WORLD - The African Mirror

Jun

05

2024

UN rights office criticises Israel over deaths of 500 Palestinians in West Bank

WORLD

THE U.N. human rights office called for an end to violence in which it said Israeli security forces and Jewish settlers have killed more than 500 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. It said in a statement that Israel had used "unnecessary and disproportionate" force in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and condemned what it said was the systematic denial of medical aid. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the U.N. statement. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva said its actions in the West Bank were in…

Jun

05

2024

By TOM HALS and JACK QUEEN

Hunter Biden criminal trial jury told ‘no one is above the law’

WORLD

HUNTER Biden's criminal trial on gun charges kicked off with a government lawyer telling jurors that President Joe Biden's son was being prosecuted for lying on a form he filled out to purchase a handgun and was not above the law. Derek Hines, a Department of Justice lawyer, began his opening arguments by walking jurors through the events of October 2018, when Hunter Biden purchased the gun but allegedly lied on his background check about his drug use. "It was illegal because he was a user of crack and a drug addict," Hines told the jury. "No one is above the law."…

Jun

05

2024

By The African Mirror

India vote count shows Modi alliance winning surprisingly narrow majority

WORLD

INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked set to retain power at the head of a ruling coalition, but his Hindu nationalist party lost its outright majority for the first time in a decade as voters defied predictions of another landslide. The outcome spooked investors, with stocks falling steeply as emerging results showed that Modi would, for the first time since sweeping to power in 2014, depend on at least three disparate regional parties whose political loyalties have wavered over the years. This, analysts say, could introduce some uncertainty into policymaking after a decade in which Modi has ruled with an authoritative hold. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party…

Jun

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Four more Israeli hostages died in Gaza captivity, Israel’s military says

WORLD

The Israeli military said another four Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7 had died in captivity and that their bodies are being held by the Palestinian Islamist group. The four men were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, and Nadav Popplewell, 51. All four were filmed alive in hostage videos posted by Hamas. Hamas said that Popplewell had died of wounds sustained during an Israeli air strike when posting his video last month. Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that new intelligence led to confirmation of their deaths. The military believes the four were killed together…

Jun

04

2024

By ARAM ROSTON

The Proud Boys are back: How the far-right group is rebuilding to rally behind Trump

WORLD

NOTE: This story contains offensive language A dark SUV cruised past former President Donald Trump’s supporters near his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey on a windy April afternoon. Billowing from the vehicle were three flags: one for the Trump campaign, two others with the initials “PB” – the insignia of the far-right Proud Boys movement. Through the open windows, three Proud Boys flashed the “OK” sign with their hands, a gesture often associated with white supremacy and the far right. Trump’s fans cheered. Four men dressed in the signature black-and-yellow shirts of the Proud Boys spilled out of the SUV and began…

Jun

04

2024

By DAVID ALIRE GARCIA

Mexico’s Sheinbaum blazes trail as first woman president, under mentor’s watchful eye

WORLD

CLAUDIA Sheinbaum basked in the glow of a thumping presidential win, thanking supporters who gathered at the capital's iconic Zocalo plaza shortly after 1 a.m. to applaud Mexico's first female president. For months, the Nobel prize-winning physicist-turned-Mexico City mayor was the clear frontrunner in the contest to succeed popular outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, her mentor and principal political benefactor over nearly a quarter century. Sheinbaum now faces the task of forging her own path, including the delicate balancing act of advancing the leftist Lopez Obrador's state-centric economic policies, especially over natural resources such as oil and minerals, while also making progress…

Jun

03

2024

By DAN WILLIAMS

Biden’s Gaza plan ‘not a good deal’ but Israel accepts it, Netanyahu aide says

WORLD

AN aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had accepted a framework deal for winding down the Gaza war now being advanced by U.S. President Joe Biden, though he described it as flawed and in need of much more work. In an interview with Britain's Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy advisor to Netanyahu, said Biden's proposal was "a deal we agreed to — it's not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them". "There are a lot of details to be worked out," he said, adding that Israeli conditions, including "the release of…

Jun

03

2024

By LUC COHEN

Trump’s appeal of hush money verdict to focus on Stormy Daniels testimony

WORLD

FORMER President Donald Trump vows to appeal his historic conviction, with the focus likely on porn star Stormy Daniels' salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter as well as the novel legal theory that prosecutors used in the case. "We're going to be appealing this scam," Trump, the 2024 Republican candidate for president, said on Friday. He faces an uphill fight. His defense lawyer Todd Blanche told CNN on Thursday that Trump would appeal after his July 11 sentencing date, meaning it is unlikely to be resolved before his Nov. 5 election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Twelve jurors found the real estate mogul-turned-politician guilty on…

Jun

03

2024

By The African Mirror

German police officer attacked by knifeman during protest has died

WORLD

A 29-year-old policeman stabbed on Friday in the German city of Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration has died, authorities said. The attack was carried out by a 25-year old man with a knife, who severely injured six individuals, according to police in the German state of Baden Wuerttemberg, where Mannheim is located. "He stabbed the police officer several times in the head," the police statement said, adding the officer underwent emergency surgery immediately after the attack and was placed in an induced coma but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. Police shot and wounded the attacker. A livestream broadcast…

Jun

02

2024

By JOSEPH TANFANI, NED PARKER and PETER EISLER

Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after verdict

WORLD

SUPPORTERS of former President Donald Trump, enraged by his conviction on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, flooded pro-Trump websites with calls for riots, revolution and violent retribution. After Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, his supporters responded with dozens of violent online posts, according to a Reuters review of comments on three Trump-aligned websites: the former president's own Truth Social platform, Patriots.Win and the Gateway Pundit. Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge, Justice Juan Merchan, or outright civil war and armed insurrection. “Someone in NY with…