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…

Kurdish genocide memorial to be built at The Hague

A memorial dedicated to Kurdish victims of the Halabja genocide, where tens of thousands were killed by chemical weapons, has been unanimously approved by the Hague City Council.

The memorial, proposed by the Halabja Memorial Committee, is planned to be placed near the building of the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), with Harry van Bommel, an MP from the Socialist Party saying,

Israeli soldiers assault Reuters crew

Two Reuters cameramen were assaulted by Israeli soldiers in Hebron, West Bank on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

The soldiers punched the cameramen, forced them to strip in the street and let off a tear gas canister in front of them, leaving one of the victims in need of hospital treatment.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avital Leibovich said that "the regional brigade commander was ordered to open an investigation," but no further information will be provided until the investigation is complete.

Sudan still committing war crimes - ICC prosecutor

Sudan may face more charges for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur, announced the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda.

Fatou Bensouda told the United Nations Security Council that war crimes including bombings, bombardments, the blocking of humanitarian aid and direct attacks on civilian populations, continued to be committed by Sudan.

The Security Council ambassadors requested strong efforts to arrest indicted war criminal Al-Bashir and several others to trial.

Israel will withold Palestinian funds in response to statehood bid

Israel will withold Palestinian funds in the form of tax revenues from the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in response to the state's UN observer status bid.

Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said:

"The Palestinians can forget about getting even one cent in the coming four months, and in four months' time we will decide how to proceed,"

Mladic aide jailed for life

A former Bosnian Serb General has been found guilty of genocide and sentenced to life at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Zdravko Tolimir, who is said to have been the ‘right hand’ of Ratko Mladic, who used to be the head of intelligence, was convicted for his involvement in the Srebrenica killing, where over 7,000 Bosniak men and boys were massacred by Serb forces.

UN Security Council condemns North Korean rocket launch

The United Nations Security Council roundly condemned the launch of a long-range rocket by North Korea, following global criticism of the move by Pyongyang.

A statement by the Security Council said,

"Members of the Security Council condemned this launch, which is a clear violation of the Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874."

El Salvador ordered to investigate 1981 massacre

The government of El Salvador has been ordered to investigate a massacre which left around a thousand people dead during its civil war.

The current government apologised for the massacre in January, with President Mauricio Funes weeping while asking for forgiveness.

However the Costa Rica based Inter-American Human Rights Court ruled that the killings by government soldiers in and around El Mozote have to be investigated.

US recognises Syrian opposition coalition

The United States announced it would now recognise the Syrian opposition coalition as "legitimate representative of the Syrian people".

In an interview with ABC News, US President Barack Obama said,

"We've made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population, that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime."

Swedish weapons in Burma despite EU arms embargo

An investigation has been launched to shed light on how new Swedish-made weapons entered Burma despite European Union sanctions on arms sales to Burma.

The Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (ISP) announced that an investigation had been launched after it received information about several weapons recovered by Kachin rebels from Burmese troops in the on-going conflict.

Tripoli clashes kill six

Violence between supporters of opposing Syrian groups has killed 6 people and injured 40 in the Lebanese capital Tripoli.

Existing sectarian tensions in Lebanon have increased since the escalation of the conflict in Syria.

Groups of young men were seen firing machine guns and rocket propelled grenades at each other in the Bab al-Tabbana area.