United Nations: ‘No Easy Way Exit’ From Nightmare In Syria, Push for Political Solution
As the main United Nations human rights body began its work today on a range of topics, the world body’s top rights official said little doubt remains that chemical weapons were used in Syria and she urged a political solution to the suffering that has reached ... More>>

The White House: More Countries In Support Of Syria
On September 6, the United States and 10 other countries issued a joint statement on Syria, condemning in the strongest terms the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons on August 21 in the suburbs of Damascus and calling for a strong international ... More>>

Egypt: Anti-Coup, Pro-Legitimacy Alliance Confirms ‘Coup is Terrorism’ Week
As the Muslim Brotherhood-led pro-democracy coalition hails the millions of citizens who turned out for “The People Protect the Revolution” Friday, it affirms the start of the “Coup is Terrorism’ week. More>>

US State Dept: Remarks On Syria
President Obama and his entire national security team have been reviewing the situation in Syria, and today I want to provide an update on our efforts as we consider our response to the use of chemical weapons... More>>

Middle East: Syria: A Human Tragedy With Alarming Consequences
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is appalled by recent developments in Syria, including last week’s reported use of chemical weapons and the ensuing escalation of events... More>>

Asia/Pacific: Freedom Flotilla Gathers Global Support
As the Freedom Flotilla to West Papua continues its epic journey north towards Indonesian occupied West Papua, solidarity actions were held yesterday in both in West Papua and Melbourne... More>>

South Asia: India: Food Security Bill – Welcome But Grossly Inadequate
The passing of the Food Security Bill by the Lok Sabha comes as a big relief to the impoverished masses of a country that is home to hunger... More>>

Middle East: Syrian Chemical Weapons Allegations “Exceptionally Grave"
Pillay strongly condemned Thursday the reported killing of hundreds of civilians in Damascus on Wednesday, and said the allegations that many deaths were the result of the use of chemical weapons must be investigated... More>>

Iraq: IPCDA Condemns Savage Attack On Camp Ashraf
At least 24 bodies have been counted as dead and a large number of residents are severely injured. A number of residents have been kidnapped by the Iraqi army and taken as hostages... More>>

Middle East: UN Agency Staff Member Shot Dead By Israeli Forces
The UN agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees today called for restraint from all parties after receiving confirmation that one of its staff members was shot and killed by Israeli forces this morning... More>>

Pacific: Regional Energy Workshops Strengthen National Capacity
The three back-to-back workshops are currently being held at the SPC Suva Office from August 19–26 and are attended by representatives of national energy offices, power utilities, petroleum and pricing commissioners and authorities... More>>

West Papua: Groups Urge Justice On 15th Anniversary Of Biak Massacre
Saturday, July 6, is the 15th anniversary of one of the worst massacres in Indonesia's post-Suharto history. On that day in 1998, members of the Indonesian military ruthlessly gunned down peaceful pro-independence demonstrators on the island Biak in West Papua. Like so many massacres in Indonesia, the exact number of those killed is unknown. More>>

ALSO:

• Biak Massacre Citizens Tribunal
• 15 Years After Biak Massacre, West Papua Oppression Continues

Egypt: Military Must Stay Out Of Politics
The ITUC respects the courage of the Egyptian people in demanding inclusive and democratic government. Egypt’s military must now stay out of politics and allow a quick return to democracy under a constitution that ensures the rights of all. The army ousted President Mohamed Morsi yesterday, replacing him with Constitutional Court head Adli Mansour, and suspended the country’s controversial Constitution. More>>

Israel & Occupied Territories: ICRC President Urges Fresh Dialogue
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, says more substantial dialogue with Israel is needed to improve the lives of Palestinians suffering the effects of decades of occupation. More>>

Cambodia: Report Finds Marked Deterioration In Human Rights
Human rights defenders in Cambodia are less safe than they were a year ago according to a report published today by ARTICLE 19 and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR). The risk assessment survey shows the security situation in the country deteriorated significantly in 2012 as the government crackdown on fundamental human rights has intensified ahead of the elections in July. More>>

OHCHR: UN Human Rights Office Statement On Egypt
We are following with great concern the extremely tense situation in Egypt and wish to convey a strong message of solidarity and support to the Egyptian people. As you know, the High Commissioner has, ever since the first stirrings of protest back in January 2011, consistently supported the Egyptian people’s rights to freedom of expression and assembly... More>>

Palestinian Centre For Human Rights: Suspected War Criminal Doron Almog Cancels UK Visit
On 26 June 2013, suspected Israeli war criminal Major General Doron Almog (retired) was scheduled to visit the United Kingdom to meet with the ‘UK Task Force on Issues Relating to Arab Citizens of Israel’, a non-governmental organisation. In advance of this visit, the UK Government awarded Mr. Almog’s visit the status of a Special Mission, thereby granting him immunity... More>>

Indonesia: Australia Has Just Trashed The Perception Of Indonesia
The claim by Australia's PM, Kevin Rudd that the coalition's 'turn back the boats' policy will potentionally cause direct tensions between Indonesia and Australia will be dismissed by Indonesia as 'internal politicking' according to a leading think-tank and NGO. More>>

Egypt: Morsi’s Policies To Blame For Deepening Crisis
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s deeply partisan social and economic policies are at the root of the huge wave of popular discontent in Egypt, with more than 20 million people taking to the streets in recent days, calling for his replacement. More>>

Conservation: World’s Oldest And Largest Species In Decline
The latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ shows worrying declines for conifers – the world’s oldest and largest organisms – freshwater shrimps, cone snails and the Yangtze Finless Porpoise. The Santa Cruz Pupfish, a lizard known as the Cape Verde Giant Skink and a species of freshwater shrimp have been declared Extinct. More>>

Mali: UN Agency to Help Mali Refugees Participate In Upcoming Presidential Elections
With only one month to go before the presidential elections take place in Mali, the United Nations is helping neighbouring countries deal with refugees who will be voting outside their home country. More>>

European Union: Croatia, Welcome Aboard The EU!
On Monday 1 July, Croatia became the 28th Member State of the European Union. Croatia's accession marks another milestone in the construction of a united Europe. It also provides fresh evidence of the transformative power of the European Union: torn by conflict only two decades ago, Croatia is now a stable democracy... More>>

Turkey: Law Broken Once Again: Children Are Blacklisted!
Children have been exposed to many different forms of state violence in the protests that took place in many different parts of Turkey, in order to support the protests that commenced in Taksim Gezi Park as of May 31st. Hundreds of people, including children were arrested and thousands of people were wounded. More>>

ALSO:

• Abahlali baseMjondolo - "We Are All Turkish Democrats": Solidarity from South Africa

M23 Rebels: UN Welcomes Impending Talks Between DR Congo, M23 Rebels
Welcoming the possible resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the 23 March Movement (M23), the United Nations Special Envoy for Africa's Great Lake's region has urged both sides to engage in earnest discussion to resolve all outstanding issues. More>>

Cambodia: Expulsion Of Opposition Parties From Cambodian Parliament
The United States is deeply concerned by reports that the Permanent Committee of the Cambodian National Assembly, made up entirely of members of the ruling party, has expelled opposition lawmakers from the National Assembly. Such a decision starkly contradicts the spirit of a healthy democratic process. More>>

Syria: UN Announces Largest Ever Humanitarian Appeal
The UN has launched a US$5 billion appeal for Syria, the largest emergency funding call in its history. Save the Children says gaining access to the millions of children trapped in Syria and at acute risk from the conflict must become the international community’s priority. More>>

Turkey: UN Calls On Turkish Government To Ensure Freedom Of Assembly
New York, Jun 4 2013 - The United Nations human rights office urged the Government of Turkey to guarantee that its citizens have the right to assemble freely and in a peaceful manner, following days of violent clashes between protestors and police. More>>

ALSO:

• Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ - Turkey: End Abusive Use of Force & Reveal Extent of Injuries
• United Nations Human Rights Commissioner - OHCHR Press Briefing Note - 1) Turkey

Egypt: NGO Trial Verdicts And Sentences
The United States is deeply concerned by the guilty verdicts and sentences, including the suspended sentences, handed down by an Egyptian court today against 43 NGO representatives in what was a politically-motivated trial. More>>

Tamil Eelam: Freedom Charter Declared
The Transnational Government of TamilEelam declared Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter on on May 18, 2013. Tamil groups from around the world, coordinated by the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), initiated the process of drafting the Freedom Charter, through extensive consultation from Tamils worldwide. More>>

Indonesia: Amnesty International Report Bashes Indonesia Rights
Amnesty International has decried a repressive human rights climate in Indonesia and a worrying lack of progress in addressing past abuses, in a report that is also the third in as many weeks to criticize rising religious intolerance in the country. More>>

Pakistan: Judge Threatened, Forced To Change Ruling A judge of the Lahore High Court changed his decision less than two minutes after ruling in favour of the accused in a blasphemy case when lawyers and members of fundamentalist groups threatened him. The judge, in the fear of the dire consequences, quickly withdrew his decision of granting bail to the accused persons. More>>

United States: President Obama On The Future Of Fight Against Terrorism

It is a great honor to return to the National Defense University. Here, at Fort McNair, Americans have served in uniform since 1791 -- standing guard in the earliest days of the Republic, and contemplating the future of warfare here in the 21st century. For over two centuries, the United States has been bound together by founding documents that defined who we are as Americans... More>>

ALSO:

• US State Department - Facts on President Obama's Speech on Counterterrorism
• Secretary of State - Kerry on President Obama’s Speech
• Secretary of Defense - Hagel on President Obama’s Speech

Nigeria: Port Harcourt Boils As 10,000 Want Amaechi Out
Current political crisis rocking Rivers State, one of the major oil and gas states in Southern Nigeria, took a turn for the worse on Wednesday, with Rivers Peoples Assembly, a mass civil society movement, galvanising 10,000 men, women, and youths to demand fopr the resignation of Governor Chibuike Amaechi. More>>

Sri Lanka: Ganeshan Nimalaruban Case
Ganeshan Nimalaruban Case: Chief Justice Mohan Peiris Denies Petitioner's Lawyers Right to See Replies Filed By Attorney General More>>

United Nations: Traditional Food Preservation Methods To Stop Waste - UN
Fermenting birds, naturally freeze-drying potatoes and squeezing meat on a saddle are some of the traditional methods used by cultures around the world to preserve food highlighted today by the United Nations environment agency, which is stressing the importance of reducing food waste. More>>

Sri Lanka: Serious Doubts On Inquiry Into Mass Graves
Serious doubts have emerged regarding the future investigations into the mass grave at Matale where the remains of 156 persons have been found. More>>