International newsline

28052014

Israel asks Interpol not to carry out Gaza flotilla court ruling

Israel has appealed to Interpol not to implement a Monday ruling of a Turkish court that issued arrest warrants for four former Israeli military commanders on trial in absentia over the 2010 killing of nine Turks, Hebrew-language daily newspaper Ma’ariv reported. The Turks were killed in an Israeli commando raid on Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship that challenged Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. However, Israel branded the Turkish court’s ruling as “tainted by political motives,” asking Interpol not to honor it, the daily reported. An Istanbul court requested an Interpol Red Notice for the arrest of four senior Israeli military chiefs days after the tenth Turkish citizen who was seriously injured in the 2010 raid died after four years in a coma.

Dutch police to be deployed to Jewish sites after Belgium attack

The Netherlands has decided to ramp up security measures at Jewish sites, deploying police to cultural centers, schools, and synagogues, Reuters reports. According to the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, the measures are only a precaution. The move follows a deadly shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels on Saturday, in which three people were killed by a Kalashnikov-wielding man. France has also said it will step up security measures, while French President Francois Hollande said there was “no doubt” the killing of two Israelis and a French woman were motivated by anti-Semitism.

54 killed in Nigeria in alleged Boko Haram attacks

Fifty-four people have been killed in northern Nigeria in two attacks allegedly carried out by Islamist group Boko Haram, AP reported, citing officials. According to police constable Abdullahi Mohammed, 24 soldiers and 21 policemen died in an attack Monday evening on Buni Yadi town in Nigeria’s Yobe state. In another attack, gunmen suspected to be from Boko Haram killed nine people in two remote villages in Borno, a local government official said. The official added that the armed men shot at villagers and burned their homes in Ashigashiya town. After taking control of the area, they hoisted their white flags with Arabic letters.

40 hunger-striking Palestinian detainees hospitalized in Israel

Forty hunger-striking Palestinian detainees were hospitalized in Israel this week, Israel Prison Authority spokesperson Sivan Weizman said, as cited by AP. Their conditions are “reasonable,” she said, adding that their fast has entered into a second month. About 240 detainees are on a hunger strike at Ramle prison, demanding their release and the halt of their undetermined “administrative detention,” which allows Israel to detain people without charge or trial. Most of the prisoners are Palestinians. Issa Karakeh, the Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs, reported that about 300 people have been fasting, adding that half of them are administrative detainees.

Cameroon deploys 1,000 troops to Nigerian border to counter Boko Haram

Cameroon has deployed some 1,000 troops and armored vehicles to its border region with Nigeria to counter a rising threat from Boko Haram Islamist militants. “Their mission will be to carry out reconnaissance and be ready to respond with enough fire power,” Reuters quoted the Central African nation’s defense ministry spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Didier Badjeck, as saying on Tuesday. Boko Haram has carried out attacks in northern Cameroon and is suspected of attacking a Chinese workers camp there this month.

Palestinian factions Hamas, Fatah agree on national unity govt

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas agreed on the make-up of a national unity government on Tuesday, officials from both parties said. The groups decided on a list of independent, technocrat ministers who will run the government pending national polls in at least six months, Reuters said. The move is expected to revive institutions blocked since the parties fought a brief civil war in 2007.

Bomb kills 19 near Shiite mosque in Baghdad – reports

A bomb exploded near a Shiite mosque in central Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 19 people, Reuters said, citing security and medical sources. The attack took place in the densely-packed Shorja district in an open-air bus station within range of the mosque. The area is filled with shops.

Russian prosecutors want 2 of 5 convicted men jailed for life in Politkovskaya case

Russian prosecutors asked a judge on Tuesday for life sentences for two men convicted of the 2006 murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, Reuters said. A jury last week convicted five men of the murder and requested sentences ranging from 15 to 22 years for three other men who were found guilty of the murder of the investigative journalist. The two facing life in jail are Rustam Makhmudov, who was convicted of shooting Politikovskaya, and his uncle Lom-Ali Gaitukayev, found guilty of organizing the logistics of the crime, according to RIA Novosti.

OSCE loses contact with monitors near Donetsk, E. Ukraine

European security watchdog, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said on Tuesday that it had lost contact with one of its teams of monitors near the town of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, Reuters said. The four-strong international team was on a routine patrol east of Donetsk when contact was lost on Monday evening, according to the OSCE.

Embassy employees collect body of Italian journalist in Slavyansk, Ukraine

Representatives from the Italian embassy on Tuesday collected the body of Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli, who was killed in Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported, citing a source. The diplomats were presumably heading to Kharkov. The body of Andrey Mironov, a journalist and interpreter, who accompanied Rocchelli, reportedly remains in Slavyansk. They died last week after their car came undermortar fire near Slavyansk. A French journalist traveling in the same car was injured in the attack.

Iran officials confirm first 2 cases of MERS

Iranian officials have confirmed the country’s first two cases of MERS, the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona-Virus, first reported two years ago in its neighbor, Saudi Arabia. “Four suspected cases of new corona virus infection were observed in a family in the province of Kerman. Two of these cases were confirmed in two sisters,” Reuters quoted Mohammad Mahdi Gouya, the director-general of communicable diseases at the Iranian Health Ministry’s Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, as saying. “One of the sisters is in critical condition and the other is currently receiving treatment.”

Chief of France’s main opposition UMP to resign amid party funding probe

Jean-Francois Cope will resign on June 15 as head of France’s main opposition UMP party after allegations of irregularities in the finances of the conservative party, Reuters reported, citing a UMP source. The move effectively launches the race to secure the UMP ticket to stand in the 2017 presidential election. Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and former prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe are waiting in the wings.

Norway detains 3 for links to terror group

Norway’s security service says three men, with alleged links to an Al-Qaeda splinter group, have been arrested, AP reported. The preliminary charges include supporting or participating in a terror organization. The three suspects were Norwegian citizens aged 29, 27 and 24, the PST security service said on Tuesday. The oldest was born in Somalia and the other two were born in the former Yugoslavia.

10 children, 6 adults killed in Pakistan bus accident

A bus accident in Pakistan’s northwestern valley of Swat on Tuesday left 16 people dead, including 10 children, officials said. The bus, carrying passengers home from the central Punjab province to the Kalam hill station in Swat district, crashed on the roadside close to a river in the early hours, AFP said. Seven other passengers have been injured, said Mehmood Asalam, a senior administration official in Swat. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear.

5.1-magnitude earthquake rocks Iran, tremors felt in UAE

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Iran at 9.44am (5:44 GMT) on Tuesday at a depth of 10 kilometers, 66km southwest of Qeshm, the US Geological Service reported. The tremors were felt across the United Arab Emirates. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Qeshm, the UAE’s National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology confirmed. Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah felt the maximum impact of the tremors.

Italian kidnapped in Syria is free

Italian journalist Federico Motka, kidnapped in war-torn Syria over a year ago, has been freed and safely transferred to Turkey, via the Akcakale border gate in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa. Tomorrow he will see his relatives in Italy, promised Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Twitter. 31-year-old Motka used to work in Syria as a coordinator for the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) and was abducted by a group of armed men on March 13, 2013. Back in April four French journalists were freed in Syria after 10 months of captivity, also returning home via Turkey.

Vietnam says Chinese boat sank its fishing vessel in disputed waters

The head of Vietnam’s coastguard says a Chinese boat rammed and sank a Vietnamese fishing vessel in the disputed waters in the South China Sea on Monday, Reuters reports. The 10 fisherman who were on board the Vietnamese boat were rescued, said coastguard commander Nguyen Quang Dam. He added that the incident occurred 17 nautical miles from the massive oil rig China deployed between the Paracel islands and the Vietnamese coast. “A Vietnamese boat from the central city of Da Nang was deliberately encircled by 40 fishing vessels from China before it was attacked by a Chinese ship,” Dam told Reuters by telephone.

Pope Francis does not rule out retirement

Pope Francis says he would be open to retirement should his health not permit him carry on with his duties, stressing that papal retirement could become a norm for the Catholic Church. Referring to his predecessor who voluntarily resigned last year Francis said: “I think that Benedict XVI is not a unique case. I think we should see him as an institution who opened a door, the door of emeritus popes.” “Will there be more (papal resignations)? God knows, but the door is open,” the 77-year-old pontiff said speaking to reporters on the plane returning from a trip to the Middle East .

Pope Francis to meet sex abuse victims in early June

Pope Francis said Monday that he will meet with a group of sex abuse victims at the Vatican in early June, adding that he would show zero tolerance to anyone in the Catholic Church who abused minors, including bishops, Reuters reports. “Sexual abuse is such an ugly crime … because a priest who does this betrays the body of the Lord. It is like a satanic Mass,” he said. The pontiff spoke to reporters during a flight taking him back to the Vatican after his trip to the Middle East.

Zenit-3SL successfully takes Eutelsat-3B satellite to orbit

A Russian-Ukrainian carrier rocket Zenit-3SL has successfully lofted European communications satellite Eutelsat-3B to orbit, RIA Novosti reports citing Russian space agency Roscosmos. The rocket was launched from the Odyssey Launch Platform in the Pacific Ocean at 21:10 GMT. Eutelsat-3SL which is operated by France-based satellite provider Eutelsat S.A. has up to 51 transponders, and will operate in C, Ku and Ka-bands. It is designated to provide service for Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South America.

Abducted schoolgirls located – Nigeria’s defense chief

Nigeria’s Defense Chief Air Marshal Alex Barde said that the country’s military had located the more than 200 schoolgirls that were kidnapped by Islamist militant group Boko Haram. But, Barde added that the troops cannot use force to free the girls. “We can’t go and kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back,” he said. Nigeria has faced international criticism for its failure to recover the abducted schoolgirls. US planes have been involved in the search operations, while UK, France, Israel and other countries sent their own experts in hostage situations.

Kremlin ready for Ukraine lawsuit over Crimea – head of administration

The Kremlin is ready for Ukraine’s lawsuit over Crimea’s incorporation by Russia, ITAR-TASS quoted Sergey Ivanov, the head of the Kremlin administration, as saying on Monday. “We will be waiting for a lawsuit in this case” if Pyotr Poroshenko, who is leading in Ukraine’s Sunday presidential elections, is going to file it, Ivanov told journalists. He also said that Kiev owes Russia $3.5 billion for natural gas supplies.

Syria expels Jordan’s top diplomat in tit-for-tat move

Syria declared Jordan’s charge d’affaires in Damascus persona non grata, Reuters said. The move was taken in response to what Damascus said was an unjustified decision by the kingdom to expel its ambassador. Earlier in the day, Jordan gave Syrian Ambassador Bahjat Suleiman, a former general and intelligence chief, 24 hours to leave the country. The envoy was accused of having made repeated public criticisms of the kingdom.

Sierra Leone records 1st Ebola outbreak, 5 dead

Five people have died in Sierra Leone’s first confirmed outbreak of Ebola virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. The WHO said the outbreak in Sierra Leone was located in an area along the country’s border with Guinea’s Guéckédou prefecture, where some of the earliest cases of the disease were recorded, Reuters reported. “Preliminary information received from the field indicates that one laboratory-confirmed case and five community deaths have been reported from Koindu chiefdom,” the WHO said, adding that it was immediately deploying six experts to the area along with essential supplies.

Modi sworn in as India’s 15th PM

Narendra Modi has been sworn in as India’s 15th Prime Minister in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, home of President Pranab Mukherjee. Leaders from eight neighboring countries, including Pakistan, were present among the almost 4000 guests at the grand ceremony, NDTV reported. Modi’s 44 ministers took oath after him at the presidential palace. Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party won a resounding victory in general elections, has promised to revitalize the country’s economy.

Turkish court orders arrest of 4 Israeli generals over Gaza aid raid

The Istanbul 7th Court of Serious Crimes has ordered the arrest of four Israeli commanders who were allegedly involved in the raid on the Mavi Marmara aid ship off Gaza in 2010, Hurriyet Daily News said. The court also decided on Monday to request an Interpol Red Notice for the arrest of former Israeli Chief of Staff, Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, former Naval Forces Cmdr. Eliezer Alfred Marom, former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlinir and former Air Forces Intelligence head Brig. Gen. Avishai Levi. They are all being tried in absentia. Prosecutors have demanded life sentences for the four for their role in the raid following a complaint filed by 33 relatives of the nine Turkish citizens who were killed aboard the Mavi Marmara.

2 Filipino ex-senators ask court to scrap new US defense pact

Two former Philippines senators asked the Supreme Court on Monday to declare a new defense pact clinched with Washington unconstitutional. This is the first legal challenge to the pact. On Monday, Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada filed a 63-page petition alleging that the government had failed to uphold and protect the country’s sovereignty and national interests, Reuters said. They also voted to evict two large US military bases from the Philippines in 1991. Manila and Washington last month signed a new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to allow US forces wider access to local bases and construct facilities to store logistics for maritime security and disaster operations.

Spain’s Socialist opposition leader to step down over EU election result

Spain’s Socialist opposition leader Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said on Monday the party would select a new chief on July 19 and 20, Reuters said. “It’s clear that we haven’t regained voters’ confidence,” Rubalcaba said after the party’s worst-ever election result in European elections on Sunday. The Socialists lost nine of their 23 seats in the European Parliament, while other leftist parties gained force.

Female Japanese pop group AKB48 cancels fan events after attack

Japan’s female pop group AKB48 canceled fan events Monday after a saw-wielding man attacked two members and a staffer, AP said. The two group members, Anna Iriyama, 18, and Rina Kawaei, 19, suffered hand and head injuries. The male staffer who tried to stop the attack Sunday at a fan event in northern Japan had cuts on his hand. All three left the hospital by late Monday.

At least 2 killed as suicide bomber hits army bus in Kabul

A suicide bomber blew himself up close to an army minibus in the Afghan capital on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring two, according to the Defense Ministry. “A suicide bomber on a motorcycle detonated his explosives near an army minibus,” Reuters quoted ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi as saying. The blast took place in the eastern part of Kabul.

Jordan expels Syrian ambassador over critical comments on social media

Jordan announced Monday it was expelling the Syrian ambassador, giving him 24 hours to leave the country for breaching diplomatic norms, Reuters said. Ambassador Bahjat Suleiman, a former general and intelligence chief, had violated diplomatic protocol by posting repeated comments on social media that criticized Jordan, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry in Amman. The kingdom has harbored more than one million refugees from neighboring Syria’s conflict.

Israel approves 50 new settler homes in E. Jerusalem

Israel on Monday approved plans for 50 new homes for Israelis in east Jerusalem, AFP reported. “The municipality has given the green light to build 50 new housing units in five buildings in Har Homa,” City Councilor Yosef Pepe Alalu said. Har Homa is a settlement neighborhood in the southern sector of Arab east Jerusalem which was annexed after the 1967 Six-Day War.

At least 10 killed in India passenger train crash

A passenger express train slammed into a stationary freight train in northern India on Monday. At least 10 people were killed, with others feared trapped in the wreckage, an official in New Delhi told AFP. “What we know now is that six bogies of the train derailed following the collision and at least 10 people have died,” the Indian Railways official said.

Grybauskaite wins 2nd presidential term in Lithuania run-off election

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite won a second term in run-off elections on Sunday. Grybauskaite, 58, a former European Budget Commissioner and former minister of finance, attracted 57.9 percent of the votes in the nation of 3 million, Reuters reported. The electoral commission said Zigmantas Balcytis, a social democrat supported by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, received 40.1 percent. The Lithuanian president appoints government ministers, judges, the head of the central bank and the Lithuanian delegate to the European Commission. The head of state, however, needs the approval of parliament or the prime minister for most appointments.

Egyptians begin voting in presidential election

Egyptians began voting on Monday in a two-day presidential election which former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win. Polling stations opened at 9am (06:00 GMT) across the country. A homemade bomb exploded outside a polling station in the Egyptian city of El-Mahalla El-Kubra on Monday, Reuters said, citing a state TV report. Sisi, Egypt’s de facto leader since he deposed the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi last July, faces one challenger – leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi.

Thailand’s coup leader receives royal blessing

The Thai king has officially endorsed the military coup that seized power in the country last Thursday, said General Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the uprising. The ruling junta warned protesters over the weekend that the army was ready to crackdown on any sign of protest of the new regime. The military authorities currently have Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in custody and said they will release her in a week’s time.

One of Gulf cartel leaders detained

Following a wave of violence in the northern state of Tamaulipas, the Mexican authorities arrested Juan Rodriguez Garcia, a man from the top of the Gulf cocaine-trafficking cartel. Garcia has been elbowing to become a new leader of the cartel after the arrest of his former boss Mario Ramirez Trevino last August. It was Garcia’s struggle for power that caused multiple shootouts and massacres in Tamaulipas state in 2014.

​Obama makes surprise visit to Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama has paid a surprise visit to American troops stationed in Afghanistan, as the US marks the Memorial Day weekend. During the visit to Bagram Air Base, Obama said that he was close to taking a decision on the number of US soldiers that will remain in Afghanistan post 2014 withdrawal deadline. A bilateral deal between Kabul’s new president and Washington needs to be signed before Americans will stay to train Afghan security forces and conduct counterterrorism missions. A runoff in the Afghan presidential election will be held in June.

​Boko Haram kills 28 in raids in Nigeria

At least 28 people have died after Boko Haram, an Al Qaeda affiliate, attacked three villages in northern Nigeria burning houses to the ground, the police announced. The assaults happened in Borno state in the heartland of Boko Haram’s increasing rampage. The worst incident, resulting in 20 casualties was in the town of Kerenua, near the Niger border. The United States, Britain, France and China last week offered Nigeria help to battle the Islamic insurgency in a mission to try to free the schoolgirls who were captured back in April and still remain hostage.

​Former Thai PM released by military

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been released after she reported to the Thai military, a number of media outlets report. On 23 May 2014 Yingluck was arrested with other political leaders, in the wake of a military coup which had occurred the previous day. The army seized power after months of turmoil and deadly clashes in Bangkok. The military rule is reportedly trying to summon around 150 influential politicians in the country in an effort to weld country’s political future.

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