News from around the world.
ISIS claims responsibility for spate of attacks around city
A pair of suicide car bombings killed at least 18 people while wounding over 40 on Tuesday in Baghdad. The attacks, claimed by terror group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, took place in New Baghdad or al-Jadida, an area of the city known to house mostly Shiite Muslims. ISIS has also claimed responsibility for a similar attack, in the predominantly Shiite Baghdad neighborhood of al-Zafaraniya, leaving two dead and nine others injured, police said. ISIS have claimed to target members of a Shiite militia known as Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous. Car bombs also struck a security checkpoint about 55 kilometers north of Baghdad, killing four security officers and injuring 20. Mandali, a city about 136 kilometers east of Baghdad was also the site of a fatal car bombing which killed at least 5 and injured 18. It is unknown whether the attacks were linked to the ones in Baghdad.
Police clash with protesters in Turkey over Suruc bombing
At least 800 protesters gathered on Tuesday on the Asian side of Istanbul to protest against the attack on young activists in the town of Suruc near the Syrian border even as Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons against them. The suicide bomb attack currently blamed on the Islamic State has killed 32 people, most of whom were young activists. Protesters were also seen at an earlier demonstration in the Sisli district on the European side of Istanbul as well as in the town of Nusaybin closer to the border with Syria. The police have detained dozens of protesters in Istanbul, while also injuring a 55 year old woman protester in Nusaybin.
Harder to snap-back sanctions once trade established: Iran minister
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, while speaking in front of the parliament, on Tuesdaysaid it will be harder for the United Nations to enact the "snap-back" clause in the historic nuclear deal signed between the nation and six world powers once foreign business decide to invest in the country. Zarif's statements have been seen as attempts to convince the parliamentary assembly to vote in favour of ratifying the deal. According to the agreement, Iran will place curbs on its nuclear programme and be prevented from creating weaponised power for a decade in exchange for the lifting off of various sanctions that have been affecting the country's economy. Zarif has said that once business ties are established, the six nations - the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia will seek sanctions again only for a major breach of the deal as opposed to small infractions. Iranian lawmakers have agreed to delay their vote on the agreement for at least 80 days, while a committee studies its contents.
China claims Japan defence review is misleading, malicious
A day after Japan released an annual defence review asking for China to halt construction of oil and gas exploration platforms on islands claimed by both countries in the East China Sea, China has referred to the review as misleading and malicious. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang has said the report overplays the "China military threat" and is leading to tensions between the nations. Suggesting that the disputed islands "have belonged to China since ancient times", Lu said Japan should not "hold any unrealistic illusions" regarding them. Lu has also said that China is ready to take "necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty". The Japanese report claims that Chinese development on the islands can be used to create monitoring stations.
Africa wary of Obama's pro-gay rights agenda as he visits Kenya, Ethiopia
Even as US President Barack Obama readies himself for his trip to Kenya and Ethiopia, politicians from across the continent are expressing their desire to not hear on the subject. The New York Times reports that politicians from Kenya and media in Nigeria have alternatively warned Obama against bringing up the topic and insisted the President will breach it while Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe who also serves as the head of the African Union has said he will propose to Obama. The alarmist atmosphere comes after a recent decision by the United State Supreme Court to legalise gay marriage across the USA. African nations have previously treated statements by foreign powers regarding gay rights as an infringement of their sovereignty and imposed harsher laws against the community.
No comments:
Post a Comment