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…

US eases embargo on Cuba

Jan 14, 2015
The United States announced new rules that ease sanctions on Cuba, opening up the country to expanded US travel, trade and financial activities.

The new regulations issued by the Treasury and Commerce Departments, will allow US exports of telecommunications, agricultural and construction equipment, permit expanded travel by Americans to the island an open banking relations, reports Reuters.

Hundreds of asylum seekers protest in Manus Island detention centre

Jan 14, 2015

As many as 500 asylum seekers are on hunger strike in Manus Island detention centre and a further 20 of them have reportedly sewn their lips shut in protest at their living conditions, according to the latest reports.

In another act of protest, an Egyptian Christian man swallowed razor blades and collapsed, reported the Guardian, as up to half of the detention centre’s population were refusing all food and water.

One of those being detained told the Guardian,

“Frustrated refugees are tired of being mistreated and not heard after 18 months in inhumane detention [and have] decided to act for the last time.”

Argentine prosecutor accuses president of diverting accountability for civilian bombing

Jan 13, 2015
An Argentine prosecutor accused the president of orchestrating a cover up of Iran's responsibility for a bomb blast in a Jewish community centre that killed 85 people in Buenos Aires.

The state prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, accused Cristina Fernandez of pushing to drop the criminal investigation into the 1994 bombing, to normalise relations with Iran and secure oil deals.

Fernandez opened a 'truth commission' with Iran in 2013 to investigate the bombings, which was criticised by the Nisman, as a pact to deactivate arrest warrants and avoid prosecution. 

Algeria and China reiterate support for Saharawi right to self-determination

Jan 13, 2015
Algeria and China reiterated their support of the Saharawi people's right to self determination, said the Algerian People' National Assembly, in a statement earlier this week.

The two sides underlined "their common positions regarding international and regional issues and reaffirmed their support to the principle of people's right to self-determination and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries," the joint statement read on Monday.

Syrian refugees resorting to 'drastic' coping methods warns UN

Jan 13, 2015
The United Nations has warned that Syrian refugees are resorting to increasingly drastic measures to survive, as “desperate living conditions” continue to plague refugee camps in Jordan.

Marking the release of a report entitled “Living in the Shadows”, the UN said that at least 3.7 million people have fled Syria during the region's almost four-year conflict.

Jordan hosts 620,000 refugees, with one in six living in “abject poverty”.

Hostilities escalate in Ukraine after bus attack

Jan 13, 2015
The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists blamed each other for an attack on a bus that killed 12 civilians in the east of the country, as clashes between the two sides continued to escalate.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said the attack was caused by a shell fired by the rebels, but also eluded to Russian responsibility for the attack, blaming "those who stand behind them -- those whose hand feeds them and arms them, drills them and inspires them to commit bloody crimes."

Further accusing Russia of responsibility for the attack, Ukrainian defence ministry spokesperson Viktoria Kushnir told AFP that this type of system "only exists in the operational service of the Russian army. It is not operated by us."

Russia's foreign ministry's rights envoy responded angrily, with Konstantin Dolgov saying it was "another crime of the Kiev military". "We are outraged. This undermines all peace settlement efforts," said Dolgov.

Lawmakers stage walkout as Hong Kong leader warns of anarchy

Jan 13, 2015
Opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong disrupted proceedings and staged a walkout, as Chief Executive of Hong Kong CY Leung gave his annual address on Wednesday.

Some of the lawmakers who disrupted Leung's speech held banners calling for democracy, whilst others walked out holding yellow umbrellas – a symbol of the protests that engulfed Hong Kong late last year. Two of the lawmakers were dragged out by security guards.

Senior LRA commander to be handed over to ICC

Jan 12, 2015
A senior commander from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who surrendered last week is to be handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he will be placed on trial, said a Ugandan army spokesperson.

Dominic Ongwen, who surrendered to the US military in the Central African Republic last week, is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity.

Ugandan army spokesperson Paddy Ankunda told Reuters,

Kerry pledges $250m in aid to Pakistan

Jan 12, 2015
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced $250 million worth of aid for emergency relief efforts in Pakistan, as he called for wider support in fighting militant groups in the region.

Speaking in Islamabad, Kerry said,
“We’ve been very clear with the highest levels of the Government of Pakistan that Pakistan has to target all militant groups, the Haqqani Network and others, that target U.S. coalition and Afghan forces and target people in Pakistan and elsewhere. And Pakistan has made it very clear that they intend to do so.”
Whilst praising the Pakistani military campaign against Islamic militants in North Waziristan, Kerry called for a wider efforts to get underway.

"All of us have a responsibility to ensure that these groups do not gain a foothold but rather are pushed back into the recesses of memory," he added. "The task is a difficult one and it is not done."

US coalition conducts 27 air strikes against Islamic State militants

Jan 11, 2015
The US and its allies bombarded Islamic State forces with 27 air strikes within 24 hours, the Combined Joint Task Force said on Monday.

The air raids ran from Sunday morning to Monday morning, destroying fighting positions and buildings near the city of Kobane in Syria.

A further sixteen strikes in Iraq destroyed fighting positions, vehicles and an artillery system, reports Reuters.
US eases embargo on Cuba
Hundreds of asylum seekers protest in Manus Island detention centre
Argentine prosecutor accuses president of diverting accountability for civilian bombing
Algeria and China reiterate support for Saharawi right to self-determination
Syrian refugees resorting to 'drastic' coping methods warns UN
Hostilities escalate in Ukraine after bus attack
Lawmakers stage walkout as Hong Kong leader warns of anarchy
Senior LRA commander to be handed over to ICC
Kerry pledges $250m in aid to Pakistan
US coalition conducts 27 air strikes against Islamic State militants