Rural Daily

Human Rights Watch: At least 11 killed in Mozambique vote protests

30Oct

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Human Rights Watch: At least 11 killed in Mozambique vote protests

FILE - Protesters burn tires after Mozambique's ruling party, FRELIMO, retains power in contested election in Maputo, Oct. 24, 2024. Johannesburg, South Africa — Police in Mozambique killed at least 11 people and injured more than 50 others in violence after a disputed presidential election this month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday. Protests have rocked the southern African nation since Daniel Chapo, candidate of the ruling Frelimo party that has held power since 1975, was announced winner of the October 9 election. SEE ALSO: Hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets last week, leading to clashes with riot police. "Mozambique security forces killed at least 11 people," HRW said in a ...

Taipei says Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait

30Oct

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Asia-pacific

Taipei says Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait

FILE -China's aircraft carrier Liaoning sails into Hong Kong to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army garrison's presence in the city on July 7, 2017. Taipei, Taiwan — A Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, Taiwan\'s defense minister said, a day after Beijing held a live-fire exercise near the self-ruled island. China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has ramped up military activity around the island in recent years to pressure Taipei into accepting its claims of sovereignty. "The Liaoning is passing through the Taiwan Strait now, sailing north along the west of the median line (of the passage) and we are closely monitoring it," D...

30Oct

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World

Sudan's RSF, allies sexually abused victims from 8-75 years, UN mission says

FILE - In this image grab from handout video footage released by the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 23, 2023, fighters ride in the back of a pickup truck in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum, Sudan. Geneva — Sudan\'s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allies have committed "staggering" levels of sexual abuse, raping civilians as troops advance and abducting some women as sex slaves during the more than 18-month war, a U.N. mission said on Tuesday. Victims have ranged between eight and 75 years, said the U.N. fact-finding mission\'s report, with most sexual violence committed by the RSF and allied Arab militia in an attempt to terrorize and punish people for perceived links to enemies. "The ...

30Oct

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World

Chad president launches operation to fight Boko Haram after attack kills over 40 troops

FILE - Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno during the closing ceremony of the National Sovereign Inclusive Dialogue forum, in N'Djamena, Oct. 8, 2022. Deby announced 3 days of national mourning after visiting Ngouboua where fighters killed at least 40 Chad government troops Sunday night. Yaounde — Chad\'s President Mahama Idriss Deby has launched a security operation to track and neutralize several hundred Boko Haram fighters who attacked and killed on Sunday more than 40 Chad government troops in the Lake Chad Basin, shared by Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger and Chad. Deby visited the area on Monday and assisted in the burial of his soldiers. Chad state TV reports that President Mhamat Idriss Deby has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast and th...

30Oct

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Asia-pacific

Taiwan president 'won't yield an inch' in defense of island's territory

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (C) attends a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou in Kinmen on Oct. 25, 2024. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Friday the island will not cede an inch of its territory, as China maintains military pressure on Taipei to accept its claim of sovereignty. Lai made the remarks during a visit to the Kinmen islands off China for the 75th anniversary of a victory over communist forces in the Battle of Guningtou. It followed a fortnight of intense military activity in the Taiwan Strait -- the sensitive waterway that separates China and Taiwan -- with troops from both sides holding drills. "(We) will not yield an inch of ground in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to...

30Oct

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Asia-pacific

US approves $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan including Ukraine tested missile system

FILE - The Norwegian Army fires a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) in Andøya, Norway against a simulated threat during an exercise, May 10, 2023. (Royal Norwegian Navy) The United States has approved a potential $2 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, the Pentagon said on Friday, including the delivery for the first time to the island of an advanced air defense missile system battle tested in Ukraine. The United States is bound by law to provide Chinese-claimed Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, to the constant anger of Beijing. China has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including holding a new round of war games around the island last week, t...

18Oct

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Asia-pacific, Top News

Life sentence for Vietnamese tycoon already facing death penalty

Businesswoman Truong My Lan was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday in relation to a multi-billion-dollar fraud for which she already faces the death penalty, Vietnamese media reported. The Chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat appeared at Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court to hear the verdict after a month-long trial. Lan, 68, was found guilty of fraud, money laundering and cross-border currency trafficking. In April, Lan was sentenced to death for embezzling US$12.5 billion, and a total of 40 years for bribery and violating bank regulations. The court ordered her to repay $27 billion in loans to companies in the Van Thinh Phat group from Siam Commercial Bank, or SCB, in which she holds a 91% stake. Lan’s lawyers said she planned to appeal the death sentence, althou...

18Oct

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Asia-pacific, TRENDING NEWS

Vietnam renews calls for Thailand to extradite ethnic Ede activist

Vietnam on Thursday renewed calls for neighboring Thailand to extradite an ethnic Ede activist it convicted of “terrorism” in absentia, despite concerns that he will face torture or even death if sent back. The extradition of Y Quynh Bdap, the 32-year-old founder of the group Montagnards Stand for Justice, “is appropriate and aims to ensure that all criminals are brought to justice,” Pham Thu Hang, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a press conference in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi. “Vietnam’s relevant agencies will continue to cooperate with Thai counterparts to handle the case in accordance with the laws of both countries,” Hang said, adding that the activist “directly recruited, incited, and directed the terrorist attack in Dak Lak province on June 11, 2023.” Bdap was tried i...

18Oct

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China, Myanmar tied for worst internet freedom: Freedom House

WASHINGTON — China and Myanmar are tied for the worst internet freedom environments in the world, as digital freedoms decline globally for the 14th year in a row, according to a Freedom House report published Wednesday.The global decline was especially concerning considering just how many elections are being held this year, said Kian Vesteinsson, the report’s co-author. Dozens of countries have held, or are scheduled to hold, national elections globally in 2024. “A free and open internet is critical for a well-functioning democracy in the 21st century, but as people around the world went to the polls, they struggled to access reliable information online,” Vesteinsson told VOA. For its annual Freedom on the Net report, Freedom House surveyed 72 countries, which comprise about 87% of t...

18Oct

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Panel looking into Trump assassination attempt says Secret Service needs ‘fundamental reform’

An independent panel investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally faulted the Secret Service for poor communications that day and failing to secure the building where the gunman took his shots. The review also found more systemic issues at the agency such as a failure to understand the unique risks facing Trump and a culture of doing "more with less." The 52-page report issued Thursday took the Secret Service to task for specific problems leading up to the July 13 rally in Butler as a well as deeper one within the agency's culture. It recommended bringing in new, outside leadership and refocusing on its protective mission. "The Secret Service as an agency requires fundamental reform to carry out its mission," the authors wrote Secretary A...