Gambian lawmakers endorsed recommendations presented by the Joint Committee on Health and Gender on Monday to maintain the country’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) in anticipation of an upcoming vote later this month on the potential decriminalization of the practice. The recommendations were adopted with 35 members voting in favor, 17 voting against and [...]

Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) Police Commissioner Michael Murphy issued a Public Disorder Declaration for Alice Springs on Monday following several civil disturbances over the weekend, including the assault of four off-duty police officers on Sunday morning. The declaration includes a restricted movement provision that creates a curfew for all residents and visitors to the town [...]

Amnesty International called Thursday for Houthi authorities in Yemen to immediately release detained staff from the UN and civil society organizations. Amnesty’s call comes one month after the workers’ arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances following raids on homes and offices. According to Amnesty, Houthi authorities have detained 13 UN staff and at least 14 staff [...]

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday convicted Al-Qaida-linked militant leader Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in terrorizing the civilian population of the Malian city of Timbuktu. The case centered on the 2012-2013 northern Mali conflict, which began with an [...]

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed the US on Monday for a Ukrainian attack on Russian-annexed Crimea that killed four and injured more than 150, saying in a statement they had “no doubt” of the US involvements. Russia also summoned the US ambassador to the country to discuss the issue. According to the Russian [...]

Taiwan’s national defense minister, Wellington Koo, confirmed Tuesday that the government remains vigilant and has the necessary means to monitor the situation in the Taiwan Strait after photographs appeared online of a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing near the island. Taiwanese media published photographs of the surfaced submarine taken early Tuesday morning by local fishermen. The [...]