Tag

#Human Rights / Civil Rights

Home » Human Rights / Civil Rights

882 posts
Bookmark?Remove?

McDonald’s discriminates against Black franchisees, lawsuit claims

(Reuters) – McDonald’s Corp has been sued by 52 Black former franchise owners who accused the fast-food giant of racial discrimination by steering them to depressed, crime-ridden neighborhoods and setting them up for failure. In a complaint seeking up to $1 bi... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Canberra says not told why Australian journalist detained in China

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia does not know why Chinese authorities have detained Australian citizen and television anchor Cheng Lei, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said on Tuesday, adding to the mystery why the journalist has been taken into custody. The Aust... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Thai police arrest student leader over anti-government protest

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police arrested a student leader on Tuesday as part of a continued crackdown against political activists who helped organize an anti-government protest in July, a police officer told Reuters. Jutatip Sirikhan, 21, the president of the ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Lawsuit says McDonald’s discriminates against Black franchisees

(Reuters) – McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) has been sued by 52 Black former franchise owners who accuse the fast-food giant of racial discrimination by steering them to depressed, crime-ridden neighborhoods and setting them up for failure. In a complaint seeking up t... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Facebook improving hate speech detection ahead of Myanmar election

(Reuters) – Facebook Inc said on Tuesday that it was preparing for Myanmar’s general election in November by improving the detection and removal of hate speech and content that incites violence and preventing the spread of misinformation. The company said in a... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Federal agencies to investigate ‘left-wing civil unrest’: Trump

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are setting up a joint operations center to investigate “left-wing civil unrest,” President Donald Trump said on Monday, as he accused Democrat Joe Biden of giving moral aid to vandal... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Factbox: Quotes from court hearings for New Zealand mosque shooter

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – The gunman who killed 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand’s worst mass shooting faces a life prison term, possibly without parole, with multi-day sentencing hearings taking place this week. Brenton Tarrant, an Australian, has pleaded gu... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Nigerian lesbian love film to go online to avoid censorship board

LAGOS (Reuters) – Two young women fill the screen, reclining on a bed, talking about their hope of having children. They are protagonists in a new Nigerian film called “Ife” depicting their love story. The topic is controversial in Nigeria, where same-sex rela... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Trump says he is considering pardon for leaker Edward Snowden

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he is considering a pardon for Edward Snowden, the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor – now living in Russia – whose spectacular leaks shook the U.S. intelligence community in 201... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Unilever to rename German ‘gypsy sauce’ after complaints

BERLIN (Reuters) – Unilever’s (ULVR.L) German food company Knorr will rename its popular “Zigeuner” – or gypsy – sauce as Hungarian-style paprika sauce after complaints that the name is offensive, becoming the latest brand to shift after a wave of protests ove... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

U.S. Attorney General Barr says the left wants to tear down system

(Reuters) – U.S. Attorney General William Barr mounted a partisan attack on the Democratic Party in an interview that aired Sunday, claiming the left believes in “tearing down the system” and pursues absolute victory as “a substitute for religion.” Barr also t... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Singapore’s Universal Studios deploys facial recognition for entry

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Visitors to Universal Studios in Singapore will now have to pass through facial recognition scanners to enter the park, in the city-state’s latest foray with a technology that has stoked privacy concerns. Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), whic... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Republican Senator Tom Cotton calls slavery ‘necessary evil’

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. Senator Tom Cotton described slavery as “a necessary evil” in a published attack on a New York Times initiative to make slavery the focal point of American history for U.S. schools. “As the Founding Fathers said, it was t... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

UK rapper Wiley faces police probe over accusations of anti-Semitism

LONDON (Reuters) – British rap artist Wiley is facing a police investigation after a string of anti-Semitic comments appeared on his social media accounts, prompting his management to drop him. The rapper’s Twitter account, which has half a million followers, ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

EU leaders show first signs of compromise on stimulus plan

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Signs emerged that leaders of northern European Union countries were willing to compromise on a 1.8 trillion euro ($2 trillion) coronavirus stimulus plan on Monday as talks in Brussels extended to a fourth day. Divided and slow to respond ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

China urges UK to avoid taking wrong path in Hong Kong affairs

BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Monday urged Britain to avoid making further steps down wrong path after reports that it was poised to suspend an extradition treaty for Chinese-ruled Hong Kong. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin made the remark during a daily... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Trump says Confederate flag proud symbol of U.S. South

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump declined to say the Confederate flag was an offensive symbol in an interview broadcast on Sunday, saying it is a source of pride for people who love the South. The Republican president was asked on “Fox News S... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Hamilton criticises F1 after ‘rushed’ anti-racism gesture

(Reuters) – Six times world champion Lewis Hamilton criticised Formula One’s leaders after what he called a “rushed” anti-racism gesture by some drivers before the start of Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton, who won from pole position to take the champio... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Disney cuts ad spending on Facebook amid growing boycott: WSJ

(Reuters) – Walt Disney (DIS.N) has become the latest company to slash its advertising spending on Facebook Inc (FB.O) as the social media giant faces an ad boycott over its handling of hate speech and controversial content, the Wall Street Journal reported on... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Factbox: Activists and politicians mourn John Lewis’ death

(Reuters) – U.S. flags were flown at half-staff on Saturday at the White House, federal properties and several states as politicians and activists voiced an outpouring of grief and appreciation for civil rights career of U.S. Representative John Lewis, who die... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Triple jump champion Taylor supports Games protest option

(Reuters) – Twice Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor has joined calls to allow athletes to protest peacefully during the Games as anti-racism stances are increasingly seen at sports events in the wake of George Floyd’s death in U.S. police custody. ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

NFL: Washington to retire Redskins name and logo

(Reuters) – The NFL’s Washington team announced on Monday it will retire its Redskins name and logo in a decision made after sponsors stepped up pressure to scrap a name that the franchise has used since 1933 but long has been criticized as racist by Native Am... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Ubisoft shares sink after misconduct review

PARIS (Reuters) – Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) shares dropped 9% on Monday after the French video games group said over the weekend that three senior managers were leaving the company following a review into allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Ubisoft, which makes ga... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Canada’s biggest banks join boycott of Facebook platforms

TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s biggest lenders confirmed on Friday they had joined a widespread boycott of Facebook Inc (FB.O) begun by U.S. civil rights groups seeking to pressure the world’s largest social media platform to take concrete steps to block hate sp... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

U.S. Supreme Court blocks Alabama order easing voting restrictions

(Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a lower-court ruling that would have relaxed voting restrictions in Alabama state during the coronavirus pandemic. Alabama requires voters to submit a photo identification when they apply for an absentee b... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Hollywood weighs how to foster lasting Black inclusion

(Reuters) – Hollywood came under intense scrutiny for a lack of diversity in 2015 when the #OscarsSoWhite movement spotlighted the dearth of Black nominees for the film industry’s highest honors. Following the mass protests after the death of African American ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Uffizi masterpieces show Black culture’s role in the Renaissance

ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s Uffizi gallery said on Thursday it was planning to pick out nine of its masterpieces for a project to highlight the part that Black people and culture played in the Renaissance. Under the “Black Presence” initiative, images of works in... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

China passes national security law in turning point for Hong Kong

HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s parliament passed national security legislation for Hong Kong on Tuesday, setting the stage for the most radical changes to the former British colony’s way of life since it returned to Chinese rule 23 years ago. Details of... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Writing on the wall: Congolese murals counter COVID-19 denial

KINSHASA (Reuters) – In central Kinshasa, freshly painted murals show traditional idols wearing medical masks or applying hand sanitiser, part of an art initiative to counter public disbelief in the face of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping Democratic Republic... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Reddit bans ‘The_Donald’ forum amid broad social media crackdown

(Reuters) – Social media site Reddit on Monday shut down r/The_Donald, a forum which long served as a popular online home base for fans of President Donald Trump, saying it violated the site’s hate speech rules. Other sites also conducted high-profile sweeps: ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Black lives celebrated and mourned at emotional BET Awards

(Reuters) – Black power, suffering and the fight for justice took center stage at the BET awards on Sunday, the first Black celebrity event in the United States since nationwide mass protests broke out this month over systemic racism. The show, which celebrate... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Palestinian painter channels her fears of Israeli annexation

JORDAN VALLEY, West Bank (Reuters) – Amid the barren hills of the Jordan Valley, Palestinian artist Khadeeja Bisharat paints scenes of bulldozers and demolitions, a reflection of fears of what may happen to her isolated Bedouin community if Israel annexes land... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

NASCAR to investigate after noose found in Bubba Wallace’s garage

(Reuters) – NASCAR has launched an investigation after a noose was found in a garage stall at Talladega belonging to Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver competing in its top Cup series. “Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Lakers owner calls for unity against racism on Juneteenth

(Reuters) – LA Lakers owner Jeannie Buss said on Friday, the Juneteenth holiday, that she is no longer willing to ignore hate and called on white people to come together and acknowledge the racism that exists in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates the U... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Dutch soccer players boycott TV show over Black Pete remarks

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Dutch men’s and women’s national football team players said on Friday they would no longer grant interviews to a popular TV show due to remarks made by a commentator mocking an anti-racism protester. In a statement first published on ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Brussels adds George Floyd memorial to large mural collection

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels added to its large collection of murals on Thursday with a newly commissioned work in memory of African-American George Floyd, whose killing by police has sparked global protests against racism and police violence. Belgian-Congole... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Sudan finds mass grave of conscripts killed during Bashir’s rule

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan’s public prosecutor on Monday announced the discovery of a mass grave east of Khartoum suspected to contain the remains of students killed in 1998 as they tried escaping military service at a training camp. An investigation had been ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Anti-racism protest signs, murals destined for U.S. Smithsonian

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Days into nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, demonstrators began to fill a tall fence in front of the White House with posters, flowers, paintings and photos in honor of black men, women and children who have lost thei... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Trump economic adviser urges wearing of masks at Tulsa rally

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – People attending U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Oklahoma this week should wear masks, a White House adviser said on Sunday, as health experts cautioned against large gatherings such as political rallies during the corona... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

U.S. health agency reverses Obamacare transgender protections

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule on Friday that would lift anti-discrimination protections under Obamacare for transgender people and women seeking abortions, drawing condemnation from Democratic lawmakers. ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Artists around the world pay tribute to George Floyd

(Reuters) – Protests against racism triggered by the death of African American George Floyd have inspired art around the world, from murals in Syria and Pakistan to graffiti in Nairobi. At the Berlin Wall, a large portrait of Floyd is seen alongside yellow blo... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Afghan artists paint mural on blast wall in tribute to George Floyd

KABUL (Reuters) – A group of artists climbed ladders up one of the many blast walls snaking through the Afghan capital Kabul this week to paint a mural of George Floyd in solidarity with the anti-racism protests kindled by his death in police custody. Floyd, a... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Scientists create embryo-like research model from human stem cells

LONDON (Reuters) – Scientists have used human embryonic stem cells to create an embryo-like research model to help them study some of the earliest stages of human development. The model overcomes some of the ethical restrictions on using human embryos for rese... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

U.N. expert says some are ‘starving’ in North Korea

GENEVA (Reuters) – A United Nations human rights expert voiced alarm on Tuesday at what he called “widespread food shortages and malnutrition” in North Korea, made worse by a nearly five-month border closure with China and strict quarantine measures against CO... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Jehovah’s Witness jailed in Russia for extremism, lawyer says

MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness to six and a half years in prison after finding him guilty of organising the activities of a banned extremist organisation, his lawyer said. The ruling at the Pskov City Court, handed ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Women’s soccer team calls for repeal of kneeling ban

(Reuters) – The U.S. women’s national team has called on the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to repeal a policy forbidding players from kneeling during the national anthem and issue an apology to black players and fans. The USSF will hold a special meet... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

IBM exits facial recognition business, calls for police reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – International Business Machines Corp (IBM.N) disclosed Monday it will no longer offer facial recognition or analysis software in a letter to Congress calling for new efforts to pursue justice and racial equity, new Chief Executive Office... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

U.S. Democrats pledge transformative change with police reform bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. congressional Democrats unveiled sweeping legislation on Monday to combat police violence and racial injustice through transformative change, two weeks after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody led to nationwide prote... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Trump insists no police defunding amid U.S.-wide clamor for reforms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Monday pledged to maintain funding for police departments in the United States amid growing calls for sweeping cuts to law enforcement budgets as protesters clamored for an end to police brutality following the ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

Biden’s ‘compassion’ meant world to Floyd family: lawyer

(Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden showed compassion that “meant the world” to George Floyd’s family on Monday, according to a lawyer for relatives of the black man who died in police custody. Biden met with Floyd’s relatives in Houston fo... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

ABBA’s Bjorn speaks out in support of Black Lives Matter protests

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – “The world is full of idiots,” said ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus, as he condemned critics of the Black Lives Matter movement and voiced his support of the worldwide protests against racism and police brutality. “The solidarity that we see in the ... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

German court limits power of spy agency’s bugging overseas

KARLSRUHE, Germany (Reuters) – Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that monitoring the internet traffic of foreign nationals abroad by the BND intelligence agency partly breaches the constitution. The long-awaited ruling stated that internet survei... More »

Bookmark?Remove?

China’s delayed parliament to focus on reviving virus-hit economy

BEIJING (Reuters) – After a 78-day delay, China’s parliament begins its annual session this week and is expected to unveil stimulus measures to spur an economy battered by the coronavirus as leaders grapple with problems from surging unemployment to worsening ... More »