International news in brief

New racially diverse Emojis arrive

The Apple iOS 8.3 update is now available, and it comes with a new Emoji keyboard and additional supported languages for Siri and the rest of the platform. The 300 new options on the Emoji keyboard allow the user to change skin tone, genders, hats, and more. The update includes six different skin tone or skin color, 18 new family structures, and 32 new flags. Users can now scroll through a comprehensive list instead of tapping new categories to switch between types of Emojis (people, nature, food, transportation, etc). Apple also shows more Emojis on screen than before.

The feature lets users hold down the button for even more options. There are 12 train Emojis, 9 kinds of books, 4 graphs, and three types of rice.

Source: The Guardian

Yemeni conflict escalates

Saudi Arabia continues to carry out airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi Arabia is the leading country behind airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Saudi Arabia accused Iran of providing military aid to the Houthi movement. Saudi Arabia extended its bombing campaign in order to stop the Houthi movement and its allies from dominating Yemen.

The Houthi continued their advance and have killed more than 500 people and wounded 1,700 in the past three weeks.

The insults and threats have raised fears of a Yemeni conflict that could further inflame the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Houthi-allied forces have taken control of government offices in Ataq, the capital of Shabwa Province.

Source: The New York Times

U.S., Cuban leaders unite at Summit

U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro were at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City on Friday.

Both presidents shared the stage symbolizing their countries, setting aside their mistrust and attempting to restore diplomatic relations.

The last time Obama and Castro met was at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in 2013.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee aide said that the State Department has now recommended that Cuba be taken off the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Source: NBC News