France has been plagued by multiple outbreaks of rioting following mass protests over the death of a teenager at the hands of a police officer last week. The death of Nahel M (17), teenager of North African descent, has stoked anger among the public at police violence against minorities and exacerbated existing racial tensions in France. Protests have spread beyond the capital city of Paris and its suburban areas, to other major cities, including Lyon, Marseille, Le Havre, Toulouse and Nantes.
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Kazakh President Outlines Defense Sector Priorities
On an expanded meeting on the development of the army at May 5, President and Supreme Commander in Chief Kassym Jomart Tokayev said the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan must protect the fundamental values of peace and tranquility amid conflicts. The role of the army has increased. The President stressed that providing professional training and equipping it with modern weapons and advanced technologies are of paramount importance.
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UN Special Rapporteur: Tajikistan Violated Its International Obligations
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, condemned the arrest and imprisonment of journalists, bloggers and civil society activists in Tajikistan, and questioned the credibility of the evidence presented in court against them.
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5,800 people have been killed in Gaza
More than 700 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. According to the health ministry, early 5,800 people have been killed in Gaza.
