## Afghan girls detained and lashed by Taliban for violating hijab rules

Authored by theguardian.com

Girls as young as 16 have been arrested across the Afghan capital, Kabul, in the past week for violating the Taliban’s hijab rules.

The girls – who were detained in shopping centres, classes and street markets – were accused of “spreading and encouraging others to wear a bad hijab” and wearing makeup.

Since taking power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have further restricted women’s access to education, employment and public spaces.

Lale*, 16, said she was arrested by the Taliban along with a number of other girls at her English language class and pulled into a police truck.

She said girls who confronted the men and refused to go were beaten, while she was lashed on her feet and legs when trying to reason with them.

“My attire was modest and even included a face mask – a precaution I had adopted since the Taliban takeover,” said Lale.

Lale, who was detained for two days and nights, said the Taliban repeatedly cursed them as infidels, for studying English and for aspiring to go abroad. »

### Nearly 20 years after bear bile farming was banned in Vietnam, hundreds are still waiting to be rehomed

Authored by abc.net.au

Many haven't seen sunlight or felt grass under their paws for years or even decades since they were hunted from the wild for the liquid gold they produce.

Bear bile is an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine that's used to treat everything from hangovers to cancer, and most recently COVID-19.

Bear bile extraction has been illegal in Vietnam since 2005, but there's still a black market in the country. »

### US Navy shoots down barrage of Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen over Red Sea, US Central Command says

Authored by edition.cnn.com

The US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen, according to a statement from US Central Command, in one of the largest Houthi attacks to take place in the Red Sea in recent months.

The barrage, launched at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday in Yemen, included 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile, Central Command said.

Two defense officials had earlier told CNN that the barrage included a total of 24 drones and missiles. »

### A California city’s transformation from ‘murder capital’ of the U.S. to zero homicides

Authored by latimes.com

In 2023, according to East Palo Alto Police Department statistics released last week, the turnaround seemed complete: zero homicides.

“In spite of the wrongs of our past, we can move forward and be a model for everyone,” López said.

“Now that we have zero murders, we want to keep it at zero murders. »

### 'You declared war, you will get war', say gangsters as Ecuador vows to 'neutralise' gangs

Authored by news24.com

Ecuador declared a state of emergency and nighttime curfew after the prison escape of narco boss Jose Adolfo Macias.

President Daniel Noboa said the country was in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the neutralisation of gangs.

Noboa, 36, came to office late last year on a pledge to fight rampant drug-related crime and violence. »

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