Raja Salameh, brother of Lebanon’s central bank governor, has been summoned by a team of European judges who are investigating financial crimes and money laundering involving over $330 million. French judge Aude Buresi led the delegation, which questioned Salameh in Beirut as part of inquiries into financial transfers outside Lebanon and transactions conducted by Forry Associates, which Salameh owns. Salameh’s legal representative did not attend the hearing, claiming that his client was “a witness, not a suspect”. At least three countries – France, Germany, and Luxembourg – are investigating Salameh and his brother Riad, governor of Banque du Liban, for embezzling $330m between 2002 and 2015. European investigators have questioned several central bank employees and bank managers and have scheduled an interview with Riad Salameh in Paris on 16 May. Lebanese law states that the European judges cannot directly question Salameh, but must seek the answers through a mediator and a Lebanese judge. The delegation is also planning to question Youssef Khalil, the outgoing finance minister.
Tabuk
Asian Nations Rush to Evacuate Citizens from Sudan Amid Heavy Fighting: Latest Updates
Several Asian nations are racing to evacuate their citizens from Sudan amid the heavy fighting between rival military factions in the capital city of Khartoum. As more than 420 people have been killed and over 3,700 injured, millions of Sudanese people are left without basic services. Foreign governments have intensified efforts to evacuate their stranded citizens by air, over land or via Port Sudan on the Red Sea since the ongoing violence affected the operations at the main international airport and limited other safe passage options. Indonesians, Filipinos, and Indians are among the citizens waiting to be evacuated from Sudan. The evacuations are happening alongside similar operations by the US, European countries, and other foreign governments.
The family of a woman missing for seven years in the UK have launched an appeal for information. Fatima Mohamed-Ali was last seen in her Sussex neighbourhood in 2016. An anonymous woman captured on CCTV in Brighton in 2018 may have matched Mohamed-Ali’s description but the sighting led to no further developments.
The family of missing UK woman Fatima Mohamed-Ali has launched a fresh appeal for information seven years after her disappearance. The last known location of Mohamed-Ali was in her Sussex neighbourhood, where she was caught on CCTV leaving her home to walk down a nearby street close to 8 a.m. The family is working with charity Missing People to boost search efforts. A possible sighting in nearby Brighton in 2018 led to no further developments in the case. Mohamed-Ali’s husband, Mohamed, two years ago took part in a podcast to discuss his wife’s case, including the potential for suicide, which he described as unlikely due to it being “out of character” for Mohamed-Ali.
“ASEAN Condemns Deadly Myanmar Airstrike, Pressure Mounts for Bloc to Take Action”
The Ukraine crisis has been a prolonged conflict that has divided the international community, and has recently brought together the foreign ministers of China and Russia. The two nations have been closely watching the developments in Ukraine, as it has major implications for regional stability and geopolitics. The meeting between the foreign ministers is significant as it sheds light on the position that China and Russia take on the matter, and gives insight into how they view the situation and potential solutions. In this article, we take a closer look at the discussions held between the two nations, and what they may mean for the future of the Ukraine crisis.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has joined the global chorus of condemnation of the Myanmar military’s recent airstrike, which killed over 100 people, including children. The group said it “strongly condemns” the attack and reiterated its commitment to assisting Myanmar in resolving the crisis. However, calls are growing for ASEAN to play a more significant role in resolving the conflict.
On Tuesday, the Myanmar Air Force conducted multiple airstrikes on Pa Zi Gyi village in the central Sagaing region, firing on a gathering attended mostly by civilians. Infants and the elderly were among those killed in the raid, the deadliest junta attack since the coup two years ago.
Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, and during the 2021 ASEAN Summit, the group agreed to promote the “full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus,” a peace plan aimed at ending the violence caused by the military coup. However, the recent airstrike has highlighted ASEAN’s limited role in resolving the conflict, and pressure is mounting for the group to initiate complementary punitive action at its 2023 summit in May.
Dr. Ahmad Rizky Mardhatillah Umar, an Indonesian international relations researcher, said that ASEAN’s long-held principle of non-interference has constrained its responses to the crisis. “ASEAN’s responses to the recent airstrike from Tatmadaw (the Myanmar military) show this dilemma,” he said. “The next steps from ASEAN in the next ASEAN Summit is an important one to look at to achieve a durable solution in Myanmar.”
ASEAN’s five-point consensus has been undermined by the military junta’s refusal to cooperate. Amnesty International Indonesia said, “ASEAN must immediately push for new, stronger efforts to put an end to the human rights crisis in Myanmar.” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, added that ASEAN’s five-point consensus is “on its last legs” because of the junta’s obstinacy.
The international community’s pressure on ASEAN and the Myanmar junta to resolve the conflict has increased. Diplomatic and economic sanctions have been imposed on Myanmar, and hopes of resolving the crisis continue to dwindle. The international community must seek out new ways of resolving the conflict to prevent further loss of life and foster stability in the region.
A statement from the Ministry of Interior regarding the implementation of the death sentence for a drug smuggler in Tabuk, and the disclosure of his nationality
Al-Marsad Newspaper – SPA: Today, the Ministry of the Interior issued a statement regarding the implementation of the death penalty for a smuggler of banned amphetamine tablets in the Tabuk region, as follows:
قال الله تعالى ( إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ذلك لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ).
By the grace of God, Hussein Saeed Abdel Fattah Abu Al-Khair – a Jordanian national – was arrested when he smuggled banned amphetamine tablets, and the investigation with him resulted in an accusation against him of what was attributed to him, and by referring him to the court, a deed was issued against him containing proof of his guilt in that and the sentence to kill him as a punishment. The ruling is from the Court of Appeal and from the Supreme Court, and a royal order was issued ordering the implementation of what was legally decided and supported by its reference.
Today, Sunday, 8/20/1444 AH, corresponding to 3/12/2023 AD, in the Tabuk region, the death sentence was implemented as a punishment, against the perpetrator / Hussein Saeed Abdel Fattah Abu Al-Khair.
And the Ministry of the Interior, announcing this to confirm the keenness of the Kingdom’s government to combat drugs of all kinds because of the severe harm they cause to the individual and society, and to impose the most severe penalties on the perpetrators, deriving its approach from the righteous law of God, and at the same time it warns everyone who does that that the legal punishment will be his fate .
God and the Pacific to either way.
Mount Al-Lawz in Tabuk is covered in white. Hikers perform the Daha dance in the snow • Al-Marsad Newspaper
Al-Marsad Newspaper: A video clip showed heavy snowfall on Jabal Al-Lawz in Tabuk, as well as the mountain covered in white and the whiteness of the snow, which made it more beautiful.
And the video was monitored, one of the hikers holding the snow in his hand and spreading it, and then wrapping himself during the snowfall on Jabal Al-Lawz.
While another video showed a group of hikers performing Daha dance at Jabal Al-Lawz in Tabuk region during a snowfall.
Ed appeared in the video, men lined up, clapping and chanting, as the clip was widely circulated among social media pioneers.
It is worth noting that the Daha dance was known in the past in warfare, in case of victory over enemies, but is now practiced on special occasions.