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…

Sinai militants fire rockets into Israel

Jul 3, 2015
 Militants in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula launched rockets into southern Israel on Friday, reports Reuters.

The incidents caused no casualties, however a high way was closed by the Israeli military within close vicinity of the rocket remnants.

Egyptian security sources announced that the event was being investigated and that there was no immediate evidence that the rocket was launched from Egyptian territory.

Iran and world powers agree preliminary sanctions relief process

Jul 3, 2015
Iran and world powers have reached a preliminary agreement on sanctions relief announced diplomats on Saturday.

Speaking from Vienna, officials said that the sanctions annex was completed during negotiations between Iran, US, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Negotiators are looking to finalise the deal by July 7 reports the Guardian.

Protest in The Hague after death in police custody

Jul 3, 2015

The Dutch city of The Hague has seen 4 consecutive nights of protests, triggered by the death of a man in police custody.

Mitch Henriquez, 42, from the Caribbean island of Aruba, died in police custody last Sunday.

He was initially arrested at a music festival and amateur video footage showed several police officers restraining him before his limp body was put into a police van, the BBC reported.

South Sudan criticises UN sanctions

Jul 2, 2015
The UN Security Council decision to impose sanctions on military commanders from both sides of South Sudan’s conflict could derail the peace process, said the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson.

Questioning the effectiveness sanctions, Mawien Makol Ari, said,

UNHRC passes resolution calling on Israel-Palestine parties to cooperate with ICC to end impunity

Jul 2, 2015
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution on “ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalam,” with 41 votes in favour, 5 abstentions and one vote against.

The resolution, passed on Friday, calling on all parties involved to cooperate with the International Criminal Court 2014 Gaza conflict to expressed grave concern over reports regarding “serious human rights violations and grave breaches of humanitarian law.”

Islamic State destroys ancient artefacts from Palmyra

Jul 1, 2015

Islamic State has been destroying statues and artefacts from the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra which the group captured in May.

A 2000 year old lion statue outside of the city's museum was destroyed on Saturday, reported Syria's antiquities director, Maamoun Abdelkarim.

IS also published images of combatants grinding to dust classical busts and statues, reportedly found being smuggled in Aleppo.

Malaysia seeks UN-backed tribunal to prosecute downing of airliner in Eastern Ukraine

Jul 1, 2015

On Thursday Malaysia informed the UN Security Council that it would be seeking a UN-backed tribunal to prosecute those suspected of being responsible for shooting down a passenger airliner last year in eastern Ukraine.

UN finds mass rights violations in South Sudan, calls for unfettered access and accountability

Jun 30, 2015
South Sudanese armed forces could have committed widespread human rights abuses in recent intensified fighting across the region, found a new report by the United Nations mission in South Sudan, (UNMISS).

A report released on Tuesday accused the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) of killing civilians, looting and destroying vil

Islamic State launches escalated attacks in Egypt’s Sinai province

Jun 30, 2015

The Islamic State appears to have escalated its attacks in Sinai, launching simultaneous attacks on multiple military checkpoints Wednesday morning. Egyptian military officials claimed that 100 militants and 17 soldiers were killed in the attacks but local newspapers reported much higher numbers for soldier casualties.

The Islamic State’s Egyptian affiliate, Sinai Province, claimed responsibility for the attacks saying they targeted more than 15 security sites and launched 3 suicide bombings.

UK defends draft resolution on Srebrenica genocide at UN

Jun 30, 2015
Britain defended a draft United Nations Security Council resolution commemorating the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 at the UN on Wednesday.

Britain’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, defending the resolution at a memorial service for the Srebrenica massacres, said,

Sinai militants fire rockets into Israel
Iran and world powers agree preliminary sanctions relief process
Protest in The Hague after death in police custody
South Sudan criticises UN sanctions
UNHRC passes resolution calling on Israel-Palestine parties to cooperate with ICC to end impunity
Islamic State destroys ancient artefacts from Palmyra
Malaysia seeks UN-backed tribunal to prosecute downing of airliner in Eastern Ukraine
UN finds mass rights violations in South Sudan, calls for unfettered access and accountability
Islamic State launches escalated attacks in Egypt’s Sinai province
UK defends draft resolution on Srebrenica genocide at UN