South Africa welcomes UN court’s ruling against Israel
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that the country welcomes the measures that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered by majority decision, which ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide acts in the Gaza Strip.
“Earlier today, the ICJ in The Hague issued a ruling that is a victory for international law, for human rights, and above all, for justice,” Ramaphosa said in a televised address to the nation. “The ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has handed down a ruling that the State of Israel should immediately implement a set of provisional measures to prevent any further acts of genocide in Gaza, to desist from such acts, and to take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence relating to acts of genocide. As the South African government, we welcome the decision of the ICJ,” Ramaphosa said. The order is binding on Israel, and must be respected by all states that are party to the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, he said, adding that South Africa expects Israel, as a self-proclaimed democracy and a state that respects the rule of law, to abide by the measures handed down by the ICJ. “As South Africa, we thank all in the international community who have supported our application, including a number of countries who have declared their intention to be part of our application,” he said. “It is our earnest hope and wish that this court order paves the way for an end to this crisis, for an end to the terrible loss of life and hardship, and for the crucial first steps to be taken towards reconciliation and a just, lasting peace,” said Ramaphosa.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation on Friday also welcomed the ICJ’s order, saying the ruling marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people. On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Algeria expresses regret for Mali’s cancellation of Algiers peace agreement
ALGIERS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — Algeria on Friday expressed regret and deep concern following the Malian authorities’ cancellation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, an outcome of the Algiers process.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Algiers acknowledges this decision’s gravity, emphasizing its impact on Mali, the broader region’s pursuit of peace and security, and the international community. On Thursday, the military junta in Mali abruptly terminated the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in 2015 between the government of Bamako and northern independence groups, citing changes in posture among signatory groups and alleging acts of hostility and exploitation by Algerian authorities, who lead the mediation efforts, as reasons for this decision. Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by insurgencies, jihadist incursions, and inter-community violence that have left thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Algeria has been a key player in efforts to bring peace to Mali. The Algiers process, hosted by the North African country, led to the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in 2015, but its implementation has faced difficulties.
Trump ordered to pay writer Carroll 83.3 mln USD in defamation case
NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — Former U.S. President Donald Trump should pay 83.3 million U.S. dollars to writer E. Jean Carroll for defamatory statements he made against her in 2019, a Manhattan federal jury determined Friday.
The nine New Yorkers – two women and seven men – ordered Trump to pay Carroll 11 million dollars for a reputational repair program, 7.3 million dollars in other compensatory damages and 65 million dollars in punitive damages. The total is more than eight times what Carroll asked for in her initial lawsuit. Trump left the courthouse minutes before the verdict and was not inside the room when the jury returned. On a Truth Social post, Trump blasted the verdict as “absolutely ridiculous” and said he would appeal the decision. Friday’s verdict marked the second time Carroll won damages from Trump at trial.
Last May, a separate Manhattan federal jury awarded Carroll 5 million dollars in damages, including nearly 3 million dollars for defamation, after they found that Trump sexually abused Carroll and then defamed her in 2022 for public statements he made disparaging her and denying the allegations. Carroll, a former magazine columnist, alleged that Trump raped her in a department store in the mid-1990s and then defamed her when he denied her claim.
South Africa’s parliament calls for pressure on Israel to comply with ICJ order
CAPE TOWN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — The South African parliament on Friday welcomed the “landmark ruling” of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the country’s genocide case against Israel, calling on the international community to apply pressure on Israel to comply with the order.
According to a statement issued by the parliament on Friday evening, the ICJ has determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are “plausibly genocidal” and has indicated provisional measures on that basis. Calling it “a significant human rights victory,” the parliament said “the ruling vindicates South Africa’s position on an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Gaza.” In the statement, the South African parliament called on Israel to respect the binding measures and to cease all plausible genocidal acts in Gaza and against the Palestinian people. “There is now no credible basis for Israel and its supporters’ indiscriminate military actions in the name of self-defense. The ruling is a clear demonstration of Israel’s non-compliance with international law, including the Genocide Convention,” said the parliament. Therefore, it noted, the ruling compels Israel to immediately stop all hostilities in Gaza and allow more UN humanitarian aid. “Considering the measures ordered by the court, we call on governments, parliaments, and the international community to respond by applying pressure on Israel to comply with the order,” it added.
The parliament also called on the United Nations Security Council, upon formal notification of the ICJ’s order and pursuant to its statute, to ensure swift action as “no government or state is above the law.” On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Namibia warns of water shortage in central areas as dams hit critical levels
WINDHOEK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — Namibia Water Corporation Ltd (NamWater) and the City of Windhoek raised concerns on Friday as the combined water level in the Central Area of Namibia’s (CAN) three dams hit 22 percent of full capacity, signaling potential water supply shortages amid an ongoing poor rainy season.
The central region heavily relies on an integrated water supply system fed by three interconnected dams but with the persistent absence of rainfall and associated runoff in the face of highly variable climatic conditions, the water supply system is now facing a critical challenge. “With the rainy season underway and the end of January approaching, no water inflow into any of the three dams has been recorded,” the two organizations said in a joint statement. The system, which successfully sustained water supply through frequent dry seasons, draws water not only from interconnected dams but also from groundwater sources while a new Water Reclamation Plant is employed as part of crucial interventions to address supply shortfalls, particularly in the capital city Windhoek.
Last year, the water corporation scrutinized the effectiveness of previously adopted strategies leading to the development of new strategies aimed at securing water supply for at least the next two rainy seasons. “Unfortunately, aided by exceptionally high temperatures since October 2023, water consumption has been consistently above the savings target, further depleting available water stock faster than predicted,” the statement said. In response to the alarming situation, NamWater and the City of Windhoek are urging all consumers and stakeholders to comply with Water Demand Management measures implemented by the relevant authorities while emphasizing that the situation will be closely monitored as the rainy season unfolds.
WHO chief pleads for ceasefire in Gaza, calling conditions “hellish”
GENEVA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) underlined the “hellish” conditions in Gaza, calling for a ceasefire and a “true solution” to the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Thursday.
In his address to the global health agency’s Executive Board, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said around 26,000 people had died, with 70 percent of them women and children. This indicator alone is enough for a ceasefire, he said, voicing concern that deaths will increase as injured and chronically ill people receive no medical services. “War doesn’t bring solutions, except more war, more hatred, more agony, more destruction. So let’s choose peace and resolve this issue politically,” Tedros said. “I think all of you have said the two-state solution and so on, and hope this war will end and move into a true solution.” “If we look for a solution, it’s always possible,” he said.
The WHO head also warned of growing risks of epidemics, starvation and famine in Gaza since the health service there is “on its knees.”
UN court orders Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza
THE HAGUE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Friday ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide acts against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The court, by a large majority of the 17 judges, ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide acts, to ensure that its military does not commit genocide, to halt incitement against Palestinians as a group, to preserve evidence and to take immediate measures to ensure humanitarian aid. “The court is aware of the human tragedy in the region,” Judge Joan E. Donoghue, president of the court, said. “The plight of children is particularly heartbreaking. An entire generation of children in Gaza is traumatized. Their future is in jeopardy.” In addition, the court asked Israel to report on the measures regarding the orders within one month. The orders are, according to the court, legally binding. The court did not order Israel to suspend its military operations in Gaza, one of the main requests submitted by South Africa. The court also called on Hamas to release all Israeli hostages. Judge Donoghue said that an indication of provisional measures was justified as at least some alleged acts and omissions by Israel in Gaza fall under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Therefore, the court rejected Israel’s wish to drop the case.
On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In this application, South Africa also requested the court to indicate provisional measures in order to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention,” and “to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention not to engage in genocide, and to prevent and to punish genocide.” Judge Donoghue said that a definite ruling on committing genocide by Israel is not possible yet. Observers say that such a ruling could take years. Two groups of several dozen demonstrators, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli, waited outside the Peace Palace for the court ruling. Both groups were significantly smaller than those on the two previous public hearing days on Jan. 11-12, 2024.
As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the ICJ was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It has the power “to indicate, if it considers that circumstances so require, any provisional measures,” while resolving legal disputes between countries. Its judgment is final and without appeal.
UN secretary-general calls for action against hate in memory of Holocaust victims
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — In a solemn ceremony held Friday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres honored the memory of the Holocaust victims, emphasizing the urgent need to combat antisemitism and all forms of bigotry.
The event, marking the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, brought together dignitaries, Holocaust survivors, and their families, both online and in person, on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. “It’s a great honor to be with you today to commemorate the memory of the victims of the Holocaust,” the secretary-general stated, acknowledging the deep significance of the day. He highlighted the importance of remembering the 6 million Jewish victims and the millions of others persecuted by the Nazi regime, including the Roma and Sinti communities. “All of us – leaders and citizens – have a responsibility to listen and to learn from what you have to say. And to act on it,” he said, stressing the need for collective efforts to eradicate antisemitism, bigotry, hatred, and intolerance.
The international day serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust, a period marked by the systematic extermination of 6 million Jews, along with the persecution and murder of countless others. This day, chosen for its significance as the day Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated, stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the courage of those who survived. The secretary-general also reflected on personal and collective acts of bravery during the Holocaust, mentioning individuals like Rudolf Vrba and Roza Robota, whose extraordinary acts of resistance against the Nazis offer lessons of courage and fortitude. “We remember and revere today all such acts of bravery,” he affirmed, underscoring the importance of acknowledging these stories of resilience. In his concluding remarks, the top UN official reiterated the UN’s commitment to fighting racism and bigotry in all forms. “Racism and bigotry are a violation of everything we stand for,” he declared, calling for a united stand against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination. He also highlighted the role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in addressing antisemitism globally.
In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. Interview: China delivers good performance in UN periodic review of human rights — ambassador
GENEVA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — China has delivered a good performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, China’s top diplomat in Geneva Chen Xu told Xinhua on Friday.
Chen’s remarks came after the UPR Working Group adopted the recommendations made to China, whose achievements in human rights won international acclaim at its fourth review earlier this week. The UPR is a mechanism under which all UN member states undergo a review of their human rights record every four and half years. In an interview with Xinhua, Chen, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, outlined the highlights of China’s efforts to improve human rights. Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, China has realized its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Chen said.
China has won the largest battle against poverty in human history, lifting nearly 100 million rural population out of poverty. That means the country has eliminated absolute poverty, meeting the poverty eradication target set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. Adhering to the development of whole-process people’s democracy, China implements democratic elections, consultation, decision-making, management and oversight in accordance with the law. Simultaneously, China is committed to improving people’s livelihoods while pursuing high-quality development to ensure that more benefits of national development will reach all its people more fairly, Chen said. China has built the world’s largest education, social security and medical and health-care systems, and made a historic leap forward in terms of education accessibility, Chen noted.
Across the country, old-age insurance covers 1.06 billion people and basic healthcare security coverage rate reached 95 percent of its population, Chen said. With an annual average of over 13 million new jobs created in urban areas, housing conditions for both urban and rural residents have significantly improved, Chen added. China is dedicated to safeguarding the rights of specific groups, implementing the basic national policy of gender equality, formulating and implementing four consecutive cycles of outlines for children’s development, the diplomat said. China is steadily advancing an elderly-friendly society and promoting the cause for people with disabilities. China continues to safeguard human rights in accordance with the law, and respect and safeguard human rights through legislation, law enforcement, judiciary and observance of the law, according to Chen. China also emphasizes the equality of all ethnic groups, and all the 56 ethnic groups coexist in unity, working together and prospering like closely-knit pomegranate seeds, the ambassador said.
China believes that lucid water and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and that the ecological environment should be protected like one’s eyes. Over the past decade, China’s sky has become bluer, mountains lusher and water clearer, and China’s PM2.5 density has dropped by 57 percent, making it a country with the fastest improvement in air quality, the largest-scale utilization of renewable energy and the largest growth in forest resources in the world, Chen said. China boasts nearly half of the world’s installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation, more than half of electric vehicle sales worldwide, and a quarter of the global increase in green area, he added. China actively leads global human rights governance, putting forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. China advocates safeguarding human rights through security, promoting them through development and advancing them through cooperation. China is also committed to upholding international justice and enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in the Human Rights Council and other multilateral human rights bodies, and has provided Chinese wisdom and proposals for global human rights governance, the diplomat said.
The key to China’s historic achievements in human rights lies in combining the principle of universality of human rights with its national realities, and in finding a development path that is in line with the trend of the times and suited to the country’s national conditions, Chen said. China will continue to take the future of humankind and the well-being of its people into account, always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, he noted. China will provide the world with new opportunities through its own development, helping move global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, rationality and inclusiveness and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humankind, Chen said.
UN Human Rights Council UPR Working Group adopts recommendations made to China
GENEVA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — The recommendations made to China were adopted here Friday by the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group.
China took part in the fourth round of the UPR this week. China is ready to collaborate with the global community to steadfastly advance and safeguard human rights, said China’s top diplomat in Geneva, Chen Xu, after the adoption. Chen, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, also said China will play an active role in global human rights governance, advocate for common human values, support the establishment of a global community of shared future, and collaborate to create a better world.
The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, noted Chen, adding that China aims to ensure that the benefits of modernization are distributed more fairly among its people, enhance protection of human rights, and support free and comprehensive development of individuals. UPR serves as a crucial platform for countries to engage in equitable and candid discussions on human rights matters within the framework of the UN, fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration. China participated in the previous three reviews in 2009, 2013, and 2018 respectively.
Presidential election to exacerbate already dysfunctional U.S. political system: Japanese media
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — The U.S. political system has become dysfunctional and the November presidential election threatens to further undermine its credibility in a way it has not been in more than 150 years, Japanese newspaper Nikkei Shimbun has reported.
The legitimacy of the U.S. political system has continued to decline, said the newspaper in a recent report, citing U.S. citizens’ record low trust in key institutions such as the legislature, the judiciary and the media. Partisan tensions are high and neither major party’s candidate is an ideal choice for the majority of Americans, it said.
No matter who wins the November election, the problem will no doubt continue to intensify, the report said. What is certain is that America’s social fabric, its political system, and its international standing will continue to suffer, it added.
