China
“We appeal on China to respect the universal declaration of human rights and we asked China to tear down the detention camps.”
Rights groups and Western nations rounded on China today over its treatment of Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region. Rights groups have accused China of sending upwards of one million Muslims to so-called re-education camps where they are subject to torture and, in some cases, forced sterilisation. China acknowledges the existence of the camps but claims they are for vocational training. Today’s event - a UN virtual meeting - was organised by Germany, the US and the UK. “China has nothing to hide on Xinjiang. Xinjiang is always open. We welcome everyone to visit Xinjiang but we oppose any kind of investigation based on lies and with the presumption of guilt,” Chinese diplomat Guo Jiakun told the meeting.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Israel-Palestine
Israel today stepped up its bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip and Hamas sent volleys of rockets flying into southern Israel. This is nowhere near over yet.
A reminder of my coverage recommendations: Al Jazeera live blog here. Middle East Eye live blog here. Al Jazeera television streaming live here. And Israel’s Haaretz newspaper here. Useful background pieces here, here and here.
Congo
An Associated Press investigation has uncovered allegations that a World Health Organization doctor offered women in Congo jobs in exchange for sex. And that the WHO failed to act.
The full piece is here.