WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

  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 and Hamas agree 72 hour ceasefire

The UN and US announced Thursday, that Israel and Hamas, have agreed to an unconditional 72 hour humanitarian ceasefire that will commence on Friday morning, reports Al-Jazeera.

A joint statement by the UN Secretary General and US Secretary of state said that the Israelis and Palestinians would enter talks in Cairo, after the ceasefire began at 05:00 GMT.

Khmer Rouge genocide trial under way in Cambodia

An UN-backed tribunal into the last two surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge, who are accused of genocide over the mass killings of Vietnamese and Cham Muslims in the country in the 1970s, is to begin on Wednesday.
 
Former head of state 83-year-old Khieu Samphan, and 88-year-old Nuon Chea, Pol Pot's deputy, have already faced trials over charges of crimes against humanity and are due to have a verdict delivered on August 7th.

UN & US condemn shelling of UN school in Gaza

The United Nations Secretary-General and the United States have condemned an attack on a United Nations school in a refugee camp Gaza, which has killed at least 16 people.

Thousands of people were sheltering at the United Nations school in the Jabalya camp, when artillery shells struck the compound. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that “all available evidence points to Israeli artillery as the cause”.

Kurdistan sells oil to US, defies Baghdad

A tanker carrying $100-million of oil from Kurdistan will discharge in Texas, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

The delivery of Kurdish oil to the US has sparked discontent with the Iraqi government in Baghdad who view all Kurdish oil deliveries as smuggling, reports Al-Jazeera.

Iraqi Kurdistan has been selling its crude without permission from Baghdad since January.

EU widens sanctions on Russia, targets economy

The EU, Tuesday, adopted new economic sanctions against Russia that targeted the oil sector and defence equipment in attempts to stop Russian support for militant separatists in Ukraine, reports the BBC.

The full statement detailing the widening of sanctions is expected on Wednesday, where the EU is also expected to name individuals that will face asset freezes.

The latest news of sanctions comes as at least 22 Ukrainian civilians have been reportedly killed in the last 24 hours.

Gaza's only power plant hit as Israel strikes high profile targets

Israel attacked high-profile targets in Gaza on Tuesday, including Gaza's only power plant, whilst Egyptian mediators prepared a revised proposal to stop the escalating conflict, reports Reuters.

Palestinian officials say that at least 100 people have been killed in the past 24 hours.

The Israeli military said that Hamas launched at least 52 rockets towards southern and central Israel, including the Tel Aviv area with 5 soldiers dying in combat overnight, the Israeli military reported.

Rohingya community faces severe malnutrition after 2 years in Myanmar refugee camps

United Nations says that 135,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar remain in refugee camps and face malnutrition, 2 years after they were first forced to vacate their homes amidst escalating ethnic riots, reports the Washington Post.

A representative from UNICEF in Myanmar, warned that there was an alarming increase in child malnutrition amongst the Rohingya community.

Ethnic rift deepens in Myanmar says UN Special Rapporteur

The United Nations, Saturday, warned of a deepening ethnic rift between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Myanmar, reports Reuters.

The Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, during a news conference at the end of her 10 day visit, highlighting ‘deplorable’ living conditions for displaced Muslims, called on the government to tackle the reoccurring issue of inter-communal violence.

UN Security Council urges unconditional immediate ceasefire between Gaza and Israel

The United Nations Security Council, Monday, called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza as overnight ceasefire announcements between Hamas and Israel were violated by both sides.

The statement called on the parties to the conflict ‘to accept and fully implement the humanitarian ceasefire into the Eid period and beyond’ and ‘to engage in efforts to achieve a durable and fully respected ceasefire, based on the Egyptian initiative,” reports The Guardian.

Cameroon Deputy PM’s wife abducted by Boko Haram

The wife of Cameroon’s deputy prime minister Amadou Ali, has been abducted by the Nigerian militant group, Boko Haram, according to Cameroonian military.

Members of Boko Haram attacked the northern town of Kolofata and also kidnapped the town’s mayor Seini Boukar Lamine.

"I can confirm that the home of vice-prime minister Amadou Ali in Kolofata came under a savage attack from Boko Haram militants," Issa Tchiroma told Reuters by telephone.