Bomb at Pakistan vegetable market kills 16
A bomb hidden between bags of potatoes at an outdoor Pakistani market killed at least 16 people on Friday, half of them ethnic Hazaras, officials said, in an attack apparently aimed at minority Shi’ite Muslims. At least 30 people were wounded in the blast in the southwestern city of Quetta, capital of resource-rich Baluchistan province, […]
British mother free to return to UK from Dubai after Facebook insult
A British single mother held in Dubai for insulting her ex-husband’s new wife on social media is to be allowed to return to the UK. Laleh Sharavesh was fined AED3,000 (€723) fine after a court hearing, the campaign group Detained in Dubai reported. Her lawyer said the 55-year-old would be home early next week, according […]
Sudan's overthrown president Omar al-Bashir 'will not be extradited'
Sudan’s overthrown president Omar al-Bashir will not be extradited but could instead be tried in his own country. That’s the claim of the military council installed yesterday after the departure of Bashir, who has ruled Sudan for three decades. Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) after allegations of genocide in Sudan’s Darfur […]
Chicago sues Jussie Smollett for investigation costs
The city of Chicago has filed a civil complaint against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, seeking damages stemming from the entertainer’s complaint about an alleged attack police say he orchestrated, the city’s law department said Thursday. The department filed the civil complaint “that pursues the full measure of damages allowed under the false statements ordinance,” and […]
German inventors develop bracelet to test drinks for date-rape drugs
Inventors in Germany have developed a bracelet aimed at combatting a fear of many clubbers — drink spiking. Kim Eisenmann and Sven Häuser’s “Xantus” bracelet only needs a drop of liquid to be applied to tell if it contains traces of “date rape drugs” — substances put in a person’s drink to incapacitate them. The […]
Finnish police break largest cocaine ring in the country
Finnish police said they have cracked a large cocaine ring in the Tampere region which imported 13 kilos of cocaine from the Netherlands to Finland in 2017-2018 and involved dozens of suspects. “Overall, this is the largest ever importing and distribution case of cocaine in Finland,” Jari Raty, the head of the investigation, said in […]
Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir steps down according to government sources
Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has stepped down after months of protests, according to government sources. A transitional council is expected to replace him. On Thursday morning, anti-government protesters marched through the streets of Khartoum chanting anti-Bashir slogans. Protesters outside the defence ministry chanted: “It has fallen, we won.” Bashir, a former paratrooper, seized power in […]
World's largest democratic exercise gets underway in India
Polls opened Thursday in the first phase of India’s general elections, seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party. A festive spirit prevailed as men and women in colorful clothes made their way to heavily guarded voting stations in large numbers. In the world’s largest democratic exercise, voters in […]
Switzerland says coffee 'no longer essential' to human survival — social media disagrees
Switzerland’s government is set to end mandatory stockpiling of emergency coffee beans after it was deemed “no longer essential” to human survival. According to the Swiss Office for National Economic Supply, the World War-era stockpiling list currently requires a compulsory 3-month supply of coffee. This sits alongside similar demands for sugar, rice, cooking oils and […]
Thousands of prayer notes removed from Western Wall
Thousands of messages to God have been cleared out from Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Equipped with long sticks, a team of cleaners on Wednesday gouged out written prayers that visitors traditionally cram into its crevices. Twice a year, before the Jewish New Year and ahead of the Passover festival in spring, the Rabbi of the Western […]
