Headline

Over 100 Women Raped, Burned Alive In DR Congo jailbreak, UN Laments

Published

8 months ago

February 6, 2025

The United Nations (UN) has revealed that more than 100 female prisoners were raped and then burned alive during a jailbreak in the eastern Congolese city of Goma.

The attack occurred last Monday when hundreds of inmates escaped from Munzenze prison amid an offensive by the M23 rebel group.

An internal UN document seen by the BBC states that between 165 and 167 women were sexually assaulted by male inmates during the jailbreak. The report further claimed that most of the victims were killed after the prisoners set fire to the facility.

According to BBC, the jailbreak took place as M23 fighters, backed by Rwanda, advanced rapidly through eastern DR Congo, capturing Goma, a city of over one million people.

The takeover plunged the city into chaos, with reports of bodies in the streets and missiles striking residential areas. Footage from the incident showed people fleeing from the building as smoke rose in the background.

Another video reportedly captured escaped inmates moving through Goma’s streets.

The UN says at least 2,900 people were killed during the fighting, with 2,000 bodies already buried and another 900 still in the city’s morgues. Earlier this week, the rebels declared a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds.

However, sources report that M23 launched a fresh offensive on Wednesday, capturing the mining town of Nyabibwe. The town, located about 100 kilometres from Bukavu, is believed to be the next target of the rebels’ advance.

In response, Congolese authorities have mobilised hundreds of civilian volunteers to help defend Bukavu. Meanwhile, Malawi has announced plans to withdraw its peacekeeping forces following the deaths of three of its soldiers in the fighting around Goma.

The Malawian troops were part of a South African-led regional force. Despite losing 14 soldiers, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to keep his forces in the country.

Back in Goma, residents now face an additional crisis, with fears of a cholera outbreak due to deteriorating sanitary conditions. Stephan Goetghbuer, a regional lead with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), warned: “Access to water has been cut for days, corpses have been lying in the streets and waterborne diseases such as cholera are a real threat. Some of our cholera treatment centres are full and have been expanded.”

Headline

Peru Anti-government Protesters Clash With Police

Published

10 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

Hundreds of anti-government protesters clashed with police in the Peruvian capital Lima on Saturday, throwing stones and sticks as officers fired tear gas on the demonstrators, AFP journalists reported.

The protest, organized by a youth collective called “Generation Z”, is part of growing social unrest in Peru against organized crime, corruption in public office, and a recent pension reform.

“Today, there is less democracy than before. It’s getting worse… because of fear, because of extortion,” said 54-year-old protester Gladys, who declined to give her last name.

Around 500 people gathered in the city center, under heavy police presence.

“Congress has no credibility, it doesn’t even have the approval of the people… It is wreaking havoc in this country,” said protester Celene Amasifuen.

The clashes broke out as demonstrators tried to approach executive and congressional buildings in Lima.

The radio station Exitosa said that its reporter and a cameraman were hit by pellets, commonly fired by law enforcement.

Police said at least three officers were wounded.

Approval ratings for President Dina Boluarte, whose term ends next year, have plummeted amid rising extortion and organized crime cases.

Several opinion polls show the government and conservative-majority Congress are seen by many as corrupt institutions.

This week, the legislature passed a law requiring young adults to join a private pension fund, despite many facing a precarious working environment.

AFP

Headline

Fresh World Trouble Looms As Netanyahu Tells Western Leaders ‘There Will Be No Palestinian State’

Published

10 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said there would be no Palestinian state, in a message addressed to the leaders of Britain, Australia and Canada after they recognised Palestinian statehood.

“I have a clear message for those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7: you are granting a huge reward to terror,” he said.

“And I have another message for you: it will not happen. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River.”

Britain, Australia and Canada on Sunday became the first tripartite Western nations to recognise a Palestinian state.

Britain and Canada became the first G7 countries to take the step, with France and other nations expected to follow at the annual UN General Assembly, which opens Monday in New York.

“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a message on X.

“Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X.

This comes after decades of requests for sovereignty from the Palestinian side.

Portugal was also to recognise Palestinian statehood later Sunday, as Israel came under huge international pressure over the war in Gaza triggered almost two years ago by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

Headline

Badenoch Slams UK’s Palestine Recognition Decision As ‘Absolutely Disastrous’

Published

10 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the Prime Minister Keir Starmer-led United Kingdom’s decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine.

PUNCH Online reports that Britain, alongside Australia and Canada, on Sunday recognised a Palestinian state in a seismic shift in decades of Western foreign policy.

Britain and Canada became the first G7 countries to take the step, with France and other nations expected to follow at the annual UN General Assembly, which opens Monday in New York.

However, the decision triggered swift Israeli anger and condemnation from the opposition.

Reacting in a statement on her X on Sunday, Badenoch described the move as “absolutely disastrous.”

She argued the move rewards terrorism with no conditions, and the decision would be widely regretted.

She said, “Absolutely disastrous. We will all rue the day this decision was made. Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas.

“It leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war.”

The Winchester opposition leader accused Labour of pandering to its “hard left” rather than fixing Britain’s pressing domestic problems.

“It is because Labour cannot fix the big problems in our society that they focus on discredited student union campaigns to appease the hard left.”

Listing examples of Labour’s failings, she said, “They cannot fix the NHS, so they push assisted suicide. – They cannot create jobs for young people, so they give them votes at 16.

“They cannot sort out immigration, but they will recognise Palestine instead. And so on. This is the same man who paid £35bn of reparations to Mauritius along with the surrender of the Chagos islands.”

Badenoch also criticised what she described as the prime minister’s lack of judgment.

“Everything we are seeing is a consequence of a Prime Minister who has no plan for the country and no judgment.

“He will spend the next four years delivering the hobbyhorses of the Labour left to stay in power and leave a HUGE mess for us to clean up.”

Earlier, Starmer announced the recognition of Palestine in a post on X, saying the move was intended to provide a two-state solution.

He said, “Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine.”