Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Six In The Morning Tuesday July 21

At least six missing after clampdown on human rights lawyers in China

Hundreds were targeted in what state media described as ‘a legitimate law enforcement action’ – but activists fear detainees could face torture

Tom Phillips in Beijing

Nearly two weeks after Beijing launched one of its most comprehensive crackdowns on civil society in decades, at least six people remain missing – believed to have disappeared into the custody of China’s security services.

At least 238 people have now been detained or questioned since the clampdown began, according to the Hong Kong-based China Human Rights Lawyer Concern Group, which is keeping a tally of the operation’s targets.

The missing – who include a trainee lawyer, a legal assistant and the leader of an underground Christian church – have not been seen since 10 July, after authorities began a major round-up of Chinese human rights lawyers and their associates.

“We just really don’t know [what has happened to them],” said Maya Wang, the China researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Hissene Habre trial: Former Chad dictator dragged out of court as hearing descends into chaos

Mr Habré - who is being tried over the deaths and torture of thousands during his rule of the country between 1982-90 - shouted that the trial was a “farce” before he was removed amid scuffles.

The unprecedented special tribunal, taking place in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, is the first time the leader of an African state has been prosecuted by another.

The former dictator – who is being tried for crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture – shouted that he did not recognise the court, while his backers in the court-room chanted support.

Turkey denies turning blind eye to Islamic State as bombing stokes anger

July 21, 2015 - 10:19PM

Mehmet Emin Caliskan

Suruc: Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has rejected accusations Turkey had in the past tacitly supported Islamic State militants operating from Syria and unwittingly opened the door to a suicide bombing that killed at least 32 people.

The blast on Monday tore through a group of university-aged students from an activist group as they gathered in the border town of Suruc ahead of a planned trip to help rebuild the nearby Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane.

Kobane has come under repeated assault from Islamic State and been a rallying point for Turkey's Kurdish minority, who have been enraged by what they see as the refusal of President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AK Party to intervene in a conflict played out within clear sight of Turkish military positions.

Thousands of foreign fighters have crossed through Turkey to join Islamic State over the past few years, fuelling accusations from the government's opponents that it is turning a blind eye.

Can Coke remove the stains from FIFA? (+video)

Amidst scandal and corruption, top corporate sponsors demand a third-party commission to oversee FIFA reforms.

By Shontee Pant, Staff writer

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was showered with fake dollar bills by a British comedian at a press conference in Switzerland on Monday. But the prank is the least of his current concerns, as longtime-sponsors of soccer’s premier governing body are demanding, "one or more eminent impartial leaders to manage the efforts necessary to help reform FIFA's governance and its human rights requirements," according to correspondence obtained by BBC.

Coca-Cola wrote to FIFA on July 9 saying, “We believe that establishing thisindependent commission will be the most credible way for FIFA to approach its reform process and is necessary to build back the trust it has lost.”

FIFA has severely struggled with credibility since May, when allegations of corruption led to the arrest of numerous top officials; separate US and Swiss investigations have been launched.

Outdoor cinema for homeless people opens in Moscow

Throughout the summer, Russian capital's invisible population will be able to watch Soviet comedies and enjoy hot meals.

21 Jul 2015 11:56 GMT

A Moscow charity, supported by city officials, has opened a cinema for homeless people in the Russian capital which screens comedies and offers snacks.

Photographs of the event published in local newspapers on Monday, showed men and women of all ages laughing boisterously as they watched a slapstick Soviet classic, the Moscow Times reported.

Ahead of the first screening on Sunday, the audience was provided with hot meals and cups of teas, and discussed the problems facing homeless people in the city.

Local official Igor Abramov tweeted: "On July 19 in Moscow, a summer cinema was opened for homeless people, and will screen once a month Soviet movies."

Underage African footballers 'trafficked' to Laos

By Piers EdwardsBBC Africa sport

21 July 2015

From the sectionAfrica

African footballers as young as 14 are being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts, the BBC has learnt.

Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, a BBC investigation found.

Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign club or academy until they are 18.

The club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing.

"Fifa is in contact with several member associations in order to gather all information to assess the matter and safeguard the interests of the minors," a Fifa spokesperson told the BBC.

Ignoring Asia