World Peace Forum opens in China\, bus skids off Yamuna Expressway\, and other news in pictures

Amnesty International seeks probe into Philippines killings, World Peace Forum opens in China, and other news in pictures

Butch Olano (L), Amnesty International section representative speaks during a press conference in Manila on July 8, 2019. - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's narcotics crackdown has become a

Butch Olano (L), Amnesty International section representative speaks during a press conference in Manila on July 8, 2019. - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's narcotics crackdown has become a "systematic" campaign of abuses, Amnesty International alleged on July 8, urging the United Nations to launch a probe into thousands of killings.   | Photo Credit: AFP

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11: am

Amnesty seeks international probe to end Philippine killings

Amnesty International urgently called for international pressure and an immediate U.N. investigation to help end what it says are possible crimes against humanity in the Philippine president’s bloody anti-drug crackdown.

The London-based rights watchdog said in a study released Monday that extrajudicial killings in President Rodrigo Duterte’s 3-year-old campaign remain rampant and the scale of abuses has reached “the threshold of crimes against humanity.”

About 6,600 people, most of them accused of petty drug crimes, have been killed in the crackdown Duterte launched as his centerpiece project when he took office in mid-2016. But nongovernment groups claim a much higher death toll, including many suspects killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen human rights groups suspect were financed by police officers.

There was no immediate government reaction to Amnesty’s report but Mr. Duterte and the police have denied any authorization of extrajudicial killings.

9: 15 am

China committed to opening up, but other nations must contribute more to world peace , says Chinese Vice President

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan delivers a speech at the opening of World Peace Forum at Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China, July 8, 2019

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan delivers a speech at the opening of World Peace Forum at Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China, July 8, 2019   | Photo Credit: Reuters

 

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan told a forum in Beijing on Monday that China was committed to opening up, but called on major countries to contribute more to world peace and stability. Mr. Wang, who is very close to President Xi Jinping, became vice president last year, having previously run Xi's fight against deep-seated corruption.

 

8: 30 am

29 dead after passenger bus skids off Yamuna Expressway

The passenger bus that fell in to drain.

The passenger bus that fell into the drain.   | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

 

Uttar Pradesh State government spokesman Awanish Awasthi says most passengers were sleeping when the crash occurred on Yamuna Expressway early Monday near Agra in Uttar Pradesh state. The bus was on its way to New Delhi from Lucknow, the state capital. Mr. Awasthi said 18 passengers have suffered injuries in the crash.

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(With inputs from agencies)

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