Thousands flee Iraq's Anbar as Islamic State advances
Fighting between Islamic State militants and Iraqi government troops in Iraq's Anbar province has forced almost 180,000 people to flee the region over the past month. On Monday, the extremist group advanced further into the region, capturing an Iraqi military base. Gains by IS in the area have raised concerns among the US and its allies as Anbar is close to Baghdad and also houses Iraq's second-largest dam, Haditha. The Iraqi government has ruled out the possibility of foreign ground troops combating the IS despite requests by Anbar officials.
Turkish airforce strikes Kurdish militants
The Turkish military on Monday carried out airstrikes against fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in the country's southeast for the first time since the start of the peace process between the outlawed group and the Turkish government in 2012. According to media reports, the strikes came in retaliation for armed PKK offensives on several army posts near the border with Iraq. Kurdish groups have expressed frustration with the government over the slow pace of the peace process and the perceived government inaction against the Islamic State's actions in Kobane on the Syria-Turkey border.
British parliament recognises Palestinian statehood
Britain's House of Commons on Monday voted to recognise Palestine as a state, although less than half than the members participated. The motion, which passed with a 274-12 vote, sought to recognise Palestine alongside Israel in a bid to encourage negotiations for a two-state solution. British Prime Minister David Cameron abstained from the vote, which was proposed by the opposition Labour Party. The move, although symbolic, is not expected to change the UK's foreign policy.
Yemen's Houthis accept new PM
Yemen's president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi named the country's United Nations envoy Khaled Bahah as the new prime minister on Monday, a move that was welcomed by the Shia Houthi group. Bahah's appointment comes under a unity deal signed last month by the Houthis and other major political partiesm, which aims to build a more inclusive government with a significant representation for the minority Shia community. The Houthi rebels, who now control the capital Sanaa, had rejected the president's previous presidential nomination.
Spain's Catalonia calls off independence vote
Catalonian president Artur Mas on Tuesday cancelled the independence referendum for the Spanish region scheduled for November 9. Instead, Mas called for an unofficial poll on secession on the same day. Facing opposition from the central government, the vote had been suspended by Spain's constitution court last month until both arguments were heard. The northeastern region of Catalonia with a population of 7.5 million has been calling for a vote to break away from Spain for several years.
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Fighting between Islamic State militants and Iraqi government troops in Iraq's Anbar province has forced almost 180,000 people to flee the region over the past month. On Monday, the extremist group advanced further into the region, capturing an Iraqi military base. Gains by IS in the area have raised concerns among the US and its allies as Anbar is close to Baghdad and also houses Iraq's second-largest dam, Haditha. The Iraqi government has ruled out the possibility of foreign ground troops combating the IS despite requests by Anbar officials.
Turkish airforce strikes Kurdish militants
The Turkish military on Monday carried out airstrikes against fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in the country's southeast for the first time since the start of the peace process between the outlawed group and the Turkish government in 2012. According to media reports, the strikes came in retaliation for armed PKK offensives on several army posts near the border with Iraq. Kurdish groups have expressed frustration with the government over the slow pace of the peace process and the perceived government inaction against the Islamic State's actions in Kobane on the Syria-Turkey border.
British parliament recognises Palestinian statehood
Britain's House of Commons on Monday voted to recognise Palestine as a state, although less than half than the members participated. The motion, which passed with a 274-12 vote, sought to recognise Palestine alongside Israel in a bid to encourage negotiations for a two-state solution. British Prime Minister David Cameron abstained from the vote, which was proposed by the opposition Labour Party. The move, although symbolic, is not expected to change the UK's foreign policy.
Yemen's Houthis accept new PM
Yemen's president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi named the country's United Nations envoy Khaled Bahah as the new prime minister on Monday, a move that was welcomed by the Shia Houthi group. Bahah's appointment comes under a unity deal signed last month by the Houthis and other major political partiesm, which aims to build a more inclusive government with a significant representation for the minority Shia community. The Houthi rebels, who now control the capital Sanaa, had rejected the president's previous presidential nomination.
Spain's Catalonia calls off independence vote
Catalonian president Artur Mas on Tuesday cancelled the independence referendum for the Spanish region scheduled for November 9. Instead, Mas called for an unofficial poll on secession on the same day. Facing opposition from the central government, the vote had been suspended by Spain's constitution court last month until both arguments were heard. The northeastern region of Catalonia with a population of 7.5 million has been calling for a vote to break away from Spain for several years.
