Settlement deal closes USS Cole bombing case, says Sudan
April 6, 2020, 3:31 pm

Settlement deal closes USS Cole bombing case, says Sudan

This undated photo released on 27 October 2000 by the National Security News Service shows US sailors on deck and damage to the USS Cole after a terrorist attack on 12 October. (AFP)

Sudan’s justice ministry said Monday it has finalized a settlement with families of the victims of the USS Cole bombing, ending long-running litigation in US courts. says Sudan

Khartoum agreed in February to compensate the families of 17 American sailors who were killed in a suicide bombing targeting their navy destroyer in Yemen’s Aden harbor in 2000, an attack that was later claimed by al-Qaeda.

A US court held Sudan responsible for the attack and ordered compensation, finding that the bombers were trained in the country.

In March 2019, the US Supreme Court overturned the ruling on procedural grounds.

On Monday, Sudan’s justice ministry said it had submitted on Friday a petition alongside families who pursued the case with the relevant US court to end pending lawsuits against Sudan regarding the USS Cole.

“The settlement procedures have now been completed in such a way that would permanently scrap lawsuits,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry did not give further details on the deal or the amount of compensation.

Khartoum has always denied the charges but by agreeing to a settlement, Sudan has fulfilled a key condition set by the United States to remove it from Washington’s state sponsors of terrorism list.

Sudan has been on Washington’s blacklist since 1993 over its alleged support of radical groups, a designation that impeded foreign investment.

The country hosted al-Qaeda’s late leader Osama Bin Laden from 1992 until 1996. says Sudan

Since the ouster of Omar al-Bashir last April, Sudan has been in talks with the US over its removal from the blacklist in a bid to revive the country’s ailing economy.

Sudan’s justice ministry said the settlement “clearly states that Sudan was not responsible for the attack of the USS Cole... was only to serve Sudan’s strategic interest.” levant

source: AFP levant

In Lebanon, coronavirus presents a political lifeline for the sectarian-based elite Coronavirus: Up to half a million Iranians could be infected says official

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.