• Spain approves constitutional powers to tackle Catalan independence

    Oct 01

    On Thursday Spain’s parliament approved measures that permit the Constitutional Court to fine or suspend authorities that fail to carry out its sentences. This was reportedly done to address any officials in Catalonia that seek to ignore the orders from earlier this year finding that a referendum on independence is unconstitutional.

  • Palestinian flag hoisted at the United Nations for the first time
    In a historic moment on Wednesday afternoon, the Palestinian flag was raised for the first time at the United Nations. While diplomats and reporters watched on in New York, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to watch the flag-raising on a large screen staged in Yasser Arafat Square.
     
    Addressing the crowd, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dedicated the ceremony to “the martyrs, the prisoners and the wounded, and to those who gave their lives while trying to raise this flag.”
     
    Only minutes earlier President Abbas had addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke of the failure of more than two decades of peace agreements and negotiations for a Palestinian state. Speaking on the Oslo accords he said: “We will start the implementation of this declaration by all peaceful and legal means. Either the Palestinian National Authority will be the conduit of the Palestinian people from occupation to independence, or Israel, the occupying power, must bear all of its responsibilities.”
     
  • ICC begins trial of witness tampering by former Congolese vice-president
    The International Criminal Court on Tuesday began its trial of former Congolese vice president, Jean-Pierre Bemba, and four of his associates, on charges that they tampered with witnesses during Mr. Bemba’s war crimes trial.
     
    Mr Bemba’s militia, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo were alleged to have committed war crimes including murder, rape and pillaging, during the conflict between 2002 and 2003 in the Central African Republic. ICC prosecutors charged Mr Bemba as commander-in-chief at the time, with responsibility for the international crimes committed. In the same month that submissions closed for that trial in November 2014, ICC judges confirmed charges of witness tampering against Mr Bemba and four of his associates.
     
  • Call for UN inquiry into Yemen conflict replaced with consensus resolution at UNHRC
    The Netherlands on Wednesday withdrew the draft of a resolution supported by mainly Western countries mandating the High Commissioner for Human Rights to send experts to conduct an investigation into the conduct of the war in Yemen.
     
    The resolution came out of a key recommendation made by the High Commissioner in his report on the conflict in Yemen earlier this month, which detailed the extensive loss of civilian life in Yemen resulting from indiscriminate airstrikes by the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the indiscriminate shelling by Houthi rebels.

    In addition to an international independent inquiry, the resolution called for parties to the conflict to allow access for humanitarian groups into the conflict zone.
     
    However, reportedly following pressure from Saudi Arabia and its military coalition members, Netherlands withdrew the resolution and instead, Western governments are reported to have accepted a resolution sponsored by Saudi Arabia with no reference to an international inquiry into the conflict.

  • Russia launches first airstrikes in Syria
    Russia launched its first airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday hours after President Putin’s request to use military force was approved by Russian parliament.
     
    Russian defence officials asserted that they carried out 20 missions targeting the Islamic State but this was quickly disputed by the United States, activists and rebels on the ground. The BBC reported that the airstrikes had hit rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces and others reported that targets attacked were all opposed to the Assad regime.
     
    Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State, John Kerry told the UN Security Council that the US would support “any genuine effort to fight Isil and al-Qaida affiliated groups” but that they “would have grave concerns should Russia strike targets where Isil and al-Qaida affiliated targets [were not] operating.” He emphasized the need for Russia and the US to coordinate efforts in the region saying, “[w]e have informed Russia that were are prepared to hold these deconfliction talks as early as possible: this week.”
     
  • Ban Ki Moon calls for Syria to be referred to the ICC

    Addressing the UN General Assembly’s 70th session, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon called for the ongoing crisis in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    “It is time now for others, primarily the Security Council and key regional actors, to step forward," Mr Ban said.

  • Putin calls for coordination to fight IS

    Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called for coordination in the fight against the Islamic State, while reiterating his support for Syria's beleaguered president, Bashar al-Assad.

  • ICC trial for Timbuktu destruction

    A man accused of taking part in the war crime of destroying religious monuments, during civil strife in Mali, has arrived in The Hague to stand trial at the International Criminal Court.

    Ahmad al-Mahdi al-Faqi is charged with the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque in Timbuktu in 2012.

  • Pro-independence parties win majority in Catalan election

    Pro-independence parties won a clear majority in Catalonia's parliamentary elections on Sunday.

    "Catalans have voted yes to independence [from Spain]," acting regional government head Artur Mas told supporters adding that a "democratic mandate" now existed to move forward with independence.

  • UN aid agencies expelled from Luhansk
    The United Nations humanitarian aid chief Stephen O’Brien expressed serious concern after authorities in the eastern city of Luhansk called on UN agencies to immediately vacate the city.
  • Colombian govt and Farc pledge end to conflict in 6 months
    The Colombian government and Farc pledged on Wednesday to bring an end to the conflict, which has run for 50 years, within six months, reports Reuters.

    Meeting in Havana for ongoing peace talks, the Colombian president and the Farc leader, Rodrigo Londono (alias Timochenko) shook hands to seal their agreement.

    "We will not fail," Mr Santos said. "The time for peace has arrived."

    An official deadline has been set for 23 March 2016. Farc was pledged to lay down arms within 60 days of signing the deal.

  • Independence will come 'sooner or later' says Catalan leader
    Catalan's leader, Artur Mas, said that independence would come "sooner or later", promised to push for a referendum on secession if the coalition of pro-independence parties win elections this month.

    "Clearly, if we get a majority of the votes on September 27, then that's the referendum done," Mr Mas told AFP in an interview on Wednesday.

    "If we won a majority of seats but not a majority of votes and the Spanish government offered us a binding referendum on independence – though I am very skeptical about whether it would do so – then we would listen," he added.

  • Nazi radio operator charged with war crimes
    German prosecutors have charged a 91 year old woman with 260,000 counts of accessory to murder over allegations she was a member of the Nazi SS who served in Auschwitz death camps, reports the Independent.
  • China's president lands in US to boost trade ties

    China’s president Xi Jinping landed in the US on Tuesday to commence a week-long US visit that will include meetings with SU business leaders, reports Reuters.

  • UK to guarantee £2bn nuclear plant deal for China

    The UK will guarantee a £2bn deal with China, which will see investment in the Hinkley nuclear power plant and the possible construction of further reactors.

    Chancellor George Osborne made the announcement during his visit to China and said the deal would pave the way for a final investment decision on the delayed project by French energy company EDF.

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