September 15, 2014
US Secretary of State Recognizes International Day of Democracy
Monday was International Day of Democracy and the theme this year was "Engaging Young People in Democracy." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that "powerfully underscores the importance of youth in building and preserving democracy." He…
September 15, 2014
Ebola Outbreak Tests Human Rights
West African governments are being urged to ensure human rights are respected as they battle the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Human Rights Watch says the response to the crisis has been slowed by ignorance, fear, denial and mistrust. Human Rights Watch…
September 15, 2014
UN Condemns Deadly Attack on Mali Peacekeepers
The United Nations has condemned an attack in northern Mali that killed a Chadian soldier and wounded four more of its peacekeepers. A vehicle carrying the group struck a landmine Sunday near Aguelhoc, in the Kidal region of Mali. A similar attack…
August 24, 2014
California earthquake strikes San Francisco Bay area
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 has shaken northern California, reports the US Geological Survey. The USGS said it struck at 03:20 local time (10:20 GMT) four miles (6km) north-west of American Canyon, at a depth of 6.7 miles. Dozens of…
August 24, 2014
Netanyahu Warns Gazans to Leave Hamas Sites
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday to leave any site where "terrorists" are operating. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, the Israeli leader said all these places are legitimate targets.…
August 24, 2014
Ukraine’s Poroshenko Vows $3 Billion for Military
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has vowed to increase military spending by $3 billion over the next few years because of the ongoing pro-Russian separatist threat in the east of Ukraine. Poroshenko made the comment Sunday in Kyiv during a…
August 24, 2014
China Executes 8 on Terrorism Convictions
China is reported to have executed eight people from the restive northwestern region of Xinjiang who were convicted of terrorist attacks, including three men authorities say planned the deadly suicide attack last year in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.…
August 15, 2014
Iraq’s Prime Minister Agrees to Renounce Power
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to renounce power, telling the Iraqi people he will give up his post to his replacement, moderate Shi'ite Haider al-Abadi. Appearing on state television late Thursday flanked by Abadi and other Shi'ite…
August 14, 2014
US says Mount Sinjar evacuation unlikely
The US says it is unlikely to launch a mission to evacuate Iraqis trapped by Islamist fighters on Mount Sinjar. A Special Forces team flew to the mountain and found fewer people than expected, and those remaining were also in a better condition…
August 12, 2014
Obama Praises Selection of Iraqi PM-designate
U.S. President Barack Obama praised Monday’s selection of Iraqi lawmaker Haider al-Abadi as the next prime minister, calling it "a promising step in this critical effort" to build an inclusive new government and to battle insurgents of the Islamic…