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…

Gaza truce breaks down, Israel launches air strikes in response to rocket fire

Aug 18, 2014
16:58 BST

The truce between Israel and Hamas was interrupted by rocket fire into Israel, followed by Israeli air strikes into Gaza, hours before it was set to end as negotiators in Cairo strove to build a longer lasting ceasefire.

The Israeli military said it launched air strikes "targetting terror sites across the Gaza strip" in response to 3 rockets striking Southern Israel, which it says was launched by Hamas.

UN mission in South Sudan attacked by opposition militants as talks in Uganda commence

Aug 18, 2014
The United Nations Mission to South Sudan (UNMISS) condemned live gunfire by the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) militants near a UN base in Bentiu, that left one child injured.

A statement by the mission said that the UN mission sustained gunfire for 30 minutes which penetrated accommodations and office blocks.

The shooting comes as a high level delegation from the faction arrived in Uganda for discuss the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from South Sudan and involvement in the peace talks.

UNHCR launches aid effort for Northern Iraq, fighting at Mosil Dam continues, IS threatens to attack US soil

Aug 18, 2014
The United Nations agency for Refugees (UNHCR) is launching a major aid operation to reach over 500,000 people displaced by fighting in Iraq, reports the BBC.

The UNHCR said that it would send its goods at services to the northern region of Iraq through the Kurdish capital city of Irbil from Wednesday morning.

The aid announcement came as fighting to recapture the Mosul Dam from the Islamic State militants continued.

The Islamic State (IS) warned today that, it would launch attacks on American soil if the US continued to use air strikes on IS militants.

2013 the deadliest year for aid workers so far – UN

Aug 18, 2014
The United Nations says that 2013 has been the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers across the globe, with 155 aid workers were killed, 171 were seriously wounded and another 134 were kidnapped.

In a report released to mark the World Humanitarian Day, the UN said that 2013 had seen a 66% increase on the previous year. Three-quarters of these attacks took place in five countries; Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Pakistan and Sudan.

See the full report here.

National Guard deployed as Ferguson protests escalate further

Aug 17, 2014

The governor of Missouri State has deployed the National Guard to Ferguson, after the suburb’s worst night of violence since the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by a white policeman.

On Saturday the Governor Jay Nixon declared a curfew, but protestors have been defying the order and continued to march in the area, which resulted in clashes with police.

Mr Nixon said the National Guard will be deployed to aid local officials to protect life and property” and "help restore peace and order".

Refugee bus attacked in Ukraine, boths sides accuse each other

Aug 17, 2014
The Ukrainian government and pro-separatist rebels accused each other of hitting a bus carrying refugees in eastern Ukraine on Monday with rocket fire.

"A powerful artillery strike hit a refugee convoy near the area of Khryashchuvatye and Novosvitlivka. The force of the blow on the convoy was so strong that people were burned alive in the vehicles - they weren't able to get themselves out," military spokesman Anatoly Proshin told Ukrainian news channel, stating that the rocket fire had come from rebel lines.

Kenyan Anti-Terror police carried out killings and disappearances – HRW

Aug 17, 2014
Human Rights Watch said that Kenya's Anti Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) has been involved in summary executions and enforced disappearances, calling on international donors to suspend their support to the security forces behind the human rights violations.

In a statement released on Monday, the non-governmental organisation stated that their research had documented at least 10 cases of extra-judicial murders, 10 cases of disappearances and 11 cases of mistreatment of suspects since 2011, all with evidence of involvement from the country's counter-terrorism unit.

Leslie Lefkow, HRW's deputy Africa director, said,
“Kenyan counterterrorism forces appear to be killing and disappearing people right under the noses of top government officials, major embassies, and the United Nations.. This horrendous conduct does not protect Kenyans from terrorism – it simply undermines the rule of law.”

Pope to mark Armenian genocide centennial with mass

Aug 17, 2014
Pope Francis is to celebrate Mass on 12 April 2015 to mark 100 years since the Armenian genocide.

"The Pope replied to the invitation from the Armenian Catholic Church a year ago through the Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX to celebrate a mass for the recognition of the Genocide," a pastor told Prensa Armenia on Sunday, following an announcement by the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires on Sunday.

IS militants accused of killing hundreds, UK PM urges more action

Aug 16, 2014
The British Prime Minister David Cameron urged greater action to stop the advance of Islamic State (IS) militants, as reports emerge of the massacre of hundreds in Iraq and Syria.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph Cameron said the UK will have to use its "military prowess" to defeat the militants, warning that if world turned a blind eye the militants would create a "terrorist state" on Mediterranean shores.

“The creation of an extremist caliphate in the heart of Iraq and extending into Syria is not a problem miles away from home. Nor is it a problem that should be defined by a war 10 years ago. It is our concern here and now,” he wrote.

Israel Palestine peace-talks resume as end of ceasefire looms

Aug 16, 2014
Israel will not agree to any long-term ceasefire unless its security needs are met, said the Israeli Prime Minister as it resumed peace-talks with Hamas on Sunday.

The Israeli delegation in Cairo, said that it was acting with a clear mandate from Benjamin Netanyahu to stand firm on Israel’s security needs, reports Al-Jazeera.

The Hamas spokesman, said that the Palestinians would not back down from their core demands which included the lifting of Israel’s seven year blockade on Gaza.
Gaza truce breaks down, Israel launches air strikes in response to rocket fire
UN mission in South Sudan attacked by opposition militants as talks in Uganda commence
UNHCR launches aid effort for Northern Iraq, fighting at Mosil Dam continues, IS threatens to attack US soil
2013 the deadliest year for aid workers so far – UN
National Guard deployed as Ferguson protests escalate further
Refugee bus attacked in Ukraine, boths sides accuse each other
Kenyan Anti-Terror police carried out killings and disappearances – HRW
Pope to mark Armenian genocide centennial with mass
IS militants accused of killing hundreds, UK PM urges more action
Israel Palestine peace-talks resume as end of ceasefire looms