Diplomats fear economic chaos as new Russian-made banknotes are distributed in Libya

Diplomats fear economic chaos as new Russian-made banknotes are distributed in Libya

by WorldTribune Staff, June 2, 2016 The distribution of new Russian-made banknotes in Libya is raising alarms among diplomats who fear it will lead to economic crisis in a country already wracked by chaos. The U.S. said the banknotes “would be counterfeit and could undermine confidence in Libya’s currency, as well as the Central Bank […]

U.S. and British special forces using Bollywood music to wear down ISIL

U.S. and British special forces using Bollywood music to wear down ISIL

by WorldTribune Staff, June 2, 2016 Word has it that Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) doesn’t like Bollywood music – hates it, in fact. After having been tipped off to that fact, American and British special forces in Libya have been blasting Bollywood tunes to get under the skin of the jihadists and […]

Leader of Western Sahara independence movement dies

Leader of Western Sahara independence movement dies

by WorldTribune Staff, June 1, 2016 The leader of the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara from Morocco, has died, Algeria’s APS news agency reported. Mohamed Abdelaziz, 69, died on May 31 “after a long illness,” the report said. Abdelaziz had been leader of the Algeria-backed Polisario Front since 1976. “This is a […]

Legislation would force Obama to disclose $1.7 billion ‘ransom payment’ to Iran

Legislation would force Obama to disclose $1.7 billion ‘ransom payment’ to Iran

by WorldTribune Staff, June 1, 2016 A bill filed by a pair of Republican lawamkers seeks to force the Obama administration to disclose if a $1.7 billion payment to Iran was “ransom” for the release of 10 U.S. sailors who were captured by the Iranian military. Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas and Sen. John […]

Arab media report new Jordan PM is pro-Israel

Arab media report new Jordan PM is pro-Israel

by WorldTribune Staff, May 31, 2016 The newly-appointed prime minister of Jordan has “strong Israeli ties”, according to reports in Arab media. Prime Minister Hani Mulki, who was appointed by King Abdullah II on May 29 after the king dissolved parliament, is being described as “pro-Israel”. Husam Abdallat, a former senior government aide at the […]

Egypt closes hospital where girl died after procedure now banned by government

Egypt closes hospital where girl died after procedure now banned by government

by WorldTribune Staff, May 31, 2016 Egyptian authorities closed a hospital and prosecutors are investigating after a 17-year-old girl died during an outlawed female circumcision operation. Mayar Mohamed Mousa, 17, died while under full anesthesia in El Canal hospital in Suez province on May 29, said Lotfi Abdel-Samee, the health ministry undersecretary in the province. […]

Off the record in Beijing: China’s growth rate is non-negotiable

Off the record in Beijing: China’s growth rate is non-negotiable

Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, EastAsiaIntel.com Who is in charge of China’s macro-level financial and economic policy? Most observers will say President Xi Jinping, who is head of the two highest-level decision-making bodies: the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economics (CLGFE) and the newly set up Central Leading Group on Comprehensively Deepening Reforms […]

UN calls on Hamas to stop planned public executions

UN calls on Hamas to stop planned public executions

by WorldTribune Staff, May 26, 2016 The UN’s Middle East envoy has publicly urged Hamas to halt the public executions of 13 men, most convicted of murder connected to robberies. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council that public executions are prohibited under international human rights law. “I urge Hamas not to carry out […]

Religious freedom group calls for UN action on ISIL genocide of Christians

Religious freedom group calls for UN action on ISIL genocide of Christians

by WorldTribune Staff, May 26, 2016 A religious freedom group is calling on the United Nations to “mobilize the international community” to take action to protect Christians against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) atrocities. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), in a letter to the UN, detailed ISIL’s executions of Christians […]