The official
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reports a mass grave, containing the bodies of beheaded women and children, has been found in the former
ISIL-controlled city of
Palmyra, recently retaken by the Syrian government.
(The Independent)
Iraqi security forces free a large number of prisoners from an underground
ISIL-operated jail in the city of
Hīt. Malallah al-Obeidi, a local official in the
Al Anbar Governorate, put the number of freed prisoners at around 1,500, saying most of them were civilians.
(AFP via Al Arabiya)
A bombing kills at least five
Turkish soldiers and one special forces police officer in the southeastern city of
Nusaybin, near the
Syria–Turkey border.
(BBC)
Austria plans to deploy soldiers on its border with
Italy to stem an expected increase in migrants trying to get to northern Europe, according to
Austrian Defence MinisterHans Peter Doskozil. "As the EU's external borders are not yet effectively protected, Austria will soon ramp up strict border controls. That means massive border controls on the
Brenner Pass, and with soldiers," Doskozil told
German daily newspaper Die Welt.
(Reuters)
The
United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution setting the stage for the deployment of
UN Police to
Burundi, where political unrest that has lasted nearly a year killed over 400 people and displaced tens of thousands. The resolution asks
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon to present options within 15 days for the deployment of UN police in order to monitor the security situation, promote respect for human rights and advance the rule of law.
(Al Jazeera)
Greece demands an explanation from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) after an apparent leaked transcript suggested the IMF may threaten to pull out of the country's bailout as a tactic to force European lenders to offer more debt relief. Whistleblowing site
WikiLeaks published what it said was the transcript of a March 19 conference call of three senior IMF officials discussing tactics to apply pressure on Greece,
Germany and the
EU to reach a deal in April.
(Reuters)
Law and crime
Indianwomen's rights activists are barred by angry villagers and local authorities from entering
Shani Shingnapur temple despite a court ruling guaranteeing access. Breaking with a centuries-old tradition, the high court in
Mumbai ruled women have a fundamental right to enter
Hindu temples across the state of
Maharashtra, and the government has the responsibility to protect their rights.
Bhumata Ranragini Brigade leader Trupti Desai and 25 other supporters were detained by police.
All India Mahila Congress President Shobha Oza and
Delhi Commission for Women chairwoman Swati Maliwal called the actions of locals and authorities "completely shameful."
(UPI)
The
Saudi-owned news channel
Al Arabiya shuts its offices in
Beirut,
Lebanon and dismisses 27 employees in a sudden move reflecting tensions between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon-based
Hezbollah, which is backed by
Iran. Saudi Arabia interpreted Lebanon's lack of public solidarity as a sign that it had become beholden to Hezbollah.
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
The
Governor of the
U.S. territory of
GuamEddie Calvo announces his intention to hold a plebiscite to decide the future political status of the island. Calvo said he hopes to start a successful "education campaign" on the issue before filing a petition to start a referendum. If the plebiscite does take place, voters on Guam would be asked to select which political status they would prefer; independence, statehood, or free association However, the possible vote would be non-binding as any change in political status would require an act of
Congress in
Washington, D.C.. Guam is currently on the
United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories in need of decolonization.
(Radio New Zealand)
Police in
Brussels,
Belgium arrest multiple right-wing and anti-racist protesters, with riot squads engaged in a tense confrontation with local youths in the district of
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. A standoff grew when far-right protesters faced a counter-demonstration, despite protests being banned by local authorities who were fearful of last Sunday's event, in which police forcefully dispersed a right-wing protest with water cannons.
(Reuters)
The official
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reports a mass grave, containing the bodies of beheaded women and children, has been found in the former
ISIL-controlled city of
Palmyra, recently retaken by the Syrian government.
(The Independent)
Iraqi security forces free a large number of prisoners from an underground
ISIL-operated jail in the city of
Hīt. Malallah al-Obeidi, a local official in the
Al Anbar Governorate, put the number of freed prisoners at around 1,500, saying most of them were civilians.
(AFP via Al Arabiya)
A bombing kills at least five
Turkish soldiers and one special forces police officer in the southeastern city of
Nusaybin, near the
Syria–Turkey border.
(BBC)
Austria plans to deploy soldiers on its border with
Italy to stem an expected increase in migrants trying to get to northern Europe, according to
Austrian Defence MinisterHans Peter Doskozil. "As the EU's external borders are not yet effectively protected, Austria will soon ramp up strict border controls. That means massive border controls on the
Brenner Pass, and with soldiers," Doskozil told
German daily newspaper Die Welt.
(Reuters)
The
United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution setting the stage for the deployment of
UN Police to
Burundi, where political unrest that has lasted nearly a year killed over 400 people and displaced tens of thousands. The resolution asks
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon to present options within 15 days for the deployment of UN police in order to monitor the security situation, promote respect for human rights and advance the rule of law.
(Al Jazeera)
Greece demands an explanation from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) after an apparent leaked transcript suggested the IMF may threaten to pull out of the country's bailout as a tactic to force European lenders to offer more debt relief. Whistleblowing site
WikiLeaks published what it said was the transcript of a March 19 conference call of three senior IMF officials discussing tactics to apply pressure on Greece,
Germany and the
EU to reach a deal in April.
(Reuters)
Law and crime
Indianwomen's rights activists are barred by angry villagers and local authorities from entering
Shani Shingnapur temple despite a court ruling guaranteeing access. Breaking with a centuries-old tradition, the high court in
Mumbai ruled women have a fundamental right to enter
Hindu temples across the state of
Maharashtra, and the government has the responsibility to protect their rights.
Bhumata Ranragini Brigade leader Trupti Desai and 25 other supporters were detained by police.
All India Mahila Congress President Shobha Oza and
Delhi Commission for Women chairwoman Swati Maliwal called the actions of locals and authorities "completely shameful."
(UPI)
The
Saudi-owned news channel
Al Arabiya shuts its offices in
Beirut,
Lebanon and dismisses 27 employees in a sudden move reflecting tensions between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon-based
Hezbollah, which is backed by
Iran. Saudi Arabia interpreted Lebanon's lack of public solidarity as a sign that it had become beholden to Hezbollah.
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
The
Governor of the
U.S. territory of
GuamEddie Calvo announces his intention to hold a plebiscite to decide the future political status of the island. Calvo said he hopes to start a successful "education campaign" on the issue before filing a petition to start a referendum. If the plebiscite does take place, voters on Guam would be asked to select which political status they would prefer; independence, statehood, or free association However, the possible vote would be non-binding as any change in political status would require an act of
Congress in
Washington, D.C.. Guam is currently on the
United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories in need of decolonization.
(Radio New Zealand)
Police in
Brussels,
Belgium arrest multiple right-wing and anti-racist protesters, with riot squads engaged in a tense confrontation with local youths in the district of
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. A standoff grew when far-right protesters faced a counter-demonstration, despite protests being banned by local authorities who were fearful of last Sunday's event, in which police forcefully dispersed a right-wing protest with water cannons.
(Reuters)