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Latest news from and about the homeland

Photograph: Screenshot/ BLA video A fresh wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances has been documented across Balochistan this month, as Baloch rights groups recorded the recovery of several bodies of men who had earlier been forcibly taken, and appealed once more to international institutions that have largely ignored the province. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)…

Turkish PM warns no more tolerance, as protest continue

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Tuesday that he will not show "any more tolerance" towards the protesters.

Pledging to put an end to the demonstrations, Erdogan said that protesters had 'infringed on other people's freedom'.

Protests have been on-going since 31st May. Here are some photographs of the protests last week sent to Tamil Guardian by Ismail Okan Ukav, a journalism student at Istanbul Aydin University in Turkey:


SL strengthens relations in the EU

Sri Lanka and Slovenia have agreed to further strengthen the bilateral trade and economic ties between the two countries at the conclusion of an official visit to the country by Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs G.L Peiris.

Peiris, who met with several Slovenian officials, emphasised that continued visits by business leaders from Sri Lanka to Slovenia would serve to mutually benefit trade and investment opportunities in both countries.

UN expert calls for Israel torture inquiry

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk has called for an international investigation into allegations of torture and other abuses of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

Falk said in a report that Israeli violations were happening on a “massive scale” and the blockade on Gaza was “collective punishment” of the Palestinian people.

"The treatment of thousands of Palestinians detained or imprisoned by Israel continues to be extremely worrisome," he said.

Turkish government to meet with protesters

The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first conciliatory gesture towards protestors, agreeing to meet with them this week, amid mass demonstrations against government policies, that have been criticised of restricting lifestyles.

Sudan's Bashir 'mobilising for war' says South Sudan

The South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, accused Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, of "mobilising for war" on Monday, after Bashir threatened to cut off South Sudan's oil flow.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kiir said:
"The people of South Sudan should remain calm and patient as we work with the African Union to resolve this impasse with Sudan."
Criticising the "aggressive attitude" of Sudan, Kiir also raised concerns about the African Union's ability to mediate.

Kiir said:

China-US leaders aim for cooperation at 2 day summit

US President Barack Obama described the two day summit between himself and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as "terrific" as the summit drew to a close on Saturday.

Held in California, the two leaders discussed cyber crime, North Korea's nuclear programme and other issues including the economy and environment.

China's senior foreign policy adviser, Yang Jiechi, told reporters "cyber-security should not become the root cause of mutual suspicion and friction, rather it should be a new bright spot in our co-operation."

Asylum boat sinks off Australian coast

A boat carying migrants has sunk off the coast of Australia, with at least 13 people confirmed dead.

Searches are still ongoing, however no survivors have yet been found. The boat sunk around 120km off Christmas Island and is thought to have had 55 people on board.

The Australian air force spotted the boat on Wednesday but it had disappeared by the next day. A search was launched for the boat, and bodies were found on Friday and Saturday.

Talks agreed between South and North Korea

South Korea and North Korea have agreed to hold the first high-level meeting in five years, after months of rising tension between the two states.

The agreement, aimed at rebuilding trust between the two Koreas, comes after hours of preliminary talks in the truce village of Panmunjom.

The talks are due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday in Seoul.

See the BBC for full report.

United States leans towards arming Syrian rebels

Officials from the Obama administration suggested to the Associated Press today that approval to provide lethal aid to the Syrian rebels could be decided upon this week, and outlined the possibilities of enforcing a no fly zone over Syria. 

Pope recognises Armenian genocide as first of 20th century

Pope Francis recognised the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey as “the first genocide of the twentieth century".

Meeting a delegation of genocide victims earlier this week, Pope Francis told a victim that “the first genocide of the 20th Century was that of the Armenians.”

In 2006, in his capacity as Cardinal and head of the Catholic Church in Buenos Aires, he had urged Turkey to recognise the killings as genocide as the “gravest crime of Ottoman Turkey against the Armenian people and the entire humanity.”