CUBA: A television documentary broadcast on Thursday night debunked Washington’s claims of mysterious “sonic attacks” on its embassy staff that led to most US diplomats being withdrawn.

The programme pointed out the lack of evidence for the allegations, with no access to diplomats’ medical records or statements.

“The members of the US delegation said they don’t have evidence that confirms that these reported attacks occurred, and brought up that there was no working theory about the cause of the health problems reported by their diplomats,” it said.
 

IRAQ: The US-led military coalition in Iraq announced a ceasefire between the government and the separatist Kurdistan regional government (KRG) yesterday.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon said the foreign powers were encouraging both sides to ensure that “it’s not just temporary.”

On Thursday, Col Dillon complained that army operations to recover territory seized by the KRG in 2014 were interfering with arms shipments to Syrian Kurdish insurgents.

SOUTH AFRICA: The family of murdered communist Ahmed Timol marked the 46th anniversary yesterday of his killing by apartheid-era police — weeks after a coroner’s inquest reopened.

Mr Timol was thrown to his death from a 10th-floor window of the infamous John Vorster Square police HQ in Johannesburg.

On Wednesday, the South African Communist Party welcomed the National Prosecution Authority’s decision to prosecute those responsible for or complicit in his murder.

DR CONGO: US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Hayley ordered President Joseph Kabila and the electoral commission yesterday to hold elections next year.

The diplomat threatened the loss of the support of “international community” if elections scheduled for 2019 were not brought forward.

Ms Hayley made similar threats to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on a visit to the breakaway state earlier this week.