Africa
Equatorial Guinean human rights lawyer ‘missing’
Fabian Nsue Nguema, a top human rights lawyer in Equatorial Guinea, has gone missing. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said he was last known to have visited a jail on Monday to see a client, and fears he has been illegally detained. The country’s government, led by President Teodor Obiang Nguema and said by rights groups to be one of the most repressive in Africa, has not yet commented on his alleged detention. Mr Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea since seizing power in a 1979 coup, and his administration has repeatedly been accused of illegally detaining and torturing opponents – allegations it denies. Mr Nsue represented foreign mercenaries, including UK citizen Simon Man, who was jailed in 2008 for plotting to overthrow the president.
Egypt Supreme Court to rule on constitutional panel
An Egyptian court that was due to decide the fate of the panel rewriting the constitution has referred the case upwards, to the country’s Supreme Court. Dozens of lawsuits questioning the make-up of the constituent assembly were passed from the Cairo Administrative Court to the Supreme Constitutional Court. The plaintiffs argue the panel was formed illegally and does not reflect the diversity of Egyptian society. Its 100 members are due to finish drafting a new constitution for the country by December, after which the document will be put to a referendum. Legislative elections would follow two months later, if the constitution is approved by the people. Some analysts argue the dissolution of the constituent assembly will delay this process and hinder the introduction of badly needed economic and political reforms.
Asia
Huawei offers Australia access to source code and equipment
Chinese tech manufacturer Huawei has offered to give Australia unrestricted access to its software source code and equipment, as it looks to ease fears that it is a security threat. Questions have been raised across the West about the telecoms giant’s ties to the Chinese military, prompting Australia to block its plans to bid for work on its national broadband network. Huawei denies there are grounds for concern and said it needed to dispel myths and misinformation: “Huawei has done a very poor job of communicating about ourselves and we must take full responsibility for that”, said John Lord, chairman of the firm’s Australian arm, in a speech to the country’s National Press Club.
Middle East
Assad agrees to ceasefire over Eid
Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN envoy to Syria, has said that President Bashar al-Assad will agree to abide by a ceasefire during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. Mr Brahimi told reporters in Cairo that most opposition factions had also agreed to observe any ceasefire, and that he hopes to use the lull in fighting to “discuss a longer and more effective ceasefire”. The Syrian government has said it will make its final decision on Thursday. Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as proof of obedience to God. It starts on Friday.
North America
Republican Senate candidate in rape row
Richard Mourdock, a Republican candidate for the US Senate, is under fire for suggesting that pregnancies resulting from a rape were “intended” by God. Mr Mourdock is standing for one of Indiana’s two Senate seats, and made the remarks in a debate with his Democrat opponent. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said that a Romney administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape – a clarification he had to issue after Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin suggested women’s bodies had ways of preventing pregnancy after rape. Mr Mourdock was asked whether he believed abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest, and said “I came to realise that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen”. The 6 November election will decide not only the presidency but also 33 seats in the Senate. The Republicans are hoping to win control of the chamber.
Latin America
Panama president cancels Colon land sale after three die in clashes
Panama’s President Ricardo Martinelli says he will scrap plans to sell off state-owned land in the duty-free zone of Colon after three people were killed in violent protests between residents and security forces. The protesters say the land sale, which was signed into law on Friday, would cost jobs and cut incomes. The Colon region is the biggest duty-free zone in Latin America, but it blighted by poverty and crime. President Martinelli had said the sale of the state-owned land would benefit the region, but said on Twitter yesterday: “if the people of Colon don’t want the sale of lands in the Free Trade Zone, the sale will be repealed.”
Eurasia
Russian parliament votes to widen definition of high treason
The Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, has voted to broaden the definition of high treason in a move critics say is a further attempt to stifle dissent in the country. Under the proposed new law, high treason and espionage will include supporting “those seeking to damage Russia’s security” and adds multinational organisations to a list of groups that could benefit from state secrets. An activist at rights group Memorial said the law had been designed for “arbitrary interpretation”. Those illegally obtaining secret state information could face an extended prison sentence. The legislation was voted through the Duma by 375 votes to two, and is expected to be swiftly passed by the parliament’s upper chamber. President Vladimir Putin will then need to sign it into law.
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