World Tour - ISIS claims terror attacks in Uganda

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: World Tour. Here’s our reporter in Africa, Onize Ohikere.

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: ISIS claims bombings in Uganda—We start today here in Africa.

A group affiliated with Islamic State terrorists has claimed responsibility for two bombings in Uganda. The first targeted a roadside restaurant in Kampala on Saturday night.

A police spokesman called the bombing an intentional act of domestic terrorism.

AUDIO: After the three suspects had left the scene, they ultimately detonated the improvised explosive device that caused injuries to a total of four victims.

One person died and three others suffered injuries.

The second attack targeted a bus outside Kampala. Police say the suicide bomber was the only victim but several other passengers suffered injuries. They also warned more attacks could be coming.

AUDIO: They have started with soft targets but we believe that they could be having a very bigger plot of carrying out a major incident on a major installation.

Saturday’s attack was the first in Kampala in many years. But jihadists with the Allied Democratic Forces have killed thousands of people in attacks during the last decade. In March, U.S. officials officially linked the ADF with members of Islamic State.

German woman convicted in Yazidi girl’s death—Next we go to Europe.

AUDIO: [Sound of camera shutters]

A German court has sentenced a woman to 10 years in prison for her role in the death of a Yazidi girl in 2015. It is the first such conviction anywhere in the world for crimes committed by Islamic State militants against the Yazidi community.

AUDIO: [Woman speaking German]

The prosecutor hailed the verdict as a strong signal that crimes against humanity would be punished, no matter where they take place.

Jennifer Wenisch converted to Islam in 2013 and moved to Iraq, where she joined ISIS. The militants recruited her to patrol city parks in Fallujah and Mosul as part of the group’s morality police.

While living in Mosul, she and her husband “purchased” a Yazidi woman and her 5-year-old daughter to serve as household slaves. The couple chained the child up outside, where she died of dehydration in the heat.

AUDIO: [Woman speaking German]

The lawyer representing the girl’s mother said no punishment would ever be enough for taking the child’s life. But she said her client was satisfied that the world now knew who was responsible for her daughter’s death.

Amnesty International leaves Hong Kong—Next, to Asia.

AUDIO: [Sound of door closing]

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International announced Monday that it would close its offices in Hong Kong. The group said the national security law China imposed on the territory made it impossible for it to work freely and without fear of serious government reprisals.

The decision came the same day a court in Hong Kong convicted a food delivery driver of inciting secession by shouting pro-democracy slogans.

More than 70 people have been charged with security crimes since the law took effect two years ago. Many of them are pro-democracy activists.

Dozens of civil society groups have disbanded in recent months, often after being labelled "subversive" by China's state-controlled media.

Nigeria launches digital currency—And finally, we end today back in Africa.

AUDIO: [Sound of clapping]

Nigeria launched a national digital currency on Monday. It’s called the eNaira and will be issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the announcement.

BUHARI: We have become the first country in Africa, and one of the first in the world, to introduce a digital currency to our citizens.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and largest economy. Buhari touted the effort as a way to expand the nation’s tax base as more people and businesses move into the formal economy, especially in rural areas.

Five countries now have national digital currencies. Fourteen others have them in a pilot stage.

That’s this week’s World Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Ohikere in Abuja, Nigeria.

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