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)…

UN warns global hunger could almost double because of coronavirus

The UN warns that the coronavirus could lead to almost double the number of people currently suffering hunger meaning that 265 million people will be identified as suffering from “Acute food and livelihood crisis”.

The “acute food and livelihood crisis” is defined by the UN as “critical lack of food access and above usual malnutrition”. This is the third category out of five with the fifth being mass starvation. The UN warns that this starvation is driven by the economic havoc that the coronavirus has caused; it will likely hit the Global South, with Africa in particular, the hardest.

Human rights organisations call on Saudi Arabia to protect migrant workers

A number of human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Migrant-Rights, have called upon Saudi authorities to ensure adequate protection for migrant workers.

UN Security Council calls for Yemen ceasefire

<p>The UN Security Council has called on a ceasefire in Yemen echoing the earlier calls of the UN Secretary-General who warned that outbreak of the coronavirus poses a unique threat to the country.&nbsp;</p> <p>Earlier this month the UN welcomed a unilateral two-week ceasefire announced by the Saudi-led coalition which came into effect on the 9 April in an effort to support the UN-led peace process.</p> <p>Despite the announced ceasefire reports of violence from both sides.&nbsp;</p>

Nigerian Army kills 18 during coronavirus lockdown

Nigeria’s police force and army, referred to as the Nigerian Correctional Service, is reported to have killed 18 people over the past two weeks during lockdowns intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus, reports Nigeria’s National Human Rights Council.

Nigeria imposed a lockdown on the 30 March in the southern commercial hub of Lagos, the Ogun state and the capital Abuja. The lock which was initially stated to only last two weeks was extended a further two weeks and increased to other states such as Kano in the north.

Now is “not the time” to reduce funding for World Health Organisation - UN Chief

Following a statement from the US President that the US would halt funding for the World Health Organisation (WHO); António Guterres, UN Chief, has responded insisting now is not the time to reduce funding.

Kerala’s robust and efficient approach against COVID-19 sees impressive success

The state of Kerala, has dropped 30 percent in number of new coronavirus cases in the first week of April compared to the week before, despite being the first state in India to report a coronavirus case in late January.

The success of the Communist state’s government can be attributed to a number of their methods which has just seen just two deaths and the highest percentage of positive patient recoveries in the country. Even as of yesterday, the number of cases has been dropping, yet they have conducted over 13,000 tests – which is more than some states that have half the population as that of Kerala.

US President orders to stop funding for the World Health Organisation

(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore)

US President, Donald J. Trump, has convened a press conference during which he claimed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable” for the poor handling of the coronavirus.

During the press conference, Trump also claimed that the WHO promoted Chinese disinformation days before the initial outbreak of the virus in Wuhan.

International human rights organisations call on Bahrain to free detained activists

<p>International human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has called on Bahrain to release imprisoned opposition activists, journalists and leaders as well as human rights campaigners during this crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>HRW’s statement follows the release of 1,486 prisoners, 901 of which were released on “humanitarian grounds”. 585 were given non-custodial sentences. According to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), 394 detainees of the 1,486 released were imprisoned on political charges. This includes opposition leaders who led the 2011 protest movements.</p>

Former army officer hanged for assassination of Bangladesh’s founding president

Abdul Majed, a former Bangladeshi army officer, was hanged in the country’s capital, Dhaka, for the assassination of the country’s founding President, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Majed was executed after spending 25 years as a fugitive and having his appeal for presidential clemency. Rahman was killed in 1975, along with much of his family. He was captured after returning to Bangladesh last month.

World Bank warns of worst economic slump in South Asia in 40 years

(Photo Credit: World Bank)

The World Bank has warned that South Asian countries, such as India and Sri Lanka, will suffer the worst economic slump it has faced in 40 years because of the coronavirus.

According to the World Bank, the South Asian countries are projected to make economic growth of 1.8 to 2.8% this year. This is down from the projected 6.3% growth which was made six months ago.