The Iraqi government has cancelled an arms deal with Russia worth £2.6 billion due to concerns over “corruption” within the Iraqi government. The spokesman of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the BBC that the prime minister had suspicions over his own team. The deal would have made Russia Iraq’s second largest arms supplier after the US. A Russian military expert told the BBC that the deal was cancelled due to pressure from Washington. Igor Korotchenko, head of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade, said that the cancellation was "absolutely unprecedented in the history...
The Iranian Defence Minister has confirmed that shots were fired at US military drone last week, which they claimed had invaded their airspace. The confirmation of the incident comes within 24 hours of the Pentagon revealing it to the public, even though the attack happened on the 1st of November, just days before the US Presidential election. Brig Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, Iran’s Defence Minister said , "Last week an unidentified aircraft entered the airspace over Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, which was forced to flee due to the prompt, smart and decisive action of the Islamic...
India and Canada came to an agreement on Tuesday, to allow the exportation of Canadian uranium and other nuclear supplies for energy production in India. Almost four decades since India used Canadian nuclear technology to develop its first atomic bomb in 1974, the agreement finally came during an official visit by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who hopes it will “play a greater role in meeting India’s growing energy needs.” Two years ago both nations signed nuclear cooperation in Toronto for the exportation of uranium and reactors, but the two nations were unsuccessful in finalising...
Newly re-elected US President Barack Obama has announced that he will visit Burma later this month, as part of a tour of South East Asia, making him the first American President to visit the country. Obama is set to visit both opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese President Thein Sein, when he visits the country from the 17 to 20 November as part of a trip that will see him visit Thailand and Cambodia. The visit has provoked some concern from ethnic communities in Burma, with Goon Tawng, a representative of the Kachin group stating , "This is good for the new government but I'm not...
The Bahraini government has revoked the citizenships of 31 human rights activists. A statement, published by the interoior ministry, said that the activists have “undermined state security” and under Article 10 of Citizenship Law, the “re-evaluation of nationality” was permitted. The UN criticised the move, saying it "could aggravate the situation in the country" and urged the government "to lift them without delay". See more here .
The UN Security Council extended the non-African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia for another four months, following Uganda’s threats to pull out its peacekeeping troops . The peacekeeping mission was expected to be prolonged for another 12 months, but a shorter term as been allocated to allow for a review of the necessity of a peacekeeping mandate. The move follows an appeal by the African Union (AU) to repeal the current arms embargo. Commenting on the political environment in Somalia, British UN Ambassador, Mark Lyall, said , “The situation in Somalia is changing rapidly. We have a more...
Published 06:21 GMT Barack Obama has won another four years at the White House, after securing 303 votes to Mitt Romney's 203, in an election that was till the last moment too close to call. Although the margin of victory is unclear as results are still coming through, as soon as Democrats won the key state of Ohio Obama proclaimed victory, having safely secured the needed 270 majority. Seconds after Ohio was called he tweeted to his followers, “This has happened because of you. Thank you. Four more years.” His victory message was retweeted over 300,000 times within minutes, making it the...
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has called upon the Libyan government not to grant amnesty to those accused of war crimes during last year’s uprising against Colonel Gaddafi , regardless of who the perpetrators were. Addressing the UN Security Council, Fatou Bensouda, acknowledged a Libyan law that granted amnesty for ‘acts made necessary by the 17 February revolution’, saying , "I encourage the new Libyan government, scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow, on 8 November, to ensure that there is no amnesty for international crimes and no impunity for crimes, regardless of...
Britain will review the current EU embargo on Syria in order to aid rebels, reported The Guardian on Wednesday. With the US elections completed, Prime Minister David Cameron wants to push President Obama to prioritise Syria. Cameron met Syrian refugees in Jordan on Wednesday, and a source claimed the visit persuaded him that a change in strategy is needed. "I think what I have seen and heard today is truly appalling," said the Prime Minister. "I think [with] a re-elected president [Obama] with a new mandate … it's really important to discuss what more we can do to help resolve the situation...
The Turkish government is to submit a reform to parliament allowing defendants to speak in languages other than Turkish in court. The ruling has significant implications on Kurdish militants, who have been on hunger strike for 56 days so far, with one of their key demands being the right to speak in Kurdish at trial. Almost 700 Kurdish inmates have been refusing solid food protesting for greater Kurdish minority rights. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said , "A person will be able to defend themselves in court in the language in which they can best express themselves," "The prime minister...