Latest in World Highlight
Latest in World
New Zealand flag vote too close to call
New Zealand voters seem torn between two flag designs, with the flag featuring a silver fern over a black-and-blue background in the lead, officials say. The winner will compete against the current flag in the spring. The flag with the black top left corner won 50.5 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results of …
Canada greets first planeload of Syrian refugees
Canada has welcomed a planeload of refugees from Syria, the first wave to arrive as part of the country’s official resettlement scheme. The new arrivals were to be screened before being resettled across the country.
Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi ‘on hunger strike’
Raif Badawi has started a hunger strike, protesting against new prison conditions, according to his wife. Ensaf Haidar said her husband had been on strike since Tuesday; she pleaded for him to be pardoned.
Day’s delay, as Paris climate summit nears finish line
After overnight negotiations, ending near daybreak on Friday, came news that the COP21 climate summit would go into overtime.
Israel claims success of Arrow 3 interceptor missile
In the ongoing quest for security from enemy missiles in Israel has seen a new success. Israel’s Arrow 3 interceptor shot down an incoming missile in a carefully orchestrated test.
Informers needed, says German intelligence agency head Maassen
The head of the German domestic intelligence agency has urged refugees to help identify terrorist suspects and risks. Hans-Georg Maassen said he could not exclude a Californian San Bernardino-style attack in Germany
‘IS’ finance chief killed in US-led airstrikes
Abu Salah, described as the “Islamic State’s” finance minister, has been killed by US-led airstrikes. US officials said that they have bolstered efforts to curb the militant group’s revenue-generating activities
Arrests follow mass grave claims in Kenya
Four politicians have been arrested after claiming that mass graves had been found in northern Kenya. The claims were later retracted but the four now face possible charges for inciting violence.
Unhappiness and early death not linked in women
Contradicting previous studies, scientists have revealed that – in women – there is no link between unhappiness and longevity. Data from more than 700,000 British women found similar ages of death
Egypt releases Israeli Arab spy Ouda Tarabin
Egypt has freed the convicted Israeli agent Ouda Tarabin in an apparent exchange for two Egyptian nationals held in Israel, according to official sources. Tarabin spent 15 years as a prisoner in the Arab country
Syrian opposition groups talk possibility of forming united front at Riyadh talks
Syrian opposition groups have begun discussing the formation of a delegation on the second day of talks in Riyadh. Groups have met in the Saudi capital to discuss a peaceful political transition in war-torn Syria
Mexico approves first dengue fever vaccine
Mexico is the first country to give the go ahead for 40,000 people to receive a new vaccine to prevent the deadly disease. Twenty-two thousand people die from dengue fever every year. Mexican health authorities gave French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi approval on Wednesday to sell its breakthrough anti-dengue fever vaccine in the country. Health officials …
Afghan forces repel Taliban insurgents at Kandahar airport
Afghan security forces have ended a siege launched by Taliban at an airport in Kandahar. Besides the 11 insurgents, the fight claimed the lives of around 50 people – soldiers, police and mainly civilians
Russia attempting ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Syria, says Turkish prime minister
Turkey’s prime minister has accused Russia of carrying out “ethnic cleansing” by targeting Turkmen in Syria. The comments come as Putin invited the UK to examine a Turkish-downed Russian warplane’s black box
Greeks clear border of refugees
Greek riot police removed asylum-seekers from the Idomeni refugee camp, a site of much despair and chaos since Balkan nations began filtering refugees by nationality. Diego Cupolo reports from Idomeni, Greece. After nearly three weeks of protests and routine riots, 2,000 asylum-seekers were evicted from an encampment on the Greek-Macedonian border and sent back to …
Outraged Britons sign petition to ban GOP’s Donald Trump
Racist comments by US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump may play well with some disaffected Americans, but he has drawn nothing but contempt in Britain. Even the party of Margaret Thatcher rebukes him
Saudi Arabia agrees to retry Sri Lankan maid sentenced to death by stoning
A Sri Lankan maid sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in Saudi Arabia has won a retrial, Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister says. All Sri Lankan parties had joined to appeal to Saudi authorities for clemency. Saudi authorities agreed to the retrial of the 45-year-old woman after Sri Lankan diplomats visited her in a …
Yemen to begin week-long ceasefire on December 15
Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has said he intends to implement a temporary truce for seven days beginning December 15. The ceasefire will coincide with UN-sponsored peace talks. “I informed the coalition’s leadership that we intend to start a ceasefire for seven days, from December 15 to 21, in conjunction with the consultations, President …
‘Reckless’ weapons transfers to Iraq fueled ‘IS’ atrocities: Amnesty International
Irresponsible weapons transfers to Iraq over decades enabled terror group “Islamic State” to carry out its atrocities, Amnesty International reports. The group is using arms and ammunition from at least 25 countries
Turkey summons Russian ambassador over missile launcher ‘provocation’
Turkey has summoned Russia’s ambassador over images of a Russian soldier “brandishing a rocket launcher” as he traveled through Turkish waters. Tensions have worsened since Turkey downed a Russian warplane two weeks ago. Turkey has summoned the Russian ambassador over images of a Russian soldier “brandishing a rocket launcher” as he traveled through Turkish waters. …
UN issues record aid appeal amid unprecedented ‘human suffering’
A growing number of conflicts and natural disasters are spreading misery across the globe, affecting some 125 million people, the UN said on Monday, as it requested a record amount of aid from donor governments
Syria, the coalition and the compromise
US officials are optimistic: Syria’s civil war can be resolved in the foreseeable future. This can only be reached in talks with moderate groups in the country. But a great challenge still remains
Assange in UK: Five years without freedom – or charges
On 7 December , 2010, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange turned himself over to the London police. To avoid extradition, he has been hiding inside the Ecuadoran embassy. An interrogation has not been conducted to this day
Hanukkah, Christmas and Ramadan, celebrated together
For 22 years, and against all odds, one cultural center in Israel has organized a festival celebrating three holidays of three religions all together. “It gives hope to see that people can coexist,” one participant says. This week Jews all over the world celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah, marking the success of the Maccabean revolt, …
NATO invitation to Montenegro provokes Russia
It is an attempt to control last unoccupied spot on Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline, says analyst
Pakistan hosts Afghanistan conference amid IS threat
Pakistan is set to host the Heart of Asia conference, which aims to strengthen the peace process in Afghanistan. Experts say the countries participating in the dialogue have conflicting interests in the war-torn country. The Heart of Asia Istanbul Ministerial Process was established in November 2011 to provide a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly …
Metrojet to claim compensation for Russian plane crash
We will try to agree to last on compensation without judicial steps: Company owner
Lake Chad: climate change fosters terrorism
Droughts, unemployment and conflict over resources: residents around Lake Chad are grappling with the consequences of climate change. Terrorist groups like Boko Haram know how to exploit this to their advantage. “Lake Chad is dying.” President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger was peremptory in his speech at the opening of the Paris Climate Conference on Monday, …
San Bernardino shooting highlights tensions within Islam
The involvement of a Pakistani woman in the San Bernadino shooting throws light on deep religious differences between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, says Pakistani columnist Nadeem F. Paracha. The recent mass shooting in California, involving as it did a young Pakistani woman who had spent time in Saudi Arabia, has finally revealed to Western media …
France’s National Front leads first regional elections after Paris attacks
Socialist PM calls for left-wing and centre-right parties to unite in opposition to far-right threat