Sunday, January 21, 2018

'We will tear them down'

Turkey launches attack on US-backed Kurds in northern Syria




Yet another front has opened up in Syria putting NATO allies the US and Turkey in direct confrontation. After a week of warnings about the offensive, President Erdogan has launched an attack on the Kurds in the city of Afrin with army, tanks, airstrikes and Syria rebel fighters loyal to them. The US support the Kurds and have troops embedded with them in other areas. Relations are tense to say the least.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Red panda rescue

Endangered red pandas seized in Laos in largest rescue recorded




Six endangered and very cute red pandas were seized from smugglers trying to cross from China to Laos. They were discovered during a random vehicle search. Unfortunately, three died 😞  but the other three are doing well and being cared for by Free the Bears in Laos.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

'Playing with fire'

Turkey and Russia oppose US-led border security force in Syria



The US have begun training a border force of 30,000 Syrians - mostly Kurds - to protect the borders of rebel held territory in predominately Kurdish areas of northern Syria. The problem is the main border they will be stationed along is the Turkish border and Turkey and the Kurds are kind of enemies. So now they have warned their ally the US to back off saying they are "playing with fire" by training up "terrorists" along their borders and threatened to wipe out the Kurds in Syria. 
Oh and Russia are kind of upset too. You can read why here if you're interested.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Snowstorm blankets Sahara desert in white


A freak snowstorm blanketed the Sahara desert in white in Algeria on Sunday creating these beautiful scenes. Karim Bouchetata sent me these awesome photos.


Click here is you want to see the full story and pictures on ABC.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Trump tweets

My day was filled with yet more reports on antagonising tweets from Donald Trump, who in just three days of 2018 has managed to p off Palestine, Pakistan, Iran, the Democrats and journalists (did I miss anyone?) all in just 280 characters. But he still had time to argue back and forth with Kim Jong Un about whose nuclear button is the "biggest". No seriously!
Yes these are two of the most powerful men in the world. It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry.
Can't wait for the most dishonest and corrupt media awards on Monday though.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Iraq revenge killings

HRW accuses Yazidi fighters of revenge killings of Arab men, women and children



A new report claims 70 Arab men, women and children have been killed by Yazidi armed forces in northern Iraq in a spate of revenge killings. But Yazidi groups dispute the claims and say they are yet to see any justice for the thousands killed by Islamic State fighters and more than 6,000 women forced into sexual slavery.