Author: Jirair Kafian

Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, a blunt-spoken Egyptian who led the world body through global turmoil as it defined its peacekeeping role and lost his job over disputes with Washington, died on Tuesday aged 93, Reuters reports.

Boutros-Ghali headed the United Nations from 1992-1996, chaotic years marked by war in the former Yugoslavia and famine and genocide in Africa. He died at Al Salam Hospital in Cairo on Tuesday, a hospital official said. Egypt’s state news agency MENA said he had a broken leg and heart and kidney problems.

The 15-member UN Security Council observed a minute’s silence after his death was announced.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement praising Boutros-Ghali for leading the organization through “one of the most tumultuous and challenging periods in its history.”

“He showed courage in posing difficult questions to the member states and rightly insisted on the independence of his office and of the secretariat as a whole,” Ban said.

Boutros-Ghali came from a wealthy family with an impressive political lineage and he bridged several realms. As an Egyptian, he was able to claim to be both Arab and African. He was a Coptic Christian from a mainly Muslim country and married an Egyptian Jew, who converted to his religion.

PHOTO: REUTERS/HAMID KHATIB

 

Kurdish-led fighters aided by Russian bombing captured a rebel-held former Syrian military airport near the border with Turkey, a monitor and rebels said on Thursday, reports.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said heavy fighting took place between Kurds and Syrian insurgents around Menagh airport and Russian warplanes staged at least 30 raids against the rebels holding out there.

Rebels say the Kurdish YPG militias have been taking advantage of their preoccupation with fending off a Syrian army ground offensive launched last week in the northern Aleppo countryside to gain ground in the area near a main border crossing with Turkey.

Kurdish fighters based in their stronghold in the city of Afrin, south of rebel-held Azaz, have grabbed a string of villages that rebels have been forced to evacuate to confront advancing Syrian troops coming from the south.

Russian bombing had allowed Syrian troops supported by Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias to reach almost 25 km  from the Turkish border, the closest they have come in more than two-and-a-half years.

This allowed them to rupture a main rebel supply line between the border and portions of the city of Aleppo which insurgents control. The army with the help of its allies is now seeking to regain full control of what was once the country’s most populous city.

UK scientists have been given the go-ahead by the fertility regulator to genetically modify human embryos, the BBC reports.

It is the first time a country has considered the DNA-altering technique in embryos and approved it.

The research will take place at the Francis Crick Institute in London and aims to provide a deeper understanding of the earliest moments of human life.

It will be illegal for the scientists to implant the modified embryos into a woman.

But the field is attracting controversy over concerns it is opening the door to designer – or GM – babies.

DNA is the blueprint of life – the instructions for building the human body. Gene editing allows the precise manipulation of DNA.

In a world-first last year, scientists in China announced they had carried out gene editing in human embryos to correct a gene that causes a blood disorder.

Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, a scientific advisor to the UK’s fertility regulator, told the BBC: “China has guidelines, but it is often unclear exactly what they are until you’ve done it and stepped over an unclear boundary.

“This is the first time it has gone through a properly regulatory system and been approved.”

“Spotlight” took the limelight at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday night, winning the top prize: outstanding cast in a motion picture, the CNN reports.

Leonardo DiCaprio won best actor for his performance in “The Revenant.” He received a standing ovation as he accepted his award.

“I’m truly humbled by this because it comes from all of you, my fellow actors,” he said. He noted that he spent his teen years watching films to soak up the history of movies.

“For any young actors out there, I encourage you to watch the history of cinema,” he said. “You realize we all stand on the shoulders of giants.”

Brie Larson won best actress for her performance in “Room.”

The Delegation of the European Union issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Members States Heads of Mission in Armenia.

The EU is committed to supporting reforms in Armenia, in particular in the area of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms and rule of law. Good governance and human rights protection are essential for the future of Armenia and increased public trust in the political and judiciary system.

The institution of Ombudsman is crucial for promoting and monitoring the effective implementation of international human rights standards at the national level and in advancing all aspects of the rule of law, including with respect to the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and the correctional system.

The high importance attached by the EU to the institution of the Ombudsman is confirmed also by the recently signed human rights budget support programme (2016–2018) for Armenia with value €12 million.  This is designed to support Armenia in tackling key issues related to anti-discrimination, child rights, prevention of torture, fight against domestic violence and enhancing electoral legislation. The programme was designed to contribute also to the strengthening of the Ombudsman´s office capacity in monitoring human rights education and providing recommendations, addressing concerns of minorities, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups as well as cooperation with state institutions. The programme aims at enhancing coordination and cooperation among relevant stakeholders and its implementation will be monitored by a steering committee co-chaired by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ombudsman, Head of EU Delegation, and with the inclusion of civil society representatives to ensure a structured dialogue.

We learned with regret that Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has resigned and we commend him for his excellent work. It is of the utmost importance to ensure a proper selection of and to safeguard the full and unconditional independence of his successor. Therefore, the EU trusts that the next Armenian Ombudsman will be appointed by the National Assembly in a consensual manner and will be able to preserve the independence of this important institution. A more efficient follow-up by state bodies of the Ombudsman´s recommendations will certainly contribute to better human rights protection in Armenia.

An explosion occurred on Jan. 12 in Istanbul’s touristic Sultanahmet neighborhood, reportedly causing injuries and deaths, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

According to reports by private broadcaster CNN Türk, the explosion occurred by the obelisk of Theodosius in the touristic Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul’s Fatih district.

The explosion was strong enough to be heard in nearby neighborhoods, the broadcaster reported, quoting witnesses.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is continuing.

A number of ambulances, police and fire trucks have been deployed to the scene.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has visited the families of Iranian Christian martyrs on the occasion of Jesus Christ’s birth anniversary, reports. 

In a picture  [email protected]/* */_ir twitter account on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei can be seen during a meeting with the mother of a Christian martyr who lost life during the Iraq-Iran war.

“Soldiers’ endeavor roots in mothers’ endeavor,” the Leader said.

“The Christian minority – both Armenian and Assyrian – emerged honorably from the [1978] revolution and the [1980s Iraqi-imposed] war, as loyal, wise, insightful and brave Iranians,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“Jesus has undoubtedly no less value among Muslims than his stature in the eyes of those who are fully devoted to Christianity,” read another tweet on Christmas Day.

Iraqi government forces have begun an offensive to retake the city of Ramadi from the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), officials say, teh BBC reports.

A spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Service, Sabah al-Numani, said troops and militiamen, backed by the air force, had entered the city centre.

They were advancing towards the main government complex, he added.

Ramadi, about 90km  west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA boss Michel Platini have been suspended for eight years from all football-related activities following an ethics investigation, the BBC reports.

They were found guilty of breaches surrounding a $2m “disloyal payment” made to Platini in 2011.

Both men denied any wrongdoing. The bans come into force immediately.

FIFA boss since 1998, Blatter, 79, had already announced he was quitting ahead of February’s presidential election.

Platini, 60, was tipped as a future leader of football’s world governing body and had hoped to succeed Blatter.

A three-time European Footballer of the Year and former captain of France, he had been in charge of UEFA – European football’s governing body – since 2007.

Both men have also been fined.

Photo: Salta Police

 

At least 25 people have been killed after a police bus fell off a bridge in north-west Argentina, local media say.

The bus was carrying at least 50 people, most of them members of Argentina’s border police, when it came off the road and fell about 15m (50ft) down a ravine.

Emergency workers are trying to free dozens of passengers who are still trapped.

The cause of the accident is still unknown.

The bus came off the road at 02:00 local time (05:00 GMT) near the town of Rosario del Fuente in Salta province, police officials said.

It was travelling on national highway 34 when the driver lost control of the vehicle as he was coming over the bridge, they said.