Israeli planes strike Gaza after rocket attacks

Israeli warplanes struck multiple militant targets in the Gaza Strip early on Thursday in response to Palestinian rocket fire, but nobody was injured according to Palestinian security sources.

They said that the raids hit three training bases of the Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, in Gaza City and a fourth in the southern city of Khan Yunis. An Israeli military statement spoke only of three hits in total and did not give their location or identify the targets.

"Yesterday, June 3 2015, two rockets were launched at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip," it said, adding that they fell on open ground near the southern city of Ashkelon and the town of Netivot. "No injuries were reported."

Propaganda machine in overdrive for China shipwreck

All hands on deck: China's propaganda machine has cranked into top gear after a ship disaster, extolling the official response while dousing any public criticism and tightly controlling foreign media.

Thousands of police, soldiers and rescue workers were dispatched to the banks of the Yangtze, where the "Eastern Star" capsized on Monday evening with more than 450 people on board. But with only 14 survivors found, there is little hope for the rest.

Premier Li Keqiang has been the omnipresent face of the rescue operation since Tuesday morning.

"The sleeves-rolled-up, megaphone-in-hand image of the premier directing rescue efforts at the scene has become a recurring feature of China's domestic media coverage of disasters," said Nicholas Dynon, an expert in Chinese media at Macquarie University in Sydney.

Tony Blair takes new role in fighting anti-Semitism

Britain's former prime minister, Tony Blair, is taking a new role in combating anti-Semitism in Europe, days after stepping down as the international community's Mideast envoy.

Blair revealed on Thursday he will chair the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation, a group which champions legislation and dialogue on tolerance.

5 Ukrainian servicemen killed in fighting with eastern separatists

Five Ukrainian servicemen were killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, mostly near the government-held town of Maryinka where pro-Russian rebels were trying to make a significant advance, a presidential aide said on Thursday.

Thirty-nine other Ukrainians were wounded, the aide, Yuri Biryukov, said on his Facebook page.

Ukraine's defence ministry said on Wednesday that the separatists, using tanks and artillery, had tried to take government positions near Maryinka, to the east of the rebel-held city of Donetsk, in violation of a ceasefire declared in February.

Dutch lawmaker wants to show Mohammed cartoons on TV

Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has vowed to show cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed on television during time reserved for political parties, after parliament turned down such an exhibition. Wilders said he would make the broadcast to defend freedom of speech after two militants were shot dead attacking a Mohammed cartoon contest in Garland, Texas last month.

"The only way to show jihadis that we will never bow for terror and violence is to do exactly that which they try to prevent us to do," Wilders said in a statement.

Disaster in Ghana as flood overtakes Accra + 78 killed at fuel station (graphic photos)

No fewer than 78 persons were killed after a gas station they ran to for shelter during heavy downpour went up in flames in Acrra, Ghana yesterday June 3rd. According to Ghana's Fire Service spokesperson, Billy Anagate, the fire started at the Neoplan Bus station at about 5.00pm and then quickly spread to the Goil gas station, causing an explosion which killed all the people taking refuge there. Bodies of the victims are still being evacuated from the scene of the incident.

Flood that resulted from the heavy downpour submerged some buildings and vehicles causing people to take refuge in the gas station. Most buildings that had caught fire from the explosion burned away into the night as 'floodwater around the site hindered recovery attempts. Some of the photos are very graphic. Please be warned. *Extremely graphic and heartbreaking* If you have the heart, continue...

Senate approves life imprisonment for rape, 10 years for incest and Child Pornography

The Senate yesterday passed the Sexual Offences Bill which approves life imprisonment for gang rape, 10 years for incest, another 10 years imprisonment for child pornography and a fine of N2 million as well as 14 years jail term for any other form of sexual offences committed in Nigeria.

The sponsor of the bill and Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Chris Anyanwu, said the bill, which had been in the senate since 2013, amongst other things 'seeks to make a comprehensive legislation on sexual offences by criminalizing certain acts such as sexual tourism, child pornography and cultural and religious sexual offences in our criminal jurisprudence".