February 25, 2013:
The Nigerian militant group Boko Haram is believed to be behind the kidnapping of the seven French citizens in Cameroon. The family had been kidnapped last Tuesday while from a visit to the Waza National Park. An alleged kidnapper claimed that France had launched a war on the Islamic religion. French authorities have urged French citizens to leave northern Cameroon, which has been the site of a growing number of kidnappings. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21577874
February 26, 2013:
After a hot air balloon caught fire near Luxor, Egypt, killing 19 tourists, the Egyptian authorities have decided to cancel all hot air balloons while they launch an investigation. The balloon went up in flames and after shooting up into the air, plunged 1,000 feet to the ground west of the city of Luxor. Nine tourists from Hong Kong, four from Japan, two from Great Britain, two French, one Hungarian, and one Egyptian died. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21595185
The International Criminal Court may be delaying the trial of four prominent Kenyans charged with fuelling the 2007 election violence. Both the defense and the prosecution have conceded that delaying the trial would be best. Politically, the delay is very significant, especially if there is no clear winner in the March 4 election which would mean that the accused would be free to continue in any run-off voting. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21595136
February 27, 2013:
Two policemen were acquitted in Bahrain after being charged for shooting to death one of the protestors. Such a ruling will most likely fuel further protests. The Ministry of Interior claims that the police had been the ones attacked and their actions were more or less self-defense. The family of the dead protestor, Fadhil al Matrook, claims that Matrook had been attending the funeral of a fellow protestor who had been killed the day before. Matrook was then shot while assisting a mourner who had been overcome by a tear gas assault. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21601016
February 28, 2013:
US secretary of state John Kerry has stated that the US will step up its support of the Syrian opposition to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry explained that the US would be providing direct support to rebel forces, giving them important supplies like food and medicine. He will be traveling to Ankara to discuss the crisis with Turkish officials. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21612130
A peace concert was held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in response to some violence that has been reported. Hate speech and cases of ethnic intimidation have also been reported. Social media has aided to widespread hatred based on ethnic and political affiliation. There has been fear of displacement of voters as people may flee out of fear of intimidation or potential violence. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21614131
The juvenile accused of taking part in the fatal gang-rape of a young woman in Delhi has been charged with rape, murder, and a mélange of other crimes including kidnapping. He currently faces a maximum of three years in a reform facility, while his fellow adult suspects face the death penalty. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-21611946
February 29, 2013:
According to the Chadian President Idriss Deby, a senior al-Qaeda militant, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, was killed in northern Mali. The deceased militant is believed to be the second-in-command of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The Islamic Maghreb is currently fighting foreign forces in Mali. His death will raise immediate questions over the French hostages Abou Zeid was believed to have been holding. Read more at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21637829
Angry crowds gathered outside a hospital where a seven-year-old girl is being treated after being sexually assaulted at her school. Buses and police were attacked by protestors. The rape and murder of the young woman in December has sparked a movement of protests against sexual violence towards women in India. This is just one example of many incidents that have come under scrutiny since December. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-21626210