Singapore is hitting back at the United States for criticizing it for several alleged human rights abuses. In its annual global report on human rights, the State Department chastised Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) for allowing the arrest and detention of suspected criminals without warrants. Singapore’s foreign ministry shot back Thursday in a statement saying […]
Singapore Rejects US Criticism of Human Rights
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 8:00 am (UTC-5)
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Zuma: Sticking Points Remain on Zimbabwe Draft Constitution
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 8:00 am (UTC-5)
South African President Jacob Zuma says Zimbabwe has made some progress but no breakthrough on a draft constitution. Mr. Zuma is expected to report on Zimbabwe during a meeting with regional leaders in the Mozambique capital, Maputo on Thursday. President Zuma is the Zimbabwe mediator for the 15-nation Southern African Development Community . On Wednesday, […]
Militants Launch Deadly Assault on Pakistani Airbase
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 7:35 am (UTC-5)
The facility is home to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, which builds fighter jets. Also Thursday, authorities say suspected Sunni militants pulled at least 22 Shi’ites off buses in Pakistan’s northwestern Chitral region and shot and killed them. The buses were traveling from the the city of Rawalpindi to the northern city of Gilgit. ##
Thousands Flee Southern India Amid Rumors of Ethnic Violence
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of Indians from the country’s northeast have fled the southern city of Bangalore following rumors of impending attacks in retaliation for recent ethnic clashes in their home state. Railway authorities added extra cars to trains heading to Assam state to handle the crush of passengers. Officials say they are investigating the source of the […]
Bahrain Sentences Activist for Unauthorized Protests
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
A court in Bahrain has sentenced a prominent human rights activist to three years in prison for his role in unauthorized protests. A lawyer for Nabeel Rajab, who heads the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said the sentence was based on convictions in three separate cases. The defense plans to appeal the ruling. Rajab is […]
Japan Mulls Next Steps in Island Spat with China
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Japan is considering what do with 14 Chinese activists who were arrested after landing on a disputed island, further upsetting ties between the two Asian neighbors. The activists landed Wednesday on the island in the East China Sea, planting a Chinese flag and singing the country’s national anthem before being promptly arrested and accused of […]
Taliban Kills 1 in Pakistani Air Force Base Attack
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
Militants armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades have attacked a large air force base in northwest Pakistan, setting off a fierce battle that ended with one soldier and nine militants dead. Pakistani officials say the base in Kamra is back under control after several hours of fighting Thursday that also wounded the base’s commander. […]
US Praises OIC Suspension of Syria
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
The United States has commended the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for suspending Syria from the 57-member bloc. In a statement after the move, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the OIC decision sends a “strong message” to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and shows its increasing international isolation. The suspension comes as the United Nations […]
UN: Sectarian Unrest in Western Burma Improving
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 2:15 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations says the security situation is improving in Burma’s western Rakhine state, where violence between Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims has left dozens of people dead and tens of thousands displaced. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says reports of clashes have “substantially decreased” over the past three weeks. But […]
US Praises OIC Suspension of Syria
Posted August 16th, 2012 at 2:10 am (UTC-5)
The United States has commended the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for suspending Syria from the 57-member bloc. In a statement after the move Thursday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the OIC decision sends a “strong message” to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and shows its increasing international isolation. The suspension came a day after […]
