“Caning (as a) punishment has various categories, including the method and number of strikes, and this should be reconsidered before being reintroduced,” he said at an anti-bullying campaign in late November. 

Shazeli said a regulated approach was needed to prevent the misuse of power among teachers, arguing that experiential consequences are more effective than verbal reprimands alone.

“ People learn from experience and the feelings they go through, which is more effective than just talking or communicating without experiencing it first-hand,” he added.

The proposal comes as authorities confront a rise in school-related crime . 

Between January and October 2024, 108 students in Selangor were detained for offences including bullying, extortion and assault. The figure increased to 122 students over the same period this year.

Police say gang-linked violence is becoming increasingly common in both primary and secondary schools . 

“Upon examining fights and disturbances, there is often an element from outside, particularly for gangsterism,” Shazeli said.

He suggested that softer disciplinary approaches have weakened students’ sense of consequence. 

“Such measures should have been available to teachers to enforce discipline and manage the school,” he said, warning that the “fear factor” had faded.

Shazeli also urged schools and families to be more vigilant about serious incidents involving injury or organized groups. 

The anti-bullying campaign—organised jointly by the Selangor Police and the Selangor Education Department—drew about 700 participants, including Parent Teacher Association members, teachers and community stakeholders.

The renewed debate reflects a broader national crisis. 

Reports of bullying in Malaysia’s schools have surged from 3,883 cases in 2022 to 6,528 in 2023, and 6,208 cases were recorded between January and October 2024. 

Public anger intensified after the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir in July, which triggered protests and revived calls for systemic reform, including a dedicated anti-bullying Act now under government consideration.

Instead, he was enrolled in a boarding school in the country after being sent there in March 2024. 

The court decided that the boy, whose identity has been withheld, must remain in Ghana until he completes the equivalent of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

According to court documents, the boy’s parents decided to relocate him as a “protective measure” due to concerns about his behaviour in London. These concerns included repeated school absences, unexplained cash, and possession of a knife. The teenager denies involvement in any criminal activity or gang affiliation.

The case came to light after the boy contacted the British High Commission in Accra and the UK-based charity Children and Family Across Borders. The charity facilitated his connection with the International Family Law Group, which represented him in court. He described himself as “scared and desperate” and expressed a strong desire to return to the UK.

In February 2025, the court sided with the parents, citing the risks of returning to the UK. However, in June, the Court of Appeal granted the boy’s request for the case to be reconsidered. The latest judgement upheld the original decision, determining that his return would further disrupt his education and family stability.

“I am acutely aware that the conclusion I have reached does not accord with [his] wishes and how that will feel for him... [He] has the talent, ability and intelligence to make this work together with his family. It will be difficult, but they all have the common aim for [him] to return to live with his family," said Judge Mrs Justice Theis. 

Now nearly 15, the boy remains enrolled in a school in Ghana and is working toward completing his GCSEs.

He describes his experience in Ghana as distressing, stating he was “living in hell” and “desperate” to return to the UK. He reported feelings of social isolation, noting he does not speak Twi, has difficulty making friends, and suffers from social anxiety.

The boy's mother has said that she would be unable to care for him in the UK at this stage. “It is really hard to be away from him... I feared and continue to fear that if he were to come back now, he could end up dead. I know he does not see it like that…” she said.

James Netto, the boy’s solicitor from The International Family Law Group,  told Global South World shortly after the boy had won his appeal in June, that the case hinged on the fact that he had been misled about the purpose of his travel and “his very strong wishes to return to his home, which is in London.”

Following the new ruling, Netto stated that the boy’s “position remains unchanged: he wants to return home.”

The US government has imposed sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other top officials, marking the anniversary of the July 2021 protests. According to the US Department of State, the sanctions include visa restrictions for officials associated with the regime's violent response to the protests, which resulted in widespread detentions and abuses. The US continues to advocate for human rights in Cuba and prohibits funding to properties linked to the regime.

Human rights abuses identified in Cuban prisons

Human Rights Watch reports significant abuses against protesters detained following the July 2021 demonstrations in Cuba. The organisation highlights arbitrary arrests and deplorable prison conditions, including overcrowding and lack of medical care. Former detainees have reported brutal treatment and punitive measures against those who complained. HRW calls for international support for human rights promotion in Cuba amidst an ongoing economic crisis.

Cuban national arrested for driving offence

Yordano Herrera, a 34-year-old native of Cuba, was arrested for driving with a suspended licence, following a DUI conviction. Law enforcement officials in Sumter County discovered his vehicle registration was expired, leading to a check of his driving history, which revealed multiple suspensions. He was charged with expired registration and driving on a suspended licence. Herrera was later released on bail after his arrest.

OFAC fines U.S. firm $600,000 for Cuba shipments

Key Holding, LLC, a Delaware-based logistics firm, will pay a $608,825 fine to the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC for potential violations of Cuba sanctions . Between Jan 2022 and Jul 2023, its Colombian subsidiary coordinated 36 shipments to Cuba worth over $3 million. OFAC found 33 shipments unauthorised under its rules, including food, machinery parts, and goods bound for Cuban state-owned entities. At the time, neither Key Holding nor its subsidiary had an OFAC compliance program in place, leading to unintentional breaches of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations.

His dispute was that he was deceived, and if he had known he was being sent to boarding school in Ghana, "there would have been no way I would have agreed to it," he wrote to the court. The boy, who had lived in the UK since birth, added that he was "mocked" and "never settled in" at the school in Ghana, and he just wants to go back home.

The High Court in London ruled in favour of the parents who argued that they feared for their son’s safety in London and the relocation wasn’t a form of punishment. 

The court ruled in favour of the parents in February 2025, and in June, the boy won a Court of Appeal bid for the case to be reheard.

Global South World spoke with the boy’s solicitor, James Netto of The International Family Law Group, about the extent of the rights of children under the full custody of their parents.

“What we were arguing is that… the older a child becomes and grows into a young person, into teenage years, into their adolescence and adulthood, the parental control, the parental rights over that young person, is diluted ever so often. And there's lots of case law that we have about young persons, if they understand what's going on, they can consent themselves to say medical treatment or issues concerning their religion or schooling or health care or housing,” he told Ismail Akwei in an interview.

James Netto added that the real conflict in this case is the parents admitting to deceiving the boy to move to Ghana as a form of protection, which “was the issue that the judge struggled with.”

“It was a huge shock to the parents. I think the court and all the lawyers in the room have a tremendous amount of sympathy for them, but they also have a tremendous amount of sympathy for him as well. I don't envy the judge who had to make the decision at the first time round because it is such a finely balanced polemic issue,” he said. 

“It came down to his strongly held wishes and feelings, the fact that his parents had deceived him into travelling as well. That was a very big factor, both for the first judge and also for the Court of Appeal. And also it was his very strong wishes to return to his home, which is in London. It's impossible to say what the court would have done in other circumstances, but it's not a UK versus Ghana case,” he said.

According to James Netto in an email shortly after the interview, they expect the date of the final hearing to be fixed on June 30, 2025 or later, and the family is considering mediation outside of the court.

Watch the full interview attached above.

According to the report, 41 LGBTQ+ individuals have been murdered so far in 2025, representing a 47% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The data reflects rising homicide rates but also points to an alarming consistency in the timeline: e very 48 hours, an LGBTQ+ person is killed in Colombia.

“The report presents heartbreaking figures that constitute an urgent call to eradicate the dynamics of prejudice in the country,” said Iris Marín Ortiz, Colombia’s Ombudswoman, at the report’s presentation in Bogotá.

"Every two days, according to this report, one person is murdered, an LGBTQ+ person, and every two days, one person from this population has been a victim of sexual violence. The report presents heartbreaking figures that constitute an urgent call to eradicate the dynamics of prejudice in the country," Iris added.

But homicides are only part of the picture. The NGO also recorded that, on average, an LGBTQ+ person is sexually assaulted every two days, painting a broader picture of entrenched violence, discrimination, and systemic neglect.

Tunisian authorities have taken decisive actions in response to a tragic migrant shipwreck off the coast of Djerba, leading to the arrest of 12 individuals, including a smuggler. This incident, which resulted in the deaths of 15 migrants, has drawn attention to the growing crisis as Tunisia becomes a significant departure point for those attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing, reports Barron's . This year alone, over 400 lives have been lost or gone missing in similar incidents, highlighting the perils faced by migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

Human rights activist detained

Human Rights Watch has condemned the pre-trial detention of Sihem Bensedrine, a prominent human rights defender and former head of Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission. Detained on charges of fraud and forgery linked to her efforts in investigating historic abuses, HRW asserts that her imprisonment represents a retaliatory measure by the Tunisian government to thwart transitional justice initiatives. According to the Jurist News , this development raises serious concerns about judicial independence as the nation gears up for the presidential elections on October 6.

Death toll from migrant shipwreck

The death toll from the recent boat sinking near Djerba has escalated to 16, with the coastguard and navy recovering multiple bodies, predominantly of undocumented immigrants, including infants. Those involved in such perilous crossings often face dire circumstances in their pursuit of safety and stability, reports Daijiworld .

Hanging democracy

A Democracy News Alliance study has raised alarm over Tunisia's regression towards authoritarianism amidst economic turmoil as the October 2024 elections loom. Despite Tunisia being initially hailed as a beacon of democratic progress post-Arab Spring, current analyses suggest that President Kaïs Saïed's consolidation of power threatens to reverse these gains. The report indicates a decline in Tunisia's fiscal capability, leading to discontent among citizens as unemployment and poverty rates continue to soar, The Manila Times report.

Presidential candidate jailed

A Tunisian court has sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to 12 years in prison on charges of falsifying documents, says his lawyer, according to News Central . This marks the third prison sentence imposed on Zammel in two weeks, just five days before the country’s presidential election. Zammel, the leader of the opposition Azimoun party, was accused of falsifying voter signatures for his candidacy. Despite being imprisoned, he remains eligible to run in the election. Zammel denies the charges, claiming they are politically motivated by President Kais Saied’s government.

Uganda's foreign exchange reserves have experienced a notable decline of 4.3% over the past three months, concluding July with a total of $3.3 billion. This amount is sufficient to cover approximately three months of imports, a decrease from $3.5 billion recorded in April. The decrease has been attributed to several factors, including increased external debt payments, challenges in securing affordable external loans, and limited foreign exchange purchases. In response to these economic challenges, the Bank of Uganda is actively purchasing gold to diversify its reserves, Zawya reports.

Funding for hydropower plan

Uganda is taking proactive measures to address its rising energy demands by seeking funding for the construction of three new hydropower plants. These projects—comprising the 840 MW Ayago, 400 MW Kiba, and 392 MW Oriang—are anticipated to add over 1,600 MW of capacity, resulting in an 80% increase in the nation’s total power capacity, which will reach 3,678 MW. This initiative is underscored by an annual power demand growth rate of 10%, as reported by energy official Wamala Julius Namusanga. Currently, hydropower accounts for nearly 85% of Uganda's electricity supply, with the commissioning of its largest plant—a 600 MW facility funded by China, reports Zawya .

UBA Uganda rejects management crisis rumours

UBA Uganda has firmly denied accusations of a management crisis, affirming that Chioma A. Mang, the current Managing Director, is set to assume expanded responsibilities within the UBA Group effective from October 1, 2024. According to The Independent , plans to announce a new Managing Director are underway, with the bank underscoring a commitment to corporate governance and clarifying that the leadership transition is part of a strategic development plan rather than indicative of any issues within the work environment. Established in 2008, UBA Uganda has successfully expanded its operations nationally.

Fresh US sanctions

In a significant move, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on four Ugandan police officers—Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye—prohibiting their travel to the U.S. This action is a direct response to their involvement in grave human rights violations, including acts of torture. The sanctions derive from credible civil court reports and data provided by human rights organisations, highlighting the U.S. commitment to upholding human rights standards in Uganda, adds the Monitor .

Calls to decriminalise homosexuality

The Uganda Human Rights Commission has made a compelling call for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, stressing the unjust punishments that arise from such criminalisation, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. This request follows the controversial enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which is currently under appeal and was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023. As reported by Watermark , commission chair Mariam Wangadya stressed the necessity for universal human rights protection in Uganda, free from discrimination. In a gathering with rights organisations, Wangadya acknowledged the critical issues confronting LGBTQ and intersex communities, highlighting the government's failure to recognise intersex individuals as a protected minority group.

"It seems to me we are at a fork in the road. We can either continue on our current path — a treacherous 'new normal' — and sleepwalk into a dystopian future. Or we can wake up and turn things around for the better, for humanity and the planet," Turk said in an AFP footage.

The UN rights chief also called out top economies that allow these tensions and conflicts to fester just for their selfish political gains.

"There are those politicians, amplified by some media outlets, who scapegoat migrants, refugees, and minorities, as we have seen, for example, around electoral periods in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, to name a few. They capitalise on anxiety and despair, pitting one group against the other, and they seek to distract and divide. History has shown us that hateful words can trigger hateful actions."

The world in a decade has witnessed some of the most dangerous military takeovers, wars and media repression it has ever seen.

Beyond the Russian-Ukranian war which has lasted over two years (from February 24, 2022 - present), the Gaza Strip and West Bank residents have mourned and buried the dead since the beginning of 2024.

As of Thursday, August 15, Palestine's official health ministry reported 40,005 Palestinians dead and 92,401 wounded.

The conflict erupted on October 7 when Hamas militants crossed the border into Israeli territories. According to Israel, the militants killed over 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and captured 253 people, taking them into Gaza.