Current World Issues

Iran to Trump: Stay in nuclear deal or 'face severe consequences' President Rouhani warns that White House failure to uphold Iran nuclear deal would prompt firm reaction from Tehran. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on US President Donald Trump to uphold the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, or "face severe consequences". In a televised speech, Rouhani said the "Iranian government will react firmly" if the White House fails to "live up to their commitments" under the agreement. The warning comes weeks in advance of a May 12 deadline for Trump to renew the deal. The US president has previously said he would scrap the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which he has called the "worst deal in history", unless "a better option" is presented to him. International leaders have called on Trump to uphold the agreement. On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said there was no "Plan B...

Syria war: Eastern Ghouta sees 'deadliest day' as battle rages 'Chlorine attack' suffocates 30 people, White Helmets say, as government forces resume offensive in rebel-held enclave. A humanitarian aid convoy has not been able to unload supplies to residents trapped inside Syria's Eastern Ghouta, as government warplanes resumed bombarding the enclave, killing at least 70 people, according to a monitor. Described as the "bloodiest" day since a Russian-sponsored truce failed to stop the onslaught and since a UN Security Council resolution was unsuccessful at implementing a 30-day ceasefire, Syrian government forces resumed the shelling of the Damascus suburb for the 16th consecutive day on Tuesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the bombardment of the enclave has killed more than 70 civilians since Monday evening. Residents of Eastern Ghouta, which lies to the east of Damascus, have previously voiced their scepticism of a Russian-pro...

Relying on aid creates 'dependency syndrome' While supportive of the aid response, South Sudan's government worries that it is crippling the nation. One year after South Sudan briefly declared a famine, more than half of the people in the world's youngest nation face extreme hunger amid civil war and famine that could return, a new report says. More than six million people, up by about 40 percent from a year ago, are at threat without aid, according to the report released Monday by the United Nations and South Sudan's government. It says 150,000 people in 11 counties in Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity and Western Bahr el Ghazal states could slip into famine this year. "These are unprecedented levels of food insecurity," Ross Smith, senior programme officer for the UN's World Food Programme, told The Associated Press. He said a political solution in South Sudan is needed so that its people can rebuild their lives. Five years of fighting have devas...

Trump 'supportive' of improved gun background checks US President Donald Trump is "supportive" of efforts to improve background checks on gun ownership, the White House says. He spoke with Republican Senator John Cornyn about a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve the checks in place before someone can buy a gun. It comes after authorities said the suspect in last week's Florida school shooting bought his gun legally. Students from the school have demanded action on gun control. "While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Monday. What checks are currently in place? Currently, federal licensed dealers must run checks on anyone trying to purchase a gun. A potential buyer presents identification and fills in a form with personal information and criminal history. That information is ...

Maldives state of emergency declared by government amid political crisis The Maldives government has declared a state of emergency for 15 days amid a political crisis in the island nation. The state of emergency gives security officials extra powers to arrest suspects, reports say. The government has already suspended parliament and ordered the army to resist any moves by the Supreme Court to impeach President Abdulla Yameen. A few hours after the emergency was declared, security forces entered the Supreme Court, a court spokesman said. There were judges inside the court but the spokesman said he was unable to contact them. The court had ordered the reinstatement of 12 MPs, which would see the opposition majority restored. In a landmark decision, it also ruled the trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed unconstitutional. Following the Supreme Court's decision on Friday, the government sacked the police commissioner who had pledged to enforce the court ruling. It also ordered th...

Syrian civilians 'killed in Turkey's Afrin operation' At least 51 Syrian civilians have been reported killed since the Afrin operation began on January 20  At least eight civilians have been reported killed following Turkish air strikes near the Syrian enclave of Afrin, as Turkish-backed fighters accused the armed Kurdish group YPG of forcibly recruiting minors to fight. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fatalities, including five children from one family, were from the village of Kobla just outside of Afrin, which had been previously hit by Turkish bombardments. The latest civilian casualties bring to 51 the number of people killed in and around Afrin since the operation against the YPG began on January 20, the Syrian Observatory said. As of Sunday, at least five Turkish soldiers had also been reported killed in the operation, according to the Turkish daily Hurriyet. Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker, reporting from the Turkey-Syria Border on Mond...