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Sweden gangs: PM summons army chief after surge in killings

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Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, has taken unprecedented steps to address a concerning surge in gang-related violence by summoning the head of the armed forces, Micael Byden, for assistance. The two leaders, along with the country’s police chief, are set to meet to discuss the potential role of the military in combating the escalating issue.

In a rare televised address, Prime Minister Kristersson expressed his determination to tackle the gang problem head-on, stating, “We will hunt the gangs down, and we will defeat them.” The move to involve the military comes in the wake of a particularly bloody 12-hour period, during which two men were shot dead in Stockholm, and a 25-year-old woman lost her life in an explosion in a town north of the capital.

While the exact nature of the military’s involvement remains uncertain, previous discussions have suggested that soldiers might take over certain policing duties to free up resources for law enforcement agencies to focus on crime-fighting. Critics, however, argue that these measures address the symptoms rather than the root causes of the violence.

Over the course of this month, Sweden has witnessed 12 fatalities in gang-related violence, the highest number since December 2019. The recent surge is believed to be linked to conflicts within a gang known as the Foxtrot network, which has splintered into rival factions due to infighting.

Prime Minister Kristersson emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that “no other country in Europe” is currently facing a similar crisis. He expressed concern that violence is increasingly ensnaring children and innocent bystanders across the country.

Efforts to address gang violence have included more surveillance, stricter penalties for gun law violations, enhanced deportation powers, and the establishment of stop-and-search zones. The prime minister’s government has sought inspiration from New York City’s strategies, yet some community organizers argue that these measures fall short of addressing the underlying social issues. They advocate for more action on child poverty and increased resources for youth clubs, community services, and sports centers to address the grief and pain experienced by those affected by the violence.

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Shakira Faces Second Round of Tax Crime Allegations

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Colombian pop sensation Shakira finds herself facing another round of legal troubles as the Spanish government has charged her with tax evasion for the second time. The allegations come from prosecutors in Spain, who claim that the singer defrauded the state of a staggering €6.7 million ($7.1 million, £5.8 million) in 2018.

The charges stem from Shakira’s alleged failure to declare millions in advance payments related to her El Dorado World Tour and other earnings. The Spanish prosecutors initiated this second investigation in July 2023, finally releasing the details to the public.

Shakira, who is now 46 years old, is reportedly aware of the new charges. However, her legal team in Miami, where she currently resides, has not yet been officially notified. Their primary focus has been on preparing for the trial related to the 2012-2014 fiscal years, scheduled to begin on November 20.

The core issue in the new charges revolves around Shakira’s residency in Barcelona with her partner, football star Gerard Piqué, in 2018. Spanish tax authorities argue that she was obliged to declare all her international earnings in Spain at the time. They contend that instead of complying, she diverted her income to “companies domiciled in countries with low taxation and high opacity.”

This is not the first time Shakira has faced such allegations. She already faces a trial over six separate alleged tax crimes in Barcelona this November, where she has been accused of failing to pay €14.5 million ($15.3 million, £12.6 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014. Shakira has consistently denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence in her case, stating in September that she has enough evidence to support her innocence and believes justice will ultimately rule in her favor.

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Viktor Sokolov: Russian video ‘shows Black Sea fleet commander alive’

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The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video featuring the commander of the Black Sea Fleet at a conference, despite Ukraine’s claim of his death. The timing of this footage, where Viktor Sokolov is seen in a video link with the defense minister, remains uncertain.

The Russian ministry stated that this meeting with high-ranking officials occurred on Tuesday. On Monday, Ukraine’s special forces announced that Admiral Sokolov and 33 other officers had been killed in a missile strike on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, which is currently under Russian control.

On Wednesday, a television channel affiliated with Russia’s defense ministry aired an interview with Admiral Sokolov, where he claimed that the fleet was performing well. The exact date of this interview is unclear.

Kyiv did not directly name the admiral and lacked evidence of his death. Now, they are “clarifying” their earlier reports, referring to “open sources” for their claim about the admiral’s fate. This represents a notable shift in tone from their initial confidence.

The video, lasting eight minutes, depicts a Defense Ministry collegium meeting that purportedly took place on Tuesday morning, with Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu conversing with senior officials in Moscow. He is briefly shown on video link with the commanders of Russia’s five fleets, including the Black Sea Fleet, although none of them speak.

Facial recognition software suggests a match between the man in the video and other images of Admiral Sokolov. However, the BBC has not been able to confirm whether the meeting occurred on Tuesday or if the image of Admiral Sokolov on the video link is in real time.

Last Friday, Ukraine claimed to have targeted the fleet’s headquarters, which is considered a crucial target. Footage on social media showed smoke over the building. Russia stated that it had intercepted five missiles, though one serviceman was reported missing. Kyiv has been launching near-daily strikes against Russian forces in Crimea.

Aside from its role in potential attacks against Ukraine, the Black Sea Fleet symbolizes Russia’s long-standing military presence in the region. It was based in Crimea even before Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014.

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Germany Takes Action Against Neo-Nazi Group Artgemeinschaft for Child Targeting

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Germany has imposed a ban on the far-right organization Artgemeinschaft due to its dissemination of Nazi ideology to children and young individuals. The country’s interior minister has labeled the group as “deeply racist and antisemitic” and accused it of attempting to cultivate new adversaries of the constitution.

Artgemeinschaft employed Nazi-era literature and cultural events as vehicles for propagating its ideology. Law enforcement authorities have conducted searches in numerous residences and offices associated with the group across 12 German states.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “This represents another significant blow against right-wing extremism and against those who continue to propagate Nazi ideologies to this day.”

Artgemeinschaft, which roughly translates to “racial community,” reportedly had around 150 members, according to the interior ministry. The ministry revealed that the group provided guidance to its members on selecting partners with North or Central European backgrounds, in alignment with their “racial preservation” ideology.

The sect operated an online bookstore and regularly hosted cultural events, drawing several hundred attendees. It portrayed itself as “Germany’s largest pagan community.”

Authorities assert that the group used the facade of “pseudo-religious Germanic beliefs” to promote a worldview that violates human dignity.

The ban encompasses the group’s website, publications, and Familienwerk, another affiliated association.

Recently, Germany also outlawed Hammerskins, another neo-Nazi organization known for its role in organizing far-right concerts and selling racist music. Hammerskins, founded in the US in the late 1980s, was the last major right-wing skinhead group in Germany after the banning of another group, Blood and Honour, in 2000. It was heavily involved in establishing neo-Nazi music labels, distributing antisemitic records, and organizing clandestine music events.

Germany’s interior minister emphasized that “right-wing extremism has many faces,” noting that while Artgemeinschaft operated differently from Hammerskins, it was “no less dangerous.”

Artgemeinschaft is one of Germany’s oldest neo-Nazi groups and played a significant role in connecting various far-right and neo-Nazi factions in the country. Stephan Ernst, who assassinated prominent regional politician Walter Lübcke in 2019 due to “racism and xenophobia,” was a member of the group, according to German intelligence. Media reports also suggest that members of the group had ties to Ralf Wohlleben, a neo-Nazi convicted of supporting a notorious cell responsible for ten racially motivated murders in Germany.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency estimates that there are 38,800 individuals active in the country’s right-wing extremist scene, with over a third of them considered “potentially violent.”

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Global Climate News Trending

Young Activists Sue 32 Nations Over Climate Change

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Claudia Duarte Agostinho vividly recalls the fear she felt during the devastating heatwave and wildfires that swept through Portugal in 2017, claiming over 100 lives. The trauma of those wildfires left her and her siblings anxious about their future. Claudia, aged 24, her brother Martim, aged 20, and her 11-year-old sister Mariana are among a group of six young Portuguese individuals who have taken an unprecedented step by filing a lawsuit against 32 governments, including all European Union member states, the UK, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Their lawsuit accuses these nations of inadequately addressing climate change and failing to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This groundbreaking case is the first of its kind to be brought before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, potentially carrying legally-binding implications for the accused governments. The initial hearing took place recently.

These six claimants, ranging in age from 11 to 24, argue that the annual forest fires in Portugal since 2017 are a direct consequence of global warming. They assert that their fundamental human rights, including the right to life, privacy, family life, and freedom from discrimination, are being violated due to governments’ failure to combat climate change adequately. They have already experienced significant impacts, such as extreme temperatures forcing them indoors, restricting their daily lives, and causing health issues like eco-anxiety, allergies, and respiratory conditions. Remarkably, none of them seeks financial compensation.

The case’s proponents argue that the policies of these 32 governments are steering the world toward a catastrophic 3-degree Celsius global warming scenario by the century’s end. They demand urgent action to prevent unbearable heat extremes that threaten their health and well-being. In a 2021 study, the Lancet found widespread climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with government responses among children and young people worldwide, impacting their daily lives.

The governments, in their responses, contest that the claimants haven’t adequately demonstrated that their suffering directly results from climate change or Portuguese wildfires. They argue that there is no immediate evidence of climate change posing a risk to human life or health, and they question the ECHR’s jurisdiction over climate policy.

This David vs. Goliath case could have far-reaching implications, potentially binding these governments to increase climate action by reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels. It would also guide domestic courts dealing with climate change-related cases. A verdict is anticipated in nine to 18 months.

For Claudia, this case represents a glimmer of hope in an otherwise uncertain world. She contemplates the possibility of having children one day, but winning this case would mean that people are truly listening, governments are taking action, and a brighter future might be on the horizon.

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Ukrainian Captain Imprisoned Following Deadly River Tour Boat Collision on the Danube

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The captain of a cruise ship involved in a fatal collision with a small tour boat on the River Danube in Budapest, resulting in the death of 28 people, has been sentenced to five years in prison. This incident occurred during a rainstorm in May 2019 when the Mermaid, carrying South Korean tourists, quickly sank following the collision.

The Ukrainian captain of the Viking Sigyn cruise ship, Yuri Chaplinsky, maintained his innocence but was found guilty of gross negligence. Chaplinsky intends to appeal the verdict.

This tragedy marked the Danube’s worst accident in three decades, impacting Europe’s second-longest river. Hungarian prosecutors argued in March 2020 that Chaplinsky had failed to pay sufficient attention and neglected proper navigation during the rainstorm. They stated that he didn’t detect the presence of the Mermaid, failed to communicate or issue emergency signals, and did not focus on steering the ship for several critical minutes.

The collision occurred just after 21:00 local time on May 29 when both vessels were passing under Budapest’s Margaret Bridge. Although seven of the 35 people on board the Mermaid were rescued and some bodies were swiftly recovered, others were swept away in the swift-flowing river or trapped inside the sinking boat. The boat sank within moments of the collision.

Twenty-five of the victims were South Koreans, including the Mermaid’s captain and a crew member. Only seven Korean passengers survived the accident, and one individual remains unaccounted for.

Chaplinsky, who has been in custody since 2019, expressed deep sorrow for the tragic accident during the court proceedings. He acknowledged that he cannot escape the memories of the tragedy and that it will haunt him for the rest of his life. Notably, he was acquitted of the charge of failing to provide assistance.

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Explosion at Nagorno-Karabakh Fuel Depot Claims 20 Lives and Refugee Numbers Soar

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A devastating explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, has claimed the lives of 20 individuals and left hundreds injured, according to local Armenian authorities.

Approximately 300 people were admitted to hospitals, with many in critical condition.

These tragic events coincide with the arrival of 13,350 refugees into Armenia from the conflict-ridden Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Nagorno-Karabakh is at the center of a long-standing dispute and is predominantly populated by around 120,000 ethnic Armenians.

The cause of the explosion in Stepanakert, the main city, remains unclear.

Gegham Stepanyan, the Human Rights Ombudsman, expressed concern on social media, reporting that the explosion had resulted in over 200 injuries, many of which were severe or extremely severe. Nagorno-Karabakh’s medical facilities are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.

Local authorities have confirmed the discovery of 13 unidentified bodies at the explosion site, with an additional seven individuals succumbing to their injuries in hospitals.

The seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan has prompted thousands of people to flee the region, following the Armenian government’s announcement of plans to relocate those displaced by the conflict.

Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has raised concerns about ethnic cleansing in the region and expressed disappointment that the international community hasn’t acted more decisively.

Azerbaijan has stated its intention to reintegrate ethnic Armenians as equal citizens.

Refugees who have reached Goris in Armenia, near the Karabakh border, have shared their harrowing experiences, with one individual expressing a preference for death over their current situation.

Envoys from Armenia and Azerbaijan are scheduled to meet in Brussels for European Union-backed talks. These discussions mark the first diplomatic negotiations since Azerbaijan’s recent takeover of the enclave.

Both sides will be represented by their national security advisors.

Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region in the South Caucasus, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by ethnic Armenians for three decades.

Armenia and Russia have provided support to the enclave, with Russia maintaining a presence of hundreds of soldiers.

Last week, as Azerbaijan’s army advanced, five Russian peacekeepers were killed, along with at least 200 ethnic Armenians and dozens of Azerbaijani soldiers.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry has reported the confiscation of additional military equipment, including rockets, artillery shells, mines, and ammunition.

Despite public assurances from Azerbaijan, concerns persist for the well-being of Nagorno-Karabakh’s residents. Only one aid delivery of 70 tonnes of food has been allowed since separatists agreed to a ceasefire and disarm.

Ethnic Armenian leaders emphasize that thousands are in dire need of food and shelter, many resorting to seeking refuge in basements, schools, or the open air.

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Famed Italian Mafia Boss Messina Denaro Passes Away

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Italian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, who had been one of Italy’s most sought-after fugitives until his capture earlier this year, has passed away.

Denaro, aged 61, was believed to be a prominent figure in the notorious Cosa Nostra Mafia and spent three decades evading authorities before his arrest in January. He had been undergoing cancer treatment at the time and had been transferred from prison to a hospital a month prior to his demise.

Denaro was implicated in numerous murders and had received a life sentence in absentia in 2002 for his involvement in the killings of anti-Mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in 1992. He had openly boasted about his ability to “fill a cemetery” with his victims. In addition to these crimes, he oversaw various illegal activities such as racketeering, illegal waste disposal, money laundering, and drug trafficking on behalf of the Cosa Nostra.

Despite being on the run since 1993, Denaro was believed to have continued giving orders to his subordinates from undisclosed locations.

Reports from local media indicate that he slipped into an irreversible coma on Friday while being treated at a hospital in L’Aquila, central Italy, and had requested no aggressive medical intervention. Denaro had previously undergone surgery related to his cancer but had not shown signs of recovery after the most recent operation.

L’Aquila Mayor Pierluigi Biondi confirmed Denaro’s death, describing it as “the conclusion of a life lived without remorse or regret—a painful chapter in recent history that cannot be erased.”

Apart from his criminal activities, Denaro was considered Cosa Nostra’s last “secret-keeper,” as many informants and prosecutors believed he held crucial information and the identities of individuals involved in several high-profile Mafia crimes.

His arrest in January involved over 100 members of the armed forces and occurred at a private clinic in Palermo, Sicily, where he was receiving chemotherapy. For years, Denaro had symbolized the state’s struggles in apprehending the top echelons of organized crime groups.

Italian investigators had come close to capturing him by monitoring his close associates, resulting in the 2013 arrest of his sister, Patrizia, and several of his associates. Authorities had also seized valuable businesses linked to him, leaving him increasingly isolated.

However, due to the scarcity of photographs, police had to rely on digital reconstructions to depict his appearance in the years following his fugitive status, and a recording of his voice was only released in 2021.

In September 2021, a Formula 1 fan from Liverpool was arrested at gunpoint in a restaurant in the Netherlands, mistakenly believed to be Denaro.

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Macron Announces France’s Troop Withdrawal and Ambassador Recall Amid Niger Coup

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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the withdrawal of France’s ambassador from Niger and the termination of all military cooperation with the country in response to a recent coup. Macron stated, “France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next hours, our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France,” and he declared that military cooperation is “over,” with French troops set to leave in the coming months. The military junta, which took control of Niger in July, welcomed this decision as a step toward the country’s sovereignty.

Approximately 1,500 French soldiers are stationed in the landlocked West African nation. The move comes after months of tension and protests against France’s presence in Niger, marked by regular demonstrations in the capital, Niamey. This decision has significant implications for France’s operations against Islamist militants in the broader Sahel region and its influence in the area. However, Macron emphasized that France would not allow itself to be held hostage by the coup leaders.

Macron reiterated his support for ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, currently held captive by the coup leaders, viewing him as the country’s “sole legitimate authority.” He described Bazoum as a “hostage” and suggested that the coup was motivated by his courageous reforms and political rivalries.

Niger is one of several former French colonies in West Africa where the military has recently seized power, following similar events in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Chad. Anti-French sentiment has been on the rise in the region, with accusations of neocolonialist policies against Paris.

Furthermore, concerns have emerged in the West regarding the growing influence of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group in the Sahel region. Wagner is accused of human rights abuses and has supported some of the new military regimes.

The regional Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), with France’s support, has threatened military intervention in Niger to restore President Bazoum to power, but no action has been taken thus far.

Niger’s military leaders had previously demanded the departure of French Ambassador Sylvain Itte, but the French government refused to comply and did not recognize the military regime as legitimate. This announcement from Macron comes shortly after Niger’s coup leaders banned “French aircraft” from flying over the country, restricting access to Niger’s airspace for French flights.

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Pope Francis Acknowledges Migration as a Reality, Calls for Action During Visit to France

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During a visit to the southern French city of Marseille, Pope Francis urged European nations to display increased tolerance towards migrants. Speaking at a gathering of bishops and young people from Mediterranean countries, the Pope emphasized that those risking their lives at sea should not be seen as invaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron was present during his address. The call comes amidst renewed debate on migration following mass arrivals on Italy’s Lampedusa island last week. Pope Francis stressed that migration is not an emergency but a reality that requires a wise and European response.

He also advocated for legal and regular entry routes for migrants, particularly those fleeing war, hunger, and poverty, emphasizing the duty of humanity to rescue those attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

The Pope’s visit to Marseille marked the first by a pope to the city in 500 years and included discussions on migration, economic inequality, and climate change.

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