Headlines:

Ex-Iran president’s daughter faces trial over social media comments

Iran

According to the judiciary, the daughter of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani faces prosecution for social media comments about the Revolutionary Guards and the Prophet Mohammed. Faezeh Hashemi, 59, has been “summoned by the prosecutor over these two affairs,” according to judiciary spokesman Zabihollah Khodayian, as quoted by the service’s Mizan Online website. Khodayian … Read more

14 civilians killed in eastern DR Congo attack

Congo

Fourteen civilians, including children, were killed in an attack on a displaced persons’ camp in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo on Tuesday, according to a monitoring organization and a local civil group. According to the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected monitor of violence in the conflict-torn region, the attack took place on Monday … Read more

60 Zimbabweans killed by elephants this year

Zimbabweans

Sixty Zimbabweans have been killed by elephants this year as a conservation success story has led to increased conflict with humans said the government officials on Tuesday. Zimbabwe has 100,000 elephants, the world’s second-largest population after Botswana, and roughly one-quarter of all elephants in Africa. Unlike in much of the rest of the world, where … Read more

Bitcoin price crash has left 40% of investments under water

Bitcoin

Traditional and cryptocurrency markets have been in free fall for several days, plunging into bear territory when assets are trading at 20% or more below their previous high. The S&P 500 has lost 15% this year, while half of the Nasdaq index’s equities have lost more than 50% from their highs. Bitcoin has dropped even … Read more

Indonesia police use water cannon against Papua protesters

Indonesia

Police in the Indonesian state of Papua deployed water cannons on Tuesday,  against demonstrators protesting plans for a massive redistricting in the restive region. Last year, Jakarta stated that it was exploring creating six new provinces in the region, which has been home to a decades-long conflict. It claimed that the restructuring would speed up … Read more

Ukraine’s Odessa reels from strikes, German minister visits

Odessa

Russian missile attacks hit the port city of Odessa, and Germany’s top ambassador became the highest-ranking official from Berlin to visit Ukraine since Moscow’s invasion On Tuesday. The surprise visit by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Bucha, a village south of Kyiv where Russian troops are accused of war crimes, came amid growing criticism … Read more

Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead

At least 43 convicts died in Ecuador’s latest gruesome prison riot according to the public prosecutor on Monday. Authorities claimed a battle broke out inside the Bellavista prison in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Quito, between the rival Los Lobos and R7 gangs. “For now there are 43 inmates … Read more

EU chief to meet Orban amid Russia oil ban row

EU

EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Hungary to meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is delaying Brussels’ plans for a Russian oil embargo On Monday. “They will discuss issues related to European security of energy supply,” von der Leyen’s spokesman Eric Mamer said. Hungary is reliant on Russian oil via a single … Read more

Prince Charles to stand in for Queen at UK parliament opening

Buckingham Palace said Monday that Prince Charles will take the place of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for the ceremonial inauguration of the UK parliament on Tuesday, citing the monarch’s chronic mobility problems. “The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not … Read more