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,…

Mombasa separatist leader arrested

Oct 15, 2014

The leader of the Mombasa Republican Council, a separatist group based in southern Kenya, has been charged with holding an illegal gathering and planning to breach the peace.

Omar Mwamnuadzi was arrested with 11 other members of the MRC during a police raid on his home and denied the charges in a court appearance on Wednesday.

Although the Kenyan High Court lifted the ban on the group in 2012, the government still considers the MRC to be a terrorist group.

Some progress made in difficult Iran-US nuclear talks

Oct 15, 2014
The United States and Iran said some progress was made in nuclear talks between both sides in Vienna on Thursday.

"It was very difficult, serious and intensive ... but instead of focusing on problems, we discussed solutions as well," Javid Zarif, Iran's foreign minister told journalists, following his meeting with the US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Both parties said there was no intention at present to extend the deadline set as November 2.

Whilst Kerry left, Zarif stayed for talks with officials from the US, as well as the UK, Russia and China.

Hong Kong Chief Executive open for talks with protestors

Oct 15, 2014
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying has said that he welcomed the prospect of new talks with pro-democracy protestors, who have occupied parts of the city for almost 3 weeks.

Leung told reporters,
"Over the last few days, including this morning through third parties, we expressed a wish to the students that we would like to start a dialogue to discuss universal suffrage as soon as we can and hopefully within the following week."
However, he added that he was not in a position to offer any new concessions, saying, “we can’t make something unconstitutional constitutional.”

Putin 'unlikely' to meet Abbott says Kremlin, as Medvedev warns Australian PM

Oct 14, 2014
Vladmir Putin is “unlikely” to meet Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, said the Kremlin, after Abbott vowed to confront the Russian president over the downing of flight MH17 in Eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin's remarks come as Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that politicians should “choose their words”, after Abbott said he would “shirt-front” Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane.

“Shirt-front” is an Australian Rules football term to aggressively knock an opponent to the floor.

“If he likes to use sports terms, let him go ahead”, said Medvedev. “Mr Putin is quite adept at sports and they could have forceful debates. That said, serious politicians should choose their words.”

The Russian president’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said “the Russian government does not intend to respond to Mr Abbott’s colourful language.”

UK recognition of Palestine criticised by Israel

Oct 14, 2014

The Israeli government has expressed concerns after the recent parliamentary vote in the UK, which saw the recognition of the Palestinian state.

Israel said the vote could undermine possibilities for a peaceful solution, by letting Palestinian leaders think they could evade "tough choices".

North, South Korea talks end in stalemate

Oct 14, 2014
Rare high level talks held between military generals from North and South Korea ended in stalemate on Wednesday with both sides failing to reach a breakthrough.

The two countries agreed to resume talks, after a high-level military delegation from North Korea visited South Korea for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games.

Kim Min-seok, spokesperson for the South’s Ministry of National Defense, said,
"The mood of the meeting was sincere as both sides were serious about improving ties, but this was the first meeting (in a while) and there was a difference in view that we were not able to narrow.”

Catalan president announces non-binding independence ballot

Oct 14, 2014
The Catalan president Artur Mas announced plans for a non-binding ballot on independence for the region, hours after calling off the proposed referendum on independence, after it was deemed illegal by a constitutional court last month.

"The vote on 9 November can be considered the preparatory vote before the definitive one," Mas told a press conference on Tuesday.

“There will be ballots and ballot boxes. We can’t apply the decree [to hold a referendum] but it will be possible to vote,” he said.

"The Catalan government has jurisdiction over consulting popular opinion," Mas said, adding, "the real adversary is the Spanish state, which has done everything to stop us voting."

Rwandan president accuses BBC of 'genocide denial'

Oct 14, 2014
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has accused the BBC of “genocide denial” following the airing of a documentary regarding the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Speaking to the Rwandan parliament on Tuesday, Kagame stated that the BBC had chosen to "tarnish Rwandans, dehumanise them", reports AFP.

He went on to state that whilst other genocides such as the Holocaust were never challenged, "but to Africans and Rwandans they do it and then claim freedom of speech".

The documentary, “Rwanda's Untold Story”, contained allegations that Kagame and his then RPF armed organisation had shot down the Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana, sparking the genocide which killed some 800,000 people.

Kagame's comments come after a group of 38 experts on Rwanda had written to the BBC, stating that they had been “recklessly irresponsible” in promoting “genocide denial”.

Prominent Shia cleric sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia

Oct 14, 2014

A Saudi court has sentenced prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr to death.

The cleric was accused by prosecutors of "sowing discord" and "undermining national unity", due to his support for anti-government protests that erupted in the country’s Shia-majority Eastern Province in 2011.

Sheikh Nimr's brother said he was sentenced to death in the Specialised Criminal Court, which tries terrorism cases, on Wednesday.

Turkey denies air base deal as jets bombs PKK

Oct 13, 2014
Turkish officials denied that a deal has been reached which allows the United States use of its air bases, as Turkish F-16 and F-4 carried out air strikes on Kurdish PKK-held areas in the south of the country.

The Turkish prime minister’s office denied that a decision had been taken over the use of Incirlik airbase and that talks were still underway.
Mombasa separatist leader arrested
Some progress made in difficult Iran-US nuclear talks
Hong Kong Chief Executive open for talks with protestors
Putin 'unlikely' to meet Abbott says Kremlin, as Medvedev warns Australian PM
UK recognition of Palestine criticised by Israel
North, South Korea talks end in stalemate
Catalan president announces non-binding independence ballot
Rwandan president accuses BBC of 'genocide denial'
Prominent Shia cleric sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
Turkey denies air base deal as jets bombs PKK