WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

German police arrest Rwanda genocide suspect accused of ordering killings
Rwandan genocide memorial in Nyamata (Fanny Schertzer) German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of complicity in genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. The suspect, identified only as Innocent S. under German privacy rules, was arrested in the central German state of Hesse on Wednesday. According to Reuters,…

Kurdish Independence from Iraq: The Ball is Rolling - Rudaw

May 25, 2014
An editorial piece in a Kurdish daily, Rudaw, based in the self-autonomous region of Kurdistan, concluded that the recent Kurdish actions were an indication of Kurdish leaders' resolve to seek independence from Iraq.

Full editorial reproduced below.

Kurdish Independence from Iraq: The Ball is Rolling

The Kurdistan Region appears to have set the ball rolling toward independence from Iraq.

The first signs of this emerged last week when the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced -- despite threats from Baghdad -- the sale of one million barrels of Kurdish oil that had been stored at the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

With this move Kurdish authorities in Erbil not only defied Iraq’s central government, they also ignored warnings from the United States, which has consistently stood against Kurdistan selling its oil without Baghdad’s consent.

Obama looks forward to 'working closely' with Indian government

May 25, 2014
US President Barack Obama has congratulated the newly sworn-in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a statement earlier today and called for a strengthening of the relationship between the two countries.

A statement released by the White House said,

Nigerian government backs out of release deal with Boko Haram

May 25, 2014
The Nigerian government called off a deal with Boko Haram to release some of the abducted schoolgirls, reports the BBC.

Nigeria’s government backed down form a deal that would have seen the release of 100 detained Boko Haram militants in exchange for abducted school girls.

The reasons behind the government’s decisions to cancel the swap still remain unclear.

Pope Francis bypasses Israel to visit Palestinian regions

May 24, 2014
Pope Francis visited the West Bank in what was seen as a symbolic acceptance of Palestinian statehood in a trip to the Palestinian region today, whilst labelling the failure of talks between Palestine and Israel unacceptable, reports The Guardian.

The pope, during his visit to the Middle-Eastern region, broke tradition and bypassed Tel Aviv to fly directly in to the West Bank.

Suicide attack kills 3 in Nigerian city

May 24, 2014
A suicide attack within the Nigerian business district of Jos in the Plateau state killed at least 3 people today, reports the BBC.

The second attack on the city of Jos, comes as the UN Security Council placed sanctions on Boko Haram, a militant group responsible for recent bombings in Abuja. 

Palestinian offer to renew peace-talks with Israel rejected by US

May 24, 2014
A Palestinian offer to resume talks with Israel was rejected by the US Secretary of State John Kerry this week, reports Gulfnews.

Reports suggest that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, offered to resume peace talks id Israel agreed to halt its settlement construction activities for three months whilst attending meetings with US officials in London.

New Ukrainian president pledges to align country with Europe and resolve conflict with separatists

May 24, 2014
Ukraine’s presidential elections were won by a billionaire who has pledged to end the conflict with pro-Russian separatists and align the country with Europe, reports Reuters.

Petro Poroshenko, who previously served in a cabinet under former president Viktor Yanukovich, received an overwhelming majority in the first round of voting.

EU prepares sanctions packages against Russia

May 23, 2014
A document detailing three EU sanction scenarios against Russia emerged today ahead of discussions at a leaders’ summit next week, reports Reuters.

The lowest level of sanctions would restrict imports of Russian luxury goods and ban exports of fertilisers, chemicals, tyres and vessels, whilst also banning all arms imports and exports.

The toughest sanction scheme could include capital market restrictions, prohibition of new investment in Russia, regulation of Russian assets in EU companies and a ban on imports of oil and gas from Russia.

French troops engage in combat with militant rebels in CAR

May 23, 2014
French peacekeeping troops in Central African Republic engaged in conflict against the Seleka rebels north of the Capital today, reports Reuters.

The troops used helicopter gunships, after a French base last week came under fire from the rebels killing at least one peace-keeping troop.

The Central African Republic has seen conflict in recent months between the Seleka and 'Anti Balaka' militant groups after Seleka seized power in March last year

Somalia's parliament stormed by Al Shabaab

May 23, 2014
At least four people have been killed in Somalia after the armed group, Al Shabaab, stormed the parliamentary building with guns and bombs, reports Reuters.

Driving a car bomb into the entrance, the group launched a suicide bomb within the parliamentary building. According the news agency a gun battle ensued, with witnesses reporting 4 dead bodies at the scene.

The parliament building is heavily guarded by peacekeepers from the African Union and local security forces.
Kurdish Independence from Iraq: The Ball is Rolling - Rudaw
Obama looks forward to 'working closely' with Indian government
Nigerian government backs out of release deal with Boko Haram
Pope Francis bypasses Israel to visit Palestinian regions
Suicide attack kills 3 in Nigerian city
Palestinian offer to renew peace-talks with Israel rejected by US
New Ukrainian president pledges to align country with Europe and resolve conflict with separatists
EU prepares sanctions packages against Russia
French troops engage in combat with militant rebels in CAR
Somalia's parliament stormed by Al Shabaab