Template:Current events

• The United Nations is concerned over "systematic and widespread" killings of civilians by Colombia's US-backed security forces. Navanethem Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the 'extrajudicial killings' by Colombian forces could categorize it as 'crime against humanity'.[1]
• According to the UN, camps sheltering 50,000 displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been torched.[2]
• Riot police resorts to tear gas and attacks the residents of Elliniko village near Ioannina, Greece who prevented the construction of an open-refuse dump.[3]
• At least 18 civilians including children ranging in age from six months to 15 are reportedly killed in Afghanistan in an air strike by NATO forces.[4]
• Riot police in the Morumbi district of Sao Paulo, Brazil have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at other police officers who are striking for better pay.[5]
• "Evo Morales announces general elections for 2009".[6]
• Venezuelan ex-defense minister and critic of Hugo Chavez on corruption issue Raul Baduel faces problem. This happens a couple of weeks after Venezuela expelled two Human Rights Watch members from the country for publishing report critical of Chavez administration.[7]
• It is reported that US presidential candidate Barack Obama, if elected, will increase foreign aid to Israel.[8]
• Venezuela's finance minister Ali Rodriguez said that the country's 2009 budget "will have significant restrictions" compared to US$63.9 in 2008. He said "There are expenses that must be eliminated and others that must be reduced. Many expenses, such as expenses on certain types of vehicles, celluars and parties, will be eliminated."[9]
• 27 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack in Sri Lanka.[10]