women

‘We sell what we collect’: In Kismayo, displaced women turn acacia seeds into a lifeline KISMAYO, Somalia — Before sunrise on the outskirts of this southern port city, groups of women shoulder sacks and long sticks and set out from the internal displacement camps. They walk together into the scrub outside Kismayo, toward stands of acacia trees where, with a shake and a thud, their day’s earnings fall to the ground. Their harvest — tiny, brown acacia seeds, locally known as abqo — has become a fragile but vital income stream.…

PARIS — French police arrested a man suspected of stabbing three women at separate stations along Paris Metro Line 3 on Thursday afternoon, prosecutors said, in a spate of attacks that briefly rattled one of the capital’s busiest commuter corridors. The incidents unfolded between 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. local time (3:15-3:45 p.m. GMT), with the victims attacked at République and Arts et Métiers — both near the Marais district — and at Opéra, according to RATP, the Paris transit authority. Emergency responders treated the…

JIGJIGA, Ethiopia — Police in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State have arrested a man accused of secretly recording Somali women and attempting to extort them with explicit videos obtained through social media, authorities said Monday. The suspect, identified by police as Ayuub, is originally from Mogadishu and has lived in several European countries, including Italy and Austria. He was detained in Jigjiga after multiple women reported that he recorded them without their knowledge and later threatened to release the footage…

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission warned this week that technology‑facilitated gender‑based violence (TFGBV) is moving from the margins into the mainstream, forcing many women and girls to silence themselves online and offline. The statement, released to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, said that journalists, activists, politicians and young women in Zimbabwe are among the most affected and urged stronger enforcement of existing laws. "Women and girls are increasingly…

In Johannesburg, women leaders bridge generations and push for jobs — and a celebration crowns three days of purpose Johannesburg — For three days in mid‑October, a gathering of activists, funders, policymakers and entrepreneurs threaded personal histories into public strategy at the Women Create Wealth Summit. Hosted by the Graça Machel Trust from Oct. 13–15, the conference stitched together urgent conversations about jobs and intergenerational leadership with a softer, human purpose: to lift and celebrate the women who…

The Hidden Crisis: Understanding Violence Against Women in South Africa In a country that often rings with the vibrancy of its diverse cultures and rich traditions, a dark shadow looms—a shadow that continues to threaten the safety and dignity of women. A recent crime report from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) paints a sobering picture of the violence that continues to plague this nation, revealing that a staggering 60% of crimes against women are perpetrated by those closest to them: spouses, friends, acquaintances,…

Hawo Salad Cali, a resilient woman living on the fringes of Baidoa, transforms hardship into a lifeline by selling bones she gathers in the Buur camp. With determination etched into her daily routine, she turns what many might overlook into sustenance for her family. Let’s meet Maydigo Omar Yarow, a 60-year-old widowed mother of six, whose day begins long before sunrise. She embarks on a journey to a livestock slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Baidoa. Her mission: to gather discarded bones and hides, which she sells to…

In Chad, a chorus of women leaders and activists has brought attention to a significant issue: the glaring scarcity of female candidates in the upcoming legislative, local, and district elections set for December 29. These elections are crucial as they signify the culmination of a transition journey from military to civilian governance. This shift kicked off when General Mahamat Idriss Deby took helm after the passing of his father, the long-serving President Idriss Deby Itno, in 2021. Ahmed Bartchiret, the head of…

Back in 1965, a woman from Norway gave birth to a baby girl at a private hospital. Just a week later, she brought her little bundle of joy home, blissfully unaware of the life-altering mix-up that had occurred during her stay. As time went on, the child's dark curls set her apart from her mother, leading Karen Rafteseth Dokken to speculate that her little one had inherited traits from her husband's mother. It wasn't until nearly sixty years later that the shocking truth emerged: her biological daughter had been switched at…

"Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib Triumph Again: Trailblazers in American Politics Keep Their Seats" DETROIT, USA — Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, trailblazing as the first Muslim women to serve in the United States Congress, have both successfully defended their seats, ongoing election counts revealed Tuesday. Tlaib broke ground earlier as the maiden woman of Palestinian heritage in Congress, celebrating a fourth term win in Michigan's 12th District. The Arab-American community of Dearborn, a vital…