AFP, United Nations
The United Nations on Friday reported a “deeply concerning” increase in allegations of sex abuse by its peacekeepers, with 69 claims last year against troops from 21 countries.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for on-site court-martials while the United States said it was preparing the first Security Council draft resolution on measures to tackle the wave of accusations.
For the first time, Ban released the nationalities of troops facing allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in his annual report as part of a new push to pressure countries to take action.
EU extends sanctions against North Korea
Reuters, Brussels
The European Union said on Friday that it had added 16 people and 12 companies to its sanctions list following North Korea’s latest nuclear test and rocket launch.
The United Nations unanimously voted to expand existing sanctions against Pyongyang on Wednesday.
The European Union introduced restrictive measures against North Korea in December 2006. The European Council, which represents the 28 member states, said that Friday’s extension was a transposition of the UN vote on Wednesday.
Slovaks vote in parliamentary election
AP, Slovakia
Polls have opened in Slovakia’s parliamentary election with the ruling party of Prime Minister Robert Fico campaigning on an anti-migrant ticket.
The leftist Smer-Social Democracy party is a clear favorite but analysts say Fico may have misjudged the public mood by focusing too much on Europe’s migration crisis and not enough on Slovakia’s own issues.
Israel demolishes 41 West Bank homes
AFP, Jerusalem
Israeli forces demolished dozens of structures including a school in the northern West Bank this week, leaving 10 families homeless, the UN said on Friday.
The demolitions took place on Wednesday in the village of Khirbet Tana, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank.
In total, 41 structures were destroyed, displacing 36 Palestinians including 11 children, the UN’s humanitarian body said in a statement.
