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Human rights

Human rights
Latest news, features and analysis on human rights, with a focus on civil liberties in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia.
On Rinthalak, 80, mother of deceased Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak, sits next to his pictures at their house in Nong Khai province, Thailand, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Thailand

‘We’ll bring him home’: Thai family to end long wait for Gaza hostage return

Sudthisak Rinthalak, who was killed two years ago by Hamas militants, is among 47 hostages whose bodies will be returned under a ceasefire deal.

United States

‘If Jesus were born in America now’: church’s nativity challenges ICE policy

Israel-Gaza war

Israel receives body from Hamas, says Rafah crossing could soon open

Europe’s refugee crisis

Illegal migrants to UK face clothing and mouth searches for phones, SIM cards

The Home Office says the new powers are needed to gather intelligence quickly on criminal gangs suspected of smuggling migrants.

An officer helps a woman after a group was picked up attempting to cross the English Channel from France in 2023. Photo: AFP
Africa

African nations push for recognition of colonial crimes and reparations

The economic cost of colonialism in Africa is believed to be staggering, with some estimates putting the cost of plunder in the trillions.

Switzerland

Swiss right-to-die group founder dies by assisted suicide

Ludwig Minelli, who championed freedom of choice at the end of life, died days before his 93rd birthday.

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Pakistan

Pakistan rejects UN warning over legal immunity for military chief

A constitutional amendment approved by parliament earlier this month shields Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other top officials from prosecution for life.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (right) and President Asif Ali Zardari (centre) jointly conferring the Baton of Field Marshal on Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir during a ceremony at the country’s President House in Islamabad on May 22. Photo: AFP
United States

US halts asylum cases after troop killing as Trump steps up migrant crackdown

A US official says the immigration agency will ensure ‘every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible’.

The Philippines

ICC rejects Philippines ex-president Duterte’s request for release

The court dismissed defence arguments that the 80-year-old should be released due to his advanced age and alleged declining health.

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United States

Trump vows to freeze migration from ‘Third World Countries’ after Washington attack

US president’s announcement follows the death of a National Guard member who was shot by an Afghan national.

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US President Donald Trump holds up a photo as he speaks to troops via video from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thanksgiving. Photo: AP
South Korea

South Korean woman faces outrage after forcing worker to kneel in store

The incident in Suncheon has sparked anger over customer power abuse and workplace bullying.

A Daiso store in South Korea. Photo: Instagram/daisodaiso-idaeyeog
Myanmar

Political show? Why Myanmar is again cracking down on cyber scammers

Myanmar’s junta has been under pressure to raid fraud hubs by China as its citizens have been badly affected by these scammers, analysts say.

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US-China relations

US lawmakers urge Trump to condemn Myanmar’s China-backed ‘sham’ elections

Call comes after government’s plan to stop legal protections for Myanmar nationals in US, citing elections as proof situation was improving.

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Bangladesh

Bangladesh authorities uncover fugitive ex-PM Hasina’s gold stash

Authorities seized gold worth US$1.3 million from Hasina, who is under investigation for not depositing gifts into the treasury as required.

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Photo: Shuttestock
Women and gender

Opinion | Together, we can move closer to eliminating violence against women

No jurisdiction is spared from gender-based violence. Thus international cooperation is essential to build momentum and find solutions.

Protesters display the names and ages of victims of femicide in Bordeaux, France on November 22, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Photo: AFP
Myanmar

US ends temporary legal status for Myanmar nationals

Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said the situation in Myanmar has improved and it is safe for citizens to return to the war-torn country.

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Israel-Gaza war

Israeli generals dismissed over failures from Hamas’ deadly attack

The firings come amid growing pressure for an inquiry and revelations of systemic military flaws to prevent the October 7, 2023, assault.

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Britain

UK digital ID plan fuels conspiracies, but government denies it is for control

Starmer government insists a digital ID will be voluntary, as critics say it could be used to limit access to flying and food, among other things.

Football fans display banners against a digital ID - a plan that is highly controversial in the UK. Photo: Reuters
Slovenia

Slovenia rejects assisted dying law in national referendum

Sunday’s referendum was held after critics mounted a campaign against a new law to legalise assisted dying.

Africa

315 kidnapped in Nigeria school attacks as security crisis deepens

Gunmen attacked a school in Niger state on Friday after abducting 25 girls from a Kebbi state secondary school on Monday.

Bangladesh

Can a single vote save Bangladesh from a return to authoritarianism?

Analysts question if the July Charter championed by Muhammad Yunus can overcome Dhaka’s ‘winner-takes-all’ political culture.

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Police use stun grenades to disperse protesters outside the demolished residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s former leader and father of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on Monday. Photo: AP
Japan

Tokyo government ordered to pay US$247,970 in damages in Nepal man’s death

The court found that unreasonable force used by police led to Arjun Bahadur Singh’s death in 2017 while in custody.

Arjun Bahadur Singh was arrested in 2017 and lost consciousness during questioning. Photo: Newsnepalaya
US Politics

Judge orders Trump end National Guard deployment in Washington DC

Federal judge rules Trump’s use of troops is likely unlawful, but the White House stands by the deployment.

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Africa

Trump vows to end Sudan war, in sudden pivot thanks to Saudi crown prince

The US president condemned ‘tremendous atrocities’ in the conflict, which he admitted was previously ‘not on my charts’.

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Malaysia

Malaysia court charges 11 shipwreck survivors with illegal entry

Rescued after their boat capsized, the Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants face jail or caning, but did not understand the charges read in court.

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Rescuers approached a Langkawi jetty earlier this month after saving Rohingya migrant Iman Shorif (left). His boat, carrying migrants from Myanmar, had capsized days earlier near the Malaysia-Thailand border. Photo: AFP
United States

Trump defends Saudi crown prince on deal-making US trip

US president warmly welcomes Mohammed bin Salman on his first White House visit in seven years, and defends him on journalist’s murder.

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US President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman along the colonnade at the White House. Photo: AP
Africa

1 girl escapes Nigeria mass abduction of 25 students from a high school

The student fled through a forest after gunmen attacked a high school dormitory.

The Philippines

Why is Mary Jane Veloso still in prison a year after Indonesia let her go?

The former death row inmate has languished behind bars since being convicted of heroin smuggling in 2010. She was repatriated last December.

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