Saturday, September 28, 2013

Updated: World News Roundup: China's child trafficking crackdown and other stories


China police rescue 92 abducted children

Police in China have rescued 92 abducted children following a series of raids against an organised kidnapping gang operating across the country, state media reported Saturday. Keep reading

China welcomes UN Syria chemical arms resolution

China welcomed a United Nations resolution aimed at destroying Syria's chemical arms, and urged the major powers to ensure their decisions "can stand the test of history", state media reported Saturday. Keep reading

New: Former Muslim Brotherhood Leader Claims Political Party Provides Cover, Support to Extremists

Khaled El-Zaafarani, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader, has revealed that the political party provides cover and support to extremist sympathysers, adding that they have no business in the country. Keep reading

New: Egypt: A country in confusion

"The king is dead, long live the king!" It must be difficult for those outside Egypt to put into logical perspective the developments of the last two-and-a-half years. Egypt's "Arab Spring" revolution was followed by political instability that led to another revolution on 30 June 2013. The results of these revolutions are a frightening state of instability that bodes ill for the future of Egypt. Keep reading

Egypt's Nour Party rejects move against religious parties

Egypt's second biggest Islamist party, Nour, on Friday rejected proposed changes to the constitution that would outlaw parties founded on religious grounds, and called the move a "sword drawn" against Islamists. Keep reading

Dozens still missing after boat sinks in Indonesia

Rescuers battled strong currents and high waves Saturday while searching for dozens of people missing and feared dead one day after a boat carrying asylum seekers sank off the coast of Indonesia's main island of Java, killing at least 21 people. Keep reading

Miss Philippines crowned Miss World amid Muslim anger

Miss Philippines was crowned Miss World 2013 in a glittering finale Saturday on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, amid tight security following weeks of hardline Muslim protests. Keep reading

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Security tight at Miss World final in Indonesia

Kenya vows to keep up war against Shebab in Somalia

Kenya's interior minister said Friday the country would not bow to Shebab demands to pull troops out of Somalia following a devastating mall attack in Nairobi by the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents. Keep reading

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Kenya vows no Somalia pullout after Shebab attack

Pressure mounts on government over Nairobi attack

Pressure mounted on the Kenyan authorities a week after the Nairobi mall carnage, amid questions over the fate of the missing and accusations Saturday that top brass failed to heed security warnings. Keep reading

Kenyan anti-tank rocket ended Westgate siege: soldiers

The final stand of Islamist fighters who laid siege to Kenya's Westgate mall ended when Kenyan soldiers fired an anti-tank shell that sparked a fierce fire, soldiers who fought in the battle told AFP. Keep reading

Official: Car used by Kenya mall attackers found

Investigators have recovered a vehicle believed to have been used by the terrorists who led the attack at a Nairobi mall that killed at least 67 people, a top Kenyan government official said Friday. Keep reading

New: Trapped missionaries tell Kenya mall ordeal

IMB missionaries Chris and Jamie Suel, along with their five children, had walked into the mall shortly before the terrorists, who burst in and began firing automatic weapons and throwing hand grenades. When the Suels arrived, they decided to go their separate ways -- Chris with one child and Jamie with four. It was only after five harrowing hours that they were reunited.

For three hours Jamie and the four children hid behind stacks of packaged flour in a storage area. Keep reading

From children's cooking contest to Nairobi massacre

The second round of the children's cooking contest she was hosting had just started, the sun was out and she had just felt her baby kicking when she heard what sounded like firecrackers.

Just seconds before the Nairobi mall attackers started their rampage, Ruhila Adatia-Sood was in the prime of her life and enjoying a typical family weekend three months before the arrival of a baby. Keep reading

Kenyan Hero's Harrowing Tale of Rescues in Mall Massacre

In one of the most memorable images to emerge from inside the Nairobi mall attacked last weekend by Islamic extremists, a 4-year-old girl is seen running toward a man who is reaching out a hand to pull her to safety.

The man was Abdul Haji, a 39-year-old real estate executive who rushed to the mall as the attack got underway. He managed to evacuate scores of people to safety, including that young American girl, Portia Walker, and is being hailed in Kenya as a hero. Keep reading

US mom, 5 kids survive Kenya mall attack

A blast. Gunfire. American Katherine Walton grabbed her three young daughters and dove to the mall's tiled floor. Later, a terrorist gunman — skinny, small, with a huge gun — looked into Walton's eyes but didn't shoot. She and the girls, as Walton put it, were hiding in plain view, yet they weren't seen. Keep reading

Near stricken Kenya mall, humanity and unity shine

The volunteers kept bringing food, boxes upon boxes of cookies and bottled water. After shoppers and workers were mowed down by al-Qaida-linked militants at a mall in Kenya's capital, a Hindu religious center 600 meters (yards) away became a place where responding soldiers, police and others could get tea, food and rest. Keep reading

Nigeria Islamists release video of French hostage

Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru released a video of a French national kidnapped in December, the SITE jihadi tracking website said. Keep reading

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French hostage of Nigerian Islamists pleads for help in video -SITE

New major earthquake rocks southwest Pakistan

A major earthquake rocked Pakistan's southwest Saturday, sending people running into the street in panic just days after another quake in the same region killed 359 people, officials said. Keep reading

Quake-hit Pakistani villages still wait for aid

Vital relief aid destined for a remote, earthquake stricken region in Pakistan reached desperate villagers only slowly on Friday, as insurgents attacked troops distributing it for a third day. Keep reading

Philippines says military campaign in key city over

A military campaign against Muslim gunmen opposed to peace talks ended Saturday with close to 500 rebels killed or captured and nearly 200 hostages freed in a key southern city, the army said. Keep reading

Fresh protests erupt in Sudan after Friday prayers

Sudanese flooded the streets after Friday prayers in a fifth day of protests against fuel price hikes that have seen dozens killed, hundreds arrested and calls for the government's ouster. Keep reading

Sudanese police fire teargas as crowd demands Bashir resign

Police fired teargas on Friday to disperse thousands of Sudanese demanding that President Omar Hassan al-Bashir step down, a day after clashes in which rights groups accused security forces of shooting dead at least 50 people. Keep reading

Chemical weapons watchdog to begin Syria inspections next week

Experts from the world's chemical weapons watchdog will begin inspecting Syria's stockpile of toxic munitions by Tuesday, according to an agreement passed in The Hague on Friday. Keep reading

U.N. Security Council demands elimination of Syria chemical arms

The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday that demands the eradication of Syria's chemical weapons but does not threaten automatic punitive action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government if it does not comply. Keep reading

Kerry warns Syria, comply or face 'consequences'

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Friday that Syria would face punishment if it does not comply with a UN Security Council resolution on its chemical weapons. Keep reading

UN Syria resolution 'fails to ensure justice': HRW

Human Rights Watch on Saturday criticised a hard-won UN Security Council resolution ordering the destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal for failing to deliver justice for the conflict's victims. Keep reading

Syria rebels struggle to rally practical backing on U.N. stage

International opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reaffirmed support for the country's opposition coalition at the U.N. General Assembly this week, but with rebel forces splitting and delivery of weapons slow, the coalition looks increasingly marginalized. Keep reading

More rebel groups reject Syrian opposition coalition - statement

More than 30 rebel factions have broken with the Western-backed Syrian opposition organization and its military wing, according to a video statement posted on the Internet. Keep reading

Rebels seize military post on Syria's southern border

Rebel fighters including foreign Islamists took control of a military post on Syria's southern border with Jordan on Saturday after four days of heavy fighting with President Bashar al-Assad's forces, activists said. Keep reading

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Syrian rebels capture post near Jordan border

Tunisa's ruling Islamists to step down after talks

Tunisia's ruling Islamist party has agreed to step down following negotiations with opposition parties that begin next week. Keep reading

UAE recalls Tunisia envoy amid Egypt row

The United Arab Emirates has recalled its ambassador from Tunisia to protest calls by the Tunisian president for the liberation of Egypt's deposed head of state, reports said Saturday. Keep reading

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