Latest news with #Malala
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Cricket needs to do more to help Afghan women, says Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai believes there is more work to be done to help Afghanistan women and cricketers across the world, including those living in 'gender apartheid' and banned from playing any sport under Taliban rule. Since the Taliban took power in 2021, the Afghanistan women's team have been disbanded, with members of the squad living in exile in Australia, while those in the country have had their rights stripped away to such an extent they cannot speak outside the home. Speaking at the official launch of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup at Lord's on Thursday, the Pakistani women's education rights activist was clear in what she wanted to use her platform for. 'I want to take this opportunity to talk about what's happening to women and girls in Afghanistan. They currently have their cricket team in exile – for women – and the same is the case for their women's soccer team as well,' Malala, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said. 'It's the only country where girls are banned from learning and playing sports – along with every other opportunity they should have. 'They're living under the Taliban in a system of gender apartheid, which is a systematic oppression and we need to share our support and solidarity with them. 'Because I believe when we are here in moments like these and we are celebrating the progress for women in all fields including sports, we cannot leave behind millions of women who do not have this right, right now, the right to play, the right to learn. 'I believe we'll see true progress when we take everybody with us so it is a really critical moment that we stand with them and we hold our governments accountable for pressurising the Taliban and we find ways to support Afghan women and Afghan girls, who are in exile. I think sport is such a powerful way to show our support with them, help them play. 'And I am happy that recently the ICC and the ECB have made some good announcements, but I do believe there is a lot more that we could do.' Last month, the International Cricket Council announced the formation of a taskforce to support displaced Afghan women's cricketers, joining with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and Cricket Australia to co-ordinate funding, coaching and facilities for the displaced players. The announcement followed the first match played by an Afghanistan XI in an exhibition match in Melbourne against Cricket Without Borders. In 2020, 25 players were given professional contracts by the Afghanistan Cricket Board, but they could no longer play safely after the return of the Taliban, with 20 members fleeing to Australia in the last four years. Malala, who was shot by a member of the Pakistani Taliban when she was 15, has campaigned passionately for the right to education, and grew up playing cricket and badminton as a child with her brothers. She has also previously spoken in support of Cricket Australia, which boycotted a match against the Afghanistan men's team, because of the lack of women's rights. The Afghanistan Cricket Board is still receiving full funding from the ICC, despite not meeting the criteria for full membership, of which a part is to support women's cricket.
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Essex mother who sold Malala painting for £51k
Alexandra Johnson was already grieving her mother's death when Covid-19 hit the UK in a former city trader, she had no formal art qualifications, but she nonetheless decided to manage the boredom and channel her grief by painting in her mother-of-three has gone on to sell her works - painted exclusively with a palette knife and spatula - for five-figure this month, her portrait of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai sold for £51,200 at the prestigious Bonhams auction house."I always go for powerful women, not for [their] jobs and career, just for their inner strength," said Johnson, who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Johnson left her job as a trader in 2002 to become a full-time became a full-time carer for her own mother in 2017 after her cancer diagnosis, and Janet died in February 53-year-old recalled how "we were really bored" when the first lockdown was imposed and she was still "fresh in grief"."I don't think I'd spent five hours painting [at that point] but during lockdown the pace of life had become a lot slower," she told the BBC."I wanted to see how good I could be."Her "amazing" mother served as an "inspiration" for those early had already sacrificed her own health by giving a kidney to one of her brothers when she was 60 years old. The painter said she was forever in awe of how women supported other women in times of crisis, and she described how her work paid "homage" to their "strength and grace".She says her paintings explore memory, femininity and resilience."I pull from my experiences. It's personal, it's my feelings on a canvas, my favourite pieces are anything that are of my mum."I found it so therapeutic."I only do women, and I've had some really low points in my life and the women in my life just pushed me through."We come from a big family of powerful women."Women wear many hats and spin many plates, she explained: "We take on so much." Breakthrough Johnson - who works under the name Zara Muse - sold her first painting "Angelique" in 2023 for £22,500. Shape of Stillness went for £47,500 in painting of Malala was was put up for sale at Bonham's after it was put forward by one of her loyal now 27, was 15 when she was shot in the head by the Taliban on the way home from school."Malala represents strength and bravery — the kind of woman I want to celebrate through my work." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial school play sparks chaos at Kenya drama competition
Kenya's national high-school drama competition has been overshadowed by drama of its own after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to watch a controversial play. The play, Echoes of War, highlights the role of digital spaces in governance and the power of youth in shaping societal change - with close parallels to Kenya's current political situation. It was initially disqualified from the drama festival under unclear circumstances, but a High Court ruling later overturned the decision and ordered it to be included. Tensions flared in the western town of Nakuru on Thursday morning when students stormed out of the venue, demanding the release of the play's author. Cleophas Malala, the scriptwriter and a former senator who penned the production for students from Butere Girls School, was blocked by police from meeting the students for final rehearsals on Wednesday evening. Malala was later released without charge and praised the students for boycotting the play. "The young girls of Butere Girls' have exercised an act of heroic restoration. I'm determined to ensure that Echoes of War is displayed before a Kenyan audience," Malala said immediately after his release. The students briefly sang the national anthem before dramatically leaving the hall, which was sealed off by anti-riot police, armed with batons and tear gas canisters. "There's no audience. Who are we performing for?" one of the girls told journalists. They also complained about police harassment. Following news of Malala's arrest, large crowds had gathered outside the venue curious to watch the play. But anti-riot police had been deployed overnight in case of trouble and they fired tear gas to disperse the would-be audience. Education Minister Julius Ogamba questioned the involvement of Malala in the competition, saying the politician was neither a teacher nor a play director. The row has sparked public uproar, with rights group Amnesty International saying it was "pointing to a worrying pattern of state-sponsored repression of free expression, press freedom, and the right to associate". Prominent opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the police for firing tear gas near students, praising the "brave" girls for declining to perform. In a statement, the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) demanded that the students be allowed to stage their play like all the other competitors. The play highlights a widening gap between two generations - the old and the young - demanding change through innovation and technology. It reflects some of Kenya's most pressing problems, some of which sparked youth-led deadly protests last year. New faces of protest - Kenya's Gen Z anti-tax revolutionaries Kenyan president's humbling shows power of African youth Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality How Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churches Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial school play sparks chaos at Kenya drama competition
Kenya's national high-school drama competition has been overshadowed by drama of its own after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to watch a controversial play. The play, Echoes of War, highlights the role of digital spaces in governance and the power of youth in shaping societal change - with close parallels to Kenya's current political situation. It was initially disqualified from the drama festival under unclear circumstances, but a High Court ruling later overturned the decision and ordered it to be included. Tensions flared in the western town of Nakuru on Thursday morning when students stormed out of the venue, demanding the release of the play's author. Cleophas Malala, the scriptwriter and a former senator who penned the production for students from Butere Girls School, was blocked by police from meeting the students for final rehearsals on Wednesday evening. Malala was later released without charge and praised the students for boycotting the play. "The young girls of Butere Girls' have exercised an act of heroic restoration. I'm determined to ensure that Echoes of War is displayed before a Kenyan audience," Malala said immediately after his release. The students briefly sang the national anthem before dramatically leaving the hall, which was sealed off by anti-riot police, armed with batons and tear gas canisters. "There's no audience. Who are we performing for?" one of the girls told journalists. They also complained about police harassment. Following news of Malala's arrest, large crowds had gathered outside the venue curious to watch the play. But anti-riot police had been deployed overnight in case of trouble and they fired tear gas to disperse the would-be audience. Education Minister Julius Ogamba questioned the involvement of Malala in the competition, saying the politician was neither a teacher nor a play director. The row has sparked public uproar, with rights group Amnesty International saying it was "pointing to a worrying pattern of state-sponsored repression of free expression, press freedom, and the right to associate". Prominent opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the police for firing tear gas near students, praising the "brave" girls for declining to perform. In a statement, the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) demanded that the students be allowed to stage their play like all the other competitors. The play highlights a widening gap between two generations - the old and the young - demanding change through innovation and technology. It reflects some of Kenya's most pressing problems, some of which sparked youth-led deadly protests last year. New faces of protest - Kenya's Gen Z anti-tax revolutionaries Kenyan president's humbling shows power of African youth Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality How Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churches Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Echoes of War: Butere Girls School play angers Kenyan government
Kenya's national high-school drama competition has been overshadowed by drama of its own after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to watch a controversial play, Echoes of War, highlights the role of digital spaces in governance and the power of youth in shaping societal change - with close parallels to Kenya's current political situation. It was initially disqualified from the drama festival under unclear circumstances, but a High Court ruling later overturned the decision and ordered it to be flared in the western town of Nakuru on Thursday morning when students stormed out of the venue, demanding the release of the play's author. Cleophas Malala, the scriptwriter and a former senator who penned the production for students from Butere Girls School, was blocked by police from meeting the students for final rehearsals on Wednesday was later released without charge and praised the students for boycotting the play. "The young girls of Butere Girls' have exercised an act of heroic restoration. I'm determined to ensure that Echoes of War is displayed before a Kenyan audience," Malala said immediately after his release. The students briefly sang the national anthem before dramatically leaving the hall, which was sealed off by anti-riot police, armed with batons and tear gas canisters. "There's no audience. Who are we performing for?" one of the girls told journalists. They also complained about police harassment. Following news of Malala's arrest, large crowds had gathered outside the venue curious to watch the anti-riot police had been deployed overnight in case of trouble and they fired tear gas to disperse the would-be Minister Julius Ogamba questioned the involvement of Malala in the competition, saying the politician was neither a teacher nor a play director. The row has sparked public uproar, with rights group Amnesty International saying it was "pointing to a worrying pattern of state-sponsored repression of free expression, press freedom, and the right to associate".Prominent opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the police for firing tear gas near students, praising the "brave" girls for declining to perform. In a statement, the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) demanded that the students be allowed to stage their play like all the other competitors. The play highlights a widening gap between two generations - the old and the young - demanding change through innovation and reflects some of Kenya's most pressing problems, some of which sparked youth-led deadly protests last year. You may also be interested in: New faces of protest - Kenya's Gen Z anti-tax revolutionariesKenyan president's humbling shows power of African youthBatons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutalityHow Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churches Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
