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…

Nigeria seeks help from world powers to address security issues, protesters calling for action arrested

May 4, 2014
The Nigerian President broke his silence on the kidnapping of hundreds of school girls by the suspected militants Boko Haram, reports the BBC.
“We promise that wherever they are we will surely get them out,” said President Goodluck Jonathan.

The president noted that he had held discussions with several world powers including the US, France, Britain and China who were all willing to help with security issues in Nigeria.

Boko Haram claims responsibility for schoolgirl abductions

May 4, 2014
The Nigerian militant group, Boko Haram, today, said that it was responsible for the abdutction of hundreds of school girls last month, reported the AFP.
“I abducted your girls,” said the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a video obtained by the AFP news agency.

Syrian government bombs market and schools

May 3, 2014
Syrian Airstrikes on a market in Aleppo killed at least  33 people last week , reported the BBC.

According to the UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack happened in the northern Halak district.

The attack came shortly after the Syrian government bombed a school in southern Aleppo killing 18 people.

Condemning the attacks, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in a statement, said,

South Sudan government on offensive despite agreeing to peacetalks

May 3, 2014
South Sudanese government forces launched an offensive on the strategic oil hub of Bentiu in fresh attempts to reclaim the region from the rebels, reports the BBC.

The offensive comes as the South Sudanese president, told US Secretary of State John Kerry that he was ready to hold peace talks with the rebels.

The rebel leader Reik Machar said that face to face peace talks may be counterproductive. Speaking to the Sudan Tribune yesterday, he said,

Ukraine to investigate separatist deaths, Russia calls on west to diffuse situation

May 3, 2014
The Ukrainian interim Prime Minister blamed the death of 40 pro-Russian separatists in Odessa on the inefficiency of local security services and told the BBC that a full comprehensive and independent investigation would be conducted into the matter.

Meanwhile the Kremlin said yesterday that it was unable to control the pro-Russian separatists and had little influence over the groups, reports The Independent.

International observers freed in East Ukraine

May 2, 2014
Seven international observers have been freed by pro-Russian fighters in East Ukraine, after they were held hostage for eight days.

The observers, part of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe, were released "without conditions", the BBC quoted pro-Russian fighters as saying.

On Friday, US President Barack Obama had called for their immediate release, stating that the detention was "inexcusable" and "disgraceful".

Five Ukrainian officials, who were also captured, have been released.

US pledges support to Nigeria amidst fears of further attacks

May 2, 2014
The US Secretary of State John Kerry pledged US help to find and return the hundreds of Nigerian girls that were kidnapped by militants two weeks ago, reports the Washington Post.
“The kidnapping of hundreds of children by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime. We will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and hold the perpetrators to justice.”

Ukraine at war with pro-Russian rebels says anti-terrorism chief

May 2, 2014
Ukraine’s government today stated that it was now ‘at war’ with pro-Russian insurgents, as the commencement of Ukraine’s ‘anti-terrorism’ measures escalated violence in the rebel held eastern regions, reports The Telegraph.

The head of Ukraine’s anti-terrorist command, Vasyl Krutov, said,
“What we are facing in the Donetsk region and in the eastern regions is not just some kind of short-lived uprising – it is in fact a war.”

EU force prioritises stabilisation of regions in CAR

May 2, 2014
The recently deployed EU peacekeeping force in Central African Republic set restoring regional stability as its top priority, reports Reuters.
“The objective that we are looking for, and which I think we share with most of the international community, is to make it so each citizen of Central African Republic, whatever their communal background, can see a positive future,” said the EU force commander, Philippe Ponties at a news conference in CAR yesterday.

Nigerian capital bombed again

May 1, 2014
Updated 01.05 GMT
A car bomb attack on Thursday evening has killed at least 12 people in the Nigerian capital Abuja, reports the BBC.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attacks  however, it is suspected that the militant group Boko Haram who are responsible for the bombings on 14 April are likely to be responsible for today’s attacks.
Nigeria seeks help from world powers to address security issues, protesters calling for action arrested
Boko Haram claims responsibility for schoolgirl abductions
Syrian government bombs market and schools
South Sudan government on offensive despite agreeing to peacetalks
Ukraine to investigate separatist deaths, Russia calls on west to diffuse situation
International observers freed in East Ukraine
US pledges support to Nigeria amidst fears of further attacks
Ukraine at war with pro-Russian rebels says anti-terrorism chief
EU force prioritises stabilisation of regions in CAR
Nigerian capital bombed again