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,…

Ukraine parliament passes 'special status' bill for eastern regions

Aug 30, 2015
Ukraine’s parliament on Monday voted for constitution al changes that decentralised powers to its eastern regions through a ‘special status’ in hopes of dampening separatist sentiment in Russian speaking parts of the country.

A “de-centralisation” bill that was backed by President Petro Poroshenko’ political bloc and his government with over 39 more votes than the required majority.

Dozens of civilians killed in air strike in Yemen

Aug 29, 2015

As many as 36 people have been killed after a Saudi-led coalition air strike in the Hajjah province in Yemen, according to the latest reports.

The strike hit a bottling plant in the province, with witnesses reporting corpses were left “burnt or in pieces”. Most of the dead are civilians.

Egypt summons British ambassador over Al-Jazeera journalist comments

Aug 29, 2015

Britain’s ambassador to Egypt John Casson has been summoned by the Egyptian foreign ministry, after accusing him of interference due to comments made on the sentencing three Al-Jazeera journalists.

An Egyptian court had found the three journalists, Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste, guilty of “spreading false news” and sentenced to three years imprisonment – a ruling that has been widely criticised by human rights and press freedom groups.

Speaking in Arabic outside the court, Mr Casson said the court's decision would "undermine confidence in Egypt's stability".

Egypt's foreign ministry said his words were "unacceptable intervention in Egyptian judicial rulings” and had summoned him “to express its strong objection” to his comments.

“Egypt does not need lessons from anyone,” the foreign ministry statement added.

Egypt jails Al Jazeera journalists for three years

Aug 28, 2015

An Egyptian court has jailed three journalists with Al Jazeera for three years, for "spreading false news".
The three men were initially sentenced in July 2014 but their convictions were overturned and they were released in February this year.

One of the journalists, Australian citizen Peter Greste was subsequently deported back to his home country, but Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed remained in Egypt.

All three were tried again, with Mr Greste on trial in absentia.

Wanted Sudanese president to visit China

Aug 28, 2015
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who has international arrest warrants for crimes against humanity and genocide, is set to visit China to mark World War II commemorations next week.

The reported visit has sparked outrage from human rights groups who have repeatedly called for Mr Bashir’s arrest.

“It is outrageous that anyone would welcome him into their border without arresting him,” said Tom Andrews, president of the Save Darfur Coalition.

His comments were echoed by Elise Keppler, acting director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch, who said “Omar al-Bashir should be in The Hague facing justice, not in China celebrating at their World War II event”.

“Experience has shown that fugitives may be able to evade justice for a time, but not indefinitely,” she added.

China and US look to strengthen ties as Rice meets Xi Jinping

Aug 27, 2015
The United States and China said they looked to strengthen and building on ties between the two countries, as the US' national security advisor, Susan Rice, met with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday.

"We have seen our bilateral relationship evolve and strengthen in recent months. And we have found areas of broadened and deepened cooperation that we are certainly looking forward to building upon," Ms Rice was quoted by Reuters as saying.

"At the same time, we have been able to discuss frankly our differences, which we both acknowledge need to be addressed effectively," she added.

US sanctions European funders of FARC militants

Aug 27, 2015
The US Treasury said it would place financial sanctions on four Colombians accused of laundering money for the FARC militants in Colombia through an outfit in Switzerland.

Four individuals were sanctioned for serving as a front for FARC militants by running a store that specialised in rare Latin delicacies, reports Associated Press.

British Library criticised for rejecting Taliban archive over terrorism fears

Aug 27, 2015
The British Library was criticised on Friday by academics around the world for refusing to house the master copy of the largest digital archive of Taliban manuscripts and literature, citing fears of contravening the UK's anti-terror legislation, reported AFP.

A spokesperson for the British Library said it was "no currently able to acquire a copy of the archive", which includes laws, official newspapers, maps, poetry and radio broadcasts, stating that "it is a large digitised archive which contains material that could contravene the Terrorism Act".

"The legal advice received jointly by the British Library and other similar institutions advises against making this type of material accessible," she added.

"It's surprising and disappointing," the lead researcher, Alex Strick van Linschoten, who is based in Berlin said.

Bosnian Muslim commander charged with war crimes

Aug 27, 2015

A former Bosnian Muslim commander was charged with war crimes during the 1992-1995 ethnic conflict.

Naser Oirc led Muslim forces in the eastern town of Srebrenica alongside his lieutenant Sabahudin Muhic. The pair were charged with the murder of three Serbian prisoners of war in 1992 reports Agence France Presse.

CAR militants release captured children as part of UN negotiations

Aug 27, 2015
An armed group in the Central African Republic released 163 enslaved children on Friday as part of a pledge in a UN agreement.

The children were freed by the predominantly Christian anti-Balaka militants, who are thought to have captured 6,000 children.

A negotiator from the UN children’s agency UNICEF, Mohamed Malick Fail, said,

“The release is a sign that the process of implementing the commitment made by the leaders of these groups, as a part of the peace and reconciliation process is on track.”
Ukraine parliament passes 'special status' bill for eastern regions
Dozens of civilians killed in air strike in Yemen
Egypt summons British ambassador over Al-Jazeera journalist comments
Egypt jails Al Jazeera journalists for three years
Wanted Sudanese president to visit China
China and US look to strengthen ties as Rice meets Xi Jinping
US sanctions European funders of FARC militants
British Library criticised for rejecting Taliban archive over terrorism fears
Bosnian Muslim commander charged with war crimes
CAR militants release captured children as part of UN negotiations