Pakistan: U.S. Employee Committed Murder, Chinese Activist Beaten

Officials in Pakistan say Raymond Allen Davis, a U.S. consulate employee committed murder when he shot two Pakistanis in Lahore in January. The incident has caused friction between the allies; the United States claims he shot the two people in self-defense because they were trying to rob him.

U.S. officials also claim Davis, 37, is protected by diplomatic immunity, but Pakistani courts are under public pressure to put the former Special Forces soldier on trial. A Pakistani police official claims one of the men was shot in the back trying to flee the scene, but a report of the events also reportedly shows that the men had robbed earlier in the day and that their victims’ cell phones were found in their belongings.

There is also lingering speculation over Davis’ job and why he was armed. U.S. officials have said he was on temporary assignment in Lahore.

Chinese Activist Beaten After Surveillance Released

Secretly obtained surveillance footage of a well-known Chinese activist and his wife under house arrest showed the pair being beaten. Chen Guangcheng and his wife, Yuan Weijin, were reportedly badly injured when security forces beat them, according to the rights group Chinese Human Rights Defenders. Chen, who is blind, was detained after he accused Chinese authorities of imposing abortions. He was in jail for four years and was put on house arrest after his release in September.

Last month Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for his release, as well as that of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Liu Xiaobo.

Nokia, Microsoft Announce Major Deal

Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and Microsoft will form a partnership to challenge giants like Apple and Google.

Some analysts say Microsoft, whose software Nokia will adopt, is the bigger beneficiary in the deal. Nokia has been hurt by the rapidly expanding smartphone market, eclipsed by the iPhone and Android.

The deal will push for further development of technology and software improvements. Nokia, which is based in Finland, will use the software to regain a larger share of the market.

War Crimes Trial for Taylor Prolonged

The trial of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor at the Hague was prolonged further on Friday. Taylor has been on trial since 2007 on charges that include murder, rape and using child soldiers. Taylor denies all charges.

Prosecutors say Taylor aided the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during a bloody 10-year civil war in Sierra Leone. The RUF was known for its use of brutal tactics against the civilian population and the rampant use of child soldiers. He is accused of supplying the RUF with weapons and selling “blood diamonds” on their behalf.

His defense attorney, Courtenay Griffiths, left the courtroom earlier this week when the judge refused to accept a document that was submitted late. His attorneys contend that his involvement in the civil war in Sierra Leone was merely that of an outside mediator.