Is New Zealand’s civilised response to the Christchurch massacre just down to good stewardship, or is there something else going on? To the rest of the world, New Zealand’s reaction to the Christchurch massacre has been extraordinary. The killing of 50 people at Friday prayers in two mosques by a ... Read More »
Russia tells Trump its troops will stay in Venezuela for ‘as long as needed’
US president says Moscow’s soldiers should ‘get out’ Russia has said its troops will remain in Venezuela “for as long as needed” in a blunt rejection of Donald Trump’s demand they leave immediately. In the latest indication the crisis in Venezuela is taking on elements of a proxy battle between ... Read More »
Aoun meets Putin, thanks Russian support for Levant’s Christians
President Michel Aoun on Tuesday thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his support for the Christians in the Levant region. “We thank you for your position in defense of the Christian minorities in the Levant, and we hope that this support will continue,” Aoun said to Putin, who hosted him ... Read More »
World adamant on not changing position over Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
Many international bodies and governments have warned of a ‘new wave’ of escalations in the Middle East after U.S. President Donald Trump signed on Monday a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, with condemnations and criticisms pouring from across the globe. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was ... Read More »
UN rights council condemns Israel’s ‘unlawful lethal and excessive’ force against civilians in Gaza
The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday condemned Israel’s “apparent intentional use of unlawful lethal and other excessive force” against civilian protesters in Gaza and called for perpetrators of all violations in the strip to face justice. The Geneva forum adopted a resolution on accountability by a vote of ... Read More »
US airstrikes are killing ‘large numbers’ of civilians in Somalia, Amnesty says
Army claims no civilian casualties have occurred since Donald Trump authorised strikes and raids to fight al-Shabaab insurgency in country The US military may be guilty of war crimes for killing large numbers of civilians in a sharply stepped-up campaign of air strikes in Somalia over the past two years, ... Read More »
As Venezuela crisis deepens, U.S. sharpens focus on Colombia rebel threat
U.S. Admiral Craig Faller, the head of the U.S. military’s Southern Command that oversees U.S. forces in Latin America, told Reuters the United States had sharpened its focus on the rebels and increased its sharing of intelligence with Colombian officials. U.S. officials see a growing threat from both Colombia’s National ... Read More »
French PM plans new security measures after Champs Elysees rioting
France’s prime minister will present plans on Monday to crack down on rioters, his office said, after a new flare-up of violence linked to the yellow vest protest movement. Rioters ransacked stores and restaurants while lighting fires along Paris’ Champs Elysees avenue on Saturday as they clashed with police. Cutting ... Read More »
North Korea may suspend nuclear talks with ‘gangster-like’ U.S.: diplomat
North Korea is considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink a ban on missile and nuclear tests unless Washington makes concessions, news reports from the North’s capital on Friday quoted a senior diplomat as saying. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui blamed top U.S. officials for the ... Read More »
New Zealand shootings: At least 40 dead in attacks on mosques in Christchurch, says PM Ardern
Witness claims to have seen ‘blood everywhere’ as police arrest an Australian citizen At least 40 people have been killed in a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said. Police declared a “critical incident” after the initial, deadliest attack began at the ... Read More »