• Syrian government and opposition trade blame over bomb blasts

    Bomb blasts in the Syrian capital Damascus, which have killed at least 55 people and wounded another 400, have drawn international condemnation.

    The UN Security Council condemned the attacks and urged all sides to 'immediately and comprehensively' implement UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan for Syria.

  • Al-Jazeera closes English channel in China

    Al-Jazeera's English news channel closed after the Chinese government expelled a correspondent, refusing to renew her press credentials.

    Melissa Chan, an American citizen and political journalist, left China on Monday night.

  • Boycott forces Ukraine to postpone summit

    Ukrainian officials announced that Friday's summit of EU state leaders would be postponed, after a widespread boycott by leaders across Europe in protest at the treatment of Ukraine's opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko.

    Thirteen leaders across the EU have pulled out including from Germany, the Czech Republic and Italy.

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  • Britain 'haven' for war criminals

    Official figures obtained by the Yorkshire Post show that the UK Border Agency has recommended ‘adverse immigration action’ against 207 individuals in Britain, suspected of committing war crimes in their native countries.

    Individuals from countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are accused of torture, genocide and crimes against humanity.

  • Iraqi VP will not be arrested – Turkey

    Turkey has confirmed it will not be arresting or extraditing Iraq’s Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi.

    The Turkish deputy prime minister said al-Hashemi was in Turkey for medical treatment and the government would not hand over someone it had supported.

  • HRW accuses Syrian army of war crimes
    Human Rights Watch has stated that the Syrian military is guilty of war crimes committed during a two-week offensive, whilst the UN special envoy Kofi Annan was negotiating with the Syrian government in early April. 
  • Clinton commends India for Iranian oil reduction

    After meeting with India’s Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised the country for cutting down on its crude oil imports from Iran.

  • South Africa to investigate Zimbabwe officials

    A South African court has ordered prosecutors to investigate Zimbabwean officials accused of torturing opposition figures in 2007.

    The judge said South Africa has a duty under international law to investigate crimes against humanity.

  • British RAF to use Russian base to transport military hardware

    The RAF (Royal Air Force) is to use a Russian base in the transfer of military hardware from Afghanistan as British soldiers pull out, reported The Times.

  • Austerity under focus after European elections

    The Eurozone's austerity measures came under scrunity this weekend as markets reacted to elections in France and Greece.

    In France, the socialist François Hollande who campaigned pledging to re-negotiate the austerity measures and stimulate economic growth, was elected to succeed Nicholas Sarkozy. Following his victory, Hollande said, “Austerity need not be Europe’s fate.”

  • Putin inaugurated as president amid protests

    Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as President of Russia for the third time on Monday, as anti-Putin protesters took to the streets of Moscow.

    Riot police arrested anyone wearing white ribbons, a symbol of anti-Putin activists, as they raided nearby cafes and restaurants in search of protesters.

  • Far-right Greek party defiant after electoral gains

    The leader of the far-right Golden Dawn party, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, warned that the movement would spread across Europe after his party won 21 seats in the Greek parliament.

    Addressing reporters after the vote, who were forced to stand to welcome his presence, Michaloliakos shouted,

  • Chinese newspaper apologises after public outcry at anti-Chen editorial

    The Chinese newspaper, The Beijing News, appeared to offer an apology for its editorial which criticised the US and the Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, after widespread outcry by the Chinese public. 

  • China expected to allow Chen to travel abroad – US

    Chinese dissidents Chen Guangcheng is expected to be allowed to leave China, according to US officials.

    China earlier said in a statement released by its foreign ministry that Chen could apply to study abroad like other citizens.

    "Chen Guangcheng is currently being treated in hospital," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Liu Weimin, said on Friday.

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