UN peacekeepers to leave East Timor after 13 years

The UN is to end its peacekeeping mission in East Timor on Monday, after 13 years and over 1500 UN troops. In a statement, the chief of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Finn Reske-Nielson, said , "The Timorese people and its leaders have shown courage and unswerving resolve to overcome great challenges," "Although there remains much work ahead, this is an historic moment in recognising the progress already made." Stressing that the relationship between the UN and East Timor was not ending, Reske-Nielson added, "As peacekeepers depart, we look forward to a new phase in this...

Bomb found under police car in East Belfast

A bomb, considered to be "viable device", was found on Sunday in East Belfast, under the car of a police officer, after being discovered by an off-duty officer. Blaming dissident republicans, the Northern Ireland Police Federation said, “The device was underneath the passenger’s side of the vehicle which shows they were not worried if it killed the officer’s family. It is a really callous approach by the dissidents.” Politicians from all sides have condemned the act, with Conall McDevitt of the nationalist SDLP describing it as "cynical and deplorable." The incident is the latest in...

Suspected war criminal stripped of Canadian citizenship

A suspected Nazi war criminal has been stripped of his Canadian citizenship by the federal government, who are now seeking to deport him, according to reports. 88-year-old Helmut Oberlander is accused of being part of a Nazi killing squad who allegedly murdered thousands in the former Soviet Union, during World War II. Oberlander maintains that he was merely a translator for the unit and was forced to join, and at no time was involved in any murders. Oberlander previously had his citizenship revoked in 2007 by the Canadian government, after fighting a deportation case since 1995. Canada’s...

Catalonian president calls for independence in New Year speech

The president of the Catalan region in Spain, Artur Mas, has again expressed his determination to hold an independence referendum in 2013. Mr Mas, currently leading a pro-independence coalition made up of right and left-wing parties, said that the majority of Catalans want to build a new country". The president said he wanted "all the citizens to decide freely and peacefully our future as a nation". "We are now facing transcendental pages in our history," "Our duty and responsibility is to leave for future generations a country that they can feel proud of." The Spanish government has rejected...

Egypt allows construction materials into Gaza

Egypt has allowed a shipment of construction materials to enter the Gaza Strip through its territory for the first time in 5 years. Thousands of tonnes of supplies donated by the Gulf state of Qatar were allowed to reach Gaza through Egypt. Egypt had previously been following strict import restrictions imposed by Israel. The recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza’s political representatives, Hamas, has allowed for a relaxing of the import laws. An Egyptian security official told the Associated Press that the shipment was made in consultation with Israeli officials. The head of the...

US evacuates embassy personnel in CAR

The US embassy in Central African Republic has brought its operation to a halt as the ambassador along with 40 diplomats have left the country on Thursday, due to escalating tensions between the Seleka rebels and the CAR government. US State Department deputy spokesperson, Patrick Ventrell said in a statement, “This decision is solely due to concerns about the security of our personnel and has no relation to our continuing and long-standing diplomatic relations with the CAR.” The State Department in a separate notice has warned U.S. citizens from travelling to Central African Republic, due to...

Taliban suspected of executing policemen

Suspected Taliban militants lined up and shot 21 policemen on a cricket pitch in Pakistan on Saturday night, although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing. The murdered men were kidnapped last Thursday after rocket-propelled grenade attacks on two security posts. Naveed Akbar Khan, a local government official, told the AFP news agency: "We found 21 bullet-riddled bodies of security personnel in an uninhabited area. One was wounded and admitted to hospital, while another managed to escape." Another official, Gul Shehzad, added: "The hands ... were tied with rope before they...

Ban Ki Moon ‘expresses deep sorrow’ over Delhi rape death

The United Nations Secretary General has released a statement calling on the Indian government to bring to justice the perpetrators of the rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi, who died from her injuries in the attack. In a statement released on Saturday a spokesman for the Secretary General said, "He offers his sincerest condolences to her parents, family and friends, and utterly condemns this brutal crime. The Secretary-General welcomes the efforts of the Government of India to take urgent action and calls for further steps and reforms to deter such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice...

CAR govt and rebels agree to talks

The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and rebels have agreed to hold talks following recent violence, and gains made by the Seleka rebels with some suggesting that CAR's capital Bangui could be in rebel hands within a 'few days'. Meanwhile, more troops from the Central African Multinational force (Fomac) are to be deployed to CAR. Talks are to be held in Libraville, in Gabon, and are said to be free of any pre-conditions.

Burma to allow private newspapers

The Burmese government has announced it will allow privately owned newspapers for the first time in 50 years. The information ministry said it will take applications by Burmese citizens from February 2013 and would permit the publication in any language from April. Burma abolished government censorship earlier this year, in a continuation of moves to liberalise the country. Only two years ago Burmese journalists were subjected to severe censorship and the government regularly shut down papers that fell foul of its strict rules.

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