WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

German police arrest Rwanda genocide suspect accused of ordering killings
Rwandan genocide memorial in Nyamata (Fanny Schertzer) German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of complicity in genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. The suspect, identified only as Innocent S. under German privacy rules, was arrested in the central German state of Hesse on Wednesday. According to Reuters,…

Nigeria says ready to negotiate with Boko Haram over kidnapped school girls

Dec 29, 2015
The Nigerian government on Wednesday said that it would be prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram in order to ensure the release of over 200 school girls who were kidnapped in April 2014.

"We are prepared to negotiate with them without any preconditions," the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying by Reuters.

IS massacre of minorities is a genocide says Hillary

Dec 29, 2015
The US democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton said she believed the Islamic State's massacre of minorities, including the Christian community and the Yazidis constituted a "genocide", reported AP and CNN.

Ms Clinton made this comment when she attended a campaign event in New Hampshire on Tuesday evening and was asked by a member of the audience, "Will you join those leaders, faith leaders and secular leaders and political leaders from both the right and the left, in calling what is happening by its proper name: Genocide?"

"I will because we now have enough evidence," Ms Clinton replied, adding that "What is happening is genocide, deliberately aimed at destroying not only the lives but wiping out the existence of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East in territory controlled by ISIS."

German court sentences Rwanda mayor to life for genocide

Dec 28, 2015
Onesphore Rwabukombe who was a mayor in Rwanda at the time of the genocide, was already serving a sentence for his role in the massacres.  The new trial was based around new evidence found him guilty of genocide.

Evidence was gathered form over 100 witnesses who described scenes from the massacres that were directed by Rwabukombe, reports Reuters.

The Frankfurt court on Tuesday said,

Iraqi army needs Kurds to recapture Mosul

Dec 28, 2015
Iraq’s Finance Minsiter Hoshiyar Zebari said that Kurdish militant support would be a necessity to help Iraq’s army recapture the largest city under Islamic State control reports, Reuters.

Mr Zebari said the Kurdish Peshmerga would be needed to help recapture the Sunni Muslim city of Mosul.

“Mosul needs good planning, preparations, commitment from all the key players. Peshmerga is a major force; you cannot do Mosul without Peshmerga,“ said Mr Zebari.

Japan apologises for war-time rape and abuse of South Korean women

Dec 27, 2015
Japan has apologised for the rape and forced prostitution of South Korean women during World War 2 in a new bi-lateral accord that seeks to boost relations between the two nations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that Japan had apologised and expressed remorse reports Reuters.

The Japanese prime minister said,

“We should never allow this problem to drag on into the next generation. From now on, Japan and South Korea will enter a new era.”

US, China welcome Japan's apology to South Korea

Dec 27, 2015
The United States and China welcomed the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe's apology on Monday to South Korea for its rape and forced prostitution of South Korean women during World War 2.

“We believe this agreement will promote healing and help to improve relations between two of the United States’ most important allies,” the US Secretary of State, John Kerry was quoted by the WSJ as saying.

“We applaud the leaders of Japan and the Republic of Korea for having the courage and vision to reach this agreement, and we call on the international community to support it.”

The Chinese foreign ministry's military spokesperson also welcomed the apology.

Iran on track - John Kerry on nuclear deal

Dec 27, 2015

Iran has taken a "significant step" towards meeting its nuclear commitments, by sending a large quantity of uranium abroad, according to US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"I am pleased to report that we have seen important indications of significant progress towards Iran completing its key nuclear commitments under the deal," he said, speaking after Monday's shipment of low-enriched uranium to Russia, which means the amount of time it would take Iran to produce enough fuel for a bomb has now tripled.

Kurds call for self rule amidst Turkish security crackdown

Dec 26, 2015
Kurdish group meeting in southeaster Turkey called for self-rule amidst heavy fighting in the region, reports Reuters.

A group of Kuridsh non-governmental organisations, the Democratic People’s Congress (DTK), called for self-rule following a two-day meeting in Diyarbakir.

The Kurdish declaration called for the formation of autonomous regions including several neighbouring provinces of Diyarbakir that took into account cultural, economic and geographic issues.

University of Barcelona boycotts Israel

Dec 26, 2015
The Central University of Barcelona announced its decision to boycott Israeli universities and institutions that had direct or indirect ties with the occupation of Palestine.

The decision formed part of a trans-national initiative, “Places without Racism” that was supported by hundreds of institutions and universities worldwide, reports the Palestinian Information Center.

Syrian rebel leader killed in air strike

Dec 25, 2015
The leader of the largest Syrian rebel groups, Jaysh al Islam, was killed in an air strike on Friday in a suburb of Damascus.

The killing comes just days after the UN passed a resolution outlining a peace plan in Syria.

The air strike is believed to have been from Russian planes which fired at least 10 missiles at the group's headquarters.

Nigeria says ready to negotiate with Boko Haram over kidnapped school girls
IS massacre of minorities is a genocide says Hillary
German court sentences Rwanda mayor to life for genocide
Iraqi army needs Kurds to recapture Mosul
Japan apologises for war-time rape and abuse of South Korean women
US, China welcome Japan's apology to South Korea
Iran on track - John Kerry on nuclear deal
Kurds call for self rule amidst Turkish security crackdown
University of Barcelona boycotts Israel
Syrian rebel leader killed in air strike