WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old nursing graduate and rickshaw driver from Somalia, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being convicted of insulting government institutions over comments she made on social media. Ali, who had posted on Facebook and TikTok, was sentenced on 25 June in a case that has sparked outrage in Somalia and renewed concern over the shrinking space for…

Bosnian authorities make arrests over war crimes

Bosnian authorities have arrested two people this week over alleged war crimes committed more than 20 years ago.

The State Investigation and Protection Agency arrested Bosiljko Kraljevic, a former member of the ‘Klis’ First Battalion of the Third Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, over allegations over his involvement in war crimes committed in 1993.

The prosecution added that it seized weapons used during the war, “as well as some military documentation and other evidence related to the war period”.

Meanwhile a former Bosnian Army soldier was arrested on suspicion of committing war crimes against Serbs in 1992.

UN mandates special team to consolidate evidence and prosecute for war crimes in Syria

The United Nations General Assembly voted to establish an investigative body to “collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence,” as well as prepare cases on war crimes and human rights abuses committed during the conflict in Syria, reports the Telegraph.

The resolution, tabled by Liechtenstein, passed with a vote 105 to 15 with 52 abstentions, with objections from Syria and Russia.

Cameroon urged to investigate deaths during Anglophone protests

International organisations are calling for an investigation after security forces killed at least four people during protests in Anglophone regions of Cameroon.  

Amnesty International describes actions taken by the state to be excessive – as security forces fired live ammunition and teargas at a market despite the lack of evidence that protests were in fact taking place.

Unrest in two English-speaking regions has developed over the past month due to claims of discrimination. A protester in Kumba states, “Southern Cameroonians do not benefit anything from the French Cameroon. We want this to end this year.”

Manhunt over Berlin lorry attack

An international manhunt is now on the way as authorities attempt to apprehend the driver of a truck which was intentionally driven into Berlin's iconic Christmas market killing 12. 

Witnesses said they saw a masked man escape from the truck and run away from the scene. A suspect who was arrested following the incident was released yestereday cleared off any involvement. 

The incident, which echoed the lorry attack in France on Bastilles Day earlier this year, has been claimed by Islamic State. 

 

Andrey Karlov, Russian ambassador to Turkey assassinated

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was shot and killed in Ankara while giving a speech at an embassy sponsored photo exhibition.

The assailant was identified as a 22 year-old off duty police officer.

After shooting the ambassador the assailant referenced Aleppo: “Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria.” "Whoever took part in this cruelty will pay the price, one by one ... Only death will take me from here," he stated in Turkish.

"We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad," he said.

Rwanda expresses concern at early release of genocide convicts

The Rwandan government said it was “concerned and worried” after two people convitced over their role in the 1994 genocide have been granted early releases from their prison sentences.

Ferdinand Nahimana and Emmanuel Rukundo, convicted to 30 years and 23 years respectively, have been held in prison in Mali, following their sentencing. However, the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) has reportedly allowed both men to be considered for early release as they have “demonstrated some signs of rehabilitation”.

Thousands evacuated from Aleppo under new agreement

After days of negotiations and stalled deals, a new agreement has led to the evacuations of thousands of civilians from eastern Aleppo, according to latest reports.

The BBC reported that 4,500 civilians had left the besieged region so far on Monday, as they left to other opposition held areas to the west of Aleppo. Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusogulu said that 20,000 people had been evacuated so far and that efforts were continuing.

Buses also left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, north of Idlib, which have been surrounded by opposition forces, as part of the newly brokered deal.

UN Human Rights Commission warns of genocide in South Sudan

The head of the UN Human Rights Commission, Yasmin Sooka, warned this week that South Sudan was "on the brink of an all-out ethnic civil war" where genocide was a strong possibility. 

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Ms Sooka said a "Rwanda-like" genocide could be prevented if 4000 UN peacekeepers were deployed to protect civilians. 

UN investigators who recently visited the country said "a steady process of ethnic cleansing is already under way in some parts of the country," she added. 

US blocks arms deal with Saudi Arabia over Yemen

The United States announced that it will block the transfer of a set of precision-guided weapons to Saudi Arabia, over concerns regarding civilian casualties in the  conflict in Yemen.

Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said the United States has “long expressed some very significant concerns about the high rate of civilian casualties”.

He made the statement as the Obama administration announced the sale of about 16,000 guided munitions kits by Raytheon is to be blocked. The contract is estimated to have been worth $350 million, reports the New York Times.

PKK offshoot claims responsibility for Istanbul attack

A group aligned to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack in Istanbul, Turkey which killed 38 people, injuring 155. 

The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) made its claim in a statement published on its website on Sunday, which said "the latest bombings were in reprisal for ongoing violence in the south-eastern Turkey and for the continuing imprisonment of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan."

TAK has previously claimed responsibility for a number of attacks mainly in the Kurdish region of Turkey, including the Ankara attack which killed 37.