International call for urgent ceasefire in Sudan after atrocities in Darfur
The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany and Jordan have made a joint call for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, after atrocities and possible human rights violations were revealed in the East African country's Darfur region.
In the statement, the situation in Sudan, embroiled in a bloody civil war for more than two years, was described as "grim" and "apocalyptic" after a paramilitary force took control of the last major city in the country's western region.
United Nations officials have warned that fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have attacked the town of al-Fasher, reportedly killing more than 200 civilians.
D66 declared winner over far-right PVV in Dutch elections
The centrist liberal party D66 has officially emerged victorious over the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), declaring itself the biggest winner of this week's snap parliamentary elections, which were held in a very close race.
With almost all votes counted, the Dutch agency ANP announced that Geert Wilders' party, the PVV, no longer has a chance of overcoming D66, led by Rob Jetten.
Only votes from one municipality, Venray, where a fire in the municipality delayed the counting process, and postal votes from citizens living abroad, the results of which are expected to be announced by Monday, remain to be counted. According to the latest tally, D66 is leading by 15,155 votes.
Zelensky: 170,000 Russian troops stationed in Donetsk are trying to take Pokrovsk
Russia has deployed some 170,000 troops to Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, where it is trying to take control of the Pokrovsk stronghold in a major offensive for battlefield victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday.
"The situation in Pokrovsk is difficult," Zelenskyy said, denying, however, recent Russian claims that the devastated city is surrounded after more than a year of fighting.
He acknowledged that some Russian units have penetrated the city, but stressed that Ukrainian defenders are neutralizing them.
Four Bulgarians sentenced for vandalizing Paris Holocaust Memorial
A Paris court has sentenced four Bulgarian citizens to prison for vandalizing the Paris Holocaust Memorial and several other buildings with “red hands” graffiti in May 2024, an act that judges linked to a coordinated campaign of Russian foreign interference aimed at inciting tensions in France.
The court found the four guilty of vandalism and criminal conspiracy.
Nikolay Ivanov, described as one of the main organizers, was sentenced to four years in prison and a permanent ban on entry to French territory.
Mircho Angelov, tried in absentia as he is still at large, was sentenced to three years in prison and an arrest warrant has been issued for him.
