INTERNATIONAL

Iran nuclear talks ‘virtually stalled’, deadline may be missed

Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers have virtually stalled and a deadline for a final deal may have to be postponed again, Russian news agency TASS quoted a diplomatic this.
Iran and the powers -- the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany -- are trying to reach a settlement by June 30 under which Iran would curb its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
The United States has said it stands by the end-June deadline for the deal, meant to assuage Western fears that Iran is working to develop a nuclear bomb.
But other officials have indicated the date might be missed as negotiations about technical details drag on.
Iran denies any ambition to develop nuclear weapons and says its programme is for generating electricity and other peaceful purposes.
The latest round of discussions in Vienna on Friday had made no significant progress, the source from one of the missions said, according to TASS.
“The process has virtually stalled, there is risk that deadline will have to be postponed again,” TASS said the source added.
Among the unresolved issues are the paces of easing Western sanctions imposed over the Iranian programme and the monitoring and verification measures to ensure Iran could not pursue a clandestine nuclear weapons programme.

Over 416,000 people need aid in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that three years since outbreaks of inter-communal violence in Rakhine State in Myanmar, more than 416,000 people continue to need humanitarian assistance.
This includes almost 140,000 displaced people living in dire conditions in camps and many others without citizenship in isolated villages, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday at a daily news briefing here, Xinhua reported.
“Access to adequate healthcare and livelihoods remains a major concern for displaced people and vulnerable communities in Rakhine State,” he said.
“Restrictions on the freedom of movement of hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State severely compromise their basic rights to food, healthcare, education, livelihoods and other basic services, leaving them dependent on humanitarian aid,” he said.
Up to 40,000 displaced people in the country’s impoverished western state of Rakhine State live in camps that are within 500 meters of the coastline. With the monsoon season underway, weather conditions along the coast are expected to deteriorate.

Mexico ex-leader can be charged

Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled this week ten years ago that a former president accused of human rights abuses can be charged over a massacre of student protesters in 1971.
The court ruled that a 30-year statute of limitations protecting Luis Echeverria from prosecution began only in 1976, when he left office.
The case now returns to a lower court which will have to decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial.
Hundreds died between 1970 and 1976 during a “dirty war” against leftists.
Echeverria, 83, is the first former Mexican president to face the possibility of charges for human rights abuses allegedly committed during his time in power.

INTERNATIONAL

Iran nuclear talks virtually stalled, deadline may be missed Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers have virtually stalled and a deadline for a final deal may have to be postponed again, Russian news agency TASS quoted a diplomatic this. Iran and the powers -- the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany -- are trying to reach a settlement by June 30 under which Iran would curb its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The United States has said it stands by the end-June deadline for the deal, meant to assuage Western fears that Iran is working to develop a nuclear bomb. But other officials have indicated the date might be missed as negotiations about technical details drag on. Iran denies any ambition to develop nuclear weapons and says its programme is for generating electricity and other peaceful purposes. The latest round of discussions in Vienna on Friday had made no significant progress, the source from one of the missions said, according to TASS. The process has virtually stalled, there is risk that deadline will have to be postponed again, TASS said the source added. Among the unresolved issues are the paces of easing Western sanctions imposed over the Iranian programme and the monitoring and verification measures to ensure Iran could not pursue a clandestine nuclear weapons programme. Over 416,000 people need aid in Myanmars Rakhine State The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that three years since outbreaks of inter-communal violence in Rakhine State in Myanmar, more than 416,000 people continue to need humanitarian assistance. This includes almost 140,000 displaced people living in dire conditions in camps and many others without citizenship in isolated villages, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday at a daily news briefing here, Xinhua reported. Access to adequate healthcare and livelihoods remains a major concern for displaced people and vulnerable communities in Rakhine State, he said. Restrictions on the freedom of movement of hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State severely compromise their basic rights to food, healthcare, education, livelihoods and other basic services, leaving them dependent on humanitarian aid, he said. Up to 40,000 displaced people in the countrys impoverished western state of Rakhine State live in camps that are within 500 meters of the coastline. With the monsoon season underway, weather conditions along the coast are expected to deteriorate. Mexico ex-leader can be charged Mexicos Supreme Court ruled this week ten years ago that a former president accused of human rights abuses can be charged over a massacre of student protesters in 1971. The court ruled that a 30-year statute of limitations protecting Luis Echeverria from prosecution began only in 1976, when he left office. The case now returns to a lower court which will have to decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial. Hundreds died between 1970 and 1976 during a dirty war against leftists. Echeverria, 83, is the first former Mexican president to face the possibility of charges for human rights abuses allegedly committed during his time in power.