‘Someone’s listening’: Fear and longing in Syria’s al-Hol detention camp

A father of three, Luke Daniel Rivers, has admitted to 29 charges related to a significant wage subsidy fraud and money laundering scheme, utilizing a fake passport. In June 2023, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) accused him of defrauding taxpayers of nearly $1 million and attempting to claim an additional $738,000 in Covid wage subsidies. The Auckland District Court revealed that the total value of Rivers' fraudulent activities amounted to approximately $982,000. Full Article

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's historic visit to South Africa marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough, enhancing relations between the two nations and countering Russia's influence in Africa. Despite an air strike on Kyiv that cut his trip short, Zelensky's meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized efforts for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and solidified bilateral ties. This visit comes amid strained relations with the US, highlighting South Africa's delicate balancing act in its foreign...

Downing Street faces conflict with trade unions over public sector pay, maintaining that no extra funding will be provided for salary increases exceeding 2.8% as recommended by pay review bodies. Despite recommendations for higher raises for teachers and NHS workers, the government, already grappling with budget constraints, may need to finance any shortfall through cuts elsewhere. Unions are poised to consider industrial action if their demands for fully funded pay rises above inflation are not...

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria criticized ex-captain Shahid Afridi for his "extremist" views and urged Indian media to deny him a platform after Afridi blamed India for the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Kaneria accused Afridi of consistently aligning with extremist ideologies and recalled an incident where Afridi attempted to persuade him to convert to Islam, which he found disrespectful. In response, Afridi accused India of orchestrating its own terror attacks...

Malaysia's Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) stated that recent social media comments by two of its leaders regarding Singapore's election represent personal views rather than the party's official stance, calling Singapore's reaction "exaggerated." The comments, which led Singapore to block access on Meta, included criticism of Singapore's housing policies and highlighted Malay opposition candidates. PAS emphasized that while their leaders expressed personal opinions, they did not intend to interfere in Singapore's electoral processes, insisting on maintaining...

Pakistan's Security Forces Neutralize TerroristsDuring operations on April 25-27, Pakistan's security forces killed 54 terrorists attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into North Waziristan, marking a significant anti-infiltration effort. Intelligence reports indicated that these attackers were directed by foreign handlers aiming to execute assaults within Pakistan, prompting swift military action upon their entry. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the operation as a decisive step in the country’s fight against terrorism, underscoring Pakistan's commitment to national security...