India dismisses US human rights report as “deeply biased”
New Delhi, India Reuters New Delhi said on Thursday it does not attach any value to a US State Department report critical of human rights in India, and called it deeply biased. The annual human rights assessment released earlier this week found “significant” abuses in India’s north-eastern Manipur state last year and attacks on minorities, […]
Blinken says genocide in Xinjiang is ongoing in report ahead of China visit
Washington DC, US Reuters Beijing is continuing to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in its western Xinjiang province, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a report published on Monday, ahead of his planned visit to China this week. The State Department’s annual human rights report, which […]
US rights report on India cites abuses in Manipur, harassment of media and minorities
Washington DC, US Reuters The US State Department’s annual human rights assessment found “significant” abuses in India’s north-eastern Manipur state last year and attacks on minorities, journalists and dissenting voices in the rest of the country. Manipur has seen fierce fighting between its tribal Kuki-Zo and majority Meitei populations after a court order a year […]
UN raises over $US600 million to boost aid to Ethiopia
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The United Nations on Tuesday received financial pledges for about two-thirds of the $US1 billion it was seeking to raise to boost humanitarian aid to Ethiopia, which has been hit by conflict, drought and floods. A UN-hosted pledging event, organised along with the governments of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom and held […]
Malian parties reject junta’s suspension of political activities
Bamako, Mali Reuters Malian political parties and civil society groups jointly rejected on Thursday the ruling junta’s order to suspend political activities and vowed to mount a legal challenge to what one opposition politician called the “dictatorial” move. The West African country has been under military rule since a coup in 2020. Tensions have risen […]
Policing the oceans: Somali pirates’ return adds to crisis for global shipping companies
GIULIA PARAVICINI, JONATHAN SAUL and ABDIQANI HASSAN, of Reuters, report on a resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia…
Venezuela arrests allies of opposition leader Machado
Caracas, Venezuela Reuters Venezuela Attorney General Tarek Saab said on Wednesday that two people close to opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado had been arrested, prompting Machado to call the charges leveled at her team “completely false.” The arrests are set to complicate an already-confused scenario ahead of the July presidential contest. Machado won the opposition’s […]
Hong Kong passes security law which critics say further threatens freedoms
Hong Kong, China Reuters Hong Kong lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously passed a new national security bill within two weeks of it being presented, fast-tracking a major piece of legislation that critics say further threatens the China-ruled city’s freedoms. The package, known as Article 23, punishes offences including treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets, […]
Lukashenko to run for president in 2025, Belarus blasts US over poll criticism
Moscow, Russia Reuters Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko said he would run for president again in 2025, Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported on Sunday. Lukashenko made his comments after voting in parliamentary and local council elections, denounced by the United States as a sham. The ex-Soviet state’s top election official dismissed the criticism and told […]
US urges Pakistan to lift internet shutdowns, social media restrictions
Washington DC, US Reuters The US State Department on Wednesday condemned internet shutdowns in Pakistan, including restrictions on social media platforms, and urged the Pakistani Government to lift such restrictions. Supporters of the Grand Democratic Alliance, an alliance of political parties, carry flags as they gather for a sit-in protest against, what they call election […]