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Iran's nuclear chief not expected to attend IAEA General Conference, official says

Iran's nuclear chief not expected to attend IAEA General Conference, official says

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization is not expected to attend the annual gathering of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s member nations in Vienna for the first time in many years

France apologises for human rights criticism that sparked US walkout

France apologises for human rights criticism that sparked US walkout

PARIS, Sept 13 (Reuters) - France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva has said it "regrets" criticising the United States over human rights in a social media post that triggered a diplomatic dispute which has delayed the arrival of a new French ambassador in Washington.

Former ISIS Bride Becomes Informant, Aids in Rescue of Children

Former ISIS Bride Becomes Informant, Aids in Rescue of Children

A young woman, identified only as S., who was recruited by ISIS in 2014 and traveled to Syria, later became an informant for Kurdish and U.S. authorities, assisting in the rescue of children from the Al Hol prison camp. S., born in Pakistan to Somali parents and raised in Canada, was radicalized after personal tragedy and perceived Islamophobia. She initially believed she was going to a Muslim utopia but soon witnessed the brutality of ISIS, including beheadings. After escaping an arranged marriage and an abusive husband within ISIS territory, she surrendered to Kurdish forces with her daughter. In the Al Hol camp, she observed the grooming of children for future ISIS roles and decided to cooperate with authorities, providing crucial information while disguised in military fatigues. Her efforts directly led to the release of an American child, Aminah, whose parents had died in the fighting.

Centre-left bloc with narrow lead in Swedish vote, poll shows

Centre-left bloc with narrow lead in Swedish vote, poll shows

By Terje Solsvik and Anna Ringstrom STOCKHOLM, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Sweden's centre-left parties, which back Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson for prime minister, held an early lead at 51.3% in a parliamentary election on Sunday, an exit poll by broadcaster SVT showed.

El Salvador Faces Crisis of 80,000 Missing Persons Amidst Gang Violence and Government Inaction

El Salvador Faces Crisis of 80,000 Missing Persons Amidst Gang Violence and Government Inaction

El Salvador is grappling with a severe crisis of missing persons, with President Nayib Bukele estimating that 80,000 individuals are unaccounted for, largely due to gang violence. This figure suggests that one in every 100 Salvadorans is missing. The crisis has been ongoing for at least a decade and a half, with previous reports in 2021 estimating 35,000 disappearances during the post-civil war period, primarily victims of gangs. The government's response has been criticized, particularly after the Legislative Assembly, dominated by the ruling party, rejected a proposed Missing Persons Search Law. This bill aimed to ensure dignified treatment for victims, active participation of family organizations in searches, and the establishment of a national search system. Families, like Carmen and Esmeralda, whose loved ones disappeared, express feelings of abandonment and institutional inaction, often conducting their own searches through collectives like the Search Bloc for the Disappeared. Testimonies from cooper...

Nicaragua Demands Germany Answer to World Court for Alleged Complicity in Genocide Against Palestinians

Nicaragua Demands Germany Answer to World Court for Alleged Complicity in Genocide Against Palestinians

Nicaragua has urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to reject Germany's procedural objections and examine claims that Germany's military assistance to Israel and its funding freeze for the U.N. agency serving Palestinian refugees enable genocide and other violations against Palestinians. The four-day hearings at the ICJ concluded with Nicaragua arguing that Germany should be held accountable for its support of Israel, even if Israel is not present in the courtroom. Germany seeks to dismiss the claims, contending that the court lacks authority or cannot hear the case without Israel's participation. Nicaragua filed the lawsuit in March 2024, invoking the 1948 Genocide Convention and the 1949 Geneva Conventions, asserting that countries have duties to prevent and punish genocide and protect people in war, which extend beyond those directly involved in conflict. Germany argues that Nicaragua initiated legal proceedings prematurely, without sufficient diplomatic engagement, and that some claims predate...

Human Rights Watch Documents Global Threat of Transnational Repression by Governments

Human Rights Watch Documents Global Threat of Transnational Repression by Governments

Human Rights Watch has extensively documented how governments are increasingly reaching beyond their borders to silence, intimidate, and punish critics abroad, a phenomenon known as transnational repression (TNR). This global threat targets human rights defenders, journalists, civil society activists, and others perceived as threats, often including asylum seekers and recognized refugees. Methods of TNR vary but include surveillance, harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention, physical attacks, and threats against family members. In 2024, Human Rights Watch published a report detailing over 75 such cases across four regions over the past 15 years, perpetrated by more than two dozen governments. Examples include the killing of a Rwandan refugee in Uganda, the extradition of a Cambodian refugee who was subsequently detained, and the abduction of a Belarusian activist from a commercial airline flight.

Sweden Faces Scrutiny Over Hardline Post-Brexit Migration Policy for Britons

Sweden Faces Scrutiny Over Hardline Post-Brexit Migration Policy for Britons

Sweden is facing increasing scrutiny over its stringent application of post-Brexit migration rules, leading to a disproportionately high number of deportations of British citizens compared to other EU member states. Between 2020 and 2025, Sweden deported 2,490 Britons, accounting for 33% of all British nationals deported from the EU during that period. This contrasts sharply with countries like France (6%), Spain (3%), and Germany (2%). Cases include vulnerable individuals such as Charles, a former business director detained for deportation despite living with his Swedish wife since 2017, and Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old widow who has resided in Sweden for 22 years. Another notable case involves George Mason, a 74-year-old with dementia. Many of these individuals had their applications to remain rejected, often due to missing deadlines, and subsequent attempts to gain residency through general migration routes have also been denied. Activists and some Swedish politicians are questioning whether the country'...

Premier of Germany's Lower Saxony walks high wire between VW cuts and AfD

Premier of Germany's Lower Saxony walks high wire between VW cuts and AfD

By Rachel More and Andreas Rinke BERLIN, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's overhaul has put the leader of Lower Saxony in a bind: backing deep job cuts in the carmaker's biggest restructuring in history while trying to fend off the far-right AfD party that is making gains around the country.

Indigenous Benet Mosopisyek Community Pursues International Legal Avenues for Ancestral Land Rights in Uganda

Indigenous Benet Mosopisyek Community Pursues International Legal Avenues for Ancestral Land Rights in Uganda

The Benet Mosopisyek, an Indigenous community residing near Uganda's Mt. Elgon National Park, are engaged in a prolonged struggle to reclaim access to their ancestral territories. These lands, now designated as a national park, were historically inhabited by the Benet Mosopisyek but have been subject to displacement and violence by the Ugandan government for decades under the guise of conservation. Despite being legally subsumed into a neighboring majority population for census purposes, the Benet Mosopisyek assert their distinct Indigenous identity and have been politically active for over fifty years to maintain it. They have initiated an international political and legal campaign, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of both domestic and international law, to secure recognition and protection as an Indigenous group. Their ultimate goal is to regain access to their ancestral lands, challenging the 'Fortress Conservation' approach that has led to their dispossession. The community has achieved some...

Basketball-Holders US battle past Spain to reach women's World Cup final

Basketball-Holders US battle past Spain to reach women's World Cup final

BERLIN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Defending champions the United States pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Spain 76-66 on Saturday and book their place in the Women's World Cup final after being tested for much of the contest.

Russia Expands Influence in Africa with New 'Russian Houses' Amidst Military Engagements

Russia Expands Influence in Africa with New 'Russian Houses' Amidst Military Engagements

Russia is significantly expanding its cultural and political footprint in Africa by opening eight new 'Russian Houses' across the continent, part of a larger plan to establish 11 new centers globally. These centers, managed by 'Rossotrudnichestvo,' are designed to promote Russian language and culture, offer educational programs, and facilitate student recruitment for Russian universities. This initiative comes as European nations, including Germany, Slovenia, Romania, and Moldova, have closed existing 'Russian Houses,' citing concerns that these organizations are used to advance Russian political interests and potentially engage in espionage. The expansion into Africa is particularly notable, coinciding with Russia's increased military and security cooperation in the Sahel region, where its 'Africa Corps' is active in countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. These African nations have recently distanced themselves from Western security partners, drawing closer to Moscow.