News in Brief-(31-5-2018)

Experts urge probe of Venezuela 'crimes against humanity'

WASHINGTON, May 30: A panel of independent international experts has found "reasonable grounds" to refer Venezuela to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, the Organization of American States said Tuesday. In a report, the experts identified more than 8,292 "extrajudicial executions" since 2015, "often a result of various security forces conducting unlawful and violent home raids where false confrontations are staged to rationalize the summary executions of, commonly, young men." — AFP

Catholic Church joins sex abuse payment scheme in Australia

SYDNEY, May 30: The Catholic Church has confirmed it will be part of a national redress scheme for victims of child sexual abuse in Australia. Among harrowing stories, it heard that 7.0 per cent of Australia's Catholic priests abused children between 1950 and 2010. The Church said it was "keen to participate" in the scheme, to be co-ordinated by the Australian government. "Survivors deserve justice and healing and many have bravely come forward to tell their stories," said Archbishop Mark Coleridge, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. — BBC

Terrorists behead 10 in Mozambique

JOHANNESBURG, May 30: Police in Mozambique say 10 people have been beheaded in the country's north amid concerns that the machete-wielding attackers have links to Islamic extremism. The Portuguese news agency Lusa cites police as saying Sunday's attack occurred near the rural community of Olumbi and that the suspects are being pursued. The dead include two teenagers. — AP