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,…

Egypt cancels jail sentences, orders retrial of journalists

Dec 31, 2014
Egypt's highest court has cancelled jail sentences against three Al Jazeera journalists who have been imprisoned for over a year and ordered a retrial, said their defence lawyer.

The three journalists, Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed had a hearing in Cairo on Thursday, appealing against jail sentences handed to them for spreading false news and allegedly supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Palestinian statehood resolution fails at UN Security Council by one vote

Dec 30, 2014
The UN Security Council on Tuesday rejected a Palestinian resolution calling for Israeli withdrawal form the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2017.

A US veto ensured that the resolution was not passed. The resolution also failed to reach the required minimum 9 votes in favour for it to be passed. In total, there were 8 votes in favour, including France, Russia and China, two against and five abstentions, reports Reuters. Australia and the US voted against the resolution.

The resolution called for negotiations on Palestinian statehood to be based on territorial lines that existed between the 1967 Middle East war, were Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Palestine signs up to the International Criminal Court

Dec 30, 2014
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, signed papers to join the International Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Palestine has now signed up to the Rome Statute, which places crimes committed in Palestinianan territory under the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Abbas signed 19 other international agreements, that could potentially open the way for Palestinians to pursue Israel for war crimes.

Warning that Israel would take “retaliatory steps,” the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said,

US enforces sanctions on Iranian individuals and businesses

Dec 29, 2014
The US Treasury Department imposed economic penalties on six individuals and three companies who allegedly assisted the Iranian government in obtaining hundreds of millions of US currency or evade existing sanctions.

Those accused include Iranians, citizens of Afghanistan and St Kitts and Nevis and a Dubai-based trading company, reports the Associated Press.

Those that have been blacklisted will have all assets in the US frozen, whilst being barred from doing business with American citizens.


Islamist politician sentenced to death for genocide in Bangladesh

Dec 29, 2014
A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal has sentenced a leading Islamist politician to death, after finding him guilty of rape, mass murder and genocide.

A.T.M. Azharul Islam, the 62 year old assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was found guilty of 5 of the 6 charges laid against him. He becomes the 11th Islamist politician to be convicted by the tribunal and the 16th overall. 14 people have been sentenced to death so far, with one Islamist politician executed in December 2013.

Islam has been ordered to be "hanged by the neck" for the murder of more than 1,200 people in the northern district of Rangpur. The attack was declared as part of a genocide by the tribunal, which found him guilty of being a key member of a pro-Pakistan militia during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

Delivering the verdict, judge Enayetur Rahimjudge Rahim said, "No doubt, it was mass murder."

US launches airstrike in Somalia

Dec 29, 2014
The United States launched an air strike in Somalia, targetting a senior leader of al-Shabab, the Pentagon said.

US Defense Department spokesman Mark Wright said in an emailed statement that "the strike took place in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia."

China to open up consulate in Kurdish capital

Dec 29, 2014
China will open a consulate in the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in Iraq, announced the Chinese consul general in Iraq.

In a meeting with the Kurdish prime minister Nechirvan Barzani, the Chinese diplomat said that his country wanted to boost economic ties with Kurdistan.

Turkey grants Syrian refugees secure legal status

Dec 29, 2014
The Turkish government has issued new identity cards to Syrian refugees in the country, under new regulations that will grant them a secure legal status in Turkey for the first time.

Turkey, which hosts 1.6 million Syrians who have fled the conflict, passed the new measures in October. In recent weeks, the regulations have begun to come into force, with Syrian refugees lining up to collect the new identity cards, granting them greater access to services outside of the refugees camp they abide in.

The move was praised by Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher for Amnesty International, as “a big step forward”. “The fact that the refugees’ rights and entitlements have been written into law should mean that authorities better implement them,” he said.

Mexico calls for UN Security Council reform

Dec 28, 2014
Mexico called for reform of the United Nations Security Council, that would allow for a greater number of member countries across a wider geographical spectrum.

A statement released by Mexico's foreign ministry said that it wanted the 10 temporary members to grow to 26, with six members from Africa, five from Asia, four from Latin America and the Caribbean, five from both Western and Eastern Europe and one from small developing nations, reports Reuters.

US ends formal combat role in Afghanistan

Dec 28, 2014
The US led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) military combat operations were formally ended in Afghanistan during a ceremony on Sunday. 

"These past 13 years have tested out nation and our military. But compared to the nearly 180,000 American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan when I took office, we now have fewer than 15,000 in those countries. Some 90% of our troops are home," said Barack Obama in a statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, the commander ISAF, John F Campbell, said, "Our Afghan partners can and will take the fight from here."
Egypt cancels jail sentences, orders retrial of journalists
Palestinian statehood resolution fails at UN Security Council by one vote
Palestine signs up to the International Criminal Court
US enforces sanctions on Iranian individuals and businesses
Islamist politician sentenced to death for genocide in Bangladesh
US launches airstrike in Somalia
China to open up consulate in Kurdish capital
Turkey grants Syrian refugees secure legal status
Mexico calls for UN Security Council reform
US ends formal combat role in Afghanistan