The monstrous explosion that tore into the early evening of a mid-summer's night this past Tuesday in Beirut is, whatever way you cut it, just the latest manifestation of the multitude of endless avenues of miserable corruption that have plagued the country for generations.
Widely regarded as the greatest ever Asian basketball player, Fadi El Khatib is weeping for Lebanon. The former pro basketball player faces ruin after the port explosion in Beirut on August 4. The father of four has lost his home and business, both shattered and damaged due to the incident.
For almost a century, King Tutankhamun has been the poster boy for Ancient Egypt. His death mask was sublimely, breathtakingly crafted over 3,300 years ago from 24 pounds of beaten gold, with eyeliner of lapis lazuli and eyes of quartz and obsidian.
Footballers who deliberately cough towards an opponent could receive a red card under new Covid-19 guidelines published by the English Football Association (FA).
London clubs Brentford and Fulham will contest what's been dubbed the world's most valuable football match on Tuesday as they battle it out in the Championship play-off final.
After a pair of Jeffrey Epstein docuseries aired in May, Lifetime seemingly weighs in late with "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein." But this two-part production -- which borrows its title from the network's R. Kelly documentaries -- takes on a new dimension with the July arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, the late financier's alleged accomplice in his […]
Netflix has posted a Twitter thread explaining the trans themes in "The Matrix," after one of its co-directors confirmed earlier this week that the movie was an allegory for gender transition.
Disney honors one of its own with "Howard," an emotional documentary tribute to the late "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" lyricist Howard Ashman. Teamed with composer Alan Menken, nobody did more to put the studio's animation back on the map, making his loss to AIDS in the midst of that r […]
"The Secret Garden" is one of the more enduring titles in children's literature, having been adapted for the screen multiple times, including a splendid 1993 version. That's the backdrop to the latest movie based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, which makes puzzling choices in harvesting the material, mostly providing an incentive […]
Seth Rogen plays a double role in "An American Pickle," an HBO Max movie that's a little sweet, a little sour and a whole lot silly. Built around the "Sleeper"-like premise of a man perfectly preserved for 100 years, this adaptation of Simon Rich's novella has some fun contemplating how the modern world would like to a 20th-cent […]
The Kenyan government will dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Lebanese capital to look into reports of mistreatment at the country's consulate, according to a government official.
Nine years of talks and several fragile agreements over how to share the water of the world's longest river were almost thrown out of the window last week — all because of a bout of heavy rain.
A Kenyan community whose children and residents were sickened by lead from a battery smelting plant has been awarded $12 million (1.3 billion Kenyan shillings) following a civil lawsuit.
The cases against President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President Ruto and Journalist Joshua Sang has reached a stage where it should be discontinued.
The cases against 6 Kenyan suspects and withered to 3 accused should not continue owing to reasons well-known to the prosecution. Those in the know have already alerted the prosecution on the reasons that should cause the prosecution to discontinue the cases instead of merely allowing it to continue for the sake of face-saving.
The evidence as known to the prosecution was cooked and witnesses couched on what to say. Some witnesses were offered money and houses of the highest standard before they accepted to testify against the accused persons.
In all these, there is only one person to blame: Mr Ocampo, the man who when he discovered there was no genuine witnesses forthcoming initiated a campaign in his own office, as has been revealed by one of his own prosecutors, to go ahead to prosecute for the sake of saving the court’s name.
Money changed hands and promises of promotions were set in motion. Some were threatened that should they not cooperate, they will be left out of participation to prosecute high level cases in the future. There was also the issue of supporting or not supporting who was to take over as the next Chief Prosecutor after him – Mr Ocampo.
Deputy President Ruto of Kenya joined Kenyans in the diaspora in marking Mashujaa Day last Saturday 19th October. The event took place in Brussels.
In his address Ruto dismissed the ICC cases, saying it is fabrications engineered by local and international players for political reasons in furtherance of their ulterior – hidden motives.
The DP is quoted saying“Although it is my pleasure to be with you my fellow citizens, our President, my friend Joshua Sang and I are facing charges based on the most incredible fabrications in living history,” He continued to say, “It has become increasingly evident that these cases were not preferred on their forensic merit, but in pursuit of ulterior political motives by local and international forces,”.
The Appeal Court will on Friday October 25th, rule on whether the DP will be exempted from being in court all the time as he has done so far since the trial against him started on the 10th of September.
The trial in the case The Prosecutor v. William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang continued on Thursday, 17 October 2013, with the continuation of the testimony of the 4th Prosecution witness, with the pseudonym ‘P-0376’. The witness testified under the protective measures of facial pixilation and voice distortion; parts of the testimony was given in private session, in order to preserve the confidentiality of the identity of the witness.
The trial of William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang opened on 10 September 2013, in the presence of the accused. Mr Ruto and Mr Sang are accused of crimes against humanity (murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population and persecution) allegedly committed in Kenya in the context of the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. The trial is being heard by Trial Chamber V(a), which is composed of Judges Chile Eboe-Osuji (presiding), Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr.
The Deputy President William Ruto and Journalist Arap Sang together with other Kenyans and Members of Parliament pray at the ICC after the day’s trial proceedings were adjourned to the next day.
Some of the members of parliament:
http://www.africanpress.me/ Kenya Members of Parliament From Left to Right: Hon. Benjamin Washiali, Hon. Mary Emaase Otucho, Hon. Eng. Vincent Musyoka Musau and Hon. Hassan Abdi Dukicha all at the ICC to give moral support to Deputy President Ruto and Journalist Sang during their ongoing trial. 17th, October 2013
Case: The Prosecutor v. William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang
The adjournment of the trial is extended up to Tuesday, 1 October 2013, and the hearings in this case will resume on Wednesday, 2 October, with the continuation of the witness’s testimony, in the presence of the accused. This is to permit Mr Ruto to attend the inter-denominational service scheduled for Tuesday, 1 October.
Hearings will then continue on the week of 7-11 October 2013, contrary to what was initially scheduled (except for 9 October due to other hearings to take place in other ICC cases at the ICC’s premises).
The adjournment was due to the request by the defence in order to allow the accused Deputy President to travel back to Kenya and assist President Uhuru Kenyatta in dealing with the crisis brought about by Al Shabaab terrorists now holding hostages inside Westgate Mall in Nairobi for the third day.
Reports coming out frm the government confirm 62 deaths and 175 injured.
Today, 23 September 2013, Trial Chamber V (a) of the International Criminal Court consisting of judge Chile Eboe – Osuji (presiding judge), Judge Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Judge Robert Fremr held a hearing on the request made by the Defence of Mr Ruto to adjourn the trial and excuse the accused from his presence at trial for a limited period of time.
In light of the circumstances in Kenya and the views heard during the hearing, the Chamber excused Mr Ruto from the proceedings. For the moment the excusal is permitted for one week only, subject to any further requests that Defence counsel may make if need be to extend it.
Trial Chamber V (a) has also decided to temporarily adjourn hearings in the Ruto and Sang trial, not continuing to hear the testimony of 536 in the absence of Mr Ruto.
The Defence for Mr Ruto filed a request to the Appeals Chamber for reconsideration of its decision on suspensive effect regarding the Prosecutor’s appeal of the decision excusing Mr Ruto from continuous presence at trial.
The trial is adjourned pending either the Appeals Chamber’s decision on the Defence’s urgent request or the expiration of the one-week excusal period, whichever comes earlier.
On 18 June 2013, Trial Chamber V(a) had issued a decision excusing Mr Ruto from being continuously physically present at trial, except for specified hearings. However the Prosecutor appealed this decision and the Appeals Chamber gave the Prosecutor’s request suspensive effect until a final decision on this appeal is made. Mr Ruto was requested to be present during all trial hearings pending the final determination on the Prosecutor’s appeal.
The Kenya case by ICCprosecutor against Mr Ruto and Mr sang will soon collapse if the prosecution does not change tact and be serious with whatever evidence they have.
Kenyan leaders were present in the Hague when the ICC case commenced against the Deputy President William Ruto and Mr Joshua Arap Sang on the 10th of September. The case has however been adjourned to the 17th of september because the prosecution failed to have their first witnesses ready for the court.
Kenya Case at the ICC – Honourable MP Aden Duale Speaks
Kenyan leaders at the ICC to give moral support to the accused persons
Kenyan leaders at the ICC to give moral support to the accused persons
Lawyer for Mr William Ruto, Mr Karim Khan addressing the Press
Deputy President William Ruto‘s and Joshua Sang‘s case adjourned today due to lack of witnesses. The court was not happy but took the decision because there was no other way.
This sends a message that the prosecution has witnesses that they do not rely on. This may soon give the defence ammunition to puncture the prosecution’s case. Hon Ruto was expected to travel back to Kenya and will avail himself next Tuesday the 17 September to the court.
DRAMA AT THE ICC, as the case against Deputy President of Kenya William Ruto and Joshua Sang: Fatou Bensouda seeks adjournment for a week due to lack of witnesses:
Today the 10th of September, the case against Deputy President William Ruto opened in the Hague.
Failure by prosecution witnesses lined up for this week to turn up forces the chest-thumbing prosecutor to request the court for one week adjournment.
After opening statements by the prosecution, the Victim’s lawyer and the Defence, the prosecutor asked the court for adjournment until next Tuesday the 17th September because she lacks witnesses. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the court that she was not able to proceed due to lack of witnesses for now. She told the court that she hopes by next Tuesday she will be able to get some witnesses.
This is very surprising and a shock to many observers who say the prosecution is playing a loosing game. How can they not have even one witness to start with and they have known all along that the case was to start today?.
The Defence lawyer for Ruto, Mr Karim Khan hammered the prosecution accusing the office of laxity during the investigation, saying they only relied on NGOs and their manufactured reports instead of doing their own investigation..
Kenyans who gave a warm sent off to Ruto yesterday Monday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi when he flew to the Hague where he was expected to stay for 3 weeks will be shocked to see him back home after only two nights in the Hague.
The prosecution had better accept that the case is very weak, collapsing and do the honourable thing – to withdraw the charges against the Kenyans.
Tomorrow Wednesday, the case will resume at 09.30 am European Time and will adjourn at 14.00, until Tuesday next week, to give time to the prosecutor to look for witnesses.
In this edition of “Ask the Court”: Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson of the International Criminal Court (ICC), answers questions concerning the situation in Kenya, cooperation, proceedings and witnesses in the Kenya cases.
