UN says al Qaeda behind Syria suicide bombs death toll from civil war reaches 10,000
May 18, 2012
UN leader Ban Ki-moon has said he believes al-Qaeda committed a major bomb attack in Damascus that left dozens dead, and that up to 10,000 people have now been killed in Syria. United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon Photo: EPA 10:30AM BST 18 May 2012 Ban said President Bashar al-Assad has still not implemented a peace plan agreed with UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. “Very alarmingly and surprisingly, a few days ago, there was a huge serious massive terrorist attack. I believe that there must be al-Qaeda behind it. This has created again very serious problems,” Ban said at a youth event at the UN headquarters. Suicide attackers detonated huge bombs in Damascus on May 10, killing at least 55…
US mulls ‘terrorist’ designation for Boko Haram
May 18, 2012
Zeenews Bureau Washington: The US State Department may designate Nigeria’s militant Islamist sect Boko Haram, as a “foreign terrorist organisation”, a news agency said on Friday. Citing a document, the agency said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco sent a letter to State…
China shadow looming, Taiwan’s Ma set for 2nd term
May 18, 2012
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s Ma Ying-jeou is set to begin his second presidential term caught between China’s desire to exert greater influence over his democratic island and Taiwanese determination to maintain their de facto independence. Ma is to be sworn in again Sunday. Since taking office in 2008, he has leveraged growing economic ties with Beijing to reduce tensions across the 160-kilometer (100-mile)- wide Taiwan Strait to their lowest level since the sides split amid civil war in 1949. Trade volumes have soared, commercial barriers have tumbled, and tourism and other exchanges have become commonplace. But that may not be enough for China. It says Taiwan is part of its territory, to…
The burqa reminder
May 18, 2012
Since a 2009 trip to Kabul, I have kept a sky-blue burqa in my office as a reminder of the responsibility we have to the women of Afghanistan. As world leaders gather in Chicago this weekend to discuss Afghanistan’s future, women must not just be a topic on the agenda — they must be a part of the conversation. Women must have a seat at the table; their concerns must be heard, and they must be part of the process of peace-building. More than a decade ago, the fall of…
The Queen’s lunch for monarchs attracts controversy
May 17, 2012
The King of Bahrain and Swaziland's King Mswati III are among controversial monarchs expected at a Windsor Castle lunch being hosted by the Queen later. Critics accuse Bahrain of human rights abuses and say King Mswati lives in luxury while his people starve. Campaigner Peter Tatchell criticised The Queen for inviting "royal tyrants to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee". The Foreign Office said it was having "a full and frank discussion on a range of issues" with Bahrain's government. Buckingham Palace said it will not comment on the lunch. It will be followed by an evening banquet, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Not all the monarchs will be…
