WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

  Three United Nations (UN) experts called for a full and independent investigation into the killing of three Lebanese journalists by Israel last week, which they described as ‘another attack on press freedom by Israeli forces.’ On March 28, Israeli forces killed Al Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni, her brother and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, and Al Manar TV reporter Ali Shoeib as they were…

Russia and US 'not as sharply different' on Syria says Medvedev

Speaking to The Times during the London 2012 Olympics, Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, insisted that the differences between Russia and the US were not as vast as people considered them to be.

Medvedev said,

Russia backtracks on naval base plans

Russia has denied an earlier statement from a Navy chief that it was looking to establish naval bases abroad, setting up what would be the countries first foreign bases since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Vice-admiral Viktor Chirkov was earlier reported to have told the RIA Novosti state news agency that Russia was in talks with  Cuba, Vietnam and the Seychelles about exploring the possibility of setting up naval bases, stating,

Slovakian Jews call for extradition of suspected 97-year-old war criminal

The Slovakian Jewish community has called for the extradition of a 97-year-old man suspected of having committed war crimes during the Holocaust, who is currently under house arrest in Hungary.

Laszlo Csatary, stands accused of sending over 15,000 Jews to concentration camps in 1944, as an officer in the Hungarian Royal Police. The town that he served in, Kosice, was then part of Hungary, but is now part of Slovakia.

Israel number 1 Middle-East counter-intelligence threat says CIA

CIA officials consider Israeli intelligence units to be their foremost counter-intelligence threat in the Middle East, the Associated Press reports.

CIA officers in Israel have reported having their homes broken into and the tampering of sensitive communication equipment.

The Associated Press remarks,

EU urges Israel to protect the rights of the Arab-Palestinian minority whilst strengthening economic relations

In a recent statement, the EU-Israel Association condemned Israel for a vast range of human rights violations in the state and “occupied Palestine territory”.

Addressing various issues, the statement noted Israel’s obligation to protect the rights of the Arab-Palestinian minority, emphasising that this issue was a core problem that had to be addressed in it’s own right.

The statement also confirmed the EU’s continuing support for human rights defenders as a “ long established element” of its human rights external relations policy, whilst condemning Israel’s practice of administrative detention.

UN fails to agree on proposed arms treaty

A proposed treaty to regulate the arms trade failed to be agreed upon at the United Nations on Friday, with no decision having been made.

Over 170 countries have been in New York to negotiate the terms of the treaty, which could have been vetoed by any one country. With no consensus having been reached, further talks may occur at the UN General Assembly by the end of the year.

Commenting on the failure to reach an agreement, British foreign secretary, William Hague said,

Russia distances itself from Assad

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday, that Russia was “not even thinking about” providing asylum for Assad, in a sign that the country may be distancing itself from the besiged Syrian regime.

When asked about media reports that Russia was ready to offer Assad asylum, Lavrov replied,
“We have said more than once publicly that we are not even thinking about this.”

UN calls for an independent investigation over violence in Burma

The UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, has asked for a prompt independent investigation due to claims of abuses by security forces in Burma’s Rakhine state, noting that that the crisis reflected the long-standing systemic discrimination against the Muslim Rohingya community, who are not recognized by the Government and remain stateless.

Speaking on the issue Ms Pillay said,

Rwanda demands ‘respect’ as more aid cut

Rwanda has demanded respect from Western nations, accusing them of treating the country like a child, in response to further cuts in funding to the African country.

Addressing a Kenyan business club, Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said,
"This child-to-parent relationship has to end ... there has to be a minimum respect”
"As long as countries wave cheque books over our heads, we can never be equal."

Former Milosevic aide sworn in as Serbian Prime Minister

A spokesperson for the late Slobodan Milosevic, the former Serbian and Yugoslavian President charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Serbia.

Ivica Dacic was sworn in earlier, in a parliament dominated by Serbian nationalists and socialists; including Milosevic’s party the Socialist Party of Serbia headed by Dacic.