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,…

Spanish prosecutors to bring criminal charges against Catalan president

Nov 19, 2014
Spanish prosecutors will be filing a criminal case against Catalan President Artur Mas and two other officials, in response to an independence referendum held in the region earlier this month.

Spain's Attorney General Eduardo Torres-Dulce met with over 20 senior public prosecutors from across the country this week, where it was overwhelmingly agreed that a case should be put before the High Court of Justice in Catalonia.

Catalan's regional government held a non-binding referendum on November 9, with over two million Catalans participating, despite a court ruling declaring the poll “illegal”. More than 80% voted for independence.

Rwanda begins public inquiry into BBC 'genocide denial' documentary

Nov 19, 2014
The Rwandan government has begun a commission into a BBC documentary that it accuses of  genocide denial and violating media ethics this week.

The commission, led by the former Prosecutor-General Martin Ngoga,begun hearing testimonies this week with Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) chairperson Fred Muvunyi calling for the prosecution of those involved in the documentary.

"The documentary lacks in basic journalistic standards, it violated many principles and laws and this is why we request that in your final recommendations, you mention the need to take a legal action since there are criminal elements," said Muvunyi.

Mistaken' shell attack leaves Kachin peace talks in jeopardy

Nov 19, 2014
A shell attack by Myanmar's military, which killed dozens of militants with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), threatens to halt a fragile process of peace talks between the two sides.

The KIA announced that 23 cadres were killed after a shell was fired on them from government positions. The cadres were undertaking military training exercises at the time and takes place after the latest round of peace talks between the two sides ended on September 27 without an agreement being reached.

Burkina Faso appoints military leader as prime minister

Nov 19, 2014
Burkina Faso authorities appointed Lt Col Isaac Zida as a transitional prime minister after the army officer declared himself head of state on Tuesday, reports the BBC.

The agreement states that Zida will assume power over a yearlong transition to elections The newly appointed head of state is expected to hold talks on forming a transitional government.

See our earlier posts:

Egypt 'discussing' pardon for Al Jazeera journalists

Nov 19, 2014

The Egyptian government is discussing the possibility of grating a pardon to two of the three Al Jazeera journalists detained in the country, said President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in an interview with France 24.

"Let us say that this matter is being discussed to solve the issue," Sisi said.

UN resolution calls for North Korea to be referred to ICC

Nov 18, 2014

The United Nations General Assembly committee that oversees human rights issues has passed a resolution calling for the UN Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, as North Korea warned of further nuclear tests in response.

The resolution acknowledged findings from an earlier UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses in the country, stating there were "reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed ... pursuant to policies established at the highest level of the State for decades."

It goes on to call for a referral to the International Criminal Court “and consideration of the scope for effective targeted sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible" for the violations.

The non-binding vote was passed with 111 countries in favour and 19 against, with 55 abstentions.

Amongst those who voted against the resolution were North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Bomb blast kills 5 in Iraqi Kurdish capital

Nov 18, 2014
At least five people have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Erbil governor, Hamza Hamid, said the attack happened "right in front of the main entrance of the building of Erbil governorate”. The bomber had reportedly attempted to enter the citadel grounds.

The Iraqi Kurdish Health Ministry stated that at least 22 people were injured in the blast.

See footage of the aftermath of the attack from Kurdistan TV below.

FARC militants defend capture of Colombian general

Nov 18, 2014
The FARC militants in Colombia defended the kidnapping of a Colombian general and his two companions during peace negotiations, reports the BBC.

In a statement, the militant group said that Colombians were captured because “they were military personnel" moving in a “war zone.”

The FARC statement criticised the government saying that “even in the middle of a peace process,” government forces had “the right to kill and tear apart” FARC militants without them having the right to respond.

Putin backs deeper ties with North Korea

Nov 18, 2014
Russian president Vladmir Putin has called for stronger ties with North Korea, after meeting with a special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

Speaking during a televised ceremony where Putin received the new North Korean ambassador's credentials, the Russian President said,
"We maintain friendly relations with one of our neighbours, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.”

"A further deepening of political ties and trade and economic cooperation is definitely in the interests of the peoples of both countries and ensuring regional stability and security."
The meeting between the two countries comes as the United Nations passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for North Korea to be referred to the International Criminal Court. North Korea responded angrily to the vote, warning that more nuclear tests may be carried out in response.

UN human rights experts say Bosnia genocide convict should not to be released

Nov 18, 2014
A team of UN human rights experts have expressed concern over the possible release of Milorad Trbic, who was found guilty of committing genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina by a Bosnian court in 2009.

The ruling and sentence of 30 years in prison was recently overturned by Bosnia's constitutional court. A retrial is expected to take place.

“The release of convicted criminals undermines efforts made by the Bosnian State Court and the international community to achieve justice, especially in light of the wider failure by the Government to adopt and implement a comprehensive transitional justice strategy,” the experts said in a joint statement published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

“Each decision has led to a prisoner’s release pending retrial and retrials have led to much lower sentences,” the experts said, adding, “There is a grave risk that the convicted criminal will flee to another jurisdiction, as happened recently in the case of war criminal Novak Ðukic."

Spanish prosecutors to bring criminal charges against Catalan president
Rwanda begins public inquiry into BBC 'genocide denial' documentary
Mistaken' shell attack leaves Kachin peace talks in jeopardy
Burkina Faso appoints military leader as prime minister
Egypt 'discussing' pardon for Al Jazeera journalists
UN resolution calls for North Korea to be referred to ICC
Bomb blast kills 5 in Iraqi Kurdish capital
FARC militants defend capture of Colombian general
Putin backs deeper ties with North Korea
UN human rights experts say Bosnia genocide convict should not to be released