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…

Israel launches air strikes over Syria

Jun 22, 2014
Israel launched launched air strikes at nine targets in Syria, responding to the killing of a 14 year old boy in the Golan Heights by a missile attack on Sunday.

See here, here and here.

Egypt jails Al-Jazeera journalists amidst international condemnation

Jun 22, 2014
Egyptian court Monday jailed three AL-Jazeera journalists on charges of aiding terrorists and endangering national security.

Former BBC correspondent Peter Greste, former CNN journalist Mohamed Fahmy and a local producer Baher Mohamed were jailed for seven, seven and 10 years respectively.  Four other students and activists involved in the cases were also jailed for 10 years.

US will offer 'intense and sustained' support to Iraq - John Kerry

Jun 22, 2014
The US Secretary of State John Kerry, today, pledged ‘intense and sustained’ support to Iraq whilst noting that the country would only survive when leaders took steps to bring it back together, reports the BBC.

"The support will be intense and sustained and if Iraq's leaders take the necessary steps to bring the country together, it will be effective," Kerry told reporters in Baghdad.

Russian Foreign Minister commemorates Armenian genocide

Jun 22, 2014
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, paid tribute to Armenian genocide victims, during a visit to a  genocide memorial in Tsitsmernakaberd today.

Lavrov who is on a two day visit to Armenia was accompanied by the Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian who invited him to attend visit the memorial, reports the Public Radio of Armenia.


600K vote in unofficial Hong Kong referendum on democratic reforms

Jun 21, 2014
Almost 600,000 have voted in Hong Kong in an unofficial referendum on the erosion of civil liberties and pro-democracy reforms, following Hong Kong return to Chinese rule in 1997.

The referendum, deemed illegal by Beijing authorities, was initially scheduled to take place over a three day period via on-line polls, but was extended till June 29 after the voting website was targeted by cyber attack.

Fifteen polling booths were also opened across the country.

See here for report on Reuters.

Two Palestinians shot dead by Israeli troops as search operation continues

Jun 21, 2014
Two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli troops in the West Bank on Sunday, as the IDF continued its search for the three missing Israeli teenagers, reports AFP and CNN.

Israel accuses Hamas of abducting the three teenagers, Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel, who disappeared whilst hitch-hiking near Hebron on June 12.

Speaking on Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had "no intention of harming everyone", adding, "Netanyahu said Israel had "no intention of harming anyone", adding, "but our forces are acting as necessary for self-defence, and from time to time, there are victims or casualties on the Palestinian side as a result."

Iranian Head of State opposes US intervention in Iraq

Jun 21, 2014
Iran’s head of state, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said today that he opposed US intervention to quell the intensifying conflict in Iraq, reports The Guardian.

“We strongly oppose the intervention of the US and others in the domestic affairs of Iraq. The main dispute in Iraq is between those who want Iraq to join the US camp and those that seek an independent Iraq,” said Khamenei to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani earlier said that it would support the current Iraqi government to combat the Islamic militants.

Russia sends troops to Ukraine border amidst ceasefire violations

Jun 20, 2014
Russia is redeploying troops to the Ukrainian border and arming and training pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, said US officials Friday.

Tanks and heavy artillery departed towards the border a senior US official told the Washington Post.

Hours after a declared ceasefire Friday night, pro-Russian separatists attacked Ukrainian posts on the border with Russia, reports The Independent.

ISIS captures Iraq-Syria border post

Jun 20, 2014
ISIS fighters captured the strategic border post, near the town of Qaim on Saturday which is a crossing to Syria from Western Iraq, reports Reuters and BBC.

The capture is being viewed as strategically important as it would facilitate the transport of equipment and ammunition.

See related article:

Heavy fighting around key sites in northern Iraq (20 Jun 2014)

Heavy fighting around key sites in northern Iraq

Jun 19, 2014

Militants from ISIS and Iraqi troops are locked in heavy fighting for the Baiji oil refinery and Tal Afar airport.

The clashes come after US President Obama said he would send 300 military advisors to assist the Iraqi army, but he did not authorise immediate air strikes despite a formal request made by Baghdad.

The US said that efforts to bridge sectarian divides would need to be made by the government before further military support would be given.

Israel launches air strikes over Syria
Egypt jails Al-Jazeera journalists amidst international condemnation
US will offer 'intense and sustained' support to Iraq - John Kerry
Russian Foreign Minister commemorates Armenian genocide
600K vote in unofficial Hong Kong referendum on democratic reforms
Two Palestinians shot dead by Israeli troops as search operation continues
Iranian Head of State opposes US intervention in Iraq
Russia sends troops to Ukraine border amidst ceasefire violations
ISIS captures Iraq-Syria border post
Heavy fighting around key sites in northern Iraq