A report from Human Rights Watch describes the working conditions of Filipino children. Image courtesy of The Star.
A report released last week from the Human Rights Watch, a human rights group, is urging the Government of the Philippines to enforce an order banning mercury use and compressor mining, and stricter laws to prohibit the use of children in the gold mining industry. Currently, thousands of Filipino children risk their lives every day, working in illegal, small-scale gold mines under terrifying conditions. Although the Philippine government already prohibits dangerous child labour, the group claims that not enough is being done to enforce the law and protect the children.
Source and more information can be found here.
France threatens to walk away from the TTIP negotiations.
Junior Trade Minister Matthias Fekl speaks for France. (Image courtesy of The Independent)
France’s junior trade minister Matthias Fekl has threatened that France might abandon its involvement in the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations due to the lack of transparency and democratic problems he sees. Fekl believes that Europe has offered many compromises to America, which has not offered any in return. If approved, TTIP would create the largest free-trade area in the world.
Source and more information can be found here.
Iranian’s man death sentence changed to 2 years of theology study
Soheil Arabi spends time with his young daughter. (Image courtesy of The Huffington Post)
Soheil Arabi, 31, was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death in late 2013 after he made several Facebook posts which the Iranian judiciary deemed insulting to the founder of Islam. Recently, that sentence was annulled and instead he will be serving a 90-day jail term in which he is required to study and write articles about religion.
Source and more information can be found here
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper announces the creation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. (Image courtesy of CBC).
Canada is officially a founding member of the new Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) trading bloc.
This newly established trade agreement is set to lower tariffs on a wide range of commodities such as beef, canola, fish, and other seafood for the twelve Pacific Rim nations involved. However, Canada’s automotive industry will have to adapt to new regulations governing the production of parts that require 45 percent to be manufactured in a TTP country, not just North America (as it was under NAFTA). The ratification of this deal has quickly become a focus for candidates in the upcoming federal election.
Source and more information can be found here.
An Israeli policeman checks papers at the entrance of Jerusalem’s Old City. (Image courtesy of CBC)
Palestinians temporarily banned from entering Jerusalem’s Old City in response to recent violence.
The last few weeks saw multiple stabbings and drive-by attacks targeting Israeli citizens, as well as deadly confrontations between Palestinians and the Israeli military over the issue of Palestine statehood. To avoid further conflict, the Old City of Jerusalem has been declared off-limits to Palestinians for two days as a Jewish festival takes place.
Source and more information can be found here.
