Thousands rally in Serbia's capital demanding snap elections after months of protests
The protest in Belgrade was organized by Serbia's university students, who have been a key force behind the nationwide demonstrations triggered by a collapse on Nov. 1 of a concrete train station canopy in the country's north that killed 16 people.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bangladesh protest victim gives evidence at ex-PM trial
The first witness in the trial of Bangladesh's fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave evidence on Sunday, a man shot in the face during protests that toppled her last year. Hasina, 77, who has defied court orders to return from India to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, is accused of ordering a deadly crackdown in a failed bid to crush the student-led uprising. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations. The first witness, among the 11 cases that the prosecution is expected to present to the court, was Khokon Chandra Barman, whose story reflects the violence of the protests. The 23-year-old wears a mask to conceal his face, which was ripped apart by gunshot during the culmination of the protests on August 5, 2024, the same day that Hasina fled Dhaka by helicopter. "I want justice for the ordeal I've been going through, and for my fellow protesters who sacrificed their lives," he told the court. Barman lost his left eye, while his right eye was damaged, as well as his lips, nose and teeth. A video showing Barman's blood-covered face was played in court, with the opening statements aired on the state-run broadcaster. Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina -- including failure to prevent mass murder -- which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. "Sheikh Hasina was the nucleus around whom all the crimes committed during the July–August uprising revolved," chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told the court on Sunday. Hasina is on trial in absentia alongside two other accused. One, her former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, is also a fugitive. The other, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the former inspector general of police, is in custody. He has pleaded guilty. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman said he wanted a "fair trial", speaking to reporters outside the court. "People were killed and maimed -- we demand the highest punishment for the crimes committed," Asaduzzaman said. Amir Hossain, the state-appointed lawyer for Hasina, noted that Barman was shot during the chaotic final day of the weeks-long protests. He pointed out that several police officers were also killed in clashes with protesters and it was "unclear who actually shot Barman". Hossain said he was not in contact with Hasina, who has refused to accept the authority of the court. The trial continues. sa/pjm/mtp
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
How To Manage People Who Talk Too Much At Work Without Shutting Them Down
I grew up in a family of talkers who drove our teachers crazy. I remember sitting in my English 102 class during college with just two weeks left in the semester. My professor looked at me and said, 'You have an A. Don't come back. You talk too much.' I took the two weeks off, but it made me feel bad. He was right and I was rude. I would talk to the person next to me because I was bored and wanted to kill time. That is different from the person who has to always insert themselves in meetings to demonstrate their knowledge. There are two types of people who talk too much at work: one who is bored and one who wants to be recognized. Nearly every office has someone who fills every silence, often without realizing it. In many cases, the talker just wants to connect, share ideas, or stay engaged. But when one person dominates conversations, it can be disruptive and lead to low productivity. Why Managing People Who Talk Too Much At Work Is A Skill Managing someone who talks too much requires understanding what drives the behavior. It might be boredom, anxiety, habit, or a desire to feel seen. In meetings, it might mean someone repeats ideas, interrupts others, or goes off on tangents. Outside of meetings, it can include constant chatting that distracts those trying to concentrate. It might seem harmless, but over time it can hurt productivity. Effective leaders know how to manage these situations with empathy. Just like I felt bad when my teacher said that to me, people get their feelings hurt if they feel silenced. Leaders need to guide their talkers to help redirect that energy in ways that create value. What Makes People Who Talk Too Much At Work Do It? Too much talking can be annoying for others, especially if they don't know why. Corporate Natalie, a young executive and content creator, recently shared a video on Instagram making fun of people who jump into every conversation. She jokingly called them 'the interjector.' It was funny because we all can relate to being around people like that. My generation laughed about this through characters like Michael Scott from The Office, who constantly interrupted and found ways to make himself part of every conversation. There are usually two kinds of talkers: those who are bored and those who are trying to stand out. The bored talker is often just trying to pass the time. They don't mean to be disruptive, but their behavior can throw others off track. These employees often benefit from more engaging work, new challenges, or clear tasks that give them something meaningful to do. Instead of correcting their talking, it helps to redirect it by giving them more responsibility or asking them to contribute in ways that require preparation. Recognition-seeking talkers often worry that being quiet means being forgotten. They feel pressure to prove their value by saying something in every meeting or joining every discussion. These employees need coaching around influence, trust, and contribution. When leaders explain that visibility comes from preparation, results, and listening just as much as from speaking, it resets how these employees think about participation. Either way, too much talking can be frustrating to the rest of the team. That's why the way you address talkers depends on what's really driving the behavior. When you know the difference, you can fix the right problem. Some of the behavior depends on personality. Extraverts may feel uncomfortable with silence and use talking as a way to stay engaged. Introverts are more likely to find that constant talking disruptive. Extraverts may feel more pressure to be seen and talk more often as a result. That desire to be visible can backfire when it turns into talking too much or interrupting others. Introverts, on the other hand, may feel frustrated when they can't find space to contribute. It's helpful to create opportunities that respect both styles, especially when those quieter employees have insights worth hearing. How Leaders Can Guide People Who Talk Too Much At Work Without Causing Shame If you're managing someone who talks too much, whether in meetings or during the workday, it's important to create boundaries that support better communication. One approach is to set meeting norms, like hearing from three people before anyone speaks a second time. This avoids making them feel singled out and invites broader participation. You can also assign talkers roles that make them feel like they aren't being shut out. Let the talker be the person who summarizes ideas or has a specific place within the agenda. That still involves them but in a way that encourages listening. Outside of meetings, you might say, 'I've noticed you like to communicate with the team. Let's set up specific ways to help you do that, to help others keep their focus.' Framing it as collaboration instead of correction makes the conversation easier to receive. How Curiosity Helps People Who Talk Too Much At Work Focus On Listening One of the most powerful ways to shift behavior is to build curiosity. When people become more curious, they don't need to be the one doing all the talking. They begin to ask more questions and spend more time listening. This leads to better conversations, deeper relationships, and fewer disruptions. Curiosity changes the focus away from being heard to learning something new. That kind of mindset helps people develop empathy and understand when to speak and when to hold back. It teaches them that silence can be space for someone else to give their insights. What To Do When People Who Talk Too Much At Work Make It A Habit That Interrupts Others If someone continues to talk too much despite coaching, structure becomes essential. You can create designated times for open discussion. You can rotate roles in meetings so different people guide the conversation. If interruptions are happening often, it's important to address them directly. In one-on-one conversations, ask direct but supportive questions: 'What are you hoping to share?' or 'Is this the best time to talk about this?' These questions encourage reflection and give the person a moment to pause. Why Managing People Who Talk Too Much At Work Shapes How Teams Work Together The way you address excessive talking sends a signal to everyone else. If you reward constant commentary, people may believe that's the only way to stand out. If you shame someone publicly, others may pull back even when they have something important to say. The goal is to reinforce that thoughtful contributions matter more than frequency. That includes recognizing the people who think carefully before they speak, who prepare behind the scenes, and who bring useful content rather than just speak for no real purpose. These individuals often feel overlooked when others dominate the conversation, but their input can be just as, if not more, valuable. Managing People Who Talk Too Much At Work Thoughtfully Every office has people who talk too much at work. The difference is how that behavior is handled. By managing it with curiosity and structure, you can turn distraction into contribution. You give talkers a way to be heard while making sure others get space, too. That leads to a more balanced, thoughtful, and productive environment. When I think back to that English class, I realize that professor let me get away with too much for too long. Had he said something earlier, I would have learned sooner that my behavior wasn't okay. It shouldn't have taken getting kicked out of class to recognize the impact I was having. Leaders who take the time to guide these behaviors early help everyone, especially the talkers, grow.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
US placed on rights watchlist over health of its civil society under Trump
A group of global civil society organizations have placed the US on a watchlist for urgent concern over the health of its civic society, alongside Turkey, Serbia, El Salvador, Indonesia and Kenya. On Wednesday, a new report released by the non-profit Civicus placed the US on its watchlist following 'sustained attacks on civic freedoms' across the country, according to the group. Civicus pointed to three major issues including the deployment of military to quell protests, growing restrictions placed on journalists and civil society, as well as the aggressive targeting of anti-war advocates surrounding Palestine. At Civicus, countries are assigned a rating over their civic space conditions. The ratings include 'open', 'narrowed', 'obstructed', 'repressed' and 'closed'. The group has declared the US's civic space as 'narrowed'. According to the group, the 'narrowed' rating is for countries that still allow individuals and civil society organizations to exercise their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression but where violations of these rights still take place. 'People can form associations to pursue a wide range of interests, but full enjoyment of this right is impeded by occasional harassment, arrest or assault of people deemed critical of those in power,' the rating description says, adding: 'Protests are conducted peacefully, although authorities sometimes deny permission, citing security concerns, and excessive force, which may include tear gas and rubber bullets, are sometimes used against peaceful demonstrators.' With regard to the media, countries with a 'narrowed' rating allow media to 'disseminate a wide range of information, although the state undermines complete press freedom either through strict regulation or by exerting political pressure on media owners'. Related: In Donald Trump, the morality of civil society has been abandoned 'The United States appears to be sliding deeper into the quicksands of authoritarianism. Peaceful protests are confronted with military force, critics are treated as criminals, journalists are targeted, and support for civil society and international cooperation have been cut back,' Mandeep Tiwana, Civicus's secretary general, said in a statement. 'Six months into Donald Trump's second term, a bizarre assault on fundamental freedoms and constitutional safeguards has become the new normal,' he added. Pointing to Trump's deployment of marines and national guard troops to California in June in response to the widespread protests against immigration raids, Tiwana said: 'This level of militarisation sets a dangerous precedent. It's a line that democratically elected leaders aren't meant to cross.' Tiwana also pointed to the Trump administration's latest attacks against media networks, including funding restrictions on public broadcast stations including PBS and NPR. 'What they're trying to do is actually defund critical news sources and deny American people the ability to receive truthful non-partisan reporting by pulling their funding,' Tiwana told the Guardian. In its report, Civicus also warned of the growing criminalisation of peaceful advocacy, adding that 'authorities have continued reprisals against activists expressing solidarity with Palestinian rights.' Citing the Trump administration's clampdown on foreign-born student activists including Mahmoud Khalil, Mohsen Mahdawi and Rümeysa Öztürk, as well as the sanctioning of Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, Tiwana said: 'We are seeing a wide-ranging attack on civic space in the US by the federal and some state governments. Authorities in the US should reverse course from the present undemocratic path by guaranteeing everyone's first amendment right to organise and dissent legitimately.' Solve the daily Crossword
