International

The Palestinian Authority completed its journey to formal membership of international criminal court on Wednesday following a low-key ceremony at the Hague headquarters of the global institution of last resort. The move could open the way for Israelis to be prosecuted for war crimes - despite Israel not being a member - and it also allows the prosecution of Palestinian militants, including those from Hamas, who now fall under the court’s jurisdiction. International justice activists hailed the occasion as an opportunity to bring accountability after years of conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, but Palestinians backed away from earlier threats to introduce a raft of complaints on formally becoming the court’s 123rd member. Instead they will wait for the outcome of a preliminary investigation launched by the court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, initiated when the Palestinian Authority acceded to the court’s governing Rome statute 90 days ago. The … [Read more...] about Palestinian Authority becomes member of international criminal court

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, dramatically moved to join the international criminal court on Wednesday, setting Palestinians on a diplomatic collision course with Israel and Washington, and risking imposition of US sanctions. Abbas signed the Rome statute governing the court and 19 other international agreements, potentially opening the way to Palestinians to pursue Israel for war crimes in the court of last resort based in The Hague. It followed the rejection by the UN security council of a Jordanian-backed resolution on behalf of Palestine calling for the end to the Israeli occupation by 2017 and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders. Abbas’s move came at the end of 24 hours of diplomatic tension when – under pressure from other members of the Palestinian leadership – he followed through on his long-threatened plan to join the ICC. In response to Abbas’s signing of the treaty Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin … [Read more...] about Palestinian president signs up to join international criminal court

Vietnam’s top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh (Photo: Kha Hoa) In the men’s singles event, Nguyen Tien Minh (World No.64), who was seeded No.3 for the tournament, was defeated 1-2 by Lee Chia Hao of Taiwan (World No.138) in the second round. Meamwhile, Pham Cao Cuong (World No.89), the Vietnamese No.8 seed, lost out to Nugraha of Indonesia (World No.168). Top Vietnamese female badminton player Vu Thi Trang (Photo: Kha Hoa) During the women’s singles event, No 2 seed Nguyen Thuy Linh (World No.60) failed to win against Se Young An of the Republic of Korea (World No.93) in her second round match while Vu Thi Trang (World No.64) was beaten by Hirari Mizui of Japan (World No.156). In doubles event, Vietnamese pair Do Tuan Duc and Pham Nhu Thao (World No. 43) were comprehensively beaten by Malaysian pair Man Wei Chong and Tan Pearly Koong Le (World No.802). The Vietnam International Challenge has attracted the participation of 292 players from 18 … [Read more...] about Nation’s badminton players bow out of Vietnam International Challenge

MADRID -- Women across Europe and Asia shouted their demands for equality, respect and empowerment Thursday to mark International Women's Day, with protesters in Spain launching a 24-hour strike and crowds of demonstrators filling the streets of Manila, Seoul and New Delhi. Spanish women were staging dozens of protests across the country against the wage gap and gender violence. In Madrid, a massive demonstration was planned for the evening. In Barcelona, protesters who disrupted traffic into the city center were pushed back by riot police. In some countries, protests were more muted, however. International Women's Day is a public holiday in Russia, but opposition presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak was one of the few demonstrators in Moscow. In a protest reminiscent of the #MeToo movement -- which aims to hold those involved in sexual misconduct and those who cover it up accountable -- Sobchak staged a solo picket outside the lower house of the Russian parliament to demand the … [Read more...] about International Women’s Day: Demonstrators strike, protest around the world

MANILA, Philippines -- In Manila, they decried the president as a violator of women's rights. In Seoul, the surging #MeToo movement took to the streets. In India, where endemic violence against women has only recently become part of the public conversation, they marched toward Parliament loudly demanding their rights. It was International Women's Day on Thursday, and as the day began in Asia tens of thousands of women ensured it could not go unnoticed. Hundreds of activists in pink and purple shirts protested in downtown Manila against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, calling him among the worst violators of women's rights in Asia. Protest leaders sang and danced in a boisterous rally in Plaza Miranda, handing red and white roses to mothers, sisters and widows of drug suspects slain under Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs. In Myanmar, embattled leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged women to build peaceful democracies using their strength in politics, economics and social issues. In … [Read more...] about International Women’s Day protests amplify feminism in Asia