WORLD - The African Mirror

Nov

28

2023

Three students of Palestinian descent shot in Vermont, suspect arrested

WORLD

A suspect was arrested in the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont, local police reported and that the attack was under investigation as a suspected hate-motivated crime. A man with a pistol shot and wounded the three victims on the street near the University of Vermont in Burlington on Saturday evening and then ran away, police said in an earlier statement. A suspect, identified as Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested on Sunday afternoon, the department later confirmed. Burlington police and the mayor's office will hold a news conference later on Monday to discuss the incident…

Nov

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Six teens in court in connection with beheading of French teacher

WORLD

SIX teenagers go on trial behind closed doors in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, a murder that shocked the country. The teacher had shown his pupils caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression, angering some Muslim parents. Most Muslims avoid depictions of prophets, considering them blasphemous. A 13-year-old girl at the time allegedly told her parents that Paty had asked Muslim pupils to leave the room before showing the caricatures. She is facing false accusation charges after it was established that she was not in the class when it…

Nov

27

2023

By ELI BERLZON

‘Can’t find words’, Israeli families welcome second group of hostages

WORLD

EMILY Hand had her ninth birthday as a hostage in Gaza, the day before she was reunited with her father, who initially believed she had been killed in the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel last month. Returned in the second group of hostages released by the Islamist movement under a Qatari-brokered deal with Israel, she appeared in good health in a photograph released with fellow hostage Hila Rotem, whose mother remains in Gaza. The daughter of an Irish immigrant to Israel, Emily's mother died of cancer when she was 2 years old and her family described the violent mix…

Nov

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Former officer convicted in death of George Floyd attacked in prison, official confirms

WORLD

DEREK Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, was attacked in a prison in Arizona, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison confirmed. The Associated Press earlier reported Chauvin had been stabbed and seriously injured on Friday. "I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence," Ellison said in an emailed statement. "He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence." He did not give further details. Chauvin is serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd's…

Nov

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Cargo ship sinks off Greek island, 13 crew members missing

WORLD

A cargo ship carrying salt sank off the Greek island of Lesbos, with all but one of its 14-strong crew still missing, the Greek coast guard said. The Comoros-flagged ship "Raptor" had departed from El Dekheila port in Egypt and was sailing to Istanbul when it reported a mechanical failure and issued a distress call early on Sunday, the Greek coast guard said. Eight of the crew were Egyptians and the rest were Syrian and Indian nationals. The Coast Guard had rescued one person, who was airlifted by helicopter in gale-force winds.

Nov

26

2023

By RAMI AMICHAY

Rubik’s Cube-loving 9-year-old among hostages freed from Gaza

WORLD

OHAD Munder, who spent his ninth birthday as a hostage in Gaza, was among four young children freed from captivity, as he returned with his mother and grandmother to Israel on the first day of a planned four-day truce and prisoner exchange. Footage released by Schneider Children's Medical Center showed Ohad running down a hospital corridor straight into his father's open arms, as the pair were reunited after almost 50 days without any contact. His father then lifts him up. The four children were all in relatively good condition, Gilat Livni, the centre's Director of Pediatrics told reporters. Some spoke of…

Nov

26

2023

By The African Mirror

European countries tighten borders

WORLD

THE European Union is dealing with an increase in legal and illegal arrivals by migrants, prompting some member states to temporarily re-introduce border controls within what is normally a zone of free movement. The bloc's Schengen rules allow such action "as a last resort" in cases that are deemed serious threats to internal security or public policy. These countries have reinstated stricter checks: * Austria introduced checks at its border with the Czech Republic in October, set to last until December 6. As of November, it extended border controls with Slovenia and Hungary until May 2024, citing pressure on the asylum reception system, threats…

Nov

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of 1991 sexual assault in second suit

WORLD

SEAN "Diddy" Combs has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a university student in 1991 in a lawsuit filed in a New York court on Thursday, the second suit of its kind filed against the hip-hop mogul in the past week. The complaint against Combs was among a flurry of lawsuits filed this week against public figures under New York state's Adult Survivors Act, ahead of the expiry of a special one-year window for such complaints. The law allows such lawsuits to be filed in court even if the statute of limitations has run out. The lawsuit alleges Combs intentionally drugged…

Nov

25

2023

By PHILIP PULLELLA

Jewish groups criticize Pope on ‘terrorism’ remark, seek clarification

WORLD

JEWISH groups have criticised Pope Francis and demanded clarifications over his comments that they saw as accusing both Hamas and Israel of "terrorism". Francis made the comments on Wednesday after meeting separately with Jewish relatives of hostages held by Hamas and with Palestinians with family in Gaza. Later that day at his general audience in St. Peter's Square, he spoke of the meetings, saying he felt the pain of both sides. "This is what wars do. But here we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This is terrorism," he said. He asked for prayers so that both sides would…

Nov

25

2023

By BASSAM MASOUD and JANIS LAIZANS

Hamas releases 24 hostages on first day of Gaza truce

WORLD

HAMAS fighters released 24 hostages during the first day of the war's first truce, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers, after guns fell silent across the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks. The hostages were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, accompanied by eight staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a four-car convoy, the ICRC said. Qatar, which acted as a mediator for the truce deal, said 13 Israelis had been released, some with dual nationalities, plus 10 Thais…