Africa
M23 rebels placed under UN sanctions
The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on leaders of the M23 rebel army in the Democratic Republic of Congo on New Year’s Eve. Under the measures, those linked to the group will have their assets frozen and be barred from travel. Similar measures were taken against the FDLR rebels in Rwanda. Made up largely of deserters from the army, the M23 captured Goma – on DR Congo’s eastern border with Rwanda – from government and UN forces last month. It later withdrew from the city after international condemnation. The sanctions came the day before Rwanda joined the UN Security Council for a two-year term yesterday. Rwanda and Uganda are accused of backing the M23 rebels, essentially using them as proxy fighters in an ongoing battle for the mineral-rich region. Both countries strongly deny the allegations.
Popular Egyptian satirist accused of mocking president
A popular Egyptian political satirist is being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly insulting the president. A formal complaint was brought against Bassem Youssef for “undermining the standing” of President Mohamed Morsi in his television show. Separately, an independent newspaper says it has been accused by the presidency of “circulating false news” and is also being investigated. The cases come amid increasing concerns about press freedoms in Egypt; many journalists have joined critics of the country’s new Islamist-backed constitution, saying it does not offer enough guarantees of press freedoms. Bassem Youssef is a doctor who shot to fame after winning a huge number of followers with his witty lampooning of public figures in videos posted on the internet following the uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak’s rule. One of Egypt’s independent satellite stations began broadcasting his satirical show three times a week, making him a household name and drawing comparisons with Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show, a leading American satirical show.
Asia
Thousands march against Hong Kong leader CY Leung
Thousands of people in Hong Kong took to the streets yesterday, demanding the right to vote for the city’s chief executive – who is currently selected by a small committee loyal to Beijing – and calling for the resignation of CY Leung, the current leader. They say CY Leung is not to be trusted following claims he lied about illegal building at his home, a politically sensitive issue in a city where living space is at a premium and many ordinary families are forced to live in cramped conditions. Mr Leung has acknowledged and apologised for the structures, blaming forgetfulness for failing to declare them, but he has not persuaded critics. Pro-Leung rallies were also held, with organisers claiming 60,000 people took part, though the police put the number at 8,500. Those behind the anti-Leung marches claimed at least 130,000 participants, though police said the number was closer to 26,000. Hong Kong was returned to China by the United Kingdom in 1997 and has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy from Beijing, but the Chinese leadership has resisted public pressure for full democracy in Hong Kong ever since.
India minister: name Delhi rape law after victim
An Indian minister has called on the authorities to reveal the name of a woman who was gang-raped in Delhi so that a new anti-rape law can be named after her. Junior Education Minister Shashi Tharoor said the 23-year-old medical student should be honoured unless her parents objected. The victim, who was attacked on a bus on 16 December, died over the weekend in a Singapore hospital where she was being treated for severe injuries. The woman and a male friend had been to see a film when they boarded a bus in the Munirka area of Delhi. Police say she was raped for nearly an hour by several men on the bus, and both she and her companion were beaten with iron bars before being thrown from the moving bus onto the street. Police sources revealed yesterday that the driver had then tried to run her over, but she was saved by her friend. The police are expected to formally charge five of six suspects with murder tomorrow – if convicted, they could face the death penalty, which is rarely carried out in India. The sixth suspect is reported to be under 18 and a juvenile, but police have ordered a bone test to confirm his age. The shocking incident has sparked massive public outrage over attitudes to women in India; according to official figures, a woman is raped in Delhi every 14 hours, while women across the country say they are frequently subjected to sexual intimidation and violence. Huge demonstrations across the country have been demanding tougher rape laws of the kind that are now being considered.
Middle East
Fierce clashes near Aleppo airport
Fierce fighting took place yesterday near the international airport in Syria’s second city of Aleppo, according to officials, with state news agency Sana claiming the army was tackling rebels who had targeted airport operations. Unconfirmed reports suggest the airport has been temporarily closed. There have also been airstrikes on several suburbs of the capital, Damascus, as the army battles Free Syrian Army rebels there. Opposition groups say more than 44,000 people have been killed since March 2011, when the Syrian uprising began.
Europe
Pope deplores ‘unregulated capitalism’ in New Year address
Pope Benedict XVI has condemned rampant capitalism for contributing to world tension in his new year address to worshippers. The Pope also thanked the world’s peacemakers and said humanity had an “innate vocation for peace”. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church deplored “hotbeds of tension and conflict caused by growing instances of inequality between rich and poor”. He said those “hotbeds” also emerged from “the prevalence of a selfish and individualistic mindset which also finds expression in an unregulated financial capitalism”, as well as “various forms of terrorism and crime”. He said “the peacemakers are many, but they are not loud. As leaven in dough, they raise humanity according to God’s plan”. The 85-year old pontiff spoke at a mass in the Vatican, then greeted crowds outside St Peter’s Basilica.
North America
Obama hails ‘fiscal cliff’ deal
US President Barack Obama has hailed a deal to avert the so-called “fiscal cliff” of simultaneous tax rises and spending cuts, which took automatic effect yesterday. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives by 257 votes to 167, will raise taxes for the wealthy and delay spending cuts for two months. There had been intense pressure for the vote to be passed before financial markets reopened today. The markets have responded positively, with stock indexes around the world reporting jumps of between 1.2% in Australia and 2.1% in Hong Kong. President Obama said the measures were “just one step in the broader effort to strengthen the economy”, indicating that the fraught negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over a longer-term solution to the country’s economic turbulence are likely to continue.
Latin America
Thirteen Farc ‘killed in airstrike’
At least 13 members of Colombia’s largest rebel group, the Farc, have been killed in an airstrike, according to the Colombian military. The air force bombarded a rebel camp in northwestern Antioquia province on Monday, and has since found 13 bodies. The military has been continuing its attacks on the left-wing rebels at the same time as the government has been engaging them in peace talks in Cuba. The Farc, however, called a temporary unilateral truce at the start of the talks and urged the Colombian government to do the same. Defence Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon called the truce “incoherent” and said there would be no suspension of operations against the Farc. The next session of peace talks is due in two weeks.
About the Author
