World News

His brother was tortured to death by Russian mercenaries. Now, this Syrian refugee is seeking justice

He cries for help and they mock him in Russian, drowning his agonized screams out with laughter. The background of the video, which was uploaded to the internet, plays a Russian nationalist military song, “I Am Russian Special Forces.” Mohamad, a 31 year-old Syrian construction worker who was father to four young children, is the victim of this horrifying amateur video. He disappeared while returning from a job in Lebanon in March 2017. Mohamad’s last words were those of Shahada, a declaration about his Muslim faith. He was 31-year-old Syrian construction worker and father of four young children. He disappeared in March 2017 while returning from a job in neighboring Lebanon. The graffiti read “for VDV, reconnaissance,” a reference the Russian airborne forces. Read MoreThe independent investigative Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta has identified at least one of the men in this video as a mercenary with the shadowy Wagner group — a private military organization that has links to Yevgeny Privgozhin. The Kremlin denies any connection to Wagner and insists that Russian private military companies are illegal. Prigozhin previously denied any connection to Wagner. Despite multiple attempts to reach him for comment, he and his companies have not spoken to CNN in recent times. “These people risked their lives and by and large, this is also a contribution to fighting terrorism… but this isn’t the Russian state, nor the Russian army,” stated President Vladimir Putin in 2019. CNN special report: Since 2015, Putin’s private army Russian forces has been operating in Syria. There is substantial evidence to support the claim that Wagner’s presence there is linked to Russian military deployment. Analysts believe it is impossible that Wagner could exist without Putin’s approval. It is true that the training camp it runs in southern Russia is attached at a Russian special forces base. In fact, the three NGOs from Russia, France, and Syria filed a landmark legal case against Wagner. They alleged that the group was involved in the atrocity and the possible war crimes committed by the men in the video. Mohamad’s brother Abdullah filed the lawsuit in March. This is the first time that anyone has attempted to hold Wagner’s brother Abdullah accountable for the atrocities they have committed. Rights groups claim that this has allowed Moscow to expand its global footprint, which has allowed Moscow to pursue a foreign policy in places such as Syria, Ukraine, Libya and Sudan. Abdullah, a Syrian refugee, has never spoken publicly about his brother’s death. In an exclusive interview with CNN, he said that he broke his silence to bring attention to the tragedy that afflicted his family. Abdullah requested that CNN hide his identity and the location of the interview to protect his family members who still live in regime-controlled Syria. Abdullah stated, “My brother has died and he will never return.” “I want the whole world to know about my brother’s case so that these criminals can be held accountable.” Last phone call to family. Mohamad told Abdullah in April 2017 that he was being held by the regime as he crossed into Syria. He had worked in Lebanon for eight months. He claimed he was taken to Damascus, and forced to join military service. However, he said that he intended to flee. Mohamad called Mohamad ten days later to inform him that he was going to Homs the following day and that he would be escaping at night. It was his last phone call to his family. Abdullah said that he had spoken to his father and mother to ask for forgiveness. He added, “Give your best, I am going do something, I am leaving, I don’t know if I can get back to you or no.” We tell Syria’s human stories to make sure the ‘victors” don’t write its history. Abdullah said that his brother had asked him “to take care of my wife,” and added: “I am entrusting your with my family.” Abdullah explained, “It was that type of talk, it seemed as if he knew what was coming to him.” Mohamad never had the opportunity to meet his youngest daughter. With the civil war in Syria raging and their remote village lacking internet and phone connectivity, it was difficult for Mohamad’s loved ones to discover what had happened. His family only discovered the horror of his torture when a video clip showing it online several months later. “One day, a man from our town sent me the video clip. He said that it could be his brother. Abdullah, his voice strained, said that he recognized my brother from his clothes, voice, and appearance. “He was being tortured, they weren’t Syrian, we didn’t understand what they were saying. Abdullah shared the video with other family members, but did so out of fear for his elderly parents. He said, “When I first saw that video, I still had hope that he was still living.” He was being tortured but he was still alive and moving. We hoped he was still alive, and that he was in a hospital. Their father went to Damascus to search for his son in hospitals and prisons in the capital of Syria. “About two more months later, the second footage emerged, that’s when we believed our brother had died,” the 27-year old, now visibly distraught, said CNN. “When I saw the second video, which showed Mohamad being executed], I stayed in a hotel room. I stayed in the same room for three days. He was more than my older brother. He was also my friend. Abdullah stated that we were always together. “My brother (the other) developed a kind of psychological illness from the videos. “Landmark legal caseWagner forces have been used in Syria as the tip of a spear, but their shadowy presence affords Moscow an opportunity to deny that it was involved. However, when the bodies of Russian mercenaries began to return home, it became obvious that it was a Wagner operation. Moscow refuses to talk about the oil field destruction. CNN spoke to a source who was connected to Wagner and had visited the wounded fighters on their return to Moscow. In the days that followed the attack, a Russian media outlet visited the mother of a Syrian fighter and confirmed that her son was not a Russian regular soldier. CNN obtained a copy from Evro Polis and Syria’s government in February 2018. Evro Polis is entitled to 25% of the oil field revenue if they are seized from rebel territory. Evro Polis gets 25% of the revenue from oil fields if they are seized from rebel territory. CNN and other researchers have tracked the frequency of flights from Latakia to other theatres in the region. CNN obtained a document that details the agreement between Yevgeny Prgozhin and a Russian 223rd Flight Detachment to use their aircrafts. “It was our children that they killed” A CNN investigation in June revealed evidence that Russian mercenaries were perpetrating war crimes and human rights abuses within the Central African Republic (CAR). According to witnesses and community leaders, the Russian government denied the allegations and said that the contractors in CAR were not armed and did not participate in hostilities. The CAR government also denied these allegations, but stated that an inquiry would be conducted to establish the facts. This coincided with the 10th anniversary of Syrian uprising. The advocacy groups stated that the complaint “…is an unprecedented attempt to fill in the impunity gap, and bring Russian suspects accountable.” “Syrian activists, victims of atrocities committed by all parties in the conflict in Syria have been working tirelessly from 2011 to get accountability,” they stated. They also said that there are only limited avenues for victims’ families and justice to be obtained. The International Criminal Court does not have jurisdiction in Syria as the country is not a signatory of the Rome Statute. This leaves many victims of the conflict without any recourse. Russian vets attempt to bring the Kremlin’s mercenaries into the cold. Syrians are increasingly turning towards European courts, especially France and Germany, in their quest for justice. It gives a national court jurisdiction over grave offenses against international law, even if they are not committed on Syria’s territory. This was the first trial of anyone linked to the regime in Damascus. Another case is pending. Clemence Bectarte (a lawyer at FIDH) said that they chose to file the case in Russia because of “the unique opportunity due to the strong legal basis in Russia to claim jurisdiction… this court is the natural one for this case.” “We are referring to Russian perpetrators, people that could be arrested in Russia if the political and judicial will to push the case forward. Bectarte said that universal jurisdiction should always be considered as a last resort. Abdullah has never heard about Wagner. He said he only wants to see his brother’s executioners held responsible. He said, “If someone had not given them the green signal, they wouldn’t do something like that.” “We won’t be like them and demand that [what happened to my brother] also happen to them, but the least they should get is jail.” Abdullah claims that his brother’s suicide has put him in a difficult position. He must care for Mohamad and his children, as well as deal with the trauma from the videos. It has also led him to a dangerous and long search for justice against an invisible enemy. He believes it is worth taking the risk. He said, “I’m not worried about me.” “I just want them held accountable, even though it may cost me my life.” This report was contributed by Eyad Kourdi, CNN.

World News

Ukraine war: Kyiv secures a bridgehead across the key Dnipro River, reports

But military experts warn that advancing from positions across the Dnipro could be very difficult.

Ukrainian troops have set up positions on the east bank of the Dnipro River in southern Kherson region, reports say.The region is partially Russian-held and crossing the river could be significant in future offensives.The US-based Institute for the Study of War says Russian military bloggers have posted “enough geolocated footage and text reports to confirm” the advance.BBC Ukraine says its military sources have reported a “certain movement across [the] Dnipro” near Kherson city.

Ukraine’s military has not confirmed the movement, while Russia has denied the reports.But if the reports that Ukraine has secured a bridgehead on the east bank are correct, it could be significant in helping Kyiv drive Russian troops back.A Ukrainian advance in the area could, in the future, even cut the land corridor to Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.However, military experts say any Ukrainian troop movements in the bridgehead area – which is crisscrossed by floodplains, irrigation canals and other water obstacles – would be a tough task.And Ukrainian advances would be further complicated by Russia’s significant advantage in the air.

Ukraine’s military has for some time publicly spoken about preparations for a major counter-offensive, without specifying where and when it could be launched.Until now, all of the Kherson region on the east bank of the Dnipro has been under Russian control, with the wide river serving as a natural barrier.The regional capital – sitting on the west bank – was liberated by Ukrainian forces last November.Celebrations as Ukraine takes back key city KhersonPutin visits occupied Kherson region in UkraineIn Sunday’s report, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said “geolocated footage published on 23 April indicates that Ukrainian forces are operating in areas north-west of Oleshky on the east” bank of Dnipro.

The ISW added there was not enough information to analyse the scale of the reported Ukrainian advance – or the further intentions of the Ukrainian military.On Monday, Russia’s WarGonzo military blogger reported that Ukrainian troops were “trying to gain a foothold on Bolshoi Potemkin [Velykyi Potyomkin – Ukrainian] island”, which is located between the new and old channels of the Dnipro.

World News

India’s population will surpass China this week, according to UN

Last week, a different UN body said the milestone would be passed later in 2023.

India is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation by the end this week. A different UN body predicted last week that India would surpass China by the middle this year. The Asian nations have accounted more than a quarter of the global population since over 70 years. The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in a press release that “China will soon relinquish its long-held position as the world’s largest country”.

The UN Population Fund said last week that India would have 2.9 million more people than China by the middle of 2023. China’s birthrate has dropped recently, and its population shrank last year for first time since 1961. India’s population will continue to grow for several decades, it said. However, fertility rates in India are also dropping – from 5.7 babies per woman in 1950, to 2.2 today. In November, the world population reached 8 billion. Experts say that the growth rate is slower than it used to be, and is now at its lowest level since 1950.

World News

Scientists are concerned about recent rapid ocean warming.

There’s growing concern that the oceans are heating up quickly – and scientists are unsure of the implications.

It has never warmed up this much, so quickly. Scientists don’t fully understand why. But they worry that, combined with other weather events, the world’s temperature could reach a worrying new level by the end of next year. Scientists do not fully understand why it has happened. But they are concerned that combined with other weather conditions, the temperature of the planet could reach a new alarming level by the end next year. They are less efficient in absorbing planet-warming gases.

In the last 15 years, Earth’s heat has increased by 50 percent, with the majority of that extra heat going into the oceans. This has real world implications – not only was the temperature of the oceans a record in April, but in some areas the difference over the long term is enormous. Image source: Getty ImagesIn march, sea surface temperatures along the east coast of North America reached 13.8C above the 1981-2011 average. Karina Von Schuckmann, lead author of the study and oceanographer with the research group Mercator Ocean International, said: “It is not yet clear why such a rapid and huge change is occurring.”

“We have doubled heat in the climate system over the last 15 years. I don’t think this is climate variability, but it could be. We do see the change. “An interesting factor that could influence the level of heat entering the oceans is a reduction in shipping pollution. In 2020, the International Maritime Organisation implemented a regulation to lower the sulphur in fuel burned by ships. This has had an immediate impact on reducing the amount aerosol particles released in the atmosphere. Aerosols that pollute the air also reflect heat back into the space, so removing them could have caused more heat to reach the oceans.

The average surface temperature of the oceans has risen by 0.9C since pre-industrial times, with 0.6C of that increase occurring in the last 40. This is less than the rise in air temperatures on land which have increased by 1.5C. Oceans absorb heat much deeper than land and require more energy to heat. This has real-world implications. It is especially damaging to coral reefs. Extreme weather will increase as heat from the upper ocean surface increases hurricanes and cyclones. This means they become more intense and longer-lasting.Sea-level rise: warmer waters take up more space – known as thermal expansion – and can greatly accelerate the melting of glaciers from Greenland and Antarctica that flow into the oceans.

This increases global sea levels and increases the risk of coastal flooding. Warmer water has a lower ability to absorb CO2. The oceans will absorb less CO2 if they continue to warm. This will lead to more CO2 accumulating in the atmosphere, further warming the air. “The Australian Bureau model strongly suggests a strong El Nino.” Hugh McDowell, from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, said that the trend has been in that direction and that all climate models have been trending towards a stronger event. Mr McDowell warned that predictions are less reliable at this time of the year.

Other researchers are more optimistic. Experts believe that a fully-formed event will follow. “If we have a new El Nino on top of that, it will probably cause an additional global warming of 0.2-0.25C,” Dr Josef Ludescher from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research said. “The impact of El Nino is reduced a few months following the peak. This is why 2024 is likely to be the warmest year on record. “Image source, Anadolu Agency.” And we may, we’ll be close to 1.5C and perhaps we’ll temporarily go over. El Nino is likely to disrupt weather patterns in Australia and around the world. It will also weaken the monsoon. There are also more fundamental concerns that as heat is absorbed by the oceans, they may be less able store excess energy.

One scientist described being “extremely stressed and worried”. Karina von Schuckmann says that some research has shown the world warming in jumps. Little changes over years are followed by sudden leaps upwards. After El Nino subsides, temperatures may drop again. She told BBC News that “we still have a window of opportunity to act and we should take advantage of this to reduce the effects.” Graphics by Erwan RIVALL.

World News

Wagner in Sudan: what have Russian mercenaries done?

The Wagner group denies involvement in the current conflict, but there’s evidence it has previously been active in Sudan.

Russian Wagner mercenary forces are accused of having commercial and military ties with Sudan. However, the group denies involvement in the current conflict. Yevgeny Praighozin, who has close ties to President Vladimir Putin, has stated that “not one Wagner PMC [private company] fighter has ever been present in Sudan”. We have found no evidence of Russian mercenaries currently inside the country. There is evidence of Wagner’s previous activities in Sudan. Mr Prighozin’s operations in the nation have been targeted by US and EU sanctions. Gold-mining DealsIn 2017, Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir, during a trip to Moscow, signed a number of deals.

These included an agreement to establish a Russian naval base at Port Sudan along the Red Sea as well as “concessions on gold mining” between Russian company M Invest, and the Sudanese Ministry of Minerals. The According to a CNN investigation, gold was transported overland into Central African Republic where Wagner operates – exports that were not recorded in Sudanese trade data.

The BBC has not independently confirmed these images. In 2021, a Wagner linked Telegram channel published photos of an unnamed top Wagner leader awarding Sudanese soldier memorabilia during a ceremony that took place two years earlier. TelegramAnd, in July 2022 this channel distributed a clip allegedly showing Wagner’s mercenaries performing par The same source linked the Instagram profile of a Russian mercenary who called himself a “freelancer”. He shared stories of his exploits on Sudan in posts dating from August and Oct 2021. How influential is Wagner? The US Treasury claims that the Wagner Group has been involved in “paramilitary activities, support for maintaining authoritarian regimes and exploitation natural resources”. The relationship between the Royal United Services Institute and the UK-based Royal United Services Institute has grown since then.

“In 2018, they had around 100 men actively training Sudanese forces,” says Dr Joana De Deus Pereira from the UK. Sudanese media reported that the number grew to 500 and that they were mainly based in the south-west, near Um Dafuq and close to Sudan’s borders with the Central African Republic. According to Dr Samuel Ramani who wrote a book on Russia’s activities throughout Africa, the Wagner Group created its own media campaigns in order to keep President Bashir in power. Image source: AFP. This caused friction with the president’s security forces and Wagner switched its support to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who overthrew him.

Dr Ramani says that while the Foreign Ministry in Moscow opposed the coup, Prigozhin, and the Wagner Group, welcomed al-Burhan’s takeover. According to Dr Ramani it was between 2021 and 2022 when the Wagner Group increased their connections with the Rapid Support Forces, which is currently fighting Sudan’s regular army led by Gen Burhan. Mr Pri “Wagner had links with both General al-Burhan and Mr Hemedti in different degrees and ways,” she says. Wagner’s presence in AfricaWagner fighters are widely reported to be in the Central African Republic for several years, guarding diamond mines in the country, as well in Libya and Mali.

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Sudan fighting: Foreign nationals and diplomats evacuated

Several countries are helping their citizens leave the capital, Khartoum, following a week of fighting.

Several other countries have also started organising evacuations, starting on Sunday. France, Germany Italy and Spain have also started organising evacuations. A vicious power struggle has caused violence throughout the country. The UK government was able to airlift British diplomatic staff and their families out in a “complex” and “rapid” operation. Foreign Minister James Cleverly stated that options to evacuate remaining British nationals were “severely restricted”.

The German army reported that the first of three flights had left Sudan bound for Jordan with 101 people aboard. Italy and Spain evacuated citizens – the Spanish mission included citizens of Argentina, Colombia, Ireland Portugal, Poland Mexico, Venezuela, and Sudan. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government had evacuated diplomatic staff. More than 150 people were evacuated to the Saudi Arabian port Jeddah by sea, including citizens from Egypt, Pakistan, and Gulf countries. Many foreign students from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East have also been trapped in Khartoum. They have made desperate calls for assistance.

The US announced on Sunday that a disaster response team will be sent to the region to “coordinate humanitarian response to those in need, both within and outside Sudan.” “Samantha Power, from the US Agency for International Development(USAID), said that the team would initially work out of Kenya and give priority to getting “life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in need.” The World Health Organization reports that the fighting has injured thousands and killed more than 400.

The death toll may be higher than 400, because people are unable to access healthcare due to the closure of most hospitals in the city. The fighting has also affected the western region of Darfur where the RSF was first formed. The UN has warned that 20,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Sudan in search of safety in Chad across the border.