The American ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power has accused Russia ofholding the organization hostage and blocking action against Syria over the apparent use ofchemical weapons. The statement came as world leaders, among them President Obama andPutin, held a summit in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, where the conflict in Syria wasdiscussed over dinner. Our correspondent Daniel Sandford was watching the leadersassemble ahead of the dinner.
“There was a big photo opportunity as the leaders went into dinners tonight. President Putinled all the other leaders through the gardens and into dinner. But President Obama was notamong the leaders during that photocall, and he came along and took that same route, walkedpast all the cameras, that's part of an hour later. So this idea of them all sitting down togetherover dinners to discuss Syria, certainly it didn't happen in its fullest extends(extension), andPresident Obama either choose not to walk with President Putin into a palace dinner, or yetother better things to do.”
The speaker of the Syrian parliament has written to his counterpart at the US House ofRepresentatives, urging American Congress men and women not to rush into what he calledirresponsible reckless action.
Parliament in Kenya has voted in favour of a motion to begin the process of withdrawing fromthe International Criminal Court. The move comes less than a week before the trial at the ICCof the Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto on charges of crimes against humanity. PresidentUhuru Kenyatta is due to face trial there in November. Both have been prosecuted in relation toviolence that followed elections at the end of 2007. The ICC's spokesman Fadi El Abdallah saidboth cases will continue.
“As it is a sovereign decision to join, it is also a sovereign decision to withdraw, butwithdrawal has to follow certain rules. So it can be effective only one year after thedeposition offer withdrawing certification with the scrutiny general, and it will have an impactonly for the future, and no impact whatsofever on the proceedings and cases that have alreadybeen initiated.”
The son of the sport director of one of Europe's biggest football teams has become the 15thvictim of gangland shootings in Marseille this year. Adrien Anigo, whose father Jose is a keyofficial at the French club Olympique Marseille, was shot and killed by a gunman riding on amotorbike. Chris Bockman reports.
Jose Anigo, with a shaved head and tough bodyguard looks, is one of the most well knownfigures in French football management. His son, Adrien had been in jail accused of taking partin a series of armed robberies and he was freed by accident in a judicial mix-up. His killers on amotorbike shot him at close range in broad daylight. Marseille football club is one of the mostsuccessful and controversial football clubs in France, and previous presidents of the club haveadmitted the club has had ties with Marseille underworld.
World News from the BBC.
The Egyptian interior minister has warned of a wave of terrorism by opponents of the military-backed government after surviving unhurt in assassination attempt in Cairo. A car bombexploded mid-morning as Mohammed Ibrahim's convoy was passing by, with gunmen then firingat his car. It was the first attack on a high-level government official in the two months ofviolence since the army ousted the Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
The President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto says the US has promised to investigateallegations that he was spied on by the American National Security Agency. Mr. Pena Nieto saidaction should be taken if American agencies broke international agreements and acted outsidethe law. The allegations came from documents leaked by a former US intelligence contractorEdward Snowden.
Officials in California say the massive wildfire in and around Yosemite National Park was causedby a small illegal fire set by a hunter. Peter Bowes has the details.
“According to the US Forest Service, the wildfire spread when a hunter lost control of a fire inan isolated area. No arrests have been made and the hunter's named has been withheldpending further investigation. The fire is now 80% contained. More than 100 structures,including 11 homes, have been destroyed. Despite earlier speculation by a local fire chief thatthe blaze may have been linked to an illicit drug operation, Officials say no marijuanacultivation sites were found near the origin of the fire.”
Police in Germany have raided premises belonging to a Christian's sect and taken 40 childreninto care. Local reports said the police operation in the southern state of Bavaria followed newevidence of child abuse by members of the Twelve Tribes community. In a statement, thegroup, which follows teachings in the Old and New Testaments as God's direct word, said it wasan open and transparent community that did not tolerate any form of child abuse.