• Tikrit second major city to fall to ISIS

    The Sunni-stronghold of Tikrit has been captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), a day after Iraq’s second largest city Mosul was captured.

  • Cameron to host China PM in London

    Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will visit London for a summit with Prime Minister David Cameron next week.

    Cameron's official spokesperson said that the agenda for the meeting will include a wide range of bilateral issues, including human rights, trade, investment, commercial opportunities, energy and cultural ties.

    A row over human rights stopped talks between the countries in April this year, after a FCO document criticised records on rights issues.

    Chancellor George Osborne said last week that Britain wanted to "part of the action" in increased global trade with China.

    "China is a fantastically important part of the world economy. Britain's challenge was we weren't doing enough business in China."

  • Egyptian activists blocked from court, sentenced to 15 years

    A prominent Egyptian activist, blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah was arrested, with two others, while waiting for their trial outside a court in Cairo.

    According to Mr Abd El Fattah's sister Mona Seif, also an activist, the three men were denied entry to the court and sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison.

  • Accountability and justice for war crimes needed for lasting peace in Colombia says Amnesty International
    The recently agreed pact between the Colombian government and the Farc militants must contribute to justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity to see lasting peace, said Amnesty International in a statement released this week.
  • Kurdish militants heighten pressure on Turkey ahead of presidential elections
    A recent increase in ambushes and road blocks by Kurdish militants calling for devolved powers as occurred ahead of presidential elections in Turkey reports Agence France Presse.
  • ISIS takes control of Mosul

    Fighters of the armed group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) have taken control of Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq.

    The militants overran a military base and freed over a thousand prisoners, mostly Al Qaeda and ISIS operatives.

  • Pakistan military kills 15 militants amidst second day of Taliban attacks on Karachi
    At least 15 militants were killed by Pakistani military airstrikes in north-western tribal areas, reports the BBC.
    “Nine terrorist hideouts were destroyed by early morning military air strikes near the Pakistan-Afghan border,” the military said in a statement.
  • ICC to increase focus on sexual violence

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) will step up investigation and prosecution of sexual violence, including offences that may have been previously overlooked, stated a policy paper by the court's Chief Prosecutor.

    Published last week, Fatou Bensouda noted in her paper,

  • Over 27 killed in attempted Taliban siege of airport in Pakistan
    Pakistan’s busiest airport, the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, was stormed by Taliban militants resulting in the death of at least 27 people last night, reports Reuters.
  • India to bring 'renewed vigour' to relationship with USA

    The Indian government is to bring a “renewed vigour” to its engagement with the United States of America stated Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in his inaugural address to the 16th Lok Sabha earlier today.

    Speaking on India-US relations, Mukherjee said,

  • Sikh demonstrators commemorate 'genocide' and demand separate state
    Thousands of members of the Sikh community marched through central London yesterday in protest of the massacre at the Golden Temple in India over 30 years ago, reports the BBC.

    Protestors demanded that the 1984 massacre of Sikhs be recognised as a genocide, whilst others called for the Sikh people’s right to self-determination to be upheld.
  • China's foreign minister visits Delhi, meets with Modi
    China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, visited New Delhi on Sunday, to meet with the new Indian foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, followed by the newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Colombia and Farc announce truth commission for all victims of conflict
     A truth commission between the Colombian government and Farc rebel group is to be set up to address the loss of thousands of lives during the 5 decade long conflict.

    A statement released by participants in the peace talks between the two groups said,
    “The rights of all victims are non-negotiable. Victims must be recognised not only in their position as victims, but as citizens with rights.”
  • Iran to enter trilateral talks with US and EU on nuclear programme
    Talks on Iran’s nuclear programme will start tomorrow between Iranian, US and European Union officials, at the United Nations in Geneva, reports Reuters.
  • Prince Zeid Al-Hussein proposed as next UN Human Rights chief
    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.
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