UN: Saudi war on Yemen violates humanitarian law

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• A panel of UN experts has confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s 10-month war on Yemen has violated the humanitarian law. The experts urged the UN Security Council to investigate the violations. Over 8,300 people have been killed in Riyadh's offensive against the impoverished country since March 2015.
   
• Israel’s minister of military affairs has accused Turkey of sponsoring Daesh by purchasing smuggled oil from the terrorist group. Moshe Ya’alon says Turkey allows the terrorists to move from Europe to Syria and Iraq and then go back home. Russia has released photos of Daesh tankers taking oil to Turkey.
   
• The United Nations children’s fund has appealed for more donations for its efforts in North Korea where some 25,000 children are in need of treatment for severe malnutrition. UNICEF says food production has been cut by a fifth in North Korea due to a drought in 2014.
   
• Japan’s emperor says his country must remember the tremendous loss of lives in the Philippines during the World War II. Emperor Akihito made the comment before visiting the Southeast Asian country. The 1945 battle for Manila between Japan and allied US and Filipino forces reportedly left over 100,000 dead.
   
• The Italian foreign minister has backed Iran’s role in resolving the crises in the Middle East, most particularly the Syria crisis. In a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Rome, Paolo Gentiloni said instability in the region could exacerbate tensions within the Muslim world.
   
• EU interior ministers have asked the European Commission about the possibility of extending border checks at the passport-free Schengen zone to cope with the influx of refugees. In the last few months, Austria, Germany, Sweden, France and non-EU member Norway have all introduced temporary controls.
   
• Anti-austerity protesters have poured onto the streets in the Greek capital Athens to demonstrate against planned social security reforms and pension cuts. Despite growing anger, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has defended his unpopular reform plans. The pension overhaul has actually been demanded by Greece's bailout creditors.
   
• Six US policemen have been sacked over their involvement in a car chase in Cleveland that led to the killing of an unarmed black couple in 2012. The officers had fired 137 rounds at the couple’s car. US police is under fire for using excessive force against African Americans.

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