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Human rights

Human rights
Latest news, features and analysis on human rights, with a focus on civil liberties in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia.
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega waving next to wife and co-President Rosario Murillo. Photo: EL 19 DIGITAL via AFP
Americas and the Caribbean

Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, president says

Central American nation’s long-time leader vows US-backed parties will ‘never again’ take power.

Cambodia

Asia-Pacific cyberscam victims lost up to US$114 billion last year: UN

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Indonesia

In Indonesia’s island paradise, humans are still born into slavery

Letters | China’s new human rights action plan is a significant step forward

Readers discuss the obligations of Chinese enterprises and projects abroad, and the economic landscape of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Relatives carry a coffin in Polewali Mandar, Indonesia in 2023, during the funeral for a victim of the explosion of a smelting furnace at a Chinese-owned nickel plant on Sulawesi island. Photo: AP
Israel-Gaza war

Israelis march to Gaza border demanding re-establishment of settlements

‘We are walking today to tell the government of Israel and show all the world that this land belongs to us,’ one demonstrator said.

Americas and the Caribbean

Cuban dissident artist Otero Alcantara lands in US exile

One of the most prominent figures in Cuba’s new dissident movement, Otero Alcantara had just completed a five-year sentence on the island.

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India

Sonam Wangchuk hospitalised after 21-day hunger strike over exam leaks

The 59-year-old Wangchuk has been fasting to demand the resignation of Modi’s education minister ‌over exam paper leaks that affected millions of students.

Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) holds a picture of Sonam Wangchuk, after Wangchuk was taken to a hospital by authorities during his hunger strike, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Asian-American groups fear Trump’s escalating rhetoric will fuel racism in US

Community leaders warn US president’s explosive China election-interference allegations may see rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.

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Britain

J.K. Rowling condemns Amnesty for branding her women’s crisis centre anti-rights

The ‘Harry Potter’ author, who has spoken in the past of being a survivor of domestic violence, set up Beira’s Place in 2022.

Italy

Italian police raid luxury brands over exploitation of Chinese workers

Earlier operations have revealed numerous cases of poor work conditions in the supply chains for the country’s leading fashion houses.

Chanel logo is seen on the company’s store in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in December 2017. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Indonesian migrant fishers lured by big pay but caught in modern slavery

Abuse and mismanagement are ‘systemic’ across the Chinese distant-water fishing fleet operating off West Africa, an NGO says.

Crew members unload their catch at the Nusantara Fishing Port in Kejawan-Cirebon, West Java, on June 11. Photo: AFP
France

French parliament adopts landmark assisted-dying bill

Access will be restricted to adults with incurable life-threatening illnesses who are in constant suffering linked to the condition.

US-China relations

Global views of China and Xi improve as perceptions of US decline: Pew survey

China’s image has recovered from pandemic lows while confidence in the US and its global leadership has weakened.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s anti-LGBT education push raises concerns about stigmatising youth

Critics warn the new material to discourage the spread of ‘LGBT culture’ could backfire with consequences for young people.

Protesters march with banners against the LGBT community in Banda Aceh in December 2017. Photo: AFP
US immigration

Mexico filing legal complaints over US immigration deaths

Mexico demands accountability for 17 citizens who have died in custody or during raids, testing relations with the US.

Lorenzo Salgado was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a vehicle stop in Houston. Photo: Ronaldo Salgado via Reuters
International Criminal Court

US launches sweeping campaign against ICC over ‘threat to US sovereignty’

Trump administration vows to pressure global allies to withdraw from court, cut off financial support.

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United States

1 killed in ICE-involved shooting in US state of Maine

The incident comes six ‌days after an ICE agent fatally shot a man in Houston, sparking protests.

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Middle East

Israeli gunfire in Gaza refugee camp kills 6, including 9-year-old girl

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people now live on ‌a tiny strip of land along the coast, mainly in makeshift tents or damaged buildings.

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a metal foundry in Gaza City on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi will be looked after, Myanmar envoy tells Asean

Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence, ⁠recently commuted by one-third, on a series of charges that her allies said were fabricated to keep her out ‌of politics.

United States

US Democrat Ro Khanna ‘detained’ by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit

US progressive lawmaker Ro Khanna said ⁠he was detained by Israeli settlers this week as he sought out an ‘unfiltered’ look at the Israeli occupation.

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Middle East

Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate

Turkish medical professionals say C-sections are more time-efficient for medical staff – 30 minutes compared to 12 hours for a traditional delivery.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a media conference at the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
US-China trade war

China’s worker protections scrutinised as US weighs forced-labour tariffs

Business groups clash with labour advocates at USTR hearing over whether new tariffs would improve workers’ rights or raise costs.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer released a report identifying 60 economies covered by the USTR’s investigation into goods linked to forced labour in global supply chains. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Cuba

At UN, Cuba rallies support against ‘cruel’ and ‘ruthless’ US blockade

Cuba’s foreign minister slammed the blockade’s ‘collective punishment’ of the population but the US envoy insisted ‘there is no blockade’.

US, Israel war on Iran

US gave Tehran secret data on Iranian asylum seekers, lawsuit alleges

The data includes details on protesters and members of the LGBT community who applied for asylum to avoid ‘grave danger’, the lawsuit claims.

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China-EU relations

Opinion | Europe could prosper as China’s trade ally rather than adversary

Europe missed its chance to make trade with China a win-win for both sides. It’s now opting for a trade war it’s unlikely to win altogether.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Japan

Japan weighs Myanmar aid restart to counter China’s growing clout

Activists urge Tokyo to reject the request, pointing to evidence that the military weaponised previous Japanese aid vessels.

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An activist holds an image of Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi at an anti-coup rally in Tokyo in December 2021. Photo: AFP
Israel-Gaza war

Hamas dissolves Gaza governing body but disarmament still a question

The move paves the way for technocratic committee the NCAG to implement civilian rule; Israel said it was a ‘trick’ to avoid disarming.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka prison riot kills 26, wounds more than 100

The clash between inmates from two drug gangs is Sri Lanka’s worst prison riot in more than five years.

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