WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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,…

“The Terminator” hands himself over to US embassy

The suspected Congolese war criminal Bosco Ntaganda, also known as “The Terminator”, has handed himself in at the US embassy in Kigali.

Ntaganda is wanted by the ICC for conscripting child soldiers, rape, ethnic persecution and murder.

"I can confirm that Bosco Ntaganda... walked into the US embassy in Kigali this [Monday] morning," US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told media.

"He specifically asked to be transferred to the ICC in The Hague."

Somali journalist freed

A Somalian journalist jailed last month for interviewing an alleged rape victim was freed by a Somali judge on Sunday.

The case sparked international outrage over issues of the treatment of victims of sexual violence as well as press freedom.

See Reuters for full report.

Former Khmer Rouge official dies

An 87-year-old former Khmer Rouge official standing trial for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Cambodia died earlier this week.

Halabja Gas attacks remembered

The 25th anniversary of the chemical weapons attack on the town of Halabja has been commemorated in Kurdistan, northern Iraq.

Kurds from across the region came together to remember those who died after Saddam Hussein’s air force dropped poison gas on the town.

Around 5,000 people, mostly women and children, were killed during the attack, while many more died in the aftermath due to diseases caused by the contamination.

Former Argentine dictator receives third life sentence

A former military ruler of Argentina has received a third life sentence for crimes against humanity  involving detainees held the Campo de Mayo military base.

The 85-year-old was convicted of the illegal arrests, kidnapping, robbery, torture and murder of 23 detainees, seven of whom were pregnant and had to give birth inside the infamous clandestine prison. In 2012 and 2012 the former general has already received life sentences for crimes related to Campo de Mayo.

Defeated Kenyan presidential candidate files appeal 

The defeated Kenyan presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court accusing the electoral authorities of manipulating the results of the recent presidential election.  Uhuru Kenyatta beat Odinga by 50.07% to 43.28% in the election's first round on 4th March.

Li Keqiang named China's premier

Li Keqiang has been named China's new premier by the country's leaders on Friday, whilst xi Jinping was announced as president. Li received 2940 of 3000 votes, and Jinping received 2950 out of 3000.

The US president Barack Obama called both to express his congratulations. In a statement the US White House said:

"Both leaders agreed on the value of regular high-level engagement to expand co-operation and co-ordination,"

US to boost missile defence

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Friday that the they will be bolstering its missile defences in response to "a series of irresponsible and reckless provocations" from North Korea.

Hagel also said that the additional defences would mean that the US "will be able to add protection against missiles from Iran sooner, while also providing additional protection against the North Korean threat."

HRW: Chad must arrest Omar al-Bashir

The Chadian government should arrest President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan ro bar him entry to Chad, Human Rights Watch said today.
Reports suggest that President al-Bashir will attend the Greenbelt Conference of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States on March 18 2013.
Noting that Chad was a member of the ICC, Human Rights watch said, that Chad was obliged to cooperate with the

Syrian arms race

The US State Department has suggested that it may support Britain and France providing arms to the Syrian Opposition.

In response to questions about Britain wanting to lift the EU arms embargo to Syria, spokesperson Victoria Nuland said: