WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Baloch activists accuse state-backed death squads of new killings
Photograph: Screenshot/ BLA video A fresh wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances has been documented across Balochistan this month, as Baloch rights groups recorded the recovery of several bodies of men who had earlier been forcibly taken, and appealed once more to international institutions that have largely ignored the province. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)…

Catalan parties to unite in 18 month plan for independence

Nov 25, 2014
Catalonia’s leader Artur Mas, outlined a plan to create a Catalan state within 18 months, by uniting the region's politicians, reports Reuters.

Catalonia’s two main parties, on Wednesday, came close to agreeing on a decision to call for regional elections that could be used as a proxy for a referendum on independence from Spain, by the parties uniting on a common election platform.

The leader of Catalonia’s second-biggest party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), welcomed Mas’ plan as a “good starting point.”

“We need to seek formulas that add up between all the political forces that want to move towards independence,” said Oriol Junqueras.

US led coalition foreign ministers to discuss action plan against Islamic State militants

Nov 25, 2014
Foreign ministers from up to 60 countries within a US led coalition against Islamic State militants will hold their first meeting next week in Brussels.

The meeting, to be held on December 3 and chaired by the US Secretary of State John Kerry, will analyse progress in the fight against Islamic State militants, and discuss future political coordination, reports Reuters.

US drone strikes kill 5 militants in Pakistan

Nov 25, 2014
A US drone strike in Pakistan killed 5 militants, a government official said on Wednesday.

The US drone strike hit a house used by militants, near the Afghan border, as the Pakistani military intensified their own airstrikes in an offensive against Taliban militants.

The Pakistani government condemned the US strike as an infringement of Pakistani sovereignty.

“The Government of Pakistan condemns the drone strike that took place in the early hours of Wednesday, 26 November 2014 at Garga, north Shawal in North Wziristan Agency,” the government said in a statement.

Farc releases two soldiers in bid to restart peace talks

Nov 24, 2014
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have released two Colombian soldiers and vowed to release an army general, in a move that is hoped to revive stalled peace talks.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hailed the release, stating it was “an important step which shows the maturity of the peace process and the gestures of peace all Colombians demand."

In a statement released from Havana, Cuba, FARC said it had ”fulfilled the conditions of the first phase of the Special Humanitarian Accord and will now focus its efforts on freeing General Ruben Dario Alzate ... and his companions."

The group went on to call for a halt on all Colombian government military activity in area held by FARC, saying,

"We hope the operations led by the defense ministry and the military siege against the civilian population will be immediately suspended so that the release of these individuals can go ahead without any scares."

The Colombian army has been accused by the militants of bombings, deploying troops and of surveillance flight over FARC-held territory. The two soldiers captured in the eastern Arauca province in a reported clash with FARC militants two weeks ago.

Grand jury decision over Michael Brown shooting sparks protests

Nov 24, 2014
A Missouri grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of unarmed 18-year old Michael Brown earlier this year, has sparked protests across the United States.

Responding to Monday's verdict, rights’ activists and civil liberties’ organizations denounced the failure to indict Wilson as symptomatic of a larger failure by the American justice system to hold police officers accountable for their disproportionately high rates of violence against people of colour.

Jeffrey Mittman, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement,
“The grand jury's decision does not negate the fact that Michael Brown's tragic death is part of an alarming national trend of officers using excessive force against people of color, often during routine encounters. Yet in most cases, the officers and police departments are not held accountable. While many officers carry out their jobs with respect for the communities they serve, we must confront the profound disconnect and disrespect that many communities of color experience with their local law enforcement.”
In a statement released on Monday, the family of Michael Brown expressed their disappointment with the decision.
“We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions. While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen”
Thousands of Americans at demonstrations throughout the country have condemned the failure to indict Wilson as unjust. Despite calls for restraint by various state and federal officials, including President Obama, some have turned to rioting and violence with reports of police having fired tear gas and flash-bang canisters at protesters. In Ferguson alone, 61 people were arrested Monday night.

Dozens killed as Syrian government bombs Raqqa

Nov 24, 2014
At least 87 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a series of air strikes carried out by the Syrian government on the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Raqqa.

Rami Abdulrahman from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 10 Syrian government jets had struck Raqqa at least 10 times, killing dozens.

"The majority of the strikes were in the eastern part of the city," Abdulrahman said. "At least 36 of those killed are civilians. As for the rest, we are not sure yet if they were fighters."

"Most of the casualties were caused by two consecutive air strikes targeting the city's industrial area," he went on to add. "The first strike came, residents rushed to rescue the wounded, and then the second raid took place."

At least 45 killed in blast in Afghanistan

Nov 23, 2014
An explosion, thought to have been caused by a suicide bomber, has killed at least 45 people and wounded dozens more at a volleyball match in eastern Afghanistan.

The attack on Sunday occurred in the Paktika province, where locals had gathered to watch the game.

Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani said the incident was a"heinous attack", according to his spokesman and Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement, "no cause justifies such acts of terrorism and taking of innocent lives."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The explosion occurred just hours after the lower house of the Afghan parliament, approved security deals which will see around 12,000 NATO and US troops remain in the country after most foreign troops withdraw next month.

US welcomes interim oil deal between Kurdistan and Baghdad

Nov 23, 2014
The US vice president Joe Biden welcomed an agreement made last week between the Iraqi central government and Kurdistan over managing oil exports in the region.

Speaking in Istanbul on Saturday, Biden said he was encouraged by the interim agreement made by the two regional governments.

Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government agree preliminary oil export deal (16 November 2014)

US confirms successful airstrikes against Islamic State militants

Nov 23, 2014
The US military in a statement, said that it had, with its allies, conducted several successful airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.

According to the statement 9 strikes in Syria took out at least three Islamic State militant fighting positions, whilst 15 strikes in Iraq destroyed militant checkpoints and military vehicles, reports Reuters.

US air-drops arms to Kurdish forces fighting IS (20 October 2014)

Farc calls for reduced government military presence and international mediators for release of captives

Nov 22, 2014
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) militants warned the Colombian government, increased government military activity would jeopardise the release of the recently captured Colombian general, reports Agence France Presse.

Condemning Colombian troop deployments and movement restricting security measures imposed into their areas, the Farc said,

“These communities have been practically besieged by the army.”
Catalan parties to unite in 18 month plan for independence
US led coalition foreign ministers to discuss action plan against Islamic State militants
US drone strikes kill 5 militants in Pakistan
Farc releases two soldiers in bid to restart peace talks
Grand jury decision over Michael Brown shooting sparks protests
Dozens killed as Syrian government bombs Raqqa
At least 45 killed in blast in Afghanistan
US welcomes interim oil deal between Kurdistan and Baghdad
US confirms successful airstrikes against Islamic State militants
Farc calls for reduced government military presence and international mediators for release of captives