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French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon8 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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Bodies of 50 Infants Dumped at Trinidad Graveyard6 hours agoPaulin KolaAFP through Getty ImagesThe remains of 50 infants and 6 adults were dumped in a graveyard on Trinidad, one of two islands that make up the Caribbean nation. A preliminary investigation indicates it may be a “case of an unlawful disposal of unclaimed bodies”, the statement added. It is unclear if this incident is connected to gang violence, as the country has one of Latin America and Caribbean’s highest murder rates. The bodies of 50 infants were found in a graveyard in Trinidad and Tobago. The commissioner said that anyone found to have violated this duty would be held accountable. A state of emergency, which grants police extended powers of arrest and search, has been renewed ever since it was introduced on 2nd March. Since then the US State Department has issued numerous travel advisories due to crime and “a heightened threat of terrorism”. The US State Department has issued several travel advisories since then – due to crime as well as “a heightened risk of terrorism”.

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Pope says ‘tyrants speech’ was not aimed directly at Trump3 hours backMaia DaviesPope Leo said he did not want to debate Donald Trump with his remarks made days after the high-profile spat between the two. He also claimed that the remarks were written a week earlier Pope Leo, who is currently on a tour in Africa, said that a “certain narrative” had been created, citing the “political situation” created by Trump’s remarks. In response to Pope Leo’s latest remarks the US Vice-President JDVance, who converted Vance said that while the media narrative is always a source of conflict, and yes, there have been and will be disagreements, the reality can often be much more complex. Earlier in the week, Vance had urged Vatican officials to “stick to morality”. “The masters in war pretend to not know that it only takes a moment to devastate, yet a lifetime often is not enough to restore,” he said. The Pope also condemned an “endless cycle of death and destabilisation” in a “bloodstained region” of Camer He had posted his lengthy criticism of Pope Francis after the pontiff voiced concerns about Trump’s threats that “a civilisation would die” if Iran refused to agree to US demands for the end of the war and to open the Strait of Hormuz. The president said he “was not Trump posted an AI-generated picture of himself as Jesus-like, which he removed later. The Catholic leader’s Africa Tour includes stops in eleven cities across four different countries. This is his second major overseas visit since he was elected as papacy in last year. It reflects the importance that Catholicism has in Africa.

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Australia’s most decorated soldier vows to fight charges of war crimes8 hours agoTabby WilsonSydneySam Mooy/The Sydney Morning Herald/Getty ImagesAustralia’s best-decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts Smith, has publicly denied any allegations against him. He was charged with five counts for war crimes of murder last Thursday. I can assure everyone that I have never backed down from a fight. “Roberts Smith, 47, has been accused of being responsible for 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 I would have preferred that these charges not be 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