Africa Features International

‘Revolutionary’ Call for EU to Equip African Armies

The EU’s defense ministers are to discuss next week the call for the Union to consider equipping African armies. This highly controversial idea that was put forward by a group of countries led by Germany is likely to trigger a sharp debate within and between the EU’s institutions. Proponents of the idea argue that the […]

Asia Features International

EU Gives Philippines € 10 Mln Aid

The European Union has announced € 10 million additional EU assistance for the rehabilitation of Typhoon Haiyan-affected areas wherein survivors plea for help and assistance. The death toll continues to rise and is expected to exceed appalling 10,000 victims of Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded, that hit the Philippines on 7 […]

Asia Features International

Iran: Washington and Congress divided over “war”

The divergences in Iran’s nuclear program have reached new levels as parties worried about it speak of “war”. Tehran continues its uranium enrichment program much to the dislike of some regional and western countries. The nuclear program is regarded as a national right and pride in Iran. In the US, members of both houses of […]

Africa Features International

Paris Honors African Soldiers Supporting France during WWI

France has launched the commemorations for next year’s 100-year anniversary of the start of World War I. In his solemn speech, French President François Hollande said that he wanted the program of commemorative events to unfold in a spirit of national unity, as well as friendship between all the countries involved in the conflict that […]

Africa Headlines International Morocco

Morocco Renews Determination to Foster Cooperation with Africa

Morocco has renewed determination to foster cooperation and partnership with African countries and to help fulfill the aspirations of African peoples to development and stability. “Out of faithfulness to its African belonging, Morocco has sought since independence to promote a fruitful cooperation and active solidarity with those (African) countries, and to contribute to the fulfilment […]

Asia Features International

Rounding Up Migrants: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Abusive’ Labor System Condemned

Saudi Arabia rounded up thousands of newcomer workers following the expiration of an amnesty introducing new employment rules. It is estimated that about a million of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Nepalese, and Yemenis have left the country in the last three months in contrast to four millions of other workers who managed to get a […]

Africa Features International

Africa: Security Challenges Require Global, Integrated Approach

The security challenges posed to parts of the Atlantic Basin, particularly in Africa, by extremist ideology, weak institutions, economic uncertainty, and weak rule of law require a global and integrated approach that promotes socio-economic development. This is one of the conclusions reached by the Atlantic Dialogues 2013, an annual global issue forum that was held […]

Asia Features International

Palestine and Israel return to negotiations

The secret negotiations from Palestine and Israel have resumed despite the dissatisfaction of the Palestinian delegation. Although both parties have renewed their desire to solve their differences, the demarcation of the border between them has been a major setback. Palestinian’s claim that Israel’s response has been slow during talks and the absence of the U.S […]

Africa Features International

France’s Persistent Role in Africa: The Other ‘Indispensable Nation’?

While recently attending a conference in Benin, the crisis in Mali still loomed large. The conflict in Mali had threatened to unravel the entire security situation in the Sahel and Western African nations spent much of the last year bickering whether a military intervention to save Bamako from approaching Islamist militias was feasible. In the […]

Asia Features International

UN Security Council reacts to Syria’s chemical attack

Claims that government forces have used chemical weapons have attracted the United Nations Security Council’s attention. The council wants more information on the reports but Russia has refuted such allegations. More than 1,300 people have been killed by the attack. Three permanent members of the Security Council namely France, Britain and the United States together […]