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…

Fighting Words' - President Xi urges PLA to resolutely defend 'national soverignty'

Dressed in full army uniform, President Xi called on military personnel to “focus all its energy on fighting” according to reports from a Chinese Communist party mouthpiece. 

Iranian leaders resist growing calls for referendum on constitution

The Iranian leadership is resisting growing demands from clerics and some reformist politicians to stage a new referendum on Iran’s constitution.

A current power struggle between the the country's rulers has left the government sending out mixed messages on how to deal with the ongoing protests. Hardline parliamentarians have called for violent protestors to be executed whilst some other senior members of Iran's administration have gone to university campuses, in an attempt to open dialogue with protestors. 

Spain asked to explain deaths at Melilla border

The Spanish government is facing growing pressure to explain how at least 23 people died in June at the fortified border of Melila, Spain's enclave in North-Africa. 

About 2,000 people attempted to cross the heavily fortified border between the Moroccan region of Nador and the Spanish enclave last week. The Moroccan authorities say 23 people died and 140 police were injured during the attempt, while several NGOs say the number of dead is at least 37.

Terrorist attack on UK immigration centre

A petrol bomb attack on an immigration center in Dover, UK is said to have been motivated by extreme right-wing ideology according to British police.

The incident took place on 30 October. Nobody was seriously injured as a result of the attack.

66-year-old Andrew Leak was found dead at a nearby service station, Leak was said to have acted alone. Leak threw homemade bombs at the immigration centre, leaving two staff with minor injuries.

Major banks face scrutiny over business with Myanmar military owned bank

Major international banks, including Australia’s ANZ, have continued to do business with a bank owned by Myanmar’s military administration despite its violent crackdown on anti-government protestors, according to an advocacy group and leaked documents.

ANZ, one of Australia’s “big four” banks, was used by Hong Kong-based insurer AIA to transfer funds to accounts operated by Innwa Bank, which is owned by military conglomerate Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), in August and September 2021, Justice for Myanmar said, citing leaked bank documents.

UK to investigate human rights abuses in Kazakhstan

Senior UK Parliamentarians will investigate the state of human rights within Kazakhstan.

The former director of public prosecutions Lord MacDonald will lead an independent investigation into the detention and treatment of Zhanbolat Mamai, the leader of the unregistered opposition Democratic party in Kazakhstan.

Iran to hold public trials for up to 2,000 detained protestors

Iran has announced that it will hold public trials for as many as 1,000 people detained during recent protests in Tehran alone – and more than a thousand others outside the capital.

The judiciary made the announcement as protests continued following the death of  22 year-old Kurdish Mahsa Amini. 

Tigray peace talks extended

Peace talks between the warring sides of the TPLF and the government of Ethiopia have been extended into this week.

According to an official, the peace talks between Ethiopia’s federal government and representatives from the northern Tigray region continued in South Africa.

West-Papuan ex-political prisoner found dead on beach


A leading West Papuan Human rights and independence campaigner Filep Karma,  was found dead on November 1,  on a beach in the Melanesian region’s capital Jayapura.

The death of the former political prisoner has shocked Papuans and activist communities in Indonesia and around the Pacific.

Our fight is in search of spring' - Lula is elected in Brazil

Brazil's former President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has claimed victory in a tightly contested election which saw far-right Bolasanaro narrowly lose.