ICC rejects Israel appeal, backs Gaza war crimes investigation

THE HAGUE, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) appeals chamber has rejected Israel’s challenge to the legality of the court’s investigation into war crimes committed in Gaza after October 2023. In a judgment issued on Monday, judges confirmed an earlier ruling by the pre-trial chamber, finding that…

EU to sanction 40 more vessels, EU top diplomat says

BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Union foreign ministers are to impose sanctions on around 40 additional vessels that are used to circumvent the penalties imposed on Russia over its war in Ukraine, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said. Sanctioning more ships of the so-called shadow fleet means “depriving…

UN: 2 peacekeepers injured in attack in Central African Republic – spokesperson

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 16 (NNN-XINHUA) — Two UN peacekeepers were injured when a logistical escort convoy of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) came under attack by suspected members of an armed group in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture on Monday, a UN spokesperson said. The…

Ecuador: 5 inmates confirmed dead in 4 days at largest prison

QUITO, Dec 16 (NNN-XINHUA) — Fifteen inmates have died over the past four days at Ecuador’s largest prison, the Litoral Penitentiary in the coastal city of Guayaquil, prison authorities said Monday. The National Service for Comprehensive Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders, which oversees the prison system,…

French court jails Congo ex-rebel leader for 30 years

Roger Lumbala, a former MP in the DR Congo who joined the M23 rebel group PARIS, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Congolese ex-rebel leader Roger Lumbala was found guilty by a Paris court on Monday of complicity in crimes against humanity committed during the Second Congo War and was sentenced to…

Nigeria: ‘Bandits’ kidnap at least 13 worshippers during church service

KOGI (Nigeria), Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed men have kidnapped at least 13 people from a church in Nigeria’s central Kogi state – the second such attack in as many weeks.The attackers stormed into Evangelical Church Winning All in the mainly rural farming district of Aaaaz-Kiri during Sunday morning service,…

EU launches aid flights to Sudan’s Darfur as humanitarian crisis escalates

BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union has launched an “air bridge” to bring eight planeloads of humanitarian aid into Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region.The European Commission’s department overseeing overseas aid unveiled the measure on Monday and said the flights will carry 3.5 million euros ($4.1m) of “life-saving supplies” to…

South Africa’s economic recovery efforts bear fruit

PRETORIA, Dec 16 (NNN-SANEWS) — Government’s efforts to unlock economic growth and remove long-standing obstacles are gaining momentum, with early green shoots emerging in the energy sector and South Africa securing its first credit rating upgrade in 20 years, coupled by a stronger rand.“Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela is gaining…

US shooting violence: Manhunt continues after shooting at elite Rhodes university

PROVIDENCE (Rhode Island, US), Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A manhunt was continuing after a mass shooting at elite Brown University left two dead and nine wounded and US authorities said they were releasing a man initially detained as a person of interest. The shooting took place on Saturday in a building where exams were underway…

UN urges release of 10,000 arbitrarily detained in Eritrea

GENEVA, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations called for the unconditional release of the estimated 10,000 people arbitrarily detained in Eritrea, including politicians, journalists and students. The Horn of Africa country has been ruled with an iron fist by President Isaias Afwerki, 79, since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, and ranks near the…