France began its military withdrawal from Chad Tuesday as two Mirage warplanes departed the capital N’Djamena for eastern France, following Chad’s unexpected termination of its defense cooperation agreement with Paris two weeks ago.
“It marks the beginning of the return of French equipment stationed in N’Djamena,” French Army spokesperson Colonel Guillaume Vernet confirmed, though terms for the complete withdrawal of approximately 1,000 remaining French troops await finalization between the two nations.
The departure represents France’s latest military exit from Africa, following similar withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after military coups and growing anti-French sentiment in those nations. The Chad withdrawal effectively ends decades of French military presence in the Sahel region and direct French operations against Islamist militants.
Chad’s November 28 decision to end the defense pact apparently caught Paris off guard, coming just as a French envoy delivered recommendations to President Emmanuel Macron about reducing military presence in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast. The move by Chad, long a Western ally in counter-terrorism efforts, marks a significant shift in regional security dynamics.
Armed gunmen kidnapped more than 50 women and children during a raid on Kakin Dawa village in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state, residents and police confirmed on Tuesday. The attack is the latest in a series of abductions by armed groups, locally known as bandits, who have terrorized the region for years.
The incident occurred on Sunday, according to a statement by the Zamfara police. Authorities said additional security forces were being deployed to the area to address the worsening insecurity.
Armed Raid on Village
Witnesses said the attackers, riding motorcycles and armed with assault rifles, descended on the village around 12:30 GMT, going house-to-house and forcibly taking residents.
“Later we found out that they kidnapped more than 50 women, including married women and girls,” said Hassan Ya’u, a resident who managed to escape. His younger sister was among those taken.
Residents have called on the federal and Zamfara state governments to increase security in the region.
“We are appealing to the authorities to send more soldiers and security personnel to fight those bandits,” Ya’u added.
Growing Insecurity in Nigeria
Northwest Nigeria has seen a surge in kidnappings for ransom due to poverty, unemployment, and the proliferation of illegal firearms. Insecurity plagues much of the country, including a 15-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast and separatist violence in the southeast.
The community is now anxiously awaiting contact from the kidnappers.
“We are currently waiting to hear the kidnappers’ demands for the release of the abducted individuals,” said Abdulkadir Sadia, another resident of Kakin Dawa. “The entire community is in distress.”
Zamfara state has been one of the worst-hit areas in Nigeria, with frequent attacks leaving residents vulnerable and security forces struggling to contain the violence.
Zambia’s constitutional court ruled Tuesday that former President Edgar Lungu cannot seek another term in office, determining that his previous service from 2015-2016 and 2016-2021 constituted two full terms under the constitution.
“The first respondent Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has therefore been twice elected and has twice held office,” the court declared, effectively ending Lungu’s attempted political comeback announced during former President Michael Sata’s memorial service last October.
The ruling follows Lungu’s pledge to return from retirement amid a series of criminal investigations targeting his family members, including his wife, who faces allegations of possessing proceeds of crime. The former president, who lost power to United Party for National Development candidate Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, did not attend the heavily guarded court session.
“We are studying the matter. But we are gravely concerned by the court’s decision and ruling,” Patriotic Front spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said following the verdict, which determined Lungu’s initial term after President Sata’s death counted as a complete presidential term.
Kenyan police fired teargas and arrested several people on Tuesday as hundreds marched in Nairobi and other cities to protest the rising number of femicides. The peaceful demonstrators called for justice and accountability in a country grappling with high levels of gender-based violence.
The protest in Nairobi saw hundreds, mostly women, chant and blow whistles while carrying signs that read, “Stop killing women!” Police repeatedly dispersed the demonstrators with teargas fired from moving vehicles, forcing them to regroup in different areas. Similar demonstrations were reported in Mombasa and Lodwar, as shown in videos posted on social media.
Arrests Amid Peaceful Demonstrations
Among those detained was Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International Kenya. Amnesty, along with three other organizations, condemned the arrests in a joint statement, describing the protest as “a courageous stand against the killing of women.”
“The violent response by police … is a direct attack on Kenya’s democratic principles and the human rights of its citizens,” the statement said.
The National Police Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving the reasons for the police crackdown unclear.
Alarming Rise in Femicide
According to the National Police Service, at least 97 women were victims of femicide between August and October 2023. While no official comparative data was provided for earlier years, figures compiled by the Africa Data Hub collective show 75 femicides in 2022 and 46 in 2021. Researchers attribute the high levels of gender-based violence in Kenya to deeply entrenched patriarchal views and inadequate legal protections.
Broader Police Conduct Under Scrutiny
Kenya’s police have faced growing criticism for their responses to public demonstrations, including anti-government protests in June and July, where at least 60 people were killed. While authorities have largely defended police actions, they have acknowledged ongoing investigations into allegations of misconduct.
The crackdown on Tuesday’s peaceful march has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and activists. Many argue it underscores the need for greater accountability and reform in Kenya’s approach to both gender-based violence and public dissent.
Israel launched extensive airstrikes on Syrian army bases Tuesday, targeting military assets it claims could fall into hostile hands. However, Israeli officials denied reports that its forces had advanced beyond the demilitarized zone along the Syrian border.
The strikes come as Syria transitions to a new era following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday. In Damascus, a sense of normalcy began to return with banks reopening for the first time since Assad’s fall, shops resuming business, and construction crews repairing damage in the city center.
Israel Strikes Syrian Military Targets
Israeli officials maintained that their actions are solely defensive. “The reports circulating about Israeli tanks advancing toward Damascus are false,” said an Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson. “Our troops remain within the demilitarized zone as stated.”
Despite the denials, multiple security sources reported Israeli forces advancing beyond the buffer zone established after the 1973 war, with some claiming they reached Qatana, just miles from Damascus airport.
Regional security sources described the overnight airstrikes as the heaviest yet, targeting military installations, airbases, and Republican Guard assets across Syria. More than 200 strikes reportedly destroyed helicopters, jets, and critical infrastructure tied to Assad’s forces.
Israel insists its objective is to prevent advanced military equipment from falling into hostile hands amid Syria’s volatile transition. While Israel has stated it seeks no conflict with Syria’s new authorities, the strikes have drawn sharp condemnation from countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt.
Saudi Arabia warned that Israeli incursions could “jeopardize Syria’s chances of restoring security.”
Damascus Transitions to New Leadership
Amid the escalating tensions, Damascus remains focused on its political transition. Assad’s prime minister, Mohammed Jalali, agreed to transfer power to the Salvation Government, previously an administration operating in rebel-held territory in northwest Syria.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, widely known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, heads the Salvation Government. Once linked to al Qaeda, Golani’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has sought to distance itself from its extremist roots.
In a meeting Monday with Jalali and Vice President Faisal Mekdad, Golani discussed the formation of a transitional government. “The handover may take days to complete,” Jalali said.
Despite HTS’s past designation as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the U.S., and others, the U.N. envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, emphasized the need for inclusivity in the new administration. “HTS and other groups are sending messages of unity and inclusiveness to Syrians,” Pedersen said in Geneva.
Steps Toward Recovery
As the dust settles in Damascus, residents are cautiously optimistic. The reopening of banks on Tuesday marked a significant step toward restoring everyday life. Employees returned to work at the Central Bank of Syria, while street cleaners, shopkeepers, and construction crews resumed activities.
“It feels like a new beginning,” said Sumayra al-Mukli, a bank worker. “It’s a new day, a new year, a new life.”
The path to rebuilding Syria remains fraught with challenges. Over a decade of civil war has devastated cities, displaced millions, and left the economy in ruins. International sanctions and the sheer scale of destruction mean recovery will be slow and arduous.
Still, for Syrians stepping into the post-Assad era, there is a renewed sense of hope despite lingering uncertainty.
Hope is fading for countless Syrians desperately searching for loved ones among the grim cells of Sednaya prison, a notorious detention facility near Damascus. The gates of the infamous prison were flung open Sunday after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebel forces, leading to the release of thousands of prisoners.
For many families, the chaotic scenes of freedom brought tearful reunions with relatives long thought to have been executed. Yet for others, the search continues through Sednaya’s labyrinth of filthy corridors, secret cells, and hidden underground chambers.
Ahmed Najjar traveled from Aleppo to Damascus, searching for his brother’s two children who were detained in 2012. “They’re saying there’s an underground prison,” Najjar said, reflecting the circulating rumors that more prisoners might remain trapped in inaccessible cells beneath the facility.
The White Helmets, a rescue organization known for saving lives during airstrikes, joined the search using maps provided by a defected Syrian army officer. Although they broke through walls and found hidden doors, no additional prisoners had been discovered by Monday afternoon.
Families Hold On to Hope
Outside the prison, crowds gathered in hopes of locating their loved ones. Intsar al-Jaber, 45, waited for any news of her brother and cousin, who were imprisoned in Sednaya. “They told me in 2014 my brother was dead and not to come back,” she said. Still, she has refused to give up hope.
At a nearby mosque, volunteers collected names and phone numbers of those searching for relatives, offering to call if any prisoners were identified. One woman, clutching a screenshot from social media, said she had seen her son among those released.
Inside the prison, the aftermath of years of brutal detentions was evident. Cells were littered with excrement, discarded papers, and muddy floors. Metal bowls, once used for food, lay abandoned. Survivors described Sednaya as a “human butcher shop,” where torture and mass executions were common. Rights groups have long reported on the facility’s grim reputation, with the U.S. accusing the Syrian government in 2017 of operating a crematorium at Sednaya to dispose of hanged prisoners.
Search Efforts Hampered by Chaos
Videos of the released prisoners—emaciated, shaven-headed, and barely able to identify themselves—circulated on social media. While the authenticity of some videos remains unverified, the large-scale prisoner release has been widely confirmed.
The chaotic nature of the prison’s opening has complicated efforts to trace detainees. Fadel Abdul Ghany, head of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, warned that the lack of organization has allowed genuine criminals to escape alongside political prisoners. “They need to manage this situation better,” Abdul Ghany said.
The search for underground cells continues, with rescue teams using drills and hammers to smash through walls and floors. Each breakthrough fuels hope, prompting rebels to fire celebratory gunshots, drawing crowds rushing forward. “My son, I’m coming!” one woman screamed. Another whispered a prayer, “God, please don’t disappoint me.”
Calls for Accountability
Sednaya has long been a symbol of Assad’s iron-fisted rule, where dissent was punished with imprisonment, torture, or death. Rights groups and survivors are demanding accountability for the atrocities committed within its walls.
Radwan Eid, searching for his relatives among the freed, called Sednaya a “butcher’s shop.” “The blood spilled here cannot be ignored,” he said. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”
The release of prisoners comes as Syria grapples with the fallout of Assad’s ousting. For many families, the chaotic scenes at Sednaya represent both a sliver of hope and a grim reminder of the nation’s long, painful struggle for justice.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has filed a motion asking a federal judge to deny the anonymity request of a woman accusing the hip-hop mogul of raping her in 2000 when she was 13 years old. The woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” has also accused rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs of participating in the alleged assault.
Spiro’s filing argues that the accuser’s choice to remain anonymous undermines the legitimacy of her claims, stating that the lawsuit’s anonymity “is inconsistent with a genuine effort to determine the truth or falsity of these allegations.” He suggested that the lawsuit could be intended to “procure a quick, extortionate settlement” rather than pursue justice.
Spiro further requested either the dismissal of the allegations or the disclosure of the plaintiff’s identity, emphasizing that it is unjust for the accuser to tarnish Carter’s reputation without revealing her identity.
Tony Buzbee, the Texas-based attorney representing the accuser, defended the anonymity request and dismissed Spiro’s claims of extortion as “foolish.” Buzbee argued that demand letters like the one sent to Carter are a common legal practice, calling the accusations of extortion an attempt to shift focus away from the case.
The lawsuit, filed in New York’s Southern District, alleges the assault occurred after the accuser was taken to an afterparty following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. According to the suit:
– A limousine driver working for Combs invited the accuser, then 13, to the party, saying she “fit what Diddy was looking for.”
– Upon arriving at the party, the accuser signed a document she believed to be a nondisclosure agreement and consumed a drink that left her feeling disoriented.
– She alleges she was taken to a room where Jay-Z and Combs raped her while an unnamed female celebrity watched.
The lawsuit claims the accuser resisted performing oral sex on Combs by hitting him in the neck, after which she escaped and called her father from a gas station.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages under New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.
Jay-Z has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “heinous” and accusing Buzbee of unprofessional conduct. In a public statement, Jay-Z challenged the accuser to file criminal charges if her claims were genuine.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faces additional lawsuits for alleged assault and racketeering, has also denied the allegations. His legal representatives referred to the lawsuits as “shameless publicity stunts” meant to exploit the public status of high-profile figures like Combs.
The case adds to mounting legal challenges for Combs, who is currently in custody on unrelated charges and awaiting trial. It also underscores the complexities of balancing anonymity for sexual assault survivors with the rights of those accused, especially in high-profile cases involving public figures.
A Haitian gang leader, controlling key coastal areas in the capital, is accused of orchestrating a massacre that targeted elderly individuals and Vodou leaders, allegedly in revenge for his son’s death. Over 100 people are reported dead, according to the Haitian government and human rights organizations.
The incident occurred in the Wharf Jérémie neighborhood of Port-au-Prince between December 6-8, where U.N. reports confirm at least 184 people were killed, including 127 elderly men and women. Local Haitian rights groups have independently cited estimates exceeding 100 deaths.
The Haitian government, acknowledging the massacre, called it “unspeakable carnage” and vowed justice for the victims. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a thorough investigation to ensure accountability.
The gang leader, identified as Micanor Altès (also known as Monel Felix or Wa Mikanò), reportedly blamed the elderly and Vodou practitioners in his community for his son’s death. After consulting a Vodou priest regarding his son’s illness, the boy passed away. Micanor allegedly accused community members of witchcraft, claiming they were responsible.
Rights groups report that well-known community leaders were rounded up and executed at the gang leader’s stronghold. Motorbike drivers attempting to rescue victims were also killed. The massacre has left the area under strict control, with reports of an enforced ban on leaving the community as the gang continues targeting suspected individuals.
Micanor Altès controls areas including Wharf Jérémie, La Saline, and Fort Dimanche. Previously described as less brutal than other gang leaders, this incident marks a shift in his violent actions.
Due to the gang’s control and lack of clear evidence such as social media documentation, details of the massacre remain murky. Human rights analysts describe the situation as indicative of the grip gangs have over Haiti’s population.
Haiti faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 4,500 people reportedly killed in gang violence this year alone. The country is struggling with a weakened police force and limited international support, even as criminal groups target civilians and critical infrastructure.
Human Rights Watch recently emphasized the dire situation, calling for an expanded U.N. peacekeeping mission to address the escalating violence and protect the population.
Vodou, a religion rooted in Haiti’s history and revolution, continues to be a significant part of its culture. However, misattribution of tragedies to alleged witchcraft has fueled violence in vulnerable communities.
The massacre highlights the urgency for international intervention and local governance reforms to address the growing influence of gangs in Haiti.
Six Guatemalans have been arrested and charged in connection with a human smuggling operation tied to a deadly truck crash in Mexico in 2021 that claimed the lives of more than 50 migrants. The arrests were made on Monday, coinciding with the three-year anniversary of the tragedy, authorities from the U.S. and Guatemala announced.
The crash occurred when a semi-trailer truck, packed with over 160 migrants, collided with a pedestrian bridge support in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of Chiapas, Mexico. Many of the victims were Guatemalan nationals attempting to reach the United States.
Guatemalan authorities detained Tomas Quino Canil (36), Alberto Marcario Chitic (31), Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino (24), and Josefa Quino Canil de Zavala (42). U.S. authorities arrested Jorge Agapito Ventura at his residence in Cleveland, Texas. A sixth individual was also detained in Guatemala, though their name was redacted in the U.S. indictment.
The suspects face charges of conspiracy, endangering lives, causing serious bodily harm, and deaths resulting from their smuggling activities.
According to the unsealed indictment in Laredo, Texas, the accused were part of a smuggling network that transported migrants from Guatemala through Mexico to the U.S. Migrants were moved on foot and in overcrowded vehicles, including microbuses and tractor trailers. In some cases, unaccompanied minors were instructed on what to say if apprehended.
The smugglers reportedly used Facebook Messenger to coordinate the delivery of identification documents to facilitate illegal crossings into the United States.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas described the tragedy as evidence of the “ruthless and dangerous” nature of human smugglers, warning migrants against risking their lives in such ventures.
Guatemalan Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez identified the suspects as members of a criminal organization known as “Los Quino.” Four of those arrested in Guatemala are now facing extradition to the United States.
Authorities conducted 15 search operations across Guatemala on Monday with support from U.S. and Mexican officials.
Mike Tyson faces a $1.5 million lawsuit from Cyprus-based company Medier, which alleges the former heavyweight champion wrongfully terminated a promotional contract to pursue his Netflix-sponsored fight with Jake Paul.
The lawsuit, filed in London’s High Court against Tyson and his company Tyrannic, claims the boxing legend improperly ended their January agreement in March. “The true reason for Mr. Tyson and Tyrannic’s hasty and unlawful termination was because Mr. Tyson had agreed a deal, sponsored by Netflix, to fight the influencer Jake Paul,” according to court documents.
Medier, which promotes betting company Rabona, seeks recovery of more than $800,000 in fees paid to Tyson “in return for which no services were provided” and $729,000 in “wasted production and promotion costs.” Tyson’s legal team contends Medier breached the contract by failing to obtain approval for promotional materials.
The 58-year-old Tyson reportedly earned $20 million for the widely criticized bout against 27-year-old Paul last month at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, which drew over 70,000 fans. Paul won by unanimous decision in the eight-round Netflix-streamed event.
