Six In The Morning Saturday 30 November 2024

 

Russian strikes hit Aleppo as rebels take control

What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - the group leading the attack?

Sebastian Usher

Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has a long and involved history in the Syrian conflict.

HTS was set up under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2011 as a direct affiliate of Al Qaeda.

The IS group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was also involved in its formation.

Summary

• Russia has launched air strikes on parts of Aleppo - Syria's second largest city

• It comes as rebel forces have taken control of the "majority" of Aleppo after launching the largest offensive against the government in years earlier this week

• The surprise offensive prompted the first Russian strikes on the city since 2016, and saw Syria's military withdraw its troops from the city

• More than 300 people have been killed - including at least 20 civilians - since the offensive began, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says

• Roads into Aleppo have been closed, as has the airport

Fifa ignores own report into Qatar World Cup over workers’ compensation

• Subcommittee points to ‘severe human rights impacts’
• $50m legacy fund used on international development

Paul MacInnes

Sat 30 Nov 2024 13.16 GMT

Fifa ignores own report into Qatar World Cup over workers’ compensation

• Subcommittee points to ‘severe human rights impacts’
• $50m legacy fund used on international development

Paul MacInnes

Sat 30 Nov 2024 13.16 GMT

A long-awaited Fifa report into the legacy of the Qatar World Cup has finally been published, but only after its key recommendation was rejected by the organisation.

Fifa’s subcommittee on human rights and social responsibility has found that the game’s world body “has a responsibility” to provide financial remedy to workers who suffered loss as a result of employment related to the 2022 World Cup. Its report argues that Fifa should use its Qatar legacy fund to remedy those workers. Two days before the report was published, however, Fifa announced that the $50m fund would be used on international development projects instead.

Georgia: Police arrest scores amid ongoing pro-EU protests

Police in Georgia's capital say they have arrested more than a hundred people after protesters demonstrated for a second consecutive night over the suspension of EU accession talks.

Police in the former Soviet republic of Georgia on Saturday said they had arrested 107 people in the capital, Tbilisi, alone amid overnight protests.

The demonstrations, in response to the government's suspension of accession talks with the EU, were said to be the largest in recent weeks after the ruling Russia-friendly Georgian Dream party's disputed win in October's parliamentary elections.

Pakistan court grants bail to journalist detained after probing protest, lawyer says

By Charlotte Greenfield

November 30, 20241:56 AM PST

A Pakistani court approved bail for a journalist arrested this week after investigating claims of casualties in a protest march, his lawyer said on Saturday.

Matiullah Jan, a critic of military influence in Pakistani politics, was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in the capital Islamabad in a terrorism and narcotics case, his lawyer, Imaan Mazari, said in a text message.

"He should be home by this evening," Mazari said.

Russia cements rule in occupied Ukrainian regions through propaganda and violence

Almost a fifth of Ukraine's territory is occupied by Russia. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled those areas and continue to do so, although the Russian authorities often try to prevent them, and the journey is a long and expensive one. Many residents remain, some acquiescent to Russian rule, others unwilling or unable to leave for a whole range of reasons. Not least because if they do, they are likely to lose their homes forever, as Russian soldiers or workers move in.

Reliable information about what life is like in the occupied territories is limited, as there is no access for Ukrainian media. In September, the last Ukrainian journalist to attempt to report from the occupied areas – Viktoria Roshchyna – died in Russian custody. Nevertheless, various Ukrainian initiatives aim to shed light on what is happening there, using sources on the ground (often via encrypted messaging services) and the testimonies of those who got out. The picture they paint is one of violent repression and forced Russification. Part of that has been the intensive development of new propaganda media in those areas.

Amazon faces Indian court scrutiny for labour conditions at warehouse

Workers detail stories of an unsafe work environment and unreasonable targets at a major warehouse; An Indian state has taken the retail giant to court.

By Somesh Jha

Published On 30 Nov 202430 Nov 2024

Amazon is facing prosecution in an Indian court for labour law violations at a major warehouse near the country’s national capital of Delhi.

Documents reviewed by Al Jazeera through India’s Right to Information Act and court records showed that a labour inspection earlier this year alleged inadequate safety equipment, and failure to comply with provisions of labour laws at the Amazon warehouse.