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,…

Saudi led coalition announces humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen

Saudi led coalition forces announced a five day humanitarian ceasefire to start on Sunday, reports Reuters.

The announcement was made on Saturday, after Yemen’s exiled president Abd-Rabbu Monsaur Hadi, requested a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to Yemen’s war affected civilians.

UN aid ship reaches Yemen (21 Jul 2015)

Peace negotiators propose UN assisted independent tribunal for South Sudanese crimes

Negotiators in South Sudan’s peace talks have proposed establishing a court to try those responsible for genocide and war crimes in South Sudan, in a power-sharing document that hopes to end the 19 month conflict.

A draft agreement negotiated by eight East African nations of the IGAD block, convening in Ethiopia, proposes an independent hybrid court, set up in collaboration with the African Union and United Nations to try possible genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Belgium recognises Armenian genocide

The Belgium parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a resolution recognising the Armenian genocide.

The decision was swiftly condemned by Turkey. In a statement issued on Friday, the Turkish foreign ministry said, Turkey had been “unfairly indicted, historical facts have been distorted and law has been ignored."

"The grave picture that has emerged with the July 23 decision of the Chamber of Deputies [was] met with regret by the Belgian Turkish community and has deeply impacted our bilateral relations,” the statement added.

"It should be understood that this and similar decisions that have been made do not serve the Turkish-Armenian conciliation in any way".

Turkey conducts airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria

Turkey’s air-force carried out attacks on Islamic State targets in Syria for the first time on Friday, as well as militant camps of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, reports Reuters.

Turkish President Tayyip Ergogen promised further decisive action against Islamic State militants and Kurdish militants.

Romania sentences former Communist prison guard for crimes against humanity

In a land mark case, Romania has convicted a former Communist-era prison guard of crimes against humanity for his role in the Ramnicu Sarat prison from 1956 to 1963 and the deaths of 12 inmates.

The former guard, who is now aged 89, Alexandru Visinescu, was sentenced for 20 years. He is the first senior official in the country's former communist regime to face justice.

The prosecution argued he had ran an "extermination regime" at the prison in Eastern Romania, which was notorious for the use of torture and starvation, targeting political prisoners.

Italy's 1974 far-right bombers receive life sentence

An Italian court has jailed two former far-right extremists for life, for their in a bomb attack 41 years ago.

The 1974 bombing in Brescia killed eight people and injured over 100 at an anti-fascist rally in the city in northern Italy.

Carlo Maria Maggi, 80, then a member of Italy's far-right group New Order and Maurizio Tramonte 63, a former intelligence agent, were given life sentences by the court in Milan.

Kerry defends Iran nuclear deal at US Congress

US Secretary of State John Kerry staunchly defended the Iran nuclear deal telling skeptics warning his Senate that turning down the deal would allow to Iran to continue with its weapons program.

Mr Kerry stresses that those who oppose the deal were pushing an unrealistic alternative. The US Secretary of state, speaking at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said,

“The fact is now Iran has extensive experience with nuclear fuel cycle technology. We can’t bomb that knowledge away. Nor can we sanction that knowledge away.

Pinochet-era student attack case reopened

A Chilean judge has reopened a case investigating an attack on two students during a demonstration against the Pinochet-regime in 1986.

Seven former military officers are being questioned about their involvement in the attack, which saw 19-year-old Rodrigo Rojas and 18-year-old Carmen Quintana doused in petrol and set on fire by soldiers, with Rodrigo dying days after, while Carmen survived severe burn injuries.

The case was reopened after testimony provided by a military conscript, who broke the army's pact of silence on the prominent case.

Best outcome for Israel Palestine conflict is two-state solution says Hillary Clinton

The US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said a two –state solution for Israel and Palestinians was the only feasible resolution to the longstanding conflict in the region.

Responding to a question from an audience member at an election campaign event in South Carolina, Ms Clinton said that a two state settlement would be the “best outcome” for both the Israelis and Palestinians, reports Reuters.

France, Russia, Germany and Ukraine agree to call on separatist militants to extend arms pull back

Leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine agreed to call on Ukraine’s separatist militants to extend the duration of a pull-back on their weapons in eastern Ukraine.

Commenting at the end of over 2 hours of telephone talks, French President Francois Hollande’s office said that the leaders of the four countries “want the agreements signed as soon as possible.”