• UN resolution to call for referral of North Korea to ICC and targeted sanctions

    Oct 08
    A draft resolution tabled at the United Nations General Assembly’s human rights committee encourages the Security Council to refer the human rights situation in North Korea to the International Criminal Court and target sanctions at those responsible for crimes against humanity.
  • Over 50 dead in Yemeni capital bomb blast
    Over 50 people have been killed when a suicide bomb went off in the city centre of Yemen's capital on Thursday.

    The suicide bomber approached the Houthi check point wearing a suicide belt, said a policeman near by.

    "He then exploded amidst the [Houthi] security and ordinary people nearby," the policeman told Reuters.
  • Mali requests UN 'rapid intervention force' to battle Islamic militants
    Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop requested the United Nations send a rapid intervention force in order to fight Islamist militants in the North of the country.

    The request comes following a wave of attacks on UN peacekeepers in the country, with a Senegalese soldier killed on Tuesday. Nine peacekeepers from Niger were reportedly killed by militants earlier this week. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said he was “outraged” by the attack.

    Diop, who was addressing the UN Security Council via a video link, called for “urgent measures” to bolster the nearly 10,000 UN peacekeepers already in Mali. He warned that Northern Mali was at “risk of becoming the destination of hordes of terrorists” and said,
  • Turkey says action in Syria 'unrealistic' as IS captures districts in Kobane
    Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said the country cannot lead a ground operation against advancing Islamic State (IS) forces on its own, calling for a Nato-enforced buffer zone to be established on the Syrian-Turkish border.

    "It is not realistic to expect Turkey to conduct a ground operation on its own," said Cavusoglu, adding, "We are holding talks. Once there is a common decision, Turkey will not hold back from playing its part."

    The international response to the request for a buffer zone has been mixed so far. Whilst US Secretary of State John Kerry said the idea was “worth looking at very, very closely,”  President Obama’s spokesman, Josh Earnest stated a buffer zone was “not something under consideration right now”.

  • Kenyan president appears before ICC
    Uhuru Kenyatta, became the first serving head of state to appear before the International Criminal Court, in a landmark hearing on Wednesday.

    Prosecutors at the trial however, admitted they had no further evidence to be able to proceed with the case, as Kenyatta's defence lawyers called for the case to be thrown out.

    ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda accused the Kenyan government of withholding evidence, including items such as Kenyatta's bank statement. At least seven witnesses have also dropped out amidst allegations of bribery and intimidation.

    Kenyatta is accused of crimes against humanity, over his alleged role in election violence that left 1,200 people dead in 2007.
  • Russia calls for international input into Ukraine inquiry amid threat of further EU sanctions
    The Russian Foreign Minister, called on international bodies to become involved in an investigation into war crimes committed in Ukraine, reports Press TV.

    Sergey Lavrov made the remarks in a meeting with his Finnish counterpart on Monday.

    “Judging by the fact that no progress was made in investigating these incidents, it is possibly time for international organisations, such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the Council of Europe and the United Nations to take responsibility of ensuring an unbiased and fair investigation,” he said.

    Ukraine has faced questions regarding several mass graves found in the eastern regions by separatist militants.

  • Ukraine calls for increased international monitors at Russian borders
    Ukraine called for the deployment of hundreds more international monitors in eastern regions amidst growing fears of the possible collapse of a ceasefire with the separatist militants, reports the Wall Street Journal.
  • US-led airstrikes continue as fighting rages in Kobane, riots in Turkey as Kurds demand action
    3rd lead
    Coalition airstrike over Kobane city centre on Wednesday afternoon. Photograph Nizar Mistefa

    Airstrikes by the US led coalition against Islamic State militants continued on Wednesday, as fighting continued inside Kobane and     Kurdish officials warned that the city was on the brink of falling to Islamic State militants.

    Air strikes were seen targeting the south-east and central part of Kobane, Nizar Mistefa, a Kurdish photographer situated inside Turkey by the Kobane border told Tamil Guardian on Wednesday.

    On Tuesday, the US-led coalition carried out its most extensive set of airstrikes against the Islamic State targets, who entered the eastern side of the city, raising their black flag.

    Coalition airstrike Wednesday afternoon over Mishtar Noor Hill in the south-east part of Kobane. Photograph Nizar Mistefa


  • Bahraini prince not immune from prosecution over torture claims, rules UK High Court
    The High Court in London has ruled that Prince Nasser of Bahrain is not immune from prosecution over claims of torture.

    The ruling is expected to see Scotland Yard be asked to investigate allegations that the Bahraini prince was involved in torture, during the country's pro-democracy protests in 2011.

    The decision by the High Court overturns a previous director of public prosecutions (DPP) ruling that the prince had state immunity from prosecution. The latest ruling came after a case filed by a Bahraini citizen who was arrested during the protests, identified as FF, sought the arrest of the prince, whilst he was on a visit to the UK.

  • Catalonia to decide on independence vote by October 15
    The regional government of Catalonia will make a final decision on whether an independence referendum will take place before October 15 a spokesperson said on Monday.

    The leader of Catalonia Artur Mas, has faced pressure from several Catalan organisations to push forward with the referendum despite the Spanish government’s opposition, reports Reuters.
  • Kurds demonstrate calling for assistance as Islamic State advances into Kobane
    Kurdish people have blockaded airports and held protests across Europe, demonstrating for military assistance to Kurdish fighters in Kobane, as Islamic State militants advanced into the eastern Kurdish Syrian town of Kobane on Monday night, reported a Syrian monitoring group.

    "There were clashes overnight. Not heavy but ISIS is going forward from the southwest. They have crossed into Kobani and control some buildings in the city there," said the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdulrahman.

    Kobane, a border town between south west Syria and Turkey, has been under seige for several days as Islamic State militants advanced from three sides.

  • Fierce battles rage in Nigeria as government troops recapture towns
    Heavy fighting continues between the Nigerian army and Boko Haram militants, as the government claimed to have recaptured areas in the North-East of the country.

    Punch reported that Michika and Gulak in the Adamawa state have come under the control of the Nigerian armed forces, after they overran Boko Haram fighters in the area.

    A source told the Nigerian newspaper,
    “The Nigerian troops have gained entry into Michika and Gulak, and are now fully in control of the towns having dealt a severe blow to the insurgents, as they lost about 200 members, while some escaped with injuries sustained from gun shots.”

  • Kenyatta confirms ICC appearance
    Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed he will attend a hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) this week, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity.
  • Sweden defends decision to recognise Palestine statehood amidst US and Israeli criticism
    Washington will not decide Sweden’s policies said, the Swedish Foreign Minister in response to US criticisms over plans to officially recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.

    Margot Wallstrom added that Sweden “will continue the constructive dialogue with the US to explain our motives and reasons for this,” reports the Swedish Afotnbladet paper.

    Commenting on the Sweden’s official recognition of Palestinian statehood the US State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, said
    "We believe international recognition of a Palestinian state is premature. We certainly support Palestinian statehood, but it can only come through a negotiated outcome, a resolution of final status issues and mutual recognitions by both parties."
  • Al-Shabab withdraws from key town as AU troops advance
    Somalian government troops backed by the African Union (AU) claimed to have captured the key town of Barawe, as al-Shabab fighters withdrew from the area.

    Hundreds of civilians have also fled from the town, situated on Somalia's southern coast, as al-Shabab trucks loaded with weapons were seen leaving the town which has been under the organisation's control for the last 6 years.

    The regional governor told the BBC that government troops were now in the centre of Barawe.

    As al-Shabab fighters withdrew, the Shabab commander in Barawe, Mohamed Abu Abdalla, released an audio message warning residents who remained not to support the oncoming government troops.

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