South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a bill allowing land expropriation without compensation under specific conditions deemed “just and equitable” and in the public interest. The law, replacing the 1975 Expropriation Act, aims to address land ownership disparities favoring the White minority, over 30 years after apartheid. The African National Congress praised it as a milestone, but opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance and Freedom … Continue reading South African president signs controversial land seizure bill, eroding private property rights

The Taliban rejected the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) request to arrest two top officials, including leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, over persecution of women. The ICC’s move, hailed by Afghan women’s groups as a step toward justice, drew condemnation from the Taliban, who accused the court of baseless accusations and ignoring foreign forces’ past crimes. Critics fear the Taliban may exploit the decision for propaganda, the Associated … Continue reading Taliban reject court move to arrest top officials for persecuting Afghan women and girls

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for fatally stabbing three young girls—Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice Da Silva Aguiar (9)—at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport, UK, in July. Rudakubana pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including murder, attempted murder, and possession of a jihadi training manual and ricin. Judge Julian Goose called the attack … Continue reading UK Teen sentenced to 52 years in prison for deadly stabbing at Taylor Swift-themed event

The UN has suspended movement in Houthi-held areas of Yemen after the detention of its personnel in Sanaa, actively negotiating their release. This is not the first instance of Houthi detentions, as they have previously held UN workers and US embassy staff. The Iranian-backed Houthis, controlling large parts of Yemen, have faced accusations of human rights abuses and obstructing aid delivery. While the conflict with … Continue reading UN suspends movement in Houthi-held areas after staff detained

Rebels from the Rwanda-backed M23 killed North Kivu’s military governor, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, during fighting in eastern DR Congo, the army confirmed. Gen Cirimwami, shot while visiting the frontline, died after being airlifted to Kinshasa. The M23 has seized key towns, displaced over 400,000 people, and killed more than 200 civilians this year, as they advance toward Goma, a major city near the Rwandan … Continue reading Rebels kill DR Congo governor as fighting intensifies

Canadian authorities seized $83 million worth of cocaine linked to Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation cartel, marking Toronto’s largest cocaine bust. Over 835 kilograms were found in a truck and stash houses during “Project Castillo,” an investigation into a transnational drug operation from Mexico. Six suspects, including two Mexican nationals, were arrested, with warrants issued for three others. Police said the cocaine was intended for distribution … Continue reading Record haul of cocaine linked to notorious cartel seized in Toronto

During a surprise offensive in northwest Syria late last year, insurgents overran key areas, forcing Syrian leader Bashar Assad to flee. Despite a Dec. 7 meeting in Qatar where officials from Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Arab countries agreed on halting advances and pursuing talks with Assad, insurgents from the south pushed into Damascus. Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) emerged as Syria’s de facto rulers after coordinating … Continue reading Southern rebels loom large as Syria’s new rulers try to form a national army

Osama Najim, head of Libya’s judicial police and director of Tripoli’s Mitiga detention center, was arrested in Turin, Italy, on Sunday following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for war crimes. Former detainees have reported widespread torture and abuse in Libyan detention centers, with the UN citing “serious rights violations” in 2022. Najim’s arrest, aided by Interpol, followed years of ICC investigations and victim testimonies. … Continue reading Libyan police chief arrested in Italy for alleged war crimes