Global Turmoil: Crackdowns and Tensions Escalate Worldwide

A Nigerian court has sentenced separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism and other charges related to his campaign for a separate state in south-eastern Nigeria, known as Biafra. Kanu was convicted on all seven charges, including treason and involvement with an outlawed movement. The prosecution had called for the death penalty, but the judge opted for life imprisonment, citing that executions are now 'frowned upon'. Kanu's movement, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (Ipob), was banned as a terrorist organisation in 2017, and its armed wing has been accused of killings and other acts of violence. Kanu has been a popular figure in his movement's heartland in south-eastern Nigeria, but reaction to the verdict has been muted so far.

A CNN investigation has found evidence that Tanzanian police fatally shot protesters and buried bodies in mass graves following the country's disputed presidential election. The election, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan re-elected with 98% of the vote, was marred by violence and allegations of electoral irregularities. Witnesses and victims described the brutality of the police response, with many protesters appearing unarmed or holding only rocks and sticks. The UN Human Rights Office suggested hundreds of protesters and civilians were killed, with an unknown number injured or detained. The Tanzanian government initially denied any killings had occurred, but later acknowledged some casualties and launched a commission to investigate the unrest.

The G20 summit is set to take place in Johannesburg amidst rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and other member nations due to Washington's total boycott of the summit, and a diplomatic rift between China and Japan. The China-Japan rift has been exacerbated by recent comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, which China perceives as a threat. Observers warn that these tensions could derail talks and make it challenging to reach consensus on key issues.