Serbian elections marred by President’s involvement, vote buying – observers
Belgrade, SerbiaReuters Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) gained an unfair advantage in snap parliamentary elections through media bias, the improper influence of President Aleksandar Vucic and voting irregularities such as vote buying, an international monitoring mission said on Monday. The populist SNS won 46.72 per cent of the votes in Sunday’s elections, according to […]
Putin makes surprise trip to Russian-occupied Mariupol in wake of ICC warrant
Reuters A day after being accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, scene of some of the worst devastation of his year-old invasion. State television showed extended footage of Putin being shown around the city on Saturday night, meeting […]
Four Ukraine regions prepare to hold referendums on joining Russia
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Four areas of Ukraine controlled by Russia and pro-Moscow forces were preparing to hold referendums on Friday on joining Russia, a move widely condemned by the West as illegitimate and a precursor to illegal annexation. Russian-installed leaders on Tuesday announced plans for the votes, a challenge to the West that could sharply escalate […]
European rights experts say Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine
Vienna, Austria Reuters A mission of experts set up by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russia in Ukraine, the mission said in a report on Wednesday. The mission was set up last month by 45 of the OSCE’s 57 participating states to […]
UN chief: prospect of nuclear conflict back “within realm of possibility” over Ukraine
Reuters United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday sounded the alarm over Russia raising the alert level for its nuclear forces after invading Ukraine, describing it as a “bone-chilling development”. “The prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility,” Guterres told reporters, and repeated his call for an immediate […]
US says Russia may create pretext to attack Ukraine; Pope leads crowds in prayer for peace
Washington DC, US/Kyiv, UkraineReuters Russia could invade Ukraine at any time and might create a surprise pretext for an attack, the United States said on Sunday, as it reaffirmed a pledge to defend “every inch” of NATO territory. Russia has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, which is not part of the Atlantic military […]
Russia says Ukraine talks hit “dead end”, Poland warns of risk of war
Vienna, Austria/Moscow, RussiaReuters Poland’s foreign minister said on Thursday that Europe was at risk of plunging into war as Russia said it was not yet calling time on diplomacy but that military experts were preparing options in case tensions over Ukraine could not be defused. In Washington, the White House said the threat of a […]
Wield the law to stop human traffickers exploiting pandemic, watchdog says
Mexico City, MexicoThomson Reuters Foundation Countries should focus on prosecuting human traffickers to stop a surge in exploitation as the economic fallout from coronavirus lockdowns makes more people vulnerable to the crime, a senior European security official said on Tuesday. Criminal justice has been interrupted globally by the pandemic and needs to be revived to […]
New anti-trafficking chief slams ‘abysmal’ global conviction levels
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation Global prosecution and conviction levels for human trafficking are “abysmal”, a senior European security official said on Thursday, urging states to invest more in combatting a crime that affects millions of people. Governments are not devoting enough resources to tackling the crime, Valiant Richey said in his first interview since taking charge […]
Don’t just arrest – buy better to stop slavery, states urged
Thomson Reuters Foundation Governments will not end labour exploitation or human trafficking by simply targeting criminals and should focus on ensuring the goods and services they provide are free of abuses, a top official at Europe’s security watchdog said on Thursday. Countries have little to no control over the actions of traffickers but can influence […]