UN report details dozens of cases of summary executions of Ukrainian and Russian POWs
The United Nations says it has documented dozens of cases of summary executions of prisoners of war (POWs) carried out by both Russian and Ukrainian forces since February 2022, but admits it is far harder to get information from Russia, or territories under Russian control than it is from Ukrainian authorities.
In a new report, the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says it has documented the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces, in addition to the use of Ukrainian POWs as human shields, the death of two wounded POWs due to lack of medical care, as well as torture.
Among the cases documented in the report is that of an officer of the Ukrainian National Guard tortured and then executed after refusing to hand over a password for entry to a radio station in Mariupol in April 2022. In another case, in September, a wounded Ukrainian serviceman was shot three times in the chest and once in the head after being captured by fighters from the Wagner mercenary group in a village south of Bakhmut.
Hotel Rwanda’s Paul Rusesabagina to be released from prison
Ex-hotelier whose actions saved lives during 1994 genocide has sentence for terrorism charges commuted
Paul Rusesabagina, a businessman whose role in saving more than 1,000 lives during the 1994 Rwandan genocide inspired the film Hotel Rwanda, is to be released from prison on Saturday after his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges was commuted.
The announcement by the Rwandan government follows intense diplomacy by the US, where Rusesabagina has permanent residency rights. Historically close ties between the two countries have been strained over the case, and Rwanda’s alleged meddling in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hundreds evacuated as Spain's fire season starts early
Hundreds of people have been evacuated as a major forest fire rages in Spain's eastern Castellón region, marking an early start to the nation’s fire season amid bone dry conditions
Hundreds of people were evacuated as a major forest fire raged in Spain’s eastern Castellón region on Friday, marking an early start to the nation's fire season amid bone dry conditions.
Ximo Puig, the president of the Valencia region that incorporates Castellon, told reporters the fire had engulfed around 1,000 hectares of land since it broke out Thursday, and was “very early in the spring, very voracious from the beginning.”
Emergency services in the region said 600 people in eight towns had been evacuated, including a home for older people in Montan.
Life in Myanmar's Yangon after COVID and a coup
Myanmar's largest city has been cut off from the world for almost four years. DW spoke with Yangon residents about what life is like under a military regime.
At first glance, Yangon seems to have hardly changed since the time before the pandemic and the coup. In the mornings and evenings, cars jam the city's main streets. At night, the golden needle of the Shwedagon Pagoda shines over the city.
On the weekends, couples hold hands and walk along Inya Lake, while middle-class shoppers head to modern malls. This even includes the "Myanmar Plaza" mall, which was boycotted after the coup for its connections with the ruling junta.
However, a closer look reveals how things have changed here in this city of 7.3 million people. At every major crossing, concrete bunkers have been erected, complete with sandbags. The windows are covered in green nets, so you cannot see whether there are armed police stationed inside.
Israel’s Netanyahu heckled by hundreds of protesters during London visit
Hundreds of protesters rallied Friday outside Downing Street in central London to heckle the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.
Netanyahu has faced weeks of escalating protests in Israel over his government’s judicial reform programme, which would increase politicians’ power over the courts and critics argue is a threat to democracy.
Demonstrators in the UK capital, many holding Israeli flags and placards critical of the country’s veteran leader, shouted “shame” in Hebrew as he greeted Sunak at the door of 10 Downing Street.
Japan unveils guidelines on refugee status recognition for 1st time
Japan on Friday unveiled its guidelines on refugee recognition for the first time after growing calls at home and abroad for greater transparency and amid mounting criticism over its history of accepting far fewer refugees compared to Western countries.
Among the notable cases cited in the handbook for immigration officials is the possibility of granting refugee status if applicants are deemed at risk of persecution at home for identifying as a sexual minority.
The handbook, compiled by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, however, "does not expand the scope of recognition" already in use by immigration authorities and is also not meant to "increase the number of people granted refugee status," Justice Minister Ken Saito told a press conference.
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