A Ukrainian writer and war crimes investigator wounded in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant last week has died, the freedom of expression group PEN said on Sunday.

Victoria Amelina, 37, was wounded when a Russian missile destroyed the Ria Pizza restaurant in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing 12 people, including children, and wounding dozens.

"With our greatest pain, we inform you that Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina passed away on July 1st in Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro," PEN Ukraine said in a statement on its Facebook page. &nbsp;

Amelina had been in the city with a delegation of Colombian journalists and writers, PEN said.

She was hospitalised with "multiple skull fractures", according to a surgeon treating the wounded.

Her novel "Dom's Dream Kingdom" was published in 2017 and shortlisted for the UNESCO City of Literature Prize and the European Union Prize for Literature, according to PEN.

Her poems, prose and essays have been translated into English, German, Polish and other languages.&nbsp;

Since 2022 she had been working to document Russian war crimes since the invasion and advocate for accountability, PEN said.

Ria Pizza in Kramatorsk -- one of the largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the east -- was popular with soldiers, journalists and aid workers.&nbsp;

Amelina's death takes the toll of the strike to 13.&nbsp;

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A Ukrainian writer and war crimes investigator wounded in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant last week has died, the freedom of expression group PEN said on Sunday.

A Ukrainian writer and war crimes investigator wounded in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant last week has died, the freedom of expression group PEN said on Sunday. Victoria Amelina, 37, was wounded when a Russian missile destroyed the Ria Pizza restaurant in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing 12 people, including children, and wounding dozens. "With our greatest pain, we inform you that Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina passed away on July 1st in Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro," PEN Ukraine said in a statement on its Facebook page. Amelina had been in the city with a delegation of Colombian journalists and writers, PEN said. She was hospitalised with "multiple skull fractures", according to a surgeon treating the wounded. Her novel "Dom's Dream Kingdom" was published in 2017 and shortlisted for the UNESCO City of Literature Prize and the European Union Prize for Literature, according to PEN. Her poems, prose and essays have been translated into English, German, Polish and other languages. Since 2022 she had been working to document Russian war crimes since the invasion and advocate for accountability, PEN said. Ria Pizza in Kramatorsk -- one of the largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the east -- was popular with soldiers, journalists and aid workers. Amelina's death takes the toll of the strike to 13. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina succumbs to injuries from Kramatorsk strike

Cloete Murray, a 50-year-old South African investigator,&nbsp;appointed to look into state corruption allegations was shot dead along with his son by unknown assailants in Johannesburg city on Saturday.&nbsp;

The incident happened when Murray was driving in the city along with his 28-year-old son Thomas. While Thomas succumbed to his injuries on the spot, Murray was taken to the hospital where he passed away, media reported said citing police officials.&nbsp;

Murray was involved in investigation into a company linked to the Gupta brothers amid allegations that they were seeking political favours for their business.&nbsp;

The South African investigator held a significant position as a liquidator for Bosasa company which was found to be involved in numerous government contract scams. In his position as a liquidator, he looked closely into the affairs of a company and helped with recovering assets or report any criminality linked to it.&nbsp;

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According to Zondo Commission, which was set up in January 2018 by former president Jacob Zuma to investigate state corruption allegations and fraud in South Africa's public sector, Bosasa was concluded to have been involved in scams pertaining to the government contracts.&nbsp;

The commission said that the company bribed influential politicians and state officials in order to get government contracts during Zuma's nine-year presidency, from 2009 to 2018.

However, at the time, Zuma refuted all the claims of any foul play.&nbsp;

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Bosasa was also a donor to current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership campaign. As per reports, the company has allegedly received lucrative contracts.&nbsp;

With Bosasa's corruption links, Ramaphosa earlier said he would repay $35,000 (£27,300) donations it got from the company. Ramaphosa, in addition to the Bosasa corruption charges, faces many other accusations.

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Murray was also looking into a company linked to the Gupta brothers- Ajay, Rajesh and Atul. The commission's report said that the brothers tried "state-capture" under Zuma's leadership with the aid of political favours. The Gupta brothers who moved from India to South Africa in 1993 enjoyed favours from government and public companies.

As per reports, Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta of the Gupta family were arrested last year but it is still not known why the third brother, Ajay, was not arrested.&nbsp;South African is striving to have the arrested Gupta brothers extradited from the UAE.

Cloete Murray, a 50-year-old South African investigator, appointed to look into state corruption allegations was shot dead along with his son by unknown assailants in Johannesburg city on Saturday.

Cloete Murray, a 50-year-old South African investigator, appointed to look into state corruption allegations was shot dead along with his son by unknown assailants in Johannesburg city on Saturday. The incident happened when Murray was driving in the city along with his 28-year-old son Thomas. While Thomas succumbed to his injuries on the spot, Murray was taken to the hospital where he passed away, media reported said citing police officials. Murray was involved in investigation into a company linked to the Gupta brothers amid allegations that they were seeking political favours for their business. The South African investigator held a significant position as a liquidator for Bosasa company which was found to be involved in numerous government contract scams. In his position as a liquidator, he looked closely into the affairs of a company and helped with recovering assets or report any criminality linked to it. Also Read | Former Taiwanese president Ma to visit China from March 27 According to Zondo Commission, which was set up in January 2018 by former president Jacob Zuma to investigate state corruption allegations and fraud in South Africa's public sector, Bosasa was concluded to have been involved in scams pertaining to the government contracts. The commission said that the company bribed influential politicians and state officials in order to get government contracts during Zuma's nine-year presidency, from 2009 to 2018. However, at the time, Zuma refuted all the claims of any foul play. Also Read | Rights activists in Bosnia injured in attack following LGBT event ban: Reports Bosasa was also a donor to current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership campaign. As per reports, the company has allegedly received lucrative contracts. With Bosasa's corruption links, Ramaphosa earlier said he would repay $35,000 (£27,300) donations it got from the company. Ramaphosa, in addition to the Bosasa corruption charges, faces many other accusations. Watch | After Iran-Saudi pact, China to play peacemaker in Ukraine war? Murray was also looking into a company linked to the Gupta brothers- Ajay, Rajesh and Atul. The commission's report said that the brothers tried "state-capture" under Zuma's leadership with the aid of political favours. The Gupta brothers who moved from India to South Africa in 1993 enjoyed favours from government and public companies. As per reports, Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta of the Gupta family were arrested last year but it is still not known why the third brother, Ajay, was not arrested. South African is striving to have the arrested Gupta brothers extradited from the UAE.

South African investigator Cloete Murray, who looked into state corruption, shot dead along with son

Israel is highly likely to have been behind an attack in the Mediterranean this week that damaged an Iranian container ship, an Iranian investigator said on Saturday, Iran's media reported.&nbsp;

The Shahr e Kord vessel was hit by an explosive object which caused a small fire, but no one on board was hurt, Iran said on Friday. Two maritime security sources said initial indications suggested the ship was intentionally targeted by an unknown source.&nbsp;

"Considering the geographical location and the way the ship was targeted, one of the strong possibilities is that this terrorist operation was carried out by the Zionist regime (Israel)," an unnamed member of the Iranian team investigating the incident was quoted as saying by semi-official Nournews.&nbsp;

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz declined to comment directly about the incident when addressing a webinar on Saturday hosted by his Blue and White party, but he said, Iran regularly sent weapons to its proxies in the region.&nbsp;

"We foil arms supplies and other things relating to operational development and military capabilities by air, sea and land," Gantz said. "And by this, I am not saying whether we did or did not do this or that."&nbsp;

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said reports confirmed an act of sabotage in violation of international law, state media said. "Measures to identify the perpetrators of this sabotage action are on the agenda," he said.&nbsp;

The Iranian investigator said explosive projectiles could have been fired from an aerial vehicle, hitting containers on the ship's deck.&nbsp;

Iran's state-run shipping company IRISL said it would take legal action to identify the perpetrators of the attack, which it called terrorism and naval piracy.&nbsp;

The incident came two weeks after an Israeli-owned ship the MV HELIOS RAY was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman.&nbsp;

The cause was not immediately clear, although a US defence official said the blast left holes in both sides of the vessel's hull. Israel accused Iran of being behind the explosion, a charge the Islamic Republic denied.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Israel is highly likely to have been behind an attack in the Mediterranean this week that damaged an Iranian container ship, an Iranian investigator said on Saturday, Iran's media reported.

Israel is highly likely to have been behind an attack in the Mediterranean this week that damaged an Iranian container ship, an Iranian investigator said on Saturday, Iran's media reported. The Shahr e Kord vessel was hit by an explosive object which caused a small fire, but no one on board was hurt, Iran said on Friday. Two maritime security sources said initial indications suggested the ship was intentionally targeted by an unknown source. "Considering the geographical location and the way the ship was targeted, one of the strong possibilities is that this terrorist operation was carried out by the Zionist regime (Israel)," an unnamed member of the Iranian team investigating the incident was quoted as saying by semi-official Nournews. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz declined to comment directly about the incident when addressing a webinar on Saturday hosted by his Blue and White party, but he said, Iran regularly sent weapons to its proxies in the region. "We foil arms supplies and other things relating to operational development and military capabilities by air, sea and land," Gantz said. "And by this, I am not saying whether we did or did not do this or that." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said reports confirmed an act of sabotage in violation of international law, state media said. "Measures to identify the perpetrators of this sabotage action are on the agenda," he said. The Iranian investigator said explosive projectiles could have been fired from an aerial vehicle, hitting containers on the ship's deck. Iran's state-run shipping company IRISL said it would take legal action to identify the perpetrators of the attack, which it called terrorism and naval piracy. The incident came two weeks after an Israeli-owned ship the MV HELIOS RAY was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman. The cause was not immediately clear, although a US defence official said the blast left holes in both sides of the vessel's hull. Israel accused Iran of being behind the explosion, a charge the Islamic Republic denied. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel likely behind container ship attack: Iranian investigator  

The prosecutor investigating last year's massive blast in Beirut was formally notified on Friday that he would no longer lead an enquiry into last year's deadly port explosion, state-run Lebanon's National News Agency reported.&nbsp;

Thursday's decision by the country's highest court to remove Investigating Judge Fadi Sawwan came after legal challenges by senior officials he had accused of negligence that led to the blast, considered one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.&nbsp;

The agency said Sawwan was officially informed about the Court of Cassation's decision after he arrived at his office in Beirut on Friday morning. The court called for a new investigating judge to be appointed to lead the probe, nearly six months after it started.&nbsp;

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The move angered families of the victims of the August 4 blast, some of whom held a protest in Beirut on Thursday. More sit-ins are planned for Friday. The families of the victims said Sawwan was removed as a result of political pressure.&nbsp;

The development is likely to further delay the investigation into the horrific explosion that killed 211 people, wounded over 6,000 and damaged much of Beirut. Families of the victims and survivors have accused the ruling political class of corruption and negligence that led to the explosion of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers that had been stored in the port for years.&nbsp;

The explosion has been one of the most traumatic national experiences the Lebanese have faced. Family members of those killed are sceptical that any investigation into the explosion can be transparent and independent in a country where a culture of impunity has prevailed for decades.&nbsp;

Judge Sawwan had accused and summoned for questioning Lebanon's caretaker prime minister and three former ministers on suspicion of negligence that led to the deadly explosion.&nbsp;

The prosecutor investigating last year's massive blast in Beirut was formally notified on Friday that he would no longer lead an enquiry into last year's deadly port explosion, state-run Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

The prosecutor investigating last year's massive blast in Beirut was formally notified on Friday that he would no longer lead an enquiry into last year's deadly port explosion, state-run Lebanon's National News Agency reported. Thursday's decision by the country's highest court to remove Investigating Judge Fadi Sawwan came after legal challenges by senior officials he had accused of negligence that led to the blast, considered one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The agency said Sawwan was officially informed about the Court of Cassation's decision after he arrived at his office in Beirut on Friday morning. The court called for a new investigating judge to be appointed to lead the probe, nearly six months after it started. Also Read: Heavy snowfall hits Syria, Lebanon, Israel in winter storm The move angered families of the victims of the August 4 blast, some of whom held a protest in Beirut on Thursday. More sit-ins are planned for Friday. The families of the victims said Sawwan was removed as a result of political pressure. The development is likely to further delay the investigation into the horrific explosion that killed 211 people, wounded over 6,000 and damaged much of Beirut. Families of the victims and survivors have accused the ruling political class of corruption and negligence that led to the explosion of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers that had been stored in the port for years. The explosion has been one of the most traumatic national experiences the Lebanese have faced. Family members of those killed are sceptical that any investigation into the explosion can be transparent and independent in a country where a culture of impunity has prevailed for decades. Judge Sawwan had accused and summoned for questioning Lebanon's caretaker prime minister and three former ministers on suspicion of negligence that led to the deadly explosion.

Lebanese port blast investigator removed formally

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