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…

Burmese govt 'systematically restricting aid' to Rohingya - HRW

The Burmese government is "systematically restricting humanitarian aid and imposing discriminatory policies" against the Rohingya Muslims in the state of Arakan, asserted Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Meanwhile the governmennt spokesperson for Arakan State, Win Myaing, has accused the Rohingya Muslims of deliberately inflating the numbers of IDPs in order to receive more aid. Maing said: 

“Now, when we are making a list in the camp over here, then people from [another camp] will come,”

“Frankly, [the Rohingya] are just attempting to make the list bigger so that they can get more aid.”

HRW's deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson said:

"Burmese government restrictions on aid to Rohingya Muslims are creating a humanitarian crisis that will become a disaster when the rainy season arrives."

“Instead of addressing the problem, Burma’s leaders seem intent on keeping the Rohingya segregated in camps rather than planning for them to return to their homes.”

Bosnian Serb policemen sentenced at the Hague

Judges in the Hague on Wednesday sentenced two former Bosnian Serb police officers to 22 years imprisonment for their role in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the break-up of Yugoslavia more than 20 years ago.

Syrian opposition takes Syria seat at Arab League Summit

The leader of the Syrian opposition's National Coalition, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, formally assumed the Syrian seat at the Arab League Summit on Tuesday, hailing it as "part of the restoration of legitimacy" that the Syiran people had "long been robbed of".

Incidentally, Khatib formally resigned as leader two days ago, however his resignation has been rejected by the National Coalition.

The Assad regime responded by accusing the League of allowing "bandits and thugs" assume the seat.

 

EU eases sanctions against Zimbabwe

The European Union has eased sanctions against a number of officials from Zimbabwe on Monday, after a new constitution was approved that would curb presidential powers.

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union, said in a statement,

Ntaganda pleads not guilty to crimes against humanity

Bosco Ntaganda, a Congolese war crimes suspect has plead not guilty to all charges at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday.

His appearance at The Hague occured after Ntaganda, also known as "The Terminator", handed himself over to the US Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda. He faces 10 crimes of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including ranging from murder and rape to the use of child soldiers.

Speaking at the ICC, Ntaganda said,

Croatia accession to EU all but confirmed

The European Union will gain its 28th member on 1 July, once all members ratify the agreement.

19 members have already agreed to Croatia’s membership to the union and the European Commission said that Croatia is ready to join.

"We are confident that Croatia will be ready to join the EU on 1 July 2013," EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said after talks in Zagreb on Tuesday.

"This report is a clean bill of health."

Head of Syria chemical weapons probe appointed

A Swedish scientist has been appointed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to head a probe into allegations of chemical weapon usage in Syria.

A spokesperson for the UN said that the terms for the mission were being finalised but that work was under way for the mission to be dispatched quickly.

South Korea sign defence deal with US

South Korea has signed an agreement with the US to respond together in the eventuality of North Korean “provocations”.

The military plan provides for US assistance should North Korea fulfil its recent threats.

"This allows both nations to jointly respond to the North's local provocations, with the South taking the lead and the US in support," South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said on Monday.

"It will have the effect of preventing the North from daring to provoke us."

Egypt orders activist arrests

Egypt's prosecutor general ordered the arrest of five prominent political activists on Monday, on allegations of inciting violence near the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters last week.

At least 130 people are reported to have been hospitalised after protests outside the headquarters turned violent on Friday.

The prosecutor's orders come after a threat from President Mursi who warned on Sunday that "necessary measures" would be taken against politicians found to be involved in the violence.

7 jailed for 'genocide crimes' in Argentina

Seven former military and police personnel have been jailed for "crimes against humanity committed in the international context of genocide", by a court in Argentina, earlier this week.

The individuals werefound guilty of crimes committed during the country's military rule from1976-83, where some 16,000 people were thought to have disappeared.