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…

UN Sec-Gen warns of genocide in CAR

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, noting that foreign peace=keeping troops were ‘overwhelmed’ warned of a potential genocide in the region.

Urging the international community to send more support to prevent an impending disaster, Ban Ki-moon, said,

Bahrain protesters sentenced to 15 years in prison

A Bahraini court, convicting seven Shiite Muslim protestors of injuring a policemen, sentenced them to 15 years in prison today.

The announcement comes after several anti-regime protestors were injured by Bahrain police on Friday.

US authorises property sanctions on actors in South Sudan conflict

The United States president, Barack Obama, signed an executive order today, authorising sanctions against any actors escalating conflict in South Sudan.

The order sets out a list of 12 offences that would warrant sanctions on all property and interests in property that are within or controlled by the United States.

Announcing the order, the White House spokesperson, Jay Carney, said,

Rwandan president alleges French culpability for Rwanda genocide

The Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, in an interview to mark the 20th anniversary of the mass killings in Rwanda, accused France of participating in the 1994 genocide.

In an interview with the African daily, Jeune Afrique, Kagama denounced the ‘direct role of Belgium and France in the political preparation for the genocide.”

The president went on to accuse French soldiers who were present in military humanitarian missions as being accomplices and actors in the bloodbath.

France to table resolution authorising ICC action on Syria

France started drafting, on Friday, a United Nations Security Council resolution that would refer Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC), for prosecution of war crimes.

Although Syria is not a party to the treaty that created the court, the UN Security council has the power to authorise the International Criminal Court to prosecute.

AP journalist killed on eve of Afghanistan elections

A photographer for the Associated Press was shot dead today in an attack on the news agency’s envoy on the eve of elections in Afghanistan.

The attack injured a Canadian reporter, Kathy Gannon, and German photographer, Anja Niedringhaus.

The pair were attacked, whilst travelling in their own vehicle with a convoy of election workers distributing ballot boxes across the Khost province.

Former Bosnian paramilitary soldier detained in France

French police today, detained a former Bosnian Serb paramilitary soldier allegedly responsible for the death of 59 people after burning civilians alive in a locked house, during the 1992-95 war.

Over 100,000 people were killed during the Bosnian war, leaving 4.6 million people as refugees.

EU to set up tribunal for Kosovo war crimes

The European Union will look to establish an international tribunal that solely focuses on crimes allegedly committed by Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian rebels during their war with Serbia, reports the Associated Press.

The court, which will be set up and paid for by the EU, will consider allegations of atrocities and disappearances committed by the victorious Kosovan military at the end of the war.
Outlining the need for a credible process, an EU official said,

Chad to withdraw peace-keeping forces from CAR

The Chadian Foreign Ministry announced today that it will pull out its peacekeeping troops from the African Union mission in the Central African Republic in protest of allegations that they were aiding rebels.

The Foreign Ministry’s statement outlined that its forces has been victim of  a “gratuitous and malicious campaign” that placed blame on them for the escalating suffering and conflict in CAR.

Last week Chadian forces were blamed for the deaths of 24 civilians in the capital of CAR, Bangui.

US calls on Myanmar to allow aid agencies to help Rohingya community

The United States, this week, called on Myanmar, to lift travel restrictions on the United Nations and other humanitarian staff and allow them to resume work in the Rakhine state.

Expressing concern over violent Buddhist mob attacks on UN and non-governmental organisation offices, the  State Department said,