field on Chinese territory, killing four civilians.
China in response sent fighter jets to their shared border in the Yunnan province.

Myanmar denied dropping the bomb and said Kokang rebels, who have been fighting the Burmese army, may have been behind the attack.

"It's possible that those fighting with us purposely created these attacks with the intent of causing misunderstanding between China and us," a Myanmar official told Reuters.

ICC judges agree to withdraw charges against Kenyatta

Mar 12, 2015
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday decided to withdraw charges of crimes against humanity against Kenya's president over his role in post-election violence in 2007.

Last year prosecutors sought for the charges to be dropped, citing political interference and witness intimidation hampering the process.

Prosecutors remain free to re-start a judicial process if new evidence emerges, reported Reuters.

Cuba-US phone links re-established after 15 years

Mar 12, 2015

Cuba and the United States have re-established direct telephone communication links for the first time in 15 years.

"The re-establishment of direct communications between the United States and Cuba contributes to providing better infrastructure and better communications quality between the people and our two countries," the company Etecsa said in a statement, adding that the link would initially be only for telephone calls.

UN Security Council 'failing' Syrian victims

Mar 12, 2015

A coalition of aid agencies has accused the UN Security Council of failing the victims of the conflict in Syria, with the UN accusing the powerful countries on the Security Council of putting their own interests ahead of the need to end the conflict.

Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN chief, told the BBC the UN still believed in a political solution to the drawn out conflict but said there was a lack of political will to " move forward in a united fashion to stop the fighting".

Sudan dismisses ICC as a failure

Mar 11, 2015
Sudan's president, Omar Hassan al Bashir on Thursday dismissed the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a failure after the court moved to seek a referral to the UN Security Council on Mr Bashir's failure to cooperate with investigation into alleged war crimes.

"The decisions of the International Criminal Court are non-binding on the government of Sudan and the referral of Sudan's case to the Security Council shows the failure of the ICC which is seeking punishment for Sudan," Sudan's information minister, Ahmed Bilal Osman, told the Sudanese Media Centre.

"The ICC is aware that it doesn't scare Sudan," he added.

Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador in diplomatic row with Sweden

Mar 10, 2015

Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Sweden, in an escalating row over Swedish criticism of the country’s human rights record, which saw the Saudis blocking a speech to the Arab League by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom.

"We were informed yesterday [Tuesday] that Saudi Arabia had called back its ambassador," said Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman Veronica Nordlund.

UN seeks postponement of Gaza war crimes report

Mar 9, 2015
United Nations investigators have sought the postponement of a report examining allegations of war crimes committed during Israel's offensive into Gaza in 2014.

The investigation is being headed by Mary McGowan Davis, a former justice of the New York State Supreme Court, who has taken up the position after the resignation of William Schabas as chairman in February.

Student protesters attacked by police in Myanmar

Mar 9, 2015

Police in Myanmar have charged a protest by students who protested against proposed legislation, which they say stifles academic freedom.

Around 100 people were arrested with the police beating students, monks and journalists, according to Reuters.

Kurdish council reveals evidence of chemical weapon attacks by Islamic State
ISIS accepts Boko Haram's pledge of allegiance
Myanmar 'drops bomb' on Chinese territory
ICC judges agree to withdraw charges against Kenyatta
Cuba-US phone links re-established after 15 years
UN Security Council 'failing' Syrian victims
Sudan dismisses ICC as a failure
Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador in diplomatic row with Sweden
UN seeks postponement of Gaza war crimes report
Student protesters attacked by police in Myanmar