India evacuates over 180 nationals from Sudan as coronavirus travel bans continue

Indian nationals on their way to the repatriation flight. (SUNA)
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Updated 04 June 2020
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India evacuates over 180 nationals from Sudan as coronavirus travel bans continue

  • The stranded nationals included a pregnant woman and eight elderly Indians
  • They were repatriated through Dubai on a FlyDubai plane

DUBAI: The Indian Embassy in Khartoum announced the evacuation of 189 nationals stranded in Sudan due to COVID-19 travel regulations, Sudan’s state news agency SUNA reported.
In a statement the embassy expressed its gratitude to the various government ministries and the Sudanese – as well as the national civil aviation authority and immigration authorities at Khartoum international airport for the process.
The stranded nationals included a pregnant woman and eight elderly Indians who were repatriated to New Delhi through Dubai on a FlyDubai airplane.
So far, Sudan has reported 5,499 coronavirus infections, 314 deaths and 1,711 recovered patients.


Three more UK pro-Palestinian activists end hunger strike

Updated 58 min 54 sec ago
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Three more UK pro-Palestinian activists end hunger strike

  • The detainees are due to stand trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Action campaign group before it was banned under anti-terrorism laws

LONDON: Three detained pro-Palestinian activists awaiting trial in the UK have ended their hunger strike after 73 days, a campaign group said.
The three began “refeeding” on Wednesday, Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement late on Wednesday.
The decision leaves just one person still on hunger strike who started six days ago, it confirmed to AFP. Four others called off their hunger strike earlier.
The detainees are due to stand trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Action campaign group before it was banned under anti-terrorism laws.
They deny the charges.
The group, aged 20-31, launched their hunger strike in November in protest at their treatment and called for their release from prison on bail as they await trial.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously said in parliament that all “rules and procedures” were being followed in their cases.
His government outlawed Palestine Action in July after activists, protesting the war in Gaza, broke into a UK air force base and caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage.
Some of those on hunger strike are charged in relation to that incident.
The inmates’ demands included that the government lift its Palestine Action ban and close an Israel-linked defense firm.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori challenged the ban last July, and High Court judges are expected to rule at a later date on whether to uphold the prohibition.