Ayoola Atitebi

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has implemented sanctions against unnamed Thai officials involved in deporting at least 40 Uighurs to China last month, despite concerns about potential persecution. Rubio announced Friday that he was imposing immediate visa restrictions on current and former officials responsible for or complicit in the deportations, though no specific Thai officials were identified. Rights groups have long accused China of widespread abuses against Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority of approximately 10 million people in Xinjiang. Beijing has consistently rejected these allegations. "We are committed to combating China's efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China, where they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances," Rubio stated. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded Saturday, noting it had repeatedly clarified to concerned countries that China had provided assurances the men would […]

British authorities have charged Vladimir Motin, the 59-year-old Russian captain of the cargo ship Solong, with manslaughter and gross negligence following a fatal collision in the North Sea. Motin, from Primorsky in Saint Petersburg, appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday where he was remanded in custody after not applying for bail. The incident occurred Monday when the Portuguese-flagged Solong container vessel crashed at full speed into the anchored Stena Immaculate tanker off Hull's northeastern coast. The Stena Immaculate was carrying United States military jet fuel at the time of the collision, which triggered massive fires and explosions. Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino crew member from the Solong, went missing during the crash and is now "presumed deceased," according to Humberside police. "Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member," police stated, adding […]

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has announced plans to send his Starship rocket to Mars by the end of 2026, even as the company investigates multiple recent test flight explosions. According to Musk's post on his social media platform X, human landings could begin as early as 2029 if initial missions succeed, though he acknowledged "2031 was more likely." Standing at 123m, Starship is the largest rocket ever built and represents a cornerstone of Musk's vision to establish human colonies on Mars. However, the project has encountered significant setbacks, with two recent test flights ending in failure. Last week, one of the rockets exploded minutes after launching from Texas, following a similar "rapid unscheduled disassembly" in January. SpaceX stated it would analyze data "to better understand [the] root cause" of the most recent explosion, noting it occurred after "several" engines failed. […]

Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) assessed in 2020 that there was an 80-90% probability coronavirus accidentally leaked from a Chinese laboratory, according to German media reports. Two German newspapers uncovered details of a previously unpublished BND assessment. The intelligence agency reportedly had indications that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had conducted experiments modifying viruses to increase transmissibility to humans for research purposes. China has maintained its denial, stating the cause "should be determined by scientists" and referencing a World Health Organization investigation that concluded the lab-leak theory was "extremely unlikely." No scientific consensus exists regarding the pandemic's origin. While many scientists contest the lab leak hypothesis citing insufficient evidence, the theory has gained traction among intelligence agencies. In January, the US CIA assessed coronavirus "more likely" leaked from a lab than emerged from animals. According to Die Zeit and Sueddeutscher […]

Southern African leaders have decided to withdraw their military forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where they've been supporting government efforts against rebel fighters. The "phased withdrawal" decision was reached during a virtual summit of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Thursday. The troops were deployed two years ago to assist the Congolese army in its battle against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. However, the mission suffered a significant setback when at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania were killed as M23 forces captured the strategic city of Goma in January. Despite the troop withdrawal, Sadc leaders affirmed their commitment to "support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace" in the region. The announcement did not specify reasons for the withdrawal decision. The regional bloc emphasized the need for diplomatic and political solutions to resolve the […]

A 32-year-old Connecticut man reportedly escaped two decades of captivity by setting fire to the small room where his stepmother allegedly held him prisoner, according to officials. Emergency responders arrived at the burning home and rescued the severely malnourished man from a 72-square-foot room. Weighing just 68 pounds when found, the man received treatment for smoke inhalation after his escape. Police in Waterbury, Connecticut said the man admitted to starting the fire after enduring "prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment" for years. When asked why he set the fire, he simply told police: "I wanted my freedom." The man's stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, faces kidnapping and cruelty charges. She has denied all allegations against her. Prosecutors claim Sullivan provided the victim with only a sandwich and two small water bottles daily for years. He was allegedly permitted just […]

A US court has ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must cover former CEO Mike Jeffries' legal fees as he defends against sex trafficking charges, despite the company's stated disgust with his alleged conduct. The fashion brand had attempted to avoid payment by arguing the charges—alleging Jeffries ran an international prostitution and sex trafficking operation—related to his personal life rather than his professional role. However, Judge Paul Fioravanti determined that the "horrific" charges filed last year were connected to Jeffries' position as CEO, citing an indemnification agreement signed when Jeffries resigned in 2014. This ruling creates significant financial implications for Abercrombie & Fitch, a billion-dollar company with over 750 stores worldwide, including the Hollister brand. Legal experts estimate the company's costs will likely reach millions of dollars. Questions remain about why A&F established such a comprehensive indemnity agreement when Jeffries departed […]

Qatar has started delivering natural gas to Syria through Jordan, addressing the country's severe electricity shortages and power outages, according to state news agency QNA. In a Thursday statement, Qatar announced that this initiative is part of an agreement signed with Jordan in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme. The deal will provide natural gas supplies "generating power from 400 megawatts of electricity daily and gradually increase production at the Deir Ali power plant in Syria." This electricity will be distributed to numerous Syrian cities, including Damascus, Rif Dimashq, As Suwayda, Daraa, Al Qunaitra, Homs, Hama, Tartous, Latakia, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zur. Fahad Hamad Hassan Al-Sulaiti, who heads the Qatar Fund for Development, described the initiative as "a pivotal step towards meeting the Syrian people's energy needs and reflects a shared commitment among all parties to work together for […]