WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

In recent weeks Yemen’s Houthi armed group has shot down seven US Reaper drones worth over $200m. The drones destroyed between 31 March and 22 April mark Washington's most significant material loss.  Three of the drones were destroyed in the past week, suggesting an improvement in the Houthis’ ability to strike high-altitude US aircraft.  The drones were conducting surveillance or…

Saudi-led airstrike kills Yemeni family as ‘man-made disaster’ worsens

A Saudi-led coalition air strike has killed at least 9 members of the same family in Yemen, as the UN development chief in the country called the food crisis there "a man-made disaster".

At least three women and six children were killed in the attack on a house on the outskirts of Saada, according to the head of the local health department Dr Abdel-Ilah al-Azzi.

"We are recording all the crimes of the enemy and we will not forget them," said Dr Azzi. "All the criminals will be put on trial soon, God willing."

China accuses India of building up troops at border stand-off

China’s Foreign Ministry has accused India of building up troops and repairing roads at a military stand-off alongside its border in the Himalayan region.

“It has already been more than a month since the incident, and India is still not only illegally remaining on Chinese territory, it is also repairing roads in the rear, stocking up supplies, massing a large number of armed personnel. This is certainly not for peace,” said the foreign ministry in a statement issued on Thursday.

OIC urges Myanmar to protect rights of Rohingya Muslims

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Thursday urged Myanmar's government to ensure it protected the rights of Rohingya Muslims. 

The OIC, which represents 57 states, told Myanmar, "we call on the Myanmar government to ensure human rights for the Rohingyas."

"Myanmar can't deny the human rights of Rohingyas. We also call on the Myanmar government to ensure citizenship for the Rohingyas," the OIC representative, Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen was quoted by Reuters as saying. 

"Myanmar should sit with Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia to find a roadmap for the solution of the crisis," he added. 

UN removes FARC military weapons from Colombia

The United Nations started to remove containers holding over 7,000 weapons from  demobilisation zones in Colombia this week.

Following the conclusion of the Colombian peace process which saw a series of key demands met and seats in parliament allocated for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) political organisation, members of FARC handed over their weapons in late June,

The organisation pledged to hand over 30% of its weapons at the end of the peace process.

‘Self-determination will lead to prosperity, stability’ - Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council

An independent Kurdish state will bring prosperity and stability to the region said the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, in an op-ed published in the Washington Times last week.

Masrour Barzani said “the Kurds have paid a heavy price for the international community’s failed one-Iraq policy”.

Writing on an upcoming independence referendum for the Kurdistan region, he added “instead, global partners should now publicly support a dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to shape bilateral relations on new and binding terms”.

One dead as Indonesian troops fire at West Papuan villagers

One man has been killed after Indonesian troops opened fire on West Papuan villagers who were demonstrated against a company workers refusal to take a dying man to hospital, AP reports. 

Indonesian troops maintain a strong presence across the West Papua. 

Condemning the shooting the parliament at Deiyai in Papua has called for the officers responsible to face justice and called for the police paramilitary unit, known as the 'mobile brigade' to be withdrawn. 

According to the police report a 28 year old man was killed with 'multiple bullet wounds' on his body. 

China opens first military base overseas in Djibouti

China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti on Tuesday at an event attended by China's deputy naval commander Tian Zhong and Djibouti's defence minister. 

The event was held on the 90th anniversary of China's military, the People's Liberation Army. 

Djibouti also has army officers from Japan, US and France.

The base is aimed at resupplying navy ships involved in missions off the coast of Yemen and Somalia, reports Al Jazeera

Protests in Kashmir after Indian forces kill Lashkar-e-Taiba leader

Indian forces on Monday killed the top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kashmir, Abu Dujana, prompting widespread protests in Kashmir against the killing.  

Mr Dujana was blown up by Indian soldiers after a prolonged gunfight, Indian papers reported. 

Families and locals poured onto the streets in Srinagar to mourn his death and to express their anger at the killing. 

Protesters were soon surrounded by security forces and clashes broke out with protesters throwing stones at the forces, who responded with tear gas and pellet guns.

One protester has died after being shot in the clashes, Al Jazeera reported. 

HRW urges sanctions against South Sudan leaders

The New York based rights organisation, Human Rights Watch on Tuesday published a report highlighting the South Sudanese leaders' failure to halt gross human rights abuses, and called on the international community to impost sanctions. 

“Four years into this crisis, gruesome crimes continue, with millions displaced and hundreds of thousands facing a man-made famine,” the executive director of HRW, Kenneth Roth said. “It’s well past time to send a strong message to those in positions of power that atrocities will come at a price.”

Catalan leaders defiant despite Spain's attempts to halt referendum

The Catalan government on Monday faced a set back to its attempt to fast track certain bills needed to hold the planned independence referendum on October 1, as Spain's Constitutional court accepted the government's challenge. 

On Friday the central government filed an appeal against the Catalan government's approving of the fast track scheme. 

"By presenting this appeal the government is fulfilling its duty to make sure the law is upheld," the Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a news conference.

"Catalan society needs to be protected from a radical and divisive project which is being imposed on them by force," he added.