Taliban declare start of spring offensive amid talks with US
AP, Kabul
The Taliban announced Friday the start of their spring offensive despite talking peace with the United States and ahead of a significant gathering of Afghans meant to discuss resolutions to the protracted war and an eventual withdrawal of American troops from the country.
The insurgents released a lengthy missive in five languages, including English, saying the fighting would continue while foreign forces remain in Afghanistan.
Disease outbreaks feared in war-hit Libya
Reuters, Geneva
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday that it feared outbreaks of infectious diseases due to dirty water and people fleeing fighting nearing Tripoli, where it has about two weeks of emergency supplies for hospitals and health facilities.
After a week of fighting, 75 people have been killed and 323 wounded, including seven civilians killed and 10 wounded, Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO representative in Libya, told a Geneva news briefing by telephone from Tripoli.
US lawyer Avenatti indicted on theft and fraud charges
AFP, Los Angeles
Michael Avenatti, the flamboyant lawyer who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal battle with US President Donald Trump, has been indicted on charges of theft, fraud and tax evasion, authorities said Thursday.
Prosecutors say Avenatti stole millions of dollars from his own clients and kept millions of dollars in employment taxes that his coffee company should have paid to the Internal Revenue Service.
Anti-Roma protests take place in Bulgarian city
AP, Sofia
Protests against the Roma community have taken place in the northern Bulgarian city of Gabrovo, sparked by an alleged attack by Roma men on a shopkeeper. Nine people were arrested and three reported injured Thursday evening during the latest clashes between protesters and police. Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, a former Gabrovo mayor, visited the city to appeal for calm, but was booed by the crowd.
UN rights office says Assange must get fair trial
Reuters, Geneva
The United Nations human rights office on Friday urged judicial authorities to ensure that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, currently in British custody and the subject of an extradition request from United States, gets a fair trial.
Assange was arrested on Thursday in London when Ecuador revoked his diplomatic asylum after seven years of being holed up its embassy. “We expect all the relevant authorities to ensure Mr Assange’s right to a fair trial is upheld by authorities, including in any extradition proceedings that may take place,” U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a Geneva news briefing.
