The US has charged Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and several other prominent figures in the Palestinian group in connection with its deadly attack in Israel on 7 October last year. The justice department said it was indicting six Hamas members with seven charges, including the murder of US citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction. The criminal complaint covers decades of alleged attacks by Hamas, as well as the unprecedented assault on southern Israel nearly a year ago. It is the first step by US law enforcement to hold accountable the ringleaders of the 7…
Author: Agency
The US has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, claiming it was bought illegally for $13m (£9.8m) and smuggled out of the country. According to the US justice department, the Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the US state of Florida. It is unclear how and when the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic. Tracking data showed it leaving La Isabela airport near the capital Santo Domingo on Monday, arriving at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida soon after. Venezuela has denounced the seizure, saying that it amounted to an act…
The Africa CDC warns that high mpox cases, limited diagnostics, and a high fatality rate are major challenges hampering the continent’s response as cases surge. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said in a Friday update that the challenges include the rapid spread of mpox to new countries and inconsistent efforts to address the disease, highlighting the need for improved coordination. Data from the Africa CDC show that from the beginning of 2024 to Aug. 23, a total of 21,466 potential cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, and 591 deaths have been reported from 13 African Union (AU) members. The…
A man in Japan – who for seven years was blissfully unaware of the 25-year age gap between him and his girlfriend – only discovered her true age before their wedding. The couple, Yoshitaka, 40, and his 65-year-old wife, Aki, have 18,000 followers on YouTube. They met at a Japanese-style bar, run by Aki, according to Bunshun Online, a Japanese media outlet. At that point, Yoshitaka was divorced and, deeply attracted by her mature charm, fell in love with Aki at first sight. Yoshitaka told Bunshun Online: “After talking with her, I found that we both had experienced failed marriages,…
At the University of Haifa, less than 50km (30 miles) from Israel’s border with Lebanon, they’re taking no chances. The morning after a rocket fell on a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children and teenagers, the university authorities announced that all staff based above the fifth floor in the 30-storey building should work from home. The fear is growing that they’re in the line of fire from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. “In the last war with Hezbollah in 2006, their weapons reached Haifa”, Esther Parpara, a member of staff from the university told me. “This…
The US-based Ford Foundation on Tuesday rejected accusations by Kenyan President William Ruto that it was sponsoring “anarchy”.
The Group of Seven (G7) Summit concluded on Saturday with member countries each having their own strategic considerations.
The UN human rights office says it is “profoundly shocked” at the impact on civilians of the Israeli operation in central Gaza that rescued four hostages held by Hamas. Palestinian health officials said hundreds of people were killed and injured in the densely-populated Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday. Israel’s military said fewer than 100 were killed. UN spokesman Jeremy Laurence said the action by Israeli forces “seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution… were respected” and could amount to war crimes. He also said Palestinian armed groups could face war crimes charges for continuing to…
A body has been found in the search for TV and radio presenter Dr Michael Mosley on the Greek island of Symi. The 67-year-old went missing on Wednesday after setting off on a walk from Agios Nikolaos beach. The body – which has yet to be formally identified – was found on a cliff on a rocky hill north-east of the village of Pedi, near Agia Marina beach. Authorities had been searching for Dr Mosley in a remote mountainous area. Symi’s mayor said the body was found as teams were searching the coastline with cameras and were approaching a cave…
Claudia Sheinbaum is set to become Mexico’s first female president after an official quick count declared her the winner of an election that featured two women as the front-runners. Mario Delgado, head of the ruling party Morena, declared Sheinbaum the presumptive winner late on Sunday, ahead of a full count being done over the next few days. Sheinbaum delivered an acceptance speech in the wee hours of Monday morning. Crowds of her supporters gathered to celebrate their victory in Zocalo, Mexico City’s main central square. Mexicans voted for a president and more than 20,000 congressional and local positions across the…
