Collect evidence of Myanmar's crimes

The new UN human rights commissioner, Michelle Bachelet on September 10 called for an international mechanism to collect evidence of crimes committed by the Myanmar army against the Rohingya Muslims in order to pursue prosecutions. The new mechanism would also complement and support the preliminary examination of the ICC (International Criminal Court) prosecutor, she told the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva. "I urge the Council to pass a resolution, and refer the matter to the General Assembly for its endorsement, so that such a mechanism can be established." An Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar in a report released on August 27 said there was evidence indicating "genocidal intent" by the Myanmar military against Rohingya minority and that crimes against humanity and war crimes appear to have been committed.

UK PM's party faces 'catastrophic split'

British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party faces a "catastrophic split" if she persists with her proposals on Brexit, which 80 or more of her lawmakers are prepared to vote against, a former junior minister said. Such public criticism, a day after former foreign minister Boris Johnson described her Brexit plans as "a suicide vest" wrapped around the British constitution, indicates how hard it could be for May to get any Brexit deal approved. Steve Baker, a former junior Brexit minister who resigned over May's so-called Chequers proposals on Brexit, told the Press Association that May faced a massive problem at the September 30-October 3 party conference. If 80 of May's 315 lawmakers voted against a Brexit deal based on her proposals, the fate of the government and exit process would depend on the opposition Labour Party, because she would not command the 320 votes needed to dominate parliament.

Hurricane Florence takes aim at US East Coast

Florence is likely to surge back to hurricane strength and take aim for the US East Coast later on September 10 as it churned across the mid-Atlantic with winds of 70 miles per hour towards the US East Coast, where it is expected to make landfall mid-week. And another storm, Tropical Storm Isaac spinning farther out in the Atlantic could also become a hurricane by today as it gains strength, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said in an advisory earlier the same day. With an eye on Florence, governors in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have declared states of emergency, warning residents to prepare for a dangerous storm. "We are now in the peak of hurricane season - disaster preparedness should be a major priority for your family," Florida Governor Rick Scott wrote on Twitter.

Arif Alvi sworn in as Pakistan president

Pakistan's new President Arif Alvi was sworn in at a ceremony in Islamabad on September 9, concluding the country's peaceful transfer of power to its new government after a turbulent election campaign. Arif Alvi, a close ally of Pakistan PM Imran Khan and one of the founders of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, becomes Pakistan's 13th president, replacing Mamnoon Hussain. Dr. Alvi started his political career about five decades ago when he was a student of de'Montmonrency College of Dentistry, an affiliate of University of Punjab in Lahore. He was part of the students' wing of Jamaat-i-Islami (JIH) and protested against military ruler Ayub Khan.