WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old nursing graduate and rickshaw driver from Somalia, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being convicted of insulting government institutions over comments she made on social media. Ali, who had posted on Facebook and TikTok, was sentenced on 25 June in a case that has sparked outrage in Somalia and renewed concern over the shrinking space for…

More shelling in Syria as Russia opposes intervention

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US criticises Serbian president’s genocide denial

The United States has condemned Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic’s statement denying genocide in Srebrenica, labelling it “counterproductive”.

US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner, responded to the newly sworn in Serbian president’s comments, stating,

Senior Cambodian officials named for genocide investigation

An investigating judge for the UN genocide tribunal in Cambodia has named four senior government officials as persons of interest, according to confidential documents obtained by The Age.

Malawi will not hold the AU summit after refusing to host Bashir

Malawi has decided not to host the African Union (AU) summit in July, after disputes over the attendance of Sudan’s president, Omar Al-Bashir.

Omar Al-Bashir has been indicted for war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Incidentally, Sudan’s president has visited several African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries despite the ICC arrest warrants for charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

UN monitors regularly targeted in Syria

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, said that the UN observers in Syria have frequently been targeted by heavy weapons, armour-piercing ammunition and surveillance drones, in an address to the UN General Assembly.

Ban Ki Moon said,

Serbia to ask EU about Kosovo

Serbia's new president plans to see clarification from the EU on what pre-requisites exist for membership, particularly regarding the recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Speaking to a state news agency on Friday, Tomislav Nikolic, said of his upcoming visit to Brussels:

"Since they will ask me for straight answers to many questions, I also expect straight answers to questions that I'll raise,"

UN monitors barred, Clinton says Assad must go

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, calls for the departure of Assad after UN monitors are blocked from verifying the Hama massacre.

The UN Secretary, General Ban Ki-Moon, told a General Assembly session today, that monitors trying to access the site of an alleged massacre were shot at by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.  

Ban Ki Moon said:

UK ministers to boycott Euro 2012 football in Ukraine

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that ministers are to boycott the Euro 2012 football tournament over the treatment of the imprisoned Ukrainian opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, reports The Guardian.

According to the newspaper, there will be no British ministers present at England's group-stage matches.

Initially, the Sports Minister reportedly intimated it was due to logistical reasons, stating:

US wants India to be ‘more active’ in Afghanistan

Meeting with Indian officials, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has called on India to play a “more active” role in Afghanistan, according to US officials.

Officials speaking to reporters told the AFP,
"Over the last 10 years, for a variety of reasons, India has not played a particularly active role in Afghanistan. We welcome India playing a more active role in Afghanistan, a more active political and economic role".

China warns US against naval shift towards Asia

Chinese state media warned the US for its recent decision to move majority of its naval fleet into Asia-Pacific region by the end this decade under Obama administration’s “strategic re-balance” in Asia.

Washington continues to insist that recent decision to move its naval fleet into Asia-Pacific was not to contain China, but Communist Party run People’s Daily newspaper has repudiated such claim.

On Monday Liu Weimin, Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that increasing US military presence in the region as “inappropriate.”