Europe
Abu Hamza extradition decision welcomed by UK and USA
The European Court of Human Rights yesterday denied radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terrorism suspects a final appeal against extradition to the USA. The UK and the USA welcomed the decision, with the British Home Office saying the extraditions should now happen “as quickly as possible”. US authorities, with the support of British officials, are arranging for the transfer of the five men to America to face terrorism charges. It is believed the extraditions could happen within three weeks. Meanwhile, it has emerged that Queen Elizabeth II had voiced concerns about the inability of authorities to arrest a man she felt must have broken British law. A BBC correspondent, in conversation with the Queen, said she was upset there was no way to arrest the radical cleric and that she had spoken to the home secretary to ask why someone who appeared to be inciting violence and hatred – Hamza was known for his sermons in and around Finsbury Park mosque in London – was still at large. It is rare for the Queen to express opinions on such matters.
North America
US report: drones terrorising Pakistani civilians
CIA drone raids targeting mainly low-level militants in north-west Pakistan are “terrorising” civilians, according to a new report by Stanford and New York Universities. Rescuers treating casualties from initial attacks are also being killed and wounded by follow-up strikes. Drone attacks have provoked widespread anger across Pakistan, but are thought to have killed hundreds of militants in the country, as well as in Yemen and Afghanistan. Senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders are among the high-value targets killed by drones. The scale of civilian casualties has been difficult to assess, however, because independent media and researchers are denied access to tribal areas near the Afghan border. Hours before the report was released, another drone strike hit the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, killing eight fighters.
Middle East and Africa
35 dead in crackdown on Boko Haram Islamists in Nigeria
At least 35 suspected Islamist militants have been killed and more than 60 detained in a sweep against the Boko Haram group in north-eastern Nigeria, the country’s army has said. The Islamist group opposes Western influence in Nigeria and has carried out a string of attacks, thought to have killed some 1,400 people in northern and central Nigeria since 2010. The most recent, on a Catholic church on Sunday, killed two people. The Nigerian army said it had conducted operations in Adamawa and Yobe states overnight between Sunday and Monday. Soldiers went door-to-door in Damaturu, capital of Yobe state, and exchanged fire with militants throughout the night. Dozens of guns and explosives, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and other weapons were seized in Boko Haram hideouts. Two soldiers were injured in the fighting.
Syria and Iran to dominate UN General Assembly
World leaders are gathering in New York for a UN General Assembly meeting likely to be overshadowed by Syria, though it is not formally on the agenda. Discussions are also expected to centre on Iran’s nuclear programme and the amateur video that has incited anti-US protests across the Muslim world. President Barack Obama will give one of the opening speeches on Tuesday – six weeks before the US presidential election – in which he is expected to focus on the Middle East.
Asia and Russia
North Korean parliament in rare second session
North Korea’s parliament, the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), is set to meet for a special session that observers expect to focus on economic issues. The SPA usually meets in April and a second session in the same year is rare. Though no agenda has been released, many believe the meeting will be used to cement changes in the power structure or approve some economic reform. It follows unconfirmed reports that economic adjustments intended to boost food production could be introduced – North Korea cannot grow enough food to feed its people. The meeting comes months after new leader Kim Jong-un reshuffled his top leadership team and replaced his army chief.
China’s first aircraft carrier enters service
China’s Defence Ministry has announced the country’s first aircraft carrier, the ex-Soviet, 300m Liaoning, has entered service. For now the Liaoning, named after the province where it was refitted, has no operational aircraft and will be used for training. But China says the vessel, which has undergone extensive sea trials during the last year, will increase its capacity to defend state interests. She enters service at a sensitive time, with China involved in a territorial dispute with Japan (see below) and its neighbours having expressed concern at its growing naval strength. The launch of Liaoning also comes weeks ahead of a party congress expected to see the transition of power to a new generation of Chinese leaders.
China warns on sovereignty at island talks with Japan
China has warned Japan it will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty in high-level talks aimed at easing tensions over an islands dispute. The comments, from Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun to his Japanese counterpart, were quoted on the Chinese ministry website. The meeting came as dozens of Taiwanese boats sailed to the islands to protest. The islands are controlled by Japan after the Japanese government purchased them from their private Japanese owner, but Taiwan and China also claim ownership. The Taiwanese vessels have now left the area. Chinese surveillance and fishing boats have also been sailing in and out of waters around the islands in recent days.
Hundreds of thousands flee homes in India as monsoon floods worsen
Nearly 1.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes in the state of Assam, north-eastern India, amid catastrophic flooding. Eleven people have died in separate incidents of drowning in the past week alone, according to disaster management officials. In July, floods in Assam state killed more than 100 people and forced over five million to leave their homes.
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