US President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to remove Sudan from the state sponsor of terrorism list after Khartoum pays the victims of past terrorist attacks $335 million.
“New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 million to US terror victims and families,” Mr Trump announced on Twitter.
“Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the state sponsors of terrorism list.”
The money would compensate the families of victims from the 1998 Al Qaeda attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the terrorist group's 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
Sudan’s former government under Omar Al Bashir harboured Al Qaeda members complicit in the bombings.
Victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks have also filed lawsuits against Sudan.
The Sudanese military removed Al Bashir last year after months of popular protests against his decades-long rule, prompting calls for Washington to remove Khartoum from the blacklist.
The US first designated Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993. The three other countries on the list are Iran, Syria and North Korea.
Sudan’s inclusion bars Khartoum from receiving foreign assistance as the country grapples with a democratic transition, the Covid-19 pandemic and a severe economic crisis.
Sudan's Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok. welcomed the US President's message.
"Today, as we approach the disposal of the heaviest legacy of the dictatorial regime, we affirm once again that the Sudanese people are a peace-loving people and have never been supportive of terrorism," Mr Hamdok wrote.
The Trump administration has also pushed Sudan to follow the lead of the UAE and Bahrain in normalising relations with Israel.
Former Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Haider Badawi said in August that Khartoum was considering a peace agreement with Israel.
Khartoum immediately denied the claim and dismissed Mr Badawi from his post.
Mr Hamdok repeated his opposition to normalising relations with Israel as recently as last week.
He said his transitional government did not have the mandate to decide on such large foreign policy issues.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Mr Hamdok in August to discuss a possible pact with Israel.
And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Uganda in February for talks with Sudanese Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, chairman of the military-civilian Sovereignty Council.
Shortly after that meeting, Sudan began allowing Israeli planes to fly in its airspace.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
More on animal trafficking
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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