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…

Swiss campaigners welcome focused effort on war criminals

Swiss campaign groups have welcomed efforts by the government in attempting to track down and prosecute war criminals, with the creation of a dedicated task force earlier this year.

The director of Geneva-based ‘Track Impunity Always’ (Trial) Philip Grant hailed the move, saying,

UN warns M23 movement of war crimes prosecutions

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) warned the M23 armed movement on Friday, that anyone attacking UN helicopters would face prosecution as a war criminal.

The warning from the UN Stabilising Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) comes after a UN press release stated that two utility helicopters had faced hostile fire from the M23 on boxing day.

Rwanda threatens to take France to court over Genocide suspects

The Rwandan Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga has threatened that Rwanda may have to take France to court over their failure to arrest known fugitives, accused of crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide.

The National Public Prosecution Authority says that at least 21 indicted Genocide suspects are currently in France.

Rwandan High Court rejects genocide suspect’s demands

The Special Chamber of the High Court of Rwanda has rejected the demands of a deported genocide suspect from Canada, asking to court to nullify his case.

Leon Mugesera, who was removed from Canada earlier this year after losing a deportation battle that lasted nearly 20 years, questioned the mandate of the court, claiming they had no jurisdiction to try his alleged crimes, which occurred in 1992.

France rejects CAR appeal

The Central African Republic's president appeal for help in pushing back a rebel offensive has been rejected by France who have said that their troops can only protect French nationals.

President Francois Bozize made the appeal to France and the USA as rebel fighters close in just 75km away from the capital city. Bozize said,

Colombian police general to face extended sentence for crimes against humanity.

A recently sentenced Colombian police general, serving 13 years in a U.S prison, could face a further 30 years following the unveiling of new evidence, reported local Columbian media, Colombia Reports.

The Colombian police general, Mauricio Santoya, was convicted of disclosing secret information to paramilitary groups.

However, representatives of victims of the general’s actions, claim that they have new evidence that links Santoyo to crimes against humanity that he has not been held accountable for.

Argentina's former Finance Minister jailed

The former minister of Argentina, Felisa Miceli, has been sentenced to four years in prison on charges of corruption and has been barred from public office for eight years.

The court deemed that she have covered up an illegal financial dealing, and was obstructing justice.

Speaking after the court ruling, Miceli said,

Iran comes under new wave of cyber attacks

The Iranian government has stated that they have fended off a number of cyber attacks on a power plant and other industries located in the south of the country.

Speaking to the Iranian Isna news agency, head of the military unit responsible for defending against cyber attacks, the Passive Defense Organization, Ali Akbar Akhavan said,

Israel approves over 1,200 new settlements around Jerusalem

The Israeli government has approved the development of a further 1,242 homes in and around the city of Jerusalem, in a massive new wave of expansion.

The homes are set to be built controversially over the dividing green line in Gilo that split Arab and Israeli territory before the Six Day War in 1967.

Syrian military police chief defects

The head of Syria’s military police, Lt Gen Abulaziz al-Shalal has defected from Bashar al-Assad’s government and is reported to have fled to Turkey.

In a video released on YouTube, Lt Gen al-Shalal said that the army has turned into "gangs of murderers” and had failed to protect Syrian citizens.

"I declare my defection from the army because of its deviation from its fundamental mission to protect the nation and transformation into gangs of murder and destruction,"