• US launches investigation into Baltimore Police Department

    The US has launched an investigation into Baltimore’s police department, in order to determine whether it engages in routine bias or uses excessive force, the BBC reports.

  • Foreign ambassadors killed in helicopter crash in Pakistan
    A Pakistani army helicopter has crashed in northern Pakistan killing several foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines.

    The Pakistani Taliban immediately claimed credit for the attack, but the government of Pakistan has said a technical fault caused the accident.
  • UK General Election 2015: Conservatives win majority government, SNP achieves landslide victory in Scotland
    The Conservative party became the first majority Conservative government in almost 20 years, with the Conservatives reaching an unexpected majority of 331 seats in parliament, as the UK 2015 General Election vote count drew to a close on Friday.
     
  • Saudi-led coalition vows to step up attacks against Houthi militants
    The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi militants in Yemen said it would step up attacks after offering a 5 day humanitarian ceasefire to the militants.

    The spokesperson for the coalition, Ahmed Asseri, explaining the retractment of the ceasefire offer, said,
  • US military starts training Syrian rebels
    The US military has commenced the training of Syrian rebels in order to strengthen the battle against Islamic State, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

    "We are announcing today that combat training has begun for a company size group of the new Syrian forces. This programme is critical and a complex part of our counter ISIL efforts."

    The US defence secretary, Ashton Carter said that about 90 Syrian fighters were being trained and their training paid for by the US. The training of a second group of fighters will commence soon, he added.

  • Israel to appeal against boycott proposal at FIFA
    Israel’s top football officials met the FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Wednesday, in an attempt to stop a vote being held to suspend Israel form the world football body.

    Palestine’s Football Association (PFA), have submitted an Israeli suspension proposal to be vote on at the FIFA general assembly on May 29.
  • Record number displaced by conflict worldwide – NRC

    The Norwegian Refugee Council says a record 38 million people have been displaced from their homes by conflicts across the world, in a report released today.

    Describing the numbers as “the worst figures for forced displacement in a generation,” Secretary General Jan Egeland said it “signalled our complete failure to protect innocent civilians”.

  • UN promises ‘robust’ response to killing of Tanzanian peacekeepers in DRC

    The United Nations has promised a “robust” military offensive in response to the killing of two Tanzanian peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The attack, suspected to have been carried out by the Ugandan Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also injured thirteen others.

  • US approves ferry services to Cuba

    The US government has given the go-ahead for ferry services to resume between Cuba and Florida, after a 50-year hiatus.

    A number of ferry companies say they have been given licenses, according to the BBC.

    Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said it had a licence on its Facebook page.

    "This is a historical event. Thanks to President Barack Obama, to whom we are very grateful, for his leadership," the firm wrote.

  • Former IRA commander shot dead in Belfast
    A former senior commander with the Provisional IRA has been shot dead in Belfast on Tuesday morning.

    Gerard 'Jock' Davison is the most senior republican to have been killed since the ceasefire of 1997, having been a prominent backer of the peace process. He was reportedly murdered in front of local school children this morning.

    The killing drew condemnation from Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, who said,

    “This brutal act will be condemned by all sensible people – there can be no place today for such actions. I would urge anyone with any information to bring that forward to the PSNI [Police Service of Northern Ireland].”
  • Modi to visit China next week
    The Indian president, Narendra Modi is to visit China next week, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, in his visit trip since taking office, reports Reuters.

    The visit, which will take place from May 14 to 16, will include visits to Xian, Beijing and Shanghai, and will be followed by visits to Mongolia and South Korea. He is expected to look to encourage trade and business between the two countries.

    On Modi, Mr Modi launched himself on China's social media site, Weibo.

  • Taliban political office needs reopening conclude Afghan talks
    Talks on Afghanistan's conflict this weekend agreed that the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar, should be reopened in order to facilitate negotiations, and that senior Taliban leaders' names should be removed from the UN terrorism black list, reported Reuters.

    The 'non-official meeting', which took place over two days in Qatar, included UN representatives, as well as representatives from the Taliban and the Afghan government.

  • Low ranking Israeli soldiers could face investigation – ICC chief prosecutor

    The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said that all sides involved in potential war crimes committed in Gaza could face investigation, including middle and low ranking Israeli soldiers.

    In an extensive email interview with Haaretz, Fatou Bensouda said that if a formal investigation was to be opened, it would be carried out with the purpose of  “bringing stronger cases against those most responsible” for the alleged crimes committed.

    She went on to say that it “will of course look into the alleged crimes committed by all sides to the conflict”.

    “If an investigation is opened in any given situation, my office will be guided by a policy of investigating and prosecuting those most responsible for the commission of mass crimes,” said Ms Bensouda.

    “That is the general rule. In accordance with my office’s new strategic plan, where appropriate, we may indeed investigate and prosecute notorious perpetrators whose conduct has been particularly egregious or a number of lower- or mid-level perpetrators, building upwards, and thereby bringing stronger cases against those most responsible."

  • Lauryn Hill cancels Israel concert amidst boycott pressure
    The world renowned artist Lauryn Hill, three days before performing, cancelled her performance in Israel after being unable to perform in Palestinian Territory.

    In a statement released on Tuesday, Ms Hill, said,

    “My intention was to perform in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah. Setting up a performance in Palestinian Territory, at the same time as our show in Israel, proved to be a challenge. It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans. For this reason, we have decided to cancel my upcoming performance in Israel.”

    The announcement came amidst a campaign held by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which called on the artist to pull out of her Israeli performance, and produced a boycott campaign video using her music.

  • Islamic State claims responsibility for American shootings
    Islamic State militants on Tuesday claimed responsibility for shootings on American soil and warned of further attacks, reports the Guardian.

    In a statement made on Tuesday, the militants claimed responsibility for a carton festival in Texas on Sunday that featured cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed.

    The Islamic State broadcast, warned,
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