Six In The Morning Thursday 1 September 2022

 

China may have committed 'crimes against humanity' in Xinjiang, UN report finds

By Simone McCarthy, CNN

Updated 0839 GMT (1639 HKT) September 1, 2022

China has committed "serious human rights violations" against Uyghur Muslims in its northwestern region of Xinjiang, which may amount to "crimes against humanity" according to a long-awaited report released Wednesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The detailed 45-page report, published just minutes before outgoing commissioner Michelle Bachelet's term in office came to an end at midnight Geneva time, had been repeatedly delayed, and its release vehemently opposed by China.

The report, which documented what it described as arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominately Muslim groups within the context of the government's "application of counter-terrorism and counter-'extremism' strategies," was hailed by rights groups as a groundbreaking moment in the effort to hold the Chinese government to account.

Russia and China launch large-scale military drills amid tensions with US

Drills involving several allied nations showcase increasing defence ties between Moscow and Beijing

AP in Moscow

Thu 1 Sep 2022 16.13 BST

Russia and China have launched large-scale military exercises involving several allied nations, in a show of growing defence cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, as they both face tensions with the US.

The manoeuvres are also intended to demonstrate that Moscow has sufficient military might for massive drills even as its troops are engaged in military action in Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry said that the Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise would be held until 7 September at seven firing ranges in Russia’s far east and the Sea of Japan and involve more than 50,000 troops and more than 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships.

The Missing: The Ukrainians abducted in Putin’s war

The Independent’s investigation into what has happened to those lost in Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taken international correspondent Bel Trew across the country, finding new evidence of potential war crimes including torture, disappearances and forced labour that mean thousands are still unaccounted for.

As the fighting rages and areas in the east and south change hands, families caught in the battles have faced waves of terror with many now searching for answers about missing family members caught up in the conflict.

How the Ukraine war has pushed Taiwan to better prepare for crises

Taiwan has beefed up its training of reservists since the Ukraine war started and is raising awareness about the value of civil defense. Experts say new programs can better prepare Taiwanese for potential crises.

As the war in Ukraine enters its seventh month, people in Taiwan are starting to feel an urgency to be prepared for all eventualities amid escalating military pressure from Beijing.

In recent months, authorities and civil society organizations in Taiwan have initiated a series of reforms and island-wide trainings that are designed to enhance Taiwanese people's combat readiness and their abilities to deal with any potential crises.

Beckham slammed for PR video praising 'perfect' Qatar

 Human rights campaigners on Thursday slammed David Beckham for fronting a glossy publicity campaign praising World Cup host Qatar as "perfection", despite concerns over its rights record.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and England star has appeared in a series of videos posted on Qatar Tourism's website where he samples local art and food and visits a desert camp, exclaiming: "This is perfection for me!"

Amnesty International UK's head of priority campaigns, Felix Jakens, said the ads were "just the latest slick and positive video about Qatar that David Beckham has put his face to".

UN inspectors view Russian-held nuclear plant

Summary

1. UN nuclear inspectors are looking over a Russian-held nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine
2. They hope to assess the state of the complex and talk to Ukrainian workers under Russian control
3. Some of the team have now left, saying they have seen what they needed to see
4. The delegation's attempts to reach the complex were delayed because of shelling
5. There has been fighting around the facility in recent weeks with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of carrying out attacks
6. There are concerns about the safety of the facility, which needs a constant power supply to prevent radiation leaks
7. Meanwhile Russia has cut the amount of the gas it sends to Europe by shutting the key Nord Stream 1 pipeline for the second time this summer