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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.

An Indonesian family browsing at a book fair in the suburbs of Jakarta. Photo: AFP

Will Indonesia’s new history books ‘reinvent’ past rights abuses?

President Prabowo’s government has commissioned a 10-volume series aiming to ‘reinvent Indonesian identity’ as Suharto’s legacy is recast.

19 May 2025 - 10:28AM

Israel-Gaza war

Israel starts Gaza ground assault after hundreds killed, no progress in talks

19 May 2025 - 1:26AMvideocam

Victory for free speech in Indonesia as court curbs defamation law

18 May 2025 - 3:00PM

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza ceasefire talks resume as Israeli assault kills hundreds in 72 hours

Hamas official Taher al-Nono said the two sides were discussing all issues without ‘preconditions’.

17 May 2025 - 9:37PMvideocam

Smoke billows over destroyed buildings on the Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment on Saturday. Photo: AFP

‘Outrageous’: Indian navy reportedly forces Rohingya refugees into the sea

At least 40 refugees, including children and old folks, were given life jackets, then cast adrift near the India-Myanmar border, UNHCR says.

17 May 2025 - 12:00PMvideocam

‘Enough for Gaza for weeks’: US aid cuts leave food decaying in warehouses

Vital items for hungry people in need have been stuck inside US government warehouses since January’s decision to cut global aid programmes, sources say.

16 May 2025 - 6:21PMvideocam

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UK talking with several countries to host rejected asylum seekers

The British leader is under pressure to reduce immigration and cut the number of irregular migrants arriving on UK shores.

16 May 2025 - 3:10PM

Migrants in an inflatable boat attempt to cross the English Channel. File photo: AFP

South Africa’s president to meet Trump in US amid tense relations

The relationship between the US and South Africa has been tense since Donald Trump took office in late January.

16 May 2025 - 12:09PM

US judge pleads not guilty to impeding immigrant’s arrest

The case came after the US Justice Department vowed to probe local officials who impede the administration’s immigration enforcement.

15 May 2025 - 10:53PM

Is Indonesia a ‘guinea pig’ in Bill Gates-backed TB vaccine trial?

The controversy began after President Prabowo Subianto said that Bill Gates was developing a tuberculosis vaccine to be tested in Indonesia.

15 May 2025 - 6:08PM

Bill Gates speaks at a Save the Children event on vaccine equity in Germany last year. Photo: AP

Malaysia urged to act on labour trafficking before ending migrant worker freeze

‘Thousands’ of Bangladeshis are stranded without jobs in Malaysia after a hiring freeze forced them to overstay illegally, activists say.

15 May 2025 - 4:49PM

Prospective migrants and their families gather outside Dhaka airport on May 31 last year. Photo: Redwan Ahmed

Americas and the Caribbean

2-year-old girl reunites with mother in Venezuela after US deportation

Maikelys Espinoza was separated from her parents when they were removed from the US in what Venezuela denounced as a kidnapping.

15 May 2025 - 1:44AM

Trump meets Syria’s rebel leader Sharaa, urges him to establish Israel ties

Sharaa was for years the leader of al-Qaeda’s official wing in the Syrian conflict. The US removed a US$10 million bounty on him in December.

14 May 2025 - 7:43PMvideocam

‘I like him too much’: Trump showers praise on Saudi Arabia’s crown prince

The US president’s rapport with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is far warmer than his White House predecessor’s.

14 May 2025 - 9:44AM

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at an investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

Why Davao re-elected Rodrigo Duterte as mayor despite his ICC trial

The Philippines now faces the unique challenge of a mayor governing in absentia from The Hague – though his son could step in to help.

2 hours agovideocam

Thousands of supporters of arrested former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte occupy the streets of Davao City on his 80th birthday on March 28. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

US-China relations

As tariff truce begins, China warns of Western push to undermine its stability

Asia-Pacific region described as scene of ‘power play’ by Western entities seeking to ‘curtail, suppress and contain China’.

13 May 2025 - 3:02PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas says will free Israeli-American hostage held in Gaza

The announcement comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s Middle East trip this coming week.

12 May 2025 - 10:44AM

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Bangladesh bans former ruling party citing anti-terrorism legislation

The Awami League’s activities will remain banned until after a trial of the party and its leaders over the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

12 May 2025 - 8:26AM

Protesters in Dhaka demand the ban of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s former ruling party, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Trump admin must release Turkish Tufts student, US judge rules

Rumeysa Ozturk has been detained for over six weeks after co-writing an op-ed criticising her school’s response to the Israel-Gaza war.

10 May 2025 - 2:24AM

Indian woman’s ‘extremely creepy’ online job hunt sparks cyber abuse concerns

Women say they are subjected to inappropriate behaviour during online work interviews, with one even getting molested.

9 May 2025 - 5:40PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela denies opposition members left country in rescue operation

Venezuela’s interior minister says exit of opposition staffers from embassy was negotiated.

8 May 2025 - 12:51PM

The 2024 Venezuela election results sparked protests across the country. File photo: AP

US judge temporarily blocks deportation of Asian migrants to Libya

Sending deportees to Libya would mark a major escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to offload unwanted migrants.

8 May 2025 - 10:41AM

US Customs and Border Protection assisting with deportation of illegal aliens at Biggs Army Airfield, in Fort Bliss, Texas. File photo: US Army via AFP

Indonesian governor’s vasectomy plan sparks debate on poverty, ‘body politics’

West Java Governor’s suggested sterilisation for poor men to access social welfare criticised as coercive and discriminatory.

8 May 2025 - 9:30AM

Israel-Gaza war

UN experts warn of ‘annihilation’ in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill dozens

Dozens more Palestinians have died in attacks as Israel’s plans for an expanded offence draws international condemnation.

8 May 2025 - 9:35AM

US-China relations

US House passes China bills on issues from economic espionage to human rights

Representatives also move to strengthen US ties with Taiwan and approve legislation to sanction officials involved in Falun Gong abuses.

13 May 2025 - 1:53AMvideocam

The US House of Representatives approved a slate of bills on Monday focused on China-related issues. Photo: AFP

Trump administration offers migrants US$1,000 to self-deport

The average cost to arrest, detain and remove an undocumented migrant is about US$17,000.

6 May 2025 - 3:33PM

Venezuelan migrants deported from the US. Photo: AFP

Rwanda confirms early talks to host deported US migrants

Local media reports suggest that US could fund a programme to have migrants integrated into the society through stipends and job initiatives.

6 May 2025 - 4:53AM

Sudan paramilitaries launch attacks, suicide drones on Port Sudan

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have increased their use of drones since losing territory including much of the capital Khartoum.

4 May 2025 - 7:55PM

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