WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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)…

UN peacekeepers killed in Mali

Four peacekeepers with the UN mission in northern Mali (Minusma) were killed when their convoy struck a land mine on Tuesday.

“The toll is four dead and 15 wounded, including six very seriously,” Olivier Salgado, spokesperson for Minusma told Reuters.

“This is only a provisional toll because we do not know what will happen with six of the very seriously wounded.”

IS beheads second US journalist, UN to send investigative mission

The Islamic State released a video today that showed the beheading of a US journalist held hostage, Steven Sotloff, reports the BBC.

Sotloff, who disappeared in Syria in 2013, appeared at the end of a video last month which showed the killing of another US journalist James Foley.

The video released today, entitled “A second message to America”, shows a masked figure together with Sotloff.

The Islamic State militant, addressing his speech to the US President Barack Obama said,
“I’m back Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State, despite our serious warnings. We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter the evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone.”
The militant, whose voice also featured in the video of the beheading of US journalist James Foley, is believed to be British.

The video also carries a warning to the UK, that the execution of a British citizen would be next.

A White House spokesperson, though unable to verify the credibility of the video, condemned the Islamic State actions as a “brutal act.”

Libyan militias capture key government buildings

Libyan militiamen have taken control of most government ministries in the capital Tripoli, the government said.

"We announce that most ministries, institutions and state bodies in the capital Tripoli are out of our control," a government statement said.

On Sunday, militiamen took control of the US embassy, with footage showing men cheering and jumping from the balcony into the swimming pool.

Bahraini rights activist arrested

Maryam al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist was arrested on Saturday, as she attempted to enter the country, in order to visit her father, who is currently serving a life sentence.

Ms Khawaja, the co-director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was denied entry by officials at the airport, who said she had been stripped of her citizenship.

According to her popular twitter feed, she is being charged with "insulting the King" and "assaulting the police”.

Nabeel Rajab, president of the BCHR and who himself was detained for two years, said her imprisonment was absurd.

"She wanted to see her father, as simple as that," he told Middle East Eye.

"There are hundreds of people who were deported and not allowed to come back to Bahrain by their own government,

“If there is no international coverage of what’s going on – and unfortunately I don’t expect much attention in her case – then the government of Bahrain can continue prosecuting human rights defenders and activists and bring them before a court that does not respect human rights," he told MEE.

Pro-Russia rebels gain ground in Ukraine

Ukrainian forces are falling back from their positions, in the face of an advance by pro-Russian rebels.
According to officials, over 700 Ukrainian soldiers have been captured and the army was forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport.

Russia continued to deny assisting the rebels, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Ukraine's defence minister said on his Facebook page, they were now fighting a "great war" with Russia.

"A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," he said.

"Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands."

Anti-government protesters storm Pakistan state TV

Anti-government protesters stormed Pakistan state TV and temporarily stopped the channel from broadcasting, reports the BBC.

Pakistani troops eventually regained control of the television station which is now reportedly back on air.

Protests carried on in the evening resulting in Pakistani security forces using tear gas against protesters.

Violence in Pakistan escalated over the weekend after supporters of the opposition leader Imran Khan attacked police outside of the Prime Minister’s official residence.

UK proposes new-terror laws, British Muslim scholars condemn IS actions

A host of possible new anti-terror measures were announced by the British Prime Minister as he briefed MPs on Monday.

The measures included working towards new legislation that grants police statutory powers to confiscate passports of suspect terrorists at UK borders, blocking suspected British terrorists from returning to the UK, establishing de-radicalisation programmes and new requirements for airlines to hand over more information about passengers returning from conflict zones, reports the BBC.


David Cameron said the UK was able to block foreign nationals and those with dual citizenship from re-entering the UK but did not have the same power for UK nationals deemed to pose a threat to the country.


"We will introduce specific and targeted legislation... providing the police with a temporary power to seize a passport at the border during which time they will be able to investigate the individual concerned," he said.


US tells Israel to reverse land grabs in West Bank

The United States, amidst international condemnation of Israel’s decision to appropriate large areas of Palestinian land in the West Bank, urged Israel to reverse its decision reports the Guardian.

Commenting on Israel’s recent land appropriation announcement, a State Department official said,

“This announcement, like every other settlement announcement Israel makes, planning step they approve and construction tender they issue is counterproductive to Israel’s stated goal of a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians. We urge the government of Israel to reverse its decision.”

EU warns Russia of more sanctions if troops do not withdraw from Ukraine

The European Union called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine or face further sanctions, following a meeting with EU leaders in Brussels Saturday.

Proposals for further sanctions are to be ready for review within a week, however no clear date was set to the ultimatum.

Asked about a deadline, the EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy said:

"It depends, further steps, on development of the situation on the ground. There is no precise criteria, but I can assure you that everybody is assured that we have to move quickly."

"There can be no military solution to this crisis, it is time for everyone to get to the business of peace making," Rompuy added.

Israel to appropriate 400 hectares in West-Bank, reconstruction of Gaza will take over 20 years

Plans to appropriate 400 hectares of Palestinian land in the West Bank were announced by Israel on Sunday, reports Agence France Presse.

The Israeli military said the decisions were made after 3 Israeli teens were killed in an Israeli settlement area known as Gevaot.

The Etzion Settlements Council welcomed the announcement as a step towards the expansion of the current Gevaot settlement.

"It paves the way for the new city of Gevaot. The foal of the murderers of those three youths was to sow fear among us, to disrupt our daily lives and to call into doubt our right to the land," the council said in a statement.


Over 20 years to rebuild Gaza


A post-conflict reconstruction organisation said that it will take 20 years for Gaza’s damaged housing to be rebuilt, reports the Associated Press.