WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Baloch activists accuse state-backed death squads of new killings
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)…

Cooperation with Russia to tackle Islamic State a possibility says US

Nov 22, 2015
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that it was possible to broaden cooperation with Russia and Syria in attempts to combat Islamic State militants.

Stressing that Washington was not under pressure to work with Moscow, Mr Kerry said that under the right circumstances cooperation could read to “constructive possibilities”

Such a move should not deter opposition groups in Syria from fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad he added.

Highlighting the necessity of any cooperation to not be perceived as cooperation with Assad, he said,

Colombia pardons FARC rebels as confidence-building measure

Nov 21, 2015

Colombia is pardoning to 30 jailed members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as a confidence-building measure in its peace talks with armed group, AFP reported on Sunday.

The government said none of those being pardoned were in prison for serious crimes and added that they will be supported in their efforts to find jobs and receive social support on their release. 

UK convicts teen for trying to join Kurdish militant fight against Islamic State

Nov 20, 2015
A British teenager became the first British citizen convicted of trying to join the fight against Islamic State in Syria.

Silhan Ozcelik, an 18 year old, ran away from home to join the Kurdistan Workers party’s women militia, a wing of the proscribed Kurdish militant PKK organisation.

Bangladesh executions over war crimes

Nov 20, 2015

Bangladesh has executed two opposition leaders for war crimes committed during the 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan.

Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were convicted of genocide and rape and were hanged in Dhaka's central jail.

A special war crimes tribunal found Mr Chowdhury guilty of nine out of 23 charges including genocide, arson and persecuting people on religious and political grounds.

UN General Assembly passes resolution condemning North Korea rights abuses

Nov 19, 2015
A United Nations General Assembly committee condemned what it described as rampant and planned human rights abuses in North Korea reports Reuters.

The non-binding resolution adopted by the UN General assembly’s 3rd committee referred to the findings of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) commission of inquiry that concluded that rights abuses in North Korea may amount to war crimes.

Bosnia arrests over war crimes against Serbs

Nov 16, 2015
Bosnia has arrested a police commissioner, a lawyer and a third man, all Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims)suspected of having committed war crimes against Bosnian Serb civilians during the war in the early nineties.

The Sarajevo-based lawyer Ibro Merkez and Gorazde police commissioner Esef Huric were arrested on Tuesday on suspcion of having illegally imprisoned more than 100 Serbs from the eastern town of Gorazde at the local police station.

The Serb civilians were held for several months in inhumane conditions, causing two deaths, a statement from the state prosecutor said.

After the arrests Serbs permanently left Gorazde.

Finland detains Iraqi war crimes suspect for preliminary investigation

Nov 16, 2015
Finish officials arrested an Iraqi man on suspicion of committing war crimes in Iraq in 2014, reports abc news.

The Pirkanmaa Regional Court in Finald, confirmed that a suspect was held in custody on allegations of committing war crimes in Iraq during June 2015.

Jabbar Salman Ammar was detained by Finland’s police on Friday said Detective Superintendent Jari Raty during a press brief this week.

UNHCR urges European states to avoid demonising refugees over Paris attacks

Nov 16, 2015
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urged European countries to continue accepting refugees fleeing from persecution and conflict.

Calling on countries not to react to the Paris terrorist attacks, the UNHCR chief spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said,

ICC releases convicted Congolese war criminal

Nov 14, 2015
12.00 The International Criminal Court granted an early release to a convicted war criminal from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Germain Katanga became the first ICC convict to be freed after being sentenced to 12 years in jail during a trail in 2014.

Saudi Arabia commits to supporting Syrian rebels until Assad is removed

Nov 14, 2015
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said his country would continue to support Syrian rebels if President Bashar al-Assad was not removed through a political process, reports Reuters.

Speaking to press at the sidelines of the international Syria peace talks in Vienna, Adel al-Jubier said,

"We will support the political process that will result in (Assad) leaving, or we will continue to support Syrian opposition to remove him by force."
Cooperation with Russia to tackle Islamic State a possibility says US
Colombia pardons FARC rebels as confidence-building measure
UK convicts teen for trying to join Kurdish militant fight against Islamic State
Bangladesh executions over war crimes
UN General Assembly passes resolution condemning North Korea rights abuses
Bosnia arrests over war crimes against Serbs
Finland detains Iraqi war crimes suspect for preliminary investigation
UNHCR urges European states to avoid demonising refugees over Paris attacks
ICC releases convicted Congolese war criminal
Saudi Arabia commits to supporting Syrian rebels until Assad is removed