WORLD - The African Mirror

Sep

14

2024

‘We did that’: Disabled activists respond to Trump’s debate claim that he saved Obamacare

WORLD

IN 2017, then-President Donald Trump’s administration and a Republican majority Congress attempted, repeatedly, to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more colloquially known as Obamacare. But at the first presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Trump told a different story. “I had a choice to make: Do I save [the Affordable Care Act] and make it as good as it can be or let it rot? And I saved it,” Trump told debate moderators, in response to a question about his plans for the popular healthcare law if he wins the 2024 election. The Affordable Care…

Sep

14

2024

By The African Mirror

UNHCR welcomes Thailand’s full adoption of international convention to protect child rights

WORLD

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the Royal Thai Government’s decision to withdraw its reservation to Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) regarding the rights of refugee children. The withdrawal fulfils a key commitment Thailand made at last year’s Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. It also strongly reaffirms that refugee children must be recognized as deserving of the same rights to access education, healthcare, legal protection, family reunification and other essential services as any other child under the CRC. UNHCR notes that while this move is commendable, its implementation will be key. Thailand’s existing…

Sep

13

2024

By The African Mirror

The mics were muted. The misogyny was not

WORLD

EVERYTHING we needed to know about what would happen at Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump — their first-ever meeting — was clear within 30 seconds of them taking the stage. Harris walked directly up to Trump, extended her hand and leaned in, even after it was clear that he had no intention of greeting her. In introducing herself, Harris pronounced her name, “COMMA-LA,” clearly and correctly, leaving him no excuses to ever mispronounce it again. Harris was confident, in control and in command of the night. Gender dynamics were on display for much…

Sep

13

2024

By The African Mirror

UN rights monitors warn of Myanmar atrocities

WORLD

THE ongoing war in Myanmar between the ruling junta and armed ethnic groups has led to widespread abuses and systematic atrocities, including torture, sexual violence, and attacks where civilians were “the target”, according to a UN rights probe. In an address to the Human Rights Council, Nicholas Koumjian, the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), said the situation is particularly bad in Rakhine State, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are caught in the crossfire between the military rulers and the Arakan Army, the largest and most well-known armed ethnic group in the country. “They have been directly targeted and thousands…

Sep

13

2024

By JACOB GOLDBERG

Dutch philanthropy to close Hong Kong office citing national security law

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Jacob Goldberg AMSTERDAM-BASED philanthropic organisation Porticus will close its Asia regional office in Hong Kong next year and open a new regional hub in Malaysia, according to an internal announcement seen by The New Humanitarian. All eight staff at the Hong Kong office and one staff member based abroad who is also part of the regional office face potential layoffs, a staff member told The New Humanitarian, requesting anonymity to avoid reprisals at work. They have been offered the option to relocate to Malaysia, but their salaries would be adjusted…

Sep

12

2024

By The African Mirror

Israeli strike kills at least 19 in Gaza ‘humanitarian zone’

WORLD

AT least 19 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in an Israeli airstrike on al-Mawasi, an Israeli-designated so-called humanitarian zone in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials in the enclave. Several missiles slammed into a crowded camp in al-Mawasi early on 10 September, leaving behind nine-metre-deep craters and causing tents to catch fire. Palestinian health officials said the number of victims is expected to rise because civil defence workers still haven’t been able to reach some victims buried under the rubble and sand. The Israeli military said it was targeting a Hamas command centre in the camp.…

Sep

12

2024

By The African Mirror

‘Childless Cat Lady’ Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris

WORLD

TAYLOR Swift has entered the chat. Minutes after the conclusion of the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the pop phenom entered her endorsement era. In an Instagram caption that accompanied a photo of the singer holding one of her beloved pet cats, Swift wrote, “Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most.” Swift then went on to address…

Sep

12

2024

By ALI FAWAZ, KATHARINA LENNER, ISRAA SADDER, RAYAN SHEHADA, and LEWIS TURNER

Sky-high fees with few benefits: What’s wrong with social security for Syrians in Jordan

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Ali Fawaz, Katharina Lenner, Israa Sadder, Rayan Shehada and Lewis Turner UPON renewing their work permits this summer, many Syrian refugees in Jordan encountered something unexpected: a massive bill. Unlike the past eight years, when they typically paid no more than 10 Jordanian dinars (approximately $14), starting in July they were told to pay just over 500 dinars ($700) for a year-long permit, in addition to much higher monthly social insurance contributions than before. These new fees, modelled on how much the country charges migrant workers for permits, represent an…

Sep

11

2024

By The African Mirror

Harris brings out an angry and defensive Trump

WORLD

IN their first and possibly only debate, Vice President Kamala Harris stayed composed as she made her case to voters, often pivoting her answers to topics that got under former President Donald Trump’s skin. Trump, for his part, stuck to his typical rally fare of incendiary rhetoric about immigrants and false claims, some of which were fact-checked in real-time by the debate’s moderators. Trump’s demeanour and tone got angrier, more defiant and more rambling after Harris took a dig at the size and energy of his rallies, encouraging Americans to see one for themselves. “You will see during the course…

Sep

11

2024

By The African Mirror

Northern Gaza-bound UN convoy stopped ahead of polio vaccination campaign in the area – WHO

WORLD

SAFE and sustained access is essential for the success of the polio vaccination campaign in Northern Gaza and UN humanitarians will try again to reach the area with fuel following an attempt blocked by the Israeli military, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said. A UN convoy on its way to the north of the Strip was stopped on Monday by Israeli forces and “after waiting for eight hours, this mission had to be aborted,” WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević told reporters in Geneva. The convoy was composed of two missions, Mr. Jašarević explained. One was bringing fuel and vehicles for…