Horizons
Several Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Canary Islands
A boat with 35 migrants from the Maghreb region which was heading towards the Canary Islands capsized on Tuesday, emergency services said. Four people were found dead, 28 were rescued and some are still missing, they said, adding that emergency services are still looking for a second boat.
UN Rights Experts Say Japan Was Wrong to Detain Carlos Ghosn
A panel of human rights experts working with the United Nations said that former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn was wrongly detained in Japan and has urged “compensation” and “other reparations” for him from the Japanese government. In an opinion published Monday, the Wo
Washington’s Terror Designation of Houthis: Pressure Card or Complicating the Complicated?
An US State Department spokesman stressed that Washington’s policy on Yemen has not changed. The goals are firm, he asserted amid Yemeni debate and tensions over speculation that Washington was seeking to designate the Iran-backed Houthi militias as terrorist. Some parties viewed the specu
Rights groups denounce Cuba harassment of activist group
A number of international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have denounced Cuban state harassment of a group of activists in Havana who say they have gone on hunger strike in protest against curbs on free speech. The San Isidro Movement, a group of artists, journalists
Cybercrimes draft law stirs controversy in Iraq
Plans by the Iraqi Parliament to debate and approve a controversial cybercrimes draft law have unleashed a storm in the country where activists say its vague wording threatens freedom of expression. The bill, known as the Law on Information Technology Crimes, was first drafted in 2011 and introdu
Trump’s Attempts to Overturn the Election Are Unparalleled in US History
President Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election are unprecedented in American history and an even more audacious use of brute political force to gain the White House than when Congress gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency during Reconstruction. Trump’s chances of succeedin
EU criticises 'dire condition' of human rights in Bahrain
High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell has pledged to use all possible means to continue improving human rights in Bahrain Borrell's remarks came in a statement in which he replied to a letter sent by MEPs regarding the "dire condition" of human righ
UN, several countries denounce arrests of Egyptian activists
The UN human rights office, the United States, and several European countries on Friday criticised the arrest of three members of a prominent Egyptian rights group after a meeting with diplomats in Cairo. In the past week, security forces detained three staff, including the di
Amnesty International urges G-20 pressure on Saudi Arabia to release activists
Amnesty International called on Thursday for the G20 leaders to put pressure on the Saudi Arabian authorities to release "brave activists" who are imprisoned in the Kingdom. "Instead of keeping pace with the Saudi government in its glamorous phrases about empowering women," said Amnesty, "the G20
Report: Greece arrests alleged Daesh executioner in refugee camp
Greek authorities have arrested a man accused of carrying out multiple executions for Daesh while working for the terror group in Syria, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The 27-year-old Syrian man was arrested at Eleonas camp in the Greek capital, Athens, early yesterday, police
Egypt arrests executive director of prominent rights group in latest crackdown
A prominent Egyptian rights group said security agents arrested its executive director on Thursday, days after two other senior members were detained under charges including joining a terrorist group, Reuters reports. "e was detained by security forces from his home in Maadi and taken t
Big winners, losers in regional Nagorno- Karabakh conflict
The Russian-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan that ended the countries’ six-week war has altered the region’s geopolitics significantly, and to Iran’s detriment. Azerbaijan and its president, Ilham Aliev, are the clear winners. Baku regained several of the
Warning of Famine, UN Releases $100 Million to Seven Countries
The United Nations humanitarian office is releasing $100 million in emergency funding to seven countries at risk of famine in Africa and the Middle East amid conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, while the humanitarian chief said returning to a world where famines are common would be “obscene.
Greece facing UN legal action over illegal deportation of Syrian to Turkey
Greece is to be targeted by a case being filed at the United Nations' human rights committee for illegally expelling a Syrian refugee, in what is the latest allegation of Greece committing such a violation of human rights this year. The 26-year-old unnamed man, who spoke to the British
Trump Asked for Options for Attacking Iran Last Week, but Held off, Says Report
President Donald Trump, with two months left in office, last week asked for options on attacking Iran’s main nuclear site, but ultimately decided against taking the dramatic step, a US official said on Monday, according to Reuters. Trump made the request during an Oval Office meeting on Thu
Trump asserts he will soon file 'big cases' challenging 2020 election results
U.S. President Donald Trump asserted on Twitter on Sunday he would soon file “big cases” challenging the 2020 election results in which Joe Biden defeated him, even after his campaign has lost numerous court battles over the results. Trump did not specify if his campaign would file ne
Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta: It's Everyone's Responsibility to Renew Religious Discourse
Egypt's Dar al-Ifta has asserted that the renewal of religious discourse isn’t restricted to religious institutions in the country, stressing that it is everyone's responsibility. Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawki Allam highlighted Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi call to renew religious di
Libyan parties discuss Presidential Council
Libyan parties at a Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, organised by the UN, discuss Sunday powers and characteristics of the Presidential Council and the government of the transition period. The UN Libya Support mission (UNSMIL) submitted a proposal on the new Council and powers of the government t
