Amnesty International: “The world is watching a live genocide on its screens” in Gaza

In its annual report dated Tuesday, the NGO Amnesty International stated that since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, “the world has been witnessing a live genocide” in Gaza. These accusations were already made in late 2024 and rejected by Israel. Amnesty International has reiterated its accusations of “genocide” against Israel . “The world is witnessing a live genocide on its screens” committed by the Hebrew state in the Gaza Strip , denounced its Secretary General Agnès Callamard, in the preface to the organization’s annual report on…

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US appeals court rejects Trump administration bid to continue Venezuela deportations

Three US Court of Appeals judges denied the Trump administration’s push to resume arbitrary deportations of Venezuelan migrants under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act, after the court found the first wave of such expulsions had been executed without due process. A US appeals court on Wednesday denied a bid by the Trump administration to lift a lower court order barring summary deportations of Venezuelan migrants using an obscure wartime law. A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to temporarily keep in place the ban on deportations…

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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrives in Qatar for talks

Asaad al-Shaibani’s visit to Qatar comes as the new administration seeks support from Arab states following toppling of al-Assad. Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has arrived in Qatar as part of his regional trip to seek support for the new government that came to power after the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad last month. Syrian official news agency SANA confirmed the arrival of the delegation on Sunday, which includes the country’s Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and head of intelligence Anas Khattab. Al-Shaibani is expected to meet…

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Trump picks Pam Bondi as US attorney general after Gaetz withdrawal

President-Elect Donald Trump announced former Florida attorney general and fervent ally Pam Bondi as his pick for US attorney general on Thursday after Matt Gaetz withdrew his bid to head the Department of Justice just hours earlier. Bondi, a former leader against Trump’s impeachment, replaced the controversial Gaetz after his nomination faced strong resistance due to previous sexual conduct allegations. US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Pam Bondi, a staunch ally who helped defend the ex-leader against impeachment, as US attorney general on Thursday following firebrand Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from the…

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The Hidden Wounds of War: Investigating Sexual Abuse in Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict

As Sudan remains embroiled in a devastating civil conflict, stories of atrocities continue to emerge. Among the most harrowing are accounts of widespread sexual violence, a weapon often wielded in war to devastate communities. Victims, primarily women and children, face physical and psychological trauma, yet these crimes frequently go unpunished. This investigative piece seeks to uncover the scale of sexual abuse during the war in Sudan, spotlight survivors’ voices, and hold perpetrators accountable. The Scale of the Crisis Statistics: Although comprehensive data is scarce due to the chaos of war,…

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The UK’s NHS to roll out free antismoking pill. Will it work?

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is rolling out a free antismoking pill called varenicline for British smokers. Research has shown that varenicline is more effective than traditional nicotine-replacement therapies such as gum or patches. Approximately 85,000 smokers will be eligible to receive the antismoking medication which will be provided alongside “behavioural support” programmes aimed at helping people to quit smoking, the NHS announced earlier this week. Research conducted by University College London suggests that it might prevent approximately 9,500 smoking-related deaths within the next five years. “This simple daily…

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A Milestone in Cardiac Care: King Faisal Hospital Advances Heart Treatment in Rwanda with Electrophysiology Technology

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that heart diseases were the leading cause of death in 2021, claiming 20.5 million lives. This marks a sharp increase compared to 1990, when 12.1 million people died from heart-related conditions. Of these deaths, 80% occurred in developing countries, including Rwanda. In response to this growing health concern, King Faisal Hospital in Rwanda recently announced that, in collaboration with its partners, it successfully treated several patients with rapid heart rhythms (tachyarrhythmias) using advanced electrophysiology technology. This effort was conducted in partnership with heart rhythm…

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President Biden to Host President-Elect Trump for Transition Talks at the White House

The White House has announced that President Joe Biden will host President-elect Donald Trump, who recently won the U.S. presidential election, next week. According to reports from France 24, the meeting between Biden and Trump is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The two leaders will meet just days after Biden formally acknowledged Trump’s victory and committed to a peaceful transfer of power. Trump’s upcoming meeting with Biden comes as he begins selecting key figures for his incoming administration. So far, he has announced that Susie Wiles, who led his…

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Rwanda Receives Medical Refrigerators and Mobile Clinics

The Aga Khan University Hospital, an international teaching hospital for healthcare based in Nairobi, has donated two mobile clinic vehicles and 20 medical refrigerators to Rwanda. These resources will help store vaccines and deliver essential healthcare services to rural communities directly. On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Prof. Mambo Claude Muvunyi, and Shekar Iyer, Aga Khan Hospital’s Director of Operations, signed the donation agreement. The initiative, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is valued at 490 million…

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UN Secretary-General Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Aid in Sudan Amid Escalating Conflict

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Sudan as the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) devastates the country. Despite calls for intervention, deploying UN peacekeeping forces to Sudan remains challenging. In a statement before the UN Security Council on October 28, 2024, Guterres highlighted the severe toll the year-and-a-half-long conflict has had on Sudan’s civilians, many of whom are trapped in a worsening humanitarian crisis. “The suffering grows every day; nearly 25 million…

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