Protesters pepper-sprayed at Phoenix rally; US Afghanistan strategy risks more civilian harm; new victim of Indonesia's blasphemy law; girls used as "human bombs" in Nigeria; fear-mongering in Australia's gay marriage poll; Philippines' war on drugs; Twitter halts execution of death row prisoner in US; and a sham trial in China.

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A 14-year-old boy was questioned by the police in Saudi Arabia. Why? Because he danced the Macarena in the street.
During President Trump's speech in Phoenix last night, he seemed to indicate that he would use his presidential authority to pardon controversial former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. "Sheriff Joe" is best known for using abusive and racially-driven practices against minority groups in Arizona. A presidential pardon of former Arpaio would effectively endorse racial discrimination by law enforcement in the United States.
Good news for advocates of same-sex marriage, as Chile's president says she will make good on a promise and introduce a bill in parliament on August 28 to allow same-sex couples to marry. If it is adopted, Chile will become the sixth country in Latin America to do so.
Meanwhile, the first same-sex marriage is set to take place in Germany on October 1. It took awhile for Germany to get here, and it all started with a simple question.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s murderous “war on drugs” may now be claiming victims beyond his country’s borders: suspected drug dealers in Indonesia.
From earlier today: Police in the US city of Phoenix used pepper spray on protesters outside a rally held by Donald Trump, during which the President repeatedly attacked the media and vowed to build a wall with Mexico. Police say they fired the spray after being pelted with rocks and bottles, but other sources say the protests were peaceful.
Speaking of Afghanistan, President Trump's recent speech - in which he declared an extra 3,900 US troops would be sent to the country - showed a "lack of understanding about the nature of the conflict" and offers a "dangerous recipe for increased civilian harm".
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