Finnish court convicts Russian man for war crimes in Ukraine
Finnish court sentences Russian fighter to life imprisonment for war crimes against Ukrainian soldiers in 2014. A Russian national has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Finland for war crimes committed in Ukraine. The district court of Finland’s capital, Helsinki, ruled on Friday that Voislav Torden, then a commander of the far-right Russian nationalist paramilitary group Rusich, was involved in four different war crimes against Ukrainian soldiers during battles in eastern Ukraine in 2014. A fifth charge was dismissed. Torden was arrested in the summer of 2023 in Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (832-mile) border with Russia. The case involves an armed attack on soldiers of a Ukrainian battalion in the Luhansk region. According to the court, Torden was involved in the killing of a soldier, among other things. He also reportedly took degrading photos of the deceased, which he later disseminated. Ukraine hails ‘key milestone’ The 38-year-old defendant denied the allegations in court, the Finnish broadcaster Yle reported. His lawyer, Heikki Lampela, told Finnish media that Torden was surprised by the ruling and would appeal it. Advertisement This is the first case in which a Finnish court has convicted someone for war crimes in Ukraine, Yle reported. The office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general hailed the court’s decision as “a key milestone in holding perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law accountable.” “Ukraine remains committed to working with partners worldwide to ensure there is no impunity for war criminals,” it said in a statement posted on social media. Russia slammed the verdict and called the case against its citizen “shameful” and politically motivated. “The verdict of the Finnish judiciary provokes nothing but deep outrage and indignation. The bias of Helsinki district court, which gave an openly politicised sentence to the Russian citizen, is obvious,” the Russian embassy in Finland said in a statement. Adblock test (Why?)
Will Israel be held accountable for genocidal acts in Gaza?
UN report finds systemic sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians. A United Nations investigation concludes Israel has carried out genocidal acts by destroying Gaza’s main fertility clinic and maternity hospitals. Israel has rejected the report, which also alleges sexual violence. What are the implications? And will there be accountability? Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault Guests: Sari Bashi – programme director at Human Rights Watch Muhammad Dahleh – human rights lawyer Arwa Damon – founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance Adblock test (Why?)
Fernandes hits back at Ratcliffe over ‘overpaid’ jibe at Manchester United
Manchester United co-owner says some players are ‘overpaid’, but club captain defends his teammates. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says it is not the players’ fault for the contracts signed off by the club as he hits back at claims by co-owner Jim Ratcliffe that some are “overpaid”. Fernandes was singled out for praise by Ratcliffe, who also said some of the United squad were “not good enough”, in a range of media interviews this week. The United captain led by example by scoring a hat-trick in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad to book a place in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. And he defended his teammates after Ratcliffe singled out the signings of Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana as examples of expensive deals made before he arrived at the club that United are still paying for. “We can’t relax at this club. You know that there’s a big standard, a big attention that you get from the media, from everywhere,” Fernandes said. “It’s not nice to hear certain things, obviously. I don’t think that any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you’re not good enough or you’re overpaid or whatever. Advertisement “Everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to do the contracts at the time you come here or at the time you do a new contract or whatever, and it’s about yourself, proving that you can be important for the club.” Fernandes celebrates scoring Manchester United’s second goal against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, where he is regarded as a fan favourite [Phil Noble/Reuters] The Europa League is United’s only hope of salvaging a miserable season so far. Ruben Amorim’s team sit 13th in the Premier League and are out of both domestic cup competitions. Fernandes revealed he had the chance to leave Old Trafford last summer but reiterated his desire to win more trophies as captain. “I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave,” the Portuguese midfielder added. “We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying. “They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with [former manager, Erik] ten Hag also. “He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful.” Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, centre left, speaks with former manager Alex Ferguson in the stands of Old Trafford, where both regularly attend games [Carl Recine/Reuters] Despite Fernandes’s return of 15 goals this season as United’s stand-out performer, he has still received criticism from one of his predecessors as the club’s captain. Advertisement Roy Keane claimed the 30-year-old was “not a fighter” and “talent is not enough” in a recent media appearance. Fernandes said the former Irish midfielder, who won 13 major trophies at United, is someone he “massively respects” and is hoping to change Keane’s mind. “What I’m doing on the pitch to try to change his mind or trying to do something that he probably sees as a good thing,” Fernandes added. Amorim has said his side “need more Brunos” if they are to rediscover their former glories. Of Fernandes’s 15 goals this season, six have come in the last six games. “I think he’s so important for this team. You can see it by the numbers, and you can see from these last games. He’s always the guy that scores,” Amorim said. “When you play for this team, you have to be prepared for the critics, and I understand that former players had a lot of success here and the standards for them were so high that they see the things like that sometimes as black and white. “In life sometimes, it’s not just black and white. There is some other colours, and you have to understand the context. “Again, he’s always there, trying his best, so I’m really proud to coach a player like him.” Adblock test (Why?)
WPL 2025 final: Delhi Capitals Women vs Mumbai Indians Women; teams, stream
Who: Delhi Capitals Women vs Mumbai Indians WomenWhat: Women’s Premier League (WPL) final 2025Where: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India.When: Saturday, March 15 at 8pm (14:00 GMT) Follow Al Jazeera Sport‘s live text and photo commentary stream. Delhi Capitals Women will hope to end their woes in the WPL final as they face Mumbai Indians Women for the 2025 crown in Mumbai on Saturday. It’s the third consecutive final that Delhi have reached, but they are yet to lift the trophy, and they now face the team that beat them in the inaugural final in 2023, Mumbai Indians. Al Jazeera takes a look at the final of the third edition of the tournament. How did the teams reach the WPL final? Delhi Capitals topped the group stage from Mumbai Indians, who lost their final match – and with it, the top spot – in an 11-run defeat by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday. The result forced Mumbai into an eliminator with third-placed Gujarat Giants on Thursday. A resounding 47-run victory was recorded as Hayley Matthews smashed 77 in a total of 213-4. Who are the previous WPL winners? Mumbai Indians beat Delhi by seven wickets in the final of the first edition of the WPL in 2023. Advertisement Royal Challengers Bangalore were crowned champions with an eight-wicket win last season. Can Delhi Capitals end their final jinx? Former Australia captain Meg Lanning has led Delhi since the formation of the WPL and vice captain at the Capitals believes her skipper’s winning mentality and unwavering optimism are instrumental “Meg is someone who wants to win every game. But, at the same time, she has the amount of clarity in what she’s looking for. Winning is one thing that she tells us, but she also tells us to focus on what we need to do,” India batter Jemimah Rodrigues said of the seven-time World Cup winner. “She has clarity in what she wants to do and what she wants this team to do and makes sure she takes everyone along in doing that thing. I think that helps us be a successful team. “The thing I love about Meg, and this is something that I would like to add in myself … is that she’s calm but aggressive at the same time. And as a leader, that’s a very crucial quality to have.” 2️⃣ 🔝 Teams2️⃣ Great Captains1️⃣ Trophy 🏆 Who will win the 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡? 🤔#TATAWPL | #DCvMI | #Final | @DelhiCapitals | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/OiI9OAt0ge — Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 14, 2025 Who are the WPL’s leading run scorers? Nat Sciver (Brunt Mumbai Indians) – 416 Ellyse Perry (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 372 Shafali Verma (Delhi Capitals) – 300 Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals) – 263 Who are the WPL’s leading wicket-takers? Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians) – 14 Hayley Matthews (Mumbai Indians) – 14 Georgia Wareham (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 12 Advertisement What is the secret to Delhi Capitals’ consistency? Rodrigues has credited the team’s professionalism and unity for their consistency, especially during the current season which she described as the most challenging ever. “Every player adds so much value to the team that they just know their stuff,” she said. “I think out of all the three seasons, we are most proud of this year, because it wasn’t easy, but we found a way to pick ourselves up and still come at the top.” What are Mumbai’s chances of overcoming Delhi? Delhi may have topped the group this year but Mumbai already have one WPL title under their belt – and Delhi carry their losing streak in the finals with them into Saturday’s game. “We have a really good balance of international players as well as the local Indian players, too,” Matthews said as she analysed the Mumbai squad. “We get contributions from so many different participants in the team like Nat [Sciver-Brunt], Melie [Amelia Kerr], Shab [Shabnim Ismail], myself, being able to step up as internationals. “When you look at a captain like Harmanpreet [Kaur], even the young players, like Sanskriti Gupta that have come in this year, have been able to make massive impacts.” How did the WPL reach its final in Mumbai? The tournament has been on a road trip across India with the opening six games staged in Vadodara, before eight were played in Bengaluru. Lucknow and Mumbai concluded the 20-match group stage. Thursday’s eliminator was also played in Mumbai. Consistency 🤝 Team work 🤝 Performance Our two finalists had that in common on the road to the #Final 🛣 But who will fulfill their quest for glory? 🏆🤔 #TATAWPL | #DCvMI | @DelhiCapitals | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/MkxmxLcEN9 — Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 14, 2025 Advertisement Are impact players allowed in the WPL? Unlike the Indian Premier League (IPL), the WPL does not allow for a substitute player to be brought into the team during the match to make an impact. Delhi’s Rodrigues hopes this remains the case. “I am not a massive fan of the impact player [rule] because I am someone who loves the rules we already have,” she said. “It’s unfair to the bowlers also sometimes when they have bowled so well and have done so much and then towards the end, a proper batter is coming in.” Has the WPL been a success? According to West Indies white-ball captain and Mumbai all-rounder Hayley Matthews, Twenty20 leagues have transformed women’s cricket from a sport that once relied on public support for survival into an appealing spectacle. The 26-year-old, who shot to fame in the West Indies’ 2016 T20 World Cup triumph, said T20 leagues like the WPL have fostered global exposure and helped develop the women’s game. “I feel like once upon a time, women’s cricket was probably like, ‘Come and watch the game to support the women,’ whereas now I feel like we have a product that’s entertaining and we have these skills that people want to see us play cricket,” Matthews told Reuters. “Just getting the opportunity to play these
Mark Carney sworn in as Canadian PM amid growing tensions with US
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Mark Carney has been sworn in as the prime minister of Canada, assuming office amid threats from the United States.
Germany parties agree plan for spending boost, debt brake overhaul
The plan calls for a $545bn fund for infrastructure spending. Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has announced a deal to drastically overhaul the country’s debt rules to allow a boom in defence and security spending as well as 500 billion euros ($545bn) in infrastructure investment in the next 12 years. Merz’s conservatives and their prospective Social Democratic coalition partners reached an agreement with the Greens party on Friday to exempt spending above 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and security – including civil protection, intelligence and “aid to countries under illegal attack” – from the nation’s constitutionally enshrined debt brake. “Germany is back,” Merz said, adding that the agreement signalled to partners and adversaries Berlin’s willingness to defend itself. The debt brake has been the hallmark of Berlin’s fiscal policy since it was introduced by former Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2009 and limited new borrowing to 0.35 percent of GDP. Economists and investors have long urged Germany to reform its debt brake to free up investment and support an economy that has contracted for the past two years. Advertisement Friday’s deal was reached as US President Donald Trump pivots away from supporting Ukraine in its fight to repel Russia’s invasion amid strains in ties between Washington and the European Union. Concerns over the future direction of US foreign policy have fuelled calls for Germany, long dependent on the US security umbrella, to quickly ramp up its military funding amid signs of increasing Russian aggression. “Any further delay” in boosting [defence] spending “would be irresponsible”, Merz said during a parliamentary debate on Thursday. “In view of the alarming security situation in Europe in every respect and the growing economic challenges in our country, far-reaching decisions … cannot be postponed any longer,” he told lawmakers. But Friday’s deal follows several days of often acrimonious debate, during which members of the Greens had threatened to withhold their support, citing insufficient action on the environment in the plan. Their votes were necessary to achieve the two-thirds majority in the German parliament needed to modify the debt brake. Merz – whose conservatives finished first in February elections – said that after talks with the Greens, it had been agreed that 100 billion euros ($108bn) of the infrastructure fund would be dedicated to climate protection measures. His incoming government is eager to get the spending plans approved before the newly elected parliament convenes at the end of March. In the new chamber, the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far-left Left party, which oppose the plans, would have the numbers to block the measures. Advertisement Both parties have filed legal challenges against the spending plans at the Federal Constitutional Court, arguing there will be insufficient time for consultations. Adblock test (Why?)
Residents near Ukraine’s frontline sceptical of ceasefire deal
[unable to retrieve full-text content] People in a town near the frontline in Ukraine’s Sumy region have told Al Jazeera they are mistrustful of US peace deal.
Columbia expels, suspends students after government threats: What we know
Columbia University has expelled, suspended or revoked degrees of students who occupied a campus hall during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April 2024, the university said on Thursday. Students were issued with punishments based on the “severity of behaviour at these events” and past infractions, if any, a statement from Columbia read. The move is the university’s response to a crackdown on student activists in the United States who led pro-Palestine demonstrations last year amid Israel’s war on Gaza, and called for their schools to cut financial ties with Israel. It also comes after the government cut $400m in federal funding for Columbia on March 7. The university was one of 60 institutions threatened with further cuts in a letter from US authorities this week. Here’s what we know about the threat to Columbia and how it has responded: What does the US government’s letter to Columbia and other universities say? On March 10, the US Department of Education sent letters to 60 institutions, informing them they were under investigation for “antisemitic harassment and discrimination” and warning them of potential law enforcement actions if they don’t “protect Jewish students”. Advertisement Prominent institutions such as Columbia, Harvard and Princeton were among the schools which received the notice. All 60 schools benefit from US federal funding. The letter cited Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which the education department said mandates universities to “protect Jewish students on campus, including (by providing) uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities”. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon was quoted as saying in the missive: “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite US campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better.” SHALOM COLUMBIA: The Trump Admin, led by @USEDgov and the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism (@TheJusticeDept, @HHSGov, & @USGSA), has canceled ~$400M in federal grants to @Columbia over its failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment. pic.twitter.com/CavoXbhhvx — The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 7, 2025 Earlier, on March 7, the Department of Education announced a $400m funding cut to Columbia specifically, citing a “failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment”. The school was a major hub during a wave of campus protests that swept the US last year as Israel’s war on Gaza escalated. On April 30, a group of students, staff and alumni occupied Hamilton Hall, an academic building on campus, before being forcibly cleared by New York police on request of the university’s leadership. Advertisement How has Columbia responded? What action has it taken against students? Columbia has not publicly responded to the letter from the education department. However, in a statement to staff and students on March 10, Columbia’s interim president Katrina Armstrong said funding cuts would impact “research and critical functions of the University”, and would affect staff and students. About a quarter of the university’s more than $6bn yearly operation costs are met by federal grants. Then, on Thursday, Columbia announced that students involved in last year’s Hamilton Hall protest have received multiple-year suspensions or outright expulsions following the university’s investigations. The months-long process was carried out by the school’s University Judicial Board, and included hearings for each student involved. “Columbia is committed to enforcing the University’s Rules and Policies and improving our disciplinary processes,” the university said. March 13, 2025 University Statement Regarding UJB Determinations: https://t.co/C8Hn518ZId pic.twitter.com/dgr71AzMeX — Columbia University (@Columbia) March 13, 2025 Others who have since graduated will have their degrees revoked, it added. The names and precise number of students sanctioned by the judicial board were not revealed. According to The Associated Press news agency, several other students have been notified by university officials that they are also under investigation for sharing social media posts in support of Palestinian people or joining “unauthorised” protests. Advertisement ‘Dangerous times’: How have students and others reacted? In an opinion published in the university’s publication Columbia Daily Spectator in February, a body of student workers accused the university’s leadership of not taking a stand. “The Student Workers of Columbia sent you a letter asking for assurance that Columbia would protect noncitizen students, faculty and staff. In response we received a vague reply from your office, which seemed to reference a completely different topic. Rather than standing up for the Columbia community, the University’s leadership has stood by or, worse, accelerated and enabled these threats,” the body wrote. Columbia University authorities this week warned students at the institution’s journalism school about posting on social media, according to reporting by The New York Times. Non-US citizens were especially warned to avoid publishing about Gaza or Ukraine. “If you have a social media page, make sure it is not filled with commentary on the Middle East,” the journalism school’s dean, Jelani Cobb told students. “Nobody can protect you … these are dangerous times,” he added. “History shows that a university that does not advocate for the academic freedom of its own members is opening itself to further attacks on academic freedom in the future,” said historian Eraldo Souza dos Santos, who is currently affiliated with Cornell University. “Columbia seemingly not only ignored Khalil’s calls for protection, but also has been willing to collaborate with the current administration in its efforts to criminalise dissent on campus. Advertisement “It should, instead, be trying, within its own capacities, to offer legal and public-facing support to a generation of students who belong to the same long struggle against segregation and apartheid that took shape between the 1960s and 1980s,” he told Al Jazeera. Demonstrators hold placards as they protest on the day of a hearing on the detention of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, in New York City on March 12, 2025 [Jeenah Moon/Reuters] What happened in the lead-up to all this? Authorities have also cracked down directly on students involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia student who acted as student negotiator with university authorities
Russia, China call on US to drop Iran sanctions, restart nuclear talks
Deputy foreign ministers of Russia, China and Iran call for multilateral talks on ending ‘unlawful’ US sanctions. Representatives of Iran, Russia and China have urged United States President Donald Trump’s administration to end sanctions imposed against Tehran over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme, while calling for the resumption of the multilateral talks on the issue. The three nations “emphasised the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions”, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu read from a joint statement issued on Friday. He was flanked by his counterparts from Russia, Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich, and Iran, Kazem Gharibabadi. “The relevant parties should work to eliminate the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions, pressure and threats of the use of force,” Ma said. Iran’s Gharibabadi praised the meeting as “very constructive and positive”, even as he accused “some countries” of creating “an unnecessary crisis” to thwart Tehran. Later on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was due to meet with the three senior diplomats. The talks are the latest attempt to resolve the Iran impasse, as Trump tries to reach out to its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an attempt to jumpstart talks. Advertisement Any progress on the Iran talks with the Trump administration requires the support of Russia and China, which are both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council alongside the US, France and Britain. The approval of the Security Council paved the way for the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Trump abandoned in 2018 during his first term as president, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions in the wider Middle East. Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67 percent purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kilogrammes (661 pounds). The last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s programme put its stockpile at 8,294.4kg (18,286 pounds) as it enriches a fraction of it to 60 percent purity. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. While Iran has maintained it would not negotiate under threat, its economy has been savaged by the US sanctions. Protests over women’s rights, the economy and Iran’s theocracy in recent years have shaken its government. Last Friday, Trump said he had sent a letter to Khamenei, urging negotiations but also warning of possible military action. In response, Khamenei mocked the US president saying he was not interested in talks with a “bullying government”. He complained that Tehran “negotiated for years, reached a complete and signed agreement”, and Trump “tore it up”. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said that he would not negotiate with the US while being “threatened”, and Iran would not bow to US “orders” to talk. But he had previously said in a speech to the UN that Tehran was “ready to engage”. Advertisement Other Iranian officials have offered some signals over the possibility of negotiations, and the latest meeting in Beijing could indicate its openness for new talks. Adblock test (Why?)
South Sudan’s rising violence in “polarised regional environment”
Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group unpacks South Sudan’s escalating violence, who’s behind it, and what’s next. Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group unpacks what’s happening on the ground in South Sudan and the border region, who’s behind the escalating violence and what could further fuel the conflict. Adblock test (Why?)