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)…

ISIS militants declare Islamic state, Iraq attempts Tikrit recapture

Jun 29, 2014
ISIS militants declared  an Islamic caliphate today, renaming themselves and their captured territory as a new Islamic state.

The announcement will see ISIS refer to itself as ‘The Islamic State,’ reports The Guardian.

The ISIS chief spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, said that the ‘restoration of the caliphate’ was made after the group’s council met.

The ISIS announcement comes as Iraqi forces launch a fresh initiative to recapture the northern city of Tikrit which is currently held by ISIS militants.

Disappeared Israeli teenagers found dead in West Bank

Jun 29, 2014
Three Israeli teenagers who went missing earlier this month were found dead in the West Bank today, reports the BBC.

Israel has accused Hamas of being responsible for the disappearance of the three teenagers, a claim that Hamas has denied.

The Israeli military has set up blockades and closed down areas within a few kilometres of where the Israeli bodies were found.

Israeli President Shimon Peres, commenting on the deaths, said,

Apartheid land compensation process renews in South Africa

Jun 29, 2014
South Africa will re-launch a claims process that will allow families that were removed from their land under apartheid rule to apply for compensation announced the presidency on Monday.

“The Act now provides for the re-opening of the lodgement of land claims by those who missed the 31 December 1998 deadline,” a presidency statement said.

The law builds on a process that previously saw the examination for 80.000 requests for compensation which expired before all those that were driven from their land could make a claim, reports Agence France Presse.

North Korea fires banned missiles ahead of Chinese visit to Seoul

Jun 28, 2014
North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles ahead of a state visit by the Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Korea, reports Reuters. 

North Korea said it was "part of its routine military exercise". The firing of such missiles by isolated countries as weapons testing is banned by the UN.

Iraq receives Russian fighter jets to combat ISIS militants

Jun 28, 2014
Iraq received its first batch of fighter jets it ordered from Russia to aid the fight against ISIS militants, reports BBC.

Iraq’s ministry of defence said that the deal with Russia “was aimed at increasing the firepower of the air force and the rest of the armed forces in order to fight terrorism.”

The defence ministry added that five Sukhoi  attack aircraft would enter service within the next few days.

Kurdistan independence should be supported says Israel's Prime Minister

Jun 28, 2014
The Israeli Prime Minister, Sunday, showed support for Kurdish independence amidst worsening sectarian violence in Iraq, reports the Associated Press.

Highlighting the uncontrollable violence in Iraq, Binyamin Netanyahu called for the formation of an independent Kurdistan that could form an alliance with moderate forces across the region to combat destabilising militants in Iraq.

‘Serbia will never recognise Kosovo’ – Nikolic

Jun 28, 2014

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has stated that Serbia will never recognise Kosovo’s independence at a speech commemorating the historic Battle of Kosovo.

Nikolic reportedly went on to tell the crowd that “Serbia will continue fighting for its holy land”, before adding,

Refugees seek protection in Kurdistan as Peshmerga deployment increases

Jun 27, 2014
Unprecedented deployment of Kurdish Peshmerga forces to combat advancing ISIS militants in regions vacated by Iraqi forces is winning support of vulnerable minorities, reports Agence France Presse.

UK Foreign Secretary visits Kurdistan, calls for international action to freeze ISIS assets

Jun 27, 2014
The UK foreign secretary yesterday held talks with Kurdish leaders in Erbil to talk about confronting extremist militants overrunning parts of Iraq, reports the BBC.

Speaking at a press conference with  Kurdish prime minister Masoud Barzani, William Hague said that the UK would press for UN action to stop the militants access to finance and clamp down on their assets.

Obama requests $500m for Syrian opposition

Jun 26, 2014

US President Barack Obama requested that Congress approve $500m to train and equip members of the Syrian opposition on Thursday.

Noting that the funding would only be spent on ''appropriately vetted'' members of the armed Syrian opposition, the White House said in a statement,

"This funding request would build on the administration's longstanding efforts to empower the moderate Syrian opposition, both civilian and armed."

Speaking on the request National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden, said in a statement,

ISIS militants declare Islamic state, Iraq attempts Tikrit recapture
Disappeared Israeli teenagers found dead in West Bank
Apartheid land compensation process renews in South Africa
North Korea fires banned missiles ahead of Chinese visit to Seoul
Iraq receives Russian fighter jets to combat ISIS militants
Kurdistan independence should be supported says Israel's Prime Minister
‘Serbia will never recognise Kosovo’ – Nikolic
Refugees seek protection in Kurdistan as Peshmerga deployment increases
UK Foreign Secretary visits Kurdistan, calls for international action to freeze ISIS assets
Obama requests $500m for Syrian opposition