News & Comments

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Syria - Red Cross reportedly enters Baba Amro in the city of Homs.

Published on Mar 3, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Reports from Syria say a Red Cross team has finally been able to enter the war-shattered area of Baba Amro in the city of Homs.

But a spokesman for the organisation in Damascus says authorities have not authorised the distribution of any aid in the district.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon fears government forces are executing, imprisoning and torturing people in Homs. With the UN receiving what it calls "grisly reports", its Secretary-General addressed the 193-nation General Assembly.

"It is totally unacceptable, intolerable," Ban said. "How, as a human being, can you bear with this situation? That really troubles me. I'm deeply sad seeing what's happening. The Syrian authorities must open without any preconditions to humanitarian communities".

The International Committee of the Red Cross was allowed into Homs on Friday. Hours earlier, rebels withdrew from heavily-bombarded Baba Amro after a siege aimed at crushing a symbol of the revolt against President Assad.

USA - BP reaches $7.8 billion deal over Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Published on Mar 3, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ BP says it has reached a $7.8 billion out of court settlement with some of those taking legal action over the worst offshore oil spill in US history.

Eleven people were killed in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig two years ago. Some 4.9 million barrels of oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico.

The consequences were devastating for the environment, local wildlife and for many of those living and working in the region.

The deal, worth around 6 billion euros, will benefit thousands of fishermen whose livelihoods suffered and others who say they were harmed. Some locals say residue can still be seen.

"When you walk in the marshes and you pull your boot up, you just see it running off. It is definitely still there," said hunter Anthony James from Walker, Louisiana.

BP insists the deal is not an admission of liability.

It further delays the first phase of the trial over the spill which was due to start on Monday.

The firm still faces separate claims by the US government, Gulf states and drilling partners.