World
WhatsApp, Instagram access restricted in Iran as anti-hijab protests enter 6th day
Access to Instagram and WhatsApp have been restricted in Iran following escalating “anti-hijab” protests which have now entered the sixth day.
The protests were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was said to have been arrested on September 13 for not wearing a proper hijab.
According to the BBC, the 22-year-old Amini died three days after her arrest and detention, and during her funeral, protests broke out.
Prior to the latest restrictions, Twitter and Facebook had been banned in Iran.
Netblocks, an independent non-partisan global internet monitor, also confirmed network restrictions.
“Users have also reported the disconnection or severe slowing of internet service in multiple cities since the first disruption was registered on Friday 16 September 2022,” NetBlocks said.
Also, WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has reacted to the reports of restrictions of its service in Iran.
“The core of our mission is to connect people privately. We are not intentionally disrupting access to our platform, nor are we blocking Iranian numbers. We do everything in our technical power to maintain our services and enable the use of all users in the world,” WhatsApp tweeted on Thursday.
The core of our mission is to connect people privately. We are not intentionally disrupting access to our platform, nor are we blocking Iranian numbers. We do everything in our technical power to maintain our services and enable the use of all users in the world.
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) September 22, 2022
According to a BBC report, Amini, a Kurdish woman from the north-western city of Saqez, was arrested by the morality police after she was accused of breaking a law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab or headscarf.
She was said to have fallen into coma shortly after collapsing at a detention centre.
According to a statement by the United Nations (UN), Nada al-Nashif, UN high commissioner for human rights, has called for an investigation into the death of the 22-year-old, adding that there are reports that she was beaten on the head with a baton.
“Mahsa Amini’s tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated by an independent competent authority, that ensures, in particular, that her family has access to justice and truth,” Al-Nashif said.
“The authorities must stop targeting, harassing, and detaining women who do not abide by the hijab rules.”
The police have denied that the deceased was mistreated and said she suffered “sudden heart failure”.
But her family insists that she was in good health before the arrest.
The compulsory dress code for women, which requires them to wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothes, came into effect in Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Meanwhile, the “morality police” in the country are responsible for enforcing strict adherence to the dress code.
Amid the restrictions to social media platforms, there have been videos of women burning their hijabs, while some have cut their hair in protest.
According to the Iran human rights organisation, as of Thursday, there have been “mass arrests”, while at least 31 civilians have been killed over the protests.
See some tweets on the protests below
Iran: Women cutting their hair in protest to Mahsa (Zhina) Amini’s death, 22-y-o Kurdish woman who died on 16Sep after going into a coma in police custody, arrested over “violating” Islamic hijab rules. (@ShinD1982, @negarkardan) #MahsaAmini #مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/kV7mIqLKX2
— Khosro Kalbasi (@KhosroKalbasi) September 18, 2022
„Islamic Republic we don't want, we don't want!”
— Hamid Azad (@HamidAz17344424) September 22, 2022
What we want is just Freedom!#مهسا_امینی#OpIran #MahsaAmini #Mahsa_Amini#IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/JJhpyuWQd2
World
Dubai international airport cancels flights as flood ravages runway, UAE
A year’s worth of rainfall in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, left the city flooded and disrupted airport operations.
A video posted online showed the tarmac of Dubai International Airport — recently crowned the second busiest in the world — underwater as massive aircraft attempted to navigate floodwaters.
CNN reports that nearly four inches (100 mm) of rain fell over the course of just 12 hours on Tuesday, according to the weather observations at the airport.
According to United Nations data, the rainfall was around what Dubai usually records in an entire year.
The flooding disrupted airport operations in the city, with multiple airlines announcing flight delays and cancelled flights on Wednesday.
Jets were said to have looked more like boats moving through the flooded airport, while other parts of the UAE also recorded heavy rainfall.
“Operations continue to be significantly disrupted. There is major flooding on access roads around Dubai leading to the airport,” the airport was quoted as saying.
The rain reportedly fell so heavily and quickly that motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles as the floodwater rose and roads turned into rivers.
Dubai, like the rest of the UAE, has a hot and dry climate. As such, rainfall is infrequent and the infrastructure to handle extreme events is not in place.
Many roads and other areas have insufficient drainage due to the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding.
The rain that ravaged the city is associated with a larger storm system traversing the Arabian Peninsula, moving across Oman and Iran.
Experts said torrential rainfall will become frequent in the region due to human-driven climate change.
World
SEE FULL LIST: Fireboy, Osimhen, Amusan make Forbes Africa’s ‘30 Under 30’ list
Fireboy DML, the singer, Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles footballer, and Veekee James, a fashion designer, are among the six Nigerians listed in the 2024 edition of Forbes Africa’s ‘30 Under 30’.
Forbes ’30 Under 30′ is an annual listicle by Forbes magazine spotlighting prominent business and industry figures.
In the tenth edition of the list recently released, the business magazine featured Africans under 30 who are shaping the continent in entertainment, education, sports, technology, healthcare, art, and other industries.
Other Nigerians on the list include Josiah Akinloye, founder and CEO of Mainlogix Technology; Tobi Amusan, track and field athlete; and Abioye Oyetunji; founder and CEO FXKudi.
Africans on the list include Tyla Laura Seethal, South African singer; Peace Wutawunashe, founder of Trigershot Engineering; Kenneth Njeru, director and founder of Africa Afya Healthcare; and Calvin Usiri, co-founder and CTO of Ramani, among others.
To curate the 2024 list, the finalists were drawn after a “rigorous vetting process” by the editorial team led by Under 30 curator Chanel Retief, alongside a panel of independent external judges such as Mo Abudu.
Other judges are Kate Kallot, Chris Maurice, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Helena Ndume, and Desiree Ellis.
Forbes said the evaluation process commenced in late 2023, with the support of its audit partner, SNG Grant Thornton.
Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Rema are among Nigerians who have made the list in the past.
The magazine earlier announced that Omah Lay, the singer, will be performing at the Under 30 summit in Botswana in May.
Below is the Forbes Africa ’30 Under 30′ list for 2024:
- Alex Mativo, 29, Kenya, CEO and Co-founder, E-LAB, Nanasi and Duck, Industry: Multiple ventures
- Ann-Kathrin Joos, 28, South Africa, CEO and Founder, Standard Beauty, Industry: Beauty
- Vimbai Masiyiwa, 29, Zimbabwe, CEO, Batoka Hospitality, Industry: Tourism
- Andrew Ddembe, 28, Uganda, Co-founder and CEO, MobiKlinic, Industry: Healthtech
- Chad Jones, 28, South Africa, Social Media Content Creator and Brand Influencer, Industry: Social media
- Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML), 28, Nigeria, Singer-songwriter, Industry: Entertainment
- Tyla Laura Seethal, 22, South Africa, Singer-Songwriter, Industry: Entertainment
- Ayushi Chandaria, 26, Kenya, Founder, Design Thinking Program (Kenya), Industry: Education
- Ama Qamata, 25, South Africa, Actress, Producer, Industry: Entertainment
- Daniel Novitzkas, 28, South Africa, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Specno, Industry: Software development and technology solutions
- Prisca Wegesa Magori, 29, Tanzania, CEO and Co-founder, TenTen Explore and Smart EFD, Industry: Software development
- Luke Mostert,27, South Africa, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, CatalyzU, Industry: Venture Capital
- Kenneth M. Njeru, 25, Kenya, Director and Founder, Africa Afya Healthcare, Industry: Health investment services Services
- Arooj Sheikh, 28, Kenya, Founder and CEO, Beyond Kenyan Bars, Sector: Social development
- Cayley Jorgensen, 29, South Africa, CEO and Founder, Ingage Support; Registered Counselor, Sector: Mental health
- Hildah Magaia, 29, South Africa, Forward for Mazatlán F.C Femenil and Banyana Banyana, Industry: Sport-football
- Victor Osimhen, 25, Nigeria, Footballer and Striker for Super Eagles, Industry: Sport-football
- Tobi Amusan, 26, Nigeria, Track and Field Athlete, Industry: Sport – athletics
- Damian Willemse, 25, South Africa, Stormers and Springboks Rugby Player, Industry: Sport – rugby
- Ricardo Lognath, 29, South Africa, Co-Founder and CEO, Omninela Medical, Industry: Healthcare/E-commerce
- Nicolas Lognath, 27, South Africa, Co-Founder and Director, Omninela Medical, Industry: Healthcare/E-commerce
- Ruth Erikan James, 29, Nigeria, Founder, Veekee James, Industry: Fashion
- Shaun Maswanganyi, 23, South Africa, Track and Field Athlete, Industry: Sport – athletics
- Jeremiah Thoronka, 24, Sierra Leone, Founder and CEO, Optim Energy, Sector: Climate change and sustainability (Social Impact)
- Calvin Usiri, 28, Tanzania, Co-founder and CTO, Ramani, Industry: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Peace Wutawunashe, 27, Zimbabwe, Founder, Trigershot Engineering, Industry: Solar/Renewable Energy
- Esethu Cenga, 29, South Africa, Co-founder and CEO, Rewoven, Industry: Fashion
- Josiah Akinloye, 29, Nigeria, Founder and CEO, Mainlogix Technology, Industry: Automation and technology
- Abioye Oyetunji, 29, Ghana, Founder and CEO, FXKudi, Industry: Fintech
- Nadine Roos, 27, South Africa, South African Rugby Union (Springboks) and Sevens player, Industry: Sport – rugby
World
‘The world cannot afford another war’ — Guterres condemns Iran-Israel conflict
Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, has condemned the missile attack on Israel by Iran.
On Saturday, Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel in a reprisal move. The attack from Iran was the first time it has targeted Israel directly from Iranian soil.
Israel had said alongside allies, it intercepted more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles.
Nigeria, France, Germany, UK, and the US have condemned the attack.
In a statement, Guterres appealed for maximum restraint by all parties and said he was deeply alarmed by the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation.
“I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” he said.
“I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war. I call for an immediate cessation of these hostilities.”
In a separate statement, Dennis Francis, president of the UN general assembly, also expressed concerns over the unfolding conflict in the Middle East.
Francis said Iran had explained its action “in the context of article 51 of the UN Charter, following the recent Israeli attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus”.
“The Iranian response compounds the already tense and delicate peace and security situation in the Middle East,” the statement reads.
He asked all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid further escalation of tension in the region, adding that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to resolve differences.
“This is a moment that calls for wise and prudent judgement, in which the risks and extended risks are very carefully considered,” Francis said in the statement.
“I expect that the Iranian authorities will honour their word that by their action today, the matter can be deemed concluded.
“A vicious cycle of attack and counterattack will lead to nowhere, but inevitably, to more death, suffering and misery.”
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Beyonce’s country album tops Billboard chart
-
Education5 days ago
Printing of JAMB slip: Beware of fake sites, police warn 2024 UTME candidates
-
News1 week ago
Jnr Pope: NIWA rescues 7, recovers two corpses, 3 still missing in Anambra boat mishap
-
Business3 days ago
X will start charging new users to post, says Elon Musk
-
Entertainment2 days ago
JUST IN: Cubana Chief Priest pleads not guilty to naira abuse charge
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Adanma Luke surrenders to police after boat mishap
-
Education1 week ago
UNICAL sacks HOD over failure to present students for convocation
-
Business1 week ago
Naira appreciates against dollar at official window, parallel market