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)…

Myanmar parliament approves bills restricting religious conversions

Aug 19, 2015
Myanmar's parliament this week approved a bill restricting religious conversations, reports Irrawaddy.

The bill which is the last of four bills called the 'Race and Religion Protection Bills" was tabled by the Buddhist nationalist group, Ma Ba Tha in 2013, and subsequently taken forward to parliament at the end of last year.

The legislation, was discussed along side a monogamy bill, will place restrictions on interfaith marriages, introduce legal procedures for religious conversions and grant local government to rate the number of children couples could have.

Sudan's president offers cease-fire in run up to proposed talks with militants

Aug 19, 2015

Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir proposed ceasefire and peace talks with militants working to overthrow his government.

Mr Bashir reiterated his offer of amnesty for rebels who agreed to put down their arms and join the national dialogue between government and opposition parties.

The renewed dialogue will take place on Oct 10 said the president at a planning meeting on Thursday.

UK to re-open embassy in Iran

Aug 19, 2015
Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond will formally reopen the UK embassy in Tehran on Sunday, a senior government source said.

The embassy was closed in 2011 after, it was stormed by demonstrations against sanctions imposed by the UK.

The reopening of Britain’s embassy symbolises warming relations between Iran and the west after a historic Nuclear agreement was made between Iran and world powers that would see sanctions on the country relaxed.

Guatemala dictator's genocide trial delayed after dementia diagnosis

Aug 18, 2015
The genocide trial of the former Guatemala dictator, Efrain Rios Montt, was suspended on Tuesday, after the court, which was deciding whether Mr Montt was fit to stand trial, suffered from dementia, reports AFP.

The decision has been postponed until August 25, the judge, Maria Eugenia said on Wednesday.

South Sudan president tells Kerry he intends to sign peace deal

Aug 18, 2015
South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir told the US Secretary of State John Kerry that he had "every intention" of signing a peace deal to end the conflict which began in December 2013, a US State Department spokesperson said.

"President Kiir assured the secretary that he has every intention of signing the peace agreement," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"He said he needed a couple of more days of consultations but he made it very clear it was his intention to sign, which is encouraging," he added.

Syrian airstrikes kill more civilians, UN official ‘horrified’

Aug 17, 2015
Syrian government jets reportedly carried out further airstrikes that hit civilian targets, just hours after a UN official condemned an air raid that killed as many as 100 people on Sunday.

The UN's humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said attacks on civilians were "unlawful, unacceptable and must stop", stating he was "particularly appalled" by an air raid in Douma on Sunday.

However, Douma was reportedly struck by air strikes again on Monday.

Sunday’s attack also faced condemnation from the United States with State Department spokesman John Kirby saying they “demonstrate the regime’s disregard for human life”. “As we have said, Assad has no legitimacy to lead the Syrian people,” he said, adding the United States supported a “political transition away from Assad that brings an end to such attacks and leads to a future that fulfils Syrians’ aspirations for freedom and dignity”.

UN Security Council finally speaks on Syria

Aug 17, 2015
After four years of disagreement about what to say, the UN Security Council finally adopted a statement on the conflict in Syria.
 
The statement read by the Council President on Monday said:

The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 and, in this regard, emphasizes the urgency for all parties to work diligently and constructively towards this goal.

Mexico convicts security force member for enforced disappearance in milestone case

Aug 17, 2015

Mexico’s court sentenced a soldier responsible for forced disappearances to prison, in a milestone case that was the first time a government solider had been found guilty for the disappearance of a civilian.

The soldier was sentenced to 31 years in prison for kidnapping a victim in May 2012 in the state of Nuevo Leon, reports Reuters.

Egypt passes anti-terror laws on 'false' reporting

Aug 16, 2015

Egypt imposed strict anti-terror laws that could strip journalists of employment for “false” reporting on militant attacks, reports The Guardian.

Bomb blast in Bangkok kills at least 19

Aug 16, 2015

At least 19 people have been killed and more than 100 injured after a bomb blast at a shrine in Thailand’s capital Bangkok.

Myanmar parliament approves bills restricting religious conversions
Sudan's president offers cease-fire in run up to proposed talks with militants
UK to re-open embassy in Iran
Guatemala dictator's genocide trial delayed after dementia diagnosis
South Sudan president tells Kerry he intends to sign peace deal
Syrian airstrikes kill more civilians, UN official ‘horrified’
UN Security Council finally speaks on Syria
Mexico convicts security force member for enforced disappearance in milestone case
Egypt passes anti-terror laws on 'false' reporting
Bomb blast in Bangkok kills at least 19