World

The Convention on Domestic Workers (also known as the ILO Convention 189) is to take effect next year after the Philippines ratified it earlier this month, according to the United Nations. It follows the lead taken by Uruguay which ratified it earlier this year. Only two countries are needed in order for it to take effect. Upon taking effect, the convention is intended to protect the rights of around 53 to 100 million domestic workers around the world. Based on UN estimates, many of them are women and migrant workers. The ILO has noted that th

London, England — The Australian women's national wheelchair basketball team, the Gliders, defeated the USA Thursday in a 40–39 thriller at the North Greenwich Arena. This semifinal victory advances the Gliders into the final, where they are to meet the winner of the day's match between the Netherlands and Germany. They are guaranteed at least silver. The Gliders won silver in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 and bronze in Beijing in 2008, but have never won the gold. The USA team is to meet the loser of that match to contest the bronze. Th

The human rights group Human Rights Watch has published a 154-page document accusing the United States of cooperating with Libya under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, in the interrogation and torture of members of the armed group, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), according to a report in the Huffington Post. The report alleges that the United States and Libya, together with governments from Africa, Asia, and Europe such as the United Kingdom, collaborated in detaining former members of LIFG living outside Libya then deporting them back to Li

London, England— A 62 points to 37 quarter-final win against Mexico on Tuesday night saw Australia's Gliders go forward into the medal round in front of a four-thousand-plus crowd at the Greenwich North Arena. Winners of their group, Australia have never taken the gold in wheelchair basketball; their opponents, Mexico, were previously ranked ninth at the opening of the tournament, so making it thus-far boosts their ranking to eighth. They were, however, beaten by Australia 75 points to 45 in a pre-tournament warm up match. Australia's first s

London, England— Marta Makowska of Poland narrowly defeated Jingjing Zhou of China with a score of 15 to 14 in the women's individual foil category B bronze medal bout Tuesday night at London's ExCeL North Arena 2. This was amongst the first wheelchair fencing medal matches of the games. The match was last of the four concurrent wheelchair fencing medals decided, with the crowd shouting in support of the Makowska fencer after the previous matches were concluded. Zhou had limited crowd support, with only one large Chinese flag visible in the sp

London, England— Tuesday evening saw Zsuzsanna Krajnyak, of Hungary, take bronze in the women's wheelchair fencing individual foil category A. She defeated fellow Hungarian Veronika Juhasz by a score of 15 to 4. The bout was the first of four concurrent medal matches to end, with Juhasz unable to score a hit until Krajnyak had already amassed five. Juhasz's final hit was scored when Krajnyak was ahead with 11 hits. The match was penalty free, despite Krajnyak rocking in her wheelchair as she parried with her opponent. When Krajnyak was asked

London, England — The final day of rowing at the London Paralympics took place yesterday at Eton Dorney, with all the medals being decided. China finished on top, earning two golds. Ukraine came in second in rowing medals with a gold and a bronze, Great Britain earned a gold, France earned a pair of silver medals, Australia and Germany won a silver medal, and Belarus and Russia each won a bronze. Coming into the AS Men Single Sculls, Tom Aggar of Great Britain was the gold medal favourite having not lost a major international competition.

London, England — Yesterday at London's Basketball Arena, the Canada women's national wheelchair basketball team earned their first victory of the London Paralympics when they defeated the Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team 57–50. Canada took a one point lead into the second half, when the scores were 33–32 because of a last minute foul that sent Canada to the free throw line where they capitalized by making one of their shots. 4.5 point player Janet McLachlan and 2 point player Katie Harnock dominated in minutes played for

London, England— Frank Ponta was posthumously inducted into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame at a ceremony in London this week. Ponta, who died in June last year after a long illness, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his work as a coach. One of the founders of the Paralympic movement in Western Australia, he helped build the movement into a phenomenon. Working first in his home state, then in Australia, and finally on the world stage, where he won a silver medal at the first Paralympic Games held in Rome in 1960. He was especially influe

London, England — Last night at London's Paralympic Basketball Arena, the Brazil women's national wheelchair basketball team kept it close in a game with the Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team before losing 52–50 to Australia. Brazil trailed by four with 32.3 seconds left in the game, narrowed the gap to two points with 1.3 seconds left but were unable to score in the final second. 4.5 point player Lia Maria Soares Martin dominated for Brazil, scoring over half the team's points with 27 total. She led her team on defense wit

London, England— The Paralympic host nation's women's sitting volleyball team lost to Ukraine earlier today at London's ExCel—South Arena 2, in straight sets, before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. Ukraine won the first set 25-9, the second 25-20 and the third 25-14. In the second set, Great Britain managed to keep the game competitive by forcing Ukraine to make more use of the full court. They went from being behind 14-8 to being down 20-17; at which point, Ukraine took a time out. Ukraine managed to stay ahead despite a challenge from G

London, England — Great Britain's Dan Powell was pinned by Germany's Matthias Krieger in his preliminary round of sixteen match in the men's 81kg judo event at London's ExCeL North Arena today. As Powell entered the arena, the British fans greeted him with loud applause. During the match, the competitors moved off the mat several times. At one point, a judge jumped from his chair and moved it to avoid the pair. The match had several delays as Powell first adjusted the tape on his feet. Later, the match was stopped again to address the tape on