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…

Syria air strikes do not need Assad approval says Cameron

Sep 4, 2014
The UK could conduct air strikes in Syria against Islamic State militants without President Assad's approval said the British Prime Minister David Cameron stating that the Assad regime was not a legitimate government as it had committed war crimes.

Asked about the legality of air strikes over Iraq and Syria under international law, Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday:
“I don’t think it’s that complicated because obviously the Iraqi government is a legitimate government... whereas President Assad has committed war crimes on his own people and is therefore illegitimate."
“My view is that President Assad is part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. We have got to understand that Assad has been part of the creation of IS, rather than part of its answer," he added.

Germany to give Holocaust child survivors one-off payment

Sep 4, 2014
The German government has agreed to make a one-off payment of financial assistance to to child survivors of the Holocaust, in an effort to tackle the effects of malnutrition and psychological trauma, reports AP.

The agreement, which would see payments of 2500 Euros to Jewish children who were detained in concentration camps, ghettos or were in hiding for at least six months, was agreed on at the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Iran's Supreme Leader approves cooperation with US forces

Sep 4, 2014
Iran’s Supreme Leader has approved cooperation with the US, Iraq and Kurdistan to fight against the Islamic State (IS) reports the BBC.

Ayatollah Khamenei, the spiritual leader of Iran, authorised a top commander to co-ordinate military operations with US, Iraqi and Kurdish forces said sources in Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry, in an official statement rejected any calls for cooperation with the US.

A senior Iranian lawmaker deemed the Supreme Leader's actions as "impossible."

Pro-Russian militants sign truce with Ukraine as NATO forms "Response Force"

Sep 4, 2014
The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian militants signed a ceasefire deal as NATO leaders agreed to form a robust alliance against Russia’s aggression on Friday.

Though the militants said that the ceasefire had not changed their politics of advocating for separation from Ukraine, a ceasefire was agreed to commence by 15:00 GMT, reports the BBC.

US forms core coalition of countries to fight against IS

Sep 4, 2014
The US administration said that it had formed a coalition of countries to counter Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria, reports the New York Times.

In a side meeting helt at the NATO summit, military officials and diplomats from the US, Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark formulated a strategy that worked to bolster forces that were directly fighting IS militants on the ground, whilst the US continued airstrikes on militants.

Nigeria launch air strikes against Boko Haram

Sep 4, 2014

The Nigerian army are reported to be carrying out airstrikes against Boko Haram's bases, especially the town of Bama which had been captured by the militant group earlier this week.

A government official said "Bama today is the centre of the military battle with the terrorists... Boko Haram is being repelled by the Nigerian troops as we are talking now."

UK funds investigation to establish war crimes case against Islamic State

Sep 3, 2014
A team of international investigators funded by the British government is compiling evidence against Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq and Syria, reports the BBC.

The group have prepared over 400 cases for the prosecution of senior Islamic State  leaders and fighters over the last few months.

The investigators working from a European city have avoided publicity until now.

India on alert as Al Qaeda announces Indian wing

Sep 3, 2014
States across India were put on increased alert Thursday after the Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al Zawahri announced launch of an Indian wing, reports Reuters.

Al Zawahri promised to spread Islamic rule and "raise the flag of jihad" across the Indian subcontinent in a video posted online.

We will not be cowed' - Cameron and Obama

Sep 3, 2014
The UK Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama said they "would not be cowed by barbaric killers" and called for a stronger NATO alliance in the face of the ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine and the advance of Islamic State across Syria and Iraq.

In a joint op-ed published Thursday in The Times as NATO met in Wales, the two leaders called on NATO leaders to use "all the resources at our disposal — military, economic and political" to solve the ongoing crises. 

See here for full op-ed.

Extracts published below:
"If terrorists think we will weaken in the face of their threats they could not be more wrong. Countries like Britain and America will not be cowed by barbaric killers. We will be more forthright in the defence of our values, not least because a world of greater freedom is a fundamental part of how we keep our people safe."

Merkel presses Burma on human rights

Sep 3, 2014

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will pledge further economic support to Burma, providing that the Burmese regime does more to protect ethnic groups and holds fair elections next year, during a visit to Berlin by President Thein Sein.

Syria air strikes do not need Assad approval says Cameron
Germany to give Holocaust child survivors one-off payment
Iran's Supreme Leader approves cooperation with US forces
Pro-Russian militants sign truce with Ukraine as NATO forms "Response Force"
US forms core coalition of countries to fight against IS
Nigeria launch air strikes against Boko Haram
UK funds investigation to establish war crimes case against Islamic State
India on alert as Al Qaeda announces Indian wing
We will not be cowed' - Cameron and Obama
Merkel presses Burma on human rights