At least 21 people died when a children’s hospital in rebel-held Aleppo was attacked by Syrian government aircraft yesterday.
Five children were killed in the attack on Bayan Children’s Hospital, which also damaged a blood bank facility and ambulances. A paramedic and emergency worker were also killed in the attack. At least 32 people have been killed since Russian-backed airstrikes on rebel-held parts of the city resumed two days ago.
The hospital’s director, Dr Hatem, who took shelter in the basement during the bombardment, reported staff and patients were unable to escape because the aircraft were overhead. “We can’t get out. Maybe we can protect ourselves in this room,” he told the Independent Doctors Association.
The Syrian-Observatory monitoring group said jets and helicopters dropped missiles and bombs on several areas of Eastern Aleppo.
Russia leaves International Criminal Court
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced Russia will leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). A Russian government spokesman said the ICC “failed to meet exceptions to become an independent, authoritative international tribunal” and is “ineffective”.
An ICC spokesperson responded to Russia’s withdrawal and said “membership of the Rome Statute is voluntary and the ICC is respectful of each states’ sovereignty”. The ICC treaty, ratified by 123 countries, tries cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and war crimes. The withdrawal came after the ICC handed down a report critical of Russia’s involvement in Crimea. South Africa, Gambia and Burundi have also quit the ICC.
Kenya grants refugee camp a reprieve
The Kenyan government has extended the closure of the world largest refugee camp by six months to allow time for more consultation and funding. The camp, home to 300,000 Somalis, was expected to be shut down at the end of November.
Human rights groups accused the Kenyan government of trying to return the refugees back to Somalia despite the ongoing conflict in the country. The head of the UNHCR, Filipo Grandi, made a formal request for the closure to be delayed.
Manslaughter charges for police officer who killed Philando Castile
The US police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile, 32, during a traffic stop in Minnesota in July has been charged with second-degree manslaughter by the district prosecutor. Jeronimo Yanez will also be charged with threatening the lives of Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her four-year-old daughter, who witnessed the incident.
The Castile family lawyer hailed the charges as “an important signal to this nation” which could put Mr Yanez in jail for a maximum of 10 years. – Compiled from web source by Alicia Camilleri and Sinead Fogarty
Screengrab from CCTV English Youtube video.
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Enthusiastic reporter-to-be, who has a love for anything and everything. Follow her on Twitter: @AliciaCam98; and Facebook: Alicia Camilleri
