Congo Warlord Lubanga Guilty of War Crimes in the ICC – Their First Ever Verdict (!)
A verdict so meaningful, even Angelina Jolie showed up to see it handed down
The International Criminal Court passed down their first ever verdict on Wednesday, when convicted Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga was found guilty of war crimes, and using children in his rebel army.
Joseph Kony – another former African militia leader based in Uganda – may on the run, but Lubanga was found guilty for separate crimes. Lubanga, 51, was convicted of conscripting child soldiers to fight alongside his militia during the bloody four-year war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The war, which ended in 2003, took place in gold-rich regions throughout the country.
According to trial documents, Lubanga enlisted children, including 11-year-olds, by abducting them from school, football fields and even their homes; transforming the boys into child soldiers, and some of the young girls into sex slaves.
The ICC is the world’s only permanent criminal tribunal that tries genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This is the first verdict in the ICC’s near ten-year history.
On the Lighter Side, Travel Alberta Spends $1.5-Million to Send Kelly Ripa to Banff
Kelly Ripa and temporary co-host Nick Lachey are amped for Banff! Image: ABC
Travel Alberta set aside $1.5-Million to send Live! with Kelly to Banff next month. The show will film four episodes in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, and will also give Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, their much-talked-about second honeymoon.
The CEO of Travel Alberta says he expects publicity from the show’s western travel will reach roughly 3.6 million homes, and will generate close to $22-Million in directly-related tourism revenue. Not a bad trade, it seems.
This in-show vacation will take place during Ripa’s actor-husband’s birthday, making it even more special. This is the second time Kelly Ripa has travelled to Canada with Live!. Back in 2010, Regis Philbin and Ripa travelled to PEI. During that trip, PEI became the second-most-searched Google term in the U.S.
Though guests have yet to be announced, the Banff episodes will air the week of April 2.
Toronto FC Advances to Champions League Semifinals for the First Time
This 2007 photo of a LA Galaxy and Toronto FC match up reads: “Money Buys Becks Not Respect.” Word. Image: Julia Baldwin
TFC! TFC! On Wednesday, Nick Soolsma’s gamewinning goal catapulted the Toronto FC to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals for the first time.
In a nail-biter of a game – come on, it’s soccer, it’s always a nail-biter (right?) – the final goal came in the 67th minute of play, giving Toronto the 4-3 win over the much-favoured Los Angeles Galaxy, former MLS champions. Last week, when soccer’s undisputed Adonis, David Beckham, and the LA Galaxy faced off in Toronto, the teams tied. Still, this win is a major upset. Poor Posh.
Toronto will face Mexico’s Santos Laguna in the semifinals, later this month.
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Joanna Adams writes the Morning Cable, and lots more, for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at †@nowstarringTO.
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