Belgian court sends ex-diplomat, 93, to trial over 1961 murder of Congo leaderÉtienne Davignon, the only person still alive among 10 Belgians the Lumumba family accuses of involvement in the killing, is charged with participation in war crimes. The decision, which follows a surprise referral by the Brussels prosecutor last June, can be appealed against. Davignon, a former vice-president of the European Commission, has denied the charges.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/17/ex-belgian-diplomat-93-trial-1961-murder-patrice-lumumbaActivist cleared of terror charges over alleged support for HamasBristol Crown Court heard she attended a march in Cardiff in November 2023 and addressed a crowd gathered at Ty William Morgan in Central Square, telling them she was “sick of being told to condemn Hamas.” A jury unanimously acquitted Devonish, who was arrested in January 2024 after a video of her speech was posted on social media, of the single charge against her following a two-day trial at the court.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/activist-cleared-terror-charges-over-alleged-support-hamasPetro accuses Ecuador of bombing Colombian territory, deepening rift with NoboaPetro first made the accusation during a televised cabinet meeting and later repeated it on X, where he said there were “27 charred bodies” linked to the attacks and that Quito’s explanation was “not credible.” The Colombian leader also argued that the bombings did not appear to have been carried out either by illegal armed groups — “they do not have planes” — or by Colombia’s own security forces, because, he said, he had given no such order.
https://en.mercopress.com/2026/03/17/petro-accuses-ecuador-of-bombing-colombian-territory-deepening-rift-with-noboaControversial Chile pardons 2019 protests : Kast Considers Pardoning 102 Convicted AgentsChile pardons 2019 protests have emerged as a major point of contention following statements by President José Antonio Kast. The Chilean leader confirmed his administration is actively reviewing the possibility of granting presidential pardons to members of Carabineros (national police) and the Armed Forces convicted for human rights violations committed during the widespread social protests of October 2019 to March 2020, known as the estallido social.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/chile-pardons-2019-protests/Brazilian police release 3 Israeli tourists after clashes with pro-Palestine locals in beach cityBahia state police said in a statement that three men between ages 21 and 22 insulted officers and resisted arrest after they “conflicted with a group of people during a pro-Palestine demonstration” in Itacare, a city of 30,000 residents that has become a travel spot for former Israeli soldiers.
https://apnews.com/article/brazil-israeli-tourists-released-police-12acecc6b5df0b5a06337d95b5562163Iran’s national security council confirms death of its chief, Ali LarijaniDonald Trump also hailed Larijani’s reported death, without actually naming him but referring to his supposed role in spearheading the recent crushing of mass protests. “Their leaders are gone,” Trump said of Iran’s clerical regime. “It’s an evil group. I mean, they’ve killed much more than 32,000 people. And the man who was responsible for that was also killed yesterday.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/17/irans-security-chief-ali-larijani-killed-in-airstrike-israel-saysPalestinian boys 'stripped and beaten' by Israeli soldiers after their parents, siblings killed in West BankAli Khaled Bani Odeh, 37, his wife Waad Othman Bani Odeh, 35, and two of their children, Othman, 7, who was blind, and Mohammed, 5, were killed late Saturday in the town of Tammun in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry said. Two other children, Mustafa, 8, and Khaled, 11, survived with shrapnel wounds.
https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-soldiers-beat-young-boys-after-killing-family-four Tunisia detains seven Gaza flotilla activists A Tunisian judge on Monday ordered the pre-trial detention of seven members of the new pro-Palestinian flotilla, Global Sumud, based on suspicions of money laundering under the country's anti-terrorism law. On 6 March, local media reported that several members of the Tunisian Coordination of the Sumud Flotilla were arrested, including Wael Naouar, his wife Jawaher Channa, Nabil Chennoufi, Mohamed Amine Bennour, and Sana M’hidli.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/tunisia-detains-seven-gaza-flotilla-activistsPakistan denies hospital strike in Afghanistan as death toll hits 400In a series of posts on X, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denounced the assault as a “crime against humanity”. He accused the Pakistani military of intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure to “perpetrate horrors”, later saying that those killed and injured in the strike were patients receiving treatment at the facility.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/17/pakistan-denies-hospital-strike-in-afghanistan-as-death-toll-hits-400https://archive.ph/stTLX Drivers in Cebu, riders in Davao demand removing oil taxes The drivers said their families can barely afford food since nearly all their earnings go to fuel costs. After the massive price hike on March 10, their daily income dropped by as much as ₱500. They announced during the protest their participation in the nationwide transport strike starting March 19. In Davao City, the United Davao Delivery Riders Association (UDDRA) likewise demanded the immediate removal of excise and value-added taxes on oil products.
https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/drivers-in-cebu-riders-in-davao-demand-removing-oil-taxes/