Foreign News
Aung San Suu Kyi Jailed for another Four Years
A court in Myanmar has sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to four more years in prison, in the latest of a series of trials.
She was convicted for the illegal possession and import of walkie-talkies and breaking COVID-19 rules.
Ms Suu Kyi was first convicted in December, and given a reduced jail sentence of two years.
She has been detained since a military coup last February and faces about a dozen charges, all of which she denies.
They have been widely condemned as unjust.
It is believed that Monday’s charges stem from when soldiers searched her house on the day of the coup by forces led by General Min Aung Hlaing, when they said they discovered the devices.
Monday’s trial in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, was closed to the media and Ms Suu Kyi’s lawyers have been barred from communicating with the media and public.
The latest sentence will bring her total prison term to six years.
Last month the Nobel laureate was found guilty of incitement of dissent and breaking Covid-19 rules, in what was condemned as a “sham trial” by UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet.
Human Rights Watch called the legal proceedings a “courtroom circus of secret proceedings on bogus charges… so that (Aung San Suu Kyi) will remain in prison indefinitely”.
The statement by the group’s deputy Asia director Phil Robertson also accused the military of securing convictions “in a kangaroo court on the flimsiest, politically motivated charges”, and claimed it was “running roughshod over the human rights of everyone, ranging from Suu Kyi… to the Civil Disobedience Movements activists on the street.”
The military’s seizure of power in Myanmar (also called Burma) last February came months after Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won November 2020 general elections by a landslide.
The military alleged voter fraud in the victory, however independent election observers have said the elections were largely free and fair.
The coup triggered widespread demonstrations and Myanmar’s military has cracked down on pro-democracy protesters, activists and journalists.
Ms Suu Kyi is one of more than 10,600 people to have been arrested by the junta since February, and at least 1,303 others killed in the demonstrations, according to the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
It is believed that if found guilty of all the charges she faces, Ms Suu Kyi could eventually be jailed for life.
Israel has sent two planes to evacuate fans from Amsterdam after violent clashes between Israeli supporter and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of Ajax versus Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa Cup match.
“The Prime Minister has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist our citizens,.
“The harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked’’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted on X on Friday morning.
The Israeli leader’s office called the incident horrifying and demanded that the Dutch government and security forces take vigorous and swift action against the rioters, and ensure the safety of our citizens.
This clash was however unclear and yet to be unfolded.
The exact events remain unclear. The violent disturbances occurred around the Europa League football match between Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. Ajax won 5-0.
There were clashes in several locations in the centre of the Dutch capital; though it was not specified which side started the violence.
Around 60 people were detained temporarily on Thursday evening, the police said.
Amsterdam TV station AT5 reported that demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans.
The police’s mobile units reportedly shielded the Israelis and escorted them to their hotels.
There were also clashes in the afternoon between Israeli football fans and security forces in the city centre.
According to police, about a dozen people were arrested for disturbing public order and illegal possession of fireworks.
Even before the match, there were isolated altercations near the stadium in the south-east of the city, the police said.
More than 200 demonstrators attempted to reach the venue, according to the police.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned these “unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis’’ on X and said he had since spoken with Netanyahu.
Far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders called it a pogrom.
“We have become the Gaza of Europe,’’ he said, adding that Muslims with Palestinian flags were hunting down Jews.
Israel’s UN ambassador also referred to the incident on X as a pogrom.
Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel condemned the incident.
“Chasing and beating up Israeli soccer fans is not anti-war protest.
“It is criminal and intolerable and we must all stand against it. As a European I am ashamed to see such scenes in one of our great cities,’’ he wrote on X.
However the Reaction from the United States (U.S.).
In New York, Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), described itself as the world’s largest anti-hate organisation.
He demanded that the Dutch government ensure the safety of Israeli fans, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and apologise for the violence.
“This is exactly what ‘globalise the intifada’ looks like,’’ Greenblatt wrote on X, saying there were mobs of hate-filled people who had attacked Israelis who came to Amsterdam to enjoy a football game.
Even New York Attorney General Letitia James chimed in on X, calling the attacks against Jews in Amsterdam “deeply disturbing and horrifying.’’
New York State, particularly metropolitan New York City, has a large Jewish population.
“We must do everything in our power to protect Jews in America and across the world.
“This anti-Semitism and violence must end now,’’ she wrote. (dpa/NAN)
Three Israelis are missing following clashes between Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of football club Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match in Amsterdam, according to Israeli authorities.
Ten people were injured in the violence, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Friday morning.
The degree of their injuries was initially unclear.
The ministry urged its citizens to use public transport to travel to the airport, after Israel had announced it was sending two planes to evacuate the fans.
Local security forces had been deployed, the ministry said.
The ministry had initially advised fans not to leave their hotels.
It also advised its citizens not to wear Jewish or Israeli symbols in public.
(dpa/NAN)
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is to travel to France for talks with his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu on Wednesday evening, following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
The talks are expected to focus on the consequences of Trump’s victory.
In particular for the future support for Ukraine, which has been fighting for more than two and a half years against Russia, as well as for European defence policy?
Washington has been a central provider of military support to Ukraine, which Trump has long criticized.
During his election campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in a very short time and has held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jointly responsible for the war.
(dpa/NAN)
Yusuf Presents N549bn 2025 Budget to Kano Assembly
ShareGov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has presented a budget of N549 billion for 2025 fiscal year to the State...
Israel Sends Two Planes to Evacuate Fans after Amsterdam Violence
Share Israel has sent two planes to evacuate fans from Amsterdam after violent clashes between Israeli supporter and pro-Palestinian demonstrators...
NAICOM Gives Insurers Dec.31 Deadline to Settle Outstanding Claims
ShareThe National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has given insurance companies Dec.31 deadline to clear all outstanding claims. The Head, Communication and...
Several Israelis Injured, Missing after Violent Clashes in Amsterdam
Share Three Israelis are missing following clashes between Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of football club...
Stakeholders Commit to End Vandalism, Illegal Ticketing on Highway
ShareThe National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) and stakeholders have reiterated commitment to end vandalism...
Pension Fraud: Otti Vows to Prosecute Suspects
Share Gov. Alex Otti has vowed that anybody implicated in the mismanagement or theft of pension funds in the state...
Lawmaker Seeks Punishment for Individuals, Involved in Charging Minors with Treason
Share The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called for severe punishment for individuals involved in charging the...
Nigeria, 7 others Begin African-led HIV Vaccine Development
ShareNigeria and seven other African countries have begun a project to check HIV in the continent. The project is tagged,...
NEMA Distributes Relief Items to Victims of Flood in Rivers
Share The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has released relief items to victims of flood in Ahoada West Local Government...
WHO Unveils Nigeria’s First Climate Health Vulnerability, Adaptation Assessment Report
Share The World Health Organisation (WHO) unveiled Nigeria’s first-ever Climate Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report (VA) during the Health...