WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan following Pahalgam attack
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April, which left at least 26 people dead. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the region in decades. The Resistance Front (TRF), a little-known armed group believed to be linked to the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the…

Hamas and Israel agree to ceasefire after an escalation of violence in Gaza

Nov 14, 2018
<p>Hamas and Israel have agreed to an Egyptian mediated ceasefire negotiation following two days of escalated violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>The proposed ceasefire agreement offers to reduce Israel’s blockade of Gaza and open entry points through which people may travel into Israel.&nbsp;</p> <p>The current escalation in the conflict was sparked after Israel attempted a military raid on Gaza on Sunday which resulted in the deaths of seven Hamas fighters and one of their Lieutenant Colonels.&nbsp;In retaliation Hamas launched 400 rockets into Israel, a hundred of which were blocked by Israeli’s Iron Dome missile defense system.&nbsp;</p> <p>Israel in return bombed 100 sites including those used for civilian purposes.&nbsp;These include civilian buildings, the Al-Aqsa TV channel, the Al-Amal hotel, a Hamas-run television building and a building Israel claimed was used for military purposes but Palestinians say housed a kindergarten. Three large residential buildings in Gaza were also destroyed.</p>

UN will not aid Myanmar with long-term camps for returning Rohingya Muslims

Nov 13, 2018
<p>A confidential briefing paper circulated within the UNHRC revealed that the United Nations is not willing to provide humanitarian assistance to the returning Rohingya Muslims, if they are interned in camps.&nbsp;</p> <p>Instead, the UN has said it will only support resettlement on the condition that returnees are resettled into the “places of refugees’ origin or choice”.&nbsp;</p>

Outbreak of Ebola in DRC threatens Uganda

Nov 13, 2018
<p>An outbreak of ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been described as the largest spread of the infection in the country, with 329 confirmed cases.&nbsp;</p> <p>Half of the reported cases are in Beni, a north-east city in the DRC.&nbsp;</p> <p>The outbreak comes as the DRC remains in the grip of conflict with militant groups in North Kivu, which has further bolstered the spread of the disease and hindered immunisation efforts.&nbsp;</p> <p>There is a further risk of the disease spreading to Uganda as the two nations share a porous border that many local farmers, merchants, traders, and refugees move across.</p>

US imposes sanctions on Russian-backed entities and individuals

Nov 11, 2018
<p>The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated last week they are imposing sanctions on three individuals and nine entities backed by Russia.&nbsp;</p> <p>The individuals named, Andriy Volodymyrovych Sushkov, Aleksandr Basov, and Vladimir Nikolaevich Zaritsky are alleged to support Russia’s attempt to “reintegrate” Crimea through private investments and privatisation projects and by doing so have endorsed serious human rights abuses.&nbsp;</p>

Dozens killed in Mogadishu hotel attack

Nov 11, 2018
<p>As many as 52&nbsp;people were killed when attackers detonated at least two bombs and stormed a hotel in Mogadishu near the headquarters of Somalia’s Criminal Investigation Department.</p> <p>The militant Al-Shabab organisation, which has been known for regular attacks on the capital, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they were targetting government officials who were staying at the hotel.</p> <p>Ali Nur, a police officer in the city, told Reuters that the attackers were “traveling in public vehicles at the scene when the blasts and gunfire occurred. The death toll is sure to rise”.</p>

China’s human rights record criticised at UPR

Nov 10, 2018
<p>China's human rights record was criticised by western nations such as France, Germany and the United States this week during the country's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council. &nbsp;</p> <p>Member states at the Counil called on China to close detention centres where an estimated million Uighur Muslims are said to be detained.&nbsp;</p> <p>Denying the reports, China’s vice foreign minister Le Yucheng, who was a delegate at the Council, argued that the accusations were "politically driven accusations from a few countries which are fraught with biases".<br> &nbsp;<br>

Tensions in Central African Republic as refugees start returning

Nov 10, 2018
<p>Tensions have risen within the city of Carno in Central African Republic&nbsp;(CAR) as refugees, who are predominately Muslim, have started to return to find their homes and businesses occupied, exacerbating the conflict between Muslim and Christian communities. &nbsp;</p> <p>Aid organisations and the UN aim to build new houses to ease tensions and allow occupants to voluntarily leave.</p> <p>Refugees from the Central African Republic, were forced into exile due to fighting among armed groups which began in 2013. &nbsp;</p>

Tom Malinowski flips New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District as Democrats gain the House

Nov 7, 2018

Following a much anticipated by-election in New Jersey, Tom Malinowski unseated the incumbent five-term Republican representative Leonard Lance. This followed a reclamation of the House by the Democratic party whilst the Republicans retained control over the Senate. 

During this time he worked on a number of projects including supporting persecuted minorities targeted by ISIS in Iraq; defending LGBT rights globally and overseeing the appointment of the first Special Envoy for LGBT rights; decreasing civilian casualties from US military operations; and he backed UN efforts to investigate war crimes committed during the Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. 

Malinowski had served as the former assistant secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour from 2014-2017. 

New Caledonia votes against independence from France

Nov 5, 2018

The French Pacific territory New Caledonia rejected independence in a referendum, although the winning majority was significantly smaller than predicted.

With voter turnout over 80%, 56.4% opted to remain as part of France.

Polls had actually forecasted a win of up to 75% for the ‘no’ [to independence] campaign.

New Caledonia is of strategic importance to France as a foothold in the Pacific.

However commentators have said the results could reignite tensions between the indigenous Kanak people of the island, who tend to be pro-independence, and the population of white French colonial settlers who have occupied the islands since 1853.

Threat of famine loom as aid deliveries are blocked in Yemen

Nov 4, 2018

The blockage of aid shipments has threatened famine in Yemen, warned the United Nations, as fighting between the Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels, reportedly backed by Iran, continues.

In particular fighting has brokenout in regions surrounding the largest hospital in the port city of Hodeidah, which has made it difficult to access those most in need, including children.  The United Nations estimates that if this continues 14 million people, half of Yemen’s population, could be in a state of famine as a result of the conflict.

Hamas and Israel agree to ceasefire after an escalation of violence in Gaza
UN will not aid Myanmar with long-term camps for returning Rohingya Muslims
Outbreak of Ebola in DRC threatens Uganda
US imposes sanctions on Russian-backed entities and individuals
Dozens killed in Mogadishu hotel attack
China’s human rights record criticised at UPR
Tensions in Central African Republic as refugees start returning
Tom Malinowski flips New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District as Democrats gain the House
New Caledonia votes against independence from France
Threat of famine loom as aid deliveries are blocked in Yemen