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…

Curfew declared in Myanmar city, amid Buddhist-Muslim clashes

Jul 2, 2014
Authorities in Myanmar declared a curfew in the country's second largest city on Thursday, Mandalay, reports the BBC, after Buddhists and Muslims clashed for the second night.

The curfew bans gatherings of more than five people from 9pm till 5am.

Clashes began on Tuesday evening when Buddhist mobs damaged Muslim shops and a mosque, before reports circulated that a Buddhist woman had been raped by Muslim men.

Palestinian teenager killed, revenge attack suspected

Jul 1, 2014
10:53 BST

The body of a Palestinian youth was found dead on Wednesday in what is suspected to be a revenge attack, following the killing of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank.

"In the early hours of Wednesday morning, police received a report of a person being forced into a car in Beit Hanina," the Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP.

"Within an hour, a body was found in Jerusalem that has still not been identified. We are looking to see if there is a connection between the two incidents."

Local residents identified the youth as a 16 year old boy named Muhammad Hussein Abu Khdeir, stating that he was kidnapped into a car by three [Israeli] settlers, the Times of Israel reported.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, the body was "charred, and showed signs of violence".

A senior official of the Fatah movement, led by the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, told Reuters that the Israeli government must take responsibility for the killing.

"The Israeli government bears responsibility for Jewish terrorism and for the kidnapping and murder in occupied Jerusalem," the official, Dmitry Diliani, said.

The suspected revenge attack meanwhile sparked clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian youth in East Jerusalem, with police firing rubber bullets and using tear gas, reported Al Jazeera and the BBC. 

An emotionally charged funeral took place on Tuesday, as the Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu declared a national day of morning.

India summons US diplomats over NSA spying

Jul 1, 2014
New Delhi summoned senior US diplomats, after leaked documents revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) was authorised to spy on the ruling party, BJP in 2010.

Describing the spying activities as "unacceptable", New Delhi "sought an assurance from the US that it won't happen again," reported NDTV.

"We told the Americans that our concerns remain and want the US to revert on facts. We want an assurance that it won't happen again," the news channel quoted a source in New Delhi as saying.

Eritrean leader reported to Swedish police as new law is passed

Jul 1, 2014

A new law, making crimes committed abroad prosecutable under Swedish law, has been used to take action against several Eritrean leaders, including President Isaias Afewerki, reported Al Jazeera.

Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza after 3 missing teenagers found dead

Jun 30, 2014
updated 10:58 GMT

Israel launched air strikes over Gaza on Tuesday, hours after Israeli sources said the bodies of three missing teenagers had been found in the West Bank, reports Reuters.

Kurdish leader plans referendum on independence from Iraq

Jun 30, 2014

The president of the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq has spoken of his intentions to hold a referendum for Kurdish independence from Iraq.

Speaking to the BBC, Massoud Barzani said that although the Kurds would contribute in tackling the crisis caused by the ISIS rebellion in Iraq, they would ultimately still pursue independence.

Mr Barzani said:

Thousands march through Hong-Kong to demand democratic reform

Jun 30, 2014
Tens of thousands of protesters in Hong-Kong joined a pro-democracy march through the city Tuesday, a day after the city voted in a referendum for democratic reform, reports The Guardian.

Organisers are expecting 500,000 people to take part in the protest with many groups planning to planning to occupy parts through the night until Wednesday morning.

Hong Kong votes for democratic reform in referendum

Jun 29, 2014
A public referendum held in Hong Kong for democratic reform, registered over 800,000 votes today, reports AlJazeera.

The referendum, organised by ‘Occupy Central’ called for electoral reform in China, received a surge in participants after the Chinese central government released a controversial statement that said  the central government would always have power over the workings of Hong Kong.

ISIS militants declare Islamic state, Iraq attempts Tikrit recapture

Jun 29, 2014
ISIS militants declared  an Islamic caliphate today, renaming themselves and their captured territory as a new Islamic state.

The announcement will see ISIS refer to itself as ‘The Islamic State,’ reports The Guardian.

The ISIS chief spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, said that the ‘restoration of the caliphate’ was made after the group’s council met.

The ISIS announcement comes as Iraqi forces launch a fresh initiative to recapture the northern city of Tikrit which is currently held by ISIS militants.

Disappeared Israeli teenagers found dead in West Bank

Jun 29, 2014
Three Israeli teenagers who went missing earlier this month were found dead in the West Bank today, reports the BBC.

Israel has accused Hamas of being responsible for the disappearance of the three teenagers, a claim that Hamas has denied.

The Israeli military has set up blockades and closed down areas within a few kilometres of where the Israeli bodies were found.

Israeli President Shimon Peres, commenting on the deaths, said,
Curfew declared in Myanmar city, amid Buddhist-Muslim clashes
Palestinian teenager killed, revenge attack suspected
India summons US diplomats over NSA spying
Eritrean leader reported to Swedish police as new law is passed
Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza after 3 missing teenagers found dead
Kurdish leader plans referendum on independence from Iraq
Thousands march through Hong-Kong to demand democratic reform
Hong Kong votes for democratic reform in referendum
ISIS militants declare Islamic state, Iraq attempts Tikrit recapture
Disappeared Israeli teenagers found dead in West Bank