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September
Hunted by the men they jailed, Afghanistan's women judges seek escape
Written by Nur Yasmin
Afghanistan's 250 women judges fear for their lives, with men they once jailed now freed by the victorious Taliban to hunt them down.
While some women judges were able to flee in recent weeks, most were left behind and are still trying to get out, said judges and activists working around the clock to help them escape.
The militants, who swept into power last month as the United States withdrew its troops, banned women from most work when they last ruled the country 20 years ago. They have said women's rights will be protected, but have yet to provide details.
Women who work in justice have already been high profile targets. Two female Supreme Court justices were gunned down in January. read more
Now, the Taliban have released prisoners across the country, which "really put the lives of women judges in danger," a high-level Afghan women judge who fled to Europe said from an undisclosed location.
In Kabul, "four or five Taliban members came and asked people in my house: 'Where is this woman judge?' These were people who I had put in jail," she told Reuters in an interview, asking not to be identified.
She was among a small group of Afghan women judges to have made it out in recent weeks with the help of a collective of human rights volunteers and foreign colleagues at the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).
Since then she has been in touch with colleagues back home: "Their messages are of fear and complete terror. They tell me if they do not get rescued their lives are in direct danger."
In addition to the judges, there are around a thousand other women human rights defenders who could also be in the Taliban's cross hairs, said Horia Mosadiq, an Afghan human rights activist.
Freed prisoners "are calling with death threats to women judges, women prosecutors and women police officers, saying 'we will come after you'," she said.
FEARFUL
British Justice Minister Robert Buckland said last week London had evacuated nine female judges and was working to provide safe passage for more of the "very vulnerable people".
"A lot of these judges were responsible for administering the rule of law and quite rightly they are fearful about the consequences that could now face them with the rise of the Taliban," he said.
Human rights and legal activists said Western countries did not make the evacuation of women judges and human rights defenders a priority in the chaos after Kabul fell.
"Governments had zero interest in evacuating people that were not their own nationals," said Sarah Kay, a Belfast-based human rights lawyer and member of the Atlas Women network of international lawyers.
She is working with an online group of volunteer veterans known as the "digital Dunkirk," named for the World War Two evacuation of British troops from Nazi-occupied France. It has helped hundreds of people escape with the help of chat groups and personal contacts.
At the IAWJ, a team of six foreign judges has also been coordinating information, lobbying governments and arranging evacuations.
"The responsibility that we bear is almost unbearable at the moment because we are one of the few people taking responsibility for this group," one of the effort's leaders, Patricia Whalen, an American judge who helped train Afghan female judges in a 10-year programme, told Reuters.
"I am furious about that. None of us should be in this position." (Reuters)
September
Singapore to hold off on further reopening measures - minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Singapore will hold off on further steps to reopen the country while it monitors an increase in daily coronavirus cases, but sees no need to consider re-imposing heightened restrictions, a senior official said on Friday.
Singapore had sufficient vaccine coverage to protect its citizens and the country was becoming more resilient in living with the virus, Lawrence Wong, finance minister and co-chair of government coronavirus taskforce told a news conference.
Wong said a tightened posture would only be taken as a last resort to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. (Reuters)
September
EU says Taliban must respect rights, guarantee security as conditions for help
Written by Nur Yasmin
The European Union is ready to engage with the new Taliban government in Kabul but the Islamist group must respect human rights, including those of women, and not let Afghanistan become a base for terrorism, the EU foreign policy chief said on Friday.
"In order to support the Afghan population, we will have to engage with the new government in Afghanistan," Josep Borrell said during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Slovenia.
He described an "operational engagement", which would not by itself constitute the formal recognition of the Taliban government, and would "increase depending on the behaviour of this government".
Borrell said the new government must prevent the country from again becoming a breeding ground for militants as it was during the Taliban's previous time in power. It must respect human rights, the rule of law and freedom of the media, and should negotiate with other political forces on a transitional government.
The Taliban have yet to name a government more than two weeks since they swept back into power. Their 1996-2001 rule was marked by violent punishments and a ban on schooling or work for women and girls, and many Afghans and foreign governments fear a return to such practices. The militants say they have changed but have yet to spell out the rules they will enforce.
Borrell said the new government in Kabul must also grant free access to humanitarian aid, respecting EU procedures and conditions for delivery.
"We will increase humanitarian aid, but we will judge them according to the access they provide," Borrell said.
Aid agencies have said Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian catastrophe amid an economic crisis brought on by the conflict, a drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. About 18 million Afghans - roughly half the population - are already in need of humanitarian help, according to EU experts.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said it depended on the Taliban how swiftly frozen development aid - which is different from the unconditional humanitarian aid - can flow again.
"We have heard many moderate remarks in the past days, but we will measure the Taliban by their actions, not by their words," Maas told reporters in Slovenia.
"We want to help avert a looming humanitarian crisis in the coming winter, which is why we have to act fast."
According to Borrell, the EU aims to coordinate its contacts with the Taliban through a joint EU presence in Kabul, should security conditions make it safe to do so. (Reuters)
September
Mullah Baradar to lead new Afghanistan government - Taliban sources
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mullah Baradar, the head of the Taliban's political office, will lead the new government in Afghanistan, at least three sources in the Islamist group said on Friday.
Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of late Taliban founder Mullah Omar, and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai will take senior positions in the government, the sources said. (Reuters)
September
Duterte daughter says has 'running mate' offers for Philippines 2022 election
Written by Nur Yasmin
Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte's daughter has named several politicians, including her father's closest aide and preferred successor, whom she said have offered to run with her in next year's presidential election.
Sara Duterte-Carpio, mayor of Davao City, is leading opinion polls but has yet to disclose her political plans ahead of the October deadline to file for candidacy.
Duterte-Carpio, 43, said on Facebook that lawmakers Sherwin Gatchalian and Christopher "Bong" Go had "personally expressed their offer to run as my vice president".
It was unclear when Go made the offer, but Duterte-Carpio's post late on Wednesday comes a few days after Go rejected the ruling party's endorsement as presidential candidate. read more
She said other possible running mates include former defence minister Gilbert Teodoro, who made his offer via common friends, and the son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Go said he was open to the idea.
"When I learned that there were some aspirants who wish to be Mayor Sara's vice president in case she runs for the presidency, I expressed my willingness to be considered," he said in a statement on Thursday.
Asked at a business forum if he might contest the presidency himself, Marcos, better known as "Bongbong", said a presidential run was a possibility.
Duterte-Carpio has been quoted in media as saying she was open to running.
"Whether or not she has already decided on her plans of running, there really is clamour from many sectors," said political analyst Edmund Tayao.
"Many politicians think she will be a formidable presidential candidate."
Her 76-year-old father is prohibited by the constitution from seeking a second term, but his opponents believe he could extend his grip on power through an election of an ally.
He has declared he will seek the vice presidency, if daughter Duterte-Carpio does not run for president.
Duterte remains popular despite his notoriously bloody anti-narcotics campaign and growing criticism over the country's coronavirus epidemic, one of Asia's worst. (Reuters)
September
Britain's Raab, in Qatar, cites need to engage with Taliban
Written by Nur Yasmin
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday there is a need to engage with the Taliban on Afghanistan, but Britain has no immediate plans to recognise their government.
Raab was speaking during a joint press conference with Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Doha, where he visited housing for refugees evacuated from Afghanistan after the Taliban swept to power last month.
Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar was talking with the Taliban and working with Turkey for potential technical support to restart operations at Kabul airport.
"We are engaging with them (Taliban), engaging also with Turkey if they can provide any technical assistance on that front. Hopefully in the next few days there will be some good news," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"There is no clear indication when (the airport) is going to be fully operational yet...We remain hopeful that we will be able to operate it as soon as possible."
The hardline Islamist militant Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital Kabul last month, but have yet to name an administration or reveal how they intend to govern.
Raab said he had discussed with Qatari officials ensuring Afghanistan does not harbour terrorism in the future, preventing a humanitarian crisis, preserving regional stability and holding the Taliban to account on their public pledge to set up a more inclusive government.
"Our commitment on the part of the United Kingdom to Afghanistan remains. We need to adjust to the new reality," Raab told reporters.
"Our immediate priority is to secure the safe passage of those remaining British nationals, and also the Afghans who worked for the United Kingdom, and others who may be at the most risk," he said, adding that he would be talking to regional leaders about securing safe passage through third countries.
Britain has moved its Afghanistan embassy from Kabul to the Qatari capital Doha. (Reuters)
September
Qatar's foreign minister says working with Turkey to reopen Kabul airport
Written by Nur Yasmin
Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Thursday the Gulf state was talking with the Taliban and working with Turkey for potential technical support to restart operations in Kabul airport.
Sheikh Mohammed was speaking at a joint press conference with Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in Doha. (Reuters)
September
Thailand cites positive results from Sinovac-AstraZeneca vaccine formula
Written by Nur Yasmin
Thailand's health ministry said on Thursday that its COVID-19 vaccine regimen of China's Sinovac (SVA.O) followed by British-developed AstraZeneca (AZN.L) was safe and successfully boosted immunity among its first 1.5 million recipients.
Thailand in July became the first country in the world to mix a Chinese vaccine and a Western-developed vaccine as cases and deaths in the country surged and the government struggled with vaccine supplies.
"The cross formula has been injected to over 1.5 million people and it is safe. Please don't say things that would create concern," senior health official Supakit Sirilak told a news conference.
He said Thailand, which has been manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine, would no longer be giving two doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac.
Just 13% of Thailand's population of over 66 million has been fully vaccinated.
The majority of its 1.2 million infections and 12,103 coronavirus deaths came after April this year, brought on by the highly transmissible Alpha and Delta variants.
The health ministry said the Sinovac-AstraZeneca combination boosted immunity to the same levels as two AstraZeneca shots and meant vaccinations could be completed faster due to the shorter dose gap.
The formula will be used for most of Thailand's vaccinations, Public Health Permanent Secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit said.
Booster doses will be given to 3 million people who received two Sinovac shots, using a different type of vaccine, likely from this month, health minister Anutin Charnvirakul has said.
Sinovac's inactivated virus vaccine has caused concern in some countries about its resistance to the Delta variant.
Earlier this week during a censure debate on the coronavirus crisis, Anutin told lawmakers not to criticise Sinovac, to protect the Thai public and avoid harming ties with China.
"Tarnishing of the Sinovac vaccine by many (house) members may create panic, confusion and concern for the public," he said. (Reuters)
September
In South Korea, Afghan evacuees find hope in their new 'special merit' status
Written by Nur Yasmin
After many sleepless nights, a 41-year-old Afghan medical doctor successfully left Kabul with his family before the Taliban seized power last month and is set to begin a new life in South Korea.
The Afghan doctor is one of 390 evacuees who arrived in Seoul last week where the government said it was amending immigration laws to grant long-term residency to those who provided special service to South Korea. read more
Most of them are the families of people who had worked with the South Korean embassy, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and a hospital, among others.
"I'd like to continue my profession and I'd like to work as a medical doctor here," he told Reuters via Zoom during a two-week quarantine at a state-run facility.
"Of course, if getting a certificate is needed, I'll try to get the Korean certificate," he said, requesting to speak anonymously due to security reasons.
Immigration is a contentious issue in South Korea, a country where many pride themselves on ethnic homogeneity. But according to a Realmeter poll this week, about 70 percent of South Koreans support the plan to grant the Afghans special status.
Another Afghan evacuee told Reuters he appreciated the fact that the government had given them the status of "persons of special merit" rather than refugees.
"They don't call us refugees, they call us a special contributor and we are so proud of that name. We are so happy with that name," he said. "We came here and we want to live for a long time in peace," he added.
Dr. Sohn Moon-jun, former head of Korea Hospital in Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, said that the government has made efforts to help the arrivals get accepted but there was much to be done on South Korea's refugee policy.
"The refugee policy is almost absent in our country. In other countries, they have been accepting way more refugees. It is time to begin a discussion to establish policies on it," said Dr. Sohn.
Only 55 out of the 6,684 people who sought refugee status in South Korea in 2020 received it. In 2019, South Korea accepted 79 out of the 15,452 people who applied for refugee status in the country. (Reuters)
September
Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa launch cenbank digital currency scheme
Written by Nur Yasmin
Central banks in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa will conduct a cross border payments trial using different central bank digital currencies (CBDC) to assess if this allows transactions to be settled more cheaply and easily, the banks said on Thursday.
Many governments and central banks around the world are exploring the use of CBDCs, which are digital forms of existing currencies. Some, like China, are trialing retail-focused CBDCs designed to replicate cash in circulation, while others are considering using so-called wholesale CBDCs to improve the internal workings of their financial systems.
Most projects are still in the early stages and are domestically focused, but developing global rules and frameworks for how CBDCs can be used internationally is complicated technically, and potentially politically. read more
This latest project aims to develop prototype shared platforms for cross-border transactions using multiple CBDCs, said the statement from the Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the South African Reserve Bank, and the Bank of International Settlement's Innovation Hub, which is leading the scheme.
These platforms would enable financial institutions to transact directly with each other in CBDCs, which could eliminate the need for intermediaries and reduce the time and cost of transactions.
The initiative, which will also explore different technical, governance and operating designs, should publish its results in early 2022, the statement said.
“The multi-CBDC shared platform ... has the potential to leapfrog the legacy payment arrangements and serve as a foundation for a more efficient international settlement platform," Assistant Governor Fraziali Ismail, Bank Negara Malaysia said in the statement.
A separate BIS-led project exploring using CBDCs for cross border payments is also underway involving central banks from China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE. (Reuters)