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CNN —A Palestinian writer who has been in an Israeli prison for 20 years has won a prestigious prize for Arabic fiction for his novel “A Mask, the Color of the Sky.”Basim Khandaqji won the prize on Sunday for his book, and was awarded $50,000 and funding for an English translation. The novel, published by Lebanon’s Dar Al-Adab, “dissects a complex, bitter reality of family fragmentation, displacement, genocide, and racism,” said Nabil Suleiman, a Syrian writer who chaired the 2024 prize. A Mask, the Colour of the Sky (2023) by Palestinian novelist, Basim Khandaqji, winner of the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction. Khandaqji began to write “A Mask, the Color of the Sky” in 2021. During his time in prison, Khandaqji has written poetry collections, as well as three earlier novels, according to IPAF.

Persons: Basim Khandaqji, Nur, ”, Abu, Lebanon’s Dar, “, Nabil Suleiman, Suleiman, Yousef Khandaqji, Bahr, ” “, Khandaqji Organizations: CNN Locations: Ramallah, Abu Dhabi, Syrian, Palestinian, Nablus, Khandaqji, Tel, UAE, Abu, Bab

☆ At least 32 dead as flash floods sweep through half of Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —At least 32 people have been killed and two are missing after flash floods swept through almost half of Kenya. Kenya has registered heavy rain since mid-March but downpours have intensified over the past week, leading to mass flooding. Simon Maina/AFP/Getty ImagesTwo major highways out of Nairobi saw heavy traffic on Wednesday after floodwaters submerged parts of them. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority partially closed four roads that were heavily affected and warned of flooding on two others. The Kenya Meteorological Department warned of “heavy to very heavy” rainfall in parts of the country in an update on Wednesday.

Persons: downpours, ”, Edwin Sifuna, Simon Maina Organizations: Kenya CNN —, Kenyan, The Kenya Red Cross Society, Getty, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya Railways, Kenya Meteorological Department Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, The, ”, Mathare, AFP

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —As the US prepares to transfer significant military aid to Ukraine following the Senate passing funding legislation worth $61 billion, reports from eastern Ukraine continue to highlight Kyiv’s sliding fortunes on the battlefield. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty ImagesUkrainian soldiers on the front lines have spoken of being badly outgunned by Russian forces. A Ukrainian military blogger, Bohdan Myroshnykov, wrote, “In Novobakhmutivka, the enemy made progress in the village, advancing up to 400 meters in depth. Meanwhile, around Chasiv Yar, about 40 kilometers to the north, both Ukrainian and Russian reports suggest Ukraine has succeeded in stopping Russian advances, at least for the moment. Oleksandr Ratushniak/Reuters“In the Chasiv Yar direction, the offensive of the Russian forces ‘stalled’ on the eastern outskirts,” a Russian military blogger, Wargonzo, reports, though fierce fighting continues, the site adds.

Persons: DeepState –, –, Biden, Joe Biden, Charly Triballeau, Volodymyr Zelensky, Bohdan Myroshnykov, “, DeepState, Ukraine’s Eastern Command –, Oleksandr Ratushniak, ‘, Ukraine’s DeepState, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Vladimir Putin, Chasiv Yar Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Russian, Wednesday, Senate, Scranton Army, Getty, 100th, Ukraine’s Eastern Command, CNN, Reuters, 92nd Brigade, Nazi Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Ocheretyne, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Israel, Taiwan, Scranton, Scranton , Pennsylvania, AFP, Russian, Russia, Novobakhmutivka, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, ”, Ivanivske, Bakhmut, Nazi Germany

☆ Björn Höcke: Far-right German politician on trial accused of using banned Nazi slogans
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A far-right German politician has gone on trial accused of using banned Nazi slogans at two rallies dating back to 2021. Björn Höcke, leader of the regional branch of Alternative for Germany party (AfD) in the eastern state of Thuringia, is accused of ending a May 2021 election event in Merseburg by shouting the Socialist Nationalist slogan, “Everything for our homeland, everything for Saxony-Anhalt, everything for Germany,” according to the regional court of Halle. Prosecutors allege that although he was aware the slogan is banned in Germany, and despite already facing criminal charges related to the first instance, Höcke went on to use it a second time at an AfD event in December 2023. In that incident he allegedly shouted to the crowd: “Everything for” and incited the audience to reply “Germany.”Prosecutors also claim Höcke was aware of the phrase’s origins as the slogan for the Nazi paramilitary wing. Höcke, a former history teacher, intends to run as the lead candidate for the AfD in the upcoming state elections in Thuringia in September.

Persons: Björn Höcke, Höcke, ” Prosecutors, ”, Elon Musk, ” Hans, Christoph Berndt Organizations: CNN, Germany, Socialist Nationalist, Prosecutors, ”, Nazi Locations: Thuringia, Merseburg, Saxony, Anhalt, Germany, Halle, Brandenburg

A cascade of developments followed, including parliamentary hearings in June 2022 over Hockey Canada’s handling of the case and announcements in July 2022 that London police and Hockey Canada would reopen their investigations. CNN also has sought comment from the woman’s lawyer and Hockey Canada. Hockey Canada apologized for its handing of the caseA month after the TSN report, the Canadian government announced in June 2022 that it was freezing federal, public funding for Hockey Canada until the organization had submitted the complete results of its original, two-year investigation and plans for implementing change within Hockey Canada. Renney confirmed during the hearings that Hockey Canada had settled a civil lawsuit that the woman filed in April 2022, but he did not reveal the settlement amount. In July 2022, Hockey Canada published a letter apologizing for it said was inadequate action regarding the assault allegations, and said it was reopening an internal investigation.

Persons: Mike McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, McLeod, Katherine Dann, Dann, Thai Truong, “, ”, she’d, Daniel Brown, Lindsay, Formenton, McLeod “, David Humphrey, Seth Weinstein, ” Foote “, ” Hart “, Riaz Sayani, Megan Savard, Dube “, Louis P, Kaleigh Davidson, Dube, Foote, Tom Renney, Renney, CNN’s David Close Organizations: CNN, NHL, Canadian, Canada, New, New Jersey Devils, Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Ottawa, Hockey Canada, London Police, London Police Service, CTV News, CTV, TSN, Hockey, London, Senators, Flames, ” Locations: London , Ontario, New Jersey, London, Switzerland, Swiss, Canada, Hockey Canada

The charges relate to a woman’s accusation that multiple members of Canada’s world junior hockey team sexually assaulted her in London, Ontario, in 2018. The current NHL players have been instructed to surrender to authorities in connection with the allegations, London police have said. A cascade of developments followed, including June 2022 parliamentary hearings over Hockey Canada’s handling of the case, and July 2022 announcements that London police and Hockey Canada would reopen their investigations. Investigators are scheduled to address the London police investigation and pending charges in a news conference scheduled for Monday. In July 2022, Hockey Canada published a letter apologizing for it said was inadequate action regarding the assault allegations, and said it was reopening an internal investigation.

Persons: Alex Formenton, Mike McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, she’d, Formenton “, Daniel Brown, Lindsay, Formenton, McLeod “, David Humphrey, Seth Weinstein, Foote “, ”, Foote, ” Hart “, Riaz Sayani, Megan Savard, Dube “, Louis P, Kaleigh Davidson, “, Dube, McLeod, Tom Renney, Renney, CNN’s David Close Organizations: CNN —, NHL, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, TSN, Hockey Canada, Hockey, London, Senators, ESPN, CNN, Flames, Canadian Locations: Canada, London , Ontario, Switzerland, London, New, Swiss, Hockey Canada

☆ Russia’s top court bans ‘international LGBTQ movement’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Anna Chernova | Lindsay Isaac | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russia’s Supreme Court has declared what it called the “international LGBTQ movement” an extremist organization and banned all activities associated with it in the country. Russia’s highest court found in favour of a motion filed by the Ministry of Justice which claimed the LGBTQ community risked “inciting social and religious discord”, in violation of Russia’s Law on Countering Extremism, according to a statement from the UN condemning the decision. The four-hour hearing was held behind closed doors with only the Justice Ministry present for the proceedings and materials classified. LGBT activists take part in a protest against amendments to Russia's Constitution on July 15, 2020. The new law was an extension of legislation introduced in 2013, which banned the dissemination of LGBTQ-related information to minors.

Persons: CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Thursday’s, Shamil Zhumatov, Volker Türk, Putin Organizations: CNN, CNN — Russia’s, Ministry of Justice, LGBT, RIA Novosti, Justice, Constitution, UN Human Rights, UN, Human, Kremlin Locations: West, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Polish bishop resigns amid alleged sex scandal at diocese
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | Antonia Mortensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Vatican has accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop who stepped down after a sex scandal involving clergy from his diocese in the southern Polish city of Sosnowiec. According to Poland’s state news agency, the parish has been hit by a string of scandals over the past few years involving priests under the administration of Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak. The allegations that precipitated the bishop’s resignation are connected to an incident in September, widely reported in Polish media, in which a priest identified as Fr. Tomasza Z allegedly hosted several other priests and a male prostitute at his apartment. Tomasza Z has since been dismissed, according to PAP.

Persons: Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, Kaszak, Nunciature, “, Father Francis, Bishop of Sosnowiec, Adrian Galbas, Tomasza, Tomasza Z Organizations: CNN, of Locations: Polish, Sosnowiec, of Sosnowiec, Katowice

CNN —The head of a United Nations agency has called for an investigation into the killing of at least 87 people who were discovered in a mass grave in Sudan’s West Darfur region. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has demanded a “prompt, thorough and independent investigation” into the grim discovery outside the region’s capital El-Geneina. Inside the mass grave were bodies of ethnic Masalit who along with other non-Arab communities are often targeted by Arab militias, supported by the RSF, according to Human Rights Watch. The deceased were allegedly killed last month by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militia. West Darfur remains one of the most conflict-ridden areas in the Sudanese Darfur region, with a long history of severe violence.

Persons: Volker Türk, RSF, Geneina’s, Khamis Abbaker, Türk, ” Türk Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Human, Human Rights Watch, Rapid Support Forces Locations: Sudan’s West Darfur, El, West Darfur, Darfur, Sudanese Darfur

CNN —Nearly 2.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes amid an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation in war torn Sudan. The toll on civilians continues to grow, according to the latest report from the UN’s Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which states that 414,625 individuals comprising 483,672 households, have been displaced, an increase of 183,102 individuals compared to last week. The number of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries, mainly Egypt, Chad and South Sudan, is also increasing with an estimated 750,000 civilians leaving Sudan entirely. So, you just see many women, many children,” WFP Chad Country Director Pierre Honnorat said, describing desperate scenes from the Zabout refugee camp in Goz Beida in a call with journalists. In addition to clashes between RSF and SAF, OCHA’s report also notes increased RSF and militia presence reports emerging from other Darfur states, as well as fighting in North and South Kordofan, in an increasingly complex fighting landscape across Sudan.

Persons: ”, Pierre Honnorat, ” Honorat, ” Martin Griffiths, it’s, “ Organizations: CNN, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Rapid Support Forces, Humanitarian Affairs, Food Programme, Chad Country, WFP, UN Locations: Sudan, Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Goz Beida, Darfur, RSF, North, South Kordofan

London CNN —The UK government’s plan to deport some asylum-seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, the Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday, in a major blow to ministers’ controversial immigration policies that have been roundly condemned by humanitarian bodies. In a three-judge decision, the court overturned a high court decision that previously ruled that Rwanda could be considered a safe third country in which to send refugees. “By a majority, this court allows the appeal on the issue of whether Rwanda is a safe third country. The British Home Office can now appeal to the Supreme Court. The judgment summary said sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda would breach the European Convention on Human Rights.

Persons: Suella Braverman, ” Organizations: London CNN, British, Office, Supreme, Conservative, Human Rights, Refugees Locations: Rwanda, England, France, Britain, Europe

☆ Sweden Quran burning protest approved outside mosque
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Swedish authorities approved a Quran-burning demonstration outside of a mosque in the center of Stockholm on Wednesday. The burning will coincide with the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha, one of the most significant in the Islamic calendar. The decision to allow such an inflammatory protest may threaten Sweden’s chances of joining NATO, due to objections from Turkey. Earlier this year, Turkish-Swedish relations suffered a major blow following a rally outside Stockholm’s Turkish Embassy during which an anti-immigration politician set a copy of the Quran alight. The incident sparked anger in the Turkish capital, Ankara, where protesters took to the streets and burned the Swedish flag outside the Swedish embassy in response.

Persons: – Organizations: CNN, NATO, Stockholm’s, Anadolu Locations: Stockholm, Turkey, Sweden, Lithuanian, Vilnius, East, Europe, Turkish, Swedish, Stockholm’s Turkish, Ankara

☆ Live updates: Russia accuses Wagner chief of urging "armed rebellion"
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Helen Regan | Andy Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Yulia Morozova/Reuters/FILEThe chief of the Wagner private military group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Friday accused Russian military leadership of striking a Wagner military camp and killing a "huge amount" of his mercenary forces. Prigozhin claimed that the Russian Ministry of Defense tricked Wagner and he vowed to "respond to these atrocities." Prigozhin claimed that the "evil that is being carried out" by Russia's military leadership "must be stopped" following the alleged attack. "The details started to appear; Minister of Defense arrived to Rostov especially to conduct an operation to destroy Wagner PMC. And earlier this month, the Wagner boss said he won't sign contracts with Russia’s defense ministry, rejecting an attempt to bring his force in line.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Yulia Morozova, Wagner, Prigozhin, The Wagner, “, ”, CNN's Katharina Krebs, Lindsay Isaac, Uliana Pavlova, Radina Gigova, Josh Pennington Organizations: Russian Ministry of Defense, Wagner PMC, Ministry of Defense, Russia's Ministry of Defense, of Defense, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: Moscow, Rostov, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Bakhmut

In a series of Telegram posts on Friday, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of striking a Wagner military camp. “A huge amount of our fighters were killed,” he said, in a radical escalation of a longstanding feud with Russia’s military leaders. In a later Telegram post, Prigozhin said that his criticism of the Russian military leadership was a “march of justice” and not a coup. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Putin is aware of the situation and “all necessary measures are being taken,” according to state media RIA Novosti. In the interview, he claimed the ministry misled Russian President Putin entirely.

Persons: CNN —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, ”, ” Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Prigozhin “, “, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Russia’s, Sergey Surovikin, Prigozhin’s, Igor Strelkov, Tatyana Stanovaya, Mykhailo Podolyak, ’ Prigozhin, , Shoigu – Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Prigozhin's Press Service, –, Russian, Federal Security Service, PMC, Novosti, Social, State, Russia, Russian Ministry of Defense, Security, Defense, Twitter, Internet Research Agency, of Defense, Ministry of Defense, NATO Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Donetsk People’s Republic, “, Putin’s Russia, St . Petersburg, NATO, Crimea

Harry objected to an article published by the Daily Mirror on September 28 2008, detailing Harry’s potential return to serve with the British military in Afghanistan. The Mirror article Harry objected to, headlined “Soldier Harry’s Taliban,” concerned the prince’s potential redeployment some months later, once it was safer for him to do so. Green argued that this article did not concern Harry’s private life, since the question of his redeployment “was a military decision.”“It was about your professional life, not your private life,” Green said. Harry disagreed, saying that he did not widely share his feelings about wanting to return to serve with the military. The prince claimed that he suspects that Lowther-Pinkerton’s phone was hacked by MGN journalists.

Persons: Harry, Green, “, ” Harry, ”, ” Green, Jamie Lowther, Pinkerton, Lowther Organizations: Daily, American, News Group Locations: Afghanistan, Australian

In his written evidence, Prince Harry objected to an article published in 2000 as an exclusive in the Daily Mirror, with the headline “Snap. However, during the cross examination, barrister Andrew Green pointed the prince to a public statement made by a Palace spokesperson, before it was reported in the Mirror. Green asked Harry if he maintained that this article “is the result of phone hacking or unlawful information gathering.” Harry said he maintains it is the result of "both." When asked whom he thought had engaged in these sort of activities, Harry said: “I believe it was either probably [the reporter, Jane Kerr] herself or she got someone else to do the dirty work for her.”“Whose phone do you think was hacked?” Green asked Harry. Are we not, Prince Harry, in the realms of total speculation?” Green asked.

Persons: Prince Harry, ”, Jane Kerr, Harry, ” Harry, “, Andrew Green, Green, ” Green Organizations: Daily Locations: Green

London CNN —Several anti-monarchy protesters were arrested in central London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, their group has said, as the Metropolitan Police force faces scrutiny for its approach toward demonstrators at the historic event. Thousands gathered in central London on Saturday to celebrate the once-in-a-generation event. But it also drew demonstrators, with protesters wearing yellow T-shirts booing and shouting “Not My King” throughout the morning. Republic, Britain’s largest anti-monarchy group, told CNN that police – without providing any reason – arrested organizers of the anti-monarchy protest. There are also plans for facial recognition technology to be used in central London, which has sparked criticism from human rights groups.

☆ Prince Harry claims Murdoch newspapers paid ‘large sum’ to settle William hacking claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Buckingham Palace and Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers reached a secret agreement over historical phone hacking claims, court documents filed on behalf of Prince Harry allege. Officials at Kensington Palace, which represents Prince William, told CNN it does not comment on legal proceedings. Prince Harry states that his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was aware of settlement talks. NGN said it has no comment regarding the suggestion that it made a confidential settlement with Prince William. The company also claims that Prince Harry ought to have brought his lawsuit sooner.

CNN —Ukraine’s foreign minister has accused Russia of being behind a series of more than a dozen letters containing explosives or animal parts that were sent to Ukrainian diplomats around the world. “This campaign is aimed at sowing fear,” Dmytro Kuleba told CNN’s Matthew Chance in an exclusive interview in Kyiv on Friday. CNN was shown an image of one of the letters containing what officials said was the eyeball of a pig inside a padded envelope. ‘Who benefits?’Kuleba earlier urged foreign governments to guarantee maximum protection of Ukrainian diplomatic institutions in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Nikolenko also stated that the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States received a letter with a photocopy of a critical article about Ukraine.

The blasts at the Nord Stream pipeline in September were caused by an act of sabotage, Swedish prosecutors said Friday after evidence of explosives was discovered at the sites by investigators. In a statement, Mats Ljungqvist, the prosecutor leading the preliminary investigation, described the incident as “gross sabotage,” adding that “traces of explosives” were found at the scene. The preliminary investigation will continue and has yet to determine any charges, the statement said. Denmark last month said a preliminary investigation had shown they were caused by powerful explosions. Nord Stream pipelines 1 and 2 were created to funnel gas from Russia into the European Union, and were controversial long before Russia waged war on Ukraine.

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