WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

UN experts demand investigation following Israel’s killing of Lebanese journalists
  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…

Houthis urge UN to end Saudi air strikes

May 1, 2015
Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday urged the United Nations to bring an end to the air strikes against them, led by Saudi Arabia, reports Reuters.

In a letter to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, the Houthis said, "We want to emphasize the grave and tragic situation that comes in the light of the continued Saudi blatant aggression on our country and our people."

ICC rejects accusations of bias in Israeli-Palestinian investigation

Apr 30, 2015
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, rejected accusations of an anti-Israeli bias when conducting a preliminary investigation into the conflict, stating that "we will of course look into the alleged crimes committed by all sides to the conflict."

In an interview to the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, Ms Bensouda said:

“At this stage, we are not investigating, as a decision on whether to open an investigation in the situation of Palestine has not been made. Rather we are conducting what we call in our parlance a preliminary examination over alleged crimes committed in Palestine. In January of this year, as you know, Palestine accepted the jurisdiction of the ICC for acts committed on its territory or by its nationals since June 2014. In the course of the preliminary examination, we will gather and assess information received from reliable sources from all sides, including from Israel, on alleged crimes committed by any party to the conflict.

German president, defies government, supports WW2 reparations for Greece

Apr 30, 2015

The Germen president, Joachim Gauck, defying his government’s rejection of the concept, expressed support for Greek demands for reparations for the Nazi occupation of Greece in World War Two.

Mr Gauk, speaking in an interview to be published in German press on Saturday, calling on Germany to consider its historical responsibilities, said,

Turkish police fires tear gas at May Day protests

Apr 30, 2015
Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of May Day protestors, after they defied a ban and tried to march into the capital’s Taksim Square, which saw weeks of unrest in 2013.

Thousands of police with barricades closed streets to stop demonstrations from progressing to the square, resulting in at least 140 people being detained, reports Reuters.

At least 18 protestors and 6 police officers were injured in the clashes.

An opposition politician, Mahmut Tanal, speaking to Reuters, said,

“People want to express their problems but the government doesn’t want those problems to be heard ahead of elections.”

Nigerian soldiers free girls from Boko Haram

Apr 30, 2015
Nigerian soldiers on Thursday freed over 300 women and girls from the Islamist group, Boko Haram,

On Tuesday the government said that over 300 women and girls, who were being held in the Sambisa forest, had been found. On Thursday, the army spokesperson reportedly told the Associated Press that another 150 had been freed.

HRW urges Iraq to join ICC to bring ISIS to justice

Apr 29, 2015
Human Rights Watch this week urged Iraq to join the International Criminal Court, in order to ensure that Islamic State leaders who committed crimes can be brought to justice.

“Without Iraq joining the ICC, Baghdadi [ISIS leader] cannot be tried there, as he is an Iraqi national,” Balkees Jarrah with Human Rights Watch, was quoted by RUDAW as saying.

“That is needed for the persecutor to be able to examine potential abuses there,” Jarrah added.

No mercy for soldiers found guilty of abuse says French president

Apr 29, 2015

The president of France, Francois Hollande, on Thursday said there would be no mercy shown to any French soldiers who were found to have abused children in the Central African Republic while deployed there as UN peacekeeping soldiers.

“If some soldiers have behaved badly, I will show no mercy,” Mr Hollande told reporters.

Earlier this week a leaked UN report found that young boys in a camp for internally displaced persons in CAR had made allegations against a number of soldiers that they had been sexually abused.

UN aid worker suspended for whistleblowing on sexual child abuse

Apr 29, 2015

A senior United Nations aid worker has been suspended for disclosing a report outlining sexual abuse by French peacekeeping troops in the Central African Republic.

Anders Kompass, who is based in Geneva, passed the document to French authorities due to the UN failure to take action to stop abuse reports The Guardian.

Mr Kompass was suspended from his post as director of field operations, and accused of leaking confidential UN information and breaching protocols.

The aid worker has been placed under investigation by the UN office for internal oversight service (OIOS), with the knowledge of senior UN officials, including the UN Human Rights Chief, Zeid AL Hussein.

The confidential report, Sexual Abuse on Children by International Armed Forces, documented details of the rape and sodomy of starving homeless young boys by French peacekeeping troops in the CAR.

Paula Donovan, the co-director of Aids Free World, calling for an independent commission of inquiry into the matter, said,

Japan's prime minister apologises for killing US troops during WW2

Apr 28, 2015
Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe offered “eternal condolences” to US soldiers that died in the conflict with Japanese forces during World War Two.

Speaking to US Congress on Wednesday, Mr Abe, expressed “deep repentance” over Japan’s role in World War Two, reports the BBC.

“My dear friends, on behalf of Japan and the Japanese people, I offer with profound respect my eternal condolences to the souls of all American people that were lost during World War Two.”

US calls on Iran to bring warring factions in Yemen to political settlement negotiations

Apr 28, 2015
The US called on Iran to help move warring parties in Yemen to peace-talks for a political settlement a US official confirmed on Wednesday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mahammad Javad Zarif, met with his US counterpart on Monday to discuss Iranian help to get Houthi militants in Yemen to the negotiation table, reports Reuters.

A US State Department official, when asked if Secretary of State John Kerry called on Iran to bring Houthi militants to peace talks, the official told reporters, “Yes.”
Houthis urge UN to end Saudi air strikes
ICC rejects accusations of bias in Israeli-Palestinian investigation
German president, defies government, supports WW2 reparations for Greece
Turkish police fires tear gas at May Day protests
Nigerian soldiers free girls from Boko Haram
HRW urges Iraq to join ICC to bring ISIS to justice
No mercy for soldiers found guilty of abuse says French president
UN aid worker suspended for whistleblowing on sexual child abuse
Japan's prime minister apologises for killing US troops during WW2
US calls on Iran to bring warring factions in Yemen to political settlement negotiations