Norway pledges more financial aid to South Sudan

Oslo, May 20 (IANS) Norway has decided to give 372 million Norwegian kroner (about $63 million) as emergency aid to South Sudan, a media report said Monday. Expressing his concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in South Sudan, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said that there is a real danger of famine and the international community […]

18 Morsi supporters given lifer in Egypt

Cairo, May 20 (IANS) An Egyptian court sentenced a supporter of ex-president Mohamed Morsi to death and 18 to life imprisonment for committing violence and murder while protesting against Morsi’s removal last year, state media reported. The case dates back to July 5 last year, two days after Morsi’s military ouster, when a group of pro-Morsi […]

Israeli parliament to elect president in June

Jerusalem, May 20 (IANS) Members of the Israeli parliament will elect a new president June 10, Parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein announced Monday. The announcement marks the beginning of the race to replace current president Shimon Peres, whose tenure will expire July 27 after seven years since 2007, Xinhua reported. In Israel, the post of president is […]

Pro-government milita’s help sought for safety in Libya

Tripoli, May 20 (IANS) A day after the parliament compound was attacked by a militant group, loyal to a retired general, the Libyan parliament speaker Monday ordered a pro-government militia to safeguard the capital city. In a letter to “Libya’s Central Shield”, a militia group from Misrata, General National Congress President and parliament speaker Nouri Abu […]

Chinese tourist kidnapped in Pakistan

Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) A Chinese tourist was kidnapped in Pakistan while he was travelling from Lahore to Balochistan, a media report said Tuesday. Hong Xu Dong was kidnapped Monday from Darban area of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn online reported. Security forces have recovered Dong’s belongings from the kidnapping spot and have launched […]

Idris Elba happy about directorial debut

London, May 20 (IANS) British actor-rapper Idris Elba, who co-produced a track on rapper Jay-Z’s album “American Gangster”, is excited about his directorial debut towards the end of the year. Elba said he is working hard in the preparation to make that transition and is passionate about getting the chance to develop his own creative ideas, […]

US troops to participate in military drill in Jordan

Washington, May 20 (IANS) US troops will take part in a multinational military exercise in Jordan next week in a bid to demonstrate the US commitment to security and stability in the region, the Pentagon said Monday. About 6,000 US troops, along with those from more than 20 other nations, will hold the Eager Lion 14 […]

Obama authorises $50 mn aid to South Sudan

Washington, May 20 (IANS) US President Barack Obama Monday authorised up to 50 million dollars in fresh humanitarian aid to the conflict-ridden South Sudan. In a memo to Secretary of State John Kerry, the president said “it is important to the national interest” to provide the assistance to meet “unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs resulting […]

UN Women chief supports Nigerian girls’ education

United Nations, May 20 (IANS) UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka assured the Nigerians of UN support for girls’ education in the country during a recent visit, a UN spokesperson said Monday. The visit is aimed at showing solidarity with the abducted schoolgirls and their families, Xinhua reported. Mlambo-Ngcuka’s visit came at a time when the […]

Israeli negotiator defends her meeting with Abbas

Jerusalem, May 20 (IANS) Israeli chief negotiator Tzipi Livni has defended her meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in London last week amid criticisms accusing her of acting on her own behalf and not for the Jewish State. “To all those politicians up in arms, I want to be clear, we’ll continue doing what we believe […]