Asia
Pakistani parents kill daughter with acid for looking at a boy
A couple were been arrested in Pakistani-administered Kashmir last week, on suspicion of killing their 15-year old daughter with acid. They have said they carried out the attack because she looked at a boy. The girl’s father said they feared she would bring dishonour on their family, while her mother said “it was her destiny to die this way”. Police say the incident took place in a remote village in the southern district of Kotli, and that the case was brought to their attention by the couple’s eldest daughter. The girl, known only as Anusha, was found with burns over 60% of her body. According to the testimony of her father, a boy came by on a motorcycle, and Anusha “turned to look at him twice. I told her before not to do that, it’s wrong. People talk about us because our older daughter was the same way”. Anusha’s father is reported to have taken his daughter inside, beaten her, and then poured acid over her with the help of his wife. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that 943 women were killed in honour killings last year, representing an increase of more than 100 from 2010. Such killings are rare in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, however, where acid attacks were made a criminal offence in March, punishable with life imprisonment.
South Korea shuts nuclear reactors due to unapproved parts
South Korea has shut down two nuclear reactors after it was revealed that some parts used had not been properly vetted, an official says. Knowledge Economy Minister Hong Suk-woo said these were “non-core” parts and were therefore not a safety threat. They included fuses, cooling fans and power switches that did not have the required nuclear industry certificates. The shutdown means there could be “unprecedented” power shortages in the next few months, said Mr Hong.
Middle East
Syrian political opposition groups in revitalising effort
Syrian opposition groups have held their first day of talks in the Qatari capital of Doha. The meetings could reshape the Syrian National Council, the main opposition, into a possible government in exile, but differences are already apparent. The SNC is looking to broaden its ranks, overhaul its leadership and agree on a common platform, with further meetings scheduled with the Syrian National Initiative – another opposition group made of influential figures who are proposing the creation of a unified leadership body. The rebel forces currently fighting in Syria have criticised the SNC as out of touch, and the opposition is also split ideologically. The talks come amid continuing violence in Syria, with reports of an explosion on Sunday near a Damascus hotel and the apparent seizure by rebels of a major oilfield.
Europe
Ukraine opposition rallies against ‘rigged’ poll
Ukraine’s opposition parties are holding a rally in Kiev in protest at what they describe as “fraudulent” parliamentary elections last month. The protesters say the much-delayed vote count is being rigged in favour of pro-government candidates. The authorities deny the claim, warning that police are ready to disperse the “illegitimate” rally in the capital. International observers have said the election was marred by “abuse of power and the excessive role of money”. The monitoring mission from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) say state resources were used to give the party of power an unfair advantage during the campaign, and note that President Viktor Yanukovych’s chief rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, is in prison and was barred from running. With nearly 100% of the votes counted since the actual election on 28 October, Mr Yanukovych’s Party of the Regions (PR) looks set to become the largest party.
HSBC sets aside $800m more against money laundering fines
HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, has put aside a further $800m (on top of $700m) to cover potential money-laundering fines in the US, and has announced a fall in quarterly profits. The initial $700m was set aside after a US Senate report, published in July, said lax controls had left it vulnerable to money laundering. Pre-tax profit for the three months to the end of September was £3.5bn, down $3.7bn from a year earlier. However, the bank said underlying profits in the quarter had increased. They totalled $5bn, more than double the figure recorded for the same quarter a year ago.
North America
USA set for final campaigning day
US presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are approaching the final day of their election battle in a frantic fight for swing state votes. Mr Obama is scheduled to appear in Wisconsin with Bruce Springsteen before going on to Iowa and Ohio. Mr Romney is due in Florida – where polls suggest he is ahead – and then in Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio. Analysts predict the election will be decided by a handful of swing states. Hence, despite national polls that put them virtually neck-and-neck, Mr Obama’s slim lead in many key battlegrounds has prompted some to predict he will win narrowly on current evidence. Neither camp is exuding total confidence and any significant developments in the last hours before tomorrow’s poll could still swing the result. Campaigning has been most intense in Ohio, where no Republican has ever lost and still won the presidency.
Apple paid only 2% corporation tax outside USA
Apple’s filing with US regulators has shown that the company paid $713m in the year to 29 September on foreign pre-tax profits of £36.8bn – a rate of 1.9%. It is the latest company to be identified as paying low rates of overseas tax, following Starbucks, Facebook and Google in recent weeks. It has not been suggested that any of their tax avoidance schemes are illegal, and all these companies raise considerable amounts in other taxes, such as VAT where applicable. Many multinational companies manage to pay substantially below the official corporation tax rates by using tax havens such as Caribbean islands.
US and Japan begin military drills amid China tension
The US and Japan have begun the regular Keen Sword military exercises amid simmering tensions with China over disputed islands in the East China Sea. At least 47,000 personnel will take part in the biennial Keen Sword exercise, which runs until 16 November. It is taking place off Okinawa, north of islands both China and Japan – and Taiwan – claim. The islands are currently under Japanese control. Diplomatic and public protests were sparked in China after the Japanese government acquired three more of them from their private Japanese owner in September. Ships from both China and Taiwan have been sailing in and out of waters around the islands ever since, with the Japanese coast guard reporting on Sunday that four Chinese ships were once again spotted in the area. The two countries have held three rounds of talks since the row erupted, with more scheduled at vice-ministerial level.
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