Tens of thousands of people join huge demonstrations in Khartoum demanding an end to military rule. Khartoum, Sudan – Huge crowds of protesters have rallied in the streets of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, stepping up pressure on the country’s ruling military council to cede power to an interim civilian body. Tens of thousands of people chanting “We will protect the revolution… Read more »
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe could be released from jail in a prisoner swap with Iranians detained in the US and Australia, Iran has suggested. The British-Iranian was jailed for five years in Iran in 2016 after being convicted of spying, which she denies. Speaking in New York, Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said he felt sorry for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and had done… Read more »
Two former Coptic Christian monks have been sentenced to death in Egypt over the murder of a bishop last year, officials have confirmed. Bishop Epiphanius, 64, was found dead in a pool of blood in July 2018 at a desert monastery north-west of Cairo. Authorities blamed the killing on unspecified “differences” between the monks and the bishop. The punishment was… Read more »
More than 1,600 civilians were killed in US-led coalition air and artillery strikes during the offensive to oust the Islamic State group from the Syrian city of Raqqa in 2017, activists say. Amnesty International and monitoring group Airwars said they had carried out investigations at 200 strike locations and identified 1,000 of the victims. They urged the coalition to “end… Read more »
The United Nations is now expressing that the current goings on in Libya could potentially lead to war crimes. They are urging all sides to avoid bloodshed as Khalifa Haftar’s forces march towards the recognized government in Tripoli. In the past couple of days 47 people have been killed in Haftar’s march to the capitol. Amid the chaos an air… Read more »
Defence Minister declares Sudanese leader ‘toppled’, announces suspension of constitution and two-year military rule. Sudan’s armed forces have overthrown and arrested President Omar al-Bashir after months of protests against his nearly 30-year rule. In a statement on Thursday, General Awad Ibn Auf said Bashir was taken to a “safe place” after the “toppling of the regime” and also announced the formation… Read more »
Standard Chartered bank is being fined $1.1bn (£843m) for violating US sanctions against Iran and over inadequate financial crime controls. The penalties, imposed in connection with a range of different investigations in the US and the UK, all date back to before 2014. The London-based banking firm set aside $900m in February in preparation for the settlements. Standard Chartered has… Read more »
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has warned that attacks on civilians in Libya could amount to war crimes. She urged all sides to avoid bloodshed as military strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces advance on the UN-recognised government in Tripoli. Some 47 people have been killed over the past three days, says the World Health Organization (WHO), as his forces seek… Read more »
The first privately funded mission to the Moon will attempt to land on the lunar surface today. The Israeli spacecraft – called Beresheet – will try for a soft touch down, before taking pictures and conducting experiments. Until now, only government space agencies from the former Soviet Union, the US and China have achieved this. The mission has cost about… Read more »
Michel Bacos is regarded as hero for his courage when Palestinian and German hijackers overtook the plane Bacos was the captain of. This event took place in 1976. The aircraft carrying 260 passengers, was redirected multiple times. The hijackers sought to free 54 militants and be awarded $5 million by the leader of Uganda. The passengers were split up, non-Israeli… Read more »