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…

Palestinians mark 74th Nakba amid anger over journalist’s killing by Israeli forces

Thousands of Palestinians rallied on Sunday during Nakba Day – which Palestinians call the “the catastrophe”.

In 1948 over 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes. The Nakba refers to the systematic ethnic cleansing of one-third of the Palestinian population at the time by Zionist paramilitaries between 1947-1949 and the near-total destruction of Palestinian society.

Controversial UK policing bill receives royal assent to become law

The UK’s controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 received royal assent to become UK law despite widespread criticism. 

Gaza under attack by Israeli forces

Israel’s military has launched four missile strikes Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip during the holy month of Ramadan.

The move follows reports that Israel’s army intercepted a rocket launched from the Gaza strip amidst growing tensions over the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Thus far no Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the rocket launch, which Israeli officials claim was struck down by their Iron Dome interceptor.

Israeli forces raid Al-Aqsa Mosque, more than 150 Palestinians injured

Israeli police have raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, with medics reporting at least 158 Palestinians injured.

Israeli forces entered in force before dawn on Friday, as thousands of worshippers were gathered at the mosque for early morning prayers. 

The Palestinian Red Crescent added that Israeli forces had hindered the arrival of ambulances and paramedics to the mosque, as Palestinian media said dozens of injured worshippers remained trapped inside the compound.

Israeli police said they arrested at least 300 Palestinians during the latest escalation. However, Palestinian sources put the number at 400.

‘Utterly reprehensible’ – Refugee Council slams UK plans to offshore asylum seekers in Rwanda

Human Rights Watch documents war crimes against Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces

Human Rights Watch has documented numerous cases of Russian military forces committing war crimes in the occupied Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions of Ukraine. 

Between February 27 and March 14, 2022, Human Rights Watch learned of "unspeakable" acts of violence against Ukrainian civilians in Russian forces’ custody including repeated rape,

Hungary's authoritarian leader, Viktor Orban, secures fourth consecutive term

Hungary’s authoritarian leader, Viktor Orban, secured a fourth consecutive term on Sunday in a landslide election victory. 

Orban is at the helm of the right-wing Fidesz party, which acquired about 67.8% of the vote. He is credited with steering the party towards its overwhelming win on Sunday night. The opposition alliance led by Peter Marki-Zay tailed far behind, securing only about 28.1% of the vote. 

Pope Francis apologises for 'deplorable' conduct in Roman Catholic schools in Canada

Pope Francis has apologized to Indigenous delegates for the conduct of some members of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada’s residential school system. 

A week of private separate meetings between Pope Francis and First Nations, Inuit and Metis delegates, comprised discussions of the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system and its enduring legacy. The week culminated with a final and public meeting at the Vatican on Friday.  

Jamaica announces intent to become a republic as protests against British monarchy continue

Jamaica's prime minister, Andrew Holness has told the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that his country is "moving on" and intends to become a republic. 

Representatives from the British monarchy's arrival in Jamaica on Tuesday coincided with major demonstrations urging them to pay reparations for slavery and calls from senior politicians for the country to become a republic, severing its tie with the United Kingdom. 

US declares Myanmar committed genocide against Rohingya

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Myanmar’s violence and killings of Rohingya amounted to genocide, in a speech made at the Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier today.

“The United States has concluded that genocide has been committed seven times,” said Blinken. “Today marks the eighth.”

“I have determined that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity.”