Category: 1. Palestine

Johannesburg, South Africa – Last year, Mary* finally had the conversation she had been dreading for more than a decade.

Mary has lived with HIV since 2008.

But the 36-year-old has also carried the burden of another secret: Lita*, her daughter, was born with HIV.

Speaking from her four-room home in the bustling township of Soweto, just south of Johannesburg, where she lives with Lita and her parents, Mary recalls the fear she felt as she prepared to tell her child about her condition.

“I…

The move is a blow to North Korea, which once counted Damascus as an ally until the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

South Korea and Syria have formally established diplomatic relations, in another milestone for the transitional government of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The move has also dealt a blow to Seoul’s archenemy, North Korea, which once counted Syria as a friend under the regime of now-deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Diplomatic ties were formalised on Thursday…

These are the key events on day 1,142 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is where things stand on Friday, April 11:

Fighting

• Russia said its aerial defence systems destroyed 48 Ukrainian drones overnight and into the early morning in the Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga, Belgorod, Moscow and Oryol regions, as well as the Russian-annexed Crimea.
• The Russian Ministry of Defence said its forces captured the border village of Zhuravka in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
• Ukrainian authorities recorded 145 Russian…

China’s National Film Administration says US movies will be less popular after Washington imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports.

China has moved to “moderately reduce” the release of Hollywood films in the Chinese market in the latest front of the growing United States-China trade war.

China’s National Film Administration directly linked their decision on Thursday to US tariffs on Chinese products, which US President Donald Trump has raised to a sky-high 145 percent.

“The…

Bangkok, Thailand – Aung, a high school English teacher, figured it was high time to leave Myanmar the day the military generals who took over the country stepped up enforcement of a long-dormant conscription law they had dredged up.

That was at the end of January, a little more than 11 months after the generals announced plans for widespread conscription, in order to cope with their military’s mounting desertions and battlefield losses to armed groups fighting back against their 2021…

A family of Spanish tourists, including three children, were killed in the crash, New York City Mayor Eric Adams says.

Six people, including three children, have been killed after a sightseeing helicopter crashed in New York City’s Hudson River, near Lower Manhattan, the city’s mayor has said.

All of those onboard the tourist sightseeing trip, the pilot and a family from Spain, died, including two who were taken to a hospital and later succumbed to their injuries.

“At this time, all six…

The United States and Iran are set for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme in Oman on Saturday.

Iran has warned that it could expel UN nuclear watchdog inspectors from the country in response to “external threats” as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States and Iran will hold direct talks in Oman on Saturday to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme.

Relations between the two nations have been tense since US President Donald Trump said in February he was re-imposing a…

Manchester United are denied a win as Olympique Lyonnais secure a late 2-2 draw in their quarterfinal first-leg tie.

Lyon scored deep into stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 home draw against Manchester United in a Europa League quarterfinal first leg on Thursday.

United captain Bruno Fernandes had sent a precise cross for substitute Joshua Zirkzee to head what seemed to be the winner in the 88th minute.

But Rayan Cherki hit back for Lyon when he pounced on a rebound.

Down 1-0, Leny Yoro equalised…

Ahmad Manasra, 23, has been released after completing nine-and-a-half-year sentence, lawyer says.

A Palestinian who was arrested at age 13 for allegedly taking part in a stabbing attack has been released after spending more than nine years in prison, where he developed severe mental health issues but was repeatedly denied requests for early release.

Ahmad Manasra, now 23, was released on Thursday after completing his nine-and-a-half-year sentence, his lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said.

Manasra, from…

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israeli media reported that a gag order has been issued in a high-profile rape case involving Israel’s Minister of Settlements, Orit Strook.

Shoshana Strook, daughter of Israel’s Minister of Settlements Orit Strook, filed a police complaint in Italy. She accused her parents and one brother of sexually assaulting her. The court has restricted the publication of suspect names and investigation details at the request of those involved.