CURRENT WORLD ISSUES

UN accuses Russia of violating human rights in Crimea Russia is committing "grave human rights violations" in Crimea, according to a report by the United Nations. The UN human rights agency says it has documented arbitrary arrests, torture and at least one extra-judicial execution in the region. "There is an urgent need for accountability," UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said. Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine after the country's pro-Russian leader was overthrown in 2014. In response to the report 's accusations, one Crimean official complained the account was not objective and did not reflect reality. The UN report cites "grave human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, ill-treatment and torture, and at least one extra-judicial execution". It adds that there have been "intrusive law enforcement raids of private properties" which "...

India: Rohingya have 'terror' ties In court case on expelling 40,000 Rohingya, home ministry cites secret evidence showing links to armed groups. Demonstrators in New Delhi shout slogans against the killing of Rohingya in Myanmar last week [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] India's government said on Monday it has evidence showing some Rohingya in the country have ties to "terror organisations" and pose a security threat that justifies a mass deportation of the ethnic group. India's home ministry said it would confidentially share intelligence information with the Supreme Court showing Rohingya links with Pakistan-based armed groups, in a bid to get legal clearance for plans to deport 40,000 Rohingya. The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal lodged on behalf of Rohingya against the deportation plan proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government. India's home ministry submitted an affidavit to the court arguing the hardline s...

North Korea's nuclear tests: How should Trump respond? By Dr John Nilsson-Wright Chatham House & University of Cambridge 3 September 2017   From the section Asia Image copyright AFP Image caption The US is drawing up a new proposal to punish any countries doing business with North Korea North Korea's dramatic testing of a sixth nuclear device has once again raised fears of rising tensions in north-east Asia and the prospect of war breaking out on the Korean peninsula. The size of  the latest test  - equivalent to a 6.3 magnitude earthquake - suggests a step-change in the destructive power of the North's nuclear assets. It was five to six times larger than its last test in September 2016, and potentially seven times as large as the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. But it is too early to assess Pyongyang's boast to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. The North has made  similar uncorroborated claims  in the ...

Gauri Lankesh: A 'fearless' Indian journalist silenced... Summary: Gauri Lankesh, formally an indian journalist, publisher and outspoken critic of right-wing groups (a Hindu group), was shot dead at the age of 55, by unknown attackers in front of her home in the southern city of Bangalore. Lankesh was a very well- outspoken critic of the central government on many key issues. Fearlessly expressin g her views on the newspaper articles that she edited, also including other forums. Which would also solve the mystery as to why this lead to her unpresidented death. Opinion: As i formally try and adress this, from very little background information it seems as though the intended target of the article may be towards the government, and bias towards the rights of the people and the demand for press to be able to express their opinions directly or indirectly proposed to to a certain organization or leadership. Stating, "The fact that she was so vocal made her a prime target,...