Author name: fatih

Hunger crisis worsens in Nigeria amid Boko Haram conflict

Africa /

Humanitarian workers and locals are raising alarms over worsening hunger and malnutrition among internally displaced people in northeastern Nigeria, where the Boko Haram conflict has persisted since 2009. Although organizations like the World Food Program are providing food and essential supplies, many individuals remain inaccessible to aid, primarily located in conflict hotspots and hard-to-reach areas. Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown jihadist group, initiated its insurgency in 2009 with the aim of establishing Islamic Sharia law in the country. The violence has resulted in at least 35,000 deaths and displaced 2.1 million people, according to U.N. reports. During her visit to Nigeria, Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Program, traveled to Damasak, a community near the frontlines, to meet with humanitarian workers and locals receiving aid. “How do I take food from the hungry and give it to the starving? Because that’s the choices I have to make now,” McCain remarked. She also engaged with government leaders in Borno, assuring them of the U.N. food agency’s ongoing support.

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Gaza crisis like post-WWII Japan: Atomic bomb survivor

World /

 The situation with children in the Gaza Strip is similar to Japan at the end of World War II, Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, a group of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, said Friday. “In Gaza, bleeding children are being held (by their parents). It’s like in Japan 80 years ago,” Mimaki said at a news conference in Tokyo. “Children in Hiroshima and Nagasaki lost their fathers in the war and their mothers in the bombings. They became orphans.” Mimaki warned that nuclear weapons do not bring peace. “It has been said that because of nuclear weapons, the world maintains peace. But nuclear weapons can be used by terrorists,” he said. “If Russia uses them against Ukraine, or Israel against Gaza, it won’t stop there.” Mimaki was 3 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, killing 140,000 victims. Three days later, another bomb hit Nagasaki, killing an additional 70,000. Japan surrendered Aug.t 15, 1945, ending World War II. This Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement representing survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, known as Hibakusha. Nihon Hidankyo, founded in 1956, has been a voice for atomic bomb survivors, providing testimony of the horrors of nuclear warfare and advocating for the total abolition of nuclear weapons.

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24 countries’ leaders to come to BRICS summit 

World /

Yuri Ushakov, Russia’s foreign affairs adviser, announced Thursday that 24 leaders have confirmed their attendance at the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan later this month. Ushakov specified that leaders from nine member states will be present, including Xi Jinping of China, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran. He noted that invitations were extended to 38 countries, encompassing both member states and nations interested in collaborating with BRICS, during a news briefing in Moscow. The BRICS alliance, established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, welcomed South Africa in 2010 and has recently expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia is considering joining, while Azerbaijan has submitted a formal application.

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African Union Responds to Israel’s ‘unwanted’ Guterres decla...

Africa /

One hundred four UN member countries and the African Union have voiced strong concern over Israel’s declaration of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as an “unwanted person,” expressing their support for him. The coalition, which includes Turkey, issued a letter highlighting that Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz’s labeling of Guterres as “unwanted” undermines the UN’s capacity to fulfill its mission. The letter stressed that mediation and humanitarian assistance in the Middle East are essential responsibilities of the UN. It underscored the vital role of the Secretary-General during periods of heightened tension, affirming, “We want to reiterate our full support and confidence in the Secretary-General and his work.” The letter also expressed trust in Guterres’s dedication to peace, security, and international law, urging all parties to engage in constructive dialogue with the UN. “We demand respect for the UN’s leadership and mission,” the letter stated, calling for actions that support the UN’s vital role and contribute to a peaceful resolution of the Middle Eastern crisis. In a related development, Israel had designated Guterres as an “unwanted person,” announcing a ban on his entry into the country after he called for a reduction of tensions in the region. On October 1, it was claimed that Guterres failed to mention Iran in connection with missiles fired at Israel and did not explicitly condemn Tehran’s actions. In response to Iran’s missile attacks, Guterres stated, “I condemn the escalation of conflict in the Middle East,” and called for an urgent ceasefire.

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African health body says mpox still major health issue as cases rise

Africa /

Mpox is still a major public health issue in Africa, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Thursday amid surging new cases. A total of 3,186 new cases were reported in the past week, with 489 confirmed and 53 deaths, Jean Kaseya said at a news conference. “We don’t see a decrease in terms of death, but we see an increase when we compared with previous weeks,” he said, adding there is a need to accelerate several interventions, including vaccination, to stop the spread. In 2024, more than 38,300 cases have been recorded in 16 countries on the continent to go along with 979 deaths, according to the latest data from Africa CDC. Ghana and Zambia are the latest countries to report an outbreak of mpox on the continent. The World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency in August for the second time in two years, following the spread of a new variant of the viral infection from the Congo to neighboring countries. Kaseya said a vaccination campaign launched last weekend in Congo, the most affected country in the region, is on track with more than 1,600 people vaccinated, mainly in the east. Nigeria, which has received an allotment of 10,000 doses of a vaccine from the US, is to start vaccination in the coming days, according to Africa CDC. Africa expects to receive 10 million doses from partners. Mpox exhibits flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

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Congo elected to UN human rights council despite opposition

Africa /

The Democratic Republic of Congo was among 15 countries elected to the Human Rights Council on Wednesday, despite opposition from the country’s critics. Benin, Gambia, Kenya, and Ethiopia were also elected as African representatives. These five nations will serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2025. During the assembly, there was minimal opposition to Congo’s election, which received 172 out of 190 votes. Human Rights Watch, along with Congolese civil society and opposition parties, cited political repression, arbitrary detentions, and killings as reasons to deny Kinshasa a seat on this prestigious body. Congo’s human rights minister stated that the country intends to use its position to improve its human rights record. The UN Human Rights Council, established in 2006, is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally and addressing violations.

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China calls for urgent withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya

Africa /

A Chinese envoy emphasized on Wednesday the urgent need for external armed forces and mercenaries to withdraw from Libya. “The peaceful reconstruction of Libya is at a critical juncture, and promoting political transition is essential for long-term peace and stability. China urges all parties to adhere to a political settlement, enhance dialogue, and build consensus for the early resumption of political negotiations and the establishment of unified state institutions,” stated Dai Bing, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, during a Security Council briefing on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Dai called on the international community to support African-led solutions to African issues and promote a political resolution to the Libyan crisis. “We advocate for respect for Libya’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and reiterate the call for the swift and orderly withdrawal of external armed forces and mercenaries,” he added. He also urged for a reduction in hostility and confrontation, emphasizing the need to focus on humanitarian challenges and improve living conditions in Libya. Pointing out Libya’s long history of civil war and conflict, which has resulted in a fractured security structure, Dai noted that recent unilateral actions have exacerbated the fragile security situation. He called on all Libyan factions to prioritize the country’s interests, exercise restraint, adhere to the ceasefire agreement, implement the consensus of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, and work together to maintain the hard-won peace. Under the 2020 ceasefire agreement, foreign forces were supposed to withdraw within months, but reports suggest that very few have actually left. Rival factions in Libya continue to rely on fighters from African nations, Turkey, Syria, and Russia.

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UN urges Israel to end bombardment of Lebanon, withdraw ground forces

World /

 UN Political Affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo on Thursday warned of the “alarming” situation in Lebanon, as she urged Israel to end airstrikes and withdraw troops. “Since the commencement of Israeli ground operations into Lebanon on 1 October, Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces have been engaged in intensified clashes in southern Lebanon,” DiCarlo said at a UN Security Council session on Lebanon. Emphasizing the escalating “humanitarian emergency” caused by exchanges of fire, she said: “The number of dead and wounded has spiraled: over 300 people have been killed in Lebanon just in the past week.” “Since last October, the number of dead has reached over 2,000, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Hundreds of those killed were civilians, including more than 100 children,” she said. Noting the pressure on Lebanon’s health services, DiCarlo said that “many hospitals and centers closed following airstrikes hitting healthcare facilities and personnel.” She stressed that the Middle East is “dangerously teetering on the brink of an all-out war” with Israel’s attacks on Syria, Lebanon as well as its genocide in the Gaza Strip and violence in the occupied West Bank. “Our collective inability to stop the violence and stem the bloodshed is damning,” said DiCarlo. She urged all sides to seek diplomatic options. “The state sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Lebanon and Israel must be respected. Obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, must be upheld,” she said. DiCarlo urged Hezbollah and non-state actors to end their attacks against Israel. Urging not to target civilian infrastructure, she stressed that “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks must be avoided.” She highlighted the need to protect aid workers and stressed that “journalists also must not be targeted.” “We need now to invest every effort to reverse this cycle of violence and bring Lebanon and Israel, and the region, back from the brink of catastrophe,” she said.

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AMD launches new artificial intelligence chip

Discover /

US chipmaker AMD announced on Thursday its third-generation commercial artificial intelligence mobile processors. The new Ryzen AI PRO 300 Series is designed to transform business productivity with Microsoft’s Copilot+ features, including live captioning and language translation in conference calls and advanced AI image generators. The processor has up to three times the AI performance than the previous generation, it said, touting its latest offering. According to the chipmaker, the new Ryzen offers up to 40% higher performance, and up to 14% faster productivity performance, than Intel’s Core Ultra 7 165U, comparing its product with those by one of its chief rivals. “Enterprises are increasingly demanding more compute power and efficiency to drive their everyday tasks and most taxing workloads,” said Jack Huynh, senior vice president and general manager of Computing and Graphics Group at AMD. “Our third generation AI-enabled processors for business PCs deliver unprecedented AI processing capabilities with incredible battery life and seamless compatibility for the applications users depend on,” he added.

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165 terrorists and gang members neutralized in Nigeria in one week

Africa /

In operations against the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISWAP (the West African branch of ISIS) in Nigeria, 165 terrorists and armed gang members were neutralized in one week. Edward Buba, Director of Media Operations for the Nigerian Defense Ministry, stated that the military conducted operations nationwide targeting terrorism and armed gangs. He noted that 165 terrorists and gang members were killed, and 238 terrorists were arrested. Buba also reported the rescue of 188 individuals taken hostage by armed gang members and terrorists, along with the seizure of 153 weapons, numerous motorcycles, and significant ammunition. Nigeria has long faced attacks from armed gangs, Boko Haram, and ISWAP across various regions. Despite the death penalty for kidnapping, incidents of abduction for ransom are common, with armed individuals typically targeting villages, schools, and travelers in the northern parts of the country.

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