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…

Need to do more to help Syrian opposition - Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that more must be done to help Syrian opposition forces, as he admitted that President Assad's government had been getting 'stronger' in recent months.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, the Prime Minister stated that the situation in Syria was "a very depressing picture" and the country was on "the wrong trajectory".

Whilst slamming President Assad as "a evil man", Cameron went on to add that there was "too much extremism" amongst the Syrian opposition. However, he continued,

M23 rebels receive support from Rwanda

The M23 rebels have summarily executed  44 people and raped at least 61 women since March 2013, reported Human Rights Watch.

US charges Belmokhtar over Algeria gas plant attack

Algerian militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar has been charged by US prosecutors over a siege at a gas plant earlier this year.

37 hostages were killed when Algerian security forces retook the Tigantourine complex from militants who had captured it a few days before, taking local and foreign workers hostage.

Belmokhtar is still at large and the US has offered $5mn reward for information leading to his arrest.

Kerry 'hopeful' on Israeli-Palestinian talks

Expressing cautious optimism on the Israeli-Palestinian talks, the US Secretary of State John Kerry, said that the groundwork had been laid for the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Speaking on Friday, Kerry said:
"I am pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement that establishes a basis for resuming direct final-status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis."

Police chief sacked over Nauru refugee detention centre riots

Nauru's police commissioner was sacked at the height of a riot that destroyed a refugee detention centre on the island. The commissioner was allegedly sacked after telling the acting president of Nauru that he could not contain the riots.

More than 125 refugees were jailed on Saturday night after the violence, reportedly led by Iranian refugees angered by delays in claims processing and overcrowding at the facility.

Colombian army arrests Farc rebels after attack

A group of Farc rebels has been arrested by the Colombian army, after an ambush on troops left 15 soldiers dead.

Over 70 rebels attacked 26 soldiers who were guarding an oil pipeleine near the country’s border with Venezuela.

The Colombian government is currently in talks with Farc to end the conflict; however President Juan Manuel Santos has said the army will respond strongly, while the talks should continue as normal.

Mali electorial officials released unharmed

Election officials abducted by gunmen in Northern Mali a week before presidential elections have been released.

After being abducted whilst handing out voter identification cards, the officials were handed over unharmed to French forces today.

Britain halts arms exports to Egypt

The British government has revoked five export licences for military equipment destined for Egypt in response to reports that security forces have used excessive force in dealing with protests since the deposition of former president Mohamed Morsi.

Rwandan woman jailed in US over genocide

A woman who lied on her refugee application in the United states over her role in the Rwandan genocide has been jailed for 10 years.

43-year-old Beatrice Munyenyezi commanded road blocks in Rwanda, where Hutu militias would murder Tutsi civilians ruled the US court, making her reportedly the first person in the US to be convicted over the genocide of Tutsis.

She was handed down a maximum term, a 10-year jail sentence,  after which she will be deported to Rwanda, where genocide charges potentially await her.

Judge McAuliffe said,

Israel to free Palestinian prisoners prior to talks

Israel has agreed to release some Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement made to resume the peace talks.

The Minister for International Relations, Yuval Steinits, said the release would include "heavyweight prisoners in jail for decades", and that initial talks would be held in Washington "next week or so".

The number of prisoners to be released has not been disclosed.

The Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem, says 4817 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails.