Current World Issues

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...