Donors raise more than €2 billion for Sudan aid a year into war
Paris, France/Cairo, Egypt Reuters Donors pledged more than €2 billion for war-torn Sudan at a conference in Paris on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said, on the first anniversary of what aid workers describe as a neglected but devastating conflict. Efforts to help millions of people driven to the verge of famine by the war […]
Israeli military pledges response to Iran attack amid calls for restraint
Jerusalem Reuters Israel’s military chief said on Monday his country would respond to Iran’s weekend missile and drone attack amid calls for restraint by allies anxious to avoid an escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned his war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours to weigh […]
EU diplomat says defunding UN Palestinian agency would be dangerous
Brussels, Belgium Reuters The European Union’s top diplomat said on Sunday cutting funds to UNRWA would put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk, amid allegations some of the UN Palestinian refugee agency’s staff were involved in the 7th October Hamas attacks on Israel. A string of countries, including the United States, Britain and Italy, […]
EU leaders back security commitments for Ukraine; man accused of treason over Kramatorsk attack
Brussels, BelgiumReuters European Union leaders declared on Thursday they would make long-term commitments to bolster Ukraine’s security as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged them to start work on a new round of sanctions against Russia. At a summit in Brussels, the leaders restated their condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine and said the EU and its […]
Donors pledge $US6 billion for Syria at EU-hosted conference
Brussels, BelgiumReuters International donors pledged €5.6 billion ($US6.13 billion) at an EU-hosted conference in Brussels on Thursday to help Syria where an earthquake in February compounded the plight of a poverty-stricken population caught up in conflict since 2011. The pledges include €4.6 billion for 2023 and one billion for 2024 and beyond to support people […]
Serbia, Kosovo agree on normalising ties but need more talks – EU’s Borrell
Brussels, BelgiumReuters The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo agreed on Monday to a Western-backed deal to normalise relations but more talks are needed on the implementation of the pact, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. Speaking after hosting talks in Brussels between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Borrell […]
Iran hangs two men accused of killing security agent during protests
Reuters Iran hanged two men on Saturday for allegedly killing a member of the security forces during nationwide protests that followed the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini on 16th September, drawing condemnation from the EU, the United States and other Western nations. The two men executed on Saturday had been convicted of […]
Serbs dismantle barricades as Kosovo standoff eases
Rudare, Kosovo Reuters Serbs started dismantling barricades in northern Kosovo on Thursday, hours after Kosovo reopened its main border crossing with Serbia, easing a surge in tensions that has alarmed world powers. Serbia also ended a three-day-old state of alert for its troops, Tanjug news agency reported, as the sides showed signs of bowing to […]
Iran carries out second execution linked to wave of popular protests
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters The Islamic Republic on Monday hanged a man in public who state media said had been convicted of killing two members of the security forces, the second execution in less than a week of people involved in protests against Iran’s ruling theocracy. Nationwide unrest erupted three months ago after the death […]
Don’t forget other crises with Ukraine focus, UN warns
Brussels, BelgiumReuters The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned this week that countries focused on helping Ukraine should not ignore other crises, which were likely to worsen due to the war. Filippo Grandi said on Friday that the “colossal crisis” in Ukraine would raise the number of displaced people globally well above the […]