Since President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown on gangs began two years ago, about 3,000 children, some as young as 12, have been detained in El Salvador, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The report, based on case files and interviews, highlights arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment, sometimes amounting to torture. Since March 2022, over 80,000 people have been arrested. While the homicide rate has significantly dropped, human rights organizations report widespread arbitrary arrests and violations of due process. HRW found many detained children had no apparent gang connections.

Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 12:00 pm

Spade-toothed whales, the world’s rarest, have never been seen alive, and little is known about them. A potential breakthrough occurred when a five-meter-long beaked whale washed up on New Zealand’s South Island, believed to be a spade-toothed whale. Identified by its color patterns and skull shape, this specimen could provide unprecedented scientific insights. Only six other spade-toothed whales have been found, but none were studied due to burial before DNA testing. The current specimen is in cold storage, and researchers will collaborate with local Māori iwi for examination.

Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 12:00 pm

Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea on Monday as a U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region for security. The Panama-flagged, Israeli-owned MT Bently I was attacked by three small Houthi vessels, two manned and one unmanned, off Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The ship faced missile attacks but managed self-protection. Later, the Liberian-flagged MT Chios Lion was hit by an uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle, causing minor damage. Both ships and their crews were reported safe. The Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 8:30 am

Kenyan police arrested Collins Jomaisi Khalusha, 33, described as a “serial killer” after nine mutilated female bodies were found in a disused quarry in Nairobi. Khalusha confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, since 2022. Arrested while watching the Euro final, he led police to his house near the crime scene, where they found items like phones, identity cards, and a machete. The discovery has sparked shock and outrage in Kenya, with many questioning how such crimes went unnoticed for two years.

Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 8:30 am

Syrians voted for a new parliament amid an economic crisis and ongoing civil war, potentially paving the way for a constitutional amendment to extend President Bashar Assad’s term. The election, the fourth since 2011, excludes rebel-held and Kurdish-controlled areas. Millions of diaspora Syrians are ineligible to vote. Western critics claim the election in government-held areas is neither free nor fair. There are 1,516 government-approved candidates for 250 seats, with 8,151 polling stations in 15 districts.

Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 8:30 am

Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea on Monday as a U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region. The Panama-flagged, Israeli-owned MT Bently I was attacked by three small Houthi vessels, while the Liberian-flagged MT Chios Lion was hit by an uncrewed aerial vehicle. Both ships and their crews were reported safe. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 8:13 am

Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea on Monday as a U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region. The Panama-flagged, Israeli-owned MT Bently I was attacked by three small Houthi vessels, while the Liberian-flagged MT Chios Lion was hit by an uncrewed aerial vehicle. Both ships and their crews were reported safe. The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 7:55 am

The European Commission has decided to boycott Hungary’s six-month EU Council presidency due to Viktor Orbán’s controversial visits to Moscow and Beijing, seen as undermining EU unity. President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Commission will only be represented by senior civil servants at informal Council meetings, and the traditional College visit has been canceled. Orbán’s meetings with Putin and praise for China’s peace plan have sparked accusations of disloyalty and abuse of power, despite Budapest’s claims of bilateral diplomacy.

Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 4:58 am

Kenyan police arrested Collins Jomaisi Khalusha, 33, a self-confessed serial killer, after discovering dismembered bodies in plastic bags at the Mukuru quarry in Nairobi. Khalusha admitted to murdering 42 women, including his wife, since 2022. Arrested while watching the Euro final, he led police to his house near the crime scene, where they found incriminating items like phones, identity cards, and a machete. The discovery has sparked shock and outrage in Kenya, with many questioning how such crimes went unnoticed for two years.

Noah Prescott 16/07/2024 4:58 am

Gambian lawmakers rejected a bill to overturn a ban on female genital cutting, following months of heated debate in the predominantly Muslim nation. The bill’s rejection, which prevented a final vote, was closely watched by activists concerned about reversing progress against the harmful practice. Female genital mutilation, involving the removal of girls’ external genitalia, can cause severe health issues but remains common in parts of Africa. Religious conservatives argued it was a virtue of Islam, but attitudes shifted after rights activists and experts highlighted its dangers.

Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 4:58 am