Almost three times as many people have died as a result of Covid-19 as the official data show, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report, the most comprehensive look at the true global toll of the pandemic so far. There were 14.9 millio…
Russia says killed over 600 Ukraine fighters with artillery
Russia claimed on Thursday that its artillery struck multiple Ukrainian positions and strongholds overnight, killing over 600 fighters. “The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine”, the defence ministr…
Israel court paves way for expulsion of 1,000 Palestinians
Israel’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition against the expulsion of more than 1,000 Palestinians living in a rural part of the illegally occupied West Bank in an area which Israel has designated for military exercises. After two decades of inconclu…
The Tadamon massacre and the Syrian collective PTSD
A day before media channels published a report by the Guardian about a massacre that took place in Daaboul Street, in Tadamon neighbourhood in Damascus, which claimed the lives of 41 civilians, I was on a trip to the neighbourhood. From my car window I…
Tunisia’s Jabeur beats Halep, reaches Madrid semi-finals
Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur has reached the semi-final of the Madrid Open after beating the former world number one Simona Halep, in an exhilarating match on Wednesday. Jabeur, who ranks tenth in the world, beat her Romanian counterpart in straig…
Saudi Arabia intercepts 46 tonne drug shipment from Yemen
Saudi authorities have said they scuppered an effort to bring over 46 tonnes of illegal drugs into the kingdom from Yemen. There were 41 Saudi nationals among the 61 arrested in relation to the shipment headed for Saudi Arabia’s southern Asir, Jazan an…
Iraq: British man found with pottery shards could face trial
A retired British geologist accused in Iraq with collecting small archaeological fragments had no criminal intent, his family said, expressing hopes the charges — potentially punishable by death — could be avoided. Jim Fitton, 66, was arrested last mon…
Ukraine’s Muslims celebrate Eid under Russian bombs
As Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the lunar month of Ramadan, for Ukrainian Muslims it was a bittersweet festivity. Many have spent the month fasting during the daylight hours, away from home, either as refugees or …
‘Access to Safe abortions saves lives,’ says WHO
The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that access to safe abortions saves lives, after a leaked draft ruling indicated the US Supreme Court was mulling ending nationwide legal abortions. Without explicitly mentioning the US case, WHO…
Disney’s Moon Knight helps Marvel overcome orientalist past
When Marvel Studios announced that it was bringing Moon Knight to the small screen I was somewhat sceptical. This is a comic book hero with a dark backstory, who is as bloody violent as The Punisher so his narrative doesn’t easily fit into the more PG-…