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Australian war veteran charged with war crimes

Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, one of the country's most famous and decorated soldiers, has been charged with five counts of war crimes, according to Australian media.

He was arrested at Sydney airport on Tuesday and is accused of killing five unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith has previously been praised for his efforts in Afghanistan. He is due to appear in court either on Tuesday or Wednesday, writes the AP.

He faces life in prison and denies the charges.

Shooting at Israeli consulate in Istanbul

A serious incident has occurred near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkish media report. Police are said to have fired shots at several armed perpetrators.

Turkish media reported early on that two perpetrators were killed and a third was arrested. The details of what happened differ, and in a statement the mayor of Istanbul said that all three were “neutralized” but that only one was killed. Two police officers were reportedly slightly injured in the incident.

The mayor said that the incident was being investigated as an attack on the Israeli consulate. According to AFP’s sources, there are no Israeli diplomats in Turkey.

Croatia free from mines – thirty years after the war

30 years after the last war in Croatia, the country is free from landmines for the first time, AFP reports. The mines have claimed over 200 lives and injured twice as many.

Croatia has spent the equivalent of 13 billion kronor on disarming and removing over 100,000 landmines and almost 500,000 unexploded grenades and other explosive devices.

57-year-old Mirsad Tokic worked himself clearing landmines until one exploded, taking his leg with it, in 2007.

“I just wanted to get the job done and hurried to clear a narrow strip of vegetation… and walked right into it. It would be wonderful if no one ever had to go through such a tragedy again.”