WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Al-Shabab fighters are claiming to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia, on Wednesday.  Adan Yabaal is situated about 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu and serves as the logistical hub for government forces. Raids were launched by al-Shabab fighters before dawn on Wednesday, forcing the army to retreat after fierce battles, according to a security officer quoted…

International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia releases final report

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) released its final report today detailing human rights violations committed during the two-year war in Tigray, Amhara, Afar and ongoing conflict in the Oromia region before its mandate was terminated.

Myanmar Junta accused of bombing Kachin state refugee camp

Dozens of people have been killed by an artillery strike on a refugee camp in the Kachin state.

30 people, including women and children, were killed in Myanmar in an artillery strike on a camp for displaced people in Kachin State near the border with China

Israel uses white phosphorous in Gaza and Lebanon as Palestinian death toll rises above 1500

Israel's use of white phosphorous "violates international humanitarian law", Human Rights Watch reports following attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. 

Israel cuts food, water and electricity supply to Gaza as bombardment continues

srael has declared a "complete siege" on Gaza as the United Nations states there is "clear evidence" of war crimes committed in the conflict. 

900 Palestinians have been killed, which includes 260 children following intense bombing by Israel across Gaza. The area is home to about 2.3 million people in total - 80% of whom rely on humanitarian aid.

Since the attacks began on Saturday morning, Israel has stopped all supplies entering Gaza, including food and medicine.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said more than a dozen healthcare workers had been killed or injured and at least seven medical centres had been damaged.

Pakistan plans deportation of 1.7 million Afghan refugees

Pakistan has ordered for the deportation of an estimated 1.7 million Afghan refugees by the end of November, in a move the Taliban has opposed as “unacceptable”.

The recent crackdown follows a deadly blast at a mosque in Mastung city near the Afghanistan border, resulting in over 50 casualties during a religious celebration. Balochistan province, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, has been a frequent target of armed groups, including the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State.

India asks Canada to remove 41 diplomatic staff from Delhi embassy

India has told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 staff in the country, in an escalation of diplomatic tensions between the two countries. 

According to officials who spoke to the Financial Times, the Indian foreign ministry has given Canada a week to repatriate two-thirds of its diplomats stationed in India, reducing the number to 21. An official familiar with the matter confirmed the report to the Associated Press. Those who stayed past 10 October would lose their diplomatic immunity, the Financial Times first reported.

Former Bolivian President to pay damages to families of protestors killed during his tenure

A former Bolivian president and his defence minister have agreed to pay damages to the families of people killed by the military during their government, in a landmark settlement that sets a precedent by which other foreign leaders could face accountability for human rights abuse in US courts.

Thousands of ethnic Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan seizes control

Thousands of ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday in lines of cars which stretched for kilometres after Azerbaijan took control of the breakaway region sparking fears of persecution.

The Azerbaijani military routed Armenian forces in a 24-hour blitz last week, forcing the authorities of the breakaway region to agree to lay down weapons. They also agreed to start talks on the “reintegration” of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, into Azerbaijan, after three decades of separatist rule.

US recognises Cook Islands and Niue

The United States has recognised the Cook Islands and Niue as “sovereign and independent” states and pledged to open diplomatic relations.

In a statement on Monday, Biden said “the history and the future of the Pacific Islands and the United States are inextricably linked”.

'Credible evidence' India linked to assassination of Canadian Sikh

Justin Trudeau has said there is “credible evidence” India is responsible for the alleged assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Canadian Sikh leader.

The Canadian prime minister told the House of Commons of Canada on Monday that, in recent weeks, national security authorities had been probing allegations that New Delhi was behind a state-sponsored assassination.