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)…

UK adds Hezbollah’s political wing to terrorist list

<p>The United Kingdom last week added the political wing of Hezbollah to its list of terrorist organisations, meaning that those found to either be a member of or&nbsp;supporter of Hezbollah will face criminal prosecution with&nbsp;up to ten years in prison.</p> <p>The move&nbsp;is a shift from Britain’s previous policy, under which the military wing was criminalised following a ban on the military wing which came into force in 2008, but diplomats would negotiate with political members.</p>

UN court rules British occupation of Chagos Islands illegal

The United Nations’ highest court has ruled the British occupation of the Chagos Islands is illegal, in what has been described as a humiliating blow to the UK’s prestige on the world stage.

UN demands inquiry into Indonesian police’s torture of West Papua boy with a snake

<p>A UN panel of experts is demanding an inquiry into allegations of police violence, unlawful arrests and torture in Indonesia after a video was released showing&nbsp;police interrogating a young West Papua boy with a snake.</p> <p>The officers were laughing as they wrapped a large snake around him whilst he remained handcuffed and screamed in fear, becoming increasingly distressed. The boy was arrested for stealing a mobile phone in the Jayawijaya district, during a police crackdown on petty crime. The UN views this case as part of “a widespread pattern of violence” by the police against the West Papua community.</p>

Amnesty International India is accused of caste-based discrimination and harassment

<p>A number of prominent Indian rights activists have withdrawn support from Amnesty International over allegations of caste-based discrimination and harassment. These include Dalit rights activists, Radhika Vemula and Chandrasekhar Azad, as well as women’s rights campaigner Mariya Salim who had worked for Amnesty.</p>

Warring parties in Yemen agree to pullback from Hodeidah

After two days of talks, the warring parties in Yemen have finalised a deal on the first phase of the pullback of forces from the city of Hodeidah.

Lords committee report finds UK’s arms causing 'significant civilian casualties' in Yemen

Britain’s international relations select committee has published a damning report concluding that the UK’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful and called for some sales to be halted. 

India pledges 'heavy' response to Kashmir attack that killed over 40 soldiers

A suicide bombing in Kashmir killed almost 40 Indian policemen on Thursday, with India's prime minister pledging those behind the attack will pay a "very heavy price".

UN warns food aid in Yemen at risk of rotting

The UN warned this week grains stored in the Red Sea Mills Silos in western Hodeida is at risk of rotting.

Australia to reopen detention centre after Senate passes medical evacuation bill

Scott Morrison, Australia’s Prime Minister, has said that the Australian government would reopen its Christmas Island detention centre, after suffering a historic defeat in Parliament over a medical evacuations bill.  

Cameroon blames separatists for hospital fire

<p>The Cameroon government accuses separatists of setting a hospital on fire and killing four people.</p> <p>In a press release, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson Rene Sadi stated, "the fire incident in Kumba District Hospital was committed by close to 20 secessionists rebels”.</p> <p>Separatists have rejected this assertion, stating on social media that they are "not responsible for the fire incident in the hospital”. They hold the government responsible and further accuse them of trying to tarnish their “image internationally”.&nbsp;</p>