An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced a businessman to three years in prison for trafficking and sexually assaulting seven underage girls at an orphanage he founded, judicial sources told AFP. He was also fined 200,000 Egyptian pounds (US$11,000). Medi…
Bounou becomes first Arab to win Spain league’s best goalie
Morocco and Sevilla FC goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has made history as the first Arab goalkeeper to win the Ricardo Zamora Trophy, which is awarded to the Spanish football league’s best goalkeeper of the season. The coveted trophy, which has been awarded…
Nine media workers arrested in Ethiopia raids, outlets say
At least nine media workers in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region have been arrested by local authorities, their employers said Monday, as rights activists warned of a sweep of unlawful detentions. Two outlets – the Nisir International Broadcasting Corp…
Greece blocks hundreds of migrants from crossing Aegean Sea
Greece said on Monday it had prevented around 600 migrants from crossing the Aegean Sea into its territorial waters from neighbouring Turkey, in the largest attempted entry this year. A spokesman for the Greek coastguard said five sail boats and four d…
Saudi NEOM to start commercial flights next month to Dubai
Saudi Arabia will start commercial flights next month from its newly developed, futuristic smart city NEOM. The kingdom’s flag carrier Saudia Airlines will launch its first flight from NEOM Bay Airport to Dubai in June, making it the first regular inte…
Lebanese woman appointed French culture minister
A woman of Lebanese descent has been appointed a minister in France’s new cabinet. Rima Abdul Malak will head the culture portfolio in Elisabeth Borne’s new government, weeks after Emmanuel Macron won the presidential election. “The ministry that gives…
Yemenia Airways crash survivor relives terror during trial
A woman who was just 12 when she survived the 2009 Yemenia Airways crash in the Comoros islands that killed all 152 others onboard described Monday the terrifying moments leading up to her plunge into the ocean and subsequent miraculous rescue, in the …
Did Hezbollah suffer a setback in Lebanon’s election?
Western and Arab media are full of accounts that Hezbollah suffered a major setback in the Lebanese general election on 15 May. However, there is no black and white verdict yet, with multiple nuances in assessing the results and their implications for …
Oman, Iran sign trade deals during President Raisi’s visit
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Oman on Monday as the two countries signed a string of trade deals and as international talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme hang in the balance, leaving the Islamic republic under sanctions. Raisi, on his secon…
Ukraine jails Russian soldier for life at war crimes trial
A Kyiv court on Monday found a 21-year-old Russian soldier who killed a civilian guilty of war crimes and handed him a life sentence, in the first verdict against Moscow’s forces since their invasion. “The court has found that (Vadim) Shishimarin is gu…