Gaza ceasefire D1: Hamas, Israel carry out first swap of hostages and prisoners/in /by
Israelis cheered as 13 Israeli women and children emerged free from Gaza. Also released were 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, Thailand's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday (Nov. 25). 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenagers held in Israeli prisons were freed.
Humanitarian crisis worsening in eastern DRC – UN/in /by
Violent clashes between non-state armed groups and government forces have forcibly displaced more than 450,000 people in the last six weeks in Rutshuru and Masisi territories in North Kivu Province. As the country gears towards general elections, many in the east are mostly concerned by peace.
Madagascar’s Rajoelina re-elected – Election management body/in /by
The election commission said Saturday (Nov. 25) that Andry Rajoelina won the first round of the presidential election with 58.95 of the votes. Just over 46% of the 11 million voters cast a ballot. Ten of the 12 rivals of Rajoelina refused to campaign and urged voters to shun the ballot.
S.Sudan: Elections in December 2024 conceivable only if critical decisions taken – UNMISS/in /by
“Let me underscore that elections are not a one-day event, but a process that incorporates deliberate and thoughtful decisions before, during and after the polls. All these processes must have the full buy-in and support of the South Sudanese," Nicholas Haysom said in Wau, on November 23rd.
USA: Former officer convicted in George Floyd’s killing, stabbed in prison – AP/in /by
The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages.
Death toll from floods in Kenya rises again/in /by
Late on Thursday (Nov. 23), at least eight people were reported to have drowned in southern Kenya as they tried to cross the flooded Muuoni river in Makueni county. The death toll from devastating floods now stands at at least 20.
Upcoming release of Oscar Pistorius gets mixed reactions in Pretoria/in /by
The former Olympic runner will be released from prison on January 5, after being granted parole on Friday (Nov. 24). His' parole hearing was his second in the space of eight months. In a nation with some of the world's highest levels of violence against women, the board decision drew mixed feelings.
June Steenkamp doubts Oscar Pistorius’ “rehabilitation” given lack of “remorse”/in /by
While the mother of late Reeva Steenkamp is not opposing Oscar Pistorius' parole, she told the parole board that Pistorius had not shown true remorse. He killed his then girlfriend in 2013. In court he pleaded not guilty and denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar.
Egyptian President al-Sissi calls for “recognition of the State of Palestine”/in /by
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said on Friday that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was "an idea on its last legs", urging the international community to recognize a "State of Palestine" instead.
Kenya: rare birth of twin elephants/in /by
An elephant has given birth to twin daughters in Kenya, a rare occurrence for the world's largest land mammal, a conservation organization for this endangered species announced on Friday.