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…

Asylum seekers can apply for permanent protection visa, rules Australian high court

Sep 10, 2014
Asylum seekers on temporary humanitarian concern visas could not be blocked from applying for permanent protection visas, ruled the Australian high court in a joint unanimous decision on Thursday, reports the Guardian.

An executive director of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre welcomed the decision.

“It is significant because the high court has found yet another attempt by government to block people being given permanent protection and circumvent parliament is unlawful,” said David Manne.

Welcoming the decision, the principle solicitor of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), Katie Wrigley, said,
 

Libyan militia attacks amount to war crimes says HRW

Sep 9, 2014
Human Rights Watch has accused Libyan militias of committing war crimes by attacking civilians as they battle for control of Tripoli.

In a statement released this week, the non-governmental organisation said thousands of residents had fled their homes as fighting between militias from Misrata and Zintan continued for control of Tripoli.

Human rights violations have been documented against civilians and journalists, with property being looted or destroyed, said the organisation.

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, added,

OPCW confirms chlorine gas attacks in Syria

Sep 9, 2014
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has confirmed that chlorine gas was used in attacks on Syrian villages earlier this year.

An OPCW report said that it had  "compelling confirmation" and “a high degree of confidence" of the use of chlorine in the attacks, which took place as Syrian government troops battled against opposition forces.

Whilst the OPCW has been overseeing the destruction of chemical weapons owned by the Syrian government, it is not obliged to declare any stockpiles of chlorine, regarded as a weak toxic agent.

Ukraine offers separatists more autonomy

Sep 9, 2014
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko offered separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine more autonomy, in an effort to solve the crisis in the country.

Poroshenko said that implementing the truce, signed between the two sides Friday, had been "difficult" in the midst of a "war for the independence and integrity" and provocation by “terrorists”.
 
"The situation has radically changed at the front. Before the ceasefire was announced, Ukraine was losing the lives of dozens of its heroes on a daily basis," he added.

"According to the latest information I have received from our intelligence, 70 percent of Russian troops have been moved back across the border," he said. "This further strengthens our hope that the peace initiatives have good prospects."

The president’s offer was however rejected by some of the rebels. Andrei Purgin, the deputy prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said the rebels "are not considering remaining part of Ukraine".

UN Security Council to decide on action against Islamic State

Sep 8, 2014
The UN Security Council is to vote on a draft resolution tabled by the United States, seeking action against Islamic State militia.

The draft resolution is aimed at ensuring all 193 UN member states "prevent and suppress" IS recruitment, the Reuters news agency reports.

UN diplomats, speaking anonymously told Reuters, that agreement is likely between the 15 members of the Security Council.

A meeting of the Council is to be chaired by the US president Barack Obama on September 24.

Unionists back more powers to Scotland as polls put independence campaign ahead

Sep 8, 2014

2nd lead

Leaders of the three main parties pledged their support to the devolution of greater powers in an effort to bolster the pro-unionist campaign ahead of Scotland's referendum on independence on September 18.

In a joint statement made Tuesday in Edinburgh, Scotland's Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, Labour leader Johann Lamont, and the Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, urged voters to back the call for more powers, instead of independence.

"It is possible to vote 'No' on 18 September and also say you are voting for change, for more powers for the Scottish Parliament," said Lamont. 

Labour leader Ed Miliband urged people across the UK to fly the Scottish flag, the Saltire, as a mark of support for keeping Scotland within the British union.

“Over the next few days we want cities, towns and villages across the UK to send a message to Scotland: stay with us,” he said.

The frantic moves by unionist parties come after polls put the Yes campaign ahead, two weeks before the vote.

Buckingham Palace meanwhile put an end to speculation the Queen will get involved in the debate in the run up to the referendum, after press reports that suggested she was concerned about the breakup of the union.

International community's Responsibility to Protect is greater than ever - UN Sec Gen

Sep 8, 2014
The international community’s ‘Responsibility to Protect’ is greater than ever said the UN Secretary General on Monday.

“Our collective responsibility to protect demands far more from us at this deeply troubling time for all humankind,” said Ban Ki-Moon speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly to discuss the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ adapted in 2005.

“Turning a blind eye to these acts is no longer tenable. Our responsibility to prevent and protect is collective and urgent," he added.

House of blood' by IS militants warns UN human rights chief

Sep 7, 2014
The newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid al-Hussein warned of a "house of blood" trying to be created by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, urging states to take action to protect women and minorities.

He also called on the Iraqi government to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to ensure justice for the crimes committed in the region.

"Do they believe they are acting courageously? Barbarically slaughtering captives?," he said, describing the militants as "takfiris" - those who kill others on the basis that they are apostates.

AU troops raped girls in Somalia – HRW

Sep 7, 2014

Troops from the African Union raped women and girls in Mogadishu, a new report by Human Rights Watch says.

The forces are said to have raped women seeking medical aid or water from their bases, with one 15 year old girl having her headscarf ripped off before being raped, the human rights group said.

EU adopts further sanctions against Russia amidst 'shaky' ceasefire in Ukraine

Sep 7, 2014
The European Union has adopted a series of further sanctions on Russia, as a ceasefire between the Ukranian government and pro-Russian separatists continued on Monday.

The move comes as Russia threatened to prevent its European gas customers from re-exporting to Ukraine – a move that would effectively cut off Ukraine's gas supply.

The new sanctions, though, have not been put into place yet, with the European Commission's Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen saying,
"The sanctions package can be extended or stopped, depending on developments in the field."
European Union Council President Herman van Rompuy said they were aimed at "promoting a change of course in Russia's actions destabilising eastern Ukraine".

A ceasefire between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists, who have continued to clash in the region, was described by the head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as "shaky".

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the city of Mariupol on Monday, where he announced the separatists had released some 1,200 prisoners. Announcing the release in the city, which has seen shelling by the separatists, Poroshenko went on to tweet that "Mariupol is Ukraine. We will not surrender this land to anyone."
Asylum seekers can apply for permanent protection visa, rules Australian high court
Libyan militia attacks amount to war crimes says HRW
OPCW confirms chlorine gas attacks in Syria
Ukraine offers separatists more autonomy
UN Security Council to decide on action against Islamic State
Unionists back more powers to Scotland as polls put independence campaign ahead
International community's Responsibility to Protect is greater than ever - UN Sec Gen
House of blood' by IS militants warns UN human rights chief
AU troops raped girls in Somalia – HRW
EU adopts further sanctions against Russia amidst 'shaky' ceasefire in Ukraine