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)…

Prince Zeid Al-Hussein proposed as next UN Human Rights chief

Jun 6, 2014
Prince Zeid Al-Hussein, Jordan's ambassador to the UN, has been proposed as the next UN Human Rights Chief in an announcement made by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Friday.

Prince Zeid, a widely respected, long-standing diplomat, will replace the South African jurist, Navi Pillay as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The proposal will be considered by the UN General Assembly for approval. According to Reuters, UN diplomats said resistance to the proposal was unlikely, given Prince Zeid's wide respect within the diplomatic community.

Land rights activist killed in Myanmar

Jun 6, 2014
An opposition land rights activist in Myanmar, was shot and killed in the northern Shan state, reports Voice of America.

Sai San Tun was allegedly taken away from his house by two men before his body was found a day later.

A member of the National League for Democracy, said the murdered activist had been involved in leading villagers to campaign against military land appropriation.

Croatia spends over 3 million euros on genocide prosecution at the Hague

Jun 6, 2014
The Croatian government last week announced that it had spent over 3 million euros in the country’s genocide prosecution against Serbia at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, reports BalkanInsight.

Croatia first filed a genocide lawsuit against Serbia in 1999, whilst Serbia launched a counter claim alleging Croat

World leaders mark D-Day 70th anniversary

Jun 5, 2014

World leaders gathered in Normandy, France on Friday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

More famously known as D-Day, the landings began the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe and eventually led to the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War 2.

Both sides in CAR conflict responsible for war crimes finds preliminary UN Commission of Inquiry

Jun 4, 2014

Both sides of the conflict in the Central African Republic are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, found a United Nations preliminary Commission of Inquiry report.

The report stressed that, "the displacement of Muslims affected by whatever party so far is a matter of protection and the preservation of human life, not a matter of ethnic cleansing.”

China welcomes Palestinian unity government as foundation of independent statehood

Jun 4, 2014
The Chinese government this week welcomed the newly formed Palestinian unity government as a step towards Palestinian independence, reports Xinhua.

“We believe Palestine’s internal reconciliation will strengthen the solidarity of the Palestinian people, and promote the founding of an independent state for Palestinians and peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.

Israel responds to Palestinian unity by announcing more settlements

Jun 4, 2014

In response to a Palestinian unity government being sworn in this week, Israel has announced the construction of almost 1,500 new homes in various settlements, in a move that has received international condemnation.

Palestinian unity government work towards two state solution welcomed by UN

Jun 3, 2014
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the announcement of a Palestinian unity government, in a statement released yesterday.

The Secretary-General also noted that ‘the Palestine Liberation Organisation will remain responsible for holding peace negotiations with the State of Israel, a commitment President Abbas has reaffirmed, and hopes that new opportunism for progress toward a two-state solution will emerge soon.’

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Assad emphatically wins criticised Syrian elections

Jun 3, 2014
Ruling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was announced the winner of the much criticised Syrian elections on Wednesday, taking 88.7% of the vote and securing a third term in office, as fighting continued in many parts of the country.

Opposition controlled areas did not see any voting, yet Syria's constitutional court put the turnout at 73.42%. The two other men on the ticket, who received only 4.3% and 3.2% of the vote, were dismissed by the opposition, claiming they were token candidates who provided no real alternative to the Assad regime.

The elections were also slammed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said, “The elections are non-elections. A great big zero”. Speaking in Lebanon, he went on to add, "You can't have an election where millions of your people don't even have an ability to vote... Nothing has changed between the day before the election and after”.

He was joined by the European Union in his criticism who stated it was not "a genuinely democratic vote".

25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square marked

Jun 3, 2014
See more minute by minute tweets of the events of June 4th 1989 @prchovanec

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hong Kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre today, whilst Chinese authorities silenced all mention of the pro-democracy protests, that resulted in a military crackdown killing hundreds.

Organisers stated that 180,000 people gathered in Hong Kong, as thousands of candles were lit to mark the massacre, alongside events held in Taiwan and around the globe.


Pro-democracy activists alongside Tamil Solidarity mark the massacre in London. Photograph: Tamil Solidarity

The White House also released a statement saying, the United States “continues to honor the memories of those who gave their lives in and around Tiananmen Square and throughout China, and we call on Chinese authorities to account for those killed, detained, or missing in connection with the events surrounding June 4, 1989.”

In mainland China though, the government cracked down in the weeks leading up to the massacre, where it is still a taboo topic. Lawyers, journalists and activists were reportedly detained while international news reports were censored and internet searches blocked.
Prince Zeid Al-Hussein proposed as next UN Human Rights chief
Land rights activist killed in Myanmar
Croatia spends over 3 million euros on genocide prosecution at the Hague
World leaders mark D-Day 70th anniversary
Both sides in CAR conflict responsible for war crimes finds preliminary UN Commission of Inquiry
China welcomes Palestinian unity government as foundation of independent statehood
Israel responds to Palestinian unity by announcing more settlements
Palestinian unity government work towards two state solution welcomed by UN
Assad emphatically wins criticised Syrian elections
25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square marked