Aid ship docks in Yemen after being blocked by Saudis

Aid ship docks in Yemen after being blocked by Saudis

Special to WorldTribune.com A World Food Program (WFP) ship carrying humanitarian aid docked in Yemen on March 2 nearly a month after being diverted to Saudi Arabia. Saudi said it blocked the shipment on Feb. 11 because the vessel, the Mainport Cedar, was carrying communications equipment. The ship was carrying relief supplies to the port […]

Iranian official: Joining oil output freeze would be ‘illogical’

Iranian official: Joining oil output freeze would be ‘illogical’

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty A senior Iranian official is reported as saying it would be “illogical” for Tehran to join a proposed oil output freeze. Iranian newspaper Shargh quoted Iran’s OPEC envoy Mehdi Asali as saying Tehran would continue to increase oil production until it reaches presanction levels. The comments […]

Boutros-Ghali, former UN secretary general, dies at 93

Boutros-Ghali, former UN secretary general, dies at 93

Special to WorldTribune.com Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who led the United Nations as secretary general in the 1990s, died on Feb. 16 in an Egyptian hospital. He was 93. Current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Boutros-Ghali “a memorable leader who rendered invaluable services to world peace and international order.” A senior minister to Egyptian President Hosni […]

UN report: ISIL holding 3,500 Iraqis as slaves

UN report: ISIL holding 3,500 Iraqis as slaves

Special to WorldTribune.com Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has forced some 3,500 Iraqis into slavery, most of them minority Yazidi women and children, according to a UN report. Most of the Yazidis were forced into sexual slavery, the report, released on Jan. 19, said. The report said some 800 to 900 children were […]

‘Dangerous moment’ for America, Israel lobby warns

‘Dangerous moment’ for America, Israel lobby warns

Special to WorldTribune.com Implementation of the nuclear deal marks a “turning point for Iran’s strength as a terrorist state” and a “dangerous moment for America and our allies,” the American pro-Israel lobby AIPAC warned on Jan. 16. AIPAC surprised some Democratic Party observers when it broke with the Obama Administration last year over the Iran […]

State Dept. reports concrete poured into Arak nuclear reactor, mum on violations

State Dept. reports concrete poured into Arak nuclear reactor, mum on violations

Special to WorldTribune.com Iran has poured concrete into the core of its heavy water reactor at Arak, the U.S. State Department said on Jan. 14. The move is seen as critical to the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and the lifting of sanctions that will free up billions of dollars […]

UN Human Rights chair, Saudi Arabia, has already executed 50 in 2016

UN Human Rights chair, Saudi Arabia, has already executed 50 in 2016

Special to WorldTribune.com Saudi Arabia has carried out 50 executions in the first 10 days of 2016. Saudi Arabia is the chair of the UN Human Rights Council UNHRC. The 50th execution of the new year came on Jan. 10 when Jinat Farid from Ethiopia was executed for the murder of a Saudi woman, according […]

Iran expresses ‘regret’ over attacks on Saudi embassy

Iran expresses ‘regret’ over attacks on Saudi embassy

Special to WorldTribune.com Teheran’s UN envoy on Jan. 4 issues a statement of “regret” for the attacks on Saudi diplomatic facilities in Iran. Gholamali Khoshroo, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said Iran “will take necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.” Iranians protesting Saudi’s execution of outspoken […]

2016: Light vs darkness, time to solve Syria, opportunity in Latin America, rising China threat

2016: Light vs darkness, time to solve Syria, opportunity in Latin America, rising China threat

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler NEW YORK — It’s time to consult the crystal snow globe for a look at both the likely and unexpected events which will shape the New Year. Serious strife both in the Middle East, and Africa to a lesser extent, have expanded leading to a culture of conflict […]

End game: The former community organizer, the former KGB agent and Saddam’s missing WMD

End game: The former community organizer, the former KGB agent and Saddam’s missing WMD

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — We are witnessing an intense geopolitical chess game over Syria. The players: Barack Obama, President of the United States, former Senator, and Chicago community organizer versus Vladmir Putin, President of the Russian Federation and former Soviet KGB intelligence operative. Moscow has just made a move which appears to have […]