Browsing: World News

Crimea’s Tatars on Saturday voted to push for self-rule in their historic homeland following its annexation by Russia, but remained torn on how to engage with the new authorities. Ethnic Tatars from all over Crimea convened in the town of Bakhchysaray…

A 4.1 magnitude earthquake rattled Los Angeles on Saturday, a day after a similar seismic shock spooked the sprawling Californian metropolis. The building housing AFP’s office on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood swayed gently after the latest temblor,…

The European Union on Saturday signalled that it is ready to deploy its delayed peacekeeping force to help put down the escalating crisis in Central African Republic, after obtaining additional backing for the mission. The troops were due to deploy…

One of the world’s longest railways — a “modern-day silk road” — covers some 11,000 kilometres (24,000 miles) en route from the Chinese megacity of Chongqing to Duisburg, a key commercial hub in western Germany. On Saturday, as part of his landmark…

The death toll from several weeks of protests that have paralyzed Venezuela rose to 39 on Saturday after two more people died in separate incidents, Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said on VTV public television that in San Cristobal…

Vatican police on Saturday apprehended an American and a Dutch man who were trying to deposit billions of euros and US dollars in fake bonds in the Vatican bank. The men were stopped by the police when they approached one of the guarded gates at the…

A construction worker at Sao Paulo’s troubled World Cup stadium was killed after falling from a stand on Saturday, bringing the number of deaths at the venue to three. The workman, named as Fabio Hamilton da Cruz, fell eight metres (26 feet) as he helped…

Embroiled in political turmoil, Turkey’s leader has declared war on a shadowy enemy, a Muslim cleric he accuses of running a parallel “deep state” from faraway rural Pennsylvania. Out on the campaign trail ahead of Sunday’s local elections, there are…

A senior Palestinian official said a release by Israel of Arab prisoners would not go ahead on Saturday as envisaged but he hoped there would only be short delay. “Today the prisoners will not be released… maybe in the coming days,” Issa Qaraqae,…

US President Barack Obama met a Saudi women’s rights activist on Saturday, the same day women have pledged to defy a driving ban, as he wrapped up a reassurance visit to the longtime ally. In talks with King Abdullah late on Friday, Obama told his host…

Syrian troops made fresh gains in the strategic Qalamun area near the Lebanese border Saturday, seizing two villages from rebels, a military source told AFP. “The army took control this morning of the villages of Ras al-Maarra and Flita, after bombing…

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested to his US counterpart Barack Obama in a phone call between the two leaders that the international community could examine joint steps to calm the situation in Ukraine, the Kremlin said Saturday. Putin in the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin called his American counterpart Barack Obama to discuss a US proposal for a diplomatic end to the Ukraine crisis while insisting to the United Nations that Moscow had “no intention” of further military action. The White…

Gunfire and explosions rocked Kabul Friday as Taliban militants attacked a guesthouse used by an anti-landmine aid group, the latest violence to hit the city ahead of next weekend’s presidential election. At least three Afghans were wounded in the attack…

Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved legislation to impose up to four years in prison for fan violence at sporting events, days after football aficionados fought police at a game. Thursday’s bill calls for prison terms ranging between three months…

Joyous shouts of “Allahu akbar” echoed across the headquarters of the Philippines’ biggest Muslim rebel group as a pact to end four decades of bloodshed was signed, but there were also fears war clouds had yet to pass. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front…

A British coroner has recorded an open verdict in the death of Boris Berezovsky, saying he could not prove the Russian oligarch had meant to take his life. The Kremlin insider-turned-critic, 67, was found lying on the floor of the locked bathroom of…

27 March 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is increasingly concerned about the successive reports of new launches of ballistic missiles…

26 March 2014 – A group of United Nations independent human rights experts today called on the Vietnamese Government to…

26 March 2014 – Stressing the need to ensure justice and accountability, the United Nations human rights chief today called…