WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Nationwide protests erupted as the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had his biggest political rival arrested last Wednesday and jailed today on counts of corruption and links to terrorism. Even with a longstanding reputation for imprisoning previous political rivals from Kurdish opposition leader Selahattin Demirtaş to the leader of the ultranationalist Victory Party, Ümit Özdağ, the…

EU adopts sanctions against six over Sudan conflict

The European Council adopted sanctions against six individuals responsible for atrocities in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. 

Fighting continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their respective affiliated militias. In response to this the European Council has adopted "restrictive measures" against six individuals responsible for activities "undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan".

Peruvians ask Inter-American Court to halt pro-impunity bill

On 17 June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held a public hearing in which the Ecumenical Foundation for Development and Peace (Fedepaz) joined representatives of victims from the Barrios Alos and La Cantuta cases in requesting the court to halt the proceedings of a pro-impunity bill.

Bill 6951/2023-CR aims to prevent the prosecution, sentencing, or punishment for crimes against humanity or war crimes committed before 1 July 2002.

ICC submission accuses Russia of ‘deliberate’ starvation tactics in Mariupol

A street of Mariupol during siege of the city in the course of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

A recent analysis submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) accuses Russia of engaging in a "deliberate pattern" of starvation tactics during the 85-day siege of Mariupol in early 2022. 

Macron suspends contested voting reforms in New Caledonia after deadly unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron has suspended controversial voting reforms in New Caledonia after an outbreak of deadly unrest in the French island territory. 

The unrest which flared up in New Caledonia on 13 May led to the deaths of 9 people. 

“The constitutional bill regarding New Caledonia… I have decided to suspend,” Macron said on Wednesday. 

UN Secretary-General calls for protection of civilians in Myanmar

In a statement released last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Myanmar.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the Secretary-General “calls on all parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and prevent further incitement of communal tension and violence.”

Myanmar’s Rakhine State has seen an increase in violence between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army. 

Modi sworn in for third term with diminished majority

Narendra Modi has been sworn in as India's prime minister for a third term in a ceremony held at the presidential palace in Delhi.

Report finds strong evidence that Ethiopian government and allied forces committed acts of genocide against Tigrayans

A protest against "Tigray Genocide" on March 26, 2021, in New York, NY.

A report published by the New Lines Institute on 3 June has concluded that there is compelling evidence that Ethiopian forces and its allies committed genocidal acts during the Tigray war.

Myanmar rebel group accused of persecuting Rohingya

The Arakan army is accused of persecuting Rhogingya in parts of the Rakhine state as the armed group has won control of large swathes of land in the region from the military junta. 

The Arakan Army, has won control of large parts of Rakhine State in Myanmar over the past few months, most recently the northern section where many Rohingya still live. In recent days, rights groups have accused the rebels of expelling the minority from their homes and destroying their property, in many cases by arson. The Arakan Army has rejected these allegations.

France court convicts Syrian officials of crimes against humanity

On 24 May the Paris Criminal Court convicted three high-ranking Syrian senior officials for their role in the imprisonment, enforced disappearance, and torture of two dual Syrian-French Citizens, Patrick Dabbagh and his Father Mazzen. 

In 2013, Mazzen and Patrick Dabbagh were arbitrarily arrested by the Syrian authorities and taken to the Mezzeh military airport detention center. After five years, their family received two death certificates stating their deaths in 2014 and 2017.

Norway, Ireland, and Spain to recognise Palestinian State

The leaders of Norway, Ireland, and Spain have announced that they will formally recognize a Palestinian state on 28 May.

On Wednesday, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said a two-state solution was in Israel’s best interest. He adds “There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.”

Gahr Store added, “Recognition of Palestine is a means of supporting the moderate forces which have been losing ground in this protracted and brutal conflict.”