France not in favour of Ukraine joining NATO
In a possible accession to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand, French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that France was not in favour of Ukraine joining the NATO, even as he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew to Kiev with a possible peace plan. Hollande said that France and Germany would try everything to maintain peace between Russia and Ukraine. US Secretary of State John Kerry was also present in the Ukrainian capital, amid rumours that the US was planning to arm the country's military. Kerry, however, made no such announcement, focusing instead on peace efforts. Fighting between government forces and rebel separatists intensified in the last week, with the total casualties numbering over 5,000.
Jordan carries out airstrikes against Islamic State
Jordan on Thursday carried out airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a day after the country's monarch King Abdullah pledged to play a bigger role in the coalition fighting the militant group. The airstrikes were announced as the king paid his condolences to the family of the Jordanian pilot who was burned alive by the Islamic State. The government, however, did not disclose where or when the strikes had taken place. Earlier, Jordan had also executed two militants in retaliation to the pilot's killing, including a woman whose release had been demanded by IS.
Rocket attacks in Damascus kill 10
Rocket attacks by insurgents belonging to the Islam Army on Thursday killed 10 people in Damascus. The bombardment was the second one by the hardline Sunni extremist group in recent weeks, which had been formed by a merger of rebel factions fighting Syrian government forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the army responded with 40 airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta, where the Islam Army is thought to be based. Over 57 people were said to be killed in the strikes.
Wife of French attacker allegedly present in Islamic State video
French authorities on Thursday said that a woman visible in a new video by French-speaking fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant may be Hayat Boumeddiene, the wife of Amedy Coulibaly, who attacked a grocery store in Paris on January 9, killing four hostages. While Coulibaly was later killed by French police, Boumeddiene was believed to have escaped to Syria and joined the Islamic State. The video, titled "Blow up France 2", features the group's fighters calling for more attacks on soldiers and police officers in France.
Sri Lankan President to visit India
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to his make his first foreign visit to India beginning on February 15. Sirisena and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to rejuvenate bilateral ties between the two countries, which had been decidedly cool during the regime of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs said that matters including the economy as well as peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka would be discussed by the two leaders. Sirisena had earlier said that his government would pursue a neutral foreign policy.
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In a possible accession to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand, French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that France was not in favour of Ukraine joining the NATO, even as he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew to Kiev with a possible peace plan. Hollande said that France and Germany would try everything to maintain peace between Russia and Ukraine. US Secretary of State John Kerry was also present in the Ukrainian capital, amid rumours that the US was planning to arm the country's military. Kerry, however, made no such announcement, focusing instead on peace efforts. Fighting between government forces and rebel separatists intensified in the last week, with the total casualties numbering over 5,000.
Jordan carries out airstrikes against Islamic State
Jordan on Thursday carried out airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a day after the country's monarch King Abdullah pledged to play a bigger role in the coalition fighting the militant group. The airstrikes were announced as the king paid his condolences to the family of the Jordanian pilot who was burned alive by the Islamic State. The government, however, did not disclose where or when the strikes had taken place. Earlier, Jordan had also executed two militants in retaliation to the pilot's killing, including a woman whose release had been demanded by IS.
Rocket attacks in Damascus kill 10
Rocket attacks by insurgents belonging to the Islam Army on Thursday killed 10 people in Damascus. The bombardment was the second one by the hardline Sunni extremist group in recent weeks, which had been formed by a merger of rebel factions fighting Syrian government forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the army responded with 40 airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta, where the Islam Army is thought to be based. Over 57 people were said to be killed in the strikes.
Wife of French attacker allegedly present in Islamic State video
French authorities on Thursday said that a woman visible in a new video by French-speaking fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant may be Hayat Boumeddiene, the wife of Amedy Coulibaly, who attacked a grocery store in Paris on January 9, killing four hostages. While Coulibaly was later killed by French police, Boumeddiene was believed to have escaped to Syria and joined the Islamic State. The video, titled "Blow up France 2", features the group's fighters calling for more attacks on soldiers and police officers in France.
Sri Lankan President to visit India
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to his make his first foreign visit to India beginning on February 15. Sirisena and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to rejuvenate bilateral ties between the two countries, which had been decidedly cool during the regime of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs said that matters including the economy as well as peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka would be discussed by the two leaders. Sirisena had earlier said that his government would pursue a neutral foreign policy.
