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Australia’s most decorated soldier vows to “fight” war crime charges2 hrs agoTabby. WilsonSydneySam Moy/The Sydney Morning Herald/Getty ImagesAustralia’s best-decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts Smith, has publicly denied any allegations against him. He was released on bail Friday and said he would use the charges to “finally clear his name”. I can assure everyone that I have never backed down from a fight. “Roberts Smith, 47, has been accused of being involved with the deaths of unarmed Afghans detainees between 2009 and 2012, either by killing or ordering a subordinate. A former corporal of Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), Roberts-Smith said to the media, “while it would have been better if these charges had not been brought, I will take this opportunity to clear my name”. He continued, “I am proud of my service to Afghanistan.” I acted in accordance with my values, my training, and the rules of engagement while I was in Afghanistan. He described his arrest as a “sensational” and “unnecessary spectacle”, and refused to take any questions from journalists.Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April, and was released from jail on bail on Friday. The presiding judge noted that his case was “exceptional” and he was likely to spend “possibly years and years” in custody before it went to trial, if not granted bail.What is the decorated Australian soldier accused of?The criminal case against Roberts-Smith follows a 2023 civil defamation case, in which a judge found – on the balance of probabilities – there was “substantial truth” to some of the murder claims against him.Brought by Roberts-Smith against Nine newspapers, which first published allegations of misconduct in 2018, the high-profile trial was the first time in history any court has examined claims of war crimes by Australian forces.The former soldier argued the alleged killings occurred legally during combat or did not happen at all, and last year lost an appeal against the Federal Court finding.He now faces one charge of the war crime of murder, one of jointly commissioning a murder, and three of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a murder.War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)AfghanistanAustralia

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French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon3 hours agoSamantha GranvilleBeirutReutersA French peacekeeper has been killed and three others wounded after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, in what officials described as a deliberate attack.The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which confirmed that one peacekeeper had died and three others were injured, two of them seriously, when their patrol came under small-arms fire.French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah. The The Macron ” The Unifil said the patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to reconnect isolated positions.Follow the latest updatesWhat we know about the Israel-Lebanon ceasefireCeasefire with Israel brings respite to Lebanon, but obstacles to peace remainThe Lebanese Armed Forces said the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was co-ordinating closely with Unifil during what it described as a sensitive phase in southern Lebanon.Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and told Macron during a phone call that those responsible would be brought to justice.Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also ordered an investigation.Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday denying it was responsible, describing them as “rushed” and “baseless accusations”.It called for “caution in making judgements and assigning blame regarding the incident, pending the Lebanese army’s investigation to determine the full circumstances”.The group urged both Unifil and the Lebanese army to continue co-ordinating with locals on manouevres “under these delicate circumstances”.In late March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents – an explosion that destroyed a Unifil vehicle and a projectile strike a day earlier.Unifil warned that under international law “all actors” were obliged to ensure the “safety and security” of UN personnel, adding that “deliberate attacks” on peacekeepers were “grave violations” of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.The peacekeeping force was first established in 1978 by the UN Security Council following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, with a mandate to confirm Israeli withdrawal, restore peace and assist the Lebanese government in regaining authority in the south.Its role was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, when Security Council Resolution 1701 strengthened its responsibilities in monitoring the ceasefire along the Blue Line – the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel – in co-ordination with the Lebanese army.More than 330 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission was established.Peacekeepers killed by roadside explosion in Lebanon, initial report findsMiddle EastHezbollahLebanonIran war

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Sheinbaum, Mexico’s Sheinbaum, denies a ‘diplomatic crises’ with Spain following the conquest row6 hours agoKathryn. ArmstrongEPAMexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said that there was “no crisis” diplomatically with Spain despite years of frosty relationships over the conquest. “There is no crisis diplomatic. There has never been a diplomatic crisis. What is very important is that we recognise the strength of our country’s indigenous peoples,” she said as she arrived at a summit of left-leaning leaders in Barcelona on Saturday.Spain’s colonisation of Mexico has become a thorny issue in recent years, prompting calls for an apology and an apparent diplomatic snub.The summit, which seeks to address a rise in illiberalism, comes as far-right leaders met in Italy for a rally against immigration and EU bureaucracy.Sheinbaum’s comments came moments before she met the Barcelona summit’s co-chair, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who did not comment on the state of his nation’s relations with Mexico.However, Spain’s economy minister was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying that Sheinbaum’s presence was “a very important and positive sign of a rapprochement between the two countries”.Her visit is the first by a Mexican president in eight years.Relations between Spain and Mexico deteriorated in 2019 when Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, demanded that Spain apologise for human rights violations during its conquest. Sheinbaum’s comments came moments before she met the Barcelona summit’s co-chair, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who did not comment on the state of his nation’s relations with Mexico. However, Spain’s economy minister was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying that Sheinbaum’s presence was “a very important and positive sign of a rapprochement between the two countries”. Her visit is the first by a Mexican president in eight years. Spain refused to send a representative. King Felipe, who visited an exhibition on indigenous Mexican women in Madrid, said that “there are things that, when we study them, with our present-day criteria, our values, obviously cannot make us feel proud.” His words marked the first time a Spanish monarch had publicly acknowledged abuses during the country’s colonial era. “There are things that, when we study them, with our present-day criteria, our values, obviously cannot make us feel proud,” he had said while visiting an exhibition on indigenous Mexican women in Madrid.King Felipe’s words marked the first time a Spanish monarch had publicly acknowledged abuses during the country’s colonial era.It then emerged that, a month prior, Sheinbaum had invited him to the upcoming Fifa World Cup.She said that the sporting event – being hosted jointly with the US and Canada – would provide “a timely opportunity to evoke the depth and unique character of the ties between Mexico and Spain”, according to the Spanish royal palace.Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares won plaudits from Sheinbaum last October when he said there had been “pain and injustice” in the countries’ shared history.EPASaturday’s summit in Spain was the fourth meeting of the In Defence of Democracy initiative, which aims to counter extremism and illiberalism. Sanchez said that democracy cannot be taken for given. “We are seeing attacks on the multilateralism system, attempts to challenge international law and a dangerous normalisation in the use of violence. “His cochair, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, said that the UN Security Council did not work and that the five permanent members, the US, China Russia, France and UK, who all hold veto powers, had become “lords in war”. Lula said that no president, no matter how powerful, had the right to impose rules on other nations. The Patriots for Europe, a right-wing party in the European Parliament, held a rally in Milan. The event’s organizer, Italy’s Deputy PM Matteo Salvini and Geert wilders, leader of the Dutch PVV, also took part. Salvini told the crowd that the Alliance of Patriots was the only true opponent of the Brussels bureaucrats, who serve a few warmongers and businessmen. Hungary’s outgoing president Viktor Orban – whose Fidesz is also a Patriots for Europe member – was not present at this rally. Peter Magyar, an ex-Orban ally, defeated him in the general elections last weekend. Spain’s king welcomes Mexico’s World Cup invite after ‘abuse’ commentsSpanish king reopens debate on conquest of Mexico by acknowledging ‘abuse’EuropeSpainMexico

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The Iranian government has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed again. Ships have been attacked. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warned in a statement on Saturday that “no vessel is to move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman”. It said a number of vessels had passed through the strait under its management since Friday night, but that it would shut again until the US stopped its blockade of Iranian port. The current two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 22. The US has said that it has turned away 23 ships in the two weeks since it began enforcing its blockade of the strait on 13 April. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said this was a breach of the ceasefire and would stop the reopening while the agreement was still in effect. Peace talks earlier this month failed to produce an agreement. “We are having very good conversations.” The negotiations are going very well,” Trump said on Saturday. There were several reports of Iranian vessels being attacked on Saturday. The UK Maritime Trade Operations said that two Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker as it attempted to cross the strait. A container ship was also damaged by an “unknown projectile” near the coast of Oman’s north-east. Some vessels were able to cross the strait while it was open, but others had to change their route because of the IRGC’s refusal. The strait is used to transport about 20% of the world’s oil and LNG, but the number has dropped dramatically since the recent conflict began on 28 February, when Israel and the US attacked Iran. The price of a crude oil barrel has risen to over $100 ($74) in some places. Iran has warned it would attack tankers, other ships and laid mines.

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At least six killed as gunman takes hostages in Kyiv8 hours agoKathryn ArmstrongAt the very least, six people were killed and several others injured when a person opened up in Kyiv Saturday. The incident occurred in the southern Holosiivskyi District. Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s interior minister, said that the gunman, who was a local resident, opened fire on people in the street before taking others hostage at a nearby grocery store. Klymenko stated that the attacker, who was also a local resident, was killed by police after a shootout in the supermarket. The motive of the attacker is unclear. The exact number of victims is also unclear. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that 14 people had been injured including a 12-year old boy. The attacker also killed one hostage. Police negotiators talked to the shooter while he was at the supermarket for about 40 minutes, Klymenko reported. He described the man’s behavior as “chaotic”. “We tried persuading him, realising there was an injured individual there,” he explained. He added that the attacker did not make any demands. “We offered tourniquets and other things to stop the bleeding. He did not respond so the order to eliminate him was given, especially after one of the hostages had been killed. The circumstances surrounding the issuing of the permit, as well as the shooting itself, are now being investigated. The circumstances surrounding the issuing of the permit, as well as the shooting itself, are now being investigated.Zelensky said the shooter had lived in the eastern Donetsk region – which is largely under Russian occupation and was subject to a separatist conflict prior to Moscow’s full-scale invasion – for “a long time”.He also said that the man had set fire to his appartment before leaving to begin his shooting spree.While Kyiv is often subject to attacks during the ongoing war with Russia, shootings of this kind are rare in the city.KyivUkraine