International
Catholic priest sentenced to 11 years for criticising his president
Catholic priest sentenced to 11 years for criticising his president
A Catholic priest in Belarus on Monday was convicted on charges of high treason for criticising the government and handed an 11-year sentence, in the first case of politically-driven charges against Catholic clergy since Belarus became independent after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
The conviction and sentencing of Rev. Henrykh Akalatovich comes as Belarusian authorities have intensified their sweeping crackdown on dissent ahead of the Jan. 26 presidential election that is all but certain to hand authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a seventh term in office.
The Viasna Human Rights Centre said Akalatovich, 64, rejected the treason charges. The group has listed him among 1,265 political prisoners in the country.
“For the first time since the fall of the Communist regime, a Catholic priest in Belarus was convicted on criminal charges that are levelled against political prisoners,” said Viasna’s representative Pavel Sapelka. “The harsh sentence is intended to intimidate and silence hundreds of other priests ahead of January’s presidential election.”
Akalatovich, who has been in custody since November 2023, was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery just before his arrest. The priest from the town of Valozhyn in western Belarus, who was critical of the government in his sermons, has been held incommunicado, with prison officials turning down warm clothing and food sent to him.
Arkatovich is among dozens of clergy — Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant — who have been jailed, silenced or forced into exile for protesting the 2020 election that gave Lukashenko a sixth term. The disputed vote that the opposition and the West said was marred with fraud triggered mass protests,. The authorities then responded with a sweeping crackdown that saw more than 65,000 arrested and thousands beaten by police.
Catholic and Protestant clergy who supported the protests and sheltered demonstrators at their churches were particularly targeted by repressions. Belarusian authorities openly seek to bring the clergy into line, repeatedly summoning them for “preventive” political talks, checking websites and social media, and having security services monitor sermons.
While Orthodox Christians make up about 80% of the population, just under 14% are Catholic and 2% are Protestants.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for nearly 30 years and describes himself as an “Orthodox atheist,” lashed out at dissident clergy during the 2020 protests, urging them to “do their jobs,” and not fuel unrest.
Lukashenko is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, allowing Russia to use his country’s territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and to deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Catholic priest sentenced to 11 years for criticising his president
International
Cybertruck filled with fuel and fireworks explodes at Trump’s Las Vegas hotel
Cybertruck filled with fuel and fireworks explodes at Trump’s Las Vegas hotel
Police are investigating after a Tesla Cybertruck filled with fuel canisters and firework mortars exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The driver was killed and seven people were injured, police said without naming any of the individuals involved. Officials said all injuries were minor.
The truck was rented in Colorado and arrived in the city Wednesday morning, less than two hours before the detonation, police said. Parked in front of the hotel near a glass entrance, the vehicle started to smoke, then exploded.
In an evening address, President Joe Biden said the White House was tracking the incident and law enforcement was investigating “whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans”, which left 15 dead early on New Year’s Day.
In an afternoon press conference, Sheriff Kevin McMahill showed dramatic footage of the explosion and photos of the aftermath, including several fuel canisters along with large fireworks in the truck bed.
Footage showed the truck parked directly in front of the entrance of the hotel. The truck sits idle for several seconds before exploding – bursts of multi-coloured fireworks shooting in multiple directions.
Another video showed investigators using a black fire-retardant tarp to put out the blaze and the charred remains of the truck bed. An array of gas and fuel canisters were left behind along with the remnants of more than a dozen firework mortars.
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The fire occurred around 08:40 PT (15:40 GMT), just hours after a man drove a truck with an Islamic State (IS) group flag into the crowd in New Orleans. At least 15 people died and dozens were injured.
Mr McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department said the authorities were examining whether the incident could be connected to the one in New Orleans, where improvised explosive devices were found near the scene.
He said they were also investigating whether it might be linked to President-Elect Donald Trump, who owns the hotel, or Elon Musk, who owns Tesla.
“Obviously, a Cybertruck, the Trump Hotel, there’s lots of questions that we have to answer as we move forward,” he said.
The FBI also said the agency was looking into whether the incident might be an act of terrorism, but the authorities said they currently had not confirmed the identity of the driver, who died in the vehicle. Authorities also said thus far, they had found no evidence that this incident was related to IS.
“I know everybody’s interested in that word, and trying to see if we can say, ‘Hey, this is a terrorist attack.’ That is our goal, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” FBI special agent in charge Jeremy Schwartz told reporters at a news conference.
The sheriff noted that both vehicles appeared to be rented from Turo, an app-based car rental company.
A Turo spokesperson said in a statement that the company was working with authorities in Las Vegas and New Orleans to help with the investigation. The spokesperson noted both renters appeared to not have a criminal background that would have “identified them as a security threat”.
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“We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families,” the statement reads.
The authorities say they do have the name of the person who rented the vehicle but have not officially confirmed it was the person driving the vehicle.
“As you can imagine, with an explosion here on an iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe,” he said during a news conference.
Mr McMahill said there was no longer a threat to the Las Vegas community.
Biden was briefed on both the attack in New Orleans and the Las Vegas explosion.
“We’re tracking the explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas,” said the president in an evening address.
“Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans.”
Fire department officials said emergency responders had quickly worked to extinguish the vehicle fire.
They added that the public should stay away from the area. The hotel was evacuated, with most of the guests moving to a different location.
It is owned in part by President-elect Donald Trump’s company. In a post on X, Trump’s son, Eric Trump, said a “reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas”.
“The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism,” he said.
Stephen Ferlando told the Washington Post that he had witnessed the incident from his hotel room on the 53rd floor of the Trump Tower. He told the outlet there was “definitely an explosion” and that the windows had begun to shake.
The Trump Hotel spans 64 floors with around 1,300 suites, according to its website.
Trump recently named Musk to co-lead a presidential advisory commission, the Department of Government Efficiency, after the two became close during Trump’s campaign.
Cybertruck filled with fuel and fireworks explodes at Trump’s Las Vegas hotel
BBC
International
Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria in alleged sex scandal
Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria in alleged sex scandal
Usra Hendra Harahap, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, is under investigation following allegations of sexual harassment by a former staff member at the Indonesian Embassy in Abuja.
Jakarta Globe reports that the allegations, outlined in a petition by the victim’s legal team, claim that the incident occurred on February 7 during official duties.
The victim, whose identity remains confidential for privacy reasons, described the encounter as traumatic and has since returned to Jakarta to seek counselling and support.
A psychological evaluation conducted by Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry reportedly diagnosed the victim with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
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She also alleged retaliation, including unjustified termination and excessive scrutiny in her role at the embassy.
The victim’s legal representatives have called for an independent investigation, the reversal of her termination, and compensation for damages suffered.
Roy Soemirat, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Indonesia, confirmed that the Ministry is taking the allegations seriously.
“We are thoroughly examining the reports, ensuring that the investigation follows all legal guidelines,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Ministry has also extended psychological support to the victim and reiterated its commitment to addressing sexual violence within its diplomatic ranks.
Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria in alleged sex scandal
International
National mourning after mass shooting in Montenegro
National mourning after mass shooting in Montenegro
A gunman has shot dead at least 10 people, including two children, in southern Montenegro on Wednesday, police say.
At least some of the deaths happened inside a restaurant in the Cetinje area following a verbal argument between guests, according to a police official quoted by public broadcaster RTCG.
It was later confirmed that the attacker had killed himself.
The government has declared three days of national mourning from Thursday with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic describing the shooting as a “terrible tragedy”.
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The gunman killed members of his own family, two of the restaurant owner’s children and also the owner, according to Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic.
Mr Saranovic called the incident a “consequence of disturbed interpersonal relations”, according to AFP news agency.
Four people were in a life-threatening condition in hospital after being seriously wounded in the shooting, the agency reported the prime minister as saying.
The attacker, named as Aleksandar Martinović, 45, fled the scene but later fatally injured himself after being surrounded by police who asked him to drop his weapon, a police official said.
Mass shootings are comparatively rare in the small Balkan nation.
National mourning after mass shooting in Montenegro
BBC
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