WORLD NEWS

World News

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)…

China, Japan and S Korea condemn future nuclear tests by N Korea

China joined Japan and South Korea in condemnation of any further nuclear testing by North Korea.

Following a summit held in Beijing on Sunday between the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, the Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, and Lee Myung Bak of South Korea, the three countries deemed any future tests as "unacceptable".

Speaking to reporters after the meeting Lee Myung Bak said,

Israel urged to act to save Palestinian hunger strikers

Israel faced increasing calls to take action on over 2000 Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike, including two who have refused food for 77 days, amid concerns for their health.

Palestinian groups state that a further six Palestinians are in a "critical" condition.

Egyptian mediators have continued attempts to negiotiate a deal in an effort to prevent current demonstrations in Gaza and the West Bank spiralling if one of the hunger striker was to die.

Bangladesh political leader charged with genocide

The former head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party has been indicted by a war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh.

Ghulam Azam, 89, is accused of carrying out war crimes during Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan.

Azam is thought to have led pro-Pakistani militias which carried out atrocities during the 9-month war in 1971.

US partial resumption of military sales to Bahrain sparks criticism

The US will resume the sale of some military equipment to Bahrain, the State Department announced Friday, whilst recognising  "a number of serious unresolved human rights issues".

Speaking to The Washington Post, a senior official said,

Syrian opposition hold talks in Rome on future leadership

Members of the Syrian National Council (SNC) an alliance of groups fighting in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, commenced three days of talks on Saturday, in Rome.

Representatives of the various groups remain in disagreement regarding the future leadership of the current President of the SNC, Burhan Ghalioun.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency in Rome, Samir Nashir, a representative of the Dasmascus Declaration group, expressed support for a change of leadership. Nashir said,

JPMorgan criticised over genocide funding

Investment bank JPMorgan Chase has urged share holders to vote against proposals calling on the bank to stop investing in firms that "substantially contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity."

JPMorgan has a big stake in Chinese oil firm PetroChina, which has been condemned for financing genocide in Sudan.

Dutch peacekeeper may face charges over Srebrenica massacre

The former commander of the Dutchbat peacekeeping forces in Bosnia may be prosecuted for the massacre in Srebrenica in 1995.

Colonel Thom Karremans was in charge of the troops responsible for the protection of a Muslim enclave in a Serb-Christian region. However the peacekeepers allowed Serb soldiers to take control of the town who then went on to massacres of over 8000 Muslim men and boys.

The National Reflection Committee has now advised Dutch prosecutors to bring charges against the colonel, although prosecutors do not have to follow the advice.

UN adopts 'land grab' guidelines

The UN has published global guidelines on ‘land grabbing’, the purchase of land by rich nations and foreign companies in developing countries.

The guidelines, which are non-binding, call on governments to safeguard the rights of the indigenous population which uses the land.

Navi Pillay condemns 'indiscriminate' aerial bombing by Sudan

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, condemned Sudan's "indisciminate" aerial bombing of South Sudan on Friday, and warned that such actions could be considered "an international crime".

Speaking to reporters during a visit to South Sudan this week, Pillay said,

"I am saddened and outraged to learn that such attacks which place civilians at great risk - and have already killed and injured some and caused many thousands of others to flee - have been taking place again in recent days."

Chinese firm to take over US bank

A bank has become the first Chinese firm to be given approval by the US to acquire a US bank.

State owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s (ICBC) plans to take over the US subsidiary of the Bank of East Asia have been approved by the US Federal Reserve.