A French court has sentenced eight people to prison terms ranging from three to 16 years for their involvement in the social media campaign that culminated in the October 2020 murder of schoolteacher Samuel Paty in a Paris suburb.
The convictions center on a fabricated online narrative claiming Paty had shown offensive images of Prophet Muhammad to students. In reality, the 47-year-old history and geography teacher had conducted a lesson on freedom of speech at his Conflans-Saint-Honorine school, warning students they could look away if potentially offended by Charlie Hebdo magazine images.
Among those convicted was Brahim Chnina, who initiated the online campaign based on his 13-year-old daughter’s false account, and Islamic activist Abdelhakim Sefrioui. The court also found guilty two associates who accompanied the killer, Abdoullakh Anzorov, while purchasing weapons, and four individuals who exchanged messages with him on radical chat platforms.
The judge rejected defense arguments that the accused were unaware of Anzorov’s murderous intentions, ruling that their actions constituted incitement regardless of foreknowledge. Anzorov, a radicalized Chechen Muslim, was killed by police shortly after murdering Paty.
The seven-week trial examined how a schoolgirl’s lie escalated through social media into a deadly hate campaign, leading to France’s latest terrorism conviction related to Islamic extremism.
Portugal has formally condemned Russian military strikes on Kyiv that damaged multiple diplomatic missions, with Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel announcing a formal protest to Russia’s charge d’affaires in Lisbon. The attack affected diplomatic facilities of Portugal, Argentina, Albania, and Montenegro housed in the same building.
The Portuguese government summoned Russia’s diplomatic representative, as the ambassador is currently absent, to present an official protest over what Rangel described as “relatively light material damage” to the diplomatic facilities following an “intense attack” on Ukraine’s capital.
Rangel emphasized that targeting diplomatic facilities is “absolutely unacceptable,” suggesting additional measures might be considered at a broader European level in response to the strikes.
Ugandan police are pursuing three suspects believed to have orchestrated the murder of Albert Cook Tugume, 33, and Bernard Sabiiti, 30, during a mobile money shop robbery in Ntinda, Kampala. Tugume, brother of Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, was attacked at his shop on November 22.
Four suspects have already been charged and remanded to Luzira prison, including Jimmy Mutagubya, Bosco Kayemba, Marvin Makanga, and Hamza Mutebi, facing counts of murder, aggravated robbery, and conspiracy. Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire identified the remaining fugitives as Hussein Kabuye, Joseph Bambaiha (aka “fire”), and Martin Lukenge.
The fatal incident occurred as Tugume attempted to flee with a bag containing money, mobile agent lines, and bank agent machines. Armed assailants on motorcycles intercepted him, resulting in his death and the subsequent killing of Sabiiti, a motorcycle taxi driver who attempted to intervene. Sabiiti later died at Mulago Hospital from his injuries.
Police have established multiple contact numbers for public assistance in locating the suspects, emphasizing their commitment to securing justice for the victims and maintaining public safety.
Libya’s warring factions have reached an agreement to collaborate with the United Nations to resolve the country’s prolonged political stalemate. In talks held in Bouznika, near Morocco’s capital Rabat, representatives from Libya’s rival legislative bodies committed to forming a unity government and undertaking key institutional, financial, and security reforms.
The discussions brought together the High Council of State, based in Tripoli in western Libya, and the House of Representatives, located in Benghazi in the east. Both factions pledged to work alongside the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to pave the way for long-overdue elections.
Stephanie Koury, the U.N. Deputy Special Envoy for Libya, addressed the U.N. Security Council to outline a new advisory committee under UNSMIL. The committee aims to propose solutions to Libya’s electoral challenges and develop a roadmap for holding elections.
“The committee will consist of experts and respected figures, representing Libya’s diverse political, social, cultural, and geographical components,” Koury said. She emphasized that the committee’s role is not to make decisions but to provide actionable options for Libyan leaders to consider.
Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country fractured into rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by militias and foreign powers.
The political crisis worsened after a planned election on December 24, 2021, failed to materialize. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who leads the transitional government in Tripoli, refused to step down, prompting the eastern parliament to appoint a rival prime minister, though this appointment was later replaced. Meanwhile, military commander Khalifa Hifter continues to exert influence in eastern Libya.
Koury warned that unresolved political and electoral issues are jeopardizing Libya’s national unity and territorial integrity. She added that armed groups competing for control over territory and resources threaten the country’s stability.
Over recent weeks, UNSMIL’s initiative has been shared with Libyan leaders and international partners, culminating in a public presentation to the Libyan people. The plan focuses on stability, Libyan ownership of the process, institutional unification, and inclusive representation of Libya’s diverse political and cultural groups.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, serving as the Security Council president for the month, emphasized the need for a new political process to prevent deeper divisions, erosion of sovereignty, and a return to violence.
“We believe the U.N. is best positioned to lead this process,” she said, calling for unified international support behind U.N.-led efforts.
However, Libyan U.N. Ambassador Taher El-Sonni, representing the Tripoli-based internationally recognized government, criticized the Security Council for recycling plans that fail to deliver elections.
“A national dialogue remains the ideal path to address differences and reach consensus on holding elections as soon as possible,” El-Sonni stated, adding that such dialogue would resolve outstanding issues, including the development of feasible electoral laws.
The bodies of 20 migrants were recovered after a shipwreck off Tunisia’s Mediterranean coastline near Sfax, a common departure point for those attempting to reach Europe by boat, Tunisian authorities reported on Wednesday.
The National Guard confirmed that coast guard teams rescued five survivors and retrieved 20 bodies approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Sfax. The location lies about 81 miles (130 kilometers) from Lampedusa, an Italian island often reached by migrants.
Authorities did not disclose the total number of people aboard the vessel when it capsized and said efforts to locate more missing individuals were ongoing.
Despite efforts by Tunisian authorities, supported by European nations, to bolster border security and combat illegal migration, fatalities at sea remain frequent. Last week, nine bodies were discovered along the same coastline.
The boats used by migrants and smugglers are often unseaworthy, leading to frequent drownings. While exact figures remain uncertain, international organizations and local NGOs estimate that hundreds have died or gone missing at sea this year.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 1,100 individuals have perished or disappeared in the central Mediterranean in 2024, with Tunisia and Libya identified as key departure points.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights estimates between 600 and 700 deaths or disappearances in Tunisian waters alone this year.
According to UNHCR, over 19,000 migrants have left Tunisia for Italy in 2024, compared to more than 96,000 by this time in 2023. Many migrants who reach Italy later apply for asylum, with the majority in 2024 originating from Bangladesh, Tunisia, and Syria.
Thousands of migrants in Tunisia live in makeshift camps near Sfax’s coastline, sheltering under olive trees in precarious conditions. Despite no official count of migrants within the country, the camps reflect the ongoing humanitarian challenges faced by those seeking to cross into Europe.
Two men were charged on Friday with assaulting police officers during a July altercation at Manchester Airport. The incident drew public outrage after social media footage showed an officer stomping on a man’s head as he lay on the floor.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that no officers involved would face charges, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, explained the decision not to charge officers.
“We have reviewed all available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports, and material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment,” Ferguson said. “We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers.”
The altercation occurred on July 23 at Terminal Two of Manchester Airport, where police were called to break up a fight. During the fracas, three officers were assaulted, one suffering a broken nose. All three required hospital treatment.
Following the incident, four people were arrested, and one officer was suspended from duty.
Prosecutors revealed that Mohammed Amaaz, 20, has been charged with:
– Two counts of causing actual bodily harm,
– One charge of assaulting an emergency worker, and
– One charge of common assault.
Muhammed Amaad, 25, faces one charge of causing actual bodily harm.
The incident unfolded amid growing distrust of the police in the U.K., fueled by allegations of excessive force against ethnic minorities and scandals involving officers charged with serious crimes.
Public outrage over the video of the officer stomping on a suspect led to protests outside a Manchester police station.
Subsequent footage also showed individuals punching officers and one officer using a stun gun on a suspect.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson confirmed that the officer involved in the video had been suspended but was reinstated following the CPS decision.
“I welcome today’s decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge two men with assaults on our officers and a member of the public at Manchester Airport earlier this year,” Watson said. “I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers.”
Watson added that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its investigation into the events at the airport.
A resident of Ukraine’s Lugansk region, currently occupied by Russia, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for “high treason” on Friday, according to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
The sentencing reflects Moscow’s ongoing crackdown on individuals it accuses of collaborating with Ukraine, as well as a broader pattern of imprisoning Ukrainians in Russia and territories under its control.
The unnamed individual was convicted by a military court in Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia. Prosecutors alleged that he had passed information about Russian armed forces to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
The FSB also accused the man of being an accomplice in terrorist acts and illegally handling and transporting explosives. He is set to serve his term in a high-security penal colony.
State-run media outlets published a video, reportedly recorded by the FSB, showing the man’s arrest. The footage depicts FSB officers stopping a car, dragging the man out, and taking him into custody. The man’s face was blurred as he appeared on camera, allegedly admitting to being recruited by the SBU in 2016.
Russia frequently releases similar confession videos following high-profile arrests, though critics argue such recordings often lack transparency and may involve coercion.
The sentencing coincides with President Vladimir Putin’s call for heightened vigilance by Russian security services, especially in counterintelligence operations.
Addressing security personnel, Putin emphasized the need to “identify spies and traitors” and intensify anti-terror measures amid the Kremlin’s protracted military campaign in Ukraine.
In a related development, Russian independent media reported the apparent suicide of Roman Shved, an activist sentenced on Thursday to 16 years in prison. Shved, a 39-year-old anarchist, was convicted of carrying out an arson attack on a government building in 2022 after Russia announced a military mobilization.
According to the Mediazona website, prison officials in Rostov confirmed Shved’s death, which occurred shortly after his sentencing. Social media reports suggest he took his own life.
Russia has punished thousands of its citizens for opposing the war in Ukraine, employing heavy-handed measures against both dissenters and individuals accused of espionage or sabotage. Rights groups have condemned these actions as part of a growing crackdown on civil liberties.
The Kremlin has consistently denied allegations of targeting civilians or conducting politically motivated trials.
More than 700 people have lost their lives in the besieged city of al-Fashir in Sudan’s North Darfur state since May, according to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Calling for an immediate end to the violence, Türk implored the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to lift the siege, stating, “The relentless fighting is devastating lives every day on a massive scale. This alarming situation cannot continue. The RSF must end this horrible siege.”
The U.N. rights office documented at least 782 civilian deaths and over 1,143 injuries since May. Evidence, partly gathered from interviews with displaced survivors, indicates intense shelling by RSF forces on densely populated residential areas, alongside airstrikes carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The U.N. has warned that these attacks on civilians may constitute war crimes. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have denied targeting civilians, each blaming the other for the violence in al-Fashir and its surroundings.
The ongoing 18-month conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF has plunged the nation into a severe humanitarian crisis. Over 12 million people have been displaced from their homes, while U.N. agencies struggle to provide aid amid the violence.
Al-Fashir remains one of the most volatile frontlines in the Darfur region, with the RSF vying to seize control. Observers warn that an RSF victory could result in widespread ethnic retaliation, as seen in West Darfur last year.
Earlier this month, the RSF attacked al-Fashir’s main hospital, killing at least nine people, according to local reports.
In the nearby Zamzam camp, home to over half a million people suffering from famine, RSF artillery fire over the past two weeks has forced thousands to flee. The camp’s residents face dire living conditions, with food shortages and inadequate medical supplies exacerbating the crisis.
Despite international condemnation, both warring factions have shown little willingness to de-escalate. The U.N. continues to call for an end to hostilities, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian access and protections for civilians.
“The people of al-Fashir have endured unimaginable suffering,” Türk said. “The world cannot stand by as atrocities mount.”
Malaysia announced plans to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, more than a decade after the Boeing 777 disappeared, leaving one of aviation’s greatest mysteries unresolved.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed the decision during a press conference on Friday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing closure to the families of the 239 people on board.
“Our responsibility and obligation are to the next of kin,” Loke said. “We hope this time will be positive, that the wreckage will be found and give closure to the families.”
The new search initiative will be conducted by Ocean Infinity, an exploration company that led the most recent unsuccessful search in 2018. The operation will span 18 months and focus on a 15,000-square-kilometer (5,790-square-mile) area of the southern Indian Ocean.
The agreement is based on a “no-find-no-fee” principle, meaning Ocean Infinity will only receive payment if substantial wreckage is located. The reward for a successful discovery is set at $70 million, Loke confirmed.
While the precise coordinates of the new search area have not been disclosed, Malaysia based the decision on new credible data reviewed by experts and Ocean Infinity’s confidence in identifying the wreckage.
Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew members.
The plane’s final transmission came 40 minutes after takeoff as it entered Vietnamese airspace over the Gulf of Thailand. Military radar later tracked the aircraft deviating from its flight path, flying back over northern Malaysia, into the Andaman Sea, and then south into the Indian Ocean. All contact was lost thereafter.
Since its disappearance, debris believed to be from MH370 has washed up on African shores and Indian Ocean islands.
An extensive underwater search by Malaysia, Australia, and China covered 120,000 square kilometers (46,332 square miles) of the Indian Ocean but failed to locate the wreckage. A 2018 report indicated that the plane’s controls were likely deliberately manipulated to veer off course, though investigators were unable to determine who was responsible.
The backgrounds of the captain and co-pilot showed no evidence of suspicious activity, mental health issues, or financial troubles, the report concluded.
Jiang Hui, whose mother was on the flight, welcomed the news but criticized the time taken to resume the search. He also advocated for a more inclusive approach, such as offering public rewards for participation in the search efforts.
Meanwhile, families of victims have sought compensation from entities including Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and Allianz.
Loke expressed cautious optimism, noting that while the data is credible, there are no guarantees of finding the wreckage after more than a decade.
“At this point of time, nobody knows for sure,” he said.
A Russian missile strike on Friday morning killed at least one person and caused significant damage to buildings in central Kyiv, Ukrainian officials reported. The attack occurred during the city’s rush hour, triggering explosions and fires.
Residents in Kyiv’s center reported loud blasts, and images from the scene revealed a destroyed office building with shattered windows. Firefighters were seen extinguishing a blaze after a car was severely damaged on the street below.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed one fatality, while the city’s military administration reported that 11 people were injured, five of whom required hospitalization.
Russian forces, engaged in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, launched eight missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal and Iskander/KN-23 ballistic missiles, according to Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration. Ukraine’s air force claimed it intercepted all five Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles targeting the capital.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated the strike aimed at a command center used by Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency, alleging the facility was involved in missile development and housed a U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft system. “The goals of the strike have been achieved. All targets have been hit,” the ministry claimed.
Independent verification of these claims by either side remains unavailable.
The assault is part of a series of Russian airstrikes targeting Kyiv and other critical locations, with a focus on energy infrastructure. The strikes coincide with Russia’s ongoing military advancements in eastern Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, as peace negotiations are anticipated in the coming year.
The missile strike occurs amid Ukrainian concerns over potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday urged U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine and coordinate with European allies to counter Russia’s aggression. Trump is set to assume office next month, raising questions about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
