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,…

Ukraine repeals anti-protest laws

The Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly voted to repeal the anti-protest laws, that sparked the recent unrest and protests in Ukraine.

Speaking after the law was repealed, the Fatherland Party leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said,
“We have repealed the laws against which the entire country rose up.”

Mladic denounces 'satanic' court at Karadzic trial

Former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic refused to testify at The Hague earlier today, after he was called in to testify as a witness for former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.

Mladic was unusually called in for the defence of his former political leader before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), where both men face numerous counts of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Kosovo Serb politician arrested for war crimes

Oliver Ivanovic, a leading Kosovo Serb politician was arrested on Monday on suspicion of war crimes.

EU officials said that Ivanovic had been identified as a suspect in the war crimes investigation that took place after the 1990s Kosovo conflict ended.

Although details Ivanovic's crimes have not been made public, local newspapers claim that he is suspected of torturing and murdering ethnic Albanians and being one of the organisers of a violent, anti-Albanian vigilante group.

See more on BBC news.

12 killed in Xinjiang violence‏

12 people have been killed by explosions and gunshots in the Xinjiang province, stated Chinese officials, as they blamed the flare up in violence on “terrorists”.

The province, home to mainly Muslin ethnic Uigurs, saw 6 killed by explosions in a market and hairdressers, whilst 6 more were shot dead by police. 

Government investigations blamed the explosion on “organised, premeditated terrorist attacks” and have led to reports that China will now be seeking to clamp down on the region with thougher laws on religion.

Al-Shabab chief targeted in US drone strike

A drone strike by the US military is said to have killed a suspected Al-Shabab commander, along with four others, reported the BBC.

US officials could not confirm that the attack was successful, however local residents said that local Al-Shabab leader Sahal Iskudhuq and the others were killed when their convoy was struck by a missile.

Read more here.

Peace deal to create autonomous region in Philippines

A long awaited peace deal has been agreed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signalling what many hope will be the end to a 40-year-long violent conflict.
 
The deal, which saw initials talks begin in October 2012, will see the creation of an autonomous Muslim region in the south of the country, as well as large shares of revenue generated from the resource rich region given to local authorities. Fighters from the organisation are also expected to merge with Philippine government forces, whilst others are to gradually disarm through a third party.

Women and children allowed to leave besieged Syrian city

Women and children are to be allowed to leave the besieged Syrian city of Homs, after negotiators reached their first deal in peace talks in Geneva.

According to the UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, a relief corridor could be opened up as early as Monday, although the government did not conceed to allowing food and other supplies to be allowed in.

Men who are deemed to be 'non-combatants' after government scrutiny will also be allowed to leave.

Egypt anniversary clashes leave 29 dead

The three year anniversary of the start of the Egyptian uprising, which overthrew Hosni Mubarak, has seen demonstrations by both supporters and opponents of the current government, backed by the military.

Police attempted to break up the opposition protests, and clashes left at least 29 demonstrators dead.

"The only thing allowed is Sisi revolutionaries," one of the activists, blogger Wael Khalil, told the Associated Press news agency.

‘Genocide’ removed from Bosnian memorial

Controversy has erupted in the Bosnian town of Visegrad, after Bosnian Serb authorities removed the word ‘genocide’ from a memorial plaque erected in the Eastern town.

The memorial, which read, "to all killed and missing Bosniaks, children, women and men, victims of genocide in Visegrad", was erected in the Straziste Muslim cemetery.

Kenyatta war crimes trial delayed

The International Criminal Court (ICC) delayed the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta today, after receiving a request from the prosecutors to delay the trial by 3 months and a request by Kenyatta’s defence to withdraw the case altogether.


A hearing will be held on the 5th of February by the court to hear recommendations from both sides before reaching a decision on a final date for trial.