World

Yesterday, Nigeria's military engaged in gun battles with Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, aimed at regaining two towns in northeastern Nigeria recently captured by the group. This comes as suspected members of Boko Haram attacked a village inside Cameroon. On Wednesday, Boko Haram attacked and occupied the town of Gwoza, with over 50 reported killed as they forced Nigerian forces out of the town, a stronghold in the fight against the militants. This followed the capture of Damboa in July, leaving much of Borno State under the control of th

Toads ended Maroochydore's chances of making the 2014 Sunshine Coast Rugby Union finals in Cotton Tree, Australia this afternoon. They defeated the reigning premiers 43 points to 12. A Maroochydore try at 32 minutes suggested a fight back from three tries down but Toads would pile on four tries to one from there. Maroochydore's finals chances ended at eleven minutes to five local time (0649 UTC) with their final try. To qualify for the finals, Maroochydore needed to win both of its games and have other results go its way. They play the seco

At 8 o'clock yesterday morning, local time, a 72 hour ceasefire between the Israeli military and the armed factions in the Gaza Strip began. The ceasefire was achieved due to the initiative and efforts of Egyptian mediators, who invited delegations from both sides to meet in Cairo and discuss the conditions for a long-term treaty. A few minutes before the ceasefire came into effect, several Israeli strikes were reported across the Gaza Strip, and a number of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. A Palestinian delegation reportedly includ

Researchers from Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, and the United States conducted lead concentration measurements of sixteen ice core samples, and found that industrial air pollution has persisted Antarctica since its arrival there in 1889 and remains significant in the current century. Their study was published in Scientific Reports on July 28, and covered in Nevada's Review journal this Saturday. Lead was chosen to trace the industrial pollution of atmosphere because of its low natural concentrations in ecosystems, as wel

A Royal Navy ship, HMS Enterprise, docked at Tripoli, Libya yesterday morning to help evacuate UK citizens from the country affected by increasing violence. This follows the advice of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for all UK citizens to leave the country by commercial means, and announcement the embassy in Tripoli would be suspending operations today. The UK Goverment said the move was prompted by the increasing fighting in Tripoli and throughout the country, which started in the wake of the death of former Libyan leader Colonel

University have denied Toads the opportunity to take a spot in the 2014 Sunshine Coast Rugby Union major semi final, defeating them 33 points to 17 at Wombye, Australia this afternoon. Toads took the lead at 14 minutes through a penalty goal, extending it to 10 points with a converted try at half an hour. University hit back with their own converted try three minutes later despite being a man down. 10–7 to Toads at half time. Toads opened the scoring in the second half at three minutes with a converted try. University looked like they hit bac

International pressure to end hostilities between Palestinian armed forces and the Israeli military in Gaza is mounting. The conflict is intensifying after two weeks of fighting and several days of ground clashes. Despite Israeli ground maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, Hamas is maintaining rocket fire towards Israel and simultaneously battling the Israeli forces on the ground. Furthermore, Hamas is continuing its attempts to execute effective attacks against Israel, sending operatives through a tunnel into Israel on Sunday. Ten operatives were

On Sunday, in the deadliest day of fighting for the Israeli military in several years, thirteen Israeli soldiers were reported killed in the Gaza Strip. Over 500 deaths of Palestinians have been reported in the Gaza Strip in the now-fourteen days of Israel's offensive against Hamas. Over 67 deaths of Palestinians on Sunday, by one report well over 100 — both civilians and fighters combined — occurred in one area, the Gaza City suburb of Shujai'iya, following heavy fighting and shelling by Israeli forces. Meanwhile, thirteen Israeli soldiers

University has defeated Caloundra yesterday in their round 11 Sunshine Coast Rugby Union match at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Sippy Downs, Australia. Caloundra went 3–0 up at the five minute mark after being awarded a penalty due to University playing the ball in the ruck. University had a chance to even up the scores five minutes later but the ball sailed wide. The hosts went two points in front at twenty seven minutes scoring a try off the back of a rolling maul. 5–3 University. Caloundra retook the lead five minutes later throu

In leaflets dropped by Israel this morning in northern Gaza Strip, civilians were told to leave "for their own safety" by 12:00 today, local time (0900 UTC). The leaflets also said the planned Israeli military operation in the area would be brief. As part of the attacks in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military reported commando soldiers have destroyed a launching site in the northern part of the Strip early today. An Israeli Military spokesperson said four soldiers were slightly injured in the operation. This is the first ground operation th

Palestinian officials on Sunday said Egypt was opening the gates of the Rafah border crossing for a limited time and limited number of pilgrims from the Gaza Strip. This, in order to allow them to perform pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This action coincides with the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Crossing the border into Egypt through Rafah crossing is the main route for Muslims in Gaza to fulfill the Islamic ritual, and officials said 800 of them were supposed to cross the border on Sunday. About 15,000 other Palestini

Spain's men's national goalball team arrived in Espoo, Finland Friday for the start of the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships. The team comes into the tournament with the goal of securing a medal, which would qualify them for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. The team missed the 2012 Summer Paralympics. Head coach Francisco Monreal said, "" Coming into the competition, the team was ranked eleventh in the world based on the IBSA Unofficial rankings published late last month, down one spot from the April rankings. The team is