Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly confirmed that the country’s anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces in the eastern regions has started.
Continue reading Ukraine offensive to reclaim territories underway – Zelensky
Category: World News
World News
Pope Francis recovering well after surgery – says office
Pope Francis is recovering and responding well to treatment after he underwent surgery on Wednesday, the Holy See Office said. Continue reading Pope Francis recovering well after surgery – says office
Gov’t condemns arms embargo, sanctions extension
The Government has condemned and objected to the extension of the arms embargo and ssanctions the United Nations Security Council imposed on South Sudan.
On Tuesday, the 15-member security council extended the arms embargo and sanctions including asset freezes and travel bans for an additional year until 31st May 2024.
It condemned the past and, allegedly, ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces.
It said that civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, and humanitarian personnel continued to be targeted.
The council emphasized that the unity government bears the primary responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The Council decided to renew the arms imposed in 2018 and directed all Member States to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms to the territory of South Sudan.
In a statement on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the renewal of the arms embargo on the country as deplorable.
The statement said the decision ” has not taken into account the significant strides that the Government has made in implementing the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan as well as developmental progress in the country.”
The government said the sanctions affect not only target segments, but the country’s economy as well as the peace and security council was trying to maintain.
However, praised China, Russia and the three African countries of Ghana, Gabon and Mozambique for abstaining from what it described as unfair vote.
Juba remains committed to implementing the peace agreement and ensure a democratic, free and fair elections by end of 2024.
” The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity will continue to redouble efforts to implement R-ARCSS and thereby create a conducive atmosphere for democratic, free and fair elections by December 2024.
UN Security Council extends arms embargo on S.Sudan
The United Nations has extended for one year the sanctions regime imposed on South Sudan, including assets freeze, travel bans, and an arms embargo, citing ongoing human rights violations but a government representative objected to this.
In its resolution number 2-6-8-3, the Security Council strongly condemned past and, allegedly, ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces.
It further condemned the targeting of civil society, including journalists, human rights defenders, and humanitarian personnel, emphasizing that the unity government bears the primary responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The Council decided to renew until 31 May 2024 the measures on arms imposed in 2018, which direct all Member States to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms to the territory of South Sudan.
It also decided that the notification requirements set out in 2022 shall no longer apply to the supply, sale or transfer of non-lethal military equipment, solely in support of the implementation of the terms of the peace agreement and related technical assistance or training on such equipment.
The UN Security Council also renewed until 31 May 2024, the travel and financial measures imposed by resolution 2-2-0-6 in 2015, according to which all Member States shall take measures to freeze the financial assets of designated individuals and prevent their entry into or transit through their territories.
Ten countries voted in favor of the resolution.
They are Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Meanwhile, China, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, and the Russian Federation abstained from voting.
Commenting on the matter, the representative of South Sudan objected to the resolution, saying it is “brazen interference in domestic affairs”, ill-intended, counterproductive, and has an adverse humanitarian effect on the citizens that its proponents claim to protect.
S.Africa faces legal bid to force Putin’s arrest
South Africa’s leading opposition party said on Tuesday it had taken legal action to force the government to arrest Vladimir Putin if the Russian President were to attend a planned summit in the country. Continue reading S.Africa faces legal bid to force Putin’s arrest
US, Saudi Arabia welcome Sudan ceasefire extension
The United States and Saudi Arabia have welcomed the extension of a ceasefire deal between Sudan’s warring military factions for another five days.
Washington and Riyadh announced the latest deal, as well as brokering the previous week-long truce.
In a joint statement, they acknowledged that the ceasefire had not been fully observed, but said it had allowed the delivery of aid to two million people in Sudan.
The World Food Programme said the relative lull in fighting had allowed it to send supplies to residents trapped in the capital, Khartoum, for the first time since fighting erupted six weeks ago.
The Sudanese army and its rivals from the Rapid Support Forces have accused each repeated violations, particularly in the Darfur region.
Sports fans told to turn up for historic FIBA World Cup tour
The South Sudan Basketball Federation is calling on fans to turn up and witness the FIBA World Cup Trophy tour on Tuesday in Juba, South Sudan.
The FIBA World Cup will visit South Sudan as part of a tour of the country teams that have qualified to participate in the Basketball World Cup to be held from August 25 to September 10, 2023, in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
“The FIBA World Cup trophy is coming to Juba on the 29th and 30th. It will be here for public viewing at ‘Nimara Talata basketball stadium on the 30th,” said Eva Lopa, SSBF communications officer.
South Sudan is in Group B alongside Serbia, China, and Puerto Rico which will play in the Philippines.
The country ranks number one in Africa after beating Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, and others during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
“It is a historic moment for the nation, the first time the cup is coming to East Africa and we are the first East African country to qualify, Lopa said.
“It’s a symbol of hope that can be showcased to the people. So the youth, the sports community, and South Sudan in general can come and take pictures with the trophy and ask questions during the entire day from 12 pm to 6 pm,” she added.
For his part, Dr. Arou Ramadan who is SSBF’s Deputy Secretary General says the trophy tour is a culture to bring the golden prize to qualified in the world competition.
“As a culture, all the countries that have qualified for the world cup get chance before the actual tournament to have the trophy with them for a number of days depending on FIBA’s schedule.
Other countries that qualified have already witnessed the ceremonial tour.
Guyana school fire: Pupil suspected of starting deadly blaze over ‘confiscated phone’
A deadly fire at a school dormitory in Guyana appears to have been started by a pupil who was angry her mobile phone had been confiscated, officials say.
Nineteen people – mostly female students – were killed in the blaze in the South American country in the early hours of Monday.
The dorm was reportedly locked and had covered windows which trapped victims.
The teenage suspect is currently in hospital with burns, and has reportedly admitted to the arson.
Authorities are now taking advice on whether to charge her, according to a government source who spoke to the AFP news agency.
The fire was started in the bathroom area and eventually tore through the whole building, which was partially made of wood and was housing 57 pupils at the time.
Survivors of the incident in the central town of Mahdia spoke of being woken up in the middle of the night by screams.
The girl is accused of threatening her attack after being disciplined for having a relationship with an older man, according to an Associated Press report.
It has emerged that the dorm administrator – who lost her five-year-old son in the fire – was unable to locate the keys to unlock the door in her state of panic.
Firefighters are said to have resorted to smashing through the walls to help people escape.
But they initially struggled to contain the fire because of bad weather conditions.
As well as the victims who died – most of whom were indigenous girls – several other people were injured.
They were taken to hospital, some of them in the capital Georgetown, and a number of them remain in a serious condition.
Local media reported that the fire was so severe that DNA testing was required to identify some victims.
The fire was earlier labelled a “major disaster” by President Irfaan Ali.
South African ministers’ lavish home expenses raise eyebrows
The home expenses of South African ministers came under intense scrutiny Sunday after it was revealed that vast sums have been spent on curtains, kitchens and killing cockroaches.
Continue reading South African ministers’ lavish home expenses raise eyebrows
ICC ‘undeterred’ after Russia puts its prosecutor on wanted list
The International Criminal Court said Saturday that it was “undeterred” after Russia put prosecutor Karim Khan on a wanted list over his issuance of an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin. Continue reading ICC ‘undeterred’ after Russia puts its prosecutor on wanted list