UN chief warns Israel, Russia over reports of sexual abuse by armed forces
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that Israel and Russia may soon be listed as parties suspected of sexual violence in conflict zones, Al Jazeera reported.
Guterres cited credible reports of abuse by Israeli forces against Palestinian detainees but noted difficulties verifying cases due to limited UN access. He called on Israel to stop such acts and allow investigations. Israel denied the claims, accusing the UN of bias and urging focus on Hamas’s crimes.
Regarding Russia, Guterres highlighted reports of sexual violence against Ukrainian prisoners, including electrocution and forced nudity, and criticized Russia for not cooperating with UN inquiries. According to Al Jazeera, Russia’s UN mission did not respond.
US announces criminal charges against Haitian gang leader Barbecue
US federal prosecutors have announced criminal charges against Jimmy Cherizier, the Haitian gang leader known as "Barbecue" who leads an alliance of gangs that control much of the capitol of Port-au-Prince, BBC reported.
The indictment alleges that Mr Cherizier, as well as US citizen Bazile Richardson, 48, solicited funds from Haitian diaspora community in the US to help pay gang members and buy firearms in violation of US sanctions.
Cherizier, a former police officer who is at large in Haiti, leads the group Viv Ansanm (Live Together). The US is offering $5m (£3.7m) for information leading to his arrest.
The group has been accused of multiple murders, kidnappings and attacks on infrastructure, according to BBC.
Wife of South Korea's jailed ex-president arrested
The wife of South Korea's jailed former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested over a raft of charges, including stock manipulation and bribery, BBC reported.
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee denied all charges during a four-hour court hearing in Seoul on Tuesday. But the court issued a detention warrant, citing the risk that she may destroy evidence.
South Korea has a history of former presidents being indicted and imprisoned. However, this is the first time both the former president and former first lady have been jailed.
Yoon was detained in January to face trial over a failed martial law bid last year that plunged the country into chaos and eventually led to his ouster, according to BBC.
National Guard troops appear in Washington DC as mayor rejects 'authoritarian push'
US National Guard troops have begun appearing on the streets of Washington DC, a day after President Donald Trump deployed the troops to the city and took control of its police force as he argued violent crime was out of control, BBC reported.
Armoured vehicles were spotted at urban centres and tourist sites around the US capital on Tuesday evening.
Officials have said that 800 National Guard troops are expected to be deployed, as well as 500 federal law enforcement agents, according to BBC.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, who has denied crime is out of control in her city, described the troop deployment as an "authoritarian push".
