Germany: Berlin offers women's 'safe zone' at NYE celebrations
Germany: Berlin offers women's 'safe zone' at NYE celebrations
2018-01-01 05:12
Footage captured on Sunday follows Berlin's «safe zone» for women at the Brandenburg Gate's New Year’s celebration.
Organisers have implemented new security measures at the Brandenburg Gate this year in response to concerns about sexual assault.
Spokesperson for the event Anja Marx described the party as «probably one of the safest places in Berlin».
Despite her assurances to the contrary, our team spoke to two victims of sexual harassment.
The German Red Cross has set up two tents to provide support to victims of sexual assault and harassment. Paramedic David Josuttis confirmed that there were medical professionals trained to deal with people suffering from the psychological effects of an attack.
Two years ago in Cologne, more than 400 women reported being robbed and sexually assaulted by men of mainly North African or Middle Eastern origin.
The incident shocked Germany and fueled anxiety about the cultural integration of asylum seekers and economic migrants.
Iran: Citizens free to 'criticise', not to 'destroy' — Rouhani reacts to Iranian protests
2018-01-01 05:52
*BUG AT SOURCE*
After four days of protest, President Hassan Rouhani said that Iranian citizens are free to express their criticisms of government, but must not jeopardise public security, at a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Sunday.
«People are absolutely free to criticise the government and even protest, but their protests should be in such a way as to aim at the end to improve the situation in the country», Rouhani said.
The Iranian leader also criticised interference from the United States and President Donald Trump. On Saturday, the US warned the Iranian authorities that the «world was watching» how it responded to anti-government protests.
The demonstrations began as a criticism of economic hardship, but they quickly spread and turned political, with many chanting slogans against Rouhani, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's interventionist foreign policy.
The latest waves of protests are the most significant show of dissent in the Islamic Republic since the pro-reform Green Movement in 2009.
Iran: Armenian Christians celebrate New Year in Tehran
2018-01-01 06:49
Iran's Armenian Christian minority celebrated the coming of 2018 at St. Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran on Sunday.
The New Year's service is one of the biggest for Armenian Churchgoers.
In a predominantly Muslim country, Armenian Christians represent one percent of the total population, the majority of whom live in the capital Tehran.
Brazil: Revelers welcome in 2018 with beautiful fireworks on Copacabana Beach
2018-01-01 07:39
SOT, Pilar, tourist (Spanish): «Very beautiful, thank you.»
SOT, Isabel, tourist (Spanish): «Very beautiful.»
Rio de Janeiro lit up the night sky with a sensational New Year's fireworks display to usher in 2018 on Sunday night.
Up to 2 million people witnessed the pyrotechnic show and danced the night away to live music at the world-famous Copacabana Beach.
North Korea: Kim Jong Un warns ‘nuclear button is always on my desk’
2018-01-01 10:41
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has taunted the United States about his country’s nuclear capabilities, warning “the nuclear button is always on my desk”.
In a televised new year speech, he said: «The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office.”
North Korea has carried out several missile tests over the last year and threatened the United States with all-out war.
Turkey: Istanbul’s sombre greeting to 2018 amid heavy security
2018-01-01 11:44
Istanbul greeted the New Year under heavy police surveillance and cancelled public celebrations, one year after the terror attack which took 39 lives in the Reina nightclub.
Istanbul’s central Istiklal Caddesi thoroughfare and Taksim Square were filled with people attending the New Year in a somewhat muted atmosphere.
Public celebrations in several key Istanbul districts were cancelled for security reasons with 37,000 police officers and 4,000 Turkish gendarmerie on duty, more than double the usual daily deployment.
Dozens of suspected so-called Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants were detained in Turkey on Sunday, adding to hundreds arrested in recent days in the run-up to New Year's Eve celebrations.
At least 39 people were killed and 79 people were injured when 34-year-old Uzbek citizen Abdulkadir Masharipov opened fire on revelers at the Reina nightclub in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2017.
Germany: Seven arrested for sexual assault at Berlin NYE celebrations
2018-01-01 14:20
Seven people have been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at Berlin's Brandeburg Gate New Year's Eve celebrations, police spokesperson Thomas Nollendorf confirmed on Monday.
Police received 13 complaints of sexual harassment in total.
Nollendorf said: «In most cases women have been groped between their legs or their buttocks. Police filed several complaints and that's why we were able to arrest 7 suspects.»
The police spokesperson also confirmed that those arrested were mostly young males from Syria and Afghanistan.
A 'safe zone' for women was implemented for this year's NYE celebrations at Brandeburg Gate in response to concerns of sexual assault at the event.
Two years ago in Cologne, more than 400 women reported being robbed and sexually assaulted by men of mainly North African or Middle Eastern origin during the NYE celebrations.
The incident shocked Germany and fuelled anxiety about the cultural integration of asylum seekers and economic migrants.
Iran: Twelve reportedly killed in Iran amid nationwide protests
2018-01-01 14:33
At least twelve people have been killed in ongoing anti-government protests across Iran, state TV reported on Monday.
Iranian state TV alleged that armed protesters tried to take over police stations and military bases across the country, as anti-government protests against rising food prices, unemployment and alleged corruption enter their fifth day.
Of the twelve victims, four were reportedly killed in recent protests in Dorud.
Dorud Governor Mashallah Nemati said that some banks, religious and governmental buildings have been damaged or set on fire in clashes over the last few days. According to Nemati, an elderly person and a 12 year old child were killed by a fire truck used by protesters.
On Sunday, Iran blocked access to Instagram and the popular messaging app Telegram, which has allegedly been used by activists to organize protests.
President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged the public’s anger over the Iran’s flagging economy, though he and other officials warned that the government wouldn’t hesitate to crack down on those it considers lawbreakers.
Afghanistan: Jalalabad returns to bury funeral attack victims
2018-01-01 14:55
Relatives of eighteen people killed at a funeral suicide attack in Jalalabad returned to the graveside on Monday to bury their loved-ones.
Carrying their coffins to the graves under visible emotional distress, some spoke of their loss.
One brother of a person killed in the funeral attack said: «We fled our village to come to Jalalabad city.
We thought that we would be relaxed here but, unfortunately here is not safe from everything. Our funeral, our homes, our children are not safe here.»
Eighteen people died and at least 14 others were injured when a man detonated a suicide bomb device during a funeral on December 31.
The so-called Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) said it carried out the attack, media reports.
Italy: Four injured by NYE blast in Torino
2018-01-01 18:58
glass and the shutter was destroyed.»
glasses, I piled them up there.»
Four people were injured in a blast in a residential area of Torino on New Year’s Eve, after a handmade device was detonated in a nearby rubbish bin.
Shrapnel from the device's blast caused extensive damage to surrounding apartment windows and doors, as well as nearby cars.
One resident described how he found his head to be covered in blood when he woke up after the explosion. “Everything was destroyed, it was a really loud explosion», he said.
Locals to the area believe the person who planted the bomb was not a resident.
«We have been living here for 40 years and this is the first time that this has happened. Certainly it was someone from outside the neighbourhood that put something in the rubbish dumpster,» said another resident, whose apartment's interior has been destroyed by the blast.
Upon forensic examination, Police discovered a total of 12 unexploded devices in the area.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
Hong Kong: Anti-govt protesters scuffle with police during NY march
2018-01-01 19:48
Scuffles broke out between protesters and police in Hong Kong on Monday as thousands of people marched to protest against what they describe as suppression by Beijing.
“Pro-democracy” protesters mainly demonstrated against a plan for a part of a city rail station in the semiautonomous territory to work under Chinese law.
Central government officials are normally not allowed to apply mainland law in Hong Kong under the «one country, two systems» principle.
Campaigners shouted out “protect Hong Kong” and “defend rule of law”. They claimed that breaking this convention would mean ceding Hong Kong's land to China. “The HK people tried to come back to this station because we think that this station belongs to all HK people, not only the surrounding space”, claimed People Power party member Tam Tak-Chi.
The station will form part of a high-speed rail line, which will open in the second half of 2018, connecting Hong Kong and China's southern province of Guangdong.
Iran: Rouhani pins cause of social unrest on 'unemployment'
2018-01-01 20:02
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani held a joint meeting with members of parliament in Tehran on Monday to address the country’s economic issues amid nationwide protests.
Relations between the government and parliament have been improving since the wave of nationwide anti-government protests, which are decrying the country’s economic policy and rise in prices.
President Rouhani said that «no issue is more important than employment» adding that «social problems, drugs, family issues and divorce are related to unemployment.»
On Sunday, anti-government protesters defied the authorities’ warnings of a tough crackdown by extending protests to a fourth day. The same day, Iran blocked access to Instagram and the popular messaging app Telegram used by activists to organise gatherings.
While Rouhani has acknowledged the public’s anger over the Islamic Republic’s flagging economy, he has warned that the government will not hesitate to crack down on those it considered lawbreakers.
France: Mums patrol streets for safer neighbourhood on NYE
2018-01-01 22:08
SOT, Journalist (French): «How many were there last time?»
SOT, Mariame Gassama, spokesperson of 'Capable Mothers' (French): «Honestly I don’t know, there are fewer and fewer, we have to report that, there are fewer and fewer, but one is already one too many, so, we want no more of that.»
Some 20 women of the 'Capable mothers' initiative patrolled the streets of their neighbourhood in Aulnay-sous-Bois on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, to ensure that no scuffles broke out and no cars were burned.
With orange vests, hot tea and a sunny disposition the determined mums marched down the streets of their neighbourhood until 4 am, making sure that peace and order were not disturbed.
«No more scorched cars on the 31st of December», said the spokesperson of Capable Mothers initiative, Mariame Gassama.
Another member of the group explained that by “talking”, violence could be prevented.
The son of one of the ‘capable mothers’ explained how proud he was, saynig, “the only thing I can do is raise my hands and congratulate them really.»
According to local authorities no incidents were reported over the course of New Year’s Eve in the area.
USA: California legalises marijuana for recreational use
2018-01-01 22:27
The New Year in California started on Tuesday with a big change: the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use.
Several dispensaries like Harborside in Oakland, one of the leaders in the industry, opened at 6 a.m.
Californians were out before sunrise to be among the first buyers of marijuana. “It's a dream come true. It’s just like, you go in there and there's pot everywhere”, said one of the visitors.
Pot has now been made legal in California for adults over 21, two decades after the state was the first to allow it for medical use. Individuals can grow up to six plants and possess up to one ounce (28 grams).
State of Palestine: 16-yo Palestinian girl chrged with assault after slapping Israeli soldier
2018-01-01 22:48
The 16-year-old Palestinian Ahed Tamimi was charged with assault, incitement and throwing stones at security forces at a hearing in the Military Court in Israeli-occupied Ofer prison, near Beitunia in the West Bank, Monday.
Ahed is a daughter of two Palestinian activists. A video of her allegedly slapping an Israeli soldier surfaced online and she was subsequently arrested for the action on December 19.
Ahed’s mother, Nariman Tamimi, who is also in custody for allegedly livestreaming the incident on social media, was charged with incitement and assault as well.
Yemen: At least 20 killed by suspected Saudi-led airstrikes in Hodeidah *GRAPHIC*
2018-01-01 23:16
At least 20 were killed and dozens more were wounded when suspected Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit a crowded market and a petrol station in al-Jarrahi district of Hodeidah on Monday.
Relatives of the victims expressed their rage and devastation at the attack, which has a death toll that is expected to rise as many of the wounded are in critical state.
The Saudi-led bombing campaign continues in Yemen with US backing, with casualty figures exceeding 16,200 people since the beginning of the war in March 2015.
A reported 40,000 have been injured and more than three million people have been displaced.
The war devastating Yemen is now in its third year, with human rights organisations repeatedly accusing the Saudi-led coalition of bombing civilian areas.
Ukraine: Thousands honour nationalist leader Stepan Bandera in torch lit procession
2018-01-01 23:37
Thousands participated in a torchlight procession through Kiev on Monday night in honor of the 109th anniversary since the birth of Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) leader Stepan Bandera.
Protesters carried far right movement ‘Right Sector’ and Svoboda flags and banners reading «For the glory of heroes, for the future of children!»
The all-Ukrainian association «Svoboda», the Right Sector and the National Corps organised the event.
Bandera was leader of the militant arm of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) during World War II.
Ukraine: Dozens celebrate 109th anniv. of Ukrainian nationalist leader
2018-01-02 00:43
Dozens staged a rally in Odessa on Monday evening to mark the 109th birthday anniversary of Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.
The participants held high lit torches and smoke bombs in memory of the Ukrainian leader.
Every year on the anniversary of Bandera’s birthday, followers hold torch marches all across the country.
According to the Interior Ministry, torch marches took place in more than 20 regions.
Bandera, born January 1st 1909, is considered the 'father' of the nationalist and independence movement in Ukraine.
Germany: Kandel commemorates 15-year-old girl killed by ex-boyfriend
2018-01-02 01:13
A New Year's mass was held on Monday in St. Pius Church in Kandel to commemorate the teenage girl stabbed to death in the town last week.
The event was attended by around 350 people, including politicians like Rhineland-Palatinate SPD member Alexander Schweizer and CDU parliamentary group leader Julia Klöckner.
«I believe that in time of grief it is hard to make hasty political statements. It is also hard to yield now to that particular group of people who have appeared here, for example people from AfD, and provide blanket judgements about foreigners. I think it is false, but we also should not be naïve,» said Klöckner.
«Those who violate laws, harm other people, must face the full consequences of our laws, of our constitutional state,» she added.
The 15-year-old died in hospital after being attacked with a kitchen knife outside a drugstore on Wednesday.
The suspect, a 15-year-old Afghan refugee and former boyfriend of the victim, was taken into police custody on suspicion of manslaughter.
