Hundreds of people from the Alawite religious minority, to which ousted President Bashar al-Assad belonged, were killed in the massacres in March. The violence erupted after attacks on the new government's security forces by armed groups aligned with the deposed autocrat. Counterattacks soon spiralled out of control to target civilians in the coastal regions that host the Alawite population. Seven of the defendants in the court on Tuesday were al-Assad loyalists, while the other seven were members of the new government's security forces.
Soldier F was on trial for two murders and five attempted murders during a defining event of Northern Ireland's Troubles. Mr Justice Lynch gave the ruling at Belfast crown court on Thursday, five weeks after the start of the long-awaited trial that was closely watched by nationalists, army veteran groups and the British and Irish governments. The judge presided over the case without a jury, which is permitted in exceptional cases.
The trial of South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Macharhas reignited concerns about the country's fragile peace and the future of its unity government. Machar, who has been under house arrest since March, made a rare public appearance this week at a special court session in Juba, joined by 20 co-defendants, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. He faces serious charges murder, treason, and crimes against humanity linked to violent clashes in Nasir earlier this year involving the Nuer-dominated White Army militia.