International Law Strained as Conflicts Escalate; China Executes Scammers; Venezuela Frees Activist
International law, designed to limit the impact of war, is at a breaking point, according to a recent study by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. The study, which examined 23 armed conflicts over the last 18 months, found that over 100,000 civilians have been killed, with torture and rape committed with near impunity, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, in other international developments, China executed four individuals for their involvement in a Myanmar-based scam and gambling syndicate, Sky News reported. The individuals were accused of running industrial parks in Myanmar's Kokang region, bordering China, that engaged in gambling and telecom scam operations. These operations involved kidnappings, extortion, forced prostitution, and drug manufacturing and trafficking. The group was responsible for the deaths of six people and ran operations worth more than 4 billion, according to authorities. Five people, including members of the Bai family, were sentenced to death in November for running the network of scam centers and casinos. The group's leader, Bai Suocheng, died from an illness.
In Venezuela, human rights activist Javier Tarazona was freed after more than four years in prison, Al Jazeera reported. The release came after the Venezuelan government announced an amnesty late last week, reportedly under pressure from the US after its abduction of President Maduro.
The situation in conflict zones remains dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. In Gaza, Samia Alatrash shared her personal story of loss, recounting how her sister and nieces were killed by Israel, according to Al Jazeera.
In the United States, an ICE agent was recorded stating that they "don't need a warrant" to arrest people, Al Jazeera reported. Jersey City councilperson Jake Ephros recorded the interaction with ICE agents arresting a man at a light rail station, questioning whether they had a warrant and if they knew who they took.
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