Obama accuses Russia of aggression against Ukraine

Vilnius, Sep 4 (IANS/EFE) US President Barack Obama Wednesday accused Russia of engaging in flat out aggression against Ukraine, stating that the Russian military presence in Crimea or any part of Ukraine amounts to “an occupation and illegal annexation”. In a speech in NATO member Estonia’s capital Tallinn, Obama pledged that the alliance would support countries […]

UN Security Council demands release of detained peacekeepers

United Nations, Sep 4 (IANS) The UN Security Council Wednesday reiterated its call for immediate and unconditional release of 45 detained peacekeepers in the Syria’s Golan Heights. “The members of the Security Council again condemned in the strongest terms the detention of 45 Fijian peacekeepers by a Security Council-designated terrorist organisation,” Xinhua quoted US ambassador to […]

Cameron chairs emergency committee over IS threat

London, Sep 4 (IANS/EFE) British Prime Minister David Cameron chaired an emergency session of Cobra committee Wednesday to discuss the threat by Islamic State (IS) militants to follow up the beheading of two US journalists with the murder of a British hostage. The committee of senior ministers will assess a British response to the threat to […]

Two policemen injured as cops exchange fire

Siliguri, Sep 4 (IANS) Two policemen were wounded in an exchange of fire between cops following an altercation here Wednesday night. Siliguri police commissioner Jagmohan said the incident occurred inside a van when the policemen were conducting a naka checking at Tinpatti Mor under Bhaktinagar police station at 9.30 p.m. After a heated exchange, constable Tashi […]

EU to decide on new sanctions on Russia

Brussels, Sep 3 (IANS) The incoming European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini Tuesday said the EU leaders will decide on new sanctions on Russia by Friday. “The package (of further sanctions) will be presented by tomorrow (Wednesday) from the commission. The Coreper (permanent representatives committee) will meet again tomorrow, Thursday and by Friday a […]

Israel ‘stands by’ new land appropriation in West Bank

Jerusalem, Sep 3 (IANS) Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Tuesday said his country “stands by its decision” to appropriate 1,000 acre land in the West Bank. “Gush Etzion settlement bloc reflects a wide consensus in the Israeli society and it is clear to everyone that as part of any (possible future peace) agreement, Gush Etzion would […]

UN chief welcomes lifting of Iraqi town siege

United Nations, Sep 3 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday welcomed the end of militant siege on the northern Iraqi town of Amerli, saying it averted “a major humanitarian disaster”. Ban welcomed the lifting of the siege on Amerli through the action of the Iraqi security forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga and others with air support from […]

Second beheading plunges Obama into top crisis

Washington, Sep 3 (IANS) Just two weeks after beheading American photojournalist James Foley, the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist organisation sent what it called “A second message to America”, with a video showing the beheading of another kidnapped American journalist. In the video released Tuesday Steven Sotloff, 31, a freelance journalist who was captured in northern […]

Rebels, Syrian forces clash near Golan Heights

Cairo, Sep 2 (IANS/EFE) Islamic rebels clashed with the Syrian forces near Israeli-controlled Golan Heights Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The observatory, in a statement, said that fighting continued throughout the day between Syrian army units and insurgents including the Al Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda affiliated group, in the province of Quneitra. […]

Russia may retaliate against fresh EU sanctions

Moscow, Sep 2 (IANS/EFE) Russia will take retaliatory measures to defend its legitimate interests if the European Union imposes new sanctions over Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine, the country’s foreign ministry said Monday. “The hysteria whipped up in the runup to European Council’s meeting around the mythical ‘Russian aggression in Ukraine’ has yielded fruit,” Efe quoted a […]