LAGOS (Reuters) – A Nigerian rights group has launched a petition to stop plans by religious leaders and a state lawmaker to push 100 girls and young women into marriage in a mass ceremony next week, which have sparked outrage in the West African nation. The plans, first revealed by Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the …
Mass wedding plans for 100 Nigerian girls and women spark outrage Read More »
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian lawyer Mahdi Zagrouba was tortured by police officers after being arrested on Monday, lawyers and a human rights organisation said on Wednesday after he collapsed in court and was taken to a hospital. The Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Lawyer Souad Boker said Zagrouba …
Tunisian bar association accuses policemen of torturing a lawyer during detention Read More »
By Nqobile Dludla and Nellie Peyton PRETORIA (Reuters) -South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Wednesday a bill that aims to provide universal health coverage, hailing it as a major step towards a more just society two weeks before an election that is expected to be fiercely competitive. The National Health Insurance (NHI) …
South Africa’s president signs major health bill just before election Read More »
(Reuters) – The United States Treasury said in a statement on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on two top commanders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following attacks in North Darfur. The commanders who were sanctioned are major general Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, who is the RSF’s head of operations, and the group’s …
US sanctions two commanders of Sudan’s paramilitary RSF Read More »
By Nyasha Chingono HARARE (Reuters) – More than half of Zimbabwe’s population will need food aid this year following a devastating drought that led to widespread crop failure as humanitarian organisations seek funding to save many from hunger, the country’s cabinet heard late on Tuesday. About 6 million people in rural areas and 1.7 million …
More than half of Zimbabwean population will need food aid, cabinet says Read More »
By Jefferson Kahinju KIMENDE, Kenya (Reuters) -A landslide that followed heavy rain in central Kenya has swept away at least five people, residents said on Wednesday, and the Red Cross said its workers would assist in rescue efforts. The landslide occurred in Kimende Escarpment in Kiambu County, north of the capital Nairobi, the Kenya Red …
At least five missing in landslide in central Kenya Read More »
GENEVA (Reuters) -A Swiss court on Wednesday convicted a former government minister from Gambia of crimes against humanity under ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh and jailed him for 20 years, in a historic verdict using universal jurisdiction in Europe. The Federal Criminal Court found Ousman Sonko guilty on several counts of intentional homicide, torture and false imprisonment. …
Swiss court jails Gambian ex-minister for crimes against humanity Read More »
TUNIS (Reuters) – A Tunisian judge on Wednesday ordered the imprisonment of two prominent journalists pending trial, their families and lawyers said, reinforcing fears of a widespread campaign aimed at silencing dissent and curbing free speech. IFM radio journalists Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaiss were detained on Saturday over political comments made on the radio, …
Two Tunisian journalists jailed pending trial, bolstering fears for free speech Read More »
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Rescuers have pulled four people out of the rubble of a collapsed building in the Mathare neighbourhood of Kenya’s capital on Tuesday, but more people were likely trapped, the Kenya Red Cross said. “Three out of the four rescued have been taken to a nearby health facility, while one with minor injuries …
Four rescued from collapsed Kenya building, more people likely trapped Read More »
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The last two suspects sought by a U.N. tribunal over their alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide died in 1998, the U.N. war crimes prosecutor tasked with finding them said on Wednesday. The prosecutor said investigations had shown that fugitives “Ryandikayo” and Charles Sikubwabo had both died in 1998, around four …
UN prosecutor confirms death of last two Rwanda genocide fugitives Read More »
