WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A former senior UK Special Forces officer has told a public inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan that the SAS had a "golden pass allowing them to get away with murder" In evidence given to a public inquiry into suspected war crimes in Afghanistan, the soldier said an allegedly rogue special forces unit had targeted all males of fighting age, including under 16s, even if they…

UK suspends some arms export licenses to Israel over 'clear risk' of international law violations

The UK Government announced it has suspended 30 arms exports of its 350 export licenses to Israel over 'International Humanitarian Law concerns' in Gaza.

Following a review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law., the UK has decided to suspend some arms export licenses to Israel. The licenses relate to items for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for the use in Gaza. The recent UK assessment concluded that there is 'clear risk' military exports to Israel may be used in international humanitarian law violations. 

'Flawed Justice' - Human rights groups call out gaps in Nepal's new law

Three major human rights organizations slam Nepal's new Transitional Justice Law as a "flawed step forward," citing numerous "accountability gaps" needed to be addressed by lawmakers.

France engages pacific mission to 'investigate' New Caledonian crisis

France has approved a pacific mission to investigate the unrest in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.

Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador to the Pacific, told radio station RNZ Pacific that a high-level mission will lead work to find facts about the crisis that began in May.

HMRC files winding-up petition against Lycamobile

His Majesty's Revenue & Customs, the UK's tax authority, had served a winding-up petition to the High Court against Lycamobile UK on Monday.

The winding-up order is a legal process and served when a company is insolvent, unable to pay its debts. HMRC regularly deploys this petition when companies fail to pay tax bills. Such process can result in liquidation and assets being forcibly sold to generate money towards repayment of debts. 

Over 100 killed in Israeli attack on Gaza school

More than 100 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, according to officials in the enclave.

Three Israeli bombs hit al-Tabin school, located in the Daraj district, Gaza’s civil defence agency said of the attack on Saturday, which it described as a “horrific massacre”.

Myanmar rebels seize regional military base from junta

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said it had taken the strategic city of Lashio in northern Shan State, about 120 km (75 miles) from the Chinese border, after 23 days of fighting with government troops.

"Our army has won a decisive victory and is now clearing out the remaining enemy troops. The city is now declared completely liberated," it said in a statement shared by its mouthpiece on social media, urging the public to remain calm and comply with its administration of the city.

Former KLA member sentenced to 18 years by Kosovo war crimes tribunal

An internationally staffed court at The Hague has ruled that Pjeter Shala, former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) member, committed war crimes during the 1998-1999 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops, sentencing him to 18 years in prison.

Shala's convictions of war crimes included torture, murder and arbitrary detention. The tribunal ruled he ran a makeshift prison in which people were abused and at least one man was killed.

Azerbaijan's president pledges to help French territories secure independence

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pledged  to help France's overseas territories secure independence, 

Aliyev accuses France of interfering in its affairs over its contacts with Armenia, against which it has waged two wars in 30 years linked to disputes over Baku's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In recent months, Azerbaijani leaders have focused on France's South Pacific territory of New Caledonia, gripped by weeks of violence over the objections of Indigenous Kanak activists to a contentious electoral reform.

Britain drops its challenge to ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders

Britain said on Friday it would not proceed with efforts to question whether the International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

In May, the ICC's prosecutor said he had requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and three Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes.

MPs call for Cornwall to get greater devolution of powers from Westminster

Cornish lawmakers called on Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer to allow the devolution powers to Cornwall, citing its "unique" historical and cultural identity this month.

The MPs, Ben Maguire and Andrew George, believe that a unique model of governance is needed in Cornwall, adding that "A lot of people in Cornwall do see themselves on a level of the other Celtic nations and therefore deserving special status".