WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

In recent weeks Yemen’s Houthi armed group has shot down seven US Reaper drones worth over $200m. The drones destroyed between 31 March and 22 April mark Washington's most significant material loss.  Three of the drones were destroyed in the past week, suggesting an improvement in the Houthis’ ability to strike high-altitude US aircraft.  The drones were conducting surveillance or…

Genocide in Syria - Arab League observer

One of the fifty Arab League observers visiting Damascus called the Assad regime's killings a genocide.

Speaking to Al Arabiya broadcaster on Monday, Mostashar Mahgoub said,

"what's happening in Syria is genocide."

"This is a regime is taking revenge on its people."

Another 'Dirty War' suspect to face justice - Argentina

An ex-military officer in Argentina's 'Dirty War' has been arrested by authorities in Boliva, on charges of human rights violations.

The officer, Luis Enrique Baraldini, was extradited to Argentina, after Bolivian Interior Minister, Wilfredo Chavez, presented a handcuffed Baraldini at a press conference in La Paz.

Chavez said Baraldini "was a member of the epoch of dictatorship in Argentina and has therefore been charged in that country."

Tens of thousands protest against election fraud in Moscow

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Moscow on Saturday, condemning election fraud and demanding a repeat election.

Wearing white ribbons and chanting slogans such as "We are the Power!" and "Russia without Putin", protesters called for an end to Putin's 12-year rule.

The protest, with no central leader, is considered to be the most largest show of public condemnation since those against the Soviet Union over 20 years ago. Saturday's protest was larger than the previous protest on 10th December, against vote rigging in the recent elections.

First observers arrive in Syria as hundreds more are killed

A delegation from members of the Arab League has arrived in Syria in order to prepare for the arrival of 20 foreign observers over the weekend, a number that will eventually increase to 500.

The observers will judge whether Syria is implementing a peace plan it agreed to after pressure by the Arab League and Turkey.

The plan includes withdrawal of troops from the streets, release of prisoners, and dialogue with the opposition.

Turkey cuts ties as France passes Genocide bill

The French National Assembly has passed a bill outlawing the denial of Genocide and war crimes that are accepted as such by the French government.

The bill has to go before the Senate next year, before becoming law; however it is thought to be unlikely to be passed by the senate.

The Turkish government has reacted by cutting all ties with France after Thursday’s vote.

‘I am sorry for the role I played in Fallujah’ – U.S. Marine

"It has been seven years since the end of the second siege of Fallujah – the US assault that left the city in ruins, killed thousands of civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands more; the assault that poisoned a generation, plaguing the people who live there with cancers and their children with birth defects.

Sweden 'no safe haven' - chief war crimes investigator

Swedish police have arrested a man, of both Swedish and Rwandan citizenship, who is accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The arrest took place on Thursday, at Bromma Airport, by Stockholm, and is the third such case since a special war crimes commission was initiated.

Chief investigator, Anders Wretling, said,

"We're happy to be able to give a clear signal that Sweden is no safe haven for war criminals,"

Baluchistan solution to Pakistan problem – US former diplomat

The permanent solution to the Pakistan problem … lies in 20th-century history. ... The answer to the current Pakistani train wreck is to continue this natural process [of Bangladesh gaining independence from Pakistan] by recognizing Baluchistan’s legitimate claim to independence.”

- M. Chris Mason, a retired diplomat and a senior fellow at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies in Washington DC.

Hidden from the world

“Kim Jong-il, the enigmatic North Korean leader, died on a train at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in his country. Forty-eight hours later, officials in South Korea still did not know anything about it — to say nothing of Washington, where the State Department acknowledged “press reporting” of Mr. Kim’s death well after North Korean state media had already announced it.”

US extradites genocide convict to Rwanda

The United States has extradited a Rwandan convicted in absentia for her role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

In 2009, she was sentenced for 19 years, the complicity in the murder of several children.

The woman, Marie-Claire Mukeshimana, was extradited to Kigali on Wednesday.

Rwanda's chief prosecutor, Martin Ngoga said,