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)…

Pro-European parties in Ukraine set to form unity government after sweeping election polls

Oct 26, 2014
Both the pro-western ruling and opposition part are expected to win most of the votes in in Ukraine’s parliamentary elections reports the BBC.

President Petro Portoshenko’s party and Arseniy Yatseniuk’s opposition party are tied on votes with half the counting completed.

The US President, commended the Ukrainian elections as “an important milestone in Ukarine’s democratic development.”

Egyptian military given new powers

Oct 26, 2014

Egypt’s President General Abdul Fatah al-Sisi has given increased powers to his military, authorising soldiers to protect state facilities, including power plants, gas pipelines, and oil fields.

The move comes after a deadly attack by militants, which left over 30 soldiers dead in the Sinai peninsula last Friday.

The new decree allows the army to work with the police to protect key buildings and infrastructure for at least 2 years, but critics say the law is too broadly defined and universities could also fall under the military’s purview.

Ruling party loses Tunisia elections

Oct 26, 2014

Tunisia’s Ennahda party has conceded defeat by the secular Nidaa Tounes party in the country’s second election since the overthrow of dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Official results are yet to be announced, however Ennahda party officials congratulated the winners.

“We have accepted this result and congratulate the winner,” Ennahda’s Lotfi Zitoun, told Reuters.

Ennahda became the first Islamist party to win elections in the Arab spring and ruled for two years in the newly-democratic Tunisia.

British combat troops end operations in Afghanistan

Oct 25, 2014
UK combat troops withdrew from the British base in Afghanistan on Sunday, handing over control of the region to Afghan security forces.

The British flag was lowered in a ceremony marking the end of the UK mission in Helmand province.

"It is with pride that we announce the end of UK combat operations in Helmand, having given Afghanistan the best possible chance of a stable future," said the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.

"Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK."

Kosovo provisionally recognised by Olympic body

Oct 25, 2014
Kosovo has gained provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee this week, setting the stage for the country's possible debut appearance at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

"The [Executive Board] noted that the NOC [National Olympic Committee] of Kosovo has met the requirements for recognition as outlined in the Olympic Charter. These include the sport and technical requirements as well as the definition of “country” as defined in Rule 30.1 – “an independent State recognised by the international community.” Kosovo is recognised as a country by 108 of the 193 UN Member States," the IOC said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"The decision was taken by the Executive Board in the interests of the athletes in Kosovo and to remove any uncertainty they may have. It will allow them to take part in qualifications for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and in future editions of the Games," the IOC added.

Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces recapture ground

Oct 25, 2014
 Kurdish forces and Iraqi security forces gained ground against Islamic State militants on Saturday, reports the Reuters.

In northern Iraq, Kurdish militants recaptured the town of Zumar whilst Iraqi security forces seized control of the strategic town of Jurf al-Sakhar near Baghdad.

“Our forces with the support of volunteers are in total control over Jurf al-Sakhar now and the terrorists fled to the southwest areas of the town, “ said a spokesperson for the security forces.

Zumar was one of the first Kurdish towns to be captured by Islamic State militants in August.

Heavy fighting across northern Lebanon

Oct 25, 2014

Clashes between militants and the Lebanese army continued for a third day in the north of the country.

The violence erupted after troops raided a militant hideout in the region, with fighting since then concentrated on Lebanon's second city of Tripoli.

The al-Nusra front, linked to al-Qaeda and Isis, warned the forces to halt their operations to clear areas occupied by the militants, and threatened to execute captive soldiers.

"We warn the Lebanese army against any military escalation targeting Sunnis in Tripoli," the group said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.

Israel killed American citizen - US State Department

Oct 25, 2014

The US says a Palestinian-American youth was killed by Israeli troops during clashes on Friday and demanded a swift and transparent investigation.

Orwah Hammad, 14, was shot in the head in the Palestinian village of Silwad, near Ramallah.

US investigates doctors' claims of chemical weapons usage by IS

Oct 24, 2014
Claims made by Iraqi doctors and police officers that Islamic State militants are using chemical weapons are being investigated by US officials reports the Telegraph.

Doctors working in the conflict area said that at least eleven police officers had shown symptoms of poisoning by chlorine gas when brought into hospital.

Commenting on the allegations the US secretary of state, said,

EU sanctions on Russia to remain in place

Oct 24, 2014
European Union sanctions will continue to be placed on Russia due to failures in observing the ceasefire between Ukrainian troops and Russia backed rebels, the German Chancellor told reporters on Friday.

“When you’ve had more than 200 people killed you cannot say the cease-fire has been accepted,” said Angela Merkel.

Both sides in eastern-Ukraine conflict committing atrocities says Amnesty International (20 Oct 2014)

Pro-European parties in Ukraine set to form unity government after sweeping election polls
Egyptian military given new powers
Ruling party loses Tunisia elections
British combat troops end operations in Afghanistan
Kosovo provisionally recognised by Olympic body
Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces recapture ground
Heavy fighting across northern Lebanon
Israel killed American citizen - US State Department
US investigates doctors' claims of chemical weapons usage by IS
EU sanctions on Russia to remain in place