Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • ICC investigating Sudan’s RSF for ‘mass criminality’ during el-Fasher takeover

    ICC investigating Sudan’s RSF for ‘mass criminality’ during el-Fasher takeover

    The International Criminal Court has presented damning evidence alleging the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group executed “an organized, calculated campaign” of atrocities during their capture of el-Fasher in October 2025. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan delivered this assessment to the United Nations Security Council via video link on Monday, revealing the ICC’s intensified efforts to establish individual criminal responsibility for crimes committed in both el-Fasher (North Darfur) and el-Geneina (West Darfur).

    Khan’s presentation detailed a pattern of systematic violence targeting non-Arab communities, including mass executions, sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, and the creation of mass graves. The prosecutor’s office has collected substantial evidence including video footage, audio recordings, and satellite data showing RSF members celebrating direct executions and desecrating corpses.

    The investigation reveals that the approximately 18-month siege of el-Fasher culminated in widespread criminality during late October 2025. Satellite imagery analysis indicates incidents of mass killing and subsequent attempts to conceal these crimes through mass graves. Khan emphasized that these atrocities appear to have been employed as tactical tools to assert control over the population.

    Significant progress has been made in investigating the 2023 el-Geneina massacres that resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. The ICC is prioritizing gender-based crimes in its investigative strategy, noting the undeniable use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. However, social stigma and fear of reprisals create substantial barriers to documentation efforts.

    The Office of the Prosecutor is currently preparing arrest warrant applications related to the el-Fasher situation while also documenting reports of potential Rome Statute crimes allegedly committed by Sudanese armed forces in Darfur. Khan emphasized that all conflict parties must uphold their obligations under international law and avoid targeting civilian populations and facilities.

    The ongoing Sudan conflict, active since April 2023, has created what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The fighting has resulted in thousands of deaths, displaced nearly 13 million people, and pushed over 40% of the population into acute food insecurity. UN Sudan chief Denise Brown, who recently visited el-Fasher, described the situation as a “crime scene” and called for international intervention to prevent further atrocities.

  • North Korea’s Kim sacks vice premier, rails against ‘incompetence’

    North Korea’s Kim sacks vice premier, rails against ‘incompetence’

    In an extraordinary public display of disciplinary action, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has summarily dismissed Vice Premier Yang Sung Ho during the inauguration of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamgyong Province. State media reported Tuesday that Kim condemned what he characterized as widespread incompetence and defeatism among senior officials, making Yang’s dismissal a stark warning to the ruling apparatus.

    The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) detailed how Kim openly criticized Yang’s performance, stating the official was ‘unfit to be entrusted with heavy duties.’ Employing a vivid agricultural metaphor, Kim remarked that appointing Yang was ‘like hitching a cart to a goat,’ emphasizing that ‘it is an ox that pulls a cart, not a goat.’ This rare public rebuke occurred as Kim toured the new industrial complex, a key component of a larger machinery-manufacturing belt that reportedly constitutes approximately 16 percent of the nation’s total machinery output.

    Analysts interpret this move as a strategic shock tactic ahead of the Workers’ Party Congress, the first in five years, where economic policy and military planning are anticipated to be central agenda items. The public dismissal echoes the 2013 execution of Kim’s uncle, Jang Song Thaek, signaling a continued hardline stance against perceived disloyalty or inefficiency. This action occurs against a backdrop of chronic economic struggles, exacerbated by international sanctions and persistent food shortages, with Kim urging a rapid transformation from ‘centuries-old backwardness’ to a modernized economy capable of securing the state’s future.

  • Shark bites surfer in Australian state’s fourth attack in 48 hours

    Shark bites surfer in Australian state’s fourth attack in 48 hours

    Australian authorities have issued urgent warnings for swimmers and surfers to avoid coastal waters following an alarming series of shark encounters along New South Wales’ coastline. The most recent incident occurred Tuesday when a surfer sustained minor injuries from a suspected bull shark bite on the Mid North Coast, marking the fourth such attack within a 48-hour period.

    The concerning pattern began Sunday afternoon when a 12-year-old boy suffered severe lower limb injuries while swimming in Sydney Harbour. Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty described the scene as ‘horrendous’ and confirmed the child remains in critical condition. On Monday, two separate incidents occurred on Sydney’s northern beaches: one surfer sustained critical leg injuries at Manly Beach, while an 11-year-old boy narrowly escaped harm when a shark damaged his surfboard just north of the area.

    Marine scientists attribute this unusual spike in shark activity to recent heavy rainfall patterns. Professor Culum Brown of Macquarie University explained that bull sharks are particularly drawn to freshwater outlets where rivers meet the ocean, following prey species that get washed downstream. ‘The incredible rainfall we’ve experienced creates ideal feeding conditions for sharks as they pursue fish and other organic matter flowing from inland waterways,’ Brown stated.

    All northern Sydney beaches remain closed indefinitely as authorities monitor the situation. Surf Life Saving New South Wales continues to emphasize the importance of heeding safety warnings until water conditions normalize and shark activity decreases.

  • AFL great Nicky Winmar to fight assault allegations at August hearing

    AFL great Nicky Winmar to fight assault allegations at August hearing

    Australian Football League icon Nicky Winmar is preparing to formally contest serious criminal allegations in a Melbourne court. The former St Kilda champion faces charges of assault and choking stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred on July 18 of last year.

    Winmar appeared remotely via video link before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where his legal representative, prominent barrister Dermott Dann KC, indicated the 60-year-old would dispute all allegations. The court has scheduled a comprehensive hearing to examine the evidence, set to occur approximately eight months from now.

    The specific charges include two counts of assault and one count of unlawfully choking, strangling or suffocating another person without legal justification. These charges were formally filed against Winmar on July 19, 2023, following police investigation into the alleged altercation.

    Beyond his current legal challenges, Winmar remains celebrated for his groundbreaking 251-game AFL career spanning twelve seasons, during which he earned All Australian honors twice. His legacy extends beyond athletic achievement to social significance—his iconic stance against racial abuse during a 1993 match was permanently commemorated with a bronze statue outside Perth’s Optus Stadium.

    The court has scheduled Winmar’s next appearance for August 11 as proceedings continue to develop.

  • Spain mourns as train crash toll rises to 40

    Spain mourns as train crash toll rises to 40

    Spain has entered a three-day period of national mourning following the country’s deadliest rail disaster in a decade, which claimed 40 lives after two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern Andalusia region on Sunday evening.

    The catastrophic incident occurred when an Iryo-operated train traveling from Malaga to Madrid inexplicably derailed and crossed onto the adjacent track, colliding with an oncoming Renfe service headed to Huelva. The impact caused both trains to derail, resulting in widespread devastation and over 120 injuries, with 41 passengers remaining hospitalized in Córdoba.

    Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the accident site on Monday, declaring the tragedy ‘a day of sorrow for all of Spain’ and promising a thorough investigation with ‘absolute transparency.’ Rescue operations continued throughout Monday as heavy machinery was deployed to lift severely damaged carriages and improve access for emergency teams.

    Transport officials have described the accident as ‘extremely strange’ given the circumstances. Unlike the 2013 Santiago de Compostela disaster that claimed 80 lives, this derailment occurred on a straight section of recently renovated track, with both trains traveling within the speed limit of 250 km/h (approximately 200 km/h at the time of impact).

    Rail operators and government authorities have largely ruled out human error and speeding as potential causes. Iryo confirmed their locomotive was manufactured in 2022 and underwent inspection just three days before the accident. Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia suggested the investigation should focus on either Iryo’s rolling stock or infrastructure issues.

    As the nation grieves, relatives of missing passengers have turned to social media to share photographs and seek information about their loved ones. Local residents of Adamuz immediately mobilized support efforts, bringing water, blankets, and supplies to the town hall following news of the tragedy.

    The incident has drawn international condolences, including messages from Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron, while raising questions about the safety of Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network—the largest in Europe, spanning over 3,000 kilometers of dedicated tracks connecting major cities.

  • Trump administration discussed offering sanctuary to Jews in UK: Report

    Trump administration discussed offering sanctuary to Jews in UK: Report

    The United States is evaluating the possibility of extending asylum protections to British Jewish citizens, as revealed in a recent Telegraph report. This potential policy shift emerges amidst growing concerns about antisemitic violence in the United Kingdom.

    Robert Garson, personal attorney to former President Donald Trump and a Manchester-born Jewish individual, disclosed ongoing discussions with State Department officials regarding sanctuary provisions for UK Jews fleeing religious persecution. Garson asserted that Britain has become increasingly unsafe for Jewish communities, stating he sees ‘no future’ for them there following a deadly October 2025 antisemitic attack at Manchester’s Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue that claimed two Jewish lives.

    ‘It is certainly not an unattractive proposition,’ Garson noted regarding the potential asylum program. ‘It is a highly educated community. I have spoken to people in the State Department and I have mentioned it in my role on the Holocaust Museum board.’

    The prominent lawyer, who represented Trump in a $50 million lawsuit against journalist Bob Woodward and serves on the US Holocaust Memorial Council since May 2025, confirmed close consultations on the matter with Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, Trump’s antisemitism envoy. Kaploun, an influential Zionist figure based in Florida, has historically conflated criticism of Israel with antisemitism and advocated for restrictions on free speech regarding Israeli policies.

    This potential policy development occurs against a complex backdrop of rising antisemitism in Britain coinciding with increased Islamophobia. Tensions have escalated particularly following Israel’s Gaza offensive, which has resulted in over 71,500 fatalities and been recognized as genocide by UN experts and genocide scholars.

    The Trump administration’s consideration of special immigration provisions for British Jews presents a notable contrast to its broader restrictive immigration policies. Recently announced visa suspensions affect nationals from 75 countries, including Muslim-majority nations like Tunisia, Pakistan, Kuwait, and Morocco, alongside predominantly Eastern Christian European countries such as North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Moldova.

    This selective approach mirrors previous exceptions made for white South Africans claiming persecution, despite denials from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and affected communities regarding alleged ‘white genocide.’ According to the International Refugee Assistance Project, pre-suspended refugee arrivals with confirmed travel plans previously exceeded the entire current annual refugee program capacity.

  • Sharjah Ruler announces new Al Ashkal neighbourhood in Khorfakkan

    Sharjah Ruler announces new Al Ashkal neighbourhood in Khorfakkan

    In a significant urban development announcement, His Highness Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has revealed plans for a new residential neighborhood in the eastern coastal city of Khorfakkan. The project, named ‘Al Ashkal Neighborhood,’ will be situated within the Jabal Al Ashkal mountainous terrain near the Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled.

    The development represents a strategic expansion of housing options in the region, featuring hundreds of distinctive mountain-oriented residences that will offer architectural and lifestyle features contrasting with traditional sea-view properties. The announcement, made on January 19, 2026, addresses growing concerns about residential land availability in the rapidly developing city.

    Complementing the residential development, infrastructure improvements include the paving of the roadway connecting to Al Rafisa area, enhancing accessibility throughout the region. The Ruler specifically addressed housing security concerns, noting that despite perceptions of exhausted residential capacity in the Al Harrā’ zone, substantial construction continues with 270 homes currently underway across two groupings. This includes 120 units in Al Madhifī, where construction sites have already been transferred to the Housing Department for development.

    The project demonstrates Sharjah’s commitment to diversified urban planning that incorporates varied terrain and caters to different residential preferences while maintaining sustainable expansion practices.

  • Goodbye gator, see you later: San Francisco mourns its beloved albino alligator

    Goodbye gator, see you later: San Francisco mourns its beloved albino alligator

    SAN FRANCISCO – The California Academy of Sciences hosted an extraordinary memorial Sunday as hundreds gathered to celebrate Claude, the city’s beloved albino alligator who passed away in December at age 30. The unique celebration featured a New Orleans-style brass band, an eight-foot-long gator-shaped sourdough bread, drag queen story time, and the official designation of “Claude the Alligator Way” on a street near his former home.

    Claude, who measured 10 feet long and weighed 300 pounds, captivated millions of visitors during his 17-year residency at the academy with his distinctive pink eyes and rare albinism. While typically a quiet resident of the swamp exhibit, Claude gained particular notoriety for an incident involving a 12-year-old girl’s ballet shoe, which he successfully snatched and consumed during a public viewing.

    “It’s no small feat to get a shoe out of an alligator,” recalled Bart Shepherd of the California Academy of Sciences, describing the complex extraction operation that required anesthesia, specialized tools, and multiple veterinary staff – all while a fire alarm blared throughout the building.

    Beyond his occasional mischief, Claude emerged as an unexpected symbol of San Francisco values. “He embodied something that we think of as a really San Francisco ideal, which is not just accepting but welcoming people for their differences,” said Jeanette Peach, the academy’s communications director. His rare genetic condition provided visibility for those who feel like outcasts, demonstrating that differences can be celebrated rather than hidden.

    The reptile, who hatched in 1995 at a Louisiana alligator farm before moving to San Francisco in 2008, delighted approximately 22 million visitors during his lifetime. Since his passing from liver cancer, the academy has received thousands of letters from grieving fans expressing how Claude inspired them to embrace their uniqueness.

    Senior veterinarian Lana Krol noted that among all alligators she has worked with, Claude “struck me as the most laidback of them all.” His legacy continues as an ambassador animal who successfully connected people with nature and science while teaching valuable lessons about acceptance and inclusion.

  • Australia parliament votes on tighter gun controls after Bondi shooting

    Australia parliament votes on tighter gun controls after Bondi shooting

    Australia’s House of Representatives has approved landmark firearms legislation establishing a national gun buyback program and enhanced licensing checks, responding to December’s deadly Bondi Beach shooting that claimed 15 lives. The bill passed with substantial majority (96-45) and now advances to the Senate for final approval.

    Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke presented the legislation as a direct response to the attack targeting a Jewish festival, stating the perpetrators had “hate in their hearts and guns in their hands.” Burke revealed the alarming statistic that Australia now possesses more firearms than prior to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which originally prompted the nation’s stringent gun control framework.

    The comprehensive package includes multiple security enhancements: a national buyback targeting “surplus and newly restricted firearms” from Australia’s estimated 4 million registered guns, stricter import controls, and improved intelligence sharing between agencies regarding license applicants. Notably, the father in the father-son duo behind the Bondi attack legally owned six firearms, while his son had previously drawn intelligence agency attention.

    Parallel hate speech reforms are simultaneously advancing through parliament, though these faced initial opposition from conservative coalition members concerned about free speech implications. A modified version has reportedly gained Liberal Party support after negotiations, though National Party backing remains uncertain. The Greens conditionally support both measures, demanding broader minority protections and protest rights safeguards.

  • Australian Open 2026: top-ranked Aussie Maya Joint has been defeated in a first-round upset

    Australian Open 2026: top-ranked Aussie Maya Joint has been defeated in a first-round upset

    In a dramatic opening day upset at Melbourne Park, Australia’s top-ranked female tennis prodigy Maya Joint suffered a stunning first-round elimination from her home Grand Slam tournament. The 19-year-old world No. 30 fell to Czech teenager Tereza Valentova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in a match that highlighted significant service struggles for the local hope.

    The match statistics revealed a telling story of Joint’s challenges, with the Australian committing eight double faults and winning merely 59% of her first-serve points. This service vulnerability stood in stark contrast to Valentova’s performance, with the Czech player demonstrating superior composure and tactical serving throughout the contest.

    The match encountered a notable interruption when Valentova, leading 3-2 in the second set, took an extended break within the permitted rules due to apparent discomfort from the Melbourne heat conditions. Despite this pause, the 17-year-old Czech returned to court with renewed focus, winning four consecutive games to secure her victory against the higher-ranked Australian.

    Valentova, who was competing in the junior draw at the Australian Open just twelve months prior, expressed astonishment at her breakthrough performance. “I didn’t expect that… it feels amazing,” the victorious teenager told broadcasters, visibly embracing the atmosphere of her main draw debut.

    The early exit represents a significant setback for Joint, who had carried Australia’s hopes as the nation’s highest-ranked female player entering the tournament. Meanwhile, Valentova advances to the second round, having demonstrated remarkable poise against her more experienced opponent.