Europe
Anders Brevik considered sane and sentenced
A unanimous decision by five judges has declared Anders Breivik sane after his attacks on a Christian youth camp in July 2011, which left 77 people dead and more than 240 wounded. He has been sentenced to serve the maximum sentence of 21 years in jail for premeditated murder and terrorism. It is within the law to extend this sentence at the later date if he is still considered a danger to society, whilst he has to serve a minimum of ten years. The prosecution wanted him to be considered ‘insane’. The sanity of Breivik has been under much deliberation throughout his trial; initially a psychologist declared him insane, only for this to be contradicted months later by a different psychologist. Judge Wenche Elisabeth Arntzen, who delivered the verdict, imposed a sentence of “preventive detention,” which puts specific terms on criminals who are dangerous to society.
Africa and Middle East
Libya seize tanks from pro-Gaddafi militants
Government officials of Libya have confirmed that a militia group who are loyal to the former leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, has seized over 100 tanks. The clash concluded with one person killed and numbers injured. The seize took place near Tripoli when security forces clashed with Brigade of the Faithful group; who are reportedly behind last Sunday’s car bombings which killed two people. Since last years uprising the government has endured clashes with groups who remain armed by artillery scattered across the region. The new government has struggled to assert authority in many regions.
Asia
Bridge collapses in China killed three
A multi-million dollar bridge less than a year old has collapsed in China, killing three people and injuring five according to state media. Poor construction and overloading are being blamed for the incident, which left four lorries collapsing over the side. It is the sixth incidence of its kind since 2011 to occur in china, state media has said. They added that all bridge and city roads will be checked.
China criticised for ‘forcing Kachin refugees back to Burma’
The China government has been heavily criticised by a human rights group for forcing Kachin refugees back to Burma, where they are fleeing conflict between Burmese army and Kachin rebels. The group, Human Rights Watch, claim that there the asylum seekers face abuse and violence in the northern regions of Burma. Their observations state that at least 1,000 have been forced back in the last week with plans to deport a further 4,000 from makeshift camps. In a statement the group said, China is “flouting its international legal obligations” and should “urgently change course and provide temporary protection [for those displaced by the conflict]’.
North America
Batman shootings suspect: ‘banned from campus after threats’
The suspect in the Aurora shootings, James Holmes, was banned from his university campus after failing an exam, it has appeared. US prosecutors made the announcement after a hearing which looked into whether prosecutors will be able to see records kept by University of Colorado, where Holmes studied. Mr Holmes has been charged with the pre-meditated killings of 12 people and wounding 58 in a gun massacre that took place in a cinema. The threats he made where reported to the police at the time, but the nature has not been disclosed thus far in the trial.
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