WORLD - The African Mirror

Mar

08

2021

Swiss agree to outlaw facial coverings in “burqa ban” vote

WORLD

MICHAEL SHIELDS A far-right proposal to ban facial coverings in Switzerland won a narrow victory in a binding referendum on Sunday instigated by the same group that organised a 2009 ban on new minarets. The measure to amend the Swiss constitution passed by a 51.2-48.8% margin, provisional official results showed. The proposal under the Swiss system of direct democracy does not mention Islam directly and also aims to stop violent street protesters from wearing masks, yet local politicians, media and campaigners have dubbed it the burqa ban. "In Switzerland, our tradition is that you show your face. That is a…

Mar

08

2021

By The African Mirror

Unions call for total strike in Myanmar; Suu Kyi party official dies in custody

WORLD

MYANMAR’S major trade unions called on members to shut down the economy from today to back a campaign against last month's coup, raising pressure on the junta as its forces cracked down on protesters and occupied hospitals in the main city Yangon. Witnesses reported sounds of gunfire or stun grenades in several areas of the commercial capital after nightfall, as soldiers set up camp in hospitals and university compounds, local media reported. It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The move came after some of the largest nationwide protests since the February 1 coup and an alliance of nine…

Mar

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Love, adultery and betrayal: Big British royal TV interviews

WORLD

MICHAEL HOLDEN PRINCE Harry and Meghan, Britain's Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are due to appear in an in-depth TV interview with U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey today. Here are details of previous major television interviews given by senior members of the British royal family, some of which went badly for the monarchy. QUEEN ELIZABETH The 94-year-old British monarch has never given a formal interview, although she has appeared in TV documentaries about her family and discussed issues relating to specific aspects of royal life. PRINCE CHARLES/PRINCESS DIANA - 1981 Shortly after announcing their engagement to the world, heir-to-the-throne…

Mar

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Myanmar forces make night raids after breaking up protests

WORLD

MYANMAR security forces fired gunshots as they carried out overnight raids in the main city of Yangon after breaking up the latest protests against last month's coup with teargas and stun grenades. The Southeast Asian country has been plunged into turmoil since the military overthrew and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. Daily demonstrations and strikes have choked business and paralysed administration. There were sporadic protests across Myanmar on Saturday and local media reported that police fired tear gas shells and stun grenades to break up a protest in the Sanchaung district of Yangon, the country's…

Mar

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Gender parity in legal field 50 years away

WORLD

EMMA FARGE MORE than a quarter of lawmakers worldwide are women after the proportion inched higher in 2020, but progress is so slow that it will take 50 years at the present rate before they achieve parity with men, a global body of legislatures said on Friday. "Although progress has been steady over the past few years, it is still excruciatingly slow," the Inter-Parliamentary Union, made up of 179 national member parliaments and 13 regional parliaments, said in an annual 'Women in Parliament' report. "At the current rate, it will take another 50 years before gender parity is achieved in…

Mar

06

2021

By The African Mirror

India’s top judge urged to quit for suggesting rape defendant marry victim

WORLD

ANURADHA NAGARAJ INDIA’S chief justice is under pressure to resign after asking a man accused of rape whether he would marry the complainant - sparking outrage and concern that his words could legitimise the notion that rapists can make amends by marrying their victims. Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde posed the question during the bail hearing of a government employee who is accused of stalking, threatening and repeatedly raping a distant schoolgirl relative over a two-year period. Brinda Adige, a women's and children's rights activist, said she was "furious" over Bobde's suggestion, fearing lower courts might now be more willing…

Mar

06

2021

By The African Mirror

Myanmar police open fire, kill one protester

WORLD

POLICE in Myanmar yesterday opened fire on protesters against last month's military coup, killing one man, as international condemnation rained down on the junta ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the crisis. The violence took place as the military lost a tussle over leadership of its U.N. mission in New York and the United States announced new sanctions targeting military conglomerates after the deaths of dozens of civilian protesters. Activists demanding the restoration of the elected government of veteran democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi held more demonstrations in several towns and cities, with a crowd…

Mar

06

2021

By The African Mirror

Congressman sues Trump over deadly Capitol siege

WORLD

JAN WOLFE and LISA LAMBERT A US Democratic congressman has sued Donald Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other allies of the former president over the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol when violent Trump supporters tried to stop the certification of Trump's election defeat. The civil lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, alleges that the attack, which left five dead including a police officer, was a "direct and foreseeable consequence" of unlawful actions by Trump, Giuliani, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., Republican congressman Mo Brooks and others. "As such, the Defendants are responsible for the injury and…

Mar

05

2021

By The African Mirror

Meghan accuses Buckingham Palace of ‘perpetuating falsehoods’

WORLD

MICHAEL HOLDEN and PAUL SANDLE PRINCE Harry's wife Meghan has accused Buckingham Palace of "perpetuating falsehoods" about her and her spouse, saying the royal couple would not be silent in telling their story. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made the comments to American talk show host Oprah Winfrey in an interview about why they quit their royal roles that is due to be broadcast on U.S. television on Sunday. An advance excerpt of the interview was released on Wednesday, hours after Buckingham Palace said it was "very concerned" about reports in the Times newspaper that assistants working for Meghan two…

Mar

05

2021

By The African Mirror

From homes and streets, Myanmar citizens record spiralling bloodshed

WORLD

"I was lucky not to die," Min Thura Zaw posted on his Facebook page with a video that shows a soldier aiming in his direction in Myanmar's main city and the sound of a bullet's crack. He ducked from the window and tumbled to safety on the floor of his apartment - all captured in one of the growing number of videos shot by householders using their mobile phones to record violence on the streets outside. "I wanted to record the inhumanity of the military, shooting at houses and even stray dogs," Min Thura Zaw told Reuters. "The soldier ...…