Bilkis Bano: Why the rape case is back in the news
By Geeta Pandey
BBC News, Delhi
Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped and saw 14 members of her family being murdered by a Hindu mob during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat, is back in the headlines.
On Monday, 11 convicts who were serving life sentences for rape and murder in the case, walked out of prison to a heroes' welcome.
A video that has since gone viral showed the men lined up outside the Godhra jail while relatives gave them sweets and touched their feet to show respect.
Foreign Office official raised ‘stark’ criticisms of Rwanda plan, court hears
Guardian, BBC and Times seek release of documents about policy of sending asylum seekers abroad
A Foreign Office official raised concerns about plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing state surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture and killings by the country’s government, the high court has heard.
The court has been asked to consider an application by the foreign secretary to keep parts of certain government documents secret for fear the contents could damage international relations and threaten national security.
The government’s application for a public interest immunity (PII) certificate asks to keep 10 short passages confidential.
How can India turn around the Parsi community's dwindling demographics?
The Indian government wants to facilitate Parsi matchmaking with online dating. But some Parsis say the demographic problem is rooted in traditional definitions of Parsi identity that exclude women.
The Indian government recently introduced an online dating platform aimed at helping "restore the dwindling population" of the Parsi community by helping Parsi men and women meet, marry and have children.
The dating service is not the first attempt at bringing together eligible Parsis. In 2013, India launched the "Jiyo Parsi" (long live Parsis) scheme, which packages a series of Parsi cultural initiatives aimed at bringing the community together.
These include holiday programs for Parsi youth, and cultural events for boys and girls to socialize and mingle.
French troop withdrawal from Mali prompts fresh security fears for the region
Mali's relations with Paris deteriorated after a junta took power in an August 2020 coup, eventually triggering the withdrawal of French troops that was completed on Monday. Russian mercenaries may be filling the void left by France's departure amid new fears that jihadists in the Sahel might be expanding their reach into coastal West Africa.
Their campaign began in northern Mali a decade ago, advanced into the country's powder-keg centre and from there into neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. Now, fears are growing that the ruthless jihadists wreaking havoc in the Sahel are heading towards coastal West Africa.
Following multiple incursions including deadly attacks in the northern regions of Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo, governments in the Gulf of Guinea are reviewing their strategy.
Olympic exec arrested in bribe scandal for sponsorship deal
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
August 17, 2022 at 19:12 JST
A former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee board member has been arrested over allegations he was bribed to secure a company a sponsorship contract and grant it approval to sell official Games goods.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office announced on Aug. 17 that it arrested Haruyuki Takahashi, 78, on suspicion of taking bribes from Aoki Holdings Inc., a business wear company, in exchange for securing the firm a sponsorship contract and approval for it to sell branded Olympic merchandise.
Prosecutors also arrested Hironori Aoki, 83, the founder and former chairman of Aoki, along with Takahisa Aoki, 76, former vice chairman of the firm, and Katsuhisa Ueda, 40, a senior managing director of the company, for allegedly offering those bribes, according to the sources.
China is seeding clouds to replenish its shrinking Yangtze River
Updated 1438 GMT (2238 HKT) August 17, 2022
Chinese planes are firing rods into the sky to bring more rainfall to its crucial Yangtze River, which has dried up in parts, as swaths of the nation fall into drought and grapple with the worst heat wave on record.
No comments:
Post a Comment