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Malian Singer Rokia Traoré Faces Potential House Arrest in Rome Amid Legal Dispute

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Malian singer and composer Rokia Traoré may be placed under house arrest in Rome, as Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation is set to rule on the matter on Thursday, August twenty-second. This development comes after two months of incarceration following her arrest on a European warrant issued by Belgium.

Traoré, a renowned figure in world music, was detained on June twentieth in Rome, just one day before her scheduled performance at a music festival at the Colosseum. She has since been held in a women’s prison in Civitavecchia, a port city near the Italian capital.

The arrest stems from a protracted custody dispute with her former partner, Belgian playwright Jan Goossens, over their daughter. In October two thousand twenty-three, a Belgian court sentenced Traoré to two years in prison for failing to present their child to Goossens. Traoré’s actions reportedly followed allegations of sexual abuse against Goossens concerning their daughter, claims which were subsequently dismissed.

Since her arrest, two hearings have taken place in Rome’s Court of Appeal. During a significant hearing on July thirteenth, Traoré’s lawyer, Maddalena Claudia Del Re, argued that there were procedural flaws in the two-year prison sentence handed down last year. The Italian judges have agreed to refer the case to the European Court of Justice, which will determine whether Traoré should be released or extradited to Belgium.

The Court of Cassation’s closed-door session on Thursday will rule on the request for Traoré’s house arrest in Rome, a decision that could substantially improve her living conditions while legal proceedings continue.

Traoré’s case has drawn attention to the complexities of international custody disputes and the application of European arrest warrants. It has also raised questions about the treatment of artists caught in legal battles across borders.

Representatives for Traoré and Goossens have not provided additional comments on the ongoing legal proceedings. The Belgian authorities who issued the original arrest warrant have also not released any statements regarding the latest developments in Italy.

As the legal process unfolds, Traoré’s situation continues to be closely monitored by human rights organizations and the international music community.

Former Eritrean Finance Minister Dies in Prison After Six Years of Detention

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Berhane Abrehe, former Finance Minister of Eritrea, has died in prison at the age of seventy-nine after six years in solitary confinement, the Eritrean Human Rights Council (HRC) reported on Monday.

Abrehe, who served as Finance Minister from two thousand one to two thousand twelve, was arrested on September seventeen, two thousand eighteen, shortly after publishing a book critical of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The book, titled “Hagerey Eritrea” (My Country, Eritrea), led to his detention in Carshelli prison in the capital, Asmara.

According to the UK-based HRC, Abrehe was held without formal charges or trial for the duration of his imprisonment. His health had reportedly been declining since a liver transplant in two thousand nine.

Abrehe’s political career spanned several decades. He was a member of the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and later joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), playing a significant role in Eritrea’s struggle for independence. Following the country’s independence in nineteen ninety-three, he held various high-ranking government positions.

Despite his prominent role in the government, Abrehe publicly criticized the administration’s financial practices and the concentration of power under President Afwerki. These outspoken views led to his removal from office in two thousand twelve and subsequent arrest in two thousand eighteen.

Abrehe’s wife, Almaz Habtemariam, who was arrested alongside him in two thousand eighteen, was released two years later without trial.

The Eritrean government has not issued an official statement regarding Abrehe’s death or the circumstances of his detention. Requests for comment from Eritrean officials have not received a response at the time of this report.

Human rights organizations have long criticized Eritrea for its treatment of political dissidents and restrictions on freedom of expression. Abrehe’s case has drawn international attention to the situation of political prisoners in the country.

The news of Abrehe’s death has prompted renewed calls from human rights groups for the Eritrean government to release all political prisoners and improve its human rights record.

Ukraine Reports Territorial Gains in Kharkiv Region Amid Broader Offensive

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KYIV, Ukraine  — Ukrainian forces claim to have recaptured territory in the eastern Kharkiv region, an area where Russia launched a significant offensive in the spring that initially gained ground but later stalled.

Ukraine’s Third Separate Assault Brigade stated late Thursday that its forces had advanced nearly two square kilometers in the area. The exact timing, scale, and location of the offensive remain unclear, as does its potential impact on the broader conflict.

This reported counteroffensive in Kharkiv coincides with Ukraine’s recent military initiatives, including a surprise offensive into Russia’s western Kursk region on August sixth and an intensified drone campaign against Russian military and fuel targets.

New details have emerged about the impact of these attacks. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press on Friday showed significant damage to an airfield in Russia’s Volgograd region, reportedly used to house glide bombs, following a Ukrainian drone strike.

In a separate incident, Russian state news agency Tass reported that an attack on a cargo ferry at the port of Kavkaz in Russia’s Krasnodar region on Thursday injured thirteen people, with four hospitalized and one person unaccounted for.

Ukraine’s recent gains have altered the battlefield dynamics and boosted Ukrainian morale ten years after Russia’s initial incursion into the country, and two and a half years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

The conflict has resulted in widespread casualties, destruction, and Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Ukraine and its Western allies hope these recent developments might strengthen Kyiv’s position in potential diplomatic negotiations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyiv for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday is being closely observed. Modi, who has maintained cordial ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, could potentially play a role in mediating peace efforts.

However, Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory carries risks. While exposing Russian vulnerabilities, it has further stretched Ukrainian forces already engaged along a lengthy frontline. This diversion of resources could potentially impact Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian advances in the Donetsk region.

Commander Andrii Biletskyi of Ukraine’s Third Separate Assault Brigade claimed that Ukrainian soldiers had taken control of an area previously held by a Russian battalion, despite facing numerical disadvantages.

The Associated Press was unable to independently verify these claims, and there has been no immediate comment from Russian authorities.

Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region, launched in May, made initial gains but subsequently stalled. Fighting in this area has diminished as Russian forces have concentrated their efforts in the Donetsk region, part of the industrial Donbas area that Russia has formally annexed but does not fully control.

Manchester City Re-signs Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona

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MANCHESTER, England  — Manchester City has re-signed former captain Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona on an initial one-year contract with an option for a twelve-month extension, the club announced today.

Gundogan, thirty-three, returns to the Etihad Stadium after a single season with Barcelona. The German midfielder was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at City in two thousand sixteen and spent seven years with the club before joining Barcelona on a free transfer in two thousand twenty-three.

During his initial tenure at Manchester City, Gundogan made three hundred four appearances, scoring sixty goals and helping the team secure fourteen trophies.

“My seven years at Manchester City were a time of pure contentment for me, both on and off the pitch,” Gundogan said in a statement. “Everyone knows the respect I have for Pep – he is the best manager in the world and working with him every day makes you a better player.”

The midfielder added, “Honestly, I cannot wait to wear the City shirt again.”

Despite an impressive debut campaign in Spain, Barcelona opted to part ways with Gundogan. The Catalan club has been grappling with financial issues, struggling to register new signing Dani Olmo due to La Liga spending restrictions. Gundogan’s departure, given his status as one of the club’s highest earners, is expected to alleviate some of Barcelona’s financial pressures.

Addressing his departure from Barcelona, Gundogan wrote on social media, “I am leaving in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a bit less sad.” He expressed gratitude for his twelve-month stint with the Spanish giants.

Gundogan, who has earned eighty-two caps for Germany, recently announced his international retirement following the country’s exit from Euro two thousand twenty-four in the quarter-finals against Spain.

The terms of the transfer, including any potential fee paid by Manchester City to Barcelona, have not been disclosed by either club.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has not yet commented on the re-signing of his former captain. The club is expected to provide further details on Gundogan’s role in the team in the coming days.

Bolt Restricts Cross-Country Requests Amid Nigeria-South Africa Social Media Conflict

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Ride-hailing company Bolt has implemented restrictions on cross-country ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa following a social media-driven prank that affected drivers in both nations.

The company confirmed to the Associated Press that it has identified and blocked users participating in a scheme where individuals from one country would book rides in the other, only to cancel them, leaving drivers stranded.

Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean Bolt driver based in Cape Town, reported receiving three fraudulent ride requests before realizing they were not genuine. “I wasted a lot of fuel, time, and money,” Chinyama told the AP.

Bolt stated, “We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa.” The company clarified that inter-country requests would still function between other nations.

The prank appears to have originated from long-standing social media rivalries between users in sub-Saharan Africa’s two largest economies. One social media user’s post about requesting rides in Nigeria as retaliation for perceived disrespect seems to have triggered a chain reaction.

A Nigerian driver in Kano described receiving an order for an airport trip from an international number, only to have the requester not show up and eventually cancel the trip. He indicated that many of his colleagues faced similar issues.

The incident has had broader implications. Drivers reported wasting fuel and time on non-existent customers, particularly impactful in Nigeria where fuel prices have recently surged. Users in both countries reported price increases for legitimate rides, leaving some unable to afford transportation.

The event has sparked discussions about the vulnerability of gig economy workers to such pranks. Social media users from both countries have expressed sympathy for the affected drivers, emphasizing their efforts to earn an honest living.

This “Bolt war” is the latest in a series of online conflicts between South African and Nigerian social media users. Recent points of contention have included a controversy surrounding Miss South Africa, where a contestant of Nigerian descent withdrew following xenophobic abuse. Debates comparing popular musicians from both countries and rivalries between national football teams have also fueled tensions.

Bolt has not specified how long the cross-country request restrictions will remain in place. The company continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety and fair treatment of its driver-partners in both countries.

AP/BBC

Nigerian Data Agency Fines Fidelity Bank for Privacy Breaches

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ABUJA, Nigeria  — The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has imposed a fine of zero point one percent of Fidelity Bank’s two thousand twenty-three revenue, equivalent to five hundred fifty-five million, eight hundred thousand naira (three hundred fifty-eight thousand, five hundred eighty dollars), for alleged violations of data protection laws, the agency announced on Thursday.

This fine represents the largest penalty the NDPC has levied against an entity for data breaches to date. The NDPC has instructed Fidelity Bank, a mid-tier lender in Nigeria, to remit the fine within fourteen days.

The commission’s investigation, which began in April two thousand twenty-three, focused on the bank’s practices in collecting personal data for opening customer accounts. The NDPC alleges that Fidelity Bank illegally collected personal data during an account opening process.

In its review of Fidelity’s data processing platforms, the NDPC claims to have found instances where “the bank processes personal data without informed consent of data subjects.” The commission also asserts that Fidelity deployed tools such as cookies and banking applications in violation of existing laws.

Fidelity Bank has contested the NDPC’s findings. In a statement released Thursday, the bank denied any violation of data protection laws, asserting that no data breach occurred. The bank maintains that it did not complete the account opening process for the unnamed customer whose complaint initiated the NDPC’s investigation.

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian naira banknotes are seen in this picture illustration, September 10, 2018. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/Illustration/File Photo

“As a bank, we remain in discussions with the NDPC over an amicable resolution to this matter,” Fidelity Bank’s statement read.

The case highlights the increasing scrutiny of data protection practices in Nigeria’s financial sector. It also underscores the growing role of the NDPC in enforcing data privacy regulations within the country.

As discussions between Fidelity Bank and the NDPC continue, the outcome of this case may set a precedent for how data protection laws are enforced in Nigeria’s banking industry.

The NDPC has not provided further details on the specific nature of the alleged violations or the identity of the customer who filed the initial complaint.

Reuters

Cholera Outbreak Spreads in Sudan Amid Conflict and Heavy Rains

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Sudan is grappling with a severe cholera outbreak for the second consecutive year, compounded by ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and heavy rains, according to health officials and aid workers.

World Health Organization (WHO) country director Shible Sahbani reported that since July twenty-second, six hundred fifty-eight cases of cholera have been recorded across five states, resulting in at least twenty-eight fatalities.

The outbreak occurs as Sudan enters its sixteenth month of conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has led to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing more than ten million people within Sudan and across its borders.

Sahbani expressed concern over the high mortality rate, with four point three percent of cases resulting in death, significantly higher than typical for cholera outbreaks. He estimates that approximately two hundred thousand people are at high risk of contracting the disease.

Sudan’s Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim reported that the previous cholera wave, from October two thousand twenty-three to May two thousand twenty-four, resulted in about twelve thousand cases and more than three hundred fifty deaths. He noted that there had been no major outbreak in the nine years preceding the current conflict.

The ongoing war has severely damaged Sudan’s health infrastructure, with many facilities destroyed or rendered non-functional due to staff displacement. The country is simultaneously battling five disease outbreaks, including dengue fever and measles.

The current cholera outbreak is centered in Kassala and Gedaref states, which collectively host one point two million displaced persons. Conditions in these areas are conducive to the spread of cholera, with crowded displacement centers, overflowing latrines, and stagnant rainwater mixing with refuse.

International experts have declared a famine in Darfur’s Zamzam camp, an area particularly vulnerable to cholera due to flooding and poor sanitation.

Sahbani highlighted the challenges in delivering aid, citing security constraints, bureaucratic hurdles, and roads rendered impassable by heavy rains. He announced that the International Coordinated Group for vaccine allocation (ICG) has approved the delivery of four hundred fifty-five thousand cholera vaccine doses to Sudan.

A garbage dump is seen in a neighborhood in the city of Gedaref in eastern Sudan, August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Omar Araki/File Photo

Minister Ibrahim stated that the government has resorted to “unorthodox measures,” including air drops, to deliver vaccines and supplies to areas controlled by the RSF and isolated regions under army control.

Both officials emphasized that the humanitarian needs in Sudan far outweigh the current aid efforts, with the United Nations’ humanitarian appeal for the country only about one-third funded.

As the rainy season continues and conflict persists, health officials warn that the cholera outbreak could spread to other regions, including Khartoum, Gezira, and states in the Kordofan and Darfur regions.

Reuters

Floods and Landslides Displace Thousands in India’s Tripura and Bangladesh

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AGARTALA, India  — Heavy rainfall has triggered floods and landslides in India’s northeastern state of Tripura and neighboring Bangladesh, forcing tens of thousands from their homes and resulting in multiple fatalities, according to local authorities.

In Tripura, disaster management officials report that more than sixty-five thousand people have been displaced, with twenty-three fatalities recorded. The Indian Army has deployed soldiers to assist in rescue operations, using lifeboats to ferry people to safety.

Suman Deb, a disaster management official, stated that while the intensity of rain had decreased since Thursday night, the Gomti River continues to flow above the danger mark. The Gomti, Tripura’s main river, flows through the Comilla district in Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Officials estimate that approximately one point seven million people have been affected by the floods in Tripura. The displaced population has gathered in four hundred fifty emergency camps. Damage to infrastructure, crops, and livestock has been extensive.

Most deaths in Tripura were attributed to landslides, with some caused by the collapse of mud walls and drowning incidents. The Indian Army reports that more than eighty of its personnel have participated in rescue efforts, bringing three hundred thirty-four stranded individuals to safety.

In Bangladesh, the situation has also become critical. The Gomti River breached an embankment late Thursday, inundating at least fifteen villages and displacing hundreds of families. The death toll in Bangladesh has risen to thirteen, with over three million people stranded, according to the country’s disaster management ministry.

Bangladeshi officials report that several villages, fish farming enclosures, and crop fields in the coastal Khulna district have been inundated after high tides caused river embankments to collapse. Blocked roads in several districts have isolated communities and hampered rescue and relief efforts.

Authorities in Bangladesh have evacuated more than seventy-five thousand people to over one thousand five hundred shelters in flood-affected districts. Military and border guard personnel are assisting in rescue operations.

Floodwaters have surged through the districts of Feni, Moulvibazar, and Noakhali, where roads are submerged and rescuers are using ropes to pull stranded individuals to safety.

Mohammad Alam, a resident of Noakhali, described the flooding as unprecedented in his lifetime.

The floods have sparked controversy, with some Bangladeshi citizens alleging that the opening of sluice gates at the Dumbur dam on the Gomti River in India’s Tripura state contributed to the flooding. Indian authorities have rejected these claims as inaccurate.

As rescue and relief efforts continue in both countries, authorities are monitoring weather forecasts and river levels, preparing for potential further evacuations if conditions worsen.

Final Body Recovered from Sunken Superyacht Off Sicilian Coast

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PALERMO, Italy  — Italian Coast Guard officials have recovered the body of the last missing person from a British-flagged superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily earlier this week, bringing a somber conclusion to the maritime tragedy.

The Coast Guard reported that divers located the body of a woman on Friday. While official identification is pending, sources close to the investigation suggest the deceased may be Hannah Lynch, the eighteen-year-old daughter of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch.

The vessel, identified as The Bayesian, a fifty-six-meter (one hundred eighty-four-foot) superyacht, reportedly encountered severe weather conditions and sank rapidly early Monday morning. Civil protection officials believe the ship may have been struck by a waterspout, a tornado-like phenomenon that occurs over water.

Mike Lynch’s body was recovered on Thursday. Reports indicate that Lynch had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with family members and his legal defense team aboard the yacht at the time of the incident.

Fifteen individuals, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, were rescued from the accident. However, six others, including Lynch and his daughter, were initially unaccounted for.

Recovery efforts were hampered by the yacht’s position, resting approximately fifty meters (one hundred sixty-four feet) below the water’s surface. Dive teams faced challenging conditions in their attempts to locate and retrieve the bodies trapped within the vessel’s hull.

The sinking of The Bayesian marks one of the most significant maritime accidents in the region in recent years. Italian authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the yacht’s sinking, including an examination of weather conditions and the vessel’s seaworthiness at the time of the incident.

As the recovery operation concludes, attention now turns to the ongoing investigation and the process of formal identification of the recovered bodies. The incident has sparked discussions about maritime safety regulations for private vessels in the Mediterranean.

Authorities have not yet released information about memorial services or repatriation of the deceased. The survivors are receiving support from local authorities and their respective embassies.

Jennifer Garner Not Reuniting with Ben Affleck, Sources Confirm

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Sources close to Jennifer Garner have refuted rumors that she is rekindling her relationship with ex-husband Ben Affleck following his recent divorce filing from Jennifer Lopez.

According to these sources, Garner remains in a committed relationship with her boyfriend, John Miller. The couple’s status has not changed in light of recent events involving Affleck and Lopez.

“Jennifer and John are still very much together,” a source familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. “Their relationship has not been affected by Ben’s divorce proceedings.”

The source also addressed rumors of Garner being unhappy in her current relationship, stating that such claims are unfounded.

While Garner and Affleck are not romantically involved, they continue to maintain a strong co-parenting relationship. The former couple was recently seen together dropping off their daughter Violet at Yale University. They subsequently returned to Los Angeles on a private jet.

Affleck was observed smiling as he disembarked from the jet on Wednesday, a day after Lopez filed for divorce. This comes after months of speculation about the couple’s relationship status.

Sources close to Garner and Miller emphasize that Miller is fully aware of and comfortable with Garner and Affleck’s co-parenting arrangement. “John is very confident in his relationship with Jennifer,” the source added.

Garner and Affleck were married from two thousand five to two thousand eighteen and share three children. Affleck married Lopez in two thousand twenty-two, while Garner has been in a relationship with Miller since two thousand eighteen.

As the situation continues to develop, representatives for Garner, Affleck, and Lopez have not provided official comments on these personal matters.

Source: TMZ

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