UN council rejects Eritrea's bid to end human rights probe
GENEVA -The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday rejected a bid by Eritrea to end the mandate of a U.N. expert investigating alleged abuses in the country, in a relief to Western diplomats who feared it would set a dangerous precedent for states seeking to escape scrutiny.
The motion brought by Eritrea caught many off guard and marked a rare attempt by a country subject to an investigative mandate to terminate it. It was defeated decisively, however, with just four voting for it, 25 rejecting it and 18 abstaining.
A counter-motion by the European Union to extend the mandate for a year then passed comfortably.
In his last report, Sudanese rights lawyer Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, who currently holds the U.N. expert position, described the situation in Eritrea as critical, highlighting cases of arbitrary detention and the extensive use of military service which is stoking migration.
African rights group DefendDefenders welcomed the extension of his mandate, saying the U.N. expert "plays an indispensable role, not only for the victims and survivors of Eritrea's abuses, but also for the Eritrean diaspora."
The delegate for the European Union said ending the mandate would have allowed "impunity and repression to deepen in silence."
Eritrea's chargé d'affaires Habtom Zerai Ghirmai accused the EU of acting out of a "neo-colonial saviour mentality complex".
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"The continued extension of the Special Rapporteur's mandate is an affront to reason and justice," he said.
Supporters of Eritrea's motion included Iran, Sudan and Russia - all of which are subject to their own investigations mandated by the 47-member council.
China also spoke in favour of Eritrea, calling such an investigation mandate a waste of resources. REUTERS
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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Clans of Geylang: The fight for survival and revival
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Stanley Ng (left), secretary-general of the Huang Clan Association's youth committee, and his father, Mr Ng Poh Wah, the clan's former chairman. SINGAPORE – For 78 years, the Huang Clan Association was housed in Jiangxia Tang, a two-storey bungalow with distinctive yellow shutters and red grille gates in Lorong 35 Geylang. The clan was established in 1924 following a merger of several clans whose members had the surname 'Huang' or its variants. Today, its headquarters are spread over a two-storey space in Sixteen35 Residences, an eight-storey condominium that was completed three years ago on the 2,220 sq m site of the original clan house. The association's name runs down a street-facing wall in seven silver Chinese characters beside a private entrance to the clan house, complete with its own private lift. The association occupies three levels of a dedicated section of the building. On level 2 are lushly carpeted air-conditioned rooms, a multi-purpose hall, library, meeting rooms and an office. A climate-controlled cultural and heritage exhibition room houses antique furniture and artworks from the original bungalow. The transformation of the Huang Clan's premises was three decades in the making. 'Since the 1990s, we were already discussing the deteriorating state of the building and ageing membership,' says Mr Ng Poh Wah, 67, the clan's former chairman. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church 'But our plans to revamp the clan house never came to fruition, because the main issue then was, where will the money come from?' adds the businessman. An opportunity emerged amid the condo development boom in Geylang in the 2010s. In 2013, Mr Ng – then the association chairman – established a task force to bring about the building of a new clan house. In 2018, the clan sold a 99-year leasehold estate to Oxley Holdings, while retaining ownership of the land. As part of the deal, the property developer would transfer a portion of the units back to the Huang Clan to form part of the new clan house. The old clan premises and an adjacent house made way for the new condominium, which now sits on a 23,800 sq ft plot of land. 'People have told us it doesn't look like a clan house at all, but we think of it as an entirely new model of the clan house. So there's not much regret over losing the old clan house, because we've gained something,' says Mr Ng . 'Clan events have shifted from the previous open-air grounds to a modern ballroom, which can be booked for activities by non-clan members,' says Mr Steven Huang, 60, the clan's former vice-chairman. The third floor of the clan's premises is currently rented to a Buddhist association, which took over the lease from a yoga studio. 'Now, the clan is entirely self-sustaining and we don't have to keep relying on donations,' says Mr Stanley Ng, 37, secretary-general of the youth committee and Mr Ng Poh Wah 's son. Since the new clan house opened in 2022, youth membership has increased by 30 per cent. Now, half of the clan's executive committee is under 45. To complement existing efforts to increase youth engagement, the clan used the premises to host youth wing activities and even added a karaoke room on the second floor as part of the renovations. The younger Mr Ng says: 'The old building was reminiscent of an old men's club, it was difficult to attract young people… It's so much better now – it's more comfortable, and there's a more conducive space for our youth wing activities. ' 'With the renovation, Huang Clan has fortunately transcended the issues of lack of funds, due to the sustainability of the premises and its attractiveness to our youth members.' Opposition to the redevelopment The redevelopment was not without its difficulties. 'Normally, you see mixed residential and commercial developments , but this was the first time anyone wanted to mix clan associations with residential use,' says Mr Stanley Ng. The unique nature of the deal saw his father engaging in extensive talks with potential developers, legal advisers, and clan members. 'We are the first clan in Singapore to have done anything like this. Originally, our lawyers thought that it wouldn't even have been possible,' says Mr Ng Poh Wah. 'I spent every weekend meeting developers, it was a very long and draining process. I spent more time on the negotiations than on my own business,' he adds. The Huang Clan Association's headquarters are spread over a two-storey space in Sixteen35 Residences. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Internally, some clan members opposed the redevelopment, arguing for the original clan house to be gazetted as a cultural site. This was especially since it was where the renowned Chinese painter Xu Beihong created some of his works during his visits to Singapore between the 1920s and 1942 , when the island fell to the Japanese . Mr Ng explained to them that constructing a new clan house was a hard but necessary step. He says: 'We tried to preserve the original facade of the house, but the architect told us that it would not be possible because the piling works would affect the structural quality.' Mr Stanley Ng adds: 'If it was gazetted for preservation, then who would take on the cost of making the building safe and revamping the building? We had to think of what was in the best interest of the clan.' His father recalls: 'At the end of the day, the clan had a lot of cash flow problems. My committee members and I had to donate our own money to keep the clan running. When I was the chairman, I think I donated more than $100,000 of my own money for things like scholarships and banquets. If we continued, it would not be sustainable.' To obtain zoning approval for the redevelopment of the site, it had to give up the traditional practice of burning incense and paper offerings during the Chinese New Year and Hungry Ghost Festival. Moreover, as the entire clan house is now indoors, the clan's lion dance troupe had to disband as the noise would affect condo residents. But Mr Ng Poh Wah adds: 'It would have happened sooner or later, because more condominiums are popping up in the area.' Despite the sacrifices and initial resistance, the turnaround in the association's fortunes – in terms of finances and its youth membership – has made it a model for its peers. Mr Stanley Ng says: 'Now, other clans who are trying to replicate what we did (have) approached us in private for advice.' A photo on display showing the clan's former premises in a two-storey bungalow. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Consolidations and closures 'What Huang Clan did was very special,' says Ms Lynn Wong, 32, a heritage consultant. 'Many clans have been closing down because there is nobody left to take over, or they cannot sustain their finances.' Just over 200 of Singapore's 500 clan associations of the past still exist, she notes. In Geylang, that figure has dwindled from 108 in 1998 to 74 today. Nevertheless, the area remains home to the largest concentration of clan associations in Singapore. A 50ha zone in Geylang was designated for clans in 1992 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The area, which stretches from Lorong 7 to 35, and Lorong 6 to 20, was designated 'commercial/institution' zoning, the only one of its kind in Singapore. Clans islandwide whose original premises had been acquired by the Government for redevelopment or which had been priced out of their original locations were encouraged to move into the area, with the promise of fast-track zoning approval for their premises. One of those clans that made use of the scheme is Char Yong (Dabu) Association. In 1988, the clan – one of Singapore's oldest clan associations – moved from its original premises in Cairnhill Road to its current location in Lorong 22 Geylang. The clan has been increasing its presence in Geylang steadily. It completed the construction of its Hakka village in Lorong 18 Geylang in December 2024. The building's temporary occupation permit is expected by July or August 2025. Four floors of the building will be leased out to commercial tenants while the rest of the building will be used for clan activities. The association bought the 17,000 sq ft freehold site for $37 million in August 2020. The site, which was formerly occupied by 11 shophouses, is a key part of the clan's future. 'It helps that it's close to our current location, and there's a very rich culture and heritage of clans in the area,' says Mr Lee Hong Ping, 55, head of the association's heritage committee. While Char Yong (Dabu) and the Huang Clan leveraged their locations in Geylang to launch redevelopment plans, smaller clans in the neighbourhood have not been immune to the broader decline of Chinese clan associations in Singapore. 'Other clans in Geylang are not as fortunate as they are still renting their premises, and they move out once rents rise,' says Ms Wong, who has documented the closure of several clans, many of which have shuttered for good or merged with larger ones. For the Huang Clan, the sacrifices that came with reconstructing its premises were necessary for the larger purpose of renewal. The elder Mr Ng, who also chairs the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations' Member Affairs Committee, says: 'Not all clans are able to replicate what we did due to constraints like land. However, the most crucial issue still lies in getting people on board with change.' He says: 'There are clan elders who want things to stay on as they are forever. We have to make progress as times change so that succession can happen.'
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Chelsea given $46m fine for breach of financial rules
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Chelsea risk being hit with a further €60 million fine (S$90 million) if they do not get their finances in order. LONDON - Chelsea have been fined €31 million (S$46 million) by Uefa for breaches of its financial rules, while Aston Villa, Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais were also levied with large fines, Uefa announced on July 4. The punishments come with the potential for far harsher fines down the road, with Chelsea, who agreed to a four-year settlement with Uefa's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), risking being hit with a further €60 million if they do not get their finances in order. Barcelona must pay a €15 million fine, but could potentially face €60 million in total, with Uefa fining Lyon €12.5 million and Aston Villa €11 million. Chelsea's fines were split into €20 million for not complying with the football earnings rule and €11 million for breaching the squad cost rule, while Aston Villa were fined €5 million and €6 million for their respective rule violations. The clubs are also subject to a restriction on the registration of new players on their List A for Uefa club competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League. The teams accepted settlement agreements which cover periods of two, three or four years, with the clubs' final targets to be fully compliant with the football earnings rule by the end of their specific settlement period. Additionally, Lyon agreed on an exclusion from the 2025/26 Uefa club competitions should the French authority (DNCG) confirm the club's relegation to Ligue 2. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church Chelsea sold their women's team for €235 million to a parent company, Blueco, which helped to balance their spending and avoid huge losses, despite their lavish spending in the transfer market under owner Todd Boehly. Uefa, however, refused to count the sale of the team as an asset. The club also sold two hotels to a sister company in a deal that appears to have helped the club to remain compliant with profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Premier League clubs are not permitted to have losses of more than £105 million (S$182 million) over a three-year period. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Liverpool's Diogo Jota mourned by family, players and locals at hometown wake
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox GONDOMAR, Portugal - Hundreds of residents of Gondomar in northern Portugal filed past the bodies of former Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at a chapel in their hometown on July 4, after their deaths in a car crash in Spain. At an earlier private wake, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, FC Porto President Andre Villas-Boas, Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proenca and Jota's longtime agent Jorge Mendes joined the brothers' family including Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, who had married the footballer just weeks earlier. 'It is a moment of great pain for the family, who are left anchored to this tragic accident,' Proenca said as he left the wake. 'Diogo was an icon for the talent that Portuguese football represents and for its ability to generate unity around a person.' The brothers were believed to be driving to a ferry in Spain to travel to the UK when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames after midnight on July 3. Police said they suspected a tyre had burst. Silva was also a footballer, with Penafiel in the Portuguese second division. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church Their funeral is expected to take place on July 5 at a nearby church at 10am local time (4pm in Singapore), the office of Gondomar's mayor said. The death of forward Jota at the age of 28 has jolted the world of football, with tributes pouring in from former teammates, clubs, national leaders and fans. 'Diogo was a silent hero for everything he represented on and off the pitch,' Villas-Boas said as he left the wake. 'These are tragic days, days for reflection, and may the memory of these two athletes, these two great men, live on,' the former Chelsea manager added. Outside Liverpool's Anfield stadium fans left flowers, scarves and handwritten notes, many from children. 'I never thought there would be something that would frighten me off going back to Liverpool after the (summer) break,' Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah said on Instagram. 'Teammates come and go but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back,' he added. Well-wishers viewing flowers, scarves and shirts on July 4, at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for Portuguese forward Diogo Jota. PHOTO: AFP Football clubs including Paris St Germain - who have several Portugal internationals in their squad - Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid observed a moment of silence during training for their matches at the Club World Cup in the United States. Mourning his friend Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said on July 3 that forward Pedro Neto was weighing up whether to play in a July 4 quarter-final against Palmeiras, as the Portuguese international mourned the tragic death of his close friend. Jota's manager at Liverpool, Arne Slot, said in a statement on July 3 that his thoughts were with his family. 'My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone,' Slot said, using the words of the team's anthem. 'For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player, he was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special,' the Dutchman added. In Gondomar, a town of about 160,000 people in the Porto metropolitan area that is known for artisanal gold and filigree jewellery, residents were struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of a local hero. At the Diogo Jota Academy in Gondomar – whose motto is, 'It's not important where we come from, but where we are going' – people placed candles and flowers, as well as scarves and shirts from the clubs he played for and from the Portuguese national team in tribute to the player. Jota opened the academy in 2022 for children aged six to nine at the Gondomar Football Club, where he himself played for 10 years as a child. Children from the Diogo Jota Academy attending the public wake for Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva on July 4, in Gondomar, Portugal. PHOTO: EPA It was at Gondomar's high school that he met his wife. They began dating aged 15 when in the same class and she became a pillar in his life. When they were 19, they moved to Madrid together, when Jota was transferred from the small Portuguese club Pacos de Ferreira to Atletico Madrid. 'Besides being his girlfriend and best friend, I'm his number one fan,' Cardoso told the newspaper 'A Bola' at the time. Jota was making his way back to Liverpool by car after he was told he should avoid plane travel for up to six weeks following lung surgery to address a fractured rib, his physiotherapist Miguel Goncalves told broadcaster Now late on July 3. Goncalves said Jota was recovering well from the pneumothorax surgery and that he had planned to take a ferry to the UK from Spain. REUTERS
