Nearly a month since Qatar was isolated by its Gulf neighbours, residents of the emirate have learned to adapt to the daily realities of living with the embargo. They buy vegetables and milk that come from Iran and Turkey, complain about price increases for staples while those travelling abroad face longer-than-usual flights as most neighbouring … Read more
World Vision International Ghana has launched a national campaign in Tamale codenamed, “End child marriage now! It Takes Us All.” The organization is alarmed by the nation’s statistics of child marriage recorded in deprived communities, hence the campaign launch. Chairperson of the Advisory Council of World Vision International Ghana, Dr. Adelaide Kastner at the event … Read more
A deal on cutting nearly $600 million from the UN peacekeeping budget was reached Wednesday following weeks of negotiations over US demands for sharp cost reductions, UN diplomats said. Under the deal reached by a General Assembly budget committee, the United Nations will spend $7.3 billion on peacekeeping in the coming year, down from the … Read more
A prominent Vietnamese blogger known as ‘Mother Mushroom’ went on trial Thursday for anti-state propaganda, a court clerk said, as rights groups decried the charges as “outrageous” and demanded her immediate release. Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, whose penname derives from her daughter’s nickname “mushroom”, was arrested in October 2016 for critical Facebook posts about politics … Read more
China’s treatment of cancer-stricken democracy activist Liu Xiaobo reflects Beijing’s hardening crackdown on political dissent and heightens concern over lesser-known campaigners still languishing in jail, supporters say. Liu, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while serving an 11-year sentence for subversion, has been transferred from prison to a hospital on medical parole … Read more
The United States urged China on Tuesday to give cancer-stricken Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo and his wife freedom to move and choose his own doctors after he was granted medical parole. The US embassy in Beijing said it was “working to gather more information” about Liu’s legal and medical status after authorities confirmed … Read more
Liu Xiaobo, who won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize from behind bars, was for decades a vocal champion of democracy and human rights until Chinese authorities locked him up for speaking out. The 61-year-old, who was previously jailed for his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy protests, was sentenced in 2009 to 11 years in … Read more
A French-Vietnamese dissident blogger has been deported to France after losing his nationality of birth. Pham Minh Hoang served a jail sentence after being convicted in 2011 over articles that “blackened the image of the country”. Hoang, 62, was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday after losing his appeal against deportation. It is … Read more
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has been condemned for comments that girls who give birth should not be allowed to return to school. An online petition has been set up and a pan-African women’s organisation is mobilising to get the president to apologise and reverse his comments. Mr Magufuli warned schoolgirls at a rally on Monday … Read more
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has been condemned for comments that girls who give birth should not be allowed to return to school. An online petition has been set up and a pan-African women’s organisation is mobilising to get the president to apologise and reverse his comments. Mr Magufuli warned schoolgirls at a rally on Monday … Read more
Tanzania President John Magufuli said students who become pregnant should not be allowed to finish their studies after giving birth, sparking outrage from women’s rights campaign groups. “I give money for a student to study for free. And then, she gets pregnant, gives birth and after that, returns to school. No, not under my mandate,” … Read more
Tanzania President John Magufuli has said girls will not be allowed back to school after giving birth during his administration. He accused civil society organisations, which have been urging the government to permit teen mothers to re-enter the education system, of being used by foreign agents. The president was addressing residents of Bagamoyo during a … Read more
The leader of a protest movement in northern Morocco was “severely” beaten and verbally abused by police during his arrest, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said Thursday. Nasser Zefzafi — leader of Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, or the “Popular Movement” — was detained on May 29 in a village 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the city … Read more
The United Arab Emirates runs at least two “informal detention facilities” in Yemen and has reportedly transferred detainees to a base in Eritrea, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. The UAE is a key member of a Saudi-led military coalition that entered Yemen’s conflict in 2015 to battle on the government’s side against Iran-backed Huthi rebels. … Read more
US television star and music sensation Charice Pempengco of the Philippines has announced a new transgender identity, revealing his new name on Twitter: Jake Zyrus. “My first tweet as Jake. Overwhelmed. Saw all your love comments and I’m so happy. Finally. I love you, everyone and see you soon,” the 25-year-old wrote this week on … Read more
The death toll from clashes in Central African Republic has surged to around 100, local officials said Wednesday of violence that erupted hours after the government signed a truce with rebel groups. The bloodshed, which left dozens more injured, dashed hopes of an end to the simmering sectarian violence which has blighted the country since … Read more
Mohammed bin Salman, named Saudi crown prince on Wednesday, becomes first in line to the throne as the historically conservative nation faces challenges at home and turmoil abroad. Here are three key areas to watch. Prince Mohammed, 31, retains his position as defence minister, a post he held when Riyadh joined the war in neighbouring … Read more
New York, the fourth most populous state in America, updated antiquated legislation on Tuesday to outlaw children as young as 14 from getting married. Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed legislation raising the age of consent to marry from 14 to 18 years old, with a caveat that 17-year-olds wishing to marry must get approval … Read more
Sri Lanka’s justice minister faced calls for his resignation Tuesday after accusing a human rights lawyer of misleading the public about a spate of crimes against Christian places of worship. Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakse threatened to disbar Lakshan Dias after Dias said nearly 200 Christian holy sites had been vandalised since a new government took office … Read more
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said India needs to cease “arbitrary restrictions” on internet and phone services. The organisation said state governments had imposed 20 temporary internet shutdowns in 2017. Authorities say they shut internet and telecommunications services to stop rumours during times of unrest. But the rights group said arbitrary internet shutdowns “violated India’s … Read more