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Tariq Ramadan: Islam scholar cleared of Swiss rape charges

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Tariq Ramadan, a renowned Islamic studies scholar and Swiss citizen, has been acquitted of charges of rape and sexual coercion by a Swiss court. The case was brought forward by a Swiss woman who claimed that Ramadan had raped her in a Geneva hotel in 2008. Ramadan, the grandson of the founder of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, denied all the charges but admitted to having met the woman. If convicted, he could have faced up to three years in prison.

Ramadan had gained recognition as a prominent voice in Islamic thought, condemning terrorism and advocating for human rights. He faced criticism from some quarters, particularly in France, where he was accused of anti-Semitism by leading academics. In 2017, Ramadan’s reputation suffered a blow when he was accused of rape by a French woman, leading to more women coming forward with similar allegations. By 2020, he faced multiple charges of rape in France and Switzerland, spending nine months in detention in France before being released on probation.

The Swiss trial marked the first to go to court, and tension was palpable in the Geneva courtroom. Ramadan’s accuser, using the pseudonym Brigitte, requested a screen to be put up so she would not have to face the man she accused of rape. She provided a detailed account of the alleged attack, expressing fear for her life. Ramadan admitted inviting her to his hotel room but denied any violence, asserting that the accusations against him were politically motivated attempts to discredit him.

Throughout the trial, Ramadan’s family, as well as prominent figures like Noam Chomsky and Ken Loach, supported his claim of being unfairly targeted. However, the prosecution argued that Brigitte could not have fabricated the detailed account of the alleged attack. Ramadan’s defense lawyer maintained his client’s innocence, describing the charges as baseless.

After a week of deliberation, the three Swiss judges found Ramadan not guilty. While he has been cleared in Switzerland, the possibility of further trials looms, as French prosecutors are still evaluating whether charges should be brought against him in France. Ramadan continues to assert his innocence in all cases and intends to clear his name.

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France bans short-haul flights to cut carbon emissions

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The French government has implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights in situations where there are train alternatives available, as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This law took effect two years after lawmakers initially voted to end routes where the same journey could be completed by train within two-and-a-half hours. As a result, air travel between cities like Paris, Nantes, Lyon, and Bordeaux will be largely prohibited, while connecting flights are not affected by the ban.

Critics of the measure have referred to it as merely a symbolic gesture. Laurent Donceel, the interim head of the industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E), expressed his belief that these bans would only have minimal effects on reducing CO2 emissions. He suggested that governments should instead focus on supporting more substantial and practical solutions to address the issue.

The global airline industry has already experienced significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of flights in 2020 decreasing by almost 42% compared to 2019, as reported by Flightradar24.

Initially, France’s Citizens’ Convention on Climate, formed by President Emmanuel Macron in 2019 and consisting of 150 members of the public, proposed eliminating plane journeys where train alternatives of under four hours were available. However, this limit was reduced to two-and-a-half hours following objections from certain regions and the airline Air France-KLM.

French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir had previously urged lawmakers to maintain the four-hour limit, highlighting that planes emit 77 times more CO2 per passenger than trains on these routes, despite trains being cheaper and the time difference being only 40 minutes. The group also called for safeguards to prevent the French national railway company, SNCF, from raising prices artificially or diminishing the quality of rail services.

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Three held in Spain over Vinicius Jr racial abuse during match

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Three individuals have been arrested by Spanish police in connection with racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid footballer Vinicius Jr during a recent match. The detained individuals are between the ages of 18 and 21, as reported by the police on Twitter. Vinicius Jr, who is black, has been subjected to racist abuse on multiple occasions throughout the season, and the latest incident during an away match against Valencia has sparked outrage in Spain and Brazil.

During the match, Vinicius reported the abusive behavior of opposition fans to the referee, leading to a temporary pause in the game. Following the match, Vinicius expressed his frustration, stating that “La Liga belongs to racists.” La Liga president Javier Tebas responded on Twitter, mentioning that Vinicius had failed to attend two meetings to discuss how the league could address racism and suggesting that proper information is necessary before criticizing and slandering La Liga. On the other hand, Luis Rubiales, the football federation chief, acknowledged that Spanish football has a serious racism problem that affects not only an individual but also entire teams, fan bases, clubs, and the country as a whole.

Spanish prosecutors will now determine whether to initiate a criminal investigation into the matter. The Brazilian government has expressed its outrage at the incident and has requested urgent meetings with Spanish ministers, prosecutors, and the football federation.

In a separate incident in January, four individuals were detained by Spanish police for hanging an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge in Madrid before a match between Real Madrid and their local rivals, Atletico Madrid. The effigy was suspended by its neck with a banner stating, “Madrid hates Real.”

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Ukraine war: Nato watches Russian ‘Zombies’ in Estonia

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In a small crew room near the runway of Estonia’s Amari airbase, members of the Quick Reaction Force for Nato’s Baltic Air Policing mission are gathered. They were watching old episodes of Friends when they receive an alert about a suspicious Russian aircraft, referred to as a “Zombie.” The crew quickly moves to the Operations Room where they analyze incoming data on screens and digital maps marked as “Nato Secret.”

The RAF’s IX Squadron of Typhoon fighter jets, based at Amari airbase, has taken over the mission from Germany’s Richthofen Squadron. Nato’s focus has shifted to securing its eastern borders due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The goal is to deter Russia from further invasions, particularly targeting Nato countries like the Baltic states or Poland.

A “Zombie” aircraft refers to a Russian plane that is not following standard procedures, such as filing a flight plan, communicating with air traffic control, or responding to communication attempts. The Typhoon pilots scramble to their aircraft whenever an alarm sounds, responding as if it were a real threat. They quickly get airborne and intercept the aircraft.

The Baltic Sea is bordered by seven Nato members, soon to be eight with Finland’s inclusion. However, Russia still maintains strategic positions in the Baltic region, with St Petersburg and the exclave of Kaliningrad. Russian aircraft frequently fly between these bases, keeping Nato forces on high alert.

When intercepting the Russian aircraft, the Typhoon pilots identify them, receive further instructions from the Operations Center, and respond accordingly. While the Rules of Engagement are classified, the pilots often take photographs of the intercepted aircraft as they escort them past Nato airspace.

The RAF pilots have conducted eight interception missions, all against Russian aircraft. The illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia has heightened the importance of Baltic air policing. Efforts are also being made to bolster ground forces in the region to deter potential Russian aggression.

Nato’s “enhanced forward presence” policy includes a multinational Battle Group based in northern Estonia. It consists of British-led forces, including main battle tanks, rocket systems, helicopters, and French Foreign Legionnaires. This presence acts as a deterrent, with the hope of avoiding escalation.

However, the current forces in place are relatively small compared to Russia’s capabilities. Nato acknowledges that its presence in Estonia would act as a “tripwire,” triggering rapid reinforcement if Russian forces were to advance westward. If necessary, Nato forces would move east and engage in combat with Russia.

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Spanish Football has Racism Problem, says Madrid Boss

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Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has spoken out against racism in La Liga after being subjected to racial abuse by opposition fans during a match against Valencia. Vinicius was sent off for violent conduct during the game, but his main concern was the racism he experienced. He took to Instagram to express his frustration, stating that racism is normalized in La Liga and that the championship now belongs to racists. He apologized to the Spaniards who do not agree with his view but stated that in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists due to the incidents that occur regularly in the league.

Valencia has identified two fans who racially abused Vinicius and is expected to impose permanent stadium bans on them. La Liga has promised to investigate the incidents and take appropriate legal action if necessary. The league’s president, Javier Tebas, criticized Vinicius for not attending a meeting to discuss the issue of racism, but the player responded by asking for actions and punishments against the racists rather than targeting him.

During the match, Vinicius attempted to point out the fans who were abusing him, leading to a temporary pause in the game. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his disappointment, stating that the entire stadium chanting racist slurs is unacceptable, and the match should have been stopped. Ancelotti called for an end to racism in football and said that Vinicius’ reaction was understandable given the circumstances.

Real Madrid issued a statement condemning the racist abuse suffered by Vinicius and filed a complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office, considering such attacks as hate crimes. They are seeking an investigation to determine the responsible parties.

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Greek election: Centre-right Mitsotakis hails big win but wants majority

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the conservative Prime Minister of Greece, has won the national elections with his New Democracy party. The party secured almost 41% of the vote, falling just five seats short of a majority. Mitsotakis hailed the victory as a “political earthquake.” His center-left rival, Alexis Tsipras of the Syriza party, congratulated him, although his own party had a poor result of 20%.

Mitsotakis stated that the election result showed that the Greek people had given his party a mandate for a four-year government. He emphasized that the people wanted a Greece governed by a majority government led by New Democracy without the assistance of other parties.

The initial exit poll indicated the unexpectedly large scale of New Democracy’s victory, and as the results emerged, it became clear that pre-election polls had underestimated the significant margin between the two main parties. New Democracy won 146 seats, just five short of the 151 required for a majority.

Mitsotakis indicated in his victory speech that he would not seek to form a coalition government but would opt for a second election in late June. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou would offer him a mandate to form a coalition, which he is likely to refuse. If Mitsotakis refuses, the president will pass the mandate to the next two parties, and if that fails, a caretaker government will be arranged until new elections.

The result was a significant setback for Alexis Tsipras, who came to power in 2015 campaigning against international bailouts and austerity measures but ultimately agreed to creditors’ demands. The center-right has governed Greece for the past four years, and Mitsotakis campaigned on the promise of continuing the country’s economic growth.

The outcome of the elections was seen as a positive response from Greeks, who believed that Mitsotakis was the most trustworthy leader to steer the Greek economy forward and build on recent growth.

In the previous elections, winning 41% of the vote would have been enough to secure a majority in Greece’s 300-seat parliament. However, the rules have changed, and now a winning party requires more than 45% to secure a majority due to the elimination of a 50-seat bonus in the first round. This makes a second election more likely.

Mitsotakis will likely aim to secure the extra seats he would be entitled to if he wins the second election, which would provide him with four years in power and the ability to form a cabinet of his choice. If he considers coalition talks, Pasok, the socialist rival of Syriza, would be a potential partner as one of the election’s winners with 11.5% of the vote. However, such talks may be complicated due to a wiretap scandal involving Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis comes from a prominent Greek political family. His father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, served as prime minister in the early 1990s, his sister Dora Bakoyannis was a foreign minister, and his nephew, Kostas Bakoyannis, is the current mayor of Athens.

A tragic rail accident that occurred in February, resulting in the death of 57 people, did not have an apparent impact on the election result. Opposition parties had highlighted the accident as a symptom of a dysfunctional state that had suffered from years of economic crisis and under-investment.

Initial analysis of voting by Greek TV suggested that among voters aged 17-24, 31.5% supported New Democracy, which was almost three points higher than the support for Syriza. Some first-time voters expressed their desire for something new and different, leading them to vote for Syriza.

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Bakhmut: Zelensky says city is destroyed as Russia claims victory

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Based on the information provided, the situation in Bakhmut, Ukraine, is uncertain and contradictory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia, but he also acknowledged that the city has been destroyed and its infrastructure severely damaged. He expressed his sorrow over the situation and mentioned that Bakhmut remains in the hearts of the Ukrainian people.

On the other hand, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner claimed to have captured the city, with its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appearing in a video alongside his fighters, asserting control over the entire city. Russian President Vladimir Putin also stated that Russia had won the battle for Bakhmut and that deserving troops would receive state awards.

However, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Eastern Operational Command reported that Ukraine still controlled several buildings in the south-west of Bakhmut and was preparing for a counterattack. He mentioned that Ukrainian forces were flanking Russian troops and creating conditions for a pushback.

The situation on the ground appears to be highly volatile, with conflicting reports from different sources. It is unclear whether Bakhmut is fully under Russian control or if Ukrainian forces still maintain a presence in parts of the city. The extent of the destruction and the number of casualties is also alarming, with reports of heavy losses on both sides.

Given the contradictory information and ongoing conflict, it is essential to rely on updated and verified sources for the most accurate and reliable information regarding the situation in Bakhmut.

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G7 summit: Zelensky accuses some Arab leaders of ‘blind eye’ to war ahead of Japan trip

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Ahead of his visit to the G7 summit in Japan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused certain Arab leaders of turning a blind eye to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He made these comments during an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia. While Syria openly supported Russia’s invasion, other Arab League nations aimed to maintain good relations with Moscow. However, Zelensky urged these states to reflect on their ties with Russia and not ignore the illegal annexations and prisoner of war situations. Zelensky emphasized the importance of independence and invited everyone to take an honest look at the situation. He also invoked the Arab world’s own history of invasion and occupation to highlight Ukraine’s defense against colonizers and imperialists.

Saudi Arabia, as the host nation, has taken a delicate stance on the conflict. It supported a UN resolution calling for Russia’s troop withdrawal and pledged $400 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. However, it has resisted imposing sanctions on Russia and considers itself neutral in the conflict. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman renewed Saudi Arabia’s offer to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the fighting.

Zelensky also criticized Iran, which is not a member of the Arab League, for allegedly supplying Shahed drones to Russia. Iran denies these allegations.

Zelensky’s office confirmed his travel from Saudi Arabia to the G7 summit in Japan. He is expected to participate in the leaders’ session and hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Additionally, Zelensky’s office stated that he would meet with US President Joe Biden in Japan in the coming days.

The G7 summit began with a condemnation of Russia and the announcement of further sanctions. In addition to the G7 member countries (the US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Japan), eight other countries, including Australia and India, were invited to participate this year.

The upcoming trip to Japan for the G7 summit will mark the furthest distance Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has traveled from Kyiv since the war began in February 2022. In recent days, Zelensky has visited Italy, Germany, France, and the UK, where he secured promises of military support. He continues to urge allies to provide advanced fighter jets to Ukraine, but no country has committed to directly supplying them thus far.

During his visit to Hiroshima, Zelensky will likely attempt to persuade cautious leaders, such as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to provide aid. Zelensky aims to secure weapons deals and promises of lethal weapons, including a commitment from Japan. John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group think tank, suggests that Zelensky’s personal presence at the summit gives him an opportunity to ensure he returns to Kyiv with tangible results and arms deals.

While Japan has shown significant sympathy towards Ukraine, its strict military laws have limited its assistance to non-lethal defense equipment thus far.

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Murder plot trial puts Latvia bank system in focus

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In Latvia, a businessman is scheduled to appear in court on Saturday for a murder plot trial that may expose the questionable history of the country’s banking system. Mihails Ulmans, who partially owns LPB bank, and his associate Aleksandrs Babenko are accused of paying the killer of Martins Bunkus, an insolvency lawyer who had allegedly uncovered evidence of money laundering at the bank. The murder occurred in 2018, and both defendants deny any involvement.

According to prosecutors, Mr. Bunkus discovered evidence of money laundering involving Ulmans and Babenko while dealing with another company’s liquidation. He reported his concerns to Latvian financial crime authorities. In September 2016, there was an unsuccessful attempt on Bunkus’s life, but he was later shot dead in broad daylight during rush hour in May 2018. The assailants concealed a Kalashnikov rifle under a tent on a cargo trailer, which they towed behind a van, and fired multiple rounds into Bunkus’s car.

Ulman and Babenko were arrested in May 2022, four years after the murder took place, and have been in custody since then. Babenko’s defense team argues that his rights have been violated by the prolonged detention.

The prosecution alleges that the person who arranged the murder was promised €100,000 (£86,850), and the killer was promised €200,000. Another individual, a Russian national, is also on trial for carrying out the murder. The trial will be presided over by a judge without a jury, following Latvia’s common practice.

Apart from his partial ownership of LPB, Ulmans has investments in various sectors, including duty-free shops in Russian airports and customs warehouses.

This case is not the first time allegations of money laundering in the Latvian banking system have surfaced. ABLV, the country’s third-largest bank, went into voluntary liquidation in 2018 following accusations by the US Treasury of various offenses, including sanctions breaches. In the same year, LPB itself was fined €2.2m (£1.9m) for failing to address regulatory issues dating back to 2016. In response, Latvia has implemented extensive reforms to combat the influx of illicit funds, primarily from Russia.

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West Ham players confront AZ Alkmaar fans after ‘awful scenes’ as family section attacked

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During the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg between West Ham and AZ Alkmaar, a group of AZ Alkmaar fans attacked an area where friends and family of the West Ham players were watching the match. West Ham players, including Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma, intervened and tried to stop the clashes.

BBC commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball witnessed the incidents and described punches being thrown by the AZ fans. The families of the players were unharmed. Dutch police are investigating the footage of the incident, but no arrests have been made. UEFA will review reports of the incidents to determine any necessary action. West Ham manager David Moyes expressed his concern for the safety of the players’ families and friends.

The players themselves were angered by the events, and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and midfielder Pablo Fornals voiced their worries about the well-being of the families. AZ may face sanctions as a result of the incident. West Ham won the match 1-0 and advanced to their first major European final since 1976.

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