In a landmark ruling, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity related to her government’s violent crackdown on student-led protests last year. The 78-year-old politician now a fugitive was tried in absentia and labeled the “mastermind and principal architect” behind the deadly suppression that resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths.

The verdict marks a significant moment in Bangladesh’s turbulent political landscape as the 2024 uprising ended Hasina’s 15-year tenure characterized by allegations of authoritarianism, suppression of dissent, extrajudicial detentions and killings. Since losing power, Hasina has been in exile in India where she has not been seen publicly or online.

The ruling has sparked controversy with Hasina’s banned Awami League party condemning the tribunal as a “kangaroo court” and calling on supporters to protest raising fears of potential violence across the country.

When Hasina fled Dhaka on August 5, 2024 via a military helicopter, it was clear she was heading to India, a country that had supported her throughout her political career. India had been a key ally especially due to her government’s commitment to secularism and minority protections notably for Hindus. The relationship deepened after a 2017 deal involving India’s Adani Group to supply power to Bangladesh from a coal plant in Jharkhand which drew criticism over high tariffs and corporate influence.

Hasina’s supporters have dismissed the court’s verdict as politically motivated with her issuing a statement from India denouncing the trial as “rigged” and “biased.” She claimed the tribunal lacked legitimacy asserting she was prepared to face a fair judicial process.

The tribunal sentenced her to death on three counts including ordering military action against protesters, leading to the deaths of 12 individuals in Dhaka’s Chankarpul and Ashuliya areas. She was also sentenced to imprisonment till death on additional charges of incitement and failure to prevent atrocities.

International analysts, including India’s Sreeradha Datta have indicated that the verdict was anticipated but unlikely to result in extradition. “Under no circumstances will India extradite her,” Datta said, citing fragile bilateral relations. She also noted that evidence presented pointed to direct orders from Hasina to use lethal force against unarmed students.

While the Awami League is expected to develop a counter-narrative, many Bangladeshis believe that serious crimes against humanity were committed under Hasina’s leadership. The verdict underscores ongoing tensions within Bangladesh’s political landscape and raises questions about justice, accountability, and regional diplomatic dynamics.

Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial in Tokyo stating to the court that “everything is true,” according to local media reports.

Yamagami, 45, used a homemade gun to shoot Abe during a political campaign event in Nara in 2022. The assassination shocked Japan and the world as Abe was struck multiple times and later died in hospital the same day. The incident drew international attention and reignited discussions about gun laws and political security in Japan.

The trial revealed that Yamagami targeted Abe due to his alleged connections with the Unification Church, commonly known as the “Moonies.” Yamagami reportedly blamed the church for bankrupting his family particularly his mother who had made donations totaling approximately 100 million yen ($660,000). Investigators said Yamagami believed Abe’s association with the church was responsible for his family’s financial ruin.

During the proceedings, Yamagami explained that his motive was rooted in his anger toward the church’s influence which he claimed led to his mother’s financial hardships. His mother expected to be called as a witness has reportedly expressed that the killing has strengthened her faith, a sentiment she shared with Japanese media.

Yamagami’s lawyer argued that the homemade weapon used in the attack did not qualify as a firearm under Japan’s strict gun laws. The trial is expected to continue until January with Yamagami denying charges related to arms control violations.

The assassination prompted Japan to review and tighten its gun laws especially concerning homemade weapons. The incident also brought scrutiny to the links between Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church, leading to investigations and the disbandment of the church in March this year stripping it of its tax-exempt status.

Yamagami’s trial continues as authorities seek justice for the former Prime Minister’s death and address the complex connections implicated in this high-profile case.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president has become the first ex-leader of France to be incarcerated since World War II. He began a five-year prison sentence for conspiring to finance his 2007 election campaign with money supplied by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarkozy who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012 is appealing his conviction and is currently held at La Santé prison in Paris. The cell he occupies measures approximately 9 square meters (95 square feet), located in the prison’s isolation wing for his safety. Despite his incarceration, Sarkozy maintains his innocence and has expressed hope that truth will ultimately prevail.

The former president, aged 70, was driven through the streets of Montparnasse early Monday morning amid a heavy police presence. As he left his villa in the upscale 16th district of Paris, more than 100 supporters gathered to applaud him with his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy by his side. His sons, Louis and Pierre also made appeals for support and messages of love, respectively.

In his departure, Sarkozy addressed the media via social media, stating, “I have no doubt. Truth will prevail. But how crushing the price will have been.” He also expressed sorrow for France’s perceived humiliation, saying, “It is not a former president they are locking up this morning — it is an innocent man.”

Inside La Santé prison, Sarkozy has refused special treatment but has been placed in the isolation wing for his safety. His cell is equipped with a toilet, shower, desk, and a small TV. He is permitted one hour of solitary exercise each day.

The legal case centers around allegations that his 2007 campaign was financed with millions of euros in Libyan cash. While Sarkozy was cleared of personally accepting the funds, he was convicted of criminal association with aides Brice Hortefeux and Claude Guéant for their involvement in secret campaign financing from Libya. Both aides had meetings with Gaddafi’s intelligence chief in 2005 arranged through a Lebanese intermediary who died shortly before Sarkozy’s conviction.

Despite the conviction, Sarkozy’s legal team has lodged an appeal and he is still considered innocent until the process concludes. The court cited the “exceptional seriousness of the facts” in sentencing him to jail.

In a show of official support, President Emmanuel Macron met with Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace before his transfer and stated, “It is normal that on a human level, I should receive one of my predecessors in this context.” Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin also announced he would visit Sarkozy in prison to ensure his safety and proper treatment.

Ahead of his incarceration, Sarkozy told media outlets that he was unafraid of prison and would face it with dignity. He plans to bring two books with him: “The Life of Jesus” by Jean-Christian Petitfils and “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, the classic novel about wrongful imprisonment and revenge.

This unprecedented event marks a historic moment in French political history, highlighting the ongoing fight against corruption and accountability at the highest levels of government.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has announced that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 is awarded to Maria Corina Machado a fearless advocate for democracy and human rights in Venezuela. Recognized for her unwavering commitment to promoting democratic principles amid escalating repression, Machado is celebrated as a symbol of civilian courage and resilience in Latin America.

The Committee praised Machado’s tireless efforts to unite Venezuela’s fractured opposition and her steadfast resistance against authoritarian rule. “Maria Corina Machado exemplifies the spirit of peaceful resistance and the enduring hope for a democratic future,” said the Committee chair. “Her work has kept the flame of democracy alive in a country overshadowed by darkness.”

Venezuela has experienced a dramatic transformation over the past decades from a relatively stable democracy to a nation plagued by dictatorship, economic collapse and humanitarian crises. Under the regime’s brutal control nearly eight million citizens have fled the country and opposition voices face systematic suppression through election rigging, legal persecution and imprisonment.

Machado has been a prominent figure in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement for over two decades. As a founder of Súmate, an organization dedicated to fostering democratic development, she has consistently championed free and fair elections often risking her safety to do so. “It was a choice of ballots over bullets,” she has stated, emphasizing her commitment to peaceful change.

In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, Machado was the opposition’s presidential candidate but her candidacy was blocked by the regime. Undeterred, she supported another opposition candidate and helped mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country to observe and document the electoral process ensuring transparency despite threats of harassment and violence.

The opposition’s efforts culminated in a clear victory for their candidate but the regime refused to accept the election results clinging to power through repression and misinformation. Machado’s leadership and the collective action of Venezuelan citizens demonstrated the power of peaceful resistance and the importance of international support for democratic movements.

Throughout her activism, Machado has faced continuous threats to her safety. She has chosen to remain in Venezuela living in hiding to continue her work, a testament to her unwavering dedication to her country’s future.

The Nobel Committee highlighted that Machado’s struggle embodies the core principles of the Peace Prize: uniting people across divisions, resisting militarization and advocating for a peaceful transition to democracy. Her example underscores that democracy is not just a political ideal but a vital foundation for lasting peace.

In awarding Machado the Nobel Peace Prize, the Committee reaffirms the global importance of defending democratic rights and the power of peaceful resistance. Her courage inspires millions to stand up against repression and to believe in the possibility of a brighter, freer future for Venezuela.

As the world faces increasing threats to democratic norms, Machado’s recognition reminds us all that the fight for freedom is a universal endeavor—one that demands resilience, unity, and unwavering resolve.

Venezuela has issued a warning of an alleged plan by extremists to attack the U.S. Embassy in Caracas with explosives amid rising tensions over Washington’s military presence in the Caribbean. Jorge Rodríguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and its U.S. dialogue delegation stated that the U.S. had been informed through “three different channels” about a “serious threat” from right-wing groups posing as supporters of President Nicolás Maduro.

Rodríguez accused extremist sectors of the Venezuelan right of preparing a false-flag operation to plant explosives at the embassy which has been closed since 2019 following the rupture of diplomatic relations with the Maduro government. Despite the closure, the embassy maintains a security staff and Venezuelan police patrol the surrounding area. Rodríguez added that a European embassy had been notified to serve as a liaison for communication regarding the situation.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately comment on the warning. The embassy’s security measures have been reinforced and the situation is being closely monitored.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated as Venezuela denounces U.S. military activity in the Caribbean. Washington claims its naval deployments are aimed at combating drug cartels while Maduro views them as threats to sovereignty. The U.S. has conducted four strikes on vessels in the Caribbean since last month, asserting that the ships traffic drugs and that their crews are “narcoterrorists,” with the latest strike killing four people last Friday.

Former President Donald Trump severed diplomatic ties with Maduro in 2019, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate ruler and evacuating U.S. diplomats from Caracas. Since then, Maduro has accused the U.S. of fabricating narratives to justify intervention while the U.S. has not indicated plans for a ground invasion. The deployment of over 4,000 troops in the region continues to heighten regional tensions.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned just weeks after assuming office amid ongoing political turmoil and hours after unveiling a new cabinet further intensifying France’s long-standing political crisis.

The French presidency announced on Monday that President Emmanuel Macron accepted Lecornu’s resignation. Lecornu’s appointment nearly a month ago was met with expectations of stability but he faced mounting pressure in recent weeks as he struggled to pass a national budget through France’s divided parliament amidst a worsening debt crisis.

Lecornu named his ministers on Sunday evening promising a break from the policies of his unpopular predecessor, Francois Bayrou. However, just hours after announcing the new cabinet, Lecornu stepped down making his government one of the shortest-lived in French history. The cabinet was scheduled to hold its first meeting on Monday afternoon but Lecornu’s resignation overshadowed the event.

Sources report that Lecornu’s decision was driven by frustration with political deadlock. “I was ready to compromise but each political party wanted the other to adopt its entire programme,” Lecornu said outside the Prime Minister’s Office.

The resignation has sparked widespread political fallout. France’s parliament has been sharply divided between far-right and far-left blocs since President Macron called for snap elections in 2024. Lecornu’s departure has triggered opposition calls for Macron to resign and for new elections to be held.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally and the largest party in parliament dismissed Lecornu’s cabinet as “pathetic” and called for a return to the polls, stating, “The only wise decision is to return to the polls.” Her party colleague, Jordan Bardella, echoed the sentiment, asserting that “National Rally will be ready to assume its responsibilities.”

On the far-left, Jean-Luc Melenchon of France Unbowed urged President Macron to step down while François-Xavier Bellamy, leader of the smaller right-wing Republicans party which collaborated with Macron’s government expressed confidence that his party has “nothing to fear from a dissolution of parliament.”

Financial markets reacted negatively to the political uncertainty with the CAC 40 index dropping more than 2 percent following Lecornu’s resignation. The development raises concerns over France’s ability to pass a budget and address its economic challenges amid ongoing political instability.

A BBC investigation has exposed disturbing allegations involving Charles Mwesigwa, a man operating a sex trafficking network out of Dubai’s most upscale neighborhoods exploiting vulnerable women and potentially connected to the deaths of two women.

According to the BBC, Mwesigwa, who claims to be a former London bus driver, runs an operation offering women for high-end sex parties with prices starting at $1,000 (£740). Undercover reporting reveals that some women are subjected to extreme and degrading fetishes, including requests to defecate on them; acts that some clients demand as part of their sexual preferences.

The investigation uncovered testimonies from women including young Ugandan women who believed they were traveling to Dubai for legitimate work in hotels or supermarkets but instead found themselves trapped in Mwesigwa’s network. One woman, “Mia,” told the BBC she owed over $27,000 (£19,918) after weeks of forced work with debts accruing for air tickets, visas, accommodation and food leaving her forced to work under duress.

Moreover, the BBC reports that two women linked to Mwesigwa have died after falling from high-rise apartments with their deaths officially ruled as suicides. Family and friends, however, believe these incidents warrant further investigation. One victim, Monic Karungi, arrived in Dubai from western Uganda in April 2022 and was found dead from a fall just four days after moving to a different apartment. Her family claims she was trying to escape the network and was arguing with Mwesigwa prior to her death.

Another woman, Kayla Birungi, died in 2021 under similar circumstances also falling from a Dubai high-rise. The BBC found that her body was buried in an unmarked grave in Dubai’s Al Qusais Cemetery, a site often used for unidentified migrants. Both women’s families report that toxicology reports found no drugs or alcohol in their systems at the time of death raising questions about the official findings.

The investigation also highlights allegations of racialized abuse with victims recounting that clients often requested extreme acts targeting Black women and that police in Dubai appeared unwilling to intervene. Lexi, one of the women, told the BBC she was told by police that “Africans cause problems for each other” and that they did not want to get involved.

The BBC traced Mwesigwa to a middle-class neighborhood in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle through open-source intelligence and undercover research. In a covert meeting, he boasted about running “like 25 girls,” claiming they were “open-minded” and capable of performing “pretty much everything.” When asked about “Dubai porta potty” fetishes, Mwesigwa said he could send the “craziest” women for such acts.

Mwesigwa, who has used multiple aliases denied running an illegal sex ring claiming he only helps women find accommodation and that women follow him to parties because of his “wealthy Dubai contacts.” He told the BBC that he loved his business and would continue regardless of any allegations.

The investigation also features accounts from Troy, a former operational manager for Mwesigwa’s network who detailed how security at nightclubs was paid off to facilitate access for women and how the operation was designed to remain under the radar by using proxies to rent cars and apartments.

Despite repeated requests, the Dubai police have not responded to inquiries about the death investigations and the BBC reports that official case files for Monic and Kayla have not been made available. The police reportedly stopped investigations into Monic’s death after finding drugs and alcohol in her apartment although toxicology reports are unavailable.

Mwesigwa responded to the BBC’s questions denying any involvement in illegal activities and dismissing the allegations as false. He stated, “These are all false allegations,” and claimed that Monic died with her passport and that both cases had been investigated by Dubai police.

The BBC’s investigation raises urgent questions about the extent of exploitation, the safety of women in Dubai’s high-end nightlife and the adequacy of law enforcement response to such grave allegations.

President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as France’s new prime minister tasking him with navigating a deeply divided parliament to secure consensus on the national budget. The appointment marks a significant shift in Macron’s government amid ongoing political instability and mounting public protests.

Lecornu, 39, a close ally of Macron and a former defense minister is known for his loyalty to the president and a political career rooted in both the conservative right and Macron’s centrist movement. His promotion reflects Macron’s determination to push forward with a pro-business economic agenda, including tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy as well as reforms to the retirement system.

In an unusual move for French politics, Macron’s office announced that Lecornu would engage with all parliamentary forces left, center and far-right to forge compromises on the budget and other key policies before forming his cabinet. Lecornu’s rise follows the resignation of François Bayrou who lost a confidence vote earlier this week plunging France into a political crisis.

Lecornu’s career began as an assistant to a Member of Parliament at age 19 and saw him become France’s youngest ministerial adviser in 2008. He later served as mayor of Vernon and was elected president of the Eure department in Normandy in 2015 making him the youngest-ever to hold such a position.

The political landscape remains turbulent with Macron’s parliament fractured into three main groups; left, center, and far right without an outright majority. The government faces the challenge of passing a budget amid calls for further upheaval and protests. The political crisis has been compounded by the recent ousting of Bayrou, a veteran centrist after he failed to secure support for his debt-reduction plan and the brief tenure of his predecessor, Michel Barnier.

Meanwhile, France is bracing for a day of widespread protests scheduled for Wednesday under the slogan “block everything.” Authorities plan to deploy approximately 80,000 police and gendarmes across the country as demonstrators organized largely through social media prepare to blockade fuel depots, stage road and school protests and hold strikes particularly targeting transportation services in the Paris suburbs.

The protest movement which has no centralized leadership is reminiscent of the yellow vest protests of 2018 but differs in its lack of a unifying focus or style. The government fears these demonstrations could escalate into a repeat of the yellow vests which evolved from fuel tax protests into a broader anti-government movement.

A larger wave of strikes is also planned for September 18 further testing Macron’s fragile political standing. Public dissatisfaction remains high with many critics accusing the government of instability and ineffective governance amid ongoing economic and social challenges.

As Lecornu prepares to lead the government through this turbulent period, the key focus will be securing parliamentary support for the budget and restoring stability in a country facing mounting unrest and political fragmentation.