Netanyahu urges halt in delivering bodies of Palestinians

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his minister for military affairs to stop handing over the bodies of Palestinians killed in alleged attacks against soldiers. Nearly 210 Palestinians have been killed since October. According to Palestinian officials, several bodies previously returned had some of their organs missing.
• A Geneva-based organization representing the Jewish communities is trying to counter the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Tel Aviv. The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ron Lauder, accused the campaign of trying to destroy Israel, and promised to fight against the movement by cutting donations to college campuses.
• More militants have reportedly infiltrated into Syria from Turkey to join the Nusra Front terrorist group. A Russian Defense Ministry statement has cited local residents as saying that over 50 militants and several vehicles loaded with ammunition crossed the border and reached the city of Anadan near Aleppo.
• An advisor to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Turkey is behind the war in Syria. In an interview with Russia Today, Bouthaina Shaaban accused Ankara of supporting terrorism in the region. She also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to the liberation of the Syrian city of Palmyra from Daesh terrorists.
• Iraq's parliament has given Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi until Thursday to replace current ministers with technocrats amid protests against alleged corruption among government officials. An Iraqi lawmaker said parliament would hold a confidence vote on Saturday if Abadi failed to present the new ministerial lineup.
• The United Nations says it is investigating new allegations of sexual abuse by its peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. The U-N peacekeeping mission in C-A-R has been in the spotlight over allegations of child rape and other sexual abuses since it began its mission in September of 20-14.
• British media say the U-S Central Intelligence Agency took nude pictures of alleged terror suspects shortly before they were transferred out of the U-S and sent elsewhere for torture. Rights groups have described the act of naked photography as a potential war crime and sexual humiliation.
• Refugees stranded at a makeshift Greek camp have staged a protest near the border with Macedonia, demanding the opening of the crossing. The rally at Idomeni village was reportedly triggered by a rumor that the border would open late Sunday. Tens of thousands of asylum seekers are stranded in Greece.

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