Here is a round-up of global news developments:
- Iran is urging the international community to pressure Israel into releasing four of its diplomats that were abducted in Lebanon 34 years ago. Tehran says the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and human rights organizations must abide by their duties to do so.
- The city council of Iceland’s capital has voted to boycott all Israeli products saying the measure will be in place as long as the occupation of Palestine continues. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions which was founded in 2005 is a global movement aimed at overcoming Israel’s occupation, colonialism and apartheid.
- The death toll from deadly bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital has reportedly exceeded 125. Some 200 people were also injured in the explosions. The government has declared three days of mourning across the country. Daesh terror group has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
- Bahraini media have published a court ruling ratified by King Hamad bin Isa, which revokes the citizenship of top Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim. King Hamad reportedly approved the decree immediately after it was issued nearly two weeks ago. Sheikh Qassim has been accused of inciting violence in Bahrain.
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a presidential decree on formation of a new government. The new ministers were introduced after the ruling Ba’ath Party won the majority of seats in April’s parliamentary elections. Key ministers of foreign affairs and defense are to keep their posts.
- The International Criminal Court says former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will not be probed while examining allegations of war crimes in Iraq in an upcoming report. It said however that British soldiers could be tried. The so-called Chilcot Inquiry is due to publish its findings on Wednesday.
- German media have revealed that Berlin exported billions of Euros worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and Qatar last year. The deals include the sale of combat tanks, heavy artillery, and different types of ammunition. German opposition is critical of the deals, citing the bleak human rights record of Doha and Riyadh.
- The death toll from heavy rainfall in southern China has risen to 50 people with twelve still missing. Some 15,000 homes have been destroyed and nearly 500,000 hectares of crops damaged. Many parts of the country have been hit by torrential rains and storms in the past few weeks.
