Africa
M23 rebels dispel requests to withdraw from key city
The M23 rebels in the DR Congo have refused to leave the city of Goma, saying they will “stay […] waiting for negotiations”. The request to leave the territory came from regional leaders after the rebels continued to gain ground, saying they won’t stop until President Joseph Kabila enters into talks. A spokesperson for the rebel group said, “[The government] are going to attack us and we’re going to defend ourselves and keep on advancing.” The rebel group began assaults on the region earlier this year. The situation has been called a refugee crisis with a subsequent 500,000 people displaced due to the fighting. The fighting continues.
Crimes against Humanity: Arrest warrant for Gbagbo’s wife
Simone Gbagbo, the wife of former Ivory Coast President, has been charged with crimes against humanity. Mrs Gbagbo, a politician in her own right, had the warrant issued by The International Criminal Court today. The said crimes are to have taken place in the wake of the 2010 Presidential elections, where 3,000 people died. The violence was instigated by the ex-President, Laurent Gbagbo’s, refusal to step down after loosing the election. Earlier this month, he was called to trial in The Hague after passing a medical assessment.
Middle East and North Africa
Syria: Rebels expand their fight on the eastern flank
Rebel fighters in Syria have continued their fight against the al-Assad regime by capturing a military base in the city of Mayadeen. This means they now formally run large areas of the eastern region of the country, including the Iraq border. They are however yet to take hold of a large city in the region. The London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that 40, 000 people have been killed since the uprising which began two years in March. The United Nations estimates that 20, 000 people have died in the conflict.
Gaza: Life continues as ceasefire holds
The Egyptian brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to have survived its first night. Hamas rockets interrupted the ceasefire early on, by firing three rockets from Gaza. Two were taken down by Israel’s defence mechanisms, with no one injured. Israel did not retaliate and the truce survived the night. Today, life resumed, with the exception of schools remaining closed along the Gaza strip.
Asia
India’s parliament is stalling
The Indian parliament has got off to a slow start; with both houses adjourning before any business commenced on their first day seating. The disruptions are due to opposition parties, who are calling new economic reforms into question. In October India’s government approved measures to draft in foreign investment into 49% of the retail and pension sector. In other words, the market is now open to multi-national retailers such as Tesco and Walmart. The government says the reforms come as part of a stimulus package aimed to pick up a stagnating economy. The opposition demanded a vote of no confidence which has been rejected by the speaker.
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