Global NEWS
Posted on August 12, 2014
Ebola-infected Spanish priest dies in hospital
The first European infected by a strain of Ebola, Spanish priest Miguel Pajares, has died in hospital, Reuters reported, citing a spokeswoman for Madrid health authorities. Pajares, 75, was airlifted from Liberia on August 7 after contracting the disease. The priest worked for a non-governmental organization in the African country. Co-worker Juliana Bohi, a nun who was also repatriated, has tested negative for the disease.
Israel says no progress in talks on Gaza conflict
Talks to end a month-long war between Israel and Islamist militants in Gaza have made no progress so far, Reuters quoted an Israeli official as saying on Tuesday. The negotiators were expected to reconvene later in the day in Cairo, as Hamas and its allies are seeking an end to an Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip. “The gaps between the sides are big and there is no progress in the negotiations,” the official said. Hamas has not commented on talks. A 72-hour ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave is being held for a second day.
Russian investigators open probe into journalist kidnapping in E. Ukraine
The Russian Investigative Committee (SKR) has launched a criminal case into the alleged kidnapping of Russian photographer Andrey Stenin, who has been missing for more than a week after reportedly being detained in eastern Ukraine. Stenin is a war photo-correspondent and employee of major news agency Rossiya Segodnya (RIA Novosti). Russian investigators also asked their Ukrainian colleagues for help, said SKR spokesman Vladimir Markin. He added that investigators are checking a theory of Ukrainian National Guard fighters or other law enforcement agencies’ involvement in the kidnapping. Stenin has been in Ukraine since May 13, and there has been no information from him since August 5.
US’s Kerry condemns Syria severed head image
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday condemned a photograph of a Sydney-born seven-year-old boy clutching the severed head of a Syrian soldier. Kerry described the image as “one of the most disturbing, stomach-turning, grotesque photographs ever displayed.” The image was taken in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa and posted on Twitter by the boy’s convicted terrorist father, Khaled Sharrouf, an Islamic State fighter, the Australian newspaper said.
More than 30,000 suffered from heat wave in Japan
The number of people suffering from summer heat has exceeded 30,000 people, NHK television reported. During the last week, eight people died, and more than 4,000 were hospitalized. This is 20 percent fewer than the previous week, ITAR-TASS said. At the weekend, temperatures reduced to 27-28 degrees Celsius, affected by Typhoon Halong.
US, Australia to take issue of Syria foreign jihadist fighters to UN
The US and Australia agreed Tuesday to take the issue of foreign jihadist fighters in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere to the UN, AFP reported. “We intend to… put it on the agenda in a way that will elicit support from the source countries as well as those countries of concern,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said. US and Australian officials earlier discussed the issue, spurred by images of a Sydney-raised boy holding the severed head of soldier in Syria.
NATO soldier, 3 police killed in Afghanistan attacks
Three policemen were killed by a roadside bombing in the southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said. Their patrol vehicle struck a bomb planted along the road in the district of Bahrami Shahid in southern Gazni province, according to the province’s deputy police chief, Asadullha Ensafi. A fourth policeman was wounded in the attack. Separately, NATO said one of its service members was killed in an attack in the east, AP reported.
N. Ireland launches coastguard rescue operation as 80 boats capsize in storm
Northern Ireland’s coastguard launched a rescue operation on Monday after around 80 small sailing boats capsized during a storm, Reuters said. Ninety-seven people ended up in Strangford Lough in strong winds during a world championship race for GP14 class dinghies, a spokeswoman for the coastguard said, adding that at least 10 people received injuries. Sixty-seven people were rescued.
Typhoon Halong kills 10 in Japan
At least 10 people died and dozens were injured as Typhoon Halong hurtled across the Japanese archipelago at the weekend, AFP reported. After sweeping across Japan’s largest and most populous island of Honshu, the storm moved over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and lurched towards Russia’s far eastern coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the typhoon at 9:00am on Monday as it was off the Russian coastline. The National Police Agency confirmed the storm and heavy rain last week killed at least two people and left two others missing.
Seoul proposes new talks with N. Korea on family reunions
South Korea on Monday proposed a fresh round of high-level talks with the North to discuss another possible reunion for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. The first round held in February had marked the highest-level official contact between the two Koreas for seven years. It also led to a family reunion at a North Korean mountain resort on February 20-25. The South’s Unification Ministry proposed a meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjom on August 19, AFP said. Millions of people were separated during the 1950-53 conflict that sealed the division between the two Koreas.
Israel, Palestinians begin talks over Gaza conflict
Israel and the Palestinians began talks in Cairo on Monday to try and end the conflict in Gaza, Reuters reported. Lifting the blockade on the coastal enclave, will also be discussed, Egypt’s state news agency MENA said. The indirect talks are being mediated by Egypt. They commenced a day after the two sides agreed to begin a new 72-hour truce.
(External Affairs Minister at 4th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar)
(Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar)
