all five countries are former members of the soviet union until its collapse in 1991 and have followed a policy of strict neutrality since russia s invasion of ukraine. last week they all abstained in a key un vote demanding a russian withdrawal. so how important is this region for both washington and moscow? let s speak to kireel nur zhanov associate professor of central asian studies at the australian national university. hejoins me now live from canberra. thank you forjoining us on the programme. what is the us looking to get out of this visit and to get it in your opinion? visit and to get it in your opinion? opinion? there are two objectives opinion? there are two objectives behind - opinion? there are two - objectives behind secretary jenkins visit to central asia. the first one is to persuade the local leaders tojoin the first one is to persuade the local leaders to join the corn rows of his information and criticism of russia over
after long campaigning, new guidance from britain s human rights watchdog says schools banning hairstyles such as braids and corn rows are likely to be acting unlawfully, if they do not give exemptions on racial grounds. the guidance issued by the equality and human rights commission will not affect government policy but is intended to help stop hair based discrimination in schools. i m nowjoined byjackie killeen, who is the chief regulator at the equality and human rights commission, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. as you can imagine, full disclosure, i have afro hair. i have been through a lot of this. i wonder if we can take one of the first points that are brought up here. just how widespread has this discrimination be on in schools? good morning, thanks very much for having me on your programme. yes,
coverings. things that are associated with their ethnicity, and are therefore protected under the law. ., , ., ., law. for viewers who don t understand law. for viewers who don t understand some - law. for viewers who don t understand some of - law. for viewers who don t understand some of those | law. for viewers who don t - understand some of those styles law. for viewers who don t understand some of those styles that you have described, for example, i have braids in my hair at the moment. it s interesting that you mentioned that the braids and corn rows are likely to be acting unlawfully, if they discriminate, if they don t give exemptions on racial grounds. if we are to take that literally, why should there be an exemption on your race? is that saying that your genes, your dna, your natural make up, there is something wrong with that? it is very dangerous ground, it s your natural hair. it very dangerous ground, it s your natural hair. natural hair. it is your natural hair,
comments i have heard. what are you hearing today? hearing today? unfortunately, all of those are still hearing today? unfortunately, all of those are still happening, hearing today? unfortunately, all of. those are still happening, sometimes it happens because a school, for very understandable reasons, decides to introduce a new uniform policy, oran to introduce a new uniform policy, or an appearance policy, and it doesn t necessarily think through what steps they should be taking to make sure that their policy or their rules aren t going to be disk and discriminating against pupils on the grounds of their hair. we have seen cases of people being, when those rules are implemented, or being imposed, pupils being asked to go home, orto imposed, pupils being asked to go home, or to change their hairstyles, or even being excluded sometimes, because they are wearing a natural one hairstyle, or because they are wearing braids or corn rows, or head
begins. schools which ban hairstyles such as brains, corn rows and i froze, unlikely to be breaking laws preventing racial discrimination, thatis preventing racial discrimination, that is according to the equalities watchdog. at the annual poppy appeal is launched by the royal british legion in the run up to armistice day. sport now.and for a full round up, they could be light at the end of the tunnel for rugby union club worcester warriors. a consortium led by steve diamond has shown an interest in buying the financially stricken club, and they held a preference outline their intentions.