insert_link World We polled EU citizens on what they want asylum policy to look like – their answers may surprise you Asylum seekers arriving on the Greek island Lesvos in 2015. Nicolas Economou/Shutterstock By Natalia Letki, University of Warsaw; Dawid Walentek, Ghent University; Peter Thisted Dinesen, University of Copenhagen, and Ulf Liebe, University of Warwick The issues of migration and asylum are contentious in Europe, and have caused deep rifts among EU member states for years. These topics are fully on the agenda for the 2024 EU elections. […] today6 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Ghana’s anti-LGBTIQ+ bill is being challenged in the supreme court. Why the decision to broadcast it live matters By Godfried Asante, San Diego State University Ghana’s Supreme Court is live televising its proceedings on the country’s controversial anti-LGBTQI+ bill. This was on the request of Ghana’s attorney general, who cited public interest and transparency. The bill was passed by the country’s parliament in February 2024 amid global furore and local outcry. The bill criminalises not only LGBTQI+ relationships, but also those who support […] today30 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Gunmen kill 40 in Plateau, Nigeria Over 40 people have been killed by gunmen in two communities in Nigeria's northern state of Plateau. The gunmen also injured several others and set many houses on fire. today22 May, 2024
insert_link Africa UK-Rwanda migrant deal challenges international protection law By Cristiano d'Orsi, University of Johannesburg In late April 2024 the British parliament passed a law – the Safety of Rwanda Act – enabling it to transport migrants arriving in the UK to Rwanda. When the legislation was approved by parliament, there were 52,000 asylum seekers who could potentially be sent to Rwanda. The law has been condemned by a range of UN actors, human rights […] today22 May, 2024
insert_link World Julian Assange’s appeal to avoid extradition will go ahead. It could be legally groundbreaking By Holly Cullen, The University of Western Australia Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s challenge to the order for his extradition to the United States to face charges of computer misuse and espionage will continue, after the High Court in London rejected US government assurances that his rights to freedom of expression would be protected. On March 26, the High Court conditionally granted Assange the right […] today21 May, 2024
South Africa South African communities vs Shell: high court victories show that cultural beliefs and practices count in climate cases Oyster gatherers on a Wild Coast beach at low tide. The sea is integral to these communities’ lives and culture. PaulGregg By Louise Du Toit, University of Southampton; Brewsters Caiphas Soyapi, North-West University, and Louis Kotzé, North-West University When the Shell petroleum company announced in 2021 that it wanted to explore for fossil fuels off South Africa’s pristine Wild Coast, Indigenous communities in the area immediately fought […] today20 May, 2024
insert_link World Chinese journalist jailed for reporting on Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak to be released The current whereabouts of a Chinese citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, who was imprisoned for four years due to her reporting on the early days of the pandemic in Wuhan, remain unknown, causing concern among activists. Zhang Zhan was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague charge frequently used in political cases. She completed her sentence at Shanghai’s Women Prison. The Associated […] today14 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Female genital mutilation is on the rise in Africa: disturbing new trends are driving up the numbers By Tamsin Bradley, University of Portsmouth Thirteen-year-old Salamatu Jalloh had her whole future to look forward to. But in January 2023, her lifeless body was found wrapped in a pink and blue shroud on an earthen floor in a village in north-west Sierra Leone. Salamatu and two other girls bled to death after participating in a secret Bondo society initiation into womanhood. The ceremony, which […] today13 May, 2024
insert_link Namibia Namibia sees increase in violence against LGBTQAI+ community Two additional suspects, 23-year-old Tashiya Nandomba and 21-year-old Joslin Booysen, have appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court in connection with the brutal murder of Christoph Fredericks, a transgender woman who was stabbed 42 times. This incident highlights the increase in violence against LGBTQAI+ community members in Namibia. Linda Baumann, an activist for women's and LGBTQI rights, for comment. today9 May, 2024
