The first round of Egypt’s presidential poll has ended. The country’s election commission has already started counting the ballots. The commission estimates that around a half of Egypt’s eligible voters took part in the ballot. Over 50 million Egyptians chose between 13 candidates in the first presidential election since last year’s uprising. In case none of those 13 secures a clear majority in the first round, a runoff will be held on June 16 and 17.
Attorney General finds secret NYPD surveillance of Muslims legal
A review by the New York Attorney General into a controversial NYPD surveillance operation that targeted Muslims in New Jersey states that the police actions were perfectly legal. There was no evidence, claims the report, to show that the NYPD violated any civil or criminal laws. Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa is scheduled to meet with New Jersey Muslim leaders later to discuss the review. It was ordered after disclosures that the NYPD had been running an aggressive domestic spying operation in New Jersey, targeting ethnic communities in the state’s largest city.
American sentenced to 20 years in prison for al-Qaeda ties
Barry Walter Bujol Jr., a Texas resident, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for providing material support to al-Qaeda. He received the maximum term stipulated for such cases. The 31-year-old was charged of leaking military documents, GPS equipment and money to the terrorist group. He said he never intended to harm the United States or any American citizens, but only wanted to become a better Muslim.
Negotiations over Iranian nuclear program to continue in Moscow in June
The P5+1 group will continue negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program in Moscow on June 18 and 19. The new round of talks has been arranged after P5+1 and Iran failed to reach an agreement after two days of talks in Baghdad, Wednesday and Thursday. Iran rejected a new package put forward by the six world powers, saying the Western proposal has too many demands while offering little in return.
Bodies of Russians killed in Sukhoi crash flown home from Indonesia
Nine bodies of Russians aboard the Sukhoi Super Jet 100 have been brought back to Moscow from Indonesia. The Russian plane was on a demonstration flight when it crashed into Mount Salak on May 9, killing all 45 people onboard. Experts attribute the tragedy to human error and difficult weather conditions.
35 Al Qaeda-linked militants killed by Yemen army
Yemeni soldiers killed 35 Al Qaeda militants in overnight battles in the restive southern Abyan province, a military official said on Thursday. Al Qaeda fighters launched an attack on the army in the region of Wadi Bani, west of the city of Jaar, he told AFP. The assault sparked fierce clashes. The government troops are continuing with a 13-day offensive to retake extremist strongholds. Despite progress in the army’s advance on Jaar, "it was facing resistance" from the militants, the official said.
Muslim leaders meet over New York police surveillance
Muslim leaders are meeting Thursday with New Jersey's top law enforcement official as they demand a formal investigation into the New York Police Department's surveillance of businesses, mosques and student groups. The leaders will hear the outcome of Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa's fact-finding review, AP reports. New York police officials say the program was legal and justified. However, participants of the meeting want to know if the police violated any criminal or civil rights laws.
Mladic trial to resume on June 25
The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal said on Thursday the trial of former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic would resume on June 25 after a delay. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague said it will call the first witness to testify four weeks later than initially planned, Reuters said. Mladic is accused of genocide for his role in the siege of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and for allegedly orchestrating the massacre in Srebrenica in 1995.
Italy’s Red Brigades deny planting school bomb
A letter purporting to be from Italy's radical left-wing Red Brigades denies that the group planted a bomb that killed a schoolgirl last week, ANSA news agency said on Thursday. The group was responsible for numerous attacks in the 1970s. “Our targets certainly are not students and workers,” reads the letter, as cited by Reuters. “Fighters target others: bosses, the governing class, bankers and prostitutes of the state,” the letter said. Saturday's bombing outside a school in Brindisi killed a 16-year-old girl, and 10 other people were injured.
Kurdish politician convicted in Turkey over ‘militant propaganda’
Kurdish parliamentarian Leyla Zana was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Turkish court on Thursday for "spreading militant propaganda" in a series of speeches she made four years ago. The former Nobel Peace Prize nominee was convicted of disseminating propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Reuters reports. Zana had previously been convicted for the same nine speeches, but her conviction was overturned by an appeals court.
Breivik won’t appeal guilty verdict if deemed sane
Anders Behring Breivik has told an Oslo court on Thursday that he will not appeal a guilty verdict if the judges deem him to be sane. “There is absolutely no reason to appeal if I am declared criminally accountable,” Breivik said, as cited by AFP. The 33-year-old Norwegian wants to be found sane in a trial over the killing of 77 people last July.
Private supply ship completes test in advance of ICC docking
The first private supply ship flew close to the International Space Station on Thursday. The unmanned SpaceX Dragon did not stop as it was completing a critical test in advance of the actual docking. NASA and the SpaceX company reported successful maneuvering, but the test results are still being analyzed, AP said. The linkup is scheduled for Friday.
Pakistan wants face-saving solution to re-open NATO supply routes
Islamabad will re-open supply routes to NATO troops in Afghanistan only after the US offers a politically acceptable formula in talks, according to a Pakistani official. “It is not fair for any country to expect any decisions that could be politically harmful ahead of elections,” the anonymous official told Reuters. The ruling Pakistan People's Party had to take into account widespread anti-American sentiment in the country, he said. Pakistan closed the routes after last November's killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a NATO air attack.
Tunisian prosecutor requests death penalty in dictator trial
The prosecutor of a military tribunal in Tunisia has called for the death penalty for the country's former dictator, AP reports. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is being tried in absentia by both military and civilian courts in Tunisia for alleged crimes committed during his 23-year rule. He was charged over the deaths of protesters in four towns during the early weeks of the uprising that began in December 2010. Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia.
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