A draft law in Iraq that would allow the marriage of girls as young as nine has provoked protests across the country, with women’s rights activists saying it would “legalise child rape”.The Shia religious groups that dominate the political system in Iraq have been pushing to erode women’s rights in the country for more than a decade.Unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Iraq does not have a system of male guardianship requiring women to have the permission of a husband,...

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, a figure both feared and admired, is poised to extend his 24-year rule in an election that analysts predict he will win by a landslide. Since becoming president in 2000, Kagame has dominated every election, consistently securing over 90% of the vote. In 2017, he achieved a staggering 99% victory.At 66, Kagame faces off against the only two contenders authorized to run, as other candidates were barred by the state-run electoral commiss...

Popular manufacturing company, Unilever has planned to cut a third of its office-based roles in Europe by the end of 2025, the consumer goods giant has said.It comes after it announced in March that it would be cutting costs, affecting about 7,500 roles globally.The firm said it would begin a consultation process with those affected by cuts in Europe, with about 3,200 jobs being axed in the region."We recognise the significant anxiety that these proposals are causin...