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‘Sudan must pay US embassy attack victims’

Sudan is required to pay punitive damages to some of the victims of the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania carried out by al-Qaeda, the US Supreme Court has ruled.

More than 200 people died and thousands were injured in the attacks.

Sudan was accused of giving al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden technical and financial support.

The Supreme Court ruling applies to US nationals, embassy employees and contractors.

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The ruling comes at a time when Sudan’s new government is pushing to be removed from the US’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The unanimous decision by the Supreme Court means that about $800m (£650m) out of the more than $4bn that was awarded in punitive damages in 2011 has been reinstated, Christopher Curran, who was representing Sudan, is quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying.

Nine years ago, the judge in the Federal District Court in Washington said that Sudan should pay roughly $6bn in compensation as well as the $4bn in punitive damages, the New York Times reports.

In 2017, Sudan successfully challenged the ruling on the punitive damages arguing that they were awarded under a 2008 amendment to a law that could not be applied to something that happened 20 years earlier.

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The Supreme Court decided on Monday that Congress had said it was possible for it to be used retrospectively.

“As always, Sudan expresses sympathy for the victims of the acts of terrorism at issue, but reaffirms that it was not involved in any wrongdoing in connection with those acts,” Mr Curran said.

The case of punitive damages for Kenyans and other nationals who were not directly employed by the embassies, as well as non-US relatives of any of those injured or killed in the attacks, was referred back to a lower court.

Matthew McGill, who was representing some of the victims, said: “We are hopeful that this soon will lead Sudan to reach a just and equitable resolution with its victims.”

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The $6bn compensation was not in dispute in this case and in February it was reported that Sudan was in negotiations over the sum to be paid.

At that time, Sudan had agreed to compensate the families of 17 US sailors who died when their ship, the USS Cole, was bombed by al-Qaeda at a port in Yemen in 2000. -BBC

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 Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion

•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student

•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student

 Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Direc­tor of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.

Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.

Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.

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He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their fam­ilies to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.

He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.

The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental aware­ness and promote a sense of responsibili­ty among young people.

Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, includ­ing children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.

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He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.

He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.

Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.

He explained that household applianc­es such as refrigerators and air condi­tioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.

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Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.

To address this, he urged appliance re­pairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua

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 STAR-Ghana Foundation, IOM Ghana complete livelihood project in U/E Region

• Some hard working women on the field

Some hard working women on the field

 The Star-Ghana Foundation, in collaboration with the Interna­tional Organisation for Migra­tion (IOM) Ghana, have successfully concluded the Community Livelihood Enhancement Project.

The initiative, which run from April to August, aims to bolster social cohesion and promote peace in the border communities of Namoo and Pulmakom.

Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of STAR-Ghana Foundation, emphasised the project’s focus on vulnerable groups, partic­ularly women, youth, and men who are susceptible to radicalisation and violent extremism.

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At the project’s handing-over cer­emony, Alhaji Amadu noted that the construction of two fenced gardens, each measuring 25m by 25m, and fitted with mechanised boreholes were developed to support 55 indi­viduals by offering them plots of land for the dry season farming, to ensure sustainable income sources for the beneficiaries.

According to him, two mechanised boreholes, two 5000-litre water stor­age tanks, and generator sets were provided to ensure a reliable water supply for both the community and the farms.

This infrastructure is expected to be a vital asset, especially during the dry season, improving agricultural productivity and overall community well-being.

To further empower the benefi­ciaries, 40 tins of seeds—including onion, pepper, tomato, and hibiscus— were distributed to enable successful dry season farming in a bid to im­prove food security in the region.

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Madam Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, Chief of Mission for IOM Ghana, remarked on the broader impact of the project, stating, “This initiative marks a sig­nificant step in addressing communal insecurity and enhancing livelihoods in these vulnerable border communi­ties.”

She praised the active participa­tion of women in the project, com­mending them for viewing the ini­tiative as their own and for working collectively to ensure its success and urged the women to continue to use the platform to become financially independent.

Mr John Theodore Azam, repre­senting the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, commended STAR-Ghana and IOM Ghana for the timely intervention, acknowledg­ing the positive impact the project has already made in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the border communities.

The Community Livelihood En­hancement Project forms part of broader efforts by STAR-Ghana Foun­dation and IOM Ghana to address the root causes of instability and promote lasting peace in vulnerable border communities across the region

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 From Geoffrey Buta,

Namoo, Upper East Region

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