Philippines
The International Criminal Court is to start an investigation into possible crimes against humanity carried out as part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature “war against drugs” policy. Duterte swept to power on a promise to tackle the country’s spiralling drug problem but critics and rights groups say that thousands of people have been summarily executed. The government says more than 6,000 people have been killed since the operation was launched in 2016 but that police killed them in self defense. Rights groups say the number could be closer to 30,000.
More from the South China Morning Post here.
Gabon
The UN is pulling Gabonese soldiers from a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic after allegations of rampant sexual abuse. “Following many cases of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse that are being processed, the United Nations today decided to withdraw the Gabonese contingent from MINUSCA”, the UN said, adding that an investigation would be carried out by the Gabonese government.
More from AFP via Yahoo News here.
Afghanistan
Soccer players from Afghanistan’s junior women’s team have fled into Pakistan and will now seek asylum in third countries. The Taliban last week indicated that women would be banned from playing sports and women who have done so fear reprisals.
More from BBC here.